R Kelly Sentenced To 30 Years Over Sexual Abuse
R&B singer R Kelly was found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering involving women, girls, and boys and was given a 30-year prison sentence.
In the course of the lengthy, multi-year trial, Kelly received the prison term.
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A New York City jury found Kelly guilty of racketeering and trafficking in women on all nine of the charges brought against him last September.
On Wednesday, US district judge Ann Donnelly, imposed the sentence at the federal court in Brooklyn after hearing from several survivors who attested to how Kelly’s exploitation reverberated across their lives.
At the trial, victims had described how Kelly, real name Robert Sylvester Kelly, subjected them to perverse and sadistic whims when they were underage. Several said he would demand that they strictly obey rules such as needing his permission to eat or go to the bathroom, and writing “apology letters” that purported to absolve him of wrongdoing.
Ahead of sentencing on Wednesday, some of the victims made statements, including “Angela”, who said “with every addition of a new victim you grew in wickedness”. On this day of sentencing “we reclaim our names”, she said. “We are no longer the preyed-upon individuals we once were.”
In her victim statement, Lizette Martinez said: “Robert, you destroyed so many people’s lives.”
Another, unnamed victim who directly addressed Kelly as he kept his hands folded and his eyes downcast, said: “You made me do things that broke my spirit. I literally wished I would die because of how low you made me feel. Do you remember that?”
Kelly’s case attracted attention in light of the #MeToo movement, during which powerful men have been held to account for sexual misconduct and sexual assault. Kelly follows Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and other prominent abusers in being sentenced to time behind bars, although Cosby was acquitted on appeal.
The singer, whose hits include Ignition and I Believe I Can Fly, was represented by Jennifer Bonjean, a lawyer who represented Cosby.
Ayu Not Suspended As PDP Chair
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday said that Sen. Iyorchia Ayu remained its National Chairman.
The Senior Adviser to the National Chairman on Communication and Strategy, Simon Imobo-Tswam, reiterated this in a statement he issued in Abuja.
Imobo-Tswam advised the public to ignore the social media publications alleging the suspension of Ayu, describing it as the work of mischief-makers and idle minds.
“Earlier today, mischievous stories broke on the social media to the effect that Ayu has been ‘suspended over allegations of misappropriation.
“The stories further add that the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Damagun, has been appointed in his place in an acting capacity.
“This is supposed to have followed a phantom emergency meeting of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC),” he said.
Imobo-Tswam said even though the party did not wish to dignify falsehood with a response, an official reaction was necessary in order to stem the tide of misinformation.
He said Ayu took “a well-deserved“ two-week leave on June 12, nothing that he would be back on July 6 to resume duties.
Imobo-Tswam said that as a stickler for due process, Ayu formally handed over to the Deputy National Chairman (North), Damagun, which had held forth admirably since that day.
“It was in that acting capacity that he (Damagun) today, presided over the inauguration of the Osun State Gubernatorial Campaign Council, headed by the Governor of Bayelsa, Douye Diri,” he said.
2023: Omo-Agege Picks Osanebi As Running Mate
DEPUTY Senate President and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has picked immediate past Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Friday Osanebi as his running mate for the 2023 general elections.
Omo-Agege, in a statement, said Osanebi emerged from a painstaking internal vetting process in which many notable and highly qualified Deltans were also considered.
The statement read in parts: “It is my pleasure to announce to our people that The Rt. Honourable Friday Ossai Osanebi is my nominated running mate and the Deputy Governorship candidate of APC for the 2023 Delta State Governorship election.
“This momentous decision is for the greater good of all our people and consistent with our unshakeable faith in the immense leadership strengths, innovative energies and resourceful spirit of the youths of this great country.
“He therefore undoubtedly fits perfectly into our ‘EDGE to BAND’ transformational agenda to reorganize our dear State. His life and beliefs clearly complement my vision of Delta State as a land of respect for and investment in all our people and their interests.
” He brings huge leadership capital to the table in our collective quest to rescue Delta from indescribable governance rot and restore hope to our people.
“May I quickly mention here that Rt. Honourable Osanebi emerged as our Deputy Governorship candidate from a painstaking internal vetting process in which many notable and highly qualified Deltans were also considered.
