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Court in Congo hands down death sentences to 37 people on coup charges

Published
7 months agoon
By
Ekwutos BlogA military court in Congo handed down death sentences Friday to 37 people, including three Americans, after convicting them on charges of participating in a coup attempt.
The defendants, most of them Congolese but also including a Briton, Belgian and Canadian, have five days to appeal the verdict on charges that include attempted coup, terrorism and criminal association. Fourteen people were acquitted in the trial, which opened in June.
The court in the capital, Kinshasa, convicted the 37 defendants and imposed “the harshest penalty, that of death” in the verdict delivered by the presiding judge, Maj. Freddy Ehuma, at an open-air military court proceeding that was broadcast live on TV. The three Americans, wearing blue and yellow prison clothes and sitting in plastic chairs, appeared stoic as a translator explained their sentence.
Six people were killed during the botched coup attempt led by the little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga in May that targeted the presidential palace and a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi. Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest soon after live-streaming the attack on his social media, the Congolese army said.
Malanga’s 21-year-old son Marcel Malanga, who is a U.S. citizen, and two other Americans were convicted in the the attack. His mother, Brittney Sawyer, has said her son is innocent and was simply following his father, who considered himself president of a shadow government in exile.
The other Americans are Tyler Thompson Jr., 21, who flew to Africa from Utah with the younger Malanga for what his family believed was a vacation, and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, who is reported to have known Christian Malanga through a gold mining company.
Congo reinstated the death penalty earlier this year, lifting a more than two-decade-old moratorium, as authorities struggle to curb violence and militant attacks in the country. The country’s penal code allows the president to designate the method of execution. Past executions of militants in Congo have been carried out by a firing squad.
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Construct speed breakers to stop accidents on Apete-Akufo road – Residents to Makinde

Published
10 hours agoon
April 24, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Residents of communities along the Apete -Akufo road have appealed to Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde to construct speed breakers and bumps om the road.
The residents noted that this is necessary in order to avoid incessant road accidents on the road.
Our correspondent reports that the road serves over 50 communities within Ido local government area.
Ekwutosblog gathered that the 12.5 kilometers road – which is the first concrete road in the state – was executed by Governor Seyi Makinde.
Many road accidents have occurred along the road since its construction.
The residents of the communities appealed to Makinde to provide speed breakers and bumps to avoid future occurrences of accidents on the road.
The residents in a statement signed by the Deputy Provost, Comfort Estate, Araromi, Professor Onyekachi Ireanus Okoro, said that many accidents have occurred on the road.
Okoro, in the statement made available to Ekwutosblog on Thursday, said that reckless driving habits of commercial motorcyclists, tipper truck drivers and other vehicle operators pose a significant threat to the lives of residents and travellers in the affected communities.
Okoro in the statement titled ‘Urgent call for road safety measures’, insisted that the current situation puts the lives of residents, commuters and pedestrians at risk.
“We, the community, are concerned about the increasing number of accidents on the Apete-Akufo Highway. The reckless driving habits of commercial motorcyclists, tipper truck drivers, and other vehicle operators pose a significant threat to the lives of residents and travelers.
“We kindly request the installation of speed breakers or bumps along this highway to reduce speeding and prevent accidents. This measure will help save lives and prevent unnecessary pain and suffering in our communities.
“The current situation puts the lives of residents, commuters, and pedestrians at risk. Speed control measures can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents.We are concerned about the impact of accidents on families and the community as a whole.
“We urge the relevant authorities to take immediate action to address this issue. The installation of speed breakers or bumps will be a significant step towards ensuring the safety of all road users.
“We believe that with the implementation of these safety measures, we can reduce the risk of accidents and create a safer environment for everyone. We look forward to a positive response to our request”.
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US indicts Nigerian man for $690,000 fraud, lying to obtain American citizenship

Published
14 hours agoon
April 24, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Oladapo Fadugba, a Nigerian-born United States citizen, risks 27 years imprisonment over his alleged involvement in a $690,000 wire fraud scheme and making false declarations to obtain US citizenship.
This was contained in a statement by the US Attorney for the District of Florida, Gregory Kehoe, on Tuesday.
Kehoe said Fadugba was indicted for multiple charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements during his naturalisation process.
He noted that between October 2020 and July 2023, the suspect allegedly diverted $690,000 in funds belonging to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which was meant for reimbursement to a major local healthcare provider.
It was also alleged that Fadugba used another person’s identity to facilitate the transfers into different bank accounts under his control.
The statement read in part, “According to the indictment, beginning on October 30, 2020, and ending no later than July 11, 2023, Fadugba had more than $690,000 of Department of Veterans Affairs funds, intended for reimbursement to a large local healthcare provider, transferred to his personal bank accounts.
“Fadugba then wrote cheques to himself or to businesses associated with him, which were subsequently transferred to other bank accounts under his control. It is alleged that he used the identification of another individual to carry out these transfers.
“The indictment further alleges that Fadugba, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria, made a false statement under oath during his naturalization proceeding. Fadugba allegedly falsely stated he had not committed any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested.
“An indictment is merely a formal charge that the defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.”
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Jude Okoye released after 2 months in jail

Published
18 hours agoon
April 24, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Jude Okoye, elder brother and former manager to the iconic P-square duo has finally regained his freedom after spending over two months behind bars.
The celebration of his release didn’t come quietly, especially from Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, who took to Instagram with a fiery post.
“Jude is finally out after 2months + .. all their efforts to frustrate his bail has finally collapsed. Welcome home brother @judeengees. And happy birthday,”
Paul wrote in his Instagram story.
His words appeared to be more than just a welcome note, they carried an undertone of resentment, likely directed at his twin brother, Peter Okoye.

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