₦airaland Forum

THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja,
on Friday, refused to conduct the trial of
the detained leader of the Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi
Kanu, who is facing a six-count treason
charge, in secret. Trial Justice John
Tsoho dismissed the application which
the federal government filed through the
Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr.
Mohammed Diri.
The court equally declined to allow the
federal government to mask eight
witnesses that are billed to testify
against Kanu and t wo other pro-Biafra
agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and
David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial
with him. Justice Tsoho maintained that
section 232 (1) (4 )(e) of the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act,
ACJA, 2015, clearly specified the kind of
cases that secret trial could be adopted,
stressing that the charge against the
defendants did not fall within any of the
classifications.
While refusing to allow the witnesses to
be masked, Justice Tsoho said there
was need for the court to appraise the
demeanour and character of the
witnesses through their facial
expressions. “This court is swayed
towards upholding arguments by the
respondents to the effect that section
232 of ACJA does not apply in the
instant case.
“Facial expressions constitutes a vital
aspect of demeanour. It sometimes
conveys more about a person than
words. Demeanour is very important
and better observed directly through
faces than behind masks. “One of the
main ground of this application is that
the witnesses fear for their safety and
has been receiving threat messages
through their phone. There was no
attempt by the applicant to elaborate on
that allegation.
“It is my respectful view that sufficient
particulars have not been supplied to
that fact. Moreover, the state, being the
complainant in this matter, have all it
takes to protect the witnesses. “While
the concern of the applicant to protect
the witnesses is appreciated, it is not all
the prayer that can be granted as
sought.
“Prayer one seem to have been
overtaken as the applicant already
supplied the names of the witnesses in
the proof of evidence it attached to the
charge. “From the list of eight
witnesses, only the 5th witness was
said to be in Enugu. The eight witness
is said to be in NBC Port Harcourt/
Enugu. This does not in any way reveal
particulars of the said witnesses.
“It is therefore not correct to assert that
most of the witnesses came from the
same area as the defendants”, the
Judge held. However, he re-validated
an earlier order the court made on
February 9, which permitted accredited
journalists, lawyers and family
members of the defendants to observe
the proceeding subject to the sitting
capacity of the courtroom.
“Prayer 5 which is to the effect that the
witnesses should wear mask/screen is
inappropriate in this proceeding. Such
procedure is applicable to trial of
terrorism cases whereas the instant
case is not such”, Justice Tsoho added.
Nevertheless, he granted that names
and addresses of the witnesses would
not be made public in any record of the
proceedings. The matter has been
adjourned till March 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
for trial. Kanu had vehemently opposed
the application by the federal
government to conduct his trial in
secret. FG had in the application,
lamented that all the witnesses billed to
testify against Kanu and the two other
accused persons, declined to appear in
court.
It said the witnesses insisted that they
would not testify against the defendants
unless their safety was guaranteed.
Consequently, government lawyer, Mr.
David Kaswe, prayed Justice Tsoho to
issue an order protecting the identities
of the witnesses by allowing them to
either wear facial mask or to testify
behind screens. FG equally applied for
an order excluding persons except
journalists from witnessing the
proceedings.
“The measure is to safeguard the lives
of prosecution witnesses who live in the
geographical region where the
defendants come from. Since their
arrest, there has been violent protests
for the defendants to be released. “The
witnesses have already indicated fear to
give evidence in view of perceived
backlash. My lord, they have
categorically informed us that unless
they could be guaranteed some form of
protection by the court, they would not
come to testify.
“In the light is t his, the case of the
prosecution will be greatly affected
should there be any reason for the
witnesses not to come to court”, Kaswe
submitted. The application was
immediately opposed by lead counsel
the defendants, Chief Chuks Muoma,
SAN, who argued that it grossly lacked
merit. He argued that section 36(4) of
the 1999 constitution made no provision
for masquerades to testify in a trial
involving an alleged act of treason.
“An accused person under our
jurisprudence and justice ad
ministration must be confronted with
his accusers eye-ball to eye-ball. “My
lord we operate an accusatorial system
of procedure under the common law.
Justice must not only be done but must
be seen to have been done. “It is not
within common sense to malign and
accuse someone in public and apply to
try him in the bedroom. Having been
accused in public we want to also be
tried in public.
“We therefore urge this court not to
allow masquerades to testify before it.
We want to see their faces and ask
them questions. As masquerades, how
will the court be able to gauge their
demeanour and body language? Is it by
the rhythm of their dance steps? “The
tenets of justice outweigh this
application and we urge my lord to
reject it. It has no merit whatsoever.
Secret trial is for terrorism charge, it is
not for the type of offence for which
these defendants were charged.
“Secret trial does not apply in a case of
treasonable felony or involvement in
alleged unlawful society. During the trial
we will prove to them that we are not an
illegal organisation”, Muoma added.
After listening to the parties, Justice
Tsoho stood down the ruling on the
matter till 2pm. Meantime, Kanu, who
appeared relaxed all through the
proceeding, wore a white lace with the
design on the front pocket depicting
colours of the Biafran flag.
Kanu who was hitherto the Director of
Radio Biafra and Television, has been in
detention since October 14, 2015, when
he was arrested by security operatives
upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base
in the United Kingdom. The defendants
were alleged to have committed
treasonable felony, an offence
punishable under Section 41(C) of the
Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria.
FG alleged that they were the ones
managing the affairs of the IPOB which
it described as “an unlawful society”.
Specifically, Kanu was alleged to have
illegally smuggled radio transmitters
into Nigeria, which he used to
disseminate “hate broadcasts”,
encouraging the “secession of the
Republic ofBiafra”, from Nigeria. The
accused persons however pleaded not
guilty to the charge on January 20, even
as the court ordered their remand at
Kuje prison in Abuja.

