NEW YORK (AP) — A shoplifting ring that stole nearly $2 million in clothes and beauty products from Macy’s and other well-known stores in the U.S. and then resold them in New York City and the Dominican Republic has been busted, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday. Five New Yorkers have been charged with felony possession of stolen property, conspiracy and other related crimes, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. The bust served as a reminder to shoppers as the holiday shopping season kicks off in earnest with Black Friday this week to make sure they are supporting legitimate establishments, she said. “When a deal seems too good to be true, I guarantee you, it’s too good to be true,” Katz said. Nationally, businesses lose roughly $100 billion and the average family pays $500 more a year because of the impact of organized retail theft, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who joined the district attorney and other law enforcement officials in Queens. The Democrat said the arrests also marked the first time anyone has been charged under a new criminal statute of fostering the sale of stolen goods that she recently signed into law to help crack down on retail theft. “This is real simple. We’ve had enough with criminals preying on our citizens,” Hochul said. “We are sick and tired of our citizens feeling they’re vulnerable to random crimes on the streets or these sophisticated organized crime rings. And we are coming after you.” Katz, the district attorney, said the group stole high-end makeup, perfume, beauty products, designer clothing and accessories from stores ranging from Macy’s to Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle, Sephora and Ulta Beauty over a roughly two-year period. The group’s leaders, married couple Cristopher Guzman and Yvelisse Guzman Batista, directed shoplifting crews to steal specific merchandise as they hit multiple stores in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and elsewhere along the East Coast, she said. They also paid truck drivers to divert products bound for retailers from manufacturer warehouses directly to locations under their control. The group, operating out of a home in Queens, then resold the merchandise online as well as at a brick-and-mortar boutique called Yvelisse Fashion in Santiago, a city in the Dominican Republic. Vince Scala, a lawyer for the couple and two of the other defendants, said his clients pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Saturday. They were released pending their next court date in January. “The charges are only a couple of days old, and I have not seen a single piece of evidence, discovery or police reports,” he said. “I look forward to reviewing the case at the appropriate time.” Tuesday’s announcement is part of a broader push from Hochul to counter Republican criticisms that Democrats in New York are soft on public safety issues, an issue that hurt her party in the 2022 midterm elections and has remained a consistent talking point for the GOP. Earlier this year, Hochul signed off on a handful of policies aimed at cracking down on retail theft, including increased criminal penalties for assaulting retail workers, new funding for law enforcement teams dedicated to retail theft and tax credits for businesses to install security cameras. She also approved policies that allow prosecutors to combine the value of stolen goods when filing larceny charges and made it easier to criminally charge third-party sellers of stolen goods. Retail theft has also been a concern elsewhere. Videos of brazen shoplifting crews rampaging through stores have been widely shared on social media, fueling widespread frustration that retail crime is rampant and unpunished. Earlier this month, California voters overwhelmingly passed a tough-on-crime ballot measure that makes shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders again. The measure partly rolled back a progressive law passed by voters a decade ago downgrading several nonviolent crimes to misdemeanors, including theft under $950 in value. Associated Press reporter Anthony Izaguirre in Albany contributed to this story. Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo .
