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Court Strikes out Suit against Saraki’s Aides over Alleged N3.5bn Paris Loan Scam

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coic
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Three aides to former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki have been granted relief after a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the 11-count charge filed against them in connection with the alleged N3.5 billion Paris loan scandal.

Justice Akintayo Aluko struck out the accusation brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ruling that the EFCC’s second amended charge was brought in violation of Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act.

Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola; a cashier in the Senate president’s office, Kolawole Shittu; a former Managing Director of Societe Generale Bank, Robert Chidozie (now at large); and a company, Melrose General Services Limited, and its Operations Manager, Obiora Amobi are among the former Senate President’s aides.

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The EFCC has them arraigned in court in September 2019 for the alleged offenses.

The defendants were originally arraigned in front of Justice Babs Kuewunmi, who has been transferred to a different division of the court.

The defendants’ case file was transferred to Justice Akintayo Aluko after Justice Kuewunmi was transferred.

Midway through their trial, however, the prosecution agency (EFCC) requested to the court to alter the accusation against them, adding two more counts to the original eleven.

However, the defendants, through their lawyers, contested the court’s jurisdiction to hear the allegations brought against them, as well as the second modified 13-count charge.

The defendants stated in their motion that the prosecution failed to establish categorically where the offenses were committed in the accusation.

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The defendants alleged that the second modified charge was a ruse by the prosecution to fix the flaws in the first amended charge.

As a result, they asked the court to dismiss the case and award the EFCC N20 million in damages.

The EFCC, on the other hand, through its counsel, objected to the defendants’ application and urged the court to dismiss it.

After considering the parties’ submissions and the multiplicity of legal authorities provided, Justice Aluko granted Saraki’s aides’ request and dismissed the charges against them due to a lack of jurisdiction.

However, Justice Aluko turned down the defendants’ motion for a cost award of N20 million against the EFCC.

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“The prosecution called my attention to the second amended charge which they propose to bring in; I see this call as another means of seeking an amendment of the first amended charge, the validity and competence of which is on trial in light of the preliminary objection of the defendants over which the prosecution has joined issue and which is under consideration,” Justice Aluko wrote in striking down the charge.

“I see the prosecution’s request that I take judicial notice of the proposed second amended charge as an invitation for the court to overrule itself in its October 15, 2021 ruling, in which this court held that an incompetent originating process could not be later amended to make it competent, because you can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand.”

“I am of the opinion that the prosecution’s request for judicial notice of the second amended charge, notwithstanding the fact that both parties have raised issues on the legitimacy and competency of the pending first amended charge, will not provide relief to the prosecution.” This is because the second amended charge was filed in violation of Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act’s required provision. The Apex Court held as follows in its concurring opinion in Belgore vs FRN and Anor (above) at page 533 paras D-€: ‘Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act provides for where offences are to be tried… These provisions are not able to be waived.’

“Even if I were to follow the prosecution’s request to take judicial notice of the second revised charge, I don’t see how that would improve or repair the prosecution’s case.” A review of the 13 counts in the accusation reveals that the alleged crimes in the counts were allegedly committed in Lagos.

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“I venture to guess that the story will loudly remain the same as long as the prosecution continues to dwell or rely on the comments in the proof of evidence connected to the previous amended charge.” The clear inconsistency between the 13 counts in the proposed second amended charge as to where the offenses were allegedly committed and the assertions in the proof of evidence will continue to be exposed. It will mean that the 13 counts in the proposed amended charge name Lagos as the place or region where the crimes were committed, while the proof of evidence statements name Abuja. This indicates that the charge still contains a breach of the fundamental and mandatory provision in Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act relating this court’s geographical jurisdiction.”

The defendants were presented before the court on October 7, 2018, on charges of conspiracy and payment of funds without going through financial institutions.

The EFCC, through its counsel, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, informed the court at their arraignment that the three defendants colluded among themselves sometime in December 2016 to conceal the origin of the sum of N3.5 billion deposited into Melrose General Services Limited bank account.

Iheanacho further informed the court that the third defendant, Obiora Amobi, the operation manager of Melrose General Services, made a cash transfer of N300 million to Robert Mbonu (now at large) from the N3.5 billion without going through a financial institution between December 15 and 17, 2016.

