Fire guts lower floors of Lagos high-rise

An early morning fire engulfed a commercial building in Lagos on Monday, causing serious damage to

the 22-storey high-rise tower on the Lagos Island broad-martins street on Monday.

According to a Xinhua reporter at the scene, tenants of the building and traders wept as flames engulfed the Great Nigeria House. However, there was nobody in the building because the fire started before work hours.

The Great Nigeria House, considered the fifth tallest building in Nigeria, houses several offices and businesses.

Many of the tennants were seen scrambling to salvage their goods from the burning building, as the blaze brought commercial activities to a standstill in the busy Balogun area of Lagos Island, a section of the country's economic hub.

Kazzem Alabi, a businessman, told Xinhua that the fire started at about 6 am local time and was first noticed on the first floor. By 10:30 am, the fire had spread through the first four floors.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, and neighbouring buildings have been evacuated.

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New KQ plane launched by President Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday launched Kenya Airways’ new Boeing 777-300ER which will operate direct non-stop flights from Nairobi to Guangzhou in China.

Speaking at the event, President Kenyatta said the national carrier’s latest aircraft acquisition will ease country’s movement of people, goods and services, boost efficiency and deepen trade connections with the world, particularly with China which is one of Kenya’s cultural, diplomatic and economic development partners.

“Our desire is to attract just 0.1 per cent of China’s vast population to Kenya, as tourists. That would transform our tourist numbers and revenues,” he said during the christening ceremony for the aircraft at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

He added that his government plans to ensure that the airport will fulfil its mandate as the air hub for East and Central Africa.

“We endeavour to use every opportunity to move the agenda of national transformation one more step ahead, and we will embrace the opportunity to lift the quality and traveller experience at this airport. We know that infrastructure development is critical to economic growth that leaves no one behind,” President Kenyatta added.

NEW ROUTES

The new aircraft, which has a capacity of 400 passengers and can carry over 20 metric tonnes of cargo, and will enter into service this month, will pave way for the introduction of new continental routes.

At the same time, he commended efforts at rebuilding sections of the airport which were damaged in the August 7th early morning fire. He applauded the progress in the building of a new terminal that will handle 2.5 million passengers a year, which is equivalent to the current capacity of the airport. (READ: JKIA fire caused by electrical fault: report)

“We are determined that this airport will fulfil its mandate as the air hub for East and Central Africa. We endeavour to use every opportunity to move the agenda of national transformation one more step ahead, and we will embrace the opportunity to lift the quality and traveller experience at this airport. We know that infrastructure development is critical to economic growth that leaves no one behind,” President Kenyatta said.

The plane, which will be Kenya Airways' largest bringing its fleet to 45, will join the already existing range of Boeing planes in the airline’s fleet – which includes 25 passenger aircrafts and two freighters.

Its premier world section has full flatbed seats with leather foot-rests, laptop stowage and armrests that also act as privacy dividers, Wi-Fi connectivity for passengers, a 15.4 inch touch screen monitor for each seat, power sockets and USB ports.

Immediately after the launch of the new aircraft, President Kenyatta left the country for Pretoria, South Africa for a two day official visit.

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Shollei case sent to Industrial Court....

The case involving former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Shollei and the Judicial Service Commission has been transferred to the Industrial Court.

Mrs Shollei had moved to court to challenge the JSC's decision to sack her. However, the case has been moved to the Industrial Court as it concerns the contract between an employer and an employee.

Mrs Shollei was sacked by the JSC in October over allegations impropriety. She has since declared her innocence and accused t.

he commission and its president, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, of subjecting her to a “kangaroo court” and questioned the process that led to her sacking, alleging that four commissioners were biased against her and were unlikely to give her a fair hearing.

“JSC resolved to terminate the appointment and remove Ms Shollei from office as the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary as a result of incompetence, misbehaviour, violation of prescribed code of conduct for judicial officers and insubordination, violating her freedom,” said her lawyer, Mr Donald Kipkorir, in the original petition.

Mrs Shollei claimed that following the decision to remove her from office she protested to Attorney-General Githu Muigai on October 25 but did not receive any response.

She alleges that her dismissal journey started on October 19 when she was sent on compulsory leave in an announcement through the media.