After talking with coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen and watching video of the Giants' 30-7 defeat , Nabers said Tuesday that "soft” was a poor choice of words. “I don’t think it was really soft. I think it was just a lack of technique,” Nabers said. “We were playing our butts off, we just lacked technique.” The Giants (2-9) trailed 23-0 at halftime and had run only 19 plays on offense. Nabers was not targeted in first the half but still finished with a team-high six catches for 64 yards. The No. 6 overall pick in the draft, Nabers said his rant after the game — in which he said the Giants' quarterbacks weren't to blame for the team's poor performance — was just the competitor in him talking. “That’s just how I’m wired. That’s just who I am,” he said. “I just don’t like losing. If I feel like if I had an opportunity to help the team win, I’m going to express that.” Nabers said not being targeted in the opening half was tough because his body is prepared to play and not doing anything throws him off his game. “You’re not getting involved early, then you’re not getting the feel of the ball, you’re not getting hit,” Nabers said. “After football plays as an offense, after you get hit, you’re like, ‘All right, I’m ready to go.’” Nabers has a team-high 67 catches, the most by a player in his first nine NFL games. He said he sees himself as a resource, someone who can change the game for the Giants. “I’m not going to just sit back just because I’m a younger guy and not speak on how I feel,” Nabers said. “They want me to speak up. They feel like my energy helps the offense, in a way, to be explosive. So, of course, I’m going to speak up if something doesn’t go my way. That’s just how I am.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflThe NPP’s ascent and the Opposition’s descent in Sri Lanka
LAS VEGAS — There are three races remaining in the Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen of Red Bull is close to a fourth consecutive world championship, which can wrap up Saturday night at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. All is not smooth sailing headed into this final month of racing: "It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody," said Mercedes driver George Russell, a GPDA director. "It's a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new race director (with) just three races left. Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we're the last to find out this sort of information." The Andretti team is expected to receive F1 approval to join the grid, albeit without Michael Andretti, who has scaled back his role dramatically since the IndyCar season ended in September. Many drivers, particularly seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, have been at odds with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem since his election following the 2021 season finale. In the GDPA statement, they reminded the sanctioning body "our members are adults" who don't need lectures and fines on foul language or jewelry bans, and simply want fair and consistent race control. There's been no response from Ben Sulayem, and won't be this weekend since he does not attend the LVGP. He will be at Qatar and the finale in Abu Dhabi next month. Hamilton doesn't think all the behind-the-scenes changes will be a fan topic as the season comes to a close. But he noted that consistency from race control is all the drivers have asked for, while throwing his support behind Domenicali and the job Maffei has done in growing F1 since Liberty took over. "I really hope Stefano is not leaving because he's been so instrumental in changes and progress to this whole thing," Hamilton said. "And he knows the sport as well as anyone. But all good things do come to an end, and whoever they put into place, I just hope they are like-minded. But sometimes you have to shake the trees." That's just what happened with the surprise departure of race director Wittich. Although drivers have been unhappy with race officiating this season and held a private GPDA meeting in Mexico City, Russell said they had no prior warning Wittich was out. The race director is the referee each weekend and Wittich has been in charge since 2022, when Michael Masi was fired following the controversial 2021 season-ending, championship-altering finale at Abu Dhabi. Now the man in charge for the final three races is Rui Marques, the Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director. Las Vegas, which overcame multiple stumbling blocks in last year's debut before putting on one of the best races of the season, is a difficult place to start. Verstappen can win his fourth title by simply scoring three points more than Lando Norris of McLaren. "It's a bit weird with three races to go to do that," Verstappen said. "It doesn't matter if you're positive or negative about certain things. I thought in Brazil there was definitely room for improvement, for example. It's still a bit weird having to now then deal with a different race director." Charles Leclerc of Ferrari wondered why the move was made with only three races to go. "To do it so late