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Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Makanjuola, and the Senate President’s Cashier, Shittu, were also accused of making a cash payment of $1.5 million in three tranches between themselves in December 2016 without going through a financial institution.

According to the EFCC, the alleged offenses are in violation of Sections 18(2)(d), 15(2)(b) 1(a), and 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and are punishable under Sections 15(3) and 16 (2)(b) of the same act.

APC crisis gets worsens as faction ‘nullifies’ Buni’s committee

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coic
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The crisis engulfing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was exacerbated yesterday by the formation of a factional Caretaker Committee led by Prince Mustapha Audu and the purported disbandment of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) by one of the party’s support groups, the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM).

This comes less than a week after the PYM convened in Kaduna State and approved a vote of no confidence in the Buni-led CECPC, ordering the interim committee to resign.

The youth organization remarked that the caretaker committee had overstayed its welcome to organize a national convention for the party at a town hall meeting themed, “Ready to lead, now or never,” which drew youngsters from the Northwest geopolitical zone to Murtala Square in Kaduna.

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Following the turmoil that saw the party’s former leader, Adams Oshiomhole, resign, Buni, the governor of Yobe State, was chosen chairman of the CECPC in June 2020.

The new CECPC has been given the task of organizing the party’s national convention, which will take place on February 26.

In recent weeks, the party’s national secretariat has been heavily guarded after party leaders claimed intelligence reports of a planned violent takeover.

Before its scheduled February 26, 2021 convention, Audu organized a National Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Mr Hassan Saddiq Arivi, to reconcile dissatisfied members.

Audu revealed a zoning mechanism for slots in the new National Working Committee (NWC) for the party’s February 26 national convention, while charging the young factional caretaker committee to carry out their duty with complete integrity and honor.

Governor Buni, on the other hand, retaliated quickly, requesting that Audu and his companions be arrested for treasonous felony. Mustapha is the son of Prince Abubakar Audu, a former governor of Kogi and a late party chieftain.

The action was dismissed by the CECPC’s secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, as “the felonious acts of a purported gang.”

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They are not known to the party, its structure, or as a registered support group, according to the scribe’s statement.

“However ludicrous, the putative group’s unlawful attempt to takeover the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC has now been charged with treasonable felony.

“Now is the time for relevant security bodies to check and resolve their unethical acts. The party will not give the alleged group the attention they seek.

“All we can say is that the general public should ignore them.” They are not registered members of the APC and are being utilized to confuse the public by opposition forces and fifth columnists.

AUDU, speaking during the group’s first meeting in Abuja, said that the sacking of the Buni-led committee was intended at addressing the party’s problems.

“We are aware of the variety of issues within the party, our party has a history of shying away from true reconciliation and in many cases imposing chastisement on members who should have been praised for their commitment towards developing the APC,” he stated, justifying their formation.

“It is apparent that the party has taken a backward path in recent years, and it is incumbent on all well-intentioned party members to roll up their sleeves and do what is necessary to guarantee that we remedy the mistakes that have been made in order to ensure success in 2023 for all stakeholders.”

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“As the election year approaches, let us join hands to promote internal democracy in our party and demonstrate to Nigerians that we have what it takes and deserve their votes in 2023.”

Chairman, Prince Mustapha Audu; Vice Chairman, Tukur Tukur Buratai; Vice Chairman, Busayo Akinnadeju; Southwest representative, Omowunmi Ogungbaibi; Southeast representative, Nonso Nwaebili; South-South representative, Prince Godswill Edward; North-central representative, Dr Ibrahim Abdul; Northeast representative, Ibrahim A Waziri; and Northwest representative, Bello Bala Shagari

Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan represents the Senate; Femi Gbajabiamila represents the House of Representatives; Sajo Xcarfini represents the physically challenged; Dr. Young Piero represents the youth; Fatima Lawal Rafindadi represents the women; and Tonye Isokariari represents the secretary.

President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex-Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, Senator Vivian Okadigbo, Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, Governor Babagana Umaru Zulum of Borno State, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State are among the members of the fact

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In another move, the party’s leadership has refuted media rumors that the position of national chairman has been assigned to the geopolitical zone of the north. Akpanudoedehe, the party’s scribe, revealed this while interacting with journalists in Abuja yesterday.

