Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked players and officials of Adamawa United Football Club of Yola, on the Benin-Ore expressway.

The incident occurred at about 5.30 am Saturday.

The players were said to be travelling for their Week 11 NPFL fixture against the MFM FC in Lagos.

It was gathered that phones, money and other valuables were taken away from the players.

The driver of the bus was said to have been seized and taken away by the attackers.

According to one of the players, Sadiq Lawan who spoke on phone to Yola from Benin, about eight of the attackers emerged from the bush to swoop on the team, shooting into the air.

“They (attackers) ordered us out, took our money and our phones. It was later we found out that our driver was taken away. We came back to Benin City,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary in the Adamawa State Ministry of Youths and Sports, Alhaji Aliyu Jada confirmed the attack.

It was also learnt, as at the time of filing this report, that the kidnappers had contacted the team manager and given him 24 hours to produce N20m for the driver to be released.

Tragedy struck in Ucheabor clan in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government area of Rivers State, recently as Mr Aleruchi Awuzuruike was hacked to death by a neighbor following disagreement over a missing goat.

Mr Awuzuruike was killed by Chibueze Ojiriome following the killing of a goat owned by the deceased.

The suspect allegedly inflicted several machet cuts on the dead victim till he passed on, after he was accused of being responsible for the disappearance of the goat.

A native of the community, who identified himself as Gift Chimele,  disclosed that the deceased had gone to the house of Mr. Ojiriome to confront and accuse him of stealing and killing his goat.

“Thereafter an argument broke out and the suspect took a machet and cut Mr Awuzuruike severally which led to his death’, Chimele said.

Thh suspect was then apprehended by OSPAC, a local vigilante group in the community and handed over to the Police Division in Ubima.

A human rights activist in Rivers State, Amadi Paul Onuoha who is a native of the Ubima, condemned the killing of free minded citizen and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

The Police spokesperson, Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the killing in Ubima.
Omoni said: “I can confirm the unfortunate incident of Ubima where one Chibueze Ojirome, 23 years old, without justification gave several machete cuts on one Samuel Awuzuruike which caused his death.  Recall that some days ago the same suspect killed a female goat belonging to the deceased.
This attracted the villagers who resorted to self help by burning the suspect’s home before the police arrived.
Meanwhile the suspect has been arrested and corpse deposited in the mortuary while investigation is ongoing.
So far normalcy has been restored”.

In an originating summon with FCH/ABJ/CS/196/2021 dated February 18, 2021, which has the Nigerian Senate and Abdurasheed Bawa as defendants, the lawyer is seeking true interpretation and construction of Section 2 (1a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2014.

The aforesaid section of the Act states that the chairman of the EFCC who shall be the chief accounting officer of the commission must “be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agencies not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent.”

The lawyers, who are from St. Francis Xavier and Solicitors, Kubwa, Abuja are seeking a declaration that the second defendant who is a level 13 public officer and not an assistant commissioner of Police (ACP) or its equivalent is not qualified to be the Chairman of EFCC.

He is also seeking an order for perpetual injunction restraining the First Defendant from confirming the second defendant as chairman of EFCC and any order (s) as the court may deem fit and proper to make in the circumstances of this case.

The lawyer wants the court to determine whether the first defendant, the Nigerian Senate is competent in law to confirm the appointment of the Second Defendant who is deemed to fall short of the requirement of Section 2 (1 and 11) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004

The lawyer also stated that the second defendant, Bawa, had steadily risen in his career from Assistant Detective Superintendent (2004) to Deputy Detective Superintendent (2007), Senior Detective Superintendent (2004), Principal Detective Superintendent (2013) and Deputy Chief Superintendent in 2016.

He stated in the summon which has been served on the Senate that the current position/rank of the second defendant as Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent (2016)  which is a Level 13 position in public service is lower than and not of the same level with that of an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

He stated that upon verification as at the time of filing this application, the second defendant is a Grade 13 officer and does not have the rank which is equivalent to the assistant Commissioner of Police

It appealed to the court in the interest of justice and observance of rule of law to grant this application as the defendants have nothing to lose if the reliefs are granted.  The defendants are required to enter appearance within 30 days.

Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran has called on the Senate to investigate allegations of corruption against the EFCC chairman-designate.

In a petition made available to journalists,  CACOL also called on the Presidency to come out with a white paper on Justice Ayo Salami’s panel set up in July 2020 to investigate various allegations of wrongdoing against Ibrahim Magu.

MY HUMBLE OPINION ON THE REPORT OF THE FORMER HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ONDO STATE IN RESPECT OF THE VIRAL VIDEO BY ONE OLUPELUMI FAGBOYEGUN AGAINST THE CHIEF JUDGE OF ONDO STATE.