in the season, at such a crucial moment of the season, it could have probably been managed in a better way," he said. The drivers have consistently asked for clearer guidelines in the officiating of races, specifically regarding track limits and racing rules. The drivers have no idea how Marques will officiate, highlighting a disconnect between the competitors and Ben Sulaymen's FIA. "We just want to be transparent with the FIA and have this dialogue that is happening," Russell said. "And I think the departure of Niels is also a prime example of not being a part of these conversations." The GDPA statement made clear the drivers do not think their voice is being heard. "If we feel we're being listened to, and some of the changes that we are requesting are implemented, because ultimately we're only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase," Russell said. "But I think there's a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation. It only seems to be going in the wrong direction." He also said the relationship between the drivers and the FIA seems fractured. "Sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution," he said. "You need to work together to improve the problem." Norris, who has battled Verstappen this year with mixed officiating rulings, said "obviously things are not running as smoothly as what we would want." Marques has his first driver meeting ahead of Thursday night's two practice sessions and then three weeks to prove to the competitors he is up for the job. Carlos Sainz Jr., who will leave Ferrari for Williams at the end of the season, hopes the drama doesn't distract from the momentum F1 has built over the last five years. "I think Formula 1 is in a great moment right now and all these rumors, I think in every team, every job, there's job changes," he said. "It's not big drama. I'm a big fan of the people you mentioned, they've done an incredible job in Formula 1 and Formula 1 is what it is thanks to these people. But it's just so emotional, especially the Stefano one. The only one that has a real effect is the race director. But I think if he does a good job, it should be transparent and nothing big." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Olivia Olson scored 18 points, including eight straight to open the fourth quarter, as the No. 23 Michigan Wolverines survived a 60-54 scare from the Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten opener for each team in Ann Arbor, Mich. Northwestern (4-4, 0-1 Big Ten) led throughout the third quarter and took a four-point lead into the fourth, but Olson capped her 8-0 burst with a 3-pointer, and Syla Swords also nailed a trey to put the Wolverines (8-1, 1-0) ahead 50-44. Michigan has won eight straight games since opening the season with a six-point loss to then-No. 1 South Carolina. Caileigh Walsh's 3-pointer put the Wildcats back in front 53-52 with 3:36 to go. Michigan responded by scoring eight of the game's last nine points, six by Jordan Hobbs. Hobbs finished with 16 points and teammate Mila Holloway had 10. Kyla Jones led Northwestern with 14 points and Walsh notched 10 before fouling out. No. 4 Texas 93, James Madison 62 Madison Booker, Jordan Lee and Rori Harmon dominated the first half as the Longhorns clobbered the host Dukes in Harrisonburg, Va. Booker scored 21 points, Lee added 20 and Harmon 19 by combining on 25-of-33 shooting. They had 49 of their points in the first half as Texas (7-1) piled up a 58-29 halftime lead. The Longhorns, who entered seventh in the nation in scoring at 90 points per game, shot 54 percent for the game to 40 percent for the Dukes. Roshala Scott led James Madison (7-3) with 22 points and Peyton McDaniel and Ashanti Barnes had 12 apiece. McDaniel added eight rebounds for the Dukes, who had 24 turnovers. No. 10 Notre Dame 93, Syracuse 62 The Fighting Irish pulled away from a seven-point halftime lead to demolish the host Orange in the ACC opener for both schools. The trio of Sonia Citron, Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles led Notre Dame's win with double-doubles. Citron had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Hidalgo racked up 24 and 10, respectively, and Miles shone with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Hidalgo, third in Division I in scoring (24.6 ppg), netted nine points and Citron had eight in the third quarter, as Notre Dame (7-2, 1-0 ACC) outscored Syracuse (4-6, 0-1) 29-13 to pull away. Keira Scott posted 16 points and Sophie Burrows tacked on 13 for the Orange, who shot only 32.5 percent. The Irish shot 50 percent and thrived despite 20 turnovers. No. 16 North Carolina 72, Coppin State 46 The Tar Heels built a comfortable halftime lead and used its bench players freely in devouring the Eagles in Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina (9-1) entered second-best in the nation in scoring defense at 49.1 points per game and excelled again, holding Coppin State to 27.3 percent shooting. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels shot 44.4 percent while having 12 players enter the scoring column, led by Maria Gakdeng's 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Reniya Kelly scored six of her eight points in the first quarter as North Carolina took a 23-13 lead. The Tar Heels grew the lead to 46-27 by intermission. Tiffany Hammond and Angel Jones scored 12 points apiece for Coppin State (6-5), and Laila Lawrence added 10 points with 10 rebounds. No. 18 Ole Miss 85, Tennessee State 38 The Rebels had more points by halftime than the Lady Tigers scored in the game after jumping out to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and 44-19 by intermission. Kennedy Todd-Williams led Ole Miss (6-3) with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Sira Thienou added 12 and six, respectively. The Rebels shot 46 percent for the game. Ole Miss began the day seventh in the nation in scoring defense at 49.8 points allowed per game, and it punished Tennessee State to the tune of 23.6 percent shooting and 22 forced turnovers. XaiOnna Whitfield led the Lady Tigers (4-6) with 10 points. No. 20 Iowa State 82, Central Michigan 56 Audi Crooks scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and added 10 rebounds as the Cyclones slammed the Chippewas in Ames, Iowa. Emily Ryan netted 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter and Crooks scored nine in the period as Iowa State (8-2) jumped out to a 31-13 lead and enjoyed a cushion of at least 18 points the rest of the way. Addy Brown added 18 points for the Cyclones, who shot 52.5 percent and rolled despite having 20 turnovers. Jayda Mosley led Central Michigan (3-6) with 11 points and Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington added 10 apiece. The Chippewas shot only 33.3 percent from the floor and had 26 turnovers. No. 24 Michigan State 89, DePaul 61 The unbeaten Spartans put four scorers in double figures as they systematically disposed of the Blue Demons in East Lansing, Mich. Jaddan Simmons finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Julia Ayrault stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals for Michigan State (9-0). Emma Shumate and Jocelyn Tate had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Jorie Allen put up 15 points, 11 boards, seven assists and three steals and Grace Carstensen also notched 15 points for DePaul (3-7), which shot just 28.8 percent despite hitting 9 of 18 of its 3-point attempts. The Spartans led by seven after one quarter and 17 at halftime before coasting through the second half. No. 25 Nebraska 84, Minnesota 65 Strong first quarters by Callin Hake and Amiah Hargrove sent the Cornhuskers on their way to pinning the first loss on the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Conference opener for each team. Hake scored eight of her 11 points in the first period and Hargrove eight of her 10 as Nebraska (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) seized a 27-11 lead and never looked back. Hargrove scored eight of the Cornhuskers' 10 straight points to end the quarter. Alberte Rimdal led the winners with 12 points and Alexis Markowski added 11 with nine rebounds. Mallory Heyer collected 12 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (10-1, 0-1). Tori McKinney scored 11 points and Grace Crocholski and Alexsia Rose 10 apiece, but the Golden Gophers hit just 35.2 percent of their shots. --Field Level Media
How Trump’s bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woesWikileaks Cable Exposes How Afe Babalola, Ex-President Obasanjo Allegedly Bought Nigerian Court Of Appeal Ruling With N30million Cash In 2004
In recent years, Afghanistan has been not only a battleground for war and political conflicts but also a stage for silent disasters that, under the shadow of government neglect, societal indifference, and even the inaction of international organizations, have claimed heavy human tolls. These disasters, manifesting as traffic accidents, mine collapses, and silent killings, claim more victims every day. Yet, no matter how frequent or devastating these events may be, they fail to provoke collective outrage within Afghan society. It seems such deaths, just as insignificant to the ruling regime, hold little importance for the community as well. One of the most significant examples of this “silent tragedy” is traffic accidents, which have become an unending nightmare for the people of Afghanistan. In a recent incident in Ghazni province, two fatal collisions occurred within just an hour. These accidents left over 100 casualties. Initially, the Taliban reported 52 deaths, but later it was revealed that at least 12 injured individuals also succumbed to their injuries. Such incidents are preventable, but due to disregard for people’s lives, no one or organization takes any action. The causes of these tragedies are well known, and addressing them is not impossible. Substandard roads, lack of enforcement of traffic regulations, and inadequate rescue and emergency services have normalized these deaths as part of daily life. These problems, however, are not unique to the current Taliban regime; they persisted during the republican era without any serious efforts to address them. While the current Taliban regime claims complete