She claimed she responded to all the allegations made against her and requested for a public hearing on October 16 which was never granted. (READ: I was sacked unfairly, Gladys Shollei tells court in plaint)

INVESTIGATION

The JSC also wants Mrs Shollei investigated for obtaining money by pretences, stealing, fraud, unjust enrichment and abuse of office.

Dr Mutunga has written to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Mumo Matemu asking for the investigations.

In the aftermath of Mrs Shollei's sacking, Dr Mutunga criticised those defending her, saying the JSC would not be cowed into hiding its problems for the sake of building “fake” public confidence.

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US and Britain oppose bid to defer UhuRuto cases...

Kenya’s push to have the cases against President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto deferred seems headed for failure after an informal gathering of the UN Security Council indicated it would turn down the request.

Rwanda, Togo and Morocco circulated a draft resolution for a deferral among UN Security Council members on Friday, but there are indications the request will be rejected.

Minutes from a lobbying meeting held among ministers of foreign affairs from countries sitting on the Security Council show that Kenya managed to secure the support of only five of the 15 members. Only one of these has veto power.

At the meeting in Washington, eight ministers turned down the proposal while two others were non-committal.

Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr Macharia Kamau, Saturday said there are no specific dates when a decision by the Security Council can be expected. “However, it is anticipated that the decision will come within the fortnight,” he said.

It is expected that the views of the foreign affairs ministers will be reflected when the request is put to a vote.

Frustration kicked in towards the end of the meeting with Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohamed saying that if Article 16 was not applied, it might as well be deleted from the Statute.

Article 16 states: “No investigation or prosecution may be commenced or proceeded with under this Statute for a period of 12 months after the Security Council, in a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, has requested the Court to that effect; that request may be renewed by the Council under the same conditions.”

Ms Mohamed claimed that by refusing to grant a deferral, the council would be empowering those Kenya is fighting against (terrorists).

The minister asked how some Security Council members knew that President Kenyatta’s case would be postponed to February long before the decision was made public.

Rwanda’s representatives said they would table a resolution before the council even if a refusal was evident.

Ethiopia’s minister was also unimpressed, wondering why most countries held a similar position prior to the meeting. The minister accused Security Council members of having plotted in advance to reject Kenya’s request.

President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto are accused alongside radio journalist Joshua Sang of bearing the greatest responsibility for the 2007-2008 post-election violence that left 1,113 people dead and over 600,000 displaced.

Ms Mohamed has undertaken shuttle diplomacy to convince Security Council members to defer the cases for a year.

The council can order a deferral of a case if there is proof that its continuation would jeopardise international peace.

Kenya is citing the recent Westgate terrorist attack and the continuing peace efforts in Somalia by the Kenya Defence Forces to ask for a deferral.

To achieve such a deferral, though, it is necessary to convince at least nine of the 15 members of the powerful council to vote in their favour without a veto.

Countries that hold veto power are China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. Other countries that sit on the council but have no veto power are Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Luxembourg, Morocco, Pakistan, Korea, Rwanda and Togo.

The only country holding veto power that backed Kenya’s request was China. Togo, Rwanda, Morocco and Azerbaijan also supported the deferral.

The US, the UK and France were categorical in declining the request. Other countries that declined are Argentina, Australia, Guatemala, Luxembourg and South Korea. Russia and Pakistan gave half-hearted responses.

The minutes seen by the Sunday Nation indicate that the Chinese Foreign Affairs minister expressly suggested that the Security Council should invoke Article 16 and postpone the trial.

The French minister is quoted as saying that his country did not see a need to consider a deferral and emphasised judicial proceedings must proceed.

The matter should instead be handled by the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute, the minister added. The minister was also concerned that deliberations of the meeting should not be negatively reflected in the media.

The US noted that the ICC had shown flexibility in proceedings, “which is good”. It decried witness intimidation as unacceptable and maintained that victims of the post-election violence needed justice.

The US also maintained that the matter should be dealt with through the assembly.

The UK minister noted that Article 16 was not the right vehicle, instead saying Britain was “looking forward” to addressing the matter through the Assembly of State Parties.

Guatemala’s minister said it was difficult to justify a deferral, adding that the role and interest of victims and witnesses was essential. The victims’ lawyers in the two cases have opposed a deferral.Luxembourg’s minister was more categorical noting that Article 16 could not apply since there is no threat to peace and security in Kenya.

