Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are yet to come out with convincing strategies on how to control international transfers of conventional arms.

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Indeed, all countries, Nigeria inclusive, in West Africa, participate in the conventional arms trade and are to be held responsible for the result of this trade, widespread death, injuries, and human rights abuses.
Certain political office holders at all levels of government in Nigeria, have tacitly influenced arms transfers that have been used for several heinous and grievous crimes.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality
Armed conflict, displacement of people, organized crime, and terrorism festered for so long because of the hidden agenda of Those-in-Authority.
They have deliberately allowed the free flow of weapons of mass destruction to get out of control. This has in the process caused pain, suffering, and death in different parts of the country.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach
At the center and several states of the country, Non-State actors having been empowered financially are having a field day.
As the 2023 General Elections gradually set in, the government at all levels ought to tighten the noose on access to illegal arms and ammunition as a step towards ensuring peace, safety, security, and sustainable development.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

BOSTON – A Belgian and Lebanese national holding an Illinois law license has been convicted by a federal jury of fraud and money laundering charges in connection with multiple scams that defrauded victims in several states.

Hassan A. Abbas, 64, of Belgium, was convicted following a six-day jury trial of one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering, two counts of unlawful monetary transactions and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2022. Abbas was indicted in January 2020 and subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in November 2020.

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“The defendant was part of a scheme that toyed with people’s emotions, deceiving them to take their money. The funds he swindled were supposed to be used as the down payment on a home or to fund a comfortable retirement. There are real victims in financial frauds and my office fights for victims. We always have and we always will.” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

- Legalizing Crime and Criminality

“Hassan Abbas should be ashamed of himself for using his law license as a shield to exploit the hopes and dreams of innocent victims to line his own pockets. He targeted, preyed upon, and systematically ripped them off without a second thought,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Last year, Massachusetts residents reported losing more than $83 million due to romance and business email compromise scams, and the FBI is committed to holding the criminals behind these scams accountable for the harm they do to everyday citizens and our financial institutions.”

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

Between June 2017 and January 2019, Abbas and others defrauded victims through a series of romance, business email compromise (BEC), and other scams designed to trick victims into wiring monies to bank accounts they controlled. A BEC scheme is a sophisticated fraud often targeting individuals and businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques, to cause victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers. In romance scams, perpetrators generally create fictitious online personas to develop online romantic relationships with individuals in the U.S., and then leverage those relationships to obtain money and/or property. 

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

Abbas created sham corporate entities and opened bank accounts in the name of those entities. Under false pretenses, both individual and corporate victims were then instructed to wire funds into the accounts Abbas controlled. Some victims were in the process of buying homes and believed the funds were for that purpose, including two Massachusetts victims who were tricked into wiring money to an individual they believed was their real estate broker. Others, including a third Massachusetts victim, believed they were transferring funds on behalf of or for the benefit of their romantic partners. Corporate victims were targeted as part of the scheme as well and were deceived into remitting invoice payments to the accounts Abbas controlled. 

Shortly after receiving the victim funds, Abbas transferred the funds to overseas accounts, domestic personal accounts or spent the funds on personal expenses.  

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. The charge of unlawful monetary transaction provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin and David Holcomb of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

Source : FBI

The horrific murder of  Deborah Samuel, an indigene of Niger state and a 200-level Home Economics student of the Sheu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto state is the major talking point among Nigerians for now. In this interview, the Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke calls on the Federal Government to ensure that the Late Deborah's killers are brought to justice. Excerpts :

