A 22-year-old woman, Oluwafunmilola Adisa, who is an indigene of Ogun State,has been arrested for killing her daughter, Oluwanifemi, at their place of residence on Plot 221 Gowon Estate, in the Ipaja area of Lagos State.

The incident, which happened on Monday, was reported at the police station by the woman herself, who also dropped a note for her sister, Damilola, chronicling how she perpetrated the crime.

When asked the reason behind her dastardly act, she blamed Oluwanifemi for the hardship she had been facing after she gave birth to her 21 months ago, adding that the daughter’s birth cost her an admission to study law.

In a bid to alleviate her suffering, Oluwafunmilola said she drowned her baby in a bucket of water, and thereafter went to the Gowon Estate Police Station to report herself.

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Explaining the events leading to the baby’s death, the Ogun State indigene stated, “I turned myself in after killing my daughter on Monday, May 11, 2020. “At first, I was thinking of strangling her, later I thought of suffocating her with a pillow, but my sister warned me to keep Oluwanifemi away from water after she had a dream and that gave me the idea of drowning her.

“On the day of the incident,  around 2pm, Oluwanifemi was assisting me to dress up, because she thought that I would take her out with me. But I told her that she was not going anywhere, because she would die that day and I would be going to the police station after killing her. So, I opened a big bucket of water, threw her in and covered the bucket, but she was able to push away the cover.

“The water in the bucket was not much, so, I poured more water in it, but she was still able to push away the cover to breathe, so I turned her upside down, threw her in the bucket of water and closed it.

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“After some time, I saw her floating and when I brought her out, she was still breathing. I put her in again and brought her out after some time, but she was still breathing and at the third attempt, I left her for some minutes till she died. I didn’t feel any pain killing her, because I was desperate.”

After perpetrating the crime, Oluwafunmilola stated that she wrote a letter to  her sister, Damilola, to inform her that she had fulfilled the promise of killing her baby, adding that she took the action because of the shame the baby’s birth had brought to her and aas a result of lack of money.

She stated, “The reason for the drastic decision is lack of financial help; I was tired and ashamed; when I gained admission to study law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, I got pregnant and deferred my admission, which I later lost.

“So killing my baby and losing my admission have a connection. I felt I would be free if I kill her and would be able to go anywhere I like and no one would disturb me that I had a daughter outside wedlock.

“After she died, I removed her from the bucket of water, placed her remains on a pillow and covered her with a white cloth. I confirmed that she was dead, because her legs and hands were very pale; her tongue also popped out in between her teeth.

“I also dropped the note I wrote to Damilola beside her corpse and the reason I wrote the letter was to let my sister know that I was the one who killed Oluwanifemi and that I was going to report myself at the police station. 

“I had been telling Damilola of my plans to kill her, but she usually prevailed on me. I wanted to carry out my plan on Sunday, but Damilola started calling our parents and the pastor, so I postponed it till Monday, when I was home alone with my daughter. Damilola had gone to work when I killed her.”

The letter that Oluwafunmilola wrote to her sister read in part, “Good day Damilola, thanks for everything you have done for me and Mama (Oluwanifemi), for the fake love, real love, false accusations, lies, and everything. The purpose of writing this letter is because Mama (Oluwanifemi) is dead. I soaked her inside a bucket filled with water and I am telling you to know that I have fulfilled it. Extend my greetings to father, pastor, friends. Goodbye forever, don’t look for me, save your money and invest.” 

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She claimed that the father of her baby, one Folarin Yusuf, abandoned her after she got pregnant.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said Oluwafunmilola was in custody, adding that she would be charged.

Elkana stated, “When we got the report that a woman was suspected to have killed her baby, our homicide detectives went there and found the baby dead on the bed. But the woman left a note beside the baby’s corpse that she was the one who killed her.

“She confessed that she dipped the baby in a bucket of water three times till she died and said she was frustrated and killed the innocent baby, because she was tired of life. The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department has commenced investigation into the matter. The suspect will be charged for the crime.”

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Group responsible for recent spate of violence in North-East

The Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has discovered a new terrorist group.

The sect is called Jama’atu Ansaril Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan or the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa. Police say the group was behind several abduction and killings in the North-East in recent months.

