Twitter CEO Elon Musk has warned it’s users that they may soon witness followers count drop, because the company is purging accounts that has been inactive for a long time. This announcment came a few weeks after the microblogging platform removed it’s blue verification symbol.

Musk made the announcement in a recent tweet, noting that the reason for his decision was to free up abandoned handles. The business magnate and investor stated that inactive accounts will be archived, but did not disclose when the purging will begin.

An updated Twitter official policy now considers a user inactive if they fail to log in at least every 30 days. In order words, users should log into their account at least once a month to avoid permanaent removal. This development comes as parts of the new policy that will be governing Twitter.

Dr. Obinna Obeta (right), Beatrice Ekweremadu (middle), and Senator Ike Ekweremadu (left). Image: AP

Uk court have jailed Senator Ike Ekeremadu, his wife and their family doctor on Friday, May 5, 2023 over an organ harvesting plot involving a young man who was trafficked to the UK in an attempt to harvest his kidney.

The former Deputy Senate President, his wife Beatrice and Dr. Obinna Obeta were sentenced at the UK’s Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey as follows: Ekweremadu, nine years and eight months; his wife, four years and six months, and Dr. Obeta to 10 years in prison in the first conviction of its kind under UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

The trio were found guilty in March of trafficking a 21-year-old former street trader to the UK to provide a kidney for the Ekweremadus’ daughter Sonia, who according to the Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) statement suffers from kidneys disease and needs regular dialysis.

Prosecutors argued that the victim was brought to the UK after being offered a reward of up to £7,000, equivalent of $8,810 and the promise of work in the country, but was oblivious of the fact that he was expected to give a kidney in return.

A medical consultant called off the planned transplant after becoming suspicious of the circumstances surrounding it. The later victim fled, sleeping in uncomfortable conditions for days before reporting the plan to UK police last May, the CPS added.

“This was an horrific plot to exploit a vulnerable victim by trafficking him to the UK for the purpose of transplanting his kidney,” Joanne Jakymec, Chief Crown Prosecutor, was quoted as saying.

“The convicted defendants showed utter disregard for the victim’s welfare, health and well-being and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout, with the victim having limited understanding of what was really going on here,” she continued.

Detective Inspector Esther Richardson, from the Met’s Modern Slavery and Exploitation Command said: “This is a landmark conviction and we commend the victim for his bravery in speaking against these offenders.”

 Ekweremadu’s was a former deputy senate president in Nigeria for 12 years, and served as speaker of the ECOWAS parliament between 2011 and 2015. His case evoked sympathy among Nigerians who saw him and his wife as victims of circumstance who were desperate to help their sick daughter.

Some Nigerian political class, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President of the Senate of Nigeria, Ahmad Lawan wrote to the UK court pleading for leniency ahead of his sentencing, but were unsuccessful.

Twitter CEO Elon, Musk finally began to purge blue verification check marks fom users who have not signed up for its subscription service on Thursday April 20, 2023. The move comes as owner/business magnet aims to overhaul the social media company to maximize profit. Some high-profile users who lost their blue checks on Thursday includes Beyoncé, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates and former President Donald Trump.

Also, Nigeria President elect Bola Tinubu, Presidential candidate of the Labour party (LP), Peter Obi and the Peoples democratic party Presidential candidate (PDP), Atiku Abubakar have all been stripped of the coveted blue verification checkmark. Some Nigerian celebrities such as Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tony Elumelu and more all lost their verifications.

In addition, some official U.S. government agencies, and a several news organizations have lost their verified status.The social media platform is currently charging a monthly subscription of $8 per month or $84 per year in available countries for the honor of receiving the legacy blue checks.

Mr. Musk who purchased the company in 2022 for $44bn and has struggled to make it profitable, decided to carry out his plan after months of threatening to remove what he called “legacy blue checks.” If you want it, you gotta pay for it.

Self acclaimed relationship coach and social media influencer, popularly known as Blessing CEO has regained freedom.

Sources reveal that Ms. Okoro was remanded in prison on April 1, 2023, over alleged cyber-bullying of Folashade Samuels, who was the sister of late Bimbo Ogbonna, ex wife of auto dealer, IVD.

She was arraigned on a six-count charge of alleged libel, cyber-bullying and for exhibiting uncensored movies. She was recently granted N10 million bail.

It was learnt that she had remained in custody for an extended period of time due to her inability to meet her bail conditions sooner.

She later wrote on Instagram page to confirm her freedom on Thursday April 20, 2023, “Child of grace.” Thank you lovers. She went further to write, “Words fail me, my hands still shaking. Long speech coming.”

From L-R: Yusuf Ibrahim, Dr Solomon M. Yusuf and Haruna Dashe [their driver].
Image Credit: Saharareporters


Three Staff members of University of Maiduguri, in Nigeria, comprising of two lecturers – ‘Yusuf Ibrahim, Dr ‘Solomon M. Yusuf,’ and their driver, ‘Haruna Dashe’ who were kidnapped on July 25, 2017 by Boko Haram group, were videoed pleading with the Nigerian Acting President ‘Yemi Osinbajo’ to try to meet with the demand of the insurgents so that they would be released as soon as possible.

 According to sources, the men were kidnapped by the Boko Haram faction led by ‘Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawi. Appealing for help, here’s what one of the abducted men said in the video posted by Daily Nigerian:


“They have promised us that if their demands were met, they will release us immediately to go back to the work we were doing.
“We were caught doing the work of exploration of acquiring gravity, magnetic, and soil geochemistry for exploration in the Nigerian sector of the Chad Basin, which will boost the economy of the nation.


“We were caught in the line of our service. I want to call the attention of the acting president that we have seen the route we took up to this position where we are currently recording this video.
“I want to advise that the use of excessive force is not the solution.
“We want to call on the federal government to meet these demands as (they) promised to release us,” 


Many university lecturers were killed when the insurgents ambushed them at the site of oil exploration in the north forcing the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission to suspend the exploration.

“Here’s a little naked fact to ponder while Celine Dion changes looks between shows: for the past five years she has worn haute couture near exclusively for her own performances [in Las Vegas and on her current “mini-tour” of Europe]. She performs a minimum two hours a night, five or six nights a week, dancing and curtseying and generally gesticulating sans abandon, in handmade, hand-beaded delicacies designed solely to walk a catwalk or a carpet [and often with handlers].” the Vogue caption read alongside the picture.


Dion is later quoted in the lengthy caption, opening up about how she often alters her ‘Haute Couture‘ numbers: “The clothes follow me; I do not follow the clothes.”

 
Another young Nigerian man identified as ‘Chinedu Eze Tony,’ has been murdered by unknown gun men in Belleville Cape Town, South Africa on April 25, 2017. Until his death, Eze who’s said to be a self employed cellular and electronics vendor, hail Umuchu in Aguata LGA, located in Anambra State, Nigeria. Mr. Tony’s death is coming few weeks after an auto mechanic named ‘Rasak Ajao,’ was also murdered by some South Africans in Polokwane, Limpopo Province. According to eyewitness account, the deceased was shot at point-blank range. 

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