investigation - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency recovers nearly $30 mln in corruption probe

NIGERIA'S anti-corruption agency has recovered $28.88 million after launching an investigation into alleged fraud at a government ministry responsible for tackling poverty, a spokesperson said. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was suspended in January less than six months after her appointment by President Bola Tinubu, who came to power last year on a promise to revive growth and fight corruption. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesperson Dele Oyewale said in a statement that the probe, ordered by the president, had uncovered a "system and intricate web of fraudulent practices". So far, 32.7 billion naira ($28.43 million)…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

South African parliament speaker resigns amid corruption probe

NEWS

SOUTH Africa's National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said that she was resigning from her position amid an investigation into alleged corruption during her tenure as defence minister. Mapisa-Nqakula's home was raided last month by investigators as part of the corruption inquiry, who did not provide details on the investigation or the allegations. "My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me," she said in a statement. The resignation, which is effective immediately, also sees her stepping down as a member of the parliament. Mapisa-Nqakula was defence minister from 2012 to 2021. South…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Embattled Speaker of the South African parliament fights arrest over R2-million graft

NEWS

IN a shock and bizarre move, Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula, the Speaker of Parliament, has turned to the court in a desperate attempt to stop her arrest on charges of fraud, corruption and has demanded special treatment. Mapisa, who went on special leave after her house was raided by law enforcement agencies, has now demanded, in court papers, that the police must disclose the evidence against her and arrange a date for her arrest. Her demand, described as bizarre to the extreme in legal circles, flies against the law in South Africa, where suspects are arrested on the strength of prima…

Jan

2024

By GABRIELLE TÉTRAULT-FARBER

UN agency probes staff suspected of role in Oct. 7 attacks

WORLD

THE United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said that it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the October 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas and that it had severed ties with those staff members. "The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7," said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General. "To protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to…

Dec

2023

By FELIX ONUAH and GARBA MUHAMMAD

Nigeria’s president orders investigation after drone strike kills 85

NEWS

NIGERIA'S President Bola Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation into a weekend military drone attack that killed at least 85 people, including women and children, in northern Kaduna. Nigerian army chief Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja visited Tundun Biri village and apologised for the air strike. At a Kaduna hospital where the injured were receiving treatment, he promised to take care of their bills. The incident highlights a pattern of deadly aerial assaults by the Nigerian military and is the latest in a series of attacks that have killed civilians, which was the subject of a special Reuters report in June. Kaduna is 163 km (101…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia: Judge starts new probe into politicians

NEWS

A Tunisian judge has opened a new investigation into political figures including major opponents of President Kais Saied on suspicion of conspiring against state security, a lawyer for one of them said. The case comes after a wave of arrests of opposition figures over recent months that Saied's critics have attacked as a political clampdown, which he denies, and may spur fears of more detentions. The 20 people accused in the new case include the main opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, who is already in prison, former prime minister Youssef Chahed and Saied's former chief of staff Nadia Akacha, said the lawyer, Nadia…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Bolsonaro home raided, phone seized in Brazil vaccine records probe

WORLD

LISANDRA PARAGUASSU and RICARDO BRITO BRAZILIAN police raided former President Jair Bolsonaro's home and seized his cell phone as part of an investigation into his COVID-19 vaccination records. The investigation may answer questions about how Bolsonaro, a strident coronavirus sceptic who vowed never to get a COVID vaccine, was registered as vaccinated in health records made public in February. Bolsonaro confirmed the raid on his home in Brasilia to journalists and reiterated that he had never taken a COVID vaccine. He denied any role in allegedly forging documents. "For my part, there was nothing falsified. I didn't take the vaccine. Period," he…

Mar

2023

By ELIAS BIRYABAREMA

LGBT Ugandans face backlash as parliament launches schools investigation

LGBT+, LGBTQIA+

DAYS after Uganda's parliament ordered an investigation last month into the alleged promotion of homosexuality in schools, a video appeared online identifying Kampala resident Eric Ndawula as gay. Ndawula, 26, said his landlord showed him the video, which was posted by someone whose name he did not recognise. The landlord then issued him a notice of eviction, saying the building could not accommodate a gay person. "I am now a threat to the children around because I am going to recruit them into homosexuality," Ndawula told Reuters ironically. His experience is one example of a wave of discrimination and violence…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Three opponents of Tunisian president probed

NEWS

TAREK AMARA THREE prominent opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied said that they had received notices from prosecutors that they were under investigation, including one related to assaulting public security and insulting the president. Days ago Saied had warned that judicial actions must be taken against those who defame the "symbols of the state", considering that as an attack on state security. The activists are Nejib Chebbi, Reda Belhaj and Ayachi Hammami. Chebbi is the leader of the opposition Salvation Front and has organized regular protests against Saied for months. The justice ministry was not immediately available for comment. Saied…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

UK police investigate after Mo Farah says he was child trafficking victim

NEWS

LONDON'S Metropolitan Police said it had opened an investigation after multiple Olympic and world champion athlete Mo Farah told a BBC documentary that he was a victim of child trafficking. The 39-year-old said he was brought to Britain from Djibouti at the age of nine and was forced to do housework in exchange for food. "Specialist officers have opened an investigation and are currently assessing the available information," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement, adding that no reports had yet been made directly to the police. "Where offences are reported in the media which are deemed significant public interest…