What is your reaction to the gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel, a 2oo level student of the Sheu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto?
The dastardly act that happened in Sokoto state, is just one out of several cases which indicate that Nigeria is heading towards the precipice and its people already adapting to bestial behavior.
Extrajudicial killing is despicable.
It is happening mainly because all the agents of socialization have failed.
The challenge before the Government is to direct its energy toward the value restoration need. This is because no religion teaches evil and there is nowhere in the Holy Quran, where women should be abused and defamed, and where the consequence of the acts of blasphemy is the death penalty.
Suffice it now to say that there is the need for all religious leaders to teach the scripture through a positive mindset while taking up the role model stance for society.
In a situation wherein the youth become restive with delight to maim and kill fellow human beings, the future of society and the nations is at stake. Indeed, the efforts to tackle insecurity have had little impact.
It is imperative for the government to bring the killers of Deborah Sanmuel to justice. This will serve as a deterrance to others, who might be nurturing such sinister acts.
All rfelgious leaders must preach love, unity, tolerance, patience and forgiveness.
The educational insitutions too, need to nurture our pupils and students to imbibe the core values of integrity, love and unity.
The cultural institutions and the Government must place value on the revival of good parenting for our youth not to shame their places of origin through unwarranted iirational behavior and  instinct for destruction.
Above all, Deborah Samuel must not die in vain.

Workers in Nigeria are now face to face with the fact that those elected(or selected) to defend and protect their interests, now nurture contrary motives.

These motives have over time impoverished the generality of workers in Nigeria and they are complaining bitterly. What is to be done ?

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Today, a new breed of political office holders have emerged.

They are scramblers for notice, office and boot lickers exhibiting a convoluted understanding of their obligations to the constitution and the state. Even though it is obvious that they are fats losing grip of political power, their open-hear ted gesture of generosity targeted at deceiving and manipulating the gullible and unsuspecting at will, has got to a desperate stage.

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Their spirit of nepotism and favoritism has been to the detriment of the collective good. Nigerians insist that the Government at all levels are insincere and dishonest.

They also argue that Those-in-Authority are busy chasing shadows when the real challenges are visible for everyone to see.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality                                            -Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

 Those-in-Authority have made sure that all relevant officials-appointed and elected- toe their line of reasoning through arm-twisting tactics.

Their secret agenda has been the catalyst for corruption, kidnappings, killings, ritual killings, armed robberies and other voilent crimes in different parts of the country.

Confusion, distrust and uncertainty are now the signposts of unending unfolding developments.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Believers of all religions are expected to be scripture compliant and role model virtues. Belief in social advancement must focus on development driven through ethics.

Generally, therefore, believers must become the embodiment of people with high regards for social norms and global best practices, otherwise they become bunches of quackery that destroy rather than build.

Believers must pass through the test of Godly virtues that take care of the interest of others as exemplified in the Holy Bible, Matthew 5 : 5–9, '' Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.''

Believers are regarded the epitome of successes in all aspects of human endeavor. They are even humble in their prayers and the way they comport themselves in the society through non-ostentatious form of living despite their been at vantage positions of power, influence and affluence.

The Holy Quran 23 : 2–5 refers, ''In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful. 1. Successful are the believers. 2. Those who are humble in their prayers. 3. Those who avoid nonsense. 4. Those who work for charity. 5. Those who safeguard their chastity.''

The Holy Quran states that those who exceed the above limits in their routine interactions or keeping good neighborliness shall be regarded as transgressors.

The Holy Quran 23 : 8–11 crowns it all, ''Those who are faithful to their trusts and pledges. 9. Those who safeguard their prayers. 10. These are the inheritors. 11. Who will inherit Paradise, wherein they will dwell forever.''

To be successful, therefore, the prerequisite condition is for believers to focus on the ideals of life.

The cost of kerosene has gone beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians, there is no regular supply of electricity and the people lack potable water, yet political office holders still aspire to occupy various offices in 2023 and beyond. Interesting.

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-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The Zambia Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested the country's  former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and one other for fraud to the tune of US$33million.
Mr. Yamba, 62, of Lusaka was arrested and charged with one count of willful failure to comply with applicable law and procedure relating to procurement contrary to Section 34 (2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

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In 2018, Yamba did not follow the procedure when he authorized an advance payment of US$33, 750,000.00 to China Energy Engineering Group – Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd for the construction of FTJ Chiluba University in Mansa and Kasama under the Ministry of Higher Education. The amount  was paid to the contractor but till the present moment, construction is yet to commence.