The South Korean minister said the deferral clause should be invoked “only in exceptional circumstances” and backed the suggestion to address Kenya’s request through the assembly.

Argentina’s minister echoed the sentiments warning that a deferral is an “extremely exceptional measure” that is tantamount to “interference in an independent judicial body”.Australia also said the matter should be dealt with at the Assembly of State Parties which could consider amendments to the statute.

Russia sat on the fence, urging those in the parley to “calm down, wait and take it up in consultations”. Pakistan followed suit calling for a pragmatic solution. The country’s minister did not explicitly support use of Article 16, but stated that it would be possible.

Arguing Kenya’s case for deferral, Morocco’s minister underscored Kenya’s contribution to the peace process in Somalia.

Togo fully supported the deferral request, noting that although the assembly could handle the matter, it does not exempt the SC from giving a response

Azerbaijan offered unreserved support for deferral while Rwanda’s minister said the ICC decision to postpone the start of Mr Kenyatta’s case to February next year was late and shows polarisation of the

court.

The minister said a lengthier period is required for Kenya to address the assembly and to deal with terrorism and other concerns.

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Four charged over Westgate attack

Four men were on Monday charged in connection to the Westgate mall massacre in September, an attack claimed by Somalia's Al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab in which at least 67 people were killed.

The four, who are all ethnic Somalis, are Mohammed Ahmed Abdi, Liban Abdullah, Adan Adan and Hussein Hassan. They are believed to have been involved in the attack together with others who are either at large or were killed during the operation mounted by security forces.

"The accused persons carried out a terrorist attack at Westgate Shopping Mall on September 21 by supporting a terrorist group," the charge sheet read.

All pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also included entering Kenya illegally and obtaining false identification documents.

State counsel James Kirui said that before day of the attack, Mohamed Ahmed Abdi and Liban Abdullah supported two terrorists identified as Moahmmed Abdinur Said and Hassan Mohammed Dhohullow in “committing a terrorist act at the Westgate Mall.”

Mr Kirui also accused Adan of offering shelter to one Abdikadir Hared Mohammed alias Mohammed Hussein at a location along Eastleigh’s Muyuyu Avenue in Nairobi. “On or before October 7 at Salman Al Faris Madrassa you knowingly harboured one Abdikadir Hared Mohammed alias Moahhmed Hussein who you knew to have committed a terrorist act,” the prosecutor said.

One of the suspects, Adan Dheq, was further charged with obtaining a false Kenyan identity card on July 13, 2010 at the National Registration Bureau office in Mandera town. He denied the charge.

Inspector Kennedy Musyoki swore the affidavit saying four of the suspects' accomplices died in the operation which was mounted to rescue hostages from the mall.

“Investigations were commenced which led to arrests of a number of suspects including the respondents who were either directly or indirectly involved in the mall attack,” Mr Kirui said.

DENIED BAIL

The prosecutor said the police had sworn an affidavit against the suspects being granted bail on grounds that they are known international criminals with no permanent residences in the country and may interfere with investigations which are still on-going.

“We believe they are international criminals who if granted bail will definitely abscond and it will be difficult to trace them,” Mr Kirui added.

Magistrate Dolphine Okundi concurred that the police had compelling reasons to disallow the release of the suspects on bond.

“Compelling reasons have been given and bail or bond at this stage is denied,” the magistrate ruled and ordered them detained at the Kilimani police station for a week.

The prosecution also asked for more time for further investigations. The court was told that data from mobile service providers which may further implicate the suspects was still being reviewed.

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Underwear that makes you FART with confidence.........unbelievable

There has been tremendous growth in wearable technologies of late with the common ones being smart watches and glasses (Google glass).

Now, an inventor from Britain has come up with an interesting wearable technology that represses the puff that is emitted from your derrière. In simpler terms, prevents your farts from polluting your immediate environment.

The Shreddies are undergarments that filter out the bad smell that result from farts. The inventor achieved this by placing a layer of Zorfl ex (a carbon cloth) between layers of ordinary fabric, which is behind eliminating the flatulence odours. During the laboratory tests, the Zorfl ex fabric was discovered to effectively remove sulphide and ethyl mercaptan so that it can neutralise odours 200 times up to the strength of the average fart.

-standardmedia

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