Television Nigerian

President laments death of two-year-old from stray NDLEA bullet

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July 19, 2023

President laments death of two-year-old from stray NDLEA bullet

Ivan Omhonrina, a two-year-old boy, was killed by a stray bullet on Tuesday during an operation by agents of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency at Okpanam in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. President Bola Tinubu expressed his sorrow over the death.

The President instructed the NDLEA management to investigate the incident quickly and thoroughly in order to punish those found to be at fault.

Ivan did not merit that kind of death. In a statement released by his special adviser on special duties, communications, and strategy, Dele Alake, Tinubu said, “We must make sure the incident did not end like that and that what happened to Ivan does not happen to any other person again.

A stray bullet struck the child when NDLEA agents raided the Okpanam neighbourhood of Asaba, the capital city of the Delta province, according to the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who made the confirmation on Saturday.

The victim passed away in the hospital while receiving treatment, according to Babafemi.

In contrast, the President said in a statement titled “President Tinubu sympathises with parents of a two-year-old killed by a stray bullet in Delta,” “I mourn the death of little Ivan Omhonrina and sympathise with his parents for the painful experience of losing an innocent child in a most tragic manner.”

Tinubu called the incident unacceptable and urged security personnel to conduct their operations with greater professionalism and caution in order to protect the lives of uninvolved Nigerians.

Read Also: I was fired with bullets by Fulani Herdsmen but was not harmed: Sunday Igboho

It’s unacceptable what happened there. The President stated, “We must identify those who inflicted suffering on the Omhonrinas and make sure they are brought to justice.

Additionally, he prayed for the deceased’s one-year-old sibling, who was reportedly injured in the tragic incident and sustained an eye injury, to recover quickly.

Ex-commissioner: Ganduje refused to accept N10bn loan for CCTV cameras

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July 19, 2023

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Ex-commissioner: Ganduje refused to accept N10bn loan for CCTV cameras

The claim that former governor Abdullahi Ganduje obtained a N10 billion loan for the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in Kano State has been debunked by Mallam Muhammad Garba, a former commissioner for information and internal affairs in Kano State, as false and misleading.

The former commissioner was responding to a claim allegedly made by the Coalition of Political Analysis Forum and Governance.

Garba criticised the CSO for calling for an investigation into Ganduje, claiming that their claim was an effort to discredit the former governor.

Read Also: Abia uncovers 2,300 ‘ghost workers’

“We ask them to back up the N10 billion loan with evidence.For the record, the State Executive Council and the Assembly formally approved the project when the previous administration came up with it, keeping in mind how crucial it would be to improving security in the state. Unfortunately, a Federal High Court in Kano issued an injunction on July 1, 2022, prohibiting the government from obtaining the loan.

We recall that the same court, presided over by Justice Abdullahi Liman, acknowledged on July 19 that it had been misled in the case brought by one Yusuf Rabi’u, the owner of a different, nonexistent CSO by the name of Kano First Forum, and had therefore discharged the restraining order. Garba said, “Unfortunately, up until the end of our tenure, the facility had not been secured and the project could not be carried out.

Abia uncovers 2,300 ‘ghost workers’

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July 19, 2023

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The government of Abia State claims to have found 2,300 ghost employees in its payroll system and purged them, which has resulted in a savings of over N220 million on the state’s monthly wage bill.

According to the state, the ghost workers were discovered as a result of ongoing verification efforts conducted on the state’s civil servants.

This information was provided by Deaconess Njum Onyemenam, the Accountant General of Abia State, on Monday in Umuahia, the capital of the state.

After having a meeting with the Governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti, Onyemenam stated that the verification exercise was still in progress when he made his statement.

“From the ongoing verification of workers in the state, local governments, and pensioners, we have been able to save N220m so far.

“Not less than 2,300 ghost workers have been weeded out from the payroll, using the unified payment system and we hope to still identify more as we continue with the exercise,” the accountant general said.

She confirmed and reiterated the directive that the governor issued the previous week, which stated that workers would be paid the arrears of April salaries left behind by the administration before this one, as well as pensions to retirees for the month of June.

She also disclosed that local government employees who were unable to receive their salaries in June due to their failure to submit their verified payment schedule will receive their salaries this week. The reason for this was that they failed to submit their schedules in time.

Strike: Doctors promise to return to work right away, They receive payment from FG

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July 18, 2023

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Strike: Doctors promise to return to work right away, They receive payment from FG

Dr. Anthony Anuforo, president of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife Chapter of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has guaranteed the populace that the present strike will end as soon as the Federal Government pays members’ salaries.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ile-Ife, Anuforo provided the guarantee.
He said that since March 2023, when they raised the issue of unpaid salaries, the NARD Ile-Ife branch has been working with university administration. Some of the salaries, he added, have been overdue since January 2023.

The NARD President praised the work of the most recent interim Association for making every effort to pay the salaries and promised that his team will make much more of an effort.

He claims that underpaid benefits include wage arrears, COVID-19 benefits, and risks allowances that have been due since 2017.