source: www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/biafra-court-refuses-fgs-request-to-try-kanu-others-in-secret/

1. Antilia, Mumbai, India – $1 billion

By far the most expensive house on this list – to give you an idea, you could afford to buy multiple houses on this list for the price of the Antilia – this thing is definitely not worth its price tag. Although it was designed by forward-thinking Chicagoan architects Perkins & Will, and features a temple, a health-level, a home-theatre, three helipads, and a garage with space for 168 cars, it’s unimaginable that any house could ever be worth one billion dollars.

The house is 400,000 square feet, but rather than being flat and wide, like say a ranch, it’s a 27-story skyscraper. To compare to the Penthouse in London, here square feet are only $2.50 apiece – considerably more bang for your buck (or pound for your pound!)

2. Villa Leopolda, Villefrance-Sur-Mer, France – $750 million

Most of the properties on this list are relatively new. If they were not, chances are people wouldn’t pay that much money to get them. Expensive old homes either become part of the cultural patrimony or are bulldozed to make space for something new. The Villa Leopolda has been around for quite some time, though. King Leopold of Belgium had it built in 1902 as a gift to one of his mistresses (mustn’t she have been charming?).

In 2008, a Russian billionaire named Mikhail Prokhorov tried to buy the house and it was valued at 500 million euros, or roughly 750 million USD. Despite not having all the cool stuff the rest of these homes do, the Villa Leopolda is a monument to aristocratic good taste, and does, after all, occupy 50 acres of desirable land.

3. Penthouse at Tour de Odeon, Monaco – $400 million

Monaco, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is known for its extreme, sun-soaked luxury. The penthouse at the Tour de Odeon there has been called the most expensive apartment in the world.

It’s in the second tallest building on the Mediterranean skyline, and it has fun hookups like a 360° view of the water, and access to a rooftop infinity pool with a waterslide that goes into it. Plus, the apartment is in Monaco, a tax haven that attracts high-rollers, so life in general is pretty glitzy.