He claimed that the subject of national office zoning was not included in the CECPC’s mission when it was established in June 2020.

“People are simply flying what will benefit their own interests; all I know is that the caretaker committee has not considered or decided on zoning.”

Senator Victor Lar, Media Director of the Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff Campaign Organization, said the report was not only ludicrous, but also a fiction of the imagination of those who wrote it. Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, is one of the APC’s presidential candidates.

Members of one of its legacy parties, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), are split on whether to support Tanko Almakura, a former governor of Nasarawa State, or Malam Saliu Mustapha, a former deputy national chairman of the CPC. According to those who were in the disbanded CPC with both Almakura and Mustapha, the difficulty sprang from the two party chieftains’ chances and qualifications.

While the former Nasarawa governor was the only governor the CPC had at the time, Mustapha, Turaki of Ilorin, is reported to have been a long-time associate of President Buhari, who led the CPC prior to the merger that gave rise to the APC.

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The APC leaders argued that because the defunct Bola Tinubu-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) produced the interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, as well as the two substantive national chairmen, Chief John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, it is now the turn of the CPC to produce the party’s next national chairman.

“Many of us are divided on who to back,” a source from the CPC legacy party told our correspondent in Abuja yesterday.

“Some of us prefer Al-Makura because of his pedigree as a former governor and his clout among his fellow former governors, but Mustapha is a founding member of the CPC with a strong background in party administration and was a driving force in The Buhari Organization” (TBO).

“His support base among CPC members cannot be discounted,” he noted, “particularly as he appears to be a rallying point for many stakeholders within our organization, as well as younger individuals in the APC.”

CPC members have limited it down to Al-Makura and Mustapha, according to the source, because they believe the job will finally be designated to the north-central.

“The two other North-central hopefuls are former Benue State governor George Akume and Senator Sani Musa of Niger State, both of whom have ACN and ANPP backgrounds. As a result, we are adamant that CPC be given the opportunity to sit in that seat.

“We have a strong case because the two major legacy parties have previously produced National Chairmen, and none of our people are expected to run for President after President Buhari.”

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It’s unclear whether CPC factions in APC would eventually settle on Al-Makura and Mustapha as a consensus candidate.

Mustapha stated earlier this weekend in Lagos that his main purpose is to ensure the party’s supremacy rather than that of its members. “I’d also like to see a party that emphasizes equity, fairness, and justice,” he added.

“Among other things, we will not impose candidates for elections; there will be teamwork rather than a one-man show; and we will collaborate with everyone.”

Unlike some other political parties, Turaki Ilorin stated that he will not dictate to party members, adding, “I will be readily accessible, consult widely, and run an all-inclusive administration.” I’ll also make certain that our primaries are free of animosity.

“The candidates who emerge will be those who are acceptable to all members of the party.” When popular candidates do not emerge from open and fair primaries, parties rig.”

Mustapha stated that one of his advantages is his youth, as there is a push for the younger generation to take over leadership. “Because 75 percent of the votes belong to the youths,” he continued, this comes into play.

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“Against this backdrop, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party appointed a 25-year-old man to the role of National Youth Leader. Consider the advantages of having a young person as the APC’s National Chairman.”

Centre lauds NYSC on fight against fake certificates

By
Toby
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The UNESCO Centre for Excellence (UNESCO-CE) has lauded the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) for standing up against fake and sub-standard academic certificates from tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria.

The Centre said the NYSC has rapidly wiped out unqualified Nigerians from the exercise through its rigorous process and vigilant staff members.

Recall that the Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, had vowed not to succumb to pressure to compromise its mobilisation process.

Speaking recently when he hosted the Registrar/CEO of Health Records Officials Registration Board of Nigeria, Alhaji Babagana Mustapha, the DG said “the NYSC would not relent to do the needful in line with the NYSC Act”.

He also pledged that “we will continue to prosecute fake graduates who show up for service . Anyone caught with fake certificates during registration would be prosecuted as enshrined in the NYSC Act. I want to assure you that we will move our collaboration to the next level and will continue to postgraduates of Health Information Management to medical facilities.”

