Woman Arrested After Trying To Hire A Hitman To Kill Her 3-Year-Old Son

By

-

July 21, 2023

An 18-year-old Miami woman is accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill her 3-year-old son.

The woman appeared before a Miami-Dade County judge Wednesday following her arrest on charges of solicitation of murder and unlawful use of a communications device.

The woman visited a parody hit-for-hire website — intended to assist law enforcement — in an attempt to have the boy “taken away, far, far, far away and possibly be killed but ASAP,” Miami-Dade police said in a report. It said she was willing to pay $3,000.

The woman listed wanting “to get something done once and for all” as the reason for hiring a hitman, the report said.

Police said she provided an address where the boy lives with his grandmother, a recent photo of him and her phone number when she made contact with the website.

A man who runs the website contacted Miami-Dade police and detectives tracked down the woman on Tuesday, using the IP address and phone number provided.

The Associated Press is not naming the woman, to protect the child’s identity.

Detectives spoke with the boy’s grandmother, who informed them that her daughter moved out in May. She said the boy still lived with her, and that his mother would FaceTime the child regularly.

The grandmother told detectives she took the photo of the boy, which was posted on the hitman website, on Monday and sent it to her daughter.

The child’s mother was arrested later Tuesday at her father’s house, where she had been staying. The arrest report states that she confessed, but the full statement was redacted when released to news organizations.

The woman told Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer that she has never been treated for any type of mental health condition. The judge set bond at $15,000 and the woman was released from jail on Thursday.

The judge told the woman not to contact her son, who is continuing to stay with his grandmother.

The public defender’s office is representing the woman, and did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

Barack Obama Shares His Summer Playlist, And It’s Fire: Tupac Shakur, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner Make The Cut

By

John Mutiso

-

July 21, 2023

Former President Barack Obama is staying cool this summer with a summer playlist of 40-plus songs that showcase his eclectic tastes.

“Like I do every year, here are some songs I’ve been listening to this summer,” Obama wrote on Twitter on Thursday, adding that his playlist is “a mix of old and new.”

The playlist truly does span the spectrum of the old and the new, with everything from indie rock group Boygenius’s “Not Strong Enough,” released this year, to classics like Tina and Ike Turner’s 1966 hit “River Deep – Mountain High,” perhaps an ode to the “Queen of Rock and Roll” who died in May.

As far as throwbacks go, 90s hip-hop anthem “California Love” by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman appears on the playlist, along with hits like 80s tune “Walk Like an Egyptian” from The Bangles.

Obama’s also got “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” by Marvin Gaye, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, “Reach Out I’ll be There” by The Four Tops and “Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)” by Aretha Franklin, among other nostalgic nuggets.

Always one to stay up on current musical fare, Obama’s been jamming out to Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj’s 2023 single “Princess Diana” and “Vampiros” by Rauw Alejandro and Rosalía, released this year as well.

There are also some repeat artists on the list that Obama was listening to in the summer of 2021 – including the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, SZA, Michael Kiwanuka and Bob Dylan – who show up here with different songs.

Obama’s 2023 summer list includes country singer Luke Combs’s cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 classic “Fast Car,” which recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, making Chapman the first Black woman to top that chart in its 33-year existence.

Other songs the 44th president of the United States has been listening to this summer include “Watching the Credits” by The Beths, “Try Me” by Jorja Smith, “The Devil I Know” by Grammy-winner Ashley McBryde and “Just Breathe” by Pearl Jam.

Obama traditionally releases these wide-ranging playlists for the summer, holidays and even for some workout motivation.

Man Utd Confirm Signing Of Goalkeeper Onana From Inter

By

John Mutiso

-

July 21, 2023

Manchester United signed Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan on Thursday in a deal that could rise to Sh8.6 billion.

Onana has agreed a five-year deal with the Premier League club and will succeed David de Gea as number one at Old Trafford.

United are set to pay an initial Sh8 billion for the 27-year-old with a further Sh639 million due in performance-related add-ons.

“To join Manchester United is an incredible honour and I have worked hard all my life to get to this moment, overcoming many obstacles along the way,” Onana said in a United statement.

“Walking out at Old Trafford to defend our goal and contribute to the team will be another amazing experience. This is the start of a new journey for me, with new teammates, and new ambitions to fight for.”

De Gea left the Red Devils earlier this month after 12 years at United.

The Spaniard struggled with Erik ten Hag’s preference to play out from the back and Onana appears a far more natural fit for the Dutch coach’s philosophy.

Onana joined Barcelona as a 14-year-old after being spotted at Samuel Eto’o’s academy in his homeland.

After failing to make the first team at the Camp Nou, Onana joined Ajax in 2015 and won three Eredivisie titles under Ten Hag in the Netherlands.

However, his career was temporarily rocked in 2021 by a doping ban for taking a banned diuretic.

Onana claimed to have accidentally taken a drug prescribed to his wife and had a one-year ban reduced to nine months on appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He joined Inter on a free transfer just over 12 months ago when his contract at Ajax expired.

Onana made only 24 Serie A appearances as he shared goalkeeping duties with Samir Handanovic in the Inter captain’s final year at the club.