READ ALSO, FG Inaugurates Panel to Revamp Ajaokuta Steel Plant

The group became a top priority after IGP Mohammed Adamu received petitions showing that its members had been sending emails to different companies, threatening to kidnap their expatriates if the companies didn’t pay them N50million annually.

The sect was behind the kidnap of two expatriates working with Triacta Nigeria Limited, a construction company.

The IRT has arrested nine members and recovered 204 rounds of AK47 live ammunition, military uniforms, operational vehicle, drugs and foodstuffs meant to be conveyed to members inside Birnin Gwari bush in Kaduna State.

The suspects are Mustapha Aminu, 23, aka China, of Tudun Nupawa, Kaduna State; Saidu Aminu, 26, aka Dawud, of Tudun Nupawa, Kaduna State; Aminu Shuaibu, 33, aka Abu Mus’ab, of Rigasa, Kaduna State; Ishak Khalid, 30, aka Uztaz, of Maraban, Jos, Plateau State.

Others are Abubakar Yusuf, 24, aka AY, of Rigasa, Kaduna State; Awal Umar Tela, 34, of Maraban, Jos, Plateau State; Abubakar Isah Muhammad, 25, aka Khalifa Abu Aisara, of Dala, Kano State; Shuaibu Ahmadu, 25, from Katsina State; and Abubakar Mustafa, 32, of Maraban, Jos, Plateau State.

The gang terrorized workers of Triacta Limited and was also responsible for attacks on Mothercat Construction Company Limited.

A source said: “The suspects have confessed to the kidnapping of the two expatriates, Zaid Alas from Jordan and Isah Jabour, a Syrian, working with Triacta Limited at Shiroro, Niger State. The victims were kidnapped on December 9, 2019 and the group’s leaders, Dogo Gide and Mahmud, led the operation.

“The group collected N120 million as ransom and each member was given between N200,000 to N300,000. The suspects also confessed that their group was responsible for attacking Mothercat Construction Company as well as the kidnapping of Magajin Garin Daura in Katsina State.”

Nigerian Police Uncovers New Terrorist Group

The federal government has inaugurated the Ajaokuta Presidential Project and Implementation Team (APPIT) to revamp the Ajaokuta Steel Plant that has been unproductive for about four decades. The team is to be chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha. The Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah, is the alternate chairman of the team.

President Muhammadu Buhari had discussed the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Russia-Africa Summit last year in Sochi.

READ ALSO, Wike's Actions, Colossal Embarrassment to NBA- Falana

In line with the discussions with Russia, the Ajaokuta steel project is to be revived on a bilateral agreement with funding from the Afreximbank and the Russian Export Centre.

However, one of the key issues discussed by the parties was the technical audit, upgrade, completion and operation of the steel plant.

Speaking during the inauguration, Mustapha noted that revamping the plant presented a unique opportunity to make Nigeria the largest fully integrated steel producer in West Africa and accelerate its industrialisation, especially in steel-related industries.

“Today’s inauguration of the Ajaokuta Presidential Project and Implementation Team (APPIT) is, therefore, meant to kick-start the process of re-directing the activities of the steel plant with the aim of bringing the Steel Project back to life for the growth and economic development of our dear nation,” he said.

APPIT is to engage in bilateral negotiations on behalf of the federal government leading to the execution of the government-to-government agreement with Russia and the Afreximbank.

It would provide all technical inputs and ensure that all raw materials are sourced locally in line with the local content provisions and the Presidential Executive Order 005 as well as assemble Nigerian Content Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Special Purpose Vehicle Contractors, which would embody the co-concessionaire representing Nigeria’s interest in the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession.

The Federal Government has also mandated APPIT to ensure the resuscitation of Ajaokuta plant based on the original design in addition to its timely inauguration within a reasonable period to be agreed upon by the parties to the agreement and recommend the primary tenure of a BOT concession.

The 13-man committee is expected to prepare and submit a periodic work plan along with quarterly progress reports on assignment activities, end-of-assignment report and develop concession contract terms.

The federal government had said the Russian government and Afreximbank would provide up to $1.46 billion to fund the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.

