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Alleged One-sided Story: Go To Court, Journalist Challenges BSM President, Curtis Ugbo

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Edo State correspondent of P. M. NEWS, Jethro Ibileke, has challenged the President of Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide, Curtis Ugbo, to go to court to challenge a report he wrote over his (Ugbo) arrest by operatives of the Zone 5, Nigerian Police, in Benin, Edo State.

Ugbo was reportedly arrested and detained for allegedly lying against a Benin-based human rights lawyer, Olayiwola Afolabi.

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He was alleged to have said that Afolabi collected the sum of  N10 million from one Prince Johnson Atseleghe as a bribe in a case.

Afolabi, while speaking with journalists, said Curtis Ugbo wrote on social media that he (Afolabi) collected N10 million from Prince Atseleghe, which he said he did not know anything about.

“He went to write on Facebook and other social media that I collected N10 million from Prince Johnson. I didn’t collect any money from Prince Johnson. Himself and one girl that is his secretary went to write on their Facebook.”

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The said Curtis Ugbo was actually docked at the Federal Court in Benin, on Wednesday, 13 October.

But, the Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide, in a rebuttal published on an online publication said that Ugbo was offended by the report, for failing to call him to hear his side, even while he was in police detention.

The group demanded for a retraction of the report or, Ugbo will go to court to seek a redress.

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In the rebuttal, one Mrs. Esohe Adun, who claimed to be the acting secretary-general of BSM, said: “A very poorly presented report has come to the attention of the Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide regarding the recent issue pitching Ambassador Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, President of the BSM with Barrister Olayiwola Afolabi, a Benin based lawyer.

“In as much that a peace process is on the way to resolve the matter through the intervention of high networth individuals, BSM is at a loss on how a so called journalist, Jethro Ibileke, would go into fiction writing to arrive at his presentation of lies mixed with inuendos.

“Ambassador Ugbo is a well known personality in Edo State who over the years has lots of journalists as his friends and associates. One would have expected Jethro to seek for Ambassador Ugbo’s own side of the story before hurriedly making his publication probably to gain acclaim in his office in Lagos that he is a guru in reporting issues pertaining to Edo State.

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“His report is jaundiced as he did not deem it proper to stick to the ethics of journalism which is that all parties in a report must be given fair hearing.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Police Arrest Benin Solidarity Movement’s President, Ugbo

“Jethro Ibileke should endeavour in his and his organisation’s interest do the needful in this regard within the next 48 hours ensuring that Ambassador Ugbo’s response enjoy an equal quantum of publicity as his earlier publication on the matter or face legal process.”

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It is pertinent to note that Ugbo neither deny being arrested and detained by the police nor being charged to court or negotiating with Barr. Afolabi.

It was further gathered that he (Ugbo) slept overnight in police cell, charged to court.

Report has it that with the intervention of prominent persons, Afolabi decided to withdraw the charge against him and allow the matter to rest.

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Three Kenya Soldiers Killed In Roadside Blast

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Three Kenyan soldiers were killed Tuesday and several injured when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device in eastern Lamu county near the border with Somalia, the army said Tuesday.

The soldiers were on patrol along the road between Kiunga and Sankuri when their vehicle struck the improvised explosive device (IED).

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Regrettably, three gallant soldiers succumbed to their injuries,” the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) said.

READ ALSO: Kenya Grants Visa-free Entry To all Africans, Excludes Two Countries

The statement said wounded personnel were evacuated to specialised military facilities, and were “responding well to treatment”, without providing more details. Local media reports said there were seven wounded.

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The statement added that “multi-agency security teams” had launched investigations.

The area has been plagued by attacks by the Islamist Al-Shabaab group.

READ ALSO: Heavy Security As Kenya Braces For More Protests

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In 2018 five soldiers were killed and six wounded in an attack later claimed by the group, which is based in regions of Somalia outside of government control.

The Al-Qaeda-linked organisation has previously claimed several attacks that have killed dozens of Kenyan policemen and soldiers.

The group has been fighting to overthrow the government in Mogadishu for over a decade, and a recent uptick of attacks in Somalia has fuelled concerns of a jihadist resurgence after the militants were forced back in recent years.

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Top 5 Richest African Immigrants In US

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The US is a country built on ambition and enterprise. Despite this, a handful of African immigrants have not only found their footing, but they’ve thrived.

Navigating the fast-paced, often unforgiving terrain of American capitalism, these individuals turned bold dreams into billion-dollar realities. From humble beginnings in places like Pretoria, Lagos and Alexandria, they stepped into industries like tech, medicine, entertainment and finance, fields that demand not just talent, but grit, resilience and a deep belief in one’s vision. Their stories are more than just financial success; they’re powerful testaments to what’s possible when opportunity meets determination.