But he was an ever-present in the Champions League, keeping eight clean sheets in 13 games as Inter reached the final for the first time in 13 years.

Onana played for Cameroon in their first match at last year’s World Cup, but he was dropped for a disciplinary issue the rest of the tournament in Qatar and subsequently announced his international retirement.

He is United’s second close-season signing after England midfielder Mason Mount arrived from Chelsea earlier in July for an initial Sh10 billion.

Onana could make his first appearance for United in their friendly against Arsenal on Saturday in New Jersey.

Ten Hag is also keen to sign a forward before the start of the new Premier League campaign.

The United boss, who ended his club’s six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup last season, has been linked with a bid for Atalanta’s Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund.

Court Frees Babu Owino On Ksh100,000 Cash Bail

By

Cyrus Kimanga

-

July 21, 2023

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and self-styled ghetto president Calvin Okoth well known as Gaucho have finally been set free after hours of incommunicado detection.

Milimani chief magistrate Lukas Onyina in his ruling this morning noted that the affidavit filed by the prosecution in opposition to the bond did not hold any water.

He further noted that the charge against the accused persons is punishable upon conviction for imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.

Hon. Onyina added that one of the reasons advanced by the prosecution was that the convicts are most likely to interfere with witnesses, however, the prosecution failed to disclose which of the accused persons would tamper with evidence.

“A holistic look at the affidavit does not disclose compelling reasons to deny the accused persons bond, each of the accused persons is granted bond of Sh 200,000 with an alternative cash bail of Sh 100,000,” the magistrate ruled.

Also released on bond are Tom Odondo, Michael Otieno, Pascal Ouma, Kevin Wambo and Willys Owino.

On Thursday Babu Owino and Gaucho denied conspiring to commit subversive activities which are prejudicial to public order.

They allegedly committed the offence on dates between July 7 and 23, 2023 with others not before court within Nairobi City County.

The prosecution had opposed their release on bail stating that there are other aspects of the investigations the subject of the charges which are still ongoing and which would be prejudiced if they are released on bail.

The prosecution counsel urged Court to be pleased to deny each of the Respondents bail and to order their detention pending the completion of investigations on the basis of the instant charges.

The court also heard the accused persons are a threat to national security.

“On dates between the 7th day of July 2023 and 18th day of July 2023, people reasonably believed to be the Respondents’ accomplices not only gathered unlawfully but also rioted in various parts of Nairobi County thereby committing a number of penal offences as charged in the instant charges,” the DPP submitted.

Upon effecting arrests of the respondents, we recovered mobile phones paired with sim cards from each of the Respondents which are already being analyzed for purposes of forensic evidence to be used in proof of the instant charges.

The DPP argued that there is also a likelihood of additional charges being preferred against each of the Respondents upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.

The defence through lawyers Danstan Omari, Dancun Okatch, Ndegwa Njiru among others told Court that the arrest and prosecution of the seven accused persons is a pure Ethnic profiling.

According to the lawyers, the affidavit tabled by the prosecution to deny the accused person’s bond is the same affidavit used from 2017 to 2022 to oppress members of the ruling class.

The defence in rebuttal said that all the seven accused persons are members of the Azimio coalition and that they all come from the Luo Ethnic community.

Babu who was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and detained incommunicado was held at the Milimani Law Courts basement cells before being arraigned in Court minutes to 5:00 pm.

Babu Owino To Spend Another Night In Police Custody

By

Cyrus Kimanga

-

July 21, 2023

Embakasi East MP. Hon.Babu Owino set to spend another night behind bars over the Azimio Countrywide anti-government demonstrations.

Hon. Babu Owino who was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and detained incommunicado was held at the Milimani Law Courts basement cells before being arraigned in Court minutes to 5:00pm.

According to the charge sheet, Babu Owino, Calvina Okoth Otieno, Tom Ondondo, Michael Otieno, Pascal Ouma, Kevin Wambo and Willys Owino Baraka conspired to commit subversive activities which are prejudicial to the public order on diverse dates between July 7 and 18.

The prosecutor asked court to find out that the prosecution had established compelling reasons to deny all the accused persons bond.

According to the Investigation officer, the DCI received an intelligence report that a group of people were to hold unlawful meetings at the Kamukunji grounds within Nairobi County on July 7, 2023.

The prosecutor further informed Court that there was a likelihood that Babu Owino and the other suspects were interfering with the witnesses likely to be called in the case.

Prosecution also told court that if the suspects are released, they would continue committing other offenses.

The defense in rebuttal said that all the seven accused persons are members of the Azimio coalition and that they all come from the Luo Ethnic community.

The defense told Court that the arrest and prosecution of the seven accused persons is a pure Ethnic profiling.

According to the defense, the affidavit tabled by prosecution to deny the accused persons bond is the same affidavit used in 2017 to 2022 to oppress members of the ruling class.

Appeals Court Extends Finance Act Suspension

By

Cyrus Kimanga

-

July 21, 2023

The Court of Appeal declines to lift High Court’s order that suspended Finance Act 2023.

