Nigerian man standing trial for importing $10m worth of drugs in statue tells Australian Court he was threatened and set up by friends

A 34-year-old Nigerian man accused of importing 10 kilograms of drug ice inside three fish statues, told ACT Supreme Court today August 23, that two men threatened to destroy him if he didn't take the haul to Sydney.

Police found broken pieces of the statue in a green wheelie bin beside a Kaleen house after they intercepted the package and arrested Jackson Igwebuike moments before he boarded a Murrays bus bound for Sydney in 2015.

Igwebuike pleaded not guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and is on trial in the ACT Supreme Court.

He claimed that he thought he was helping a friend a friend's decor business. When he realised what was happening he became "petrified" and unable to back out, after threats were made against him and his wife, who was in Nigeria.

"They have ruined my life. I can't get even get a job" Igwebuike told the court.

Igwebuike said he was helped by the friend when he came to Australia to study. He said he agreed to collect the fish statues for the man, which had been delivered to a Canberra address, and take them to Sydney.

He told the court he believed his friend made money out of the statues which were a home decor item "that Australians like"

But the court heard before Igwebuike left for Sydney, two men who had been involved in the arrangements came and broke the fish open.
Inside the statues were bags wrapped in black tape, which the men allegedly told Igwebuike to take to Sydney.

Igwebuike said he expressed concern about transporting the bags because he did not know their contents. But he said one of the men lifted his shirt to show he had a gun and then brought out a phone to show him a picture of his wife in Nigeria.

"I was petrified." he said.

Commonwealth prosecutor Caroline Dobraszczyk? said in her opening address the drugs were discovered when three 20 kilogram statues that arrived in a shipping crate from China were x-rayed by Border Force officers at Port Botany on October 8.

Officers opened up one statue of a fish and discovered 43 packages filled with a white crystalline substance and wrapped in duct tape. Forensic tests revealed the packets contained a combined total of 10.58 kilograms of methamphetamine, with the pure amount weighing about 8.47 kilograms.

Igwebuike rejected suggestions from prosecutors that he made up the story about the two men and he was in control of the process.

The case is expected to wind up tomorrow, August 24.

Source: ABC News Canberra

Footballer John Mikel Obi's Russian wife, Olga, reveals how they met and started a relationship

In a live Instagram video she conducted today, footballer, John Mikel Obi's Russian wife, Olga, revealed how they met and started dating. Olga who referred to Mikel as her husband said
"Mikel used to be my parents neighbor. We lived there for 5 years. As my parents were leaving the flat, I dropped off the keys at his flat and that was how we met and started off as friends and then grew into lovers. it was never a magical love story because we were neighbors for 5 years but we never met until I went to drop off the keys when my parents were about to leave the apartment".
Olga who welcomed their set of twin girls in 2015, said their kids don't have any Igbo or Russian names because they are citizens of the world. Olga said they would decide which tradition to follow, either Russian, British where they were born or Nigerian.

When asked whether she watches Nollywood movies, Olga said "I don't watch Nollywood movies. Mikel watches a lot of Nigerian movies. I don't watch them. I love listening to Nigerian music. They have nice beats".

She says she would support Mikel and Nigeria during the world cup in Russia 2018.

"I just wanted to cry" William and Harry reveal their reaction when their father informed them of their mother's death

Prince Harry disclosed for the first time how his father broke the news of his mother’s death. He and his brother, Prince Willian, also revealed their reactions to the sad news that their mother, Princess Diana, has been killed in an accident.

The Princes opened up in a new BBC documentary which will be broadcast on Sunday. The documentary sees the Princes speak with raw honesty about their emotions at the time. They gave a vivid account of how they had to conceal their devastation amid the extraordinary outpouring of public grief. They also spoke of their shock and bewilderment at the "peculiar" scale of public mourning.

William says he was "disorientated, dizzy… and very confused", adding: "I remember just feeling completely numb. And you keep asking yourself 'why me?' all the time. 'What have I done?'"
Harry says his reaction to being told the news was one of "disbelief", and there was "no sudden outpouring of grief".
The brothers also revealed how hard it was having to walk behind his mother’s coffin at the funeral, with William recalling that it was "the hardest things I have ever had to do" and he "just wanted to go into a room and cry".
He added: "I just remember hiding behind my fringe basically, at a time when I had a lot of hair, and my head’s down a lot."

They praised their father for being there for them and for making attempts to comfort them during the trying period.
Prince Harry says: "One of the hardest things for a parent to have to do is to tell your children that your other parent has died. But he was there for us, he was the one out of two left and he tried to do his best and to make sure we were protected and looked after. But, you know, he was going through the same grieving process as well."
They also praised their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who faced an unprecedented public backlash for remaining at Balmoral with them in the dark days after their mother died.
"I think it was a very hard decision for my grandmother to make. She felt very torn between being a grandmother to William and Harry and her Queen role," William says.

Harry spoke of the people's overwhelming reaction to the death of his mother. Recalling the period they returned to London from Scotland, he said: "People were grabbing us and pulling us into their arms and stuff. I don’t blame anyone for that, of course I don’t. But it was those moments that were quite shocking. People were screaming, people were crying, people’s hands were wet because of the tears they had just wiped away from their faces before shaking my hand."
Aides say it is the first and last time the princes will speak about their mother’s death in such intimate detail. A Kensington Palace spokesman said they were "glad" they had contributed to the documentary but wanted to concentrate on honouring her legacy rather than talk about the past.

Wayne Rooney retires from international football with Immediate effect

Today, Wayne Rooney a record goalscorer and no 10 England player announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect.

The 31-year-old  who has scored 53 goals in 119 appearances for his country told coach, Gareth Southgate of his decision during a phone conversation.
According to him, “Having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football'.

Actress Mimi Orjiekwe shares photos from her daughter, Jasmine's baptism and dedication

The baptism and dedication of actress, Mimi Orjiekwe's daughter, Jasmine, held last Saturday. Mimi and her hubby, Charles Billion, welcomed Jasmine in April. They got married in July 2015. Mimi shared photos from Jasmine's dedication and baptism. See more photos below

Griezmann handed two-game ban for referee insult

Atletico de Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann (R) controls the ball during the Spanish league footbal match Girona FC vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on August 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / PAU BARRENA

France international forward Antoine Griezmann was handed a two-game ban by the Spanish Football Federation on Wednesday after he was sent off at the weekend for insulting the referee.
The 26-year-old was dismissed during Atletico Madrid’s 2-2 draw at Gerona on Saturday during the opening weekend of the La Liga season.

He also received a 600-euro ($700) fine, while Atletico were penalised 700 euros. Both have the right to appeal their sanctions.
Griezmann will miss league matches against Las Palmas on Saturday and Valencia on September 9.
He was shown a straight red card an hour into Saturday’s match after insulting the referee for not awarding a penalty in his favour. He later apologised.

Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos has also been handed a one-match ban after he was sent off for two yellow cards in the European and Spanish champions’ 3-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

And Argentine Ever Banega was hit with a two-match suspension after the midfielder was also sent off for insulting the referee during Sevilla’s 1-1 draw with Espanyol on Saturday.