Headline

Kenyan Pastor Released On Bail Over ‘Fasting To Meet Jesus’ Christians’ Death

Published

12 months ago

May 4, 2023

One of Kenya’s highest profile pastors was released on bail Thursday after appearing in court in connection with the horrific discovery last month of dozens of bodies in mass graves.

Ezekiel Odero, a wealthy televangelist who boasts a huge following, is being investigated on a raft of charges including murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering.

Prosecutors accuse Odero of links to cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who is in custody facing terrorism charges over the deaths of more than 100 people, many of them children, in what has been dubbed the “Shakahola forest massacre”.

Mackenzie, the head of the Good News International Church, is alleged to have incited his followers to starve to death in order to “meet Jesus” in a case that has deeply shocked Kenyans.

Police had sought to detain Odero, who is popularly known as Pastor Ezekiel, for another 30 days to complete their investigations.

But magistrate Joe Omido ordered him released on bail of 1.5 million Kenyan shillings (about $11,000), saying he had to report to police once a week and not speak about the case.

“By failing to provide adequate information on the status of the investigation as ordered by the court, I’m persuaded that the state did not act in good faith in seeking to continue detaining the respondent,” he said.

“The bail terms shall persist until the respondent is formally charged and or the investigation is concluded.”

Odero’s supporters celebrated by singing, dancing and chanting: “It’s all prayers, it’s not witchcraft.”

Kenyan police arrested Odero last Thursday over the “mass killing of his followers” and closed his New Life Prayer Centre and Church that lies south of the coastal town of Malindi.

A total of 109 people have so far been confirmed dead in the Shakahola forest case, the majority of them children.

Autopsies carried out so far on about 40 of the bodies unearthed in the forest inland from Malindi found that while starvation appeared to be the main cause of death, some of the victims were strangled, beaten or suffocated.

– ‘Innocent and vulnerable followers’ –

Prosecutors have said in court documents that they have credible information linking the corpses exhumed at Shakahola to the deaths of several of Odero’s “innocent and vulnerable followers”.

Police are also investigating information that the bodies were kept in a privately-run morgue before being transported and buried in the forest, according to the documents.

Prosecutors have also claimed that Odero and Mackenzie share a “history of business investments” including a television station used to pass “radicalised messages” to followers.

In a court filing this week, Odero said he wanted to “strongly disassociate” himself from Mackenzie and disagreed with his teachings.

Mackenzie himself is due back in court on Friday with another 17 co-accused in Mombasa, where prosecutors are expected to ask for him to be detained for 90 days.

The deeply religious Christian-majority country has been stunned by the case and President William Ruto has pledged to take action against unscrupulous churches and cults that have dabbled in criminality.

Odero, a fisherman who was born into poverty, draws huge crowds and he has shared the pulpit with prominent Kenyan figures.

His church can seat 40,000 people and he is also building a helipad, restaurant and an international school on the expansive grounds.

Odero claims “holy” scraps of cloth and water sold at his mega-rallies for 100 Kenyan shillings (75 US cents) can heal any disease, including HIV — provided people have a strong faith.

Headline

UK Slams Fresh Sanctions On Iran After Israel Attack

Published

1 hour ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

The UK on Thursday joined the United States and Canada in announcing a fresh set of sanctions against Iran’s drone and missile industries after its recent attack on Israel.

Tehran launched its first direct military assault on Israeli territory in retaliation for an April 1 air strike — widely blamed on Israel — that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Damascus.

Iran’s large-scale attack involved more than 300 drones and missiles, most of which were shot down by Israel and its allies including Washington and London, causing little damage.

The United States and Britain announced widespread sanctions on Iran last week, targeting individuals and companies involved in the Iranian drone industry.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said the latest sanctions would target two individuals and four companies closely involved in Iran’s network of drone production.

Trade sanctions against Iran would also be expanded by introducing new bans on the export of components used in its produce of drones and missiles, it added.

“The Iranian regime’s dangerous attack on Israel risked thousands of civilian casualties and wider escalation in the region,” Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement.

“Alongside our partners, we will continue to tighten the net on Iran’s ability to develop and export these deadly weapons.”

The UK already has over 400 sanctions imposed on Iran, including designations against the  Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety and many of those responsible for the attack on Israel.

– ‘Facilitating and financing’ –

The US Treasury Department also targeted Iran’s military drone program on Thursday, sanctioning more than a dozen individuals, companies and ships it said played a key role in “facilitating and financing” clandestine sales of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the country’s defence ministry.

“Iran’s Ministry of Defence continues to destabilise the region and world with its support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies,” US Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.