control over the country, it has failed even to manage the most basic aspects of public safety and welfare. Amidst this, the irrational competition among passenger transport companies is a significant cause of traffic accidents. It is said that some of these companies reward drivers who reach their destinations ahead of schedule. Moreover, many drivers are reportedly under the influence of drugs, including cannabis, while driving. The author has personally witnessed this alarming situation. The competition among bus drivers for winning quick transport prizes, coupled with the fact that many of them drive under the influence of narcotics, has turned Afghanistan’s pothole-ridden roads into deadly paths. On the other hand, mine collapses represent another aspect of this silent tragedy. Afghanistan’s mines, often exploited illegally and without adherence to even the minimum safety standards, have become graveyards for workers risking their lives to provide for their families. The recent incident at a mine in Herat province, which resulted in one death, and the entrapment of 35 individuals in a mine in Samangan, are mere examples of the chronic neglect by governments and regimes regarding worker safety and rights. The lack of rescue equipment, weak oversight, and unrestrained exploitation of natural resources have made such incidents repetitive and seemingly inevitable. However, the dimensions of this tragedy do not end here. Alongside these incidents, killings carried out under the guise of “unknown individuals” constitute another facet of this humanitarian disaster. In many cases, these so-called unknown gunmen are none other than Taliban fighters who commit murders for various reasons. The victims of such killings include women, men, and even innocent children who are either targeted for political reasons or fall victim to local hostilities and abuses of power. Despite the constant flow of news about the murder of innocent people, there is no visible reaction from society, the Taliban regime, or even international monitoring organizations. This silence in the face of these killings provides implicit legitimacy to the Taliban and other perpetrators of violence, paving the way for the continuation of such atrocities. This negligence perpetuates the vicious cycle of these killings and tragedies, with no measures being taken to prevent them. Public Indifference And The Negligence Of Rulers In The Face Of These Dormant Tragedies not only endanger human lives but also highlight a profound crisis in social and political accountability in Afghanistan. Whether during the era of the republic or under the current Taliban rule, ineffective governance and a lack of commitment to human lives have normalized these preventable deaths. Such tragedies have become a routine part of daily life. Even large-scale incidents, such as the recent road accidents in Ghazni, fail to elicit public outrage and are accepted as ordinary events. These silent disasters will persist until governments, society, and international organizations take their responsibilities toward these tragedies seriously and replace their silence with sustainable and practical actions. A future where human lives are valued beyond political games and personal interests remains a distant vision on Afghanistan’s horizon. You can read the Persian version of this analysis here: فاجعه خفته؛ بیتفاوتی مرگبار در برابر حوادث و کشتارهای قابل پیشگیری در افغانستان | روزنامه ۸صبحDrama surrounds final three F1 races of season
The Victorian Labor government is facing a political crossroads. or signup to continue reading Almost a decade since winning office, political analysts wonder if the state government must shed its skin to win an historic fourth term or whether it can coast off past achievements and electoral supremacy. Labor will find it difficult convincing Victorians it is a fresh government in 2026 purely because of how long it's been at the helm, political scientist Zareh Ghazarian says. "It will be 12 years old by the time the next election is due and there will be an 'it's time' factor that the government will really have to combat," the Monash University senior lecturer told AAP. Queensland Labor experienced the wrath of change-hungry voters in October, relinquishing its grip on power to the Liberal Nationals after almost 10 years. But RedBridge director Kos Samaras, who served as Victorian Labor's deputy campaign director from 2005 to 2019, suggested that result wasn't a perfect analogue. The leading pollster pointed out roughly 80 per cent of Victorian residents live in Melbourne, compared to Brisbane accounting for about 50 per cent of Queensland's population, and emphasised the Victorian capital's "rapidly changing" political landscape. "The two states are vastly different," he said. "Back in 2014 only around 26 per cent of the (Victorian) voters' roll was made up of Millennials and Gen Z were too young - it's now closer to 50 per cent if you combine Gen Z and Millennials. "This group of Victorians and particularly Melburnians are not really good hunting ground for the coalition and I'm yet to see any evidence that they