Commending the DG, Dr Moses Gabriel, Regional Director of the Centre, in a statement on Tuesday, said the fight against fake and sub-standard educational certificates has yielded dividends.

Gabriel, therefore, charged the DG and NYSC management to sustain the momentum as this will ultimately improve the quality of Nigerian graduates, earning them global acceptance.

The Centre, however, advised the National University Commission and other relevant bodies in the country to emulate the NYSC in this regard and sustain the fight towards riding the country of fake certificates.

FG Inaugurates Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road

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coic
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President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the N6.6 billion Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road Phases 1 and 2 yesterday. The route from Vandeikya in Benue State to Obudu in Cross Rivers State runs through.

The President, who was represented by Senator George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, said the road would affect people in both Benue and Cross Rivers.

He noted that the road project constituted a significant investment in road transportation infrastructure, demonstrating the president’s administration’s commitment to infrastructure as a driver of economic growth and prosperity.

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He also stated that the road’s construction is a visible and indisputable asset that demonstrates what Nigerians are investing their resources in through a combination of earned and borrowed resources.

Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, noted in his speech that the road development is part of the federal government’s ambition to build roads around the country.

“It gives me distinct pleasure to bring the good tidings of the Federal Government of Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari to the people and government of Benue and Cross River State, who will be impacted by the Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road Phases I and II that our President will hand over today,” Fashola said.

“I am happy to reiterate that the Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora-Makera Road, which was handed over last Thursday in Kebbi State, is the second of many more projects that will be completed and handed over in the coming weeks and months as we enter what I call a season of completion and impact in our country.”

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The Minister stated that the event provided an additional chance to recognize the impact of Sukuk funds on the completion of the Azare — Potiskum, Shuwarin — Potiskum, and Sokoto-Tambuwal-Kontagora Roads.

“Right now, the Sukuk is helping to fund the construction of 44 highways across Nigeria, and when we finish them, events like this will take place.”

Mr. Emmanuel Yisa, a Vandeikya resident and governorship hopeful under the All Progressive Congress (APC), expressed gratitude to the president for the road’s building in his remarks.

According to him, the road is one of the few in the country that has been built to specifications.

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He went on to say that the route would enable people of the largely farming areas of Vandeikya and Obudu alleviate their misery.

China pledged a billion doses of Covid vaccine for Nigeria, Other African Countries

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coic
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As countries around the world work to stop the spread of the new COVID-19 form, Omicron, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced yesterday that his country would provide another one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nigeria and other African nations. Jinping also stated that over the next three years, Chinese enterprises will invest at least $10 billion in Africa.

Concerns over the spread of the new disease type, which was discovered in South Africa, prompted the pledge of more vaccine doses on top of the almost 200 million doses China had already sent to the continent.

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The Nigerian authorities, on the other hand, stated that no cases of the Omicron strain had been reported in the country. Nigeria’s aviation officials, on the other hand, claimed they were on high alert to prevent the virus from spreading. The Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) advised Nigerians to follow the proven public health and social measures in place to stop the virus from spreading.

The World Health Organization (WHO) responded Wednesday by stating that countries may need to develop a new agreement on how to share information on pandemic breakouts. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, stated this in his opening remarks at the World Health Assembly’s Special Session. The appearance of the Omicron variety, according to Ghebreyesus, highlighted how dangerous and fragile the situation may be.

Jinping said a China-Africa cross-border Yuan centre would be established to supply African financial institutions with a $10 billion credit line in an address delivered via video link at the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. But he didn’t go into any further detail.

According to the Chinese president, China’s total imports from Africa, one of its main sources of crude oil and minerals, would surpass $300 billion in the next three years. He went on to say that the two countries would work together on issues including health, digital innovation, trade promotion, and green development.

WHO warned on Monday that the Omicron variety of the coronavirus poses a very high risk of global outbreaks, as more countries reported instances, forcing border restrictions and reigniting concerns about the economy’s recovery after a two-year epidemic.

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According to scientists, determining the severity of the new variation could take weeks. Its appearance sparked a dramatic global response, with countries adopting travel restrictions and other limitations, fearful that it may spread quickly even among vaccinated people.