Anuforo appealed to interested parties to become involved in the situation and pressure the university administration to “pay our members.”
He regretted that their demands had not been met but pointed out that the deadline assigned to the federal government on the national strike of resident doctors expires on Wednesday.

Anuforo claimed that the current NARD management, which has been in charge for the past two weeks, is making every effort to assure the payment of outstanding salary.

“I thought the strike would give the Federal Government the push it needed to move quickly on the payment and other perks.

Anuforo underlined that the government should do its best for the health sector by boosting the budgetary allocation for health.

Anuforo begged the people for their understanding, saying that the strike was in the best interests of the physicians as well as the patients since a doctor who is hungry and enraged is a dangerous doctor.

Anuforo suggested, “Let government take care of association members, then the doctors would take care of patients.”

Only consultants are now caring for patients while the strike is in effect, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Drama as EFCC rejects its own lawyer in court and explains why

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July 18, 2023

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Drama as EFCC rejects its own lawyer in court and explains why

Stella Oduah, the former minister of aviation, was the subject of a new allegation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which the anti-graft organisation rejected through the representation of Ibrahim Mohammed, its own attorney.
According to The Tribune, the new accusation revolved around perjury and document falsification. However, on Tuesday, July 18, H.A. Okonofua, a representative of the EFCC, informed a federal high court in Abuja that the anti-graft organisation is unaware of Mohammed, the only defendant, prosecuting Oduah.
The former minister wasn’t in the courtroom, but Okonofua informed Justice James Omotosho, who was presiding, at the start of the hearing that the agency’s investigation had shown that “the counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, was de-seconded back to Nigeria Police on 14 November 2022, and he was not sent to represent the EFCC to prosecute the defendant.”

Agbese Represents Speaker Abbas, Asks Nigerians To Pray For Tinubu, 10th NASS

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July 18, 2023

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Agbese Represents Speaker Abbas, Asks Nigerians To Pray For Tinubu, 10th NASS

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, has urged Nigerians to continue to pray and support President Bola Tinubu and the 10th National Assembly.

The Speaker made the appeal on Monday at the launch of a humanitarian outreach by Hon Peter Akpanke (PDP-Cross River), the member for Bekwara/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency.

The outreach took place across the Local Government Areas that make up the Federal Constituency.

Represented by Hon Philip Agbese (APC- Benue), the member for Ado/ Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, the Speaker said Nigerians must imbibe the virtues of patriotism, selflessness, and nation-building at all times

He noted that Hon Akpanke is a role model for Nigerians as he has dedicated his time, resources, and many others to better the lives of his people.

The Speaker described Akpanke as a good example of the 10th House of Representatives, who resolved to give back to their people during this difficult period.

Rt Hon Abbas, therefore, charged members of the House to be more altruistic in their dealings with the masses.

He said their primary duty is the welfare of their constituents who they have sworn to uphold at all times.

The Speaker, however, pledged that the leadership of the 10th House will enhance its people-oriented and pro-Nigerian agenda to improve living conditions for citizens.

‘overzealous charge and bail’ lawyers fighting for Emefiele lacks legal knowledge, says DSS

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July 18, 2023

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‘overzealous charge and bail’ lawyers fighting for Emefiele lacks legal knowledge, says DSS

On Tuesday, the Department of State Services referred to certain solicitors who brought contempt charges against Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), as “charge and bail lawyers.”

The continuing arrest of the suspended former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, was the impetus for the filing of the charges by the group of solicitors led by Maxwell Opara and Ahmed Tijani.

Read Also: Court confirms Bakaris as Acting Chairman, ending Taraba PDP leadership crisis

In a series of tweets published under its Twitter handle, the service claimed that the attorneys were led by a “overzealous and uneducated IPOB/ESN lawyer.”

It stated that “Charge and bail, overzealous and uneducated IPOB/ESN lawyer Maxwell Okpara is mobilising other like-minded lawyers against DGSS.” Efforts That Are Pointless to Make. Well, Nigerians, beware! This shows a lack of good faith. A case of transferred aggression.

“An activist for the Biafran Republic and counsel for the outlawed IPOB defending the suspended governor of the CBN. Is the IPOB fighting for one of their own?

“What an apparent inconsistency. What exactly is the relevance here? Is there a secret someone is trying to keep from us? May Maxwell have an accurate education on the relevant legal issues, please.”

Opara and a few other lawyers had filed the contempt case against Bichi, stating that he had disobeyed repeated judgements and orders issued by the court, which directed the release of Emefiele from the custody of the agency.

They based the lawsuit that they filed on the alleged violation of repeated decisions that ordered the release of Mr. Emefiele and asked the court to put Bichi in jail for contempt of court for his actions.

Court confirms Bakaris as Acting Chairman, ending Taraba PDP leadership crisis

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July 18, 2023

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Court confirms Bakaris as Acting Chairman, ending Taraba PDP leadership crisis

After the State High Court’s decision in Jalingo, which reinstated Alhaji Inuwa Bakaris as interim Chairman, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Taraba State was no longer experiencing a leadership crisis.