are eating into that group, even with Labor's primary vote being so low." Nonetheless, Mr Samaras conceded Premier Jacinta Allan must reshape herself and her government after the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation crisis. "She has to be drastically different to Daniel Andrews," he said. "What worked for him between 2014 and 2022, won't work for her." Mr Samaras, who is married to state Labor minister Ros Spence, and Dr Ghazarian both said Ms Allan had taken the "first steps" to differentiating herself with a recent blitz of housing policies. However, history won't be on her side when Labor heads to the polls in two years. The party has never won four successive Victorian state elections and will have been in power for 23 of the past 27 years. No Victorian premier who replaced their elected leader during a term has steered a party to victory at the ballot box since Rupert Hamer succeeded Liberal icon Henry Bolte in 1972. "The reason Rupert Hamer succeeded was he projected himself as drastically different to Bolte," Mr Samaras said. "Rupert Hamer is the roadmap." The practical effects of Victoria's strained finances and rising net debt, forecast to hit $187.8 billion by mid-2028, are starting to pile up. Hospitals were told to tighten their belts before being handed a $1.5 billion one-year funding lifeline in August and the government has found itself fighting bitter pay battles with unions. It managed to end protracted negotiations with nurses and paramedics, but disputes with Victoria Police and Fire Rescue Victoria workers have landed in the Fair Work Commission. "These things take the shine off the government," Dr Ghazarian said. One of Labor's biggest "failures" over the past 10 years has been ignoring its traditional support base of lower-income workers, Mr Samaras added. "They're going to pay a price for it," he said. "The price they're going to pay for it isn't just one election, it's going to be multi-generational. "They're going to lose a lot of seats - I don't think they'll lose enough to lose government." Any blow will be softened by the substantial electoral cushion left by Mr Andrews, who led Labor to 56 of 88 lower house seats in 2022. It means the coalition must pick up at least 17 extra seats in 2026 to form a majority government, and Mr Samaras noted the opposition would likely need a 53 to 54 per cent two-party preferred result to end Labor's reign. As Opposition Leader John Pesutto awaits the outcome of a defamation trial brought by ousted MP Moira Deeming, Dr Ghazarian acknowledged much of Labor's fortunes could rest on the Liberals. "If they are able to appear to be a coherent group with a clear leader and free from internal bickering, then they may have a chance of a strong showing," he said. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementAmid tax reforms uproar, VAT collection hits N1.78 trillion in Q3/24 – NBS
Franklin Resources Inc. Increases Holdings in MasterBrand, Inc. (NYSE:MBC)None
Prince William once gifted this to wife Kate Middleton; She was not amusedAccording to the US diplomatic cable, an attorney for then Governor Haruna, who worked for Afe Babalola, confirmed that the favourable ruling by the Court of Appeal "was ensured in typical Nigerian fashion: with cash." A Wikileaks classified United States diplomatic cable has exposed how Nigerian legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, way back in 2004 allegedly purchased a Court of Appeal ruling that ensured the then Adamawa State governor, Boni Haruna, remained in office. According to the US diplomatic cable, an attorney for then Governor Haruna, who worked for Afe Babalola, confirmed that the favourable ruling by the Court of Appeal "was ensured in typical Nigerian fashion: with cash." "The attorney, who works for Presidential attorney Afe Babalola, said that when President Obasanjo sent Babalola to take over the appeal, he also sent cash to be used for the appeal." "The attorney claims that he went along for the delivery of 30 million naira (about $225,000) to each of the five judges on the tribunal but did not know if this was all the money disbursed. "This is the normal procedure when it is an important case," he averred," the Wikileaks document read. Boni Yaruna, a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obasanjo's party at that time, was governor of Adamawa State from 1999 to 2007. Afe Babalola has recently come under the radar in Nigeria over his use of the Nigerian police to arrest human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, from office in Lagos State - an action that has received national and global condemnation from various quarters and human rights groups. SaharaReporters reported last Tuesday that Farotimi was arrested and taken to Ekiti State for allegedly defaming Afe Babalola, a prominent legal figure, in his book "Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System". On Wednesday, Farotimi was arraigned at a Magistrates court in Ado-Ekiti, where he pleaded "not guilty" to the 16 charges brought against him. The police have filed another set of charges just to keep Farotimi in