-Legalizing Crime and Criminality
Also arrested  alongside Yamba is Joseph Phiri, an architect at the Ministry of Higher Education, for attempting to fraudulently facilitate a payment amounting to US$ 29,186,169.09 to China Energy Engineering Group–Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality
Mr Phiri, 57 of Lusaka  was charged with one count of fraudulent facilitation of payment contrary to section 34 (2) (a) as reading together with section 40(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 of 2012.
Phiri,  attempted to fraudulently facilitate payment to China Energy Engineering Group–Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd by signing and issuing an Interim Payment Certificate No. 2 valued at US$ 29,186,169.09 with an inflated sum of US$7,578,772.41 for goodstha were not  supplied.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Obtained personal identifying information of more than 20,000 Americans to submit fraudulent claims for more than $2 million in federally funded payments since 2017

Tacoma – A 45-year-old resident of Lekki, Nigeria, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for using stolen identities to claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Abidemi Rufai has been in custody since his arrest at New York’s JFK airport in May 2021.  At the time of his arrest, Rufai was the Special Assistant to the Governor of Nigeria’s Ogun State. 

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According to the plea agreement, since 2017, Rufai unlawfully obtained the personal identifying information for more than 20,000 Americans to submit more than $2 million in claims for federally funded benefits under a variety of relief programs.  The various agencies involved paid out more than $600,000.

The largest amount of fraud was committed against the Washington State Employment Security Department, which paid out $350,763 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims to accounts controlled by Rufai.  Rufai also submitted fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims in at least 17 other states. 

-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

Rufai also defrauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) by attempting to obtain Economic Injury Disaster loans (EIDL) tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Between April 8, 2020, and June 26, 2020, he submitted 19 fraudulent EIDL applications.  SBA paid out $10,000 based on the applications.

Between 2017 and 2020, Rufai attempted to obtain more than $1.7 million in IRS tax refunds by submitting 675 false claims.  The IRS paid out $90,877 on these claims.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

Rufai’s efforts to enrich himself with false disaster claims did not start with COVID-19.  In September and October 2017, he submitted 49 disaster relief claims connected to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.  He filed $24,500 in false claims and was paid on 13 claims totaling $6,500.

Rufai has agreed to pay full restitution to the defrauded agencies.

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

Wire fraud in relation to a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.  Aggravated identity theft is punishable two years in prison to follow any prison term imposed on another charge.  Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than 71 months in prison.  The recommendation is not binding on U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle, who will determine the appropriate sentence on August 15, 2022, after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the United States Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General.  The Washington Employment Security Department is cooperating in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Cindy Chang of the Western District of Washington.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form athttps://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form

Source-FBI

Former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has advised Nigerians to cultivate the virtue of tolerance.

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Senator Ladoja gave this advice on Monday, in an interaction with journalists at his Ondo Street, Bodija home in Ibadan, Nigeria.
''The lessons you learned during the Ramadan fast should be put to practice-discipline and tolerance. Tolerate one another. Let's learn to tolerate each other. If you love your fellow human being you will not kill,'' the former Governor stated.

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-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The Presidents of Botswana and Zimbabwe have expressed gratitude to Rwanda for the role it played in checkmating the activities of terrorists in the  Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique.

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Their gratitude is contained in a joint communique they issued after the two-day Botswana-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission held in Zimbabwe's prime resort area, Victoria Falls, at the weekend.
''The Heads of State expressed their gratitude to His Excellency Paul Kagame, of the Republic of Rwanda, for the deployment of Rwandan troops to Cabo Delgado to assist in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism,'' the communique stated.

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-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach            -Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Nigerians have been called upon to cultivate good nutrition habits to remain healthy and sound.
This call was made on Thursday by a Health Nutritionist, and President of BEWEM Services/Berg Live Healthy Foundation, Ms. Betty Folarin-Akinlosotu during a Health, Nutrition, and wellness workshop with Theme- Learning Healthy Habits and Lifestyles that Helps you prevent and cure diseases in the most affordable ways- in Ibadan.
 