Introduction

I have been availed a copy of the report issued by the former Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Ondo State, Sir. Charles Titiloye which he personally sent via a Whatsapp group to which I belong in respect of the viral video which was made public by one Olupelumi Fagboyegun against the person and office of the Chief Judge of Ondo State.

Congratulations would have been in order at this point to the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN for the success of his first tenure and the commencement of the second term which I have been eagerly and excitedly looking forward to. However, considering the cascading tumults and weighty allegations made against the Chief Judge of the State in the instant video which allegations seemed to have been intended to incite the general public against the confidence reposed in the Judiciary as an arm of government of that State and the person of the Chief Judge vis-a-vis the report of the former Honourable Attorney General of the State, I am left with no other option than to express my concern and consternation on the raison d’ etre of the hullabaloo and the erstwhile Attorney-General’s report.

In order not to throw out the baby with the bath water, as a Legal Practitioner, pro-democracy advocate who has clamored for the emancipation of the principle of the rule of law and good governance and also given the fact that my State of origin is at the vortex of this repartee, I have carefully considered the issue at hand I am compelled to lend my two cents viz-a-viz constitutional provisions and legal framework with regard thereto.

*On the Rationale behind the former Hon. Attorney General’ Report*

As a prefatory, it must be noted that the former Honourable Attorney General of Ondo State is a fellow comrade at arms who is also renowned for championing and advocating for the enthronement of the rule of law.

Without prejudice to the above, the facts of this case should be easily discernible from the Court files. I find it altogether curious to note that the former Honourable Attorney General could have stated the full facts as revealed by the Court proceedings to enable the Public have an informed opinion with respect to the allegations made by Mr Fagboyegun particularly as it affects the Chief Judge of the State. However, for reasons best known to him, he chose not to reveal same.

I am inclined, therefore, to raise the following inquisitions:

With respect to the former Honourable Attorney General, he could have explained to the Public why the matter seemed delayed. He did point out that Mr Pelumi had never been detained which unless there is more to this than meets the eye should have cast a serious doubt on the fellow’s character as he copiously maintained in his ill-advised video that he had been in detention for three years!

What happened to his so-called travelling documents? Were they ever seized by the CJ or anyone at her behest or even by the court? Under what circumstances were they seized, if they were?

What occasioned the protraction of an otherwise summary matter?

Was any role played by the Honourable Chief Judge or was it the accused person who caused much of the delay? I have it on good authority that the accused jumped bail several times which would on the surface preclude a speedy trial of any case. It is also on record that the courts hardly sat in much of the Year 2020 due to the lockdown occasioned by the unfortunate COVID-19 Pandemic of that year.

These and many others are easily discernible from the records and barring mischief should have been made available to the Public. I also wonder why the Ministry of Justice is feigning ignorance of the bare facts of the case.

Secondly, it is curious that in spite of the dissolution of the Cabinet of the incumbent Executive of the State as widely reported in the afternoon of yesterday, the former Honourable Attorney General still proceeded to take some far reaching decisions as it affects the criminal matter in respect of Mr Fagboyegun. One cannot but wonder at the nolle prosequi he entered with regard to a matter he was supposed to be investigating and where he derived the authority to do so from given the fact that he was no longer the Attorney General at the time. The case of AG KADUNA STATE V. HASSAN (1985) LPELR-617(SC) wherein the Court held that the power to enter nolle prosequi can only be exercised by an incumbent Attorney General of a State or the Federation.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN is undoubtedly a man of no small means who from his undergraduate days and during his days as the President and a leader of the Bar fought against executive crass lawlessness and profligacy. However, one cannot tell if the nolle was entered to please the Governor where there are series of allegations that the man, a known staunch supporter of the Governor has been known to have, sometime ago, waxed a musical record in honour of the Governor.

While I concede to the discretionary nature of the grant of a nolle, one wonders if same has been granted in the public interest given the fact that Mr. Pelumi’s conduct during trial makes entering that nolle not only unjustifiable but also undesirable.

Furthermore, it is also strange that the former Honourable Attorney-General would refer the matter to the House of Assembly. While conceding to the fact that the House can take Petitions and invite persons for interrogations as prescribed by Section 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) but they clearly do not have the powers of the Court to issue binding orders against any member of the Public. The only purpose this needless referral will serve would be to expose the Honourable Chief Judge to unwarranted public scrutiny when it is clear even from the sketchy and inchoate report of the erstwhile Attorney General that she has no interest in the matter save the fact that Mr Pelumi alleges that he is a son to her late father.

Moreover, one wonders, having entered an illegal nolle, what bit of the matter the former Honourable Attorney-General referred to the House of Assembly. And for what. Perhaps it was to determine the matter of the man’s paternity?