China’s leader stated that his country would provide 600 million vaccine doses directly, with the remaining 400 million doses coming from other sources such as investments in manufacturing facilities.

Jinping made the statement at a summit between China and African countries focused on trade and security, which was held in Diamniadio, near Dakar, Senegal’s beach capital.

“We must continue to battle COVID as a team. “We must put our people’s safety first and close the immunization gap,” Jinping urged summit participants.

Africa has poor vaccination rates compared to the rest of the globe, with many countries relying on foreign donations due to a lack of local manufacturing facilities and prohibitive costs of mass purchases.

According to the Chinese embassy in Dakar, Beijing invests substantially in Africa and is the continent’s greatest trading partner, with direct commerce totaling more than $200 billion in 2019.

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Ghebreyesus praised South Africa and Botswana for discovering, sequencing, and reporting the Omicron variation.

“Indeed, Omicron underscores why the world needs a new pandemic agreement: our existing system discourages countries from warning others about threats that will eventually arrive on their shores,” the WHO director general stated.

COVID-19, according to Ghebreyesus, revealed and worsened basic flaws in the global architecture for pandemic preparedness and response. He believes that global health security is too crucial to be left to chance, goodwill, shifting geopolitical currents, or corporate and shareholder vested interests.

He stated, “The best way we can handle them is by a legally binding agreement between nations; an accord built from the awareness that we have no future but a common future.”

“Then certainly – definitely – the moment has come for countries to agree on a single, binding strategy to a common peril that we cannot fully control or avert – a threat arising from our relationship with nature itself,” he continued.

Any increase in infections might have “serious repercussions,” according to WHO, but no deaths tied to the Omicron strain have been reported so far.

The development of Omicron, according to Ghebreyesus, demonstrated how “perilous and precarious” the situation was, and he urged health ministers meeting in Geneva to pursue a new pandemic agreement.

Omicron COVID-19: Aviation Agencies on High Alert, Awaiting a Directive from the Federal Government

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Despite expressing solidarity with South Africa in the wake of the Omicron COVID-19 variant’s discovery in that nation, Nigeria’s aviation authorities stated they were on high alert to prevent the virus’s spread. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said Tuesday that it was waiting for more instructions from the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on what to do next in the fight to keep the new virus out of Nigeria.

All measures and directions, according to NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye, normally come from the committee, which directs NCAA on what to enforce.

“We’re waiting for the Presidential Steering Committee to release directions on how to stop the new type from spreading to Nigeria,” Adurogboye said. Only federal government directives can be enforced by the NCAA.”

Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said that all FAAN officials at international airports were kept on high alert while waiting for directions from the Presidential Steering Committee.

According to Yakubu, the agencies and Port Health officials have been given specific instructions to guarantee that no travellers from the impacted nations enter the country without being inspected.

“We’re waiting for direction from the steering committee,” she said, “but there’s been a significant strengthening at Port Health.” Because this is a hazardous variety that is lethal, all airport managers are on high alert.

Read Also:  Australia Confirms Two Cases Of Omicron COVID-19 Variant

“All processes and procedures set in place for the COVID-19 that are already on the ground will be enforced.” All relevant institutions, including Port Health, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, FAAN, and others, have been notified to ensure that no traveler with this variation enters the nation.”

Nigerians are being urged to get vaccinated and follow protocol, according to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

In a related development, the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) have advised Nigerians to strictly follow the public health and social measures put in place in light of the new COVID-19 version.

The disease control center, on the other hand, stated that the variant has yet to be found in the country.

“We are aware of reports of a new COVID-19 variety – the B.1.1.529 lineage,” NCDC Director General Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa stated in a statement. According to the independent Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), WHO has recognized this SARS-CoV-2 variant as a variation of concern (VOC) and given it the moniker Omicron.

Because of the heightened transmissibility of the Omicron form and its link to unrestricted community transmission, the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has advised Nigerians to adhere to the proven public health and social safeguards in place. The COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021 are implemented by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC-COVID-19).

Nigerians should take advantage of the current possibilities to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the NCDC chairman, in order to decrease the risk of importation or spread of the Omicron variant in Nigeria.