''Micronutrients are very good for the body. It provides vitamins essential for the human body. You can get it from foods and vegetables. Good nutrition keeps you healthy and sound. Eat lots of vegetables to keep you healthy. Observing regular sleep and rest in addition to embarking on exercises  will keep you healthy and sound.''
In his remarks, the Vice President of the Foundation, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke outlined the role of nutrition in healthy living.
''Nutrition is a hyper-critical part of health and development because the child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, lower risk of non-communicable diseases(for example, diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity are functions of good and healthy nutrition. Malnutrition is a diverse issue that needs support from multiple sectors-Nutritionists, Dieticians, the Medic, etc. The determinants of malnutrition are multiple and extremely complex. So encouraging quality and safety of the food as a lifelong behavioral trait is the duty of all general and nutrition specialists in particular.''

The chorus in the mouths of Nigerians, presently, in every nook and cranny in Nigeria includes and is not limited to insecurity, hunger, housing deficit,  poverty, and unemployment.
Hopes are high among the people that there shall be a reprieve someday. When? Nobody knows.

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-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Friday, April 29th

Winding Up Period
The Ramadan fast would soon be over. There is, therefore, the need to reflect on its grip on the society making everybody believers and unbelievers; to have self-restraint with caution in every step an individual takes.
Within the period institutional discipline is achievable. My appeal, therefore, is for all to wait upon the Lord for the result of the fast.
If it is good, self-evaluation will attest to your being fair in learning and accdepting the truth, but if it is otherwise, you have to pray not to be among the losers. Be wise. Ramadan Mubarak.
Saturday April 30th
Be Diligent
Diligent  adherents of Islam only  shall reap the dividendes of the Ramadan fast exercise.
They are such people who are mindful of God before taking any decision or acting any script.
They are the patient ones who will never resort to frivolities or way wardness to be go-getters.
They are dedicated to the service of God and they accept set in principle of the concept of philanthropy to keep good neihborliness and boost the morale of the needy.
The refernce points are the Holy Quran 92 : 5-13, 9 6-12, 64 : 15-17. Make it your study guide. Ramadan Kareem.
Sunday, May 1st
Sincere Glorification
The Almithy Allah loves those who take  a matured route to implement their projects. They are sincere go-getters.
Remember the perserverance and patience with streak of consistencies exhibited  by sincere adherents of Islam during the Ramadan fasting period.
Are you one of them? of so, congratulations.
Remember also, that if after the Ramadan fast the expectations of God is clearly stated in the Holy Quran 6 : 151, 31 : 12-19. Use these verses to run a good home, establish credible leadership and run a good government as charged by Prophet Dawud in the Holy Quran 38 : 26.
Body preservation from sins and crimes and soul purification from devilish thought processes as chagred by the Ramadan fasting exercise objectives, apart from the core values that can make the soicety a better palce for all. Respect the Almighty Allah on this for posterity to judge you aright. Ramadan Mubarak.

Romans 12 : 8

8'' Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.''

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-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Sunday, April 2th
Gratitude
As Muslims who are observing this year's Ramadan Fast, we must have a cause to be grateful to God for giving us the opportunity to pass through the first two phases of mercy and forgiveness.
We must, therefore, be grateful, by imbibing the culture of being beneficial to others and ever forgiving those who might have offended us. We should also be scripture compliant as stated in the Holy Quran 14: 7, '' And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "
Be cautious and be mindful of God and society. Ramadan Kareem.

Monday, April 25th
The Harvesting Period
Be reminded of the fact that we are now in the third segment of the 30 days Ramadan Fast, also known as the period of reaping the fruits of our labor.
Itikaf or spiritual retreat is commanded to be observed in and around sacred mosques for us to be able to shun the hustle and bustle of city life and get concentrated on how best to be aligned with God and His injunctions, to be able to achieve perfect God/man relationship.
The summary of the intention, for the right observation of the Itikaf period, is stated in the Holy Quran 18: 10, ''..........Our Lord!  Bestow on us mercy from thyself and dispose of our affair for us in the right way.'' Be rightly guided. Ramadan Kareem.

Tuesday, April 26th
Knowledge for Guidance
Remember the message of Ramadan as a compulsory exercise in which we must have learned how to have self-restraint for us to be able to do things the right way and accordingly through the concept of the fear of God or due process.
Reflect on your past as being full of anomalies and decide to make the necessary adjustments for a better lifestyle of scripture compliance.
But make premium your needs and for the right knowledge and God's guidance that will always lead you to make the right decision always, most especially after the month of the Ramadan fast.
The Holy Quran 87: 6-9 refers, ''We shall make thee read so that thou shalt not forget. Save that which thou willeth! Lo! He knoweth that disclosed and that which still is hidden; and we shall ease thy way onto the state of ease, therefore, remind men(that is people) for use is the reminder.'' Be an exemplar. Ramadan Mubarak.