Buhari and Putin had agreed in October 2019 at the Russia-Africa Summit to pursue the completion of all abandoned projects initiated by both countries, including the Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill.

FG Inaugurates Panel to Revamp Ajaokuta Steel Plant

60 Breadwinners Who Worked at The Hotel Now Jobless- Hotel Owner

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Promise Gogorobari, owner of Prodest Home, Alode, one of the hotels demolished in Eleme Local Government Area of the state by Rivers State government, were yesterday, engaged in war of words.

While the owner of the hotel said they were not in breach of Covid-19 Executive Orders and that Wike had by his action plunged 60 breadwinners engaged in the hotel, back into the labour market, Wike insisted that that his administration did no wrong by pulling down the hotels, including Etemeteh Hotel, Onne, as the owners violated the order of the state government  to check the spread of coronavirus in the state.

READ ALSO, Madagascar Remedy Must Undergo Trials Before Use- Buhari

Meanwhile, former Nigeria Bar Association, NBA President, OCJ Okocha, SAN, has differed with Femi Falana, SAN, on the role of the governor in the saga, just as civil society organisations kicked over the incident. Okocha and Falana differed, yesterday,  on the development with Falana faulting Wike and Okocha affirming he was in order.

Falana said, “It is unfortunate these events are happening in Port Harcourt where the governor of the state is senior lawyer and not just a lawyer, I’m even informed he’s a member of the Body of Benchers. That is colossal embarrassment to the NBA.

“Under our law, an emergency situation under the Quarantine Act does not permit the demolition of a house by an alleged offender. Whoever has breached the law will have to be tried and convicted by a court of law before a sentence can be pronounced.

“There is no provision for even the President to take the law into his hands and then begin to mete out punishments to citizens without recourse to the constitution. We hope the governor will be properly advised to reverse his decisions, publicly apologise and restore the properties of those that have been destroyed.”

Disagreeing, Okocha in his appraisal believed, the measures taken by the Rivers State Government, particularly the governor are well thought out, well advised and will to a large extent help us avoid or at least minimize to the barest level the spread of this coronavirus that they now say causes the illness they called COVID 19.

“I commend the government, I commend the governor for these bold and very laudable steps. The Executive Orders in place by the state governor are appropriate. Everybody accepts that they are calculated to secure our safety and to reduce to barest minimum the spread of this coronavirus. So, I don’t believe anybody has quarreled with any of these orders.

“Its not everything that is going to be on written law. By the authority of written law, some orders are made, some regulations are put in place and those flow naturally from the provisions of written law.

“This is why the Rivers State Government passed a law recently and we also have the Federal Act, Quarantine Act and many other such regulations that are aimed at dealing with safety and security and then health and well being of the people.

“I do not blame the governor for his action because am aware that the regulation was put in place over two weeks ago for hoteliers and those operating drinking parlours and entertainment centres to close down at least temporarily until we get grip on how to deal this coronavirus pandemic.

“Yes, there was a regulation put in place long before now regarding the lockdown we have had in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City LGAs. I heard that this happened in Eleme.

“Two hotels were warned to stop operating. Indeed, a taskforce was sent to remind them about the Executive Order put in place by the governor and they got their thugs and some local boys to beat members of the taskforce, so the governor  was left with no other option than wielding the big stick.

“We also heard people saying oooh, he was impounding vehicles and arresting people on the roads for violating the law on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City councils. What did they expect the governor to do? Fold his hands and watch people to openly and brazenly flaunt what we know are regulations put in place in accordance with law and order?

“So, the governor I think was justified in wielding the big stick on the hoteliers and anybody who feels that he has any reason to dispute should approach the appropriate quarters and let’s us see how far that approach will get him.”

Meanwhile, community sources, blamed Prodest Home manager for violating the state government order, alleging that the hotel was open for business while the order was in place.

Gogorobari, said that the destruction of his hotel was, “already affecting us. We have more than 60 staff there. The state government should be happy I took up some responsibilities from them in gainfully engaging these persons. That investment was taking care of my family and relatives and others around me.

“There was no fair hearing. I did not violate any order. The government was supposed to do some investigations. If they found me wanting, a lockdown other procedures should have been applied, not demolishing a structure like that.