By finding Abubakar Bawa’s designation as acting party chairman by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party following the resignation of the substantive chairman null and unlawful, the court on Monday upheld Bakaris’ status as acting party chairman. Justice S. A. Nuhu delivered the decision.

Read Also: Idahosa disagrees with Cardinal Onaiyekan over 2023 elections

Invoking clause 47(6) of the PDP Constitution, Justice Nuhu determined that the State Working Committee, not the National Working Committee, which had chosen Bawa, had the authority to name a state chairman. As a result, Bawa’s appointment was ruled unconstitutional and unlawful.

The purpose of the lawsuit, which pitted Bakari, Shamang Moses, and Ibrahim Abdullahi against the PDP and Bawa as defendants, was to contest the validity of Bakari’s ouster and Bawa’s selection as the party’s acting chairman by the NWC.

As a result, Justice Nuhu declared that Bawa is no longer recognised as the state’s PDP chairman and is forbidden from acting in that capacity as of the verdict.

Bawa, who served as Governor Darius Ishaku’s Special Adviser (Political Affairs), was sworn in as acting chairman of the PDP Taraba State chapter, which went against the wishes of many party members who believed Governor Ishaku had violated the party’s constitution.

Bakari, the party’s vice chairman, stepped in as interim chairman after Lt. Col. Agbu Kefas (rtd.) resigned to run in the party’s gubernatorial primary, which he won. Bakari later became the state’s governor.

Idahosa disagrees with Cardinal Onaiyekan over 2023 elections

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July 18, 2023

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Idahosa disagrees with Cardinal Onaiyekan over 2023 elections

Hon. Charles Idahosa, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, has expressed disagreement with Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, about his statement that the 2023 elections will be the worst in Nigeria’s history. Cardinal Onaiyekan made this statement.

According to reports from a few days ago, Onaiyekan had stated that there have been earlier instances of botched elections, but that the defects in the most recent elections were unsurpassed.

But in response to Onaiyekan’s statement from yesterday, Idahosa stated that the elections in 2023 remained one of the best in the country due to the kind of upsets that it produced as well as the new coloration that it brought to the National Assembly, which saw at least eight political parties win seats in both chambers of the legislature.

He stated that the opposition parties were likely going to lose their election petitions and that Cardinal’s claim was purposefully sponsored by the opposition in advance of the Presidential Election Tribunal’s decision on the election. Specifically, he pointed the finger at the Labour Party as being the opposition party that was responsible for sponsoring Cardinal’s claim.

“It is quite sad for a man who holds such a position in Christendom, whose voice a lot of people will take very seriously, to talk like that. It is something that a lot of people will take very seriously. For Christians, this situation is extremely embarrassing.

“Tinubu has taken the oath of office as president, and the court has begun its session. Consider the context in which Onaiyekan made his statement: at a time when we are awaiting the decision of the court. They must have done some research to find a remark of this nature at such a crucial juncture. I have spent over 40 years working in politics, and I can state with certainty that only those of us who took part in this election can determine whether or not it was a fair contest.

“What he said is quite stunning because he knows nothing about the elections, and this is one of the best elections in this country ever. This is one of the best elections in this country ever.” I am not a member of the APC; rather, I am a chieftain in the PDP; and you are aware of the struggles that we had. In the event that Tinubu lost the election for governor of Lagos, there is a good chance that someone will publicly question whether or not Tinubu will rig elections in his own place. An election in which Buhari lost Katsina, 10 sitting governors lost their seats in the senate, which means their states were divided into three and they were unable to win, and somebody comes along and says this is the worst election ever would be considered by some to be the worst election ever.

“The moment the Cardinal put his hat into the ring, he is now like any of us; he has taken sides, and he should not have spoken at all,” she said. “The Cardinal should not have spoken at all.” According to Idahosa, “this is an election in which eight different political parties are represented in the National Assembly.”

Tinubu finally admits dual citizenship claim in Presidential Tribunal as lawyers makes crucial demand

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July 18, 2023

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Tinubu finally admits dual citizenship claim in Presidential Tribunal as lawyers makes crucial demand

Abuja’s FCT: In front of the presidential election petition tribunal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acknowledged that he holds dual citizenship with Guinea and Nigeria.
According to the Nigerian Tribune, President Tinubu acknowledged making this claim through his attorney Wole Olanipekun (SAN).
Olanipekun however informed the court that President Tinubu’s passport was a Guinean citizen and that it had already expired in 2020.
He stated that the petitioners’ supplied passport does not provide a strong foundation for the prosecution of his client. Tinubu’s attorney requests that the petition from the Labour Party be dismissed. Olanipekun additionally asked the five-member tribunal to reject the petition submitted by the Labour Party calling for President Tinubu’s resignation.
He accused the petitioner of deliberately attempting to embarrass the President instead of presenting a solid case and evidence. He said:

“Lastly, the PW27 tendered Exhibit PBF4 (Guinean passport), which as usual, he claimed to have downloaded from the internet, purportedly representing the data pages of the respondent’s Guinean passport, which ex facie shows that the passport expired in 2020. It is all guesswork, aimed at embarrassing the respondent.”