Wednesday, April 27th
Significance of the Nigth of Power
Realize that the Holy Quran was descended down for mankind, the sacred month of Ramadan during the night of Power.
 The Holy Quran 44: 1-4 refers, ''Ha, Meem. By the clear Book, Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise matter -''
There is a need to go beyond the logic of even an old number to fix the night of power.
Once we have been able to take the opportunity of Ramadan to become wholesome in Islam and ever found wanting under the watch of scripture compliance, God the Almighty Allah Himself will touch you to accurately observe the night of power, when therein come down the angels and the spirit by Allah's permission on every errand. Ramadan Kareem.

Thursday, April 28th
Syllabus Coverage Essence
During the period of your, Itikaf reflect on the following, with respect to your spiritual development voluntary nawafil at the midnight during the month of Ramadan: 1) In-depth study of the Holy Quran. 2) In-depth analysis of the Holy Quran with detailed explanation and circumstances surrounding revelations. 3) What about voluntary almsgiving and compulsory almsgiving.
The essence of observing the above mentioned in the month of Ramadan could be likened to the way we acquire the wealth of education and experiences in schools for us to use for the rest of our lives.
Do not, therefore, abuse the availed opportunities offered in the month of Ramadan for you to be wholesome through the following verses of the Holy Quran which must become part and parcel of your lifestyle -33: 35, 2: 208-209, 3: 102, 11: 113 and the Holy Bible John 4: 34. Let all these verses be your study guide even after the Ramadan fast. Ramadan Mubarak.

Powershift from one geographical area to another emphasizes the need for justice and equity.
Curiously, in reality, has power shifted all these years, considering the set of people involved?
The cosmetic transfer of power from the North to the South in the Nigerian context does not really hold water because it is the same class of people that are holding on to power.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                                                          -Legalizing Crime and Criminality
Granting pardon, at the twilight of an administration,  to former public office holders convicted of corruption, is worrisome.
But it is very important for those who have mismanaged the country's resources to cede power to those who are fit(mentally and physically)competent and capable to manage the country very well.

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality                                                      -Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach
Those who have massive resources, deploy these resources to purchase their candidacies within their political parties either for Governorship, State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, or the Senate.
They don't care about individual voters but focus on how to manipulate the electoral process.
Rather than submit to the democratic process, they either want to continue in power or attain power by all means.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

Four Russian Government Employees Charged in Two Historical Hacking Campaigns Targeting Critical Infrastructure Worldwide

Defendants’ Separate Campaigns Both Targeted Software and Hardware for Operational Technology Systems

The Department of Justice unsealed two indictments today charging four defendants, all Russian nationals who worked for the Russian government, with attempting, supporting and conducting computer intrusions that together, in two separate conspiracies, targeted the global energy sector between 2012 and 2018. In total, these hacking campaigns targeted thousands of computers, at hundreds of companies and organizations, in approximately 135 countries.

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A June 2021 indictment returned in the District of Columbia, United States v. Evgeny Viktorovich Gladkikh, concerns the alleged efforts of an employee of a Russian Ministry of Defense research institute and his co-conspirators to damage critical infrastructure outside the United States, thereby causing two separate emergency shutdowns at a foreign targeted facility. The conspiracy subsequently attempted to hack the computers of a U.S. company that managed similar critical infrastructure entities in the United States.

An August 2021 indictment returned in the District of Kansas, United States v. Pavel Aleksandrovich Akulov, et al., details allegations about a separate, two-phased campaign undertaken by three officers of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and their co-conspirators to target and compromise the computers of hundreds of entities related to the energy sector worldwide. Access to such systems would have provided the Russian government the ability to, among other things, disrupt and damage such computer systems at a future time of its choosing.

