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UN Judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for enslaving housekeeper in UK

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A United Nations judge and Ugandan High Court official, Lydia Mugambe, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being found guilty of keeping a young Ugandan woman as a domestic slave in the United Kingdom.

Mugambe, 50, was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when police discovered the woman working unpaid in her Oxfordshire home as a maid and nanny.

She was convicted of modern slavery offences in March and sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

During the hearing, Judge David Foxton condemned Mugambe for showing “absolutely no remorse” and for attempting to blame the victim.

He described the case as “very sad,” especially considering Mugambe’s prior work in human rights law.

The court heard that Mugambe arranged a fraudulent visa for the victim, claiming she would be employed as a paid servant at the London residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner.

However, the woman was instead taken directly to Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where she was forced into servitude.

Prosecutors revealed that Mugambe and Mr Mugerwa entered into a mutual arrangement: Mugerwa sponsored the victim’s visa in exchange for Mugambe’s legal support in a separate court case in Uganda.

Although charges were approved against Mugerwa for conspiracy, he was not prosecuted due to diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan government declined to waive.

Bodycam footage shown in court captured the moment Mugambe attempted to evade arrest by claiming diplomatic immunity, stating, “I even have immunity.”

The unnamed victim, speaking through a statement read by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, described her experience as one of “almost constant fear,” citing Mugambe’s political influence in Uganda.

She said she feared returning to her home country and might never see her mother again.

“Mugambe exploited a clear and significant imbalance of power,” Haughey said, adding that the victim was misled and lacked knowledge of her employment rights.

Chief Superintendent, Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police praised the victim’s courage and said, “There is no doubt that Mugambe knew she was committing offences.

“Modern slavery is a hidden and under-reported crime, and we hope this case encourages other victims to speak out.”

A University of Oxford spokesperson expressed deep concern over the case, stating the institution was “appalled” and had initiated disciplinary proceedings which could lead to Mugambe’s removal from the university.

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Higher fertilizer cost threatenening wet season farming – Jigawa farmers cry out

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Farmers in Jigawa State have expressed fear of inability to go back to farm due to the higher cost of fertilizer and losses recorded during dry season farming.

Some of the rice farmers disclosed this in an interview with Ekwutosblog ahead of their preparation for the wet season farming.

They explained that many farmers will not go back to farm for the wet season farming because they are unable to recover from the huge losses suffered during the last dry season farming.

 

According to Malam Musa, a farmer, “without government intervention, it will be difficult for most of us to return to our farms for the rainy season.

“The fertilizer we used to buy at N40,000 is now being sold at N60,000 and what we used to buy at N35,000 is now being sold at cost of over N45,000.

“We are therefore appealing to Governor Umar Namadi to come to our aid for timely provision of agricultural inputs,” he said.

They also urged the state government to use the previous section and distribution procedure used under the Fadama office to ensure that fertiliser and other inputs reached genuine farmers at the grassroots.

Another farmer, named Auwalu Kaci said, “It’s only through Fadama lll office our farmers at the grassroots level get access to the government’s inputs directly without any hindrance.”

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Buhari showed little respect for my grandfather – Shehu Shagari’s grandson

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Nura Muhammad Mahe, a grandson of Nigeria’s former President Shehu Shagari, has accused late former president Muhammadu Buhari of showing little respect for his grandfather even in death.
Mahe said this in a statement on Wednesday, publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the way the late Buhari handled Shagari’s death.

He, however, lauded President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a show of honour and statesmanship in organising a state burial for Buhari, who died on Sunday and was laid to rest on Tuesday in Daura with full military honours.

He described Tinubu’s attendance at the funeral as a symbol of national unity and dignity.

“This is in stark contrast to how the late President Shehu Shagari was treated during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari,” Mahe said.

According to him, when his grandfather died in 2018, Buhari neither attended the funeral nor arranged a state burial in his honour despite being in Nigeria at that time .

“Instead, a government delegation led by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who is notably a non-Muslim, was dispatched to represent him,” he said.

Mahe said the actions were a slight to Shagari’s legacy, stressing that the late leader deserved more recognition for his service as Nigeria’s first democratically elected Executive President.

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Military can defeat insurgency with locally made weapons – EIB boss, Echefu

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The Chairman and Managing Director of EIB Group, Dr. Bright Echefu, has said that the Nigerian military now has the capacity to defeat insurgency using weapons made in Nigeria.

He made this statement on Wednesday during a media tour of EIB Group’s facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where journalists were shown locally produced drones, bombs, and other military equipment.

Dr. Echefu said Nigeria no longer needs foreign help to fight insecurity, as local companies are now producing the tools needed to defeat terrorists.

“Nigeria has the capacity right now to end this insurgency with the amount of local companies that are investing heavily,” he said.

He added that the Nigerian military is supporting local manufacturers through partnerships, protection, and direct purchases.

“The Nigerian military strongly supports local manufacturers through research collaboration, protection, and patronage,” he stated.

The Managing director noted that this partnership is helping Nigeria become more self-reliant in terms of defense.

Echefu explained that EIB Group is already helping by monitoring drone operations in many northern states, gathering intelligence to track terrorists hiding in forests.

“Our goal is to ensure that these terrorists are completely removed from our land,” he said.

According to him, with local support, the Nigerian Air Force now has the ability to maintain and service its fleet locally.

Dr. Echefu called on the government to continue supporting local companies and expand policies that help grow the defense sector.

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