“I don’t stay in Port Harcourt, I stay in Lagos and we are taking about investments in Rivers day and night. I pulled resources together, invested in my place to take some persons off the streets. And what the state government could do was to demolish that investment without proper investigation.”

Wike on his part in his Sunday broadcast, following the demolition, justified his action against both hotels and placement of N5million bounty on Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Youth Leader in the area, Princewill Osaroejiji.

Wike said, “Apart from using the facility (hotel) to jeopardize lives of citizens in violation of the extant law, the owner audaciously unleashed thugs led by Eleme LG Youth Leader of PDP and inflicted severe injuries on our task-force members, who went to enforce the law against continued operation of the hotel.

“As we speak, nobody knows the fate of most of the victims of that brazen and deadly attack given the severity of head injuries they sustained. And so, we’ve done no wrong as all our actions were taken in good faith and justified by, under and within the purview of the Executive Orders, which have neither been challenged nor set aside by any competent court of law.

“While we welcome genuine criticisms towards strengthening our intervention measures, there is no use joining issues with uninformed critics and social media legal practitioners, who, blinded and prodded by sheer politics, bias and hatred, have opted to demonize and paint our lawful and responsible actions in bad light.”

However, a resident in Alode who isfamiliar with the business climate at Prodest, said that, “The hotel owner may have been innocent, but his Manager’s vexed indulgence with wanted PDP youth leader is what backfired and cost the owner dearly. The manager was negligent, believing the youth leader was above the law.”

Another community source said, “It’s true that the hotel was operating throughout the lockdown period based on the Manager’s link with the wanted PDP Youth Leaders. The manager has a history of violence and feared in the area. He equally heads a Council Task Force. What happened at the place was with his backing, the hotel ran business in defiance of the state orders. It was when the state Task Force came to warn and stop their operations that the Manager called in the youth leader.

“He came with his men to bully the state task, resulting in the violence in which he’s being accused of shooting at the state Task Force. The hotel owner may not know what has been happening behind him. He lives in Lagos.”

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On the governor’s declaration that Managing Director of the affected hotel at Onne has been arrested to face prosecution, Ms Emem Okon, women’s rights advocate said, “What prosecution is he (Wike) talking about after the hotels were demolished? They have been punished before trial, not afforded right to fair hearing.”

Dae Deegbara, on faith of Bariledum Azoroh, Managing Director at Prudent Hotel, Eleme, said, “For no fault of his, the hotel was not actually in full operation before the demolition. Azoroh’s condition and whereabouts remain unknown, living his wife with no source of income to take care of herself and new born baby.

“In what appears to be an internal Eleme LGA PDP and youth leadership crisis, it shouldn’t have ordinarily robbed an innocent business owner and orphan, the manager into this sad situation.”

Sebastian Kpalab, Coordinator, Citizens Voice Initiative, said, “This is insane and draconian. This does not promote containment of the Coronavirus,  it has taken away family and individual livelihoods, and increased the shrinking of Rivers economy. It smacks of fatal remedy for a sick situation.”

Wike's Actions, Colossal Embarrassment to NBA- Falana

Drug to Be Used When Confirmed Safe and Effective

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), yesterday ordered the importation of the acclaimed coronavirus remedy by Madagascar to Nigeria. Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, made this known during a briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said, “Madagascar has made allocations to various countries, and sent them to Guinea Bissau. We‘re supposed to make arrangements to freight Nigeria’s allocation from Guinea Bissau; it‘ll be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals.

READ ALSO, IG Orders Probe of E-Money, Withdraws Police Escort

“Mr President has given instructions for the airlifting of Nigeria’s allocation of the Madagascar COVID-19 Syrup; also given clear instructions that it must be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals; there will be no exceptions for this.”

He assured Nigerians that the task force was intensifying efforts to stop the spread of the virus in Nigeria.

According to Madagascar, the drink, which was launched last month, is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Monday said the Federal Government and the World Health Organisation were carrying out COVID-19 drug trial in the Federal Capital Territory and fives states. Ehanire, who disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 press briefing in Abuja, listed the states as Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano.