“Our Constitution only allows one choice and we know that Rt. Honourable Osanebi is a great choice. Nonetheless, I am confident that with God on our side and by the electoral will of our people, each eminent Deltan who was considered in the vetting process will be given a chance to add value to public governance in strategic roles after the 2023 general elections.
“I am confident that working with the Rt. Honorable Friday Ossai Osanebi as our Deputy Governorship Candidate offers Deltans, especially our youths, a unique opportunity to repair our broken leadership foundations and Build A New Delta.
“This unique moment in our political evolution is clearly orchestrated by God Almighty for His greater glory and greater good of all our people. I humbly urge all our people to embrace this as our real chance for true greatness. We are marching towards the New Delta of our dream, and we are unstoppable.”
Ex-Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi Decries Money Politics In Nigeria.
DEPUTY Senate President and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has picked immediate past Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Friday Osanebi as his running mate for the 2023 general elections.
Omo-Agege, in a statement, said Osanebi emerged from a painstaking internal vetting process in which many notable and highly qualified Deltans were also considered.
The statement read in parts: “It is my pleasure to announce to our people that The Rt. Honourable Friday Ossai Osanebi is my nominated running mate and the Deputy Governorship candidate of APC for the 2023 Delta State Governorship election.
“This momentous decision is for the greater good of all our people and consistent with our unshakeable faith in the immense leadership strengths, innovative energies and resourceful spirit of the youths of this great country.
“He therefore undoubtedly fits perfectly into our ‘EDGE to BAND’ transformational agenda to reorganize our dear State. His life and beliefs clearly complement my vision of Delta State as a land of respect for and investment in all our people and their interests.
” He brings huge leadership capital to the table in our collective quest to rescue Delta from indescribable governance rot and restore hope to our people.
“May I quickly mention here that Rt. Honourable Osanebi emerged as our Deputy Governorship candidate from a painstaking internal vetting process in which many notable and highly qualified Deltans were also considered.
“Our Constitution only allows one choice and we know that Rt. Honourable Osanebi is a great choice. Nonetheless, I am confident that with God on our side and by the electoral will of our people, each eminent Deltan who was considered in the vetting process will be given a chance to add value to public governance in strategic roles after the 2023 general elections.
“I am confident that working with the Rt. Honorable Friday Ossai Osanebi as our Deputy Governorship Candidate offers Deltans, especially our youths, a unique opportunity to repair our broken leadership foundations and Build A New Delta.
“This unique moment in our political evolution is clearly orchestrated by God Almighty for His greater glory and greater good of all our people. I humbly urge all our people to embrace this as our real chance for true greatness. We are marching towards the New Delta of our dream, and we are unstoppable.”
Ex-Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi Decries Money Politics In Nigeria
Former Minister of Sports and Youths Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has condemned the culture of extreme monetised politics and political processes by some political actors in the country.
Delivering a lecture at the 2022 annual Press Week of the Kwara State Correspondents Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Wednesday in Ilorin, Bolaji described the development as the biggest threat to the nation’s democracy.
Bolaji, a Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Kwara Central in the 2023 general elections, said that politicians have turned the political process into a business transaction in the country.
He observed that the development had brought out all manner of people canvassing for elective offices, warning that the trend, “if not curbed, is capable of making the electorate poorer and miserable in the long run.
“When politicians pay people to vote for them, the act has taken away the capability of the people to decide who governs them.
“It is the same as soldiers using guns to be in power, and politicians using the power of dollars to get to power.
“The monetisation of politics is a big threat to the nation’s democracy and political processes. Many people lose their conscience when money is involved,” he added.
He called on stakeholders in the country and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act fast to halt the culture of money politics.
The former Minister further observed that the quality of journalism in the country was a reflection of the nation’s democracy, adding that journalism should be able to deepen the nation’s democracy.
“Journalists should be able to play their constitutional roles as enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.
“Media practitioners should be able to hold the government accountable for the inadequate provision of education, job opportunity, security, corrupt practices, and abuse of power,” he argued.
According to him, Journalists were expected to act as watchdogs, and as well help set the agenda for the 2023 general elections.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Alhaji Hakeem Garba, charged journalists in the country to be good ambassadors of the profession and help to preserve and sustain the nation’s democracy by carrying out their duties effectively and unbiased.