-Legalizing Crime and Criminality

“Russian state-sponsored hackers pose a serious and persistent threat to critical infrastructure both in the United States and around the world,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Although the criminal charges unsealed today reflect past activity, they make crystal clear the urgent ongoing need for American businesses to harden their defenses and remain vigilant. Alongside our partners here at home and abroad, the Department of Justice is committed to exposing and holding accountable state-sponsored hackers who threaten our critical infrastructure with cyber-attacks.” 

“The FBI, along with our federal and international partners, is laser-focused on countering the significant cyber threat Russia poses to our critical infrastructure,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “We will continue to identify and quickly direct response assets to victims of Russian cyber activity; to arm our partners with the information that they need to deploy their own tools against the adversary; and to attribute the misconduct and impose consequences both seen and unseen.”

-Landlords and Tenants Associations, Crime and Criminality

“We face no greater cyber threat than actors seeking to compromise critical infrastructure, offenses which could harm those working at affected plants as well as the citizens who depend on them,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The department and my office will ensure that those attacking operational technology will be identified and prosecuted.”

“The potential of cyberattacks to disrupt, if not paralyze, the delivery of critical energy services to hospitals, homes, businesses and other locations essential to sustaining our communities is a reality in today’s world,” said U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard for the District of Kansas. “We must acknowledge there are individuals actively seeking to wreak havoc on our nation’s vital infrastructure system, and we must remain vigilant in our effort to thwart such attacks. The Department of Justice is committed to the pursuit and prosecution of accused hackers as part of its mission to protect the safety and security of our nation.”

-Law Enforcement: The Reactionary Approach

In addition to unsealing these charges, the U.S. government is taking action to enhance private sector network defense efforts and disrupt similar malicious activity.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has already released numerous Technical Alerts, ICS Alerts and Malware Analysis Reports regarding Russia’s malign cyber activities, including the campaigns discussed in the indictments. These are located at: https://www.cisa.gov/shields-up

United States v. Evgeny Viktorovich Gladkikh – defendant installed backdoors and launched malware designed to compromise the safety of energy facilities

In June 2021, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging Evgeny Viktorovich Gladkikh (Евгений Викторович Гладких), 36, a computer programmer employed by an institute affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense, for his role in a campaign to hack industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) of global energy facilities using techniques designed to enable future physical damage with potentially catastrophic effects.

According to the indictment, between May and September 2017, the defendant and co-conspirators hacked the systems of a foreign refinery and installed malware, which cyber security researchers have referred to as “Triton” or “Trisis,” on a safety system produced by Schneider Electric, a multinational corporation. The conspirators designed the Triton malware to prevent the refinery’s safety systems from functioning (i.e., by causing the ICS to operate in an unsafe manner while appearing to be operating normally), granting the defendant and his co-conspirators the ability to cause damage to the refinery, injury to anyone nearby, and economic harm. However, when the defendant deployed the Triton malware, it caused a fault that led the refinery’s Schneider Electric safety systems to initiate two automatic emergency shutdowns of the refinery’s operations. Between February and July 2018, the conspirators researched similar refineries in the United States, which were owned by a U.S. company, and unsuccessfully attempted to hack the U.S. company’s computer systems.

-Government Workers-A Subject of Debate

The three-count indictment alleges that Gladkikh was an employee of the State Research Center of the Russian Federation FGUP Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics’ (Государственный научный центр Российской Федерации федеральное государственное унитарное предприятие Центральный научно-исследовательский институт химии и механики, hereinafter “TsNIIKhM”) Applied Developments Center (“Центр прикладных разработок,” hereinafter “ADC”). On its website, which was modified after the Triton attack became public, TsNIIKhM described itself as the Russian Ministry of Defense’s leading research organization. The ADC, in turn, publicly asserted that it engaged in research concerning information technology-related threats to critical infrastructure (i.e., that its research was defensive in nature).

The defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to cause damage to an energy facility, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of attempt to cause damage to an energy facility, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher B. Brown and Luke Jones for the District of Columbia, in partnership with the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, are prosecuting this case. The FBI’s Washington Field Office conducted the investigation.

