Crime
Ex-UN official bags 15 years jail term for drugging, raping women
A former UN official, who drugged and raped unconscious women over two decades during humanitarian missions in the Middle East, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on Friday.
Karim Elkorany, 38, sexually assaulted at least 20 women most of them close friends during work trips to Iraq, Egypt and while home in the United States.
Journalists, Fulbright scholars, and UN employees Elkorany brutalised were among nine of the women who spoke at his Manhattan Federal Court sentencing.
They described being haunted by not knowing details of their assaults or what drugs Elkorany used to knock them out while noting his habitual abuse was an open secret.
A reporter, identified as Victim one, 31 years old and happily married was raped by Elkorany while on assignment in Kurdistan in November 2016.
She described the life-shattering trauma that followed as being like cancer.
She described her memories of that night as “snapshots suspended in darkness.’’
“Elkorany parks the vehicle in the garage of an apartment building, a place I never agreed to visit.
“The next memory I had was of being sexually assaulted. In the most excruciating one, I am being raped. I feel pain. I want to say no, but I can’t speak. I can’t move. I’m unable to escape.’’
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Elkorany pleaded guilty in May to sexual assault charges and lying to the FBI.
Manhattan Federal Judge Naomi Buchwald imposed the stiffest sentence she could for those charges.
The jurist noted that, had he been convicted in New Jersey or Washington DC, where some of the assaults occurred, he would have gotten life in prison.
“The drugging of victims was totally reckless. Mr Elkorany made no effort to learn whether the drugs he used on his victims would cause permanent harm,’’ Buchwald said.
“I doubt that he did an analysis of the quantity versus the weight of the victim, and we know from all the letters how clearly they got more of these drugs than was necessary for his purpose, given how out of it they were for a very long period of time.’’
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Lara Pomerantz said Elkorany photographed his unconscious victims and infected some with sexually transmitted diseases because he didn’t wear condoms.
U.S. Attorney, Damian Williams described Elkorany’s crimes as “monstrous’’ and expressed gratitude to the women who came forward.
Ex-UN official bags 15 years jail term for drugging, raping women
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday ordered the remand of a 52-year-old man, Taiwo Olaniyan, in Agodi correctional facility for allegedly causing the death of his unborn child.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendant’s plea for lack of jurisdiction, ordered his remand in Agodi correctional facility, Ibadan.
Ogunkanmi held that the defendant would remain in custody pending receipt of advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till Dec. 12 for mention.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, had arraigned the defendant, who resides at Apata area of Ibadan, on a three-count charge bordering on assault and causing death of an unborn child.
Akinloye told the court that the defendant had, on May 2018, assaulted his wife, Rukayat Babajide, by inflicting injury on her.
He said that the defendant caused the death of the foetus due to his assault on his wife during pregnancy.
The prosecutor said that the couple had been married for 14 years, with two children.
According to him, the offences contravene Section 316 and punishable under Sections 319, 328 and 355 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
NAN reports that if found guilty of the charges, the defendant maybe sentenced to three years imprisonment under section 355, while section 328 stipulates life imprisonment and section 319 death sentence for any convicted offender.
A 38-year-old driver, Farouq Babanle, was arraigned on Thursday before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing charcoal worth N730, 000.
The defendant, whose address was not provided, is facing two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Nov 12, at Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to Leo, the defendant was given charcoal worth N730, 000 to transport from Kachia to customers in Kawo Kaduna.
The prosecutor stated that the defendant stole the charcoal, sold it and diverted the proceeds to his personal use.
He added that after stealing the charcoal, the defendant ran to an unknown destination until he was seen and arrested on Nov. 20, at Rigasa Kaduna.
He said the offence contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Emmanuel said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must furnish the court with proof of tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.
He adjourned the case until Dec. 19, for hearing.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Akwa Ibom, has arrested three suspected drug dealers and impounded illicit drugs worth N500m.
The Commanding Officer of the Base, Capt. Uche Aneke disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the contraband drugs and industrial chemicals to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Customs Service.
Aneke said the suspects were arrested in a boat on Monday at about 11:50 am during a routine patrol around the Bendero and Uta Uyata general area.
“The boat was laden with over 125 sacks of industrial chemicals (crystalline ammonia) and 62 cartons of different brands of contraband drugs.
“These included 820 tubes of Pethidine (containing opium) and 24,800 bottles of Codeine syrup, en route to Nigeria from the Republic of Cameroon with the intention of smuggling the controlled substances into Nigeria,” Aneke said.
He warned individuals or groups planning to engage in any form of criminality in Nigerian waters to desist or face the consequences.
Aneke said that under the current leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the FOB Ibaka remained resolute in ensuring that maritime crimes are effectively eradicated in the coastal areas of Akwa Ibom.
Receiving the suspects and contraband drugs, Mr Monday Jatau, the Deputy State Commander in charge of Operations and Training of the NDLEA in Akwa Ibom, said the agency would prosecute the suspects after further investigation.
Also receiving the industrial chemicals on behalf of NCS, Mr Abdulkadir Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent, commended the Nigerian Navy for their sustained support in the fight against criminals.
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Court remands man for allegedly causing death of his unborn child
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