The minister confirmed that Nigeria was expecting a herbal drug, COVID Organic,  from Madagascar. The drug was reported to have been used by the Indian Ocean island country to cure patients, who tested positive for COVID-19.

Also,  the PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had directed the airlifting of COVID Organic to Nigeria.

However, both Ehanire and Mustapha said the herbal drug would be subjected to scientific analyses in the country. According to them, the drug will only be used in Nigeria after it has been confirmed to be safe and working. 

The WHO had said it had not approved the use of the drug, but Madagascar President, Andry Rajoelina, slammed the organisation for not endorsing it.

“If it were a European country which had discovered this remedy, would there be so many doubts?,’’ Rajoelina had asked in an exclusive interview with France 24, a Paris-based international television news network.

He added, “The problem is that it comes from Africa. And they cannot accept that a country like Madagascar, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, has discovered this formula to save the world.”

But at the PTF press briefing on Monday, Nigeria’s health minister explained the Federal Government’s efforts to combat the virus. He said senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Health held a video meeting with Chinese medical and academic experts in Beijing on Monday to seek further treatment strategies from China.

According to him, Nigeria is taking part in the WHO solidarity international clinical trial, which is aimed at finding an effective treatment for COVID-19. The trial aims to rapidly discover whether any of the drugs slow disease progression or improves survival.

He stated, “On the WHO treatment, the Federal Government is cooperating with the WHO on treatment regimen solidarity trial with the following  enrolled; Lagos, FCT, Ogun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano.”

Ehanire added that the Federal Government would send the COVID-19 cure being expected from Madagascar for analyses and comparison with the Nigerian strain to identify similarities, differences, as well as how it works.

Speaking on the herbal cure, the minister said, “With regard to the cure from Madagascar, it is making the news and we have promised of being able to get samples of the botanical products. We will be speaking with the health experts and the scientific community on how to use it. We will also give it to the research community here to examine and see what they can do with it. We understand that it is something called artemisia annua which also grows here.

“But we will like to, if we get that sample, compare it with the strain here whether they are identical and see what properties it has. Things like that are subjected to analyses to see what works there and how it works.

“Obviously all countries in the world are interested in finding a cure and we are not different. So we will look at all possibilities and all options. But before we give it to our people, we will make sure that it  is actually safe and it actually works.”

The drug would only be administered after undergoing all necessary validation process with relevant agencies of the government as in the case of drug research and approval to guarantee safety of Nigerians.

Madagascar Remedy Must Undergo Trials Before Use- Buhari

"Police Escort Being Used Like Domestic Servants"

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the probe of the Chairman, Five Star Group, Emeka Okonkwo aka E-Money, over his flamboyant lifestyle and flagrant abuse of police escorts.

Okonkwo, who is the brother to popular musician, Kingsley Okonkwo aka K-Cee, was said to have drawn the ire of the police IG for using policemen like domestic servants.

An order, it was learnt, was immediately issued to the Lagos State Police Command to withdraw the six policemen attached to E-Money.

A top police officer said, “We received a signal from the Force headquarters on Monday that the police detail of music executive, E-Money, be immediately withdrawn and an investigation into the man be launched.

“The IG was surprised that policemen were attached to him in the first place and were being used like domestic servants, carrying umbrellas, opening doors, and doing menial jobs for him.

“The policemen were discovered to be attached to B Operations at the command headquarters and not MOPOL which is the usual practice. So, we have withdrawn his policemen and we are inviting him for questioning. The policemen will also be interrogated.”

E-Money, who also claims to be a clearing and forwarding agent, is known for his flamboyant lifestyle. He boasts of two Rolls Royce, two Mercedes Benz G Wagons and other Sports Utility Vehicles worth billions of naira.

The socialite is often seen on social media shaking hands with Very Important Persons including governors, senators, monarchs, ministers, and other top government officials.

When contacted on the telephone, an associate of E-Money, Chidozie Dike, said he was not aware of the development and did not believe it was true.

The probe into E-Money comes less than a year after that of an Instagram celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha aka Mompha, who was also known to show off his ostentatious lifestyle on social media.

It was also gathered that more social media celebs are also on the radar of the police and other law enforcement agencies for their flamboyant lifestyles.