4. Fair Field – $250 million dollars

Fair Field is a 63-acre oceanfront property in the Hamptons, in New York. The house has 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, a power plant, three swimming pools, a synagogue, two courtyards, an orangery, a 164-seat home theater, a basketball court, and a bowling alley. In short, it’s an agriculture, entertainment, religious worship, workout, bowel movement (39 bathrooms?!) and sleep complex all in one.

The house is so gigantic that the nearby residents in the Hamptons filed a lawsuit against the owner. They lost, but local legislators ratified a law after the house went up saying that from then on, Southampton homes couldn’t exceed 20,000 feet (Fair Field is 110,000.)

5. The Penthouse – $200 million

This apartment in London costs more than six-thousand pounds, or $9,500, per square foot. That’s absurdly expensive, considering that a square foot can hold like, a $1 jug of distilled water. But it comes with some good add-ons, including floor-to-ceiling windows, a panic room, SAS trained security guards, bullet-proof windows, 24-hour room service from celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, an access to luxurious spas and squash courts.

Even with all that, it would hard to justify blowing one-fifth of a billion dollars on an apartment; like, why not buy the entire state of Montana instead? But hey, to each his own.

6. Palazzo di Amore – $195 million

The last house in the list under 2 million dollars, this one barely makes the cut. At $195 million dollars, this home is in the top tier of expensive homes in the world. Its title, Italian for “Palace of Love,” really does it justice: this place would seduce you immediately.

The Palazzo di Amore is a 53,000 square foot Mediterranean-style villa. 15,000, or roughly ¼ of that, is an entertainment complex containing a ballroom with a revolving dance floor. The house also has amenities such as 12 bedrooms, 23 bathrooms, a bowling alley, a theater, tennis courts, swimming pools, reflecting pools, waterfalls and a garage that can fit 27 cars. If you lived in this California mansion, you would never have to leave.

7. Hearst Mansion – 165 million

In 2014, Lady Gaga released her “G.U.Y. – An Artpop Film,” a music video including several of her songs from Artpop. It was a music video of stunning opulence, like the lavishness CGI’ed into the background in the Baz Luhrmann version of Great Gastby.

The difference is, in the music video, the set was real: it was filmed in the Heart Mansion in California, valued at $165 million dollars. With three swimming pools, a massive wine cellar and its own zoo, it’s understandable why the property would cost that much. But, owned as it is by the Hearst estate, one of history’s most renown newspaper magnates, it’s understandable.

8. Spelling Manor – $150 million

Everyone remembers Aaron Spelling, arguably one of the most successful TV magnates of all time. He was the executive producer of Beverly Hills, 90210, Summerland, Wanted, 7th Heaven, and Charmed, among others. With a televised reputation like that, it’s no wonder that Spelling could afford one of the most expensive pieces of property in the world.

The 57,000 square foot home sold for an undisclosed price in 2012, but it was listed at $150 million. Specs on the home show that it has fourteen bedrooms and twenty-seven bathrooms, along with certain highly specialized activity rooms, such as a wrapping room and a silverware-storage room.

9. Shepard Krech House – $140 million

As of July 27th, 2015, this property, whose main residence is called the Shepard Krech house, is the most expensive property for sale in America. Located in the East Hamptons, this property extends over 11.2 acres of some of the most expensive land in, well, the land.

The house itself is 10,300 square feet, or big enough to have 10 bedrooms, four fireplaces, a workout room, an art gallery, a conservatory, and a guest-house. In other words, if you can afford to buy this house, then you can afford to literally never leave again, and never get bored because your house is like basically a mini city. All you would need is friends.

10. Beverly House – $135 million

The Beverly House is pretty reputed among the rich and famous. The Kennedys, Rihanna and the Prince of Monaco are among the property’s illustrious roster of guests. It’s a 30 bedroom estate just a few blocks from Sunset Boulevard that’s currently for sale, and if it goes, it will pass the Fleur de Lys mansion for most expensive house ever sold in Los Angeles county.

The current owner, Leonard Ross, who bought the mansion in 1976 when he was just 31, said it takes two hours to give interested buyers the grand tour. But, given the visual mastery of the backyard, with columns, color-coordinated hedges, and a fountain-like swimming pool, it wouldn’t take much to convince people to go in for the kill.

11. Xanadu 2.0 – $123 million

You’d think that the second richest man in the world would live in a bit more of an opulent house, wouldn’t you? Well, looks like Bill and Melinda Gates are more selfless rather than selfish billionaires. That being the case, they aren’t going to live in the Brewster Projects of Detroit, Michigan.

In fact, they live in a house in Medina Washington named after Citizen Kane’s Charles Foster Kane’s home. The house is souped up with geekiness, featuring such amenities as artwork displayed on mounted computer screens that change according to a person’s tastes and an underwater music system in the pool.

12. Fleur de Lys Mansion – $102 million

The Fleur de Lys Mansion, which sold for $102 million in March of 2014, is the most expensive house ever sold in Los Angeles county, California. The anonymous buyer, who acquired it from David and Suzanne Saperstein, paid entirely in cash and insisted on remaining anonymous.

There are rumors, but no one knows for sure who the masked man is… The 12-bedroom, 15-bathroom home, modeled after the French castle Vaux le Vicomte, has a 3,000-square-foot wine cellar, a two-story library, a commercial kitchen, and a spacious ballroom. How fabulous and mysterious. We’re dying to know more.

13. Shakespeare Ranch, Glenbrook, Nevada – $98 million

When one thinks “pricey property,” one doesn’t generally imagine open sky country in the flyovers. There, it seems like a person can get hundreds and hundreds of acres of land for like, a buffalo nickel and a pack of Malboro Reds. Well, apparently that isn’t true.

The Shakespeare Ranch in Nevada, so named because one of the rocks apparently resembles the bard, sells for $98 million dollars. With 133 acres of shorefront, 17 guest cabins, a barn, an indoor pool in a separate building, and a nearly 400-foot dock, we can see why it might cost someone a bit of money to acquire it.

14. Maison de l’Amitie – $95 million

This house, located in Palm Beach, Florida, was purchased by the boss himself, Donald Trump, in 2008. Unfortunately for him, if he’s elected President, he’ll have to leave this luxurious dwelling for the much more modest white house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington D.C.

Until then, he can continue taking advantage of the Maison de l’Amitie, translation “House of Friendships”, which features 60,000 square feet of elegance, diamond and gold fixtures, and nearly 50 car garage (someone call Jerry Seinfeld, he’s going to freak out).

15. Penthouse at 15 Central Park West – $45 million

People call the building at 15 Central Park West the “Limestone Jesus,” because it’s full of New York City’s most powerful and influential residents. Daniel Loeb, a very wealthy hedge fund boss, bought the apartment at the top floor in 2008, right at the beginning of the recession.

During the recession, housing prices in the United States suffered. It was a buyer’s market. In other words, Loeb bought an apartment for $45 million at a time when selling your house for more than you paid for it was a struggle. In 2012, Loeb was trying to sell the property for $100 million, just to give you an idea.

The owners of these houses are some of the richest people in the world, people whose cleverness, acumen, and very hard work has gotten them more money than most of us could ever imagine – a $1,000,000 house seems impossibly extravagant in this day and age!

But big doesn’t always mean tasteful (re: Flo Rida’s $1.7 million GOLD Bugatti Veyron, which someone called, “Like putting a moustache on the Mona Lisa”), and some of these houses are as garish as a gilded paint job. However, some of them are beautiful, the designers and architects having created a coherent little universe where the homeowners can seek solace.

Get ready, here come the 15 most expensive homes in the world, listed in backwards order to preserve suspense.

very funny!!!

obiorathesubtle:
Is there any word for 'wanting animals to join the party?' .....Preferably horses

zoophilia.

DikSin:
Any name for "Wanting her friend to join" the fun

3reesome if 3persons! O-rgy if more than 3persons.