detention. The presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, had denied Farotimi bail and ordered that he be remanded in the correctional centre until December 10 for further hearing. Meanwhile, Wikileaks documents which detailed the saga involving Babalola, Obasanjo and the Court of Appeal ruling in 2004, are typically classified US diplomatic cables sent to and from US embassies in countries throughout the world. Wikileaks was to publish 251,287 cables, originating from 274 embassies and dating from December 28, 1966, to February 28, 2010, the organisation said on its website. The documents on B. Abuja 539, classified by Russells J Hanks, acting Political counsellor in a summary aid, "On July 5, an appeals court sitting in Jos overturned the March 24 election tribunal decision that had nullified the election of Adamawa State Governor Boni Haruna. The verdicts of the appeals court and the election tribunal differed so significantly on their findings of the relevant facts that they beg the question of whether one verdict or the other may have been "influenced" by outside parties. End summary. "2. (U) On July 5, an appeals court sitting in Jos overturned the March 24 election tribunal decision (reftels A and B) that had nullified the election of Adamawa State Governor Boni Haruna, PDP member and protege of VP Atiku Abubakar. The original election tribunal had found "beyond reasonable doubt" that electoral malpractices had taken place, and that the election was noncompliant with the Electoral Law. "3 (U) The appeals court in Jos, however, found that the evidence used by the election tribunal was "absolutely inadequate even to prove the simplest of a criminal offence, very impotent to affect the appellants/cross respondents, ridiculous for convicting any of the appellants/cross respondents with commission of any electoral offence," and that the evidence was scandalous and naive as a basis for nullifying the election. "4. (C) According to an attorney for Haruna, the outcome was ensured in typical Nigerian fashion: with cash. The attorney, who works for Presidential attorney Afe Babalola, said that when President Obasanjo sent Babalola to take over the appeal, he also sent cash to be used for the appeal. The attorney claims that he went along for the delivery of 30 million naira (about $225,000) to each of the five judges on the tribunal but did not know if this was all the money disbursed. "This is the normal procedure when it is an important case," he averred. "5. (U) Note. The appeals court decision is final and cannot be appealed to Nigeria's Supreme Court. End Note. "6. (SBU) Comment. While the Embassy has been unable to examine the Appeal Court ruling in its entirety, the verdicts of the appeals court and the election tribunal differed so significantly on their findings of the relevant facts that it begs the question of whether one verdict or the other may have been "influenced" by outside parties. "Both courts were composed of senior members of the judiciary, both operating under the same laws, principles, and guidelines. It would be normal for an appeals court to have a slightly different interpretation than a lower court, but the radically divergent views of the Jos court from the Yola tribunal leave little doubt that something other than the law was factored in to the final decision." Commenting on the Wikileaks documents, human rights activist and Convener of #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, said "Babalola's chickens are coming home to roost." "Chief Afe Babalola’s chickens are coming home to roost! Facts are now emerging that, in fact, the reputation they are using the Nigeria Police Force to protect by kidnapping Dele Farotimi doesn't exist at all. "Here is a Wikileaks US government cable detailing how Chief Afe and former President Obasanjo bought a Court of Appeal judgment with cash in Plateau state. #FreeDeleFarotimiNow," Sowore wrote on Sunday. Chief Afe Babalola’s chickens are coming home to roost! Facts are now emerging that, in fact, the reputation they are using the @PoliceNG to protect doesn't exist. Here is a Wikileaks' US government cable detailing how Chief Afe and former President Obasanjo bought a Court of... pic.twitter.com/tCStvPp8NC — Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) December 8, 2024 SaharaReporters had reported that Farotimi, currently in remand, filed an application for his bail at the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District of Magistrate Court of Nigeria. The Motion for Bail filed in Charge No: MAD/1476/2024, Motion No: MAD/ 160cm/244 before the court is between Commissioner of Police as Complainant/ Respondent And Dele Farotimi as Defendant/Applicant. It was brought "pursuant to section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and Sections 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice ACT 2015 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable Court." In the bail application filed on Thursday, Dec 5. by 11 lawyers led by Prof. O.F Emiri, SAN, his Counsels sought among others for "an order admitting the Applicant to bail pending the