If it is true as one fears that the former Honourable Attorney General was referring the Honourable Chief Judge to the House for one form of censure or another, then he has clearly displayed a damning ignorance of the laws or rules regarding the discipline of any Judge. The Constitution is clear on the question of which body can discipline a Judge, yes, even a State Judge! While the appointment of the Judge emanates from the Governor of a State upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council with the confirmation by two- third majority of the State House of Assembly, it does not rest with a House of Assembly and most certainly not a Governor for that matter, to sit on the question of the discipline of any Judge. That role rests squarely with the National Judicial Council.

The provisions of Section 153 of the Constitution are very far-from being ambiguous. The House of Assembly of the State cannot exercise disciplinary control touching the discipline of the Chief Judge of the State or other Judicial Officers in the State. This extant position of law has been given judicial imprimatur by the Supreme Court in plethora of authorities including the case of ELELU-HABEEB & ANOR V. AG FEDERATION & ORS (2012) LPELR-15515(SC).

It should be noted that I have no personal stake in this matter and if there appears to be any, it is to ensure the success of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu SAN in delivering good governance and conducive atmosphere to the government and the people of the State as well as to represent the interest of the people of the State for the next four years.

Given the circumstance of the case, it is expected that every patriots’ interests must revolves around the need to protect the interest of justice and to prevent a state of executive lawlessness in a democratic society.

On my part as it has been my practice, I reiterate my resolve to ensure that this current imbroglio is resolved in accordance with the law without unecessary damage to anyone’s integrity and reputation.

Dr. Olukayode Ajulo writes from Castle of Law, Maitama, Abuja-Nigeria

The lecture was titled: Assignable Variation: The Unknown that Must be Known.

The well attended lecture had in attendance most of the top academic and administrative officials of the institution, including the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Anthony Enisan Akinlo.

Sanwo-Olu said the late Jakande had earned a place of pride within the coven of the nation’s political class, stressing that the name of the former governor would continue to be synonymous with selflessness in leadership and service.

He extolled the virtues of the late ex-Governor Jakande during the 8th day Fidau (Islamic funeral prayers) held for the deceased at his Ilupeju residence on Friday.

The event was attended by National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Governor Segun Osoba, Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima, Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla, were part of the dignitaries at the occasion.

Sanwo-Olu said the late Jakande served with clear conscience and with the determination to leave Lagos developed than he met it. He pledged that the State Government would preserve the iconic legacy left in the service of Lagos.

He said: “Baba Jakande came into public service with sole determination to serve and leave good legacy for us. He only governed for four years and three months, but his marks and records are still visible almost 40 years after. What he did for Lagos and Nigeria are beyond what his family can bear alone.

“He was an enigma of our time and a National icon, whose leadership in public service remains a reference point. This is a time for all of us in position of leadership today to reflect on how our administration, our policies and programmes have impacted lives of the people.”

Sanwo-Olu said the honour for the deceased would not end with the Fidau, disclosing that a formal day of honour for the late Jakande was being planned by the State Government and the family would be availed of the details.

Tinubu described the late Jakande as “the most progressive politician” who lived in the current period. The APC leader recalled his foray into politics, noting that he cut his first political tooth under the late Jakande.

Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos, said there’s no political leader in the current dispensation that would be able to match, much less beating Jakande’s record in prudence and public resources management.

He said: “Jakande was the most progressive individual that we ever had. He was progressive to the core. We are extremely lucky in Lagos to draw from his fountain of knowledge and wisdom. Nigeria is also lucky to be served by this forward-looking politician.”

“There is no way a political leader in this age would beat Jakande’s record. He is already a martyr. It is only from our own character and our vision that we will drive our mission in today’s governance.”

National Missioner Ansar ud Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulrahaman Ahmad, in his sermon, said the late Jakande was a library in public leadership whose entire life was a testimony of service.

He admonished present league of leaders to work for the people and create legacy for which they would be remembered after leaving offices.

Also, Mudir of Markaz Islamic Institute in Agege, Sheikh Habibulah Adam Al-Ilory, said the late Jakande came to the world with destiny of impact.

“As a public administrator, the late Jakande led with fear of God and left a legacy of good governance that will never be erased on the annals of the nation,” Al-Ilory said.

Rev. Daniel Adeeko of Christ Apostolic Mission Church led a Christian prayer for the deceased .

The first son of the late former Governor, Hon. Deji Jakande, who spoke on behalf of the family, hailed Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu and residents of Lagos for the support to the family since the death of their departed patriarch.

Other dignitaries at the event included all Executive Council members of the State, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Musiliu Smith, ex-Senator Ganiyu Solomon, and White Cap chiefs representing Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, among others.

The senator representing Adamawa’s senatorial zone, Binos Yaroe, has provided free medical treatment to over 21, 000 people during his four medical outreach since he assumed office.