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He advocated rigorous adherence to public health and social measures such as the use of facemasks, especially in crowded areas, regular handwashing, physical separation, and adequate ventilation.

Others are avoiding any non-essential travel, both domestic and international, in nations where COVID-19 instances or reported cases of the Omicron variant are on the rise.

The infection was more likely to spread where people gathered without following these precautions, according to the center. It urged company owners, religious leaders, and those in positions of authority to take responsibility by requiring employees to wear facemasks and maintain physical distance.

“If you must travel, please follow the PSC-COVID-19 travel protocols, which are in place to prevent the virus or its variants from being imported into Nigeria,” the statement stated.

WHO also advised countries to improve their monitoring and virus sequencing efforts in order to better understand the circulating variations, according to the statement.

The Federal Ministry of Health and the National Center for Health Statistics said they were keeping an eye on further evidence on the new variety and its implications.

On Sunday, Canada announced that it had discovered the first cases of the novel COVID-19 Omicron strain in two people who had arrived in the nation from Nigeria. The federal government, on the other hand, maintained that the new variant has yet to be reported in Nigeria.

Industry stakeholders, on the other hand, noted that no airline flew straight from Nigeria to any Canadian destination. As a result, it was expected that Canada would reveal where the two Nigerians linked their flight from after departing Nigeria, as well as whether they stayed in the country for a few days before connecting to their trip to Canada.

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Following South Africa’s announcement to the World Health Organization (WHO) of the finding of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, some countries prohibited flights from the African country. Nigeria, on the other hand, declared its support for South Africa.

Following travel restrictions put on Southern African countries in the context of the new virus discovery, the Nigerian government issued a warning to Western countries against prejudice against South Africa on Monday.

Adepoju worried over injury to key Super Eagles’ player

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coic
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‘In the AFCON 2022 in Cameroun, we need our finest.’
Mutiu Adepoju, a former Super Eagles midfielder, is concerned about the growing number of Super Eagles players injured just six weeks before the start of the 2022 Africa Nations Cup in Cameroon.

While Nigerians are still mourning the loss of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye suffered a shoulder injury during Sparta Rotterdam’s Eredivisie match against champions Ajax on Sunday afternoon.

Okoye was hurt in the 24th minute of the week 14 match after colliding with an opposing player, and was replaced by Sparta’s reserve goalkeeper, Benjamin van Leer.

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A protracted injury layoff might put the Super Eagles number one goalie out of the continental championships, with the Cameroun 2022 AFCON only six weeks away.

Though Okoye has dismissed any concerns over how long he would be out of play, claiming that he simply took a knock.

However, Adepoju, who spent the majority of his career in Spain, where he played 175 games and scored 22 goals in seven seasons, told The Guardian in a telephone interview yesterday that Okoye’s injury is cause for alarm.

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“As a Nigerian, I am concerned about the new injury to our first-choice goalkeeper, Okoye. We talked about Osimhen first, and now we’re talking about Okoye. The AFCON is approaching quickly, and we need our finest player to shine. “I wish Osimhen and Okoye a speedy recovery,” Adepoju stated.

2021 WAEC: Kings College student emerges best student so far

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coic
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Akinyemi Oluwafemi, a student at Kings College in Lagos State, was named the best student in the just completed West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Nigeria.

Remember that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) issued the results for this year on November 22nd.

Mr Patrick Areghan, Head of the Council’s Nigeria National Office, said in a statement that 65.24 percent of candidates received credit or higher in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

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According to Areghan, out of 1,560,261 million applicants who took the exam, 1,398,370 million, or 89.62 percent, received credit or above in a minimum of five disciplines (i.e., with or without English Language and/or Mathematics).

Akinyemi Oluwafemi, on the other hand, received nine distinctions in the examination, according to his school.

Data processing, Economics, Mathematics, English language, Civil Education, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer studies were among the subjects he wrote on.

Rwanda To Start Giving Covid Booster shots

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coic
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Starting on Tuesday, Rwanda’s health ministry will begin administering third doses to the elderly and people with underlying diseases.

According to the ministry, the implementation would be phased and will begin in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.

