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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.
LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and Los Angeles Lakers star, has announced a temporary break from social media.
The 39-year-old made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram after sharing a post by Rich Kleiman, agent to NBA star Kevin Durant, criticizing the media’s focus on negativity.
Kleiman wrote, “With so much hate and negativity in the world today, it confuses me why some of the national sports media still think that the best way to cover sports is through negative takes… I, for one, find it all a waste of breath.” James shared the post, adding a simple comment: “AMEN!!”
In a follow-up post, James confirmed his social media hiatus, writing, “And with that said, I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care.”
James, known for his strong presence on and off the court, is taking this break amidst ongoing discussions about the role of media in shaping public perceptions of athletes.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu presents 3 Trillion Naira as the budget for the proposed Appropriation Bill for 2025 to the house of assembly. The assembly meeting was led by Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. The budget is themed Budget of Sustainability and will be a blue print for the commitment to Lagosians.
The ceremony was held in the state house, Alausa, Lagos. With this proposed bill the state government is focusing on environment, education, technology, security and public safety.
Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has filed a motion to amend her lawsuit challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) order for the final forfeiture of her seized assets.
At a Federal High Court hearing in Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, Alison-Madueke’s counsel confirmed filing the amendment motion and serving the EFCC. Notably, no EFCC representatives appeared in court.
The embattled ex-minister also sought an extension of time to contest the EFCC’s public notice regarding the sale of her confiscated properties, claiming she was denied a fair hearing during the forfeiture proceedings.
The EFCC, however, rejected Alison-Madueke’s allegations, maintaining that the forfeiture cases were lawfully adjudicated over time.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to February 17, 2025, to consider the motion to amend the originating process.
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