IG Orders Probe of E-Money, Withdraws Police Escort

Gov Faces Backlash as Citizens Protest "Draconian Measures"

The lockdown in Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Council Areas of Rivers State took another dimension yesterday, as Governor Nyesom Wike, ordered the demolition hotels in Eleme Council for flouting the state’s directives.

The demolished hotels are Prudent Hotel, Alode in Eleme and Etemeteh Hotel in Onne. Governor Nyesom Wike personally supervised the demolition of the structures in company with some government officials on Sunday.

Wike had on May 5, 2020, charged traditional rulers to set up Task Force in their respective communities to enforce the closure of markets, hotels and bars across the state. Also, on May 7, while inaugurating the state’s COVID-19 Local Government Task Force, Wike urged them to identify hotels and erring bars still operating during the lockdown for demolition.

Wike said, “From tomorrow any hotel that operates will be brought down. Those who disobey the directive will face the consequences.”

However, on Saturday Governor Wike announced the names of the two hotels, declaring that they would be demolished for flouting the state Government Executive Order Six.

Some residents of the state have criticised the action, describing it as impunity worse than action of a military regime. Some human rights activists also took to social media to describe it as a sad development, adding that the owners of the hotels should have been given fair hearing.

One of the activists, Chinedu Uchegbu insisted that it was wrong for Governor Wike to act without concrete evidence that the hotels operated during the lockdown.

On his part, Co-Chairman of CSOs/Media COVID-19 Situation Room in Rivers State, Sebastian Kpalap, described the governor’s action as “insane and draconian.”

A civil rights advocate and former Special Adviser to Governor Wike, Christian Inko-tariah said, “This is no longer democracy but a dictatorship in Rivers State, the governor has become a despot, who acts on whims.”

Speaking, a constitutional lawyer, Angus Chukwuka, described the action, as hasty and harsh, stressing that judicial process was not followed before the demolition.

However, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) and Socio- Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP), said it has commenced move to sue the state government for demolishing the hotels in Eleme.

The Executive Director of YEAC, Fynface Fyneface, disclosed that they have begun documentations for the court action.

Owner of the Prudent Hotel, Needam Gogorodani, said Wike’s action has already started affecting him and others, adding that the hotel had 60 employees, who have automatically lost their jobs.

Wike Demolishes Hotels for Flouting Lockdown Order in Rivers

Warns Vice-Chancellors Against Reopening Varsities

The Federal Ministry of Education has ordered vice chancellors to maintain the closure of federal, state and private universities in order to keep students and university communities safe from coronavirus.

The Ministry of Education, in a letter, through the Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono, entitled: Re: Management of Coronavirus Pandemic,” said: “All schools shall remain closed as we closely monitor developments on the containment of COVID-19.”

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The circular was sent to the executive secretaries, National Universities Commission, NUC; National Board for Technical Education, NBTE; National Commission for Colleges of Education, NCCE, and the Director, Basic and Secondary Education, BSE.

It read: “Further to our earlier circular, FME/PSE/HE/1041/C 1/Vol.1/137 of 19th March, 2020, this is to confirm that all schools shall remain closed as we monitor developments on the containment of COVID-19.

“This is without prejudice to officers on essential services and other operational exigencies as may be determined by the  chief executive of each institution.

“All chief executives and other stakeholders are to ignore ‘fake news’ on the subject matter in the social media as the situation is under constant review and any decision on the resumption shall be conveyed through the appropriate channels.“

The National Universities Commission gave the directive through a circular by the Director, Directorate of the Executive Secretary’s Office, Chris Maiyaki.

The circular read, “Vice chancellors will please recall that following the ministerial directive of March 19, 2020, the NUC issued two circulars on Friday, March 20, to convey approval for the closure of institutions for a period of one month effective from Monday, March 23.

“The Federal Ministry of Education has subsequently directed on Friday, March 8, that all schools remain closed as the Federal Government is closely monitoring developments on the containment of the COVID-19. Vice-Chancellors are to ignore the fake news being circulated in the social media as the situation is under constant review and any decision will be conveyed through the appropriate channels.

“I am therefore to forward herewith, a copy of the circular from the Federal Ministry of Education to vice chancellors of Nigerian universities for guidance and full compliance.”