Those above the age of 50 would receive ‘third dosages,’ according to Rwanda’s minister of state in charge of primary healthcare.

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If you’re between the ages of 30 and 50, you’ll only get the extra shot if you have a medical issue.

“This group should have an extra jab, as they are at higher risk of infections following their first immunizations,” according to the World Health Organization.

The third dose is also available to health care personnel.

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To date, more than three million Rwandans have been fully jabbed out of a population of around 13 million people.

It’s Time For FG To Make Final Decision On The New Hazard Allowance

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Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, announced that the Federal Government will make a final decision on the proposed increased hazard allowance for health workers next week.

On Monday, during a meeting of the Presidential Committee on Salaries with the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association and its affiliates in Ngige’s office, he revealed this.

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The meeting discussed the review of the hazard allowance, the NMA position on the retention of members of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria and Medical and Dental Doctors in Academics on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the removal of National Youth Service Corps doctors/interns from the scheme of service, and a presentation by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation on the upward review of retirement age for medical/health workers.

In his remarks to the audience, Ngige stated that the government had a strong working relationship with the medical organization, despite the fact that the problem had been ongoing for nine months.

He described the hazard allowance review as part of the government’s attempts to make individuals in the medical and health systems happy and confident in the sector, thereby halting the brain drain.

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With all of the materials at their disposal, he claims, they have decided that the government will issue a position within the next week to put the matter to rest.

“We have gathered all of the raw materials required to complete the work,” he stated. You’ve been quite helpful. You’ve assigned us roles. The Joint Health Sector Unions, which represents other health-care professional unions, have done the same, and we’ve had various associations write us at various times, as allowed by Collective Bargaining Agreements.

“Even CBAs can be amended over time,” says the author. What you did was in accordance with the social dialogue on salary and allowance fixing. On behalf of the government, we assure you that this is the final meeting on this subject. Following this conference, the administration will evaluate the suggestions and make recommendations to Mr. President, who will provide his final approval.”

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“FG to decide on hazard allowance for health workers next week,” said Charles Akpan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Labour and Employment. “Ngige reiterated the government’s earlier position that the current hazard allowance of N5,000 was not meaningful for people working in a hazardous environment, such as health workers.”

COVID-19 Omicron Variant issue: PSC says it is monitoring situation

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The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 said it is currently monitoring circumstances around the world about the newly mutated COVID-19 version known as Omicron.

“As the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) just stated today, the emergence of the highly-mutated Omicron variant underlines just how perilous and precarious our situation is,” Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) and Chairman of the PSC, said in Abuja on Monday.

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“Rather than being penalized, South Africa and Botswana should be applauded for identifying, sequencing, and reporting this mutation.

Nigerians and residents are recommended to get completely vaccinated, get checked periodically, and continue to follow non-pharmaceutical intervention measures such as physical separation, good face mask use, proper ventilation, and hand cleanliness.

“However, the PSC is reviewing the global scenario and putting in place measures to mitigate the variant’s impact on the country.”

Mustapha went on to say that the PSC was aware of some travelers who were circumventing travel protocols by providing fake COVID-19 test results, permit to travel certificates, or declaring fake vaccination status at entry points.

Read Also:  Australia Confirms Two Cases Of Omicron COVID-19 Variant

“The weight of the law is heavy, and it will come down severely on these people,” he added.

“The vaccination mandate will fully take effect on December 1, 2021, and I encourage every Federal Government worker, and in essence, all Nigerians and citizens to be vaccinated,” the PSC chairman said of the December 1 deadline for government officials to get vaccinated.

“The NPHCDA is increasing vaccination across the country to ensure that citizens have access to vaccines no matter where they are.” We need folks to go get their vaccinations now that the immunizations are available.

“People will not be able to travel without their confirmed immunization cards due to global changes.”

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“The PSC will wish to advise you that the deadlock on the Nigeria – UAE flights has been addressed in the interest of both sides,” he said of the suspension of the ban on Emirates Airlines.

“We thank everyone involved in bringing this deal to fruition, despite the fact that it took so long to complete with all of its ramifications.” In due course, a date for the start of flights between the two countries will be announced.

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