determination of his trial before this Honourable Court. "Any other orders this Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstance." The lawyers gave four grounds for the application, as "1. the Defendant/Applicant is presumed innocent until proven guilty as guaranteed under Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights. "2. The offences alleged are bailable under the Criminal Code Act. "3. The Defendant/Applicant has a fixed address, is a lawyer with 25 years of experience and is a prominent member of the society, posing no flight risk. "4. The Defendant/Applicant undertakes to be available for trial and comply with all conditions set by this Honourable Court." Other lawyers in the team are: Adejare Kembi, Esq.; Bayo Ayo, Esq.; Ralph Nwoke, Esq.; Temidayo P. Akeredolu, Esq.; Mayowa Omojola, Esq.; O. T. Adeogun, Esq.; Emmanuel O. Adeyemi, Esq.; Olaide Awwal-Bolanta, Esq.; Benjamen Akomolafe, Esq. Applicant Counsel Clearwater Partners (Temidayo Akeredolu & Co).NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On the year of their 125 th year Anniversary, The E-J Group continues to expand to meet their client's needs by strengthening their presence in the Northeast. E-J has acquired State Electric Corporation. State Electric, located in Bedford, Massachusetts , has been in business since 1988 and is one of the most respected and trusted full-service electrical contractors in New England. The depth of experience and expertise, particularly in healthcare, life science, commercial, sports & entertainment, transportation, power and renewable energy, transmission, distribution and substation work, will only enhance the services offered to our clients. The E-J Group looks forward to providing their clients with additional experience, expertise, and innovative solutions to this area of the Northeast for the reliable, fast-track project delivery they are accustomed to. "We are pleased to welcome State Electric to the E-J Family," says Anthony E. Mann , CEO of the E-J Group. "State's culture of safety first, innovative solutions align with E-J's and makes for an ideal new member of the organization." "All our divisions operate under the same philosophy, safety first while delivering the best quality workmanship, utilizing prefabrication and lean construction solutions. We share the same client focused approach of doing business," states Ronnie Koning , President of State Electric Corp. "Being part of the E-J Group provides more opportunities for our employees and strengthens what we offer to our clients." State Electric will retain its name and cultural identity, with its current leadership continuing in their respective roles. Ronnie Koning will remain as President, reporting to E-J's EVP, Dave Ferguson . Brendan Dickie will continue as COO, and Jane Wu will maintain her position as Controller. Their collective expertise will remain instrumental to the organization's ongoing success. E-J has thrived and survived the test of time by emerging into nearly a $1 billion national electrical company with great financial strength, national clients, project diversity, and a company culture that is founded on Safety First. E-J currently has 15 offices in 5 states across the country in New York , New Jersey , Connecticut , Rhode Island , Arizona , and now Massachusetts . About E-J: The E-J Group is active in all facets of electrical contracting - we are not your typical electrical contractor. We bring experience, expertise and a national reputation on projects that vary in size to over $300 million . Typical installations include rail systems, transit facilities, office buildings, hospitals, power, renewable and clean energy, co-generation facilities, roadway and outdoor specialty, airports, industrial facilities, universities, sport stadiums, extra high voltage distribution, utility, and gas infrastructure. At E-J, four family generations of practical expertise have created an organization keyed to the most modern technological advances in providing rapid and efficient solutions to today's lighting, power, energy, and communication needs. E-J has a 125-year reputation for unparalleled integrity, quality, and service in the electrical field. Please visit our website at www.ej1899.com to learn more about the company. About State Electric Corporation: State Electric Corporation is a leading full-service electrical contractor in the Northeast. Since 1988, State Electric has been a trusted partner of owner's construction managers, utilities, low voltage integrators, and other business partners around the region. While working in partnership with clients, State continually executes the most complex and high-profile electrical construction projects on time and on budget. Headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts , with a satellite office in Braintree , State Electric is a signatory contractor to the IBEW. Contact: Katie Nilsen , VP Business Development & Strategy – E-J Group 917-807-9496 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-e-j-group-welcomes-state-electric-corporation-to-the-organization-302314568.html SOURCE E-J Electric Installation Co.