The court directed parties to appear for a ruling on July 28, where court will determine whether conservatory orders suspending the implementation of the Finance Act will be lifted, as sought by Treasury CS Prof Njuguna Ndung’u.

The recent development follows the selection of a three-judge bench to hear and determine petitions challenging the Act.

On July 18, Chief Justice Martha Koome appointed High Court judge David Majanja (presiding judge), Lady Justice Christine Meoli and Justice Lawrence Mugambi to hear and determine the case.

In the case, Busia senator Okiya Omtatah and others moved to court to challenge the Finance Act 2023, saying that it was unconstitutional.

The Act raises VAT on petroleum products from 8% to 16% among a raft of other revenue-raising measures through taxes.

Sharon’s Mother Shocks Court, Claims Obado Offered 30,000 For Abortion

By

Cyrus Kimanga

-

July 20, 2023

The late Rongo University student Sharon Otieno’s mother on Thursday took to the stands to deliver her testimony during the hearing of the murder case against former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.

Sharon’s mother Melinda Ouma, a teacher by profession, said the deceased was her first child and that she had been involved in other relationships previously, which led to her giving birth to three children by different men.

“She had a friend called Bernard Okutta, they were in a relationship and had two children. She stayed with Bernard before joining college and that’s when we decided we can’t have our girl be a housewife and decided to take her back to school. She had another child with another man called Henry,” she testified.

Melinda went on to say that she took her daughter Sharon with her children after the relationships failed and stayed with them; shortly thereafter, she noticed that Sharon was pregnant again.

The court was told that upon asking, Sharon told her mother that she was in a relationship with Governor Obado, but complained that the then county boss was not picking her calls.

Melinda however said she did not approve of Sharon’s relationship with Obado, telling the court that; “My take as a mother, I told her that I don’t like relationships with politicians.”

She further said that Obado did not accept the pregnancy, adding that Sharon was allegedly given Ksh.30,000 to abort it but refused to do so.

The court was told that Obado later reached an agreement to take care of Sharon and her unborn child.

Earlier on, the court was also told that Obado stopped communicating with Sharon directly after realising that she was recording their conversations.

Nigerian Ex-Governor May Soon Have To Return Stolen Millions

By

John Mutiso

-

July 20, 2023

After a more than decade-long process, steps by the British authorities to confiscate money stolen by a Nigerian former state governor, James Ibori, have nearly concluded, the Reuters news agency reports.

It quotes a British prosecutor as telling a court that it should retrieve $129m (£100m) from Ibori.

Previously, prosecutors have said that he stole an estimated $165m from the oil-rich Delta state in southern Nigeria.

Two years ago, the UK returned some $5.8m that Ibori had taken.

In 2012, after being extradited from Dubai to the UK, he was convicted on 10 counts of fraud.

After serving some of his sentence in prison Ibori returned to Nigeria in 2017.

In a text message to Reuters he said that he would appeal against the confiscation order.

It is expected to be issued on Friday or soon after, Reuters says.

Protection Or Terror – Divided Response To Kenya’s Police

By

John Mutiso

-

July 20, 2023

President William Ruto has praised the police for ensuring peace during recent opposition protests while a leading rights group has described their reaction as “an act of terrorism”.

Over the past four months of demonstrations, there have been several deaths, including 10 people being shot by police last week. Local media are reporting that six people died on Wednesday in clashes with the police.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), which is an NGO, said there was “a troubling pattern to show that [the] police’s actions and use of lethal force were premeditated”.

But Mr Ruto characterised the response as the police protecting people and property.

“I congratulate the police for standing firm, for ensuring peace prevails and ensuring that all criminals are dealt with,” Mr Ruto said.

There is no official death toll but Amnesty International says that police have killed at least 30 people since March, when the anti-government protests began.

A member of a civil society network monitoring the police response to protesters in the western counties of Kisumu and Migori said that security forces seem to be “enforcing a shoot-to-kill order”.

The activist, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they have photographic evidence of people shot in the back with live ammunition.

“Last week on Wednesday, one police officer refused to follow the order to shoot at protesters and was beaten up by his colleagues and was hospitalised,” the person added.

The opposition has called a series of rallies against the introduction of new taxes and the rising cost of living. Currently the country is experiencing the second day of a three-day protest.

Local and international groups and foreign diplomats have expressed deep concerns over the situation in Kenya and are urging both sides to seek a negotiated solution.

Kenya Air Force Helicopter Crashes In Baringo

By

John Mutiso

-

July 20, 2023

A Kenya Air Force (KAF) helicopter has crashed in Baringo’s Chemolingot area while listing off for a flight back to Nairobi.

In a statement to newsrooms, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) said the Nairobi-bound Fennec helicopter hit a tree and crashed while taking off on Thursday evening.

KDF confirmed that all passengers disembarked safely and are in stable condition.

“This evening, a Kenya Air Force, Fennec helicopter, while taking off from Chemlingot stadium en route to Nairobi, hit a tree and crashed. All passengers disembarked safely and are in stable condition,” KDF said.

Create a free account, or log in.

Upgrade your subscription