Acting on the government’s directive, National Universities Commission, NUC, has warned vice chancellors against reopening universities for any activities. The NUC had, on March 19, ordered the closure of tertiary institutions for one month as part of the measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Four days after the closure, the Academic Staff Union of Universities declared a “total and indefinite strike” over the failure of the Federal Government to keep to the 2019 Memorandum of Action and over the lingering crisis on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

The union had begun a two-week warning strike on March 9, after which the lecturers embarked on a full strike.

The five contentious issues in the 2019 MoA are the revitalisation fund for universities, outstanding earned academic allowances, renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, proliferation of universities, particularly by state governments, and the establishment of visitation panels to universities.

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, has demoted a former acting director-general of the agency, Chima Igwe asked him to revert to principal research officer, the position he held before claiming to have bagged a doctorate from the Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic, over 18 years ago.

It was learnt that the decision followed the governing board’s ratification of the recommendations of the disciplinary committee, which sat over Igwe’s case.

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The Ministry of Science and Technology was said to have also been informed of the development. However, it was learnt that Igwe had refused to comply with the directive, as the demotion made him a junior official in the institute.

Igwe, who was a first class graduate of Chemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, had finished with a pass during his master’s at the University of Lagos, Akoka. He subsequently proceeded to the Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic, where he claimed to have bagged a doctorate in 2001. However, he could only produce an attestation document for the PhD. The document was signed by his supervisor, Prof. Mansour Moudachirou.

On the basis of that document, he was promoted from principal research officer to chief research officer, deputy director and director.

The attestation document however became a subject of controversy in 2019 when the tenure of the former DG, Prof. Gloria Elemo, ended and Igwe was made the acting DG. An official petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, seeking a probe of Igwe’s PhD. The ICPC released a report clearing Igwe of wrongdoing, but later backtracked and reopened investigation.

After direct communication with the Benin university, the ICPC spokeswoman, Rasheedat Okoduwa, confirmed that the official did not have a PhD yet. These prompted protests by workers, who said the image of the institute had been damaged and demanded Igwe’s dismissal and prosecution.

Based on the ICPC’s report, the 58-year-old was suspended by the FIIRO governing board and a disciplinary procedure was instituted against him. It was gathered that the embattled Igwe returned to Benin Republic to defend his thesis before a panel, which included his ally and a FIIRO officer, Dr Ahmed Aroke. 

A senior FIIRO official, who did not want to be identified, said the Benin institution confirmed that Aroke was indeed present during the defence.

“The committee looked at the issues exhaustively. During the investigation, Igwe brought a new attestation document that the school gave him. The committee contacted the Benin university and confirmed that he attended the public defence.

“We discovered that the Benin Ministry of Education issues certificates and not the universities. So, he does not have a certificate yet. However, the attestation indicated the effective date of the degree. It was signed in February 2020, meaning that he finished in February 2020. The implication is that all the achievements he claimed were on wrong grounds.

“So, he is going back to where he belongs. If he graduated in 2020, then it means those who graduated before him are his seniors. That means the principal research officer, which he was before graduating, is where he should revert to. That is the position of the board.” 

The board’s decision had been communicated to Igwe and the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and the ministry was said to have sent an acknowledgement copy last Wednesday. It was however, gathered that there was a plot by top ministry officials to force Igwe on the board and the institute. A source said the permanent secretary in the ministry had asked that the acting director-general, Dr Agnes Asagbra, be addressed as ‘Overseeing DG.’

It was also gathered that Igwe, since his suspension, had refused to revert to his old rank.

“But the truth is that the former position of director, which he left, is now being headed by the most senior person in that department. When he returns, he will find people who are more senior than him, because he only graduated this year. Even the board’s decision to return him to principal research officer is magnanimous,” another top source said. 

The FIIRO Board Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Gwarzo, confirmed that the disciplinary committee had concluded investigation and a report had been submitted to the ministry. He, however, refused to disclose the content of the report.

FIIRO Demotes DG for Certificate Scandal 

The Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Justice Ishaq Bello, has directed the courts under the FCT judiciary to reopen for regular sittings on Monday.