The U.S.-based targets of the conspiracy cooperated and provided valuable assistance in the investigation. The Department of Justice and the FBI also expressed appreciation to Schneider Electric for its assistance in the investigation, particularly noting the company’s public outreach and education efforts following the overseas Triton attack.

United States v. Pavel Aleksandrovich Akulov, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov, and Marat Valeryevich Tyukov – defendants undertook years-long effort to target and compromise computer systems of energy sector companies

On Aug. 26, 2021, a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging three computer hackers, all of whom were residents and nationals of the Russian Federation (Russia) and officers in Military Unit 71330 or “Center 16” of the FSB, with violating U.S. laws related to computer fraud and abuse, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and causing damage to the property of an energy facility.

The FSB hackers, Pavel Aleksandrovich Akulov (Павел Александрович Акулов), 36, Mikhail Mikhailovich Gavrilov (Михаил Михайлович Гаврилов), 42, and Marat Valeryevich Tyukov (Марат Валерьевич Тюков), 39, were members of a Center 16 operational unit known among cybersecurity researchers as “Dragonfly,” “Berzerk Bear,” “Energetic Bear,” and “Crouching Yeti.” The indictment alleges that, between 2012 and 2017, Akulov, Gavrilov, Tyukov and their co-conspirators, engaged in computer intrusions, including supply chain attacks, in furtherance of the Russian government’s efforts to maintain surreptitious, unauthorized and persistent access to the computer networks of companies and organizations in the international energy sector, including oil and gas firms, nuclear power plants, and utility and power transmission companies. Specifically, the conspirators targeted the software and hardware that controls equipment in power generation facilities, known as ICS or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Access to such systems would have provided the Russian government the ability to, among other things, disrupt and damage such computer systems at a future time of its choosing.

According to the indictment, the energy sector campaign involved two phases. In the first phase, which took place between 2012 and 2014 and is commonly referred to by cyber security researchers as “Dragonfly” or “Havex,” the conspirators engaged in a supply chain attack, compromising the computer networks of ICS/SCADA system manufacturers and software providers and then hiding malware – known publicly as “Havex” – inside legitimate software updates for such systems. After unsuspecting customers downloaded Havex-infected updates, the conspirators would use the malware to, among other things, create backdoors into infected systems and scan victims’ networks for additional ICS/SCADA devices. Through these and other efforts, including spearphishing and “watering hole” attacks, the conspirators installed malware on more than 17,000 unique devices in the United States and abroad, including ICS/SCADA controllers used by power and energy companies.

In the second phase, which took place between 2014 and 2017 and is commonly referred to as “Dragonfly 2.0,” the conspirators transitioned to more targeted compromises that focused on specific energy sector entities and individuals and engineers who worked with ICS/SCADA systems. As alleged in the indictment, the conspirators’ tactics included spearphishing attacks targeting more than 3,300 users at more than 500 U.S. and international companies and entities, in addition to U.S. government agencies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In some cases, the spearphishing attacks were successful, including in the compromise of the business network (i.e., involving computers not directly connected to ICS/SCADA equipment) of the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (Wolf Creek) in Burlington, Kansas, which operates a nuclear power plant. Moreover, after establishing an illegal foothold in a particular network, the conspirators typically used that foothold to penetrate further into the network by obtaining access to other computers and networks at the victim entity.

During the Dragonfly 2.0 phase, the conspirators also undertook a watering hole attack by compromising servers that hosted websites commonly visited by ICS/SCADA system and other energy sector engineers through publicly known vulnerabilities in content management software. When the engineers browsed to a compromised website, the conspirators’ hidden scripts deployed malware designed to capture login credentials onto their computers.

The conspiracy’s hacking campaign targeted victims in the United States and in more than 135 other countries.

Akulov, Gavrilov and Tyukov are charged with conspiracy to cause damage to the property of an energy facility and commit computer fraud and abuse, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Akulov and Gavrilov are also charged with substantive counts of wire fraud and computer fraud related to unlawfully obtaining information from computers and causing damage to computers. These offenses carry maximum sentences ranging from five to 20 years in prison. Finally, Akulov and Gavrilov are also charged with three counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which carry a minimum sentence of two years consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask, Christopher Oakley and Ryan Huschka forthe District of Kansas, and Counsel for Cyber Investigations Ali Ahmad and Trial Attorney Christine Bonomo of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case. The FBI’s Portland and Richmond field offices conducted the investigation, with the assistance of the FBI’s Cyber Division.