“The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Iran’s destabilising activities,” he added.

Thursday’s joint sanctions come a week after Washington targeted 16 people and two companies involved in Iran’s UAV programme, as well as components for the drones used in the attack against Israel.

The UK government separately targeted seven individuals and six companies for enabling Iran to continue its “destabilising regional activity, including its direct attack on Israel.”

Alongside its sanctions against Iran’s UAV program, the US also targeted five companies providing parts for Iran’s steel industry, and an automaker involved in providing “material support” to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The European Union imposed its own set of sanctions on Iran on Wednesday during a summit in Brussels.

Headline

Categories Of Jobs Under UK Skilled Work Visa With 48% Wage Increase [FULL LIST]

Published

5 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

The UK government announced an increase in the general salary threshold by 48 per cent for Nigerian immigrants and other foreigners arriving on a Skilled Work visa.

According to the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, who made the announcement on behalf of the United Kingdom government, the increase jumped from £26,200 to £38,700.

The purpose of the increase for the UK skilled work visa was to cut migration and put British workers first in force.

According to the information on the its website updated on April 4, 2024, the UK businesses are now required to pay overseas workers coming to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa significantly more.

Cleverly said: “It’s time to turn off the taps and end the flow of cheap workers from abroad.

“Mass migration is unsustainable and it’s simply not fair. It undercuts the wages of hard-working people who are just trying to make ends meet.

“We are refocusing our immigration system to prioritise the brightest and best who have the skills our economy needs, while reducing overall numbers.

“I promised the British people an immigration system that serves their interests, and to bring numbers down – these tough measures deliver on that commitment. Employers must also play their part and put British workers first.”

The UK listed the conditions attached to the categories of jobs found under the skilled work visa for those seeking to work through the scheme.

For salary requirements, it reads: “You’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.

“Your salary is £39,000 per year, but the annual going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £45,000. You do not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa.

“Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.”

However, it further states that, “If you work in healthcare or education, there are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales.”

“If you do not meet the usual salary requirements, and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible if your salary will be at least £30,960 per year,” it added.

Some of the jobs and their codes under the skilled work visa are seen below.

1111 Chief executives and senior officials

1121 Production managers and directors in manufacturing

1122 Production managers and directors in construction

1123 Production managers and directors in mining and energy

1131 Financial managers and directors

1132 Marketing, sales and advertising directors

1133 Public relations and communications directors

1134 Purchasing managers and directors

1135 Charitable organisation managers and directors

1136 Human resource managers and directors

1137 Information technology directors

1139 Functional managers and directors not elsewhere classified

1140 Directors in logistics, warehousing and transport

1150 Managers and directors in retail and wholesale

1162 Senior police officers

Others can be viewed here.

Headline

UK Varsity Offers Nigerians N44m Scholarships

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

The University of East Anglia, situated in Norwich, United Kingdom, has announced a £33,150 (N44.3 million) worth of scholarships and travel costs of £4000 (N5.3 million) to Nigerians and other applicants seeking masters in Plant and Health in its institution.

The funding, according to information gathered on the school’s website on Wednesday, is the David Sainsbury Scholarships in Global Plant Health, which is fully funded for students planning to travel to the UK for study.

The scholarship also covers postgraduate researcher stipend level, which they said would be determined later for the session of admission, adding that the previous academic year was £18,622.

The university also noted that the application is for the 2024/2025 Academic Session, which will begin in September.

While wooing prospective and eligible applicants, the school wrote, “The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) offers the prestigious David Sainsbury Scholarships in Global Plant Health to a limited number of applicants on the MSc in Global Plant Health.

“Each full scholarship will cover up to the full cost of the tuition fee (£33,150 for 2024-25), maintenance grant (exact value at the UKRI postgraduate researcher stipend level to be determined for 2024-25; in 2023-24, it was £18,622), and an additional £4,000 for travel costs (subject to valid economy class travel receipts)

“You are eligible for a full scholarship under these terms if you meet all these criteria: You are in receipt of an offer of a place on the UEA MSc in Global Plant Health; You are a national of or domiciled in a least-developed, low-income, or lower-middle-income country or territory as defined by the Overseas Development Agency Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list, version 2024-25 for entry in 2024-25 academic year.”

There are a limited number of scholarships available, and these will be awarded throughout the year, so you are advised to apply early.

The institution further added that once the criteria for admission are met, the applicants are eligible for receipts of an offer of a place on the UEA MSc in Global Plant Health.

It further advised that more scholarships will be updated on their website in May while encouraging applicants to always check for updates.