The Senator, who disclosed this at the end of the fourth medical outreach which took place in Mayo Belwa, Thursday, noted that his major area of priority is to ensure health for all noting that human activities will be completely endangered without good health.

‘ In my estimation, we have treated more than 21,000 people because, in Demsa, we have treated over 8,000 people; in Ganye, we treated over 5,000 people; in Guyuk, we treated over 3,000 people and so far, the information I have is that we have done over 5,000 people in the ongoing outreach’.

“So if you tally all the figures, it is something over 21,000. The important thing is that those people that needed medical help were able to get it for free,” he added.

Addressing the crowd, the leader of the team of doctors and Director Soteria-Afrique rural care health initiative,  Dr. Talemoh Wycliffe noted that his team have attended to more than 5,000 patients during the 4-day medical outreach.

He noted that the most prevalent ailment they recorded during the outreach is eye related, stating that they also recorded several cases of hernia, ulcers, hypertension, and malaria infections.

”I want to think that the illnesses that are peculiar to the eye are most prevalent but the other ones that are also peculiar are hernia, ulcers, hypertension in addition to infections like malaria.

”We have seen over 5,000 people. In the eye section alone, we attended to about 600 cases, out of them we carry out 179 eye surgeries in the last four days, we also distributed 402 lenses.

”There are about 349 surgeries done in the general surgery. Some of the surgeries include hernia, appendix fibroids, and a host of others.

“We have also given laboratory support to 2,296 people who were tested in the labs and some of them have four to five tests which means we have done more than a thousand tests. The dental department was not also left out, we attended to 408 people,” he said.

He said over 250 volunteers including 25 doctors participated in the outreach adding that the feat achieved could be attributed to the number of personnel who were greatly involved in the activity and the commitment they showed.

Binos also advised Federal Government to reorder its priorities and do those things that will make the largest impact on people for sustainable future. He also said more attention should be placed to the area of health to improve our health facilities and to get the equipment that we require.

Following the declaration of the outbreak, the Guinean government has initiated response activities. The World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control (ACDC) and West African Health Organisation (WAHO) have announced that they are supporting the country’s response activities. The Government of Guinea has begun processes to access the global stockpile of vaccines for EVD, from the Vaccine International Coordinating Group (ICG).

The NCDC has an existing multisectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Working Group (EVHDWG). This group coordinates preparedness efforts for EVD and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases. The EVHDWG has carried out a risk assessment on the possibility of transmission of the virus to Nigeria. Given the proximity of Guinea to Nigeria and other West African countries as well as other indicators, Nigeria has been placed at moderate risk of an EVD outbreak. The outputs from this risk assessment are being used to initiate preparedness activities in-country.

Several measures have been put in place to prevent and mitigate the impact of a potential EVD outbreak in Nigeria. A National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) operating from NCDC’s Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) is on alert mode. We have a team of first responders on standby, ready to be deployed within 24 hours in the event of an EVD outbreak in Nigeria. We have also established testing capacity for EVD at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory. The NCDC will continue working with states to strengthen preparedness activities across the country.

The Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health has scaled up screening at points of entry. The NCDC will also scale up risk communications and other activities.

The Ebola virus can be transmitted via direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from EVD. The virus can enter the body stream through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth. This can also be spread through contact with objects contaminated by infected persons as well as direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected fruit bats or primates.

To prevent the spread of Ebola, NCDC advises members of the public to adhere to the following precautions:
• Wash your hands frequently using soap and water – use hand sanitisers when soap and water is not readily available.
• Avoid direct handling of dead wild animals.
• Avoid physical contact with anyone who has possible symptoms of an infection with an unknown diagnosis.
• Make sure fruits and vegetables are properly washed and peeled before you eat them.
• Health care workers are advised to ensure universal precautions at all times. This includes the use of personal protective equipment always when handling patients.

In January 2021, the ICG announced THE establishment of a vaccine stockpile for EVD. THIS stockpile is accessible to countries, in the event of outbreaks. The NCDC will work with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to develop a clear plan for accessing the EVD vaccine stockpile, as needed.

The NCDC will continue to monitor the situation and initiate preparedness activities across the country. We are in close contact with WHO, ACDC and WAHO for cross-border coordination. We urge members of the public to remain aware of the risks and adhere to all safety measures.

The NCDC remains fully committed to protecting the health of all Nigerians from infectious
disease threats.

About the NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is the country’s national public health institute, with
the mandate to lead the preparedness, detection and response to public health emergencies. The Bill for an Act to establish NCDC was signed into law in November 2018, by President Muhammadu Buhari. The mission for the NCDC (2017-2021) is ‘To protect the health of Nigerians through evidence-based prevention, integrated disease surveillance and
response activities, using a One Health approach, guided by research and led by a skilled workforce’.
Contact
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Signed:
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu
DG, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control