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These five remarkable men are among the richest African immigrants in the US today and their journeys continue to inspire across continents.

1. Elon Musk – $393.1 billion (South Africa)

READ ALSO:Elon Musk Calls For US Exit From NATO

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Elon Musk stands at the pinnacle of global wealth as the richest African immigrant in the United States and the world. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk moved to the US via Canada and went on to revolutionise transportation, energy and space exploration.

As CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, his ventures have redefined electric vehicles and private spaceflight. With a net worth of $393.1 billion, Musk’s vision extends from Earth to Mars, placing him leagues ahead in both ambition and fortune.

2. Patrick Soon-Shiong – $5.6 billion (South Africa)

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South African-born Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong made his billions in medicine and biotechnology. A former surgeon, he developed the breakthrough cancer drug Abraxane and built two major pharmaceutical companies. Now based in Los Angeles, he runs NantWorks, a healthcare innovation hub, and owns The Los Angeles Times. With a net worth of $5.6 billion, Soon-Shiong is not only a medical pioneer but also a key player in media and technology in the US. He is now the 34th richest man in the world.

3. Rodney Sacks & Family – $3.6 billion (South Africa)

READ ALSO:Elon Musk Calls For US Exit From NATO

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Rodney Sacks, originally a lawyer in South Africa, moved to the US and built Monster Beverage into a global giant in the energy drink market. That brought him up the list of world billionaires (54th). Co-founding the company in the 1990s, he helped turn Monster into a pop culture phenomenon through sponsorships in extreme sports, music, and gaming. Today, with a net worth of $3.6 billion, Sacks is among the top African-born business magnates shaping consumer tastes in America.

4. Haim Saban – $3.1 billion (Egypt)

Egyptian-born Haim Saban became a media powerhouse after moving to the US and creating the Power Rangers franchise. A veteran of the television and entertainment industry, Saban is also a savvy investor and philanthropist. He stands tall at 61st in the world billionaire ranking. His influence spans children’s programming, political advocacy and major media investments—including a past controlling interest in Univision. With $3.1 billion to his name, Saban remains one of the most successful African-born figures in Hollywood and beyond.

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5. Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi – $2.4 billion (Nigeria)

Nigerian-born Adebayo Ogunlesi is a towering figure in global finance. As the chairman and managing partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), he oversees investments in some of the world’s busiest airports and critical infrastructure. A Harvard-trained lawyer and banker, Ogunlesi has led high-stakes deals across continents. With a net worth of $2.4 billion, he stands as a symbol of African excellence in Wall Street’s upper echelons. He ranks 77th among the world’s billionaires.

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‘This Is Why I Hate London’, Ivan Toney Fumes After His Car Is Broken Into

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England international Ivan Toney has voiced his frustration after returning to find his car had been broken into during a trip to London.

Toney, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, is spending his summer break in the UK.

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However, his visit to the capital took a sour turn when he discovered his black car with its front and rear windows shattered.

The striker posted a photo of the damage on Instagram with the caption: “This is why I hate London.”

READ ALSO:EFCC Recovers Funds Lost To CBEX Fraud, Forfeiture Process Underway — Olukoyede

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The incident occurred while Ivan Toney was back in the city, where he had been spotted attending Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park alongside fellow footballers Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho.

It remains unclear whether anything was stolen from the vehicle or where exactly in London the break-in took place. However, crime continues to be a concern across many boroughs, with over 950,000 crimes reported in the capital last year. Former Metropolitan Police officers have criticized the state of law enforcement, suggesting criminals act with impunity.

Toney’s frustration comes at a time when phone thefts and gang-related youth crimes are also rising in the city. Public transport has not been spared either, with over 31,000 offences recorded across London’s network between January and August last year.

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READ ALSO:Former UK PM Rishi Sunak Joins Goldman Sachs As Advisor

The 28-year-old forward moved to Al-Ahli from Brentford last year in a £40 million deal. He made an instant impact, scoring 30 goals in his debut season.

Despite the recent car trouble, it’s still uncertain whether Toney will be called up again for England’s upcoming fixtures. He was part of the squad for the June matches against Andorra and Senegal but saw limited action — remaining on the bench during the 1-0 win over Andorra and playing only briefly in the 3-1 loss to Senegal.

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England are set to face Andorra again at Wembley in September, followed by matches against Serbia, Wales, and Latvia in the following months. Whether Toney features remains to be seen.

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