Numerous victims, including Wolf Creek and its owners Evergy and the Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, cooperated and provided invaluable assistance in the investigation.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Source-FBI

Tuesday, April 19th

Fasting Exercise for Self-Discipline
Just as in the Holy Bible, Proverbs 25: 28 emphasizes the essence of self-discipline. This virtue if absent will make every human being vulnerable to all forms of socio-spiritual hazards.
The Ramadan fast harps on the need to have self-restraint, this is a major reason for making it compulsory for all adherents of Islam. Ramadan Kareem.

Wednesday, April 20th
The Maintenance of Self-Restraint
The Almighty Allah places emphasis  on the observation of the following to develop self-discipline :
1)Drinking/eating during the day is prohibited.
2)Having sexual affairs during the day is also prohibited.
3)Breaking the fast with alcohol.
4) Adherents must not curse or use abusive words while the fast is on.
5)They must not also engage in adultery, backbiting, or slander.
6) They must avoid any immoral act.
Take heed to be successful during the Ramadan fast. Ramadan Kareem.

Thursday, April 21st
The Exception Law
The Almighty God emphasizes in the Holy Quran 2: 185 that the Ramadan fast is not meant to punish adherents of Isalm, but to reform them and fortify them socially and spiritually. Hence the relaxation law in favor of Islamic adherents with due respect for certain unusual conditions that may have to do with human health issues.
The aged ones who do not need much food, but a high level of nutrients for their upkeep to the pregnant ones who need balanced diets for the sake of the development of the fetus and the mother's health to be able to have a safe delivery. The mother is equally exempted during the breastfeeding period because the child needs the nutrients from the mother.
Those who have terminal diseases which require terminal drugs are equally exempted from the Ramadan fast.
However, the following shall repay the missed fasting days after the Ramadan fast for the count to be 29 or 30 days.
The affected are those in the menstruation period, the sickly ones, and the travelers who suffer from heavy fatigue.
How merciful is our God? Ramadan Kareem.

Friday, April 22nd
Security Essence
The Almighty Allah declares His presence wherever there is the tranquility of the mind and wherever there is peace in the environment.
The Holy Quran 37: 1-4, therefore, admonishes every government and institution to take as a matter of paramount importance, the issue of security. ''By those who rate themselves in ranks(orderly manner), those whose souls are strong in repelling evil(security agencies to note), those who thus proclaim the message of Allah(the cleric) to emphasize the essence of being scripture compliant and to be exemplars in this respect because the whole essence is to preserve the heritage of oneness of God.''
May the devil never hijack our pleasure into upheaval. Use the Ramadan fats to ensure peace. Ramadan Kareem.

Saturday, April 23rd
Divine Inspiration
Do you realize that our social pursuit on matters concerning our assumed yearnings for maximum realization of our destiny is purely materialistic?
This does not matter to God, hence, most of the time our yearnings are premature as faith. For a maximum realization of our destiny, we must totally surrender to the will of God to be given the divine inspiration to articulate our social desires in order that our objectives and goals are realized with ease and maximally too.
The Holy Quran 17: 21-22 refers, ''See how we have bestowed more on some than others; but verily the hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence. Take not with Allah another god or thou O man wilt sit in disgrace and destitution.''
Ponder well on this and make the necessary adjustment. Ramadan Kareem

The decision of the Federal Government to block the lines of millions of Nigerians for failing to register for the National Identity Number(NIN) translates to the infringement of their Fundamental Human Rights.

This is the opinion of an Ex-Officio of the Oyo State Council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt                                          -Legalizing Crime and Criminality
''The Federal Government has blocked the lines of millions of Nigerians, this action tramples on their Fundamental Human Rights. It is undemocratic. Instead of resolving the myriad of challenges confronting the country, the Government has only added to the problems of Nigerians. This is disturbing and unacceptable,'' Comrade Emelieze lamented.

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