Justice Bello, who issued this directive in a Practice Direction on May 8, however, directed judges and magistrates in the FCT judiciary to enforce social distancing measures.

He stated, “The honourable judges and learned magistrates should organise their case lists to ensure that no more than five cases are fixed per day.

“In keeping with demands of social distancing, the court shall indicate in advance the sequence and specific time for hearing cases on the cause list in order to avoid the convergence of counsel and parties in the courtroom from the beginning of the day’s proceedings.

“The court shall allot time for each party to present his/her case, taking into consideration the peculiarities of each case in all cases (whether criminal or civil), only the parties and their counsel shall be allowed into the courtroom, subject to a maximum number of 10 persons (excluding court officials) at any given time.”

The chief judge added, “Hearing in criminal matters requiring the production of defendants in custody is hereby suspended until further notice”, saying it was “to avoid a situation where traffic in and out of correctional centres (prisons)” which might “catalyse the spread of COVID-19 to inmates”.

 According to him, the new practice direction was issued in the exercise of his powers under Section 259 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) Section 109 of the High Court Act Cap. 510 Laws of Nigeria, 2004, Order 1 Rule 3 of the High Court of the FCT (Civil Procedure Rules, 2018; Section 490 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Courts Resume Sitting in FCT, Limit Attendance to 10

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has bowed to the pressure of the Association of Resident Doctors in the state over hazard allowance and life insurance packages.

The ARD at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, had last week commenced a three-day warning strike to press home the demand for hazard allowance and life insurance packages.

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Abiodun, in a statement on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the hazard allowances of health workers in the state has been raised from 200 to 300 percent.

The Governor disclosed this when he met with representatives of health workers in the State at his Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He said the life policy would have taken off immediately but would have to wait to go along with the federal government, which is also putting in place similar programme.

The statement read in part, “I want to inform you that we have put in place life policy for our health workers. We would have started immediately, but we will wait to go along with the Federal Government which is also planning similar programme.

“This pandemic is a surprise to everybody. This happened just as we were beginning to roll out plans for a total reform of our health facilities beginning with 236 Primary Health Care Centres. However, I want to assure you that this government is determined to ensure the provision of adequate health care for our people.”

Abiodun said he was impressed with the spirit of negotiation, adding that their requests and resolutions with government was a pointer that they were concern with what was going on in the health sector.

“What transpired was because we have not been engaging each other as much as possible. I am impressed with the spirit of negotiation. Your requests and resolutions point to the fact that our health workers are concerned with what is happening in the health sector”, the Governor noted.

Ogun State Triples Health Workers’ Hazard Allowance

Governor Nyesom Wike on Friday rewarded Rumuigbo community, Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers state with N5 million for providing information which resulted in the arrest of trucks, cattle, and passengers who sneaked into Port Harcourt in breach of the state’s COVID-19 restriction orders.

The Governor in a Friday broadcast on state of his administration’s fight against coronavirus also vented frustration on perceived Federal Government (FG) and security agents sabotage of efforts at containing the pandemic in the state.

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He said, “I commend Rumuigbo community vigilante for rising to the challenge, as any responsible community should do, by intercepting a lorry-load of livestock with 50 persons who illegally entered the State in violation of the lockdown orders. For this show of courage and patriotism, the State Government will reward the Rumuigbo with N5,000,000”

On perceived sabotage of Rivers State’s efforts, he said, “It’s imperative to alert the world that a dangerous escalation of COVID-19 pandemic in Rivers looms large in our horizon due largely to hypocrisy of the FG and continuous willful sabotage by security agencies.

“While we cannot overstate the gravity of our present predicament, nobody should be surprised should Rivers witness exponential increases in infection and spread of COVID-19 in days and weeks ahead as we begin intense testing.

“Our borders continue to experience serial sabotage by security operatives who allow, in some cases, personally aid persons with risky COVID-19 status into the State.

“The extent of sabotage has been such that, even a Deputy Commissioner of Police unilaterally appropriated powers to illegally issue movement pass to individuals, companies indiscriminately in utter contempt and violation of the lockdown orders of the State.

“From all indications, no matter what we do or try to do to fight this battle, it is becoming clear by each day that those forces bent on