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Blogger sentenced for playing Pokemon Go in Church

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Ruslan Sokolovsky had pleaded not guilty during the trial [Reuters]

A blogger has been given a suspended jail sentence by a Russian court after he posted a video of him playing the Pokemon Go video game inside a church last year.

Ruslan Sokolovsky was found guilty of inciting religious hatred inside a Russian Orthodox church after he posted the video on YouTube which has attracted more than 1.9 million views.

On Thursday, the court also sentenced the 22-year-old to 160 hours of compulsory community service and told him not to show up in public places. 

Russian prosecutors had earlier called for a three-and-a-half year jail sentence for the blogger, in a case that has drawn ire from rights activists.

Sokolovsky – dubbed a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International – was detained and charged under controversial legislation for “inciting hatred” and “insulting the feelings of religious believers” before being put on trial.

“There are no grounds to let the defendant go unpunished,” Russian news agencies had quoted a prosecutor as saying in court.

Pokemon Go, jointly developed by Nintendo Co and Niantic Inc, generated masses of followers around the world as players use their phones to capture animated characters that appear in real locations.

Sokolovsky’s treatment has drawn comparisons with the jailing of the Pussy Riot performance artists after they staged a punk performance in a Moscow cathedral in 2012.

The case has once again highlighted the power of the Russian Orthodox Church under the conservative rule of President Vladimir Putin. 

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Entertainment

How Police officials forcefully Arrest Portable [VIDEO]

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A video surfaced online depicting the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) handling the arrest of well-known singer Habeeb Okikiola, also known as Portable.

The viral footage captured police officers forcefully dealing with the singer after he made an attempt to escape.

On Tuesday, officers from the Lagos State Police Command detained the Zazzu artist for failing to settle a debt accrued from his purchase of a Mercedes G-Wagon from a local car dealer.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the Command, verified Portable’s arrest, mentioning that the singer had only paid N13 million of the N27 million car price, and has since neglected to pay the remaining N14 million.

According to Hundeyin, Portable consistently claimed that the vehicle was defective whenever the car dealer requested payment for the outstanding balance.

“Portable has been apprehended. He bought a G-Wagon for N27 million, paid N13 million, and declined to pay the remainder, citing issues with the vehicle. We arrested him today,” Hundeyin stated.

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Entertainment

Portable Remain in Police Custody for Failing to meet up bail condition after arrest

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Renowned street performer Habeeb Okikiola, commonly known as Portable, continues to be held in police custody due to his inability to meet the bail requirements.

As previously reported by STEADY GIST, Portable was detained for allegedly failing to settle a N14 million debt resulting from his purchase of a G-Wagon from a car dealer in Lagos State.

According to Benjamin Hudenyin, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Portable will remain in detention until he can provide a trustworthy surety to secure his bail.

“He has not presented a reliable surety yet, so he (Portable) remains in our custody,” Hudenyin stated.

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Arrest

Police arrest over 50, destroy shanties as hoodlums clash in Lagos

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Lagos State Police Command,

The Lagos State Police Command has affirmed the apprehension of at least 50 individuals linked to a clash in the Ile-Epo region of the state.

As reported earlier by STEADY GIST, a confrontation erupted among hoodlums at the local market in Ile-Epo, commencing Wednesday night and extending into Thursday morning.

These hoodlums allegedly ignited the market, resulting in the destruction of merchandise and other valuable items.

Nonetheless, the Lagos Command, through its spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that peace has been restored to the area.

The statement declares, “Over fifty suspects have been arrested, and their shanties have been demolished, effectively dispersing them.

“Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has ordered the swift prosecution of the detained hoodlums and has also cautioned that the Command will take firm action against anyone disrupting peace, as per the law.

“Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Area Commander Alagbado, and other Divisional Police Officers under the Area Command are currently present to prevent any further disorder.”

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Arrest

Nnamdi Kanu Has been Detained Till July 26 for trial Continuation

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has detained Nnamdi Kanu, in custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) till July 26.

Nnamdi Kanu was arrested abroad on Sunday and flown back to the country. He was arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday.

Justice Binta Nyako was the judge who granted him bail on health grounds in 2017. But Kanu flouted the bail, forcing the judge to revoke it eventually.

He eventually fled abroad but continued to incite his followers who floated the Eastern Security Network, an armed wing of IPOB.

On Tuesday, counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the defendant (Kanu) had been arrested and produced in court.

Labaran urged the court for an order detaining the arrested IPOB leader at the DSS facility pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Justice Nyako, who granted the plea, adjourned the matter until July 26 for trial continuation.

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