News
Pope Francis Facing Investigation Over Alleged Wiretaps in London Property Sale
Pope Francis is reportedly under scrutiny for allegedly authorizing illegal wiretaps during an investigation into a controversial £300 million London property sale.
The incident centers around claims that Pope Francis permitted wiretaps as part of a Vatican investigation into the sale, which has been described as corrupt. This move has drawn complaints from British financier Raffaele Mincione’s legal team, who have approached the UN with allegations of abuses during the trial.
Human rights barrister Rodney Dixon KC accused the Pope of approving wiretaps on Mincione’s phone. The trial revealed that Pope Francis allowed investigators to tap phones, intercept emails, and make arrests without judicial approval, all based on ancient laws granting the Pope such powers.
Dixon’s complaint to the UN criticizes the Pope as a “perpetrator” of human rights abuses. He argued that the Pope’s authorization enabled surveillance without proper justification, oversight, or a way to challenge it legally.
The Vatican accuses Mincione of defrauding it by inflating the price of a former Harrods warehouse in Chelsea, in which it invested £124 million through a fund managed by Mincione. Prosecutors have charged Mincione and 10 others, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, with fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of office.
Mincione has denied the allegations, asserting that independent experts correctly valued the property. He expressed his frustration to The Daily Telegraph, stating, “My basic rights have been trampled on and ignored. How can it be correct that I have been handed criminal penalties for breaches of spiritual law which only apply to members of the Church, which don’t seem to apply to anyone else that handles the Vatican’s investments, and which I didn’t know anything about?”
A Vatican spokesperson defended the investigation, saying, “The legitimacy of the investigations and the correspondence of the Vatican judiciary system to the principles of fair trial has been recognized by various foreign courts.”
Mincione hopes that the United Nations will pursue justice in this matter, calling the experience devastating for him and his family.
News
President Tinubu Speaks on CNG Benefits and Calls for Relief for Commuters
President Bola Tinubu speaks on CNG in Nigeria and shares how the benefits from it aren’t even helping the government but are going into the pockets of truck owners.
While speaking on his promise to help the refinery and the removal of the fuel subsidy to better the country, he spoke on CNG:
“Equally, the introduction of compressed natural gas — well, I will appeal to you: we will do more and encourage you, but ask your drivers to let the benefits trickle down to commuters too, because whatever benefit is coming from CNG is going into the pockets of truck owners. It’s not spreading as fast as I would like, but it should spread.
“The refineries you mentioned are going to come back to work. We’re just building a very firm reset and structural reworking of the economics of it.”
News
Youth Leaders in Ogun Call for Dedicated Ministry for Youth Development
The Nigerian youth leaders of Ogun State call on the government for their support to advance youth development in the state.
For International Youth Day, Ogun State held a programme with Nigerian youth leaders, and it was shared.
“Ogun State is at a trajectory moment of transition and continuity, and it’s a political season. We are trying to ensure that youth inclusion is key in the next administration’s agenda.”
“A dedicated ministry will help coordinate opportunities for our young people and ensure that their voices are properly channelled.”
Business
Fuel Prices Continue to Drop Across Some Nigerian Filling Stations
According to reports, fuel stations are reducing their prices a bit. This has become a general thing around Nigeria after the spike due to the removal of subsidy.
The prices are dropping to ₦1,275 and ₦1,299, going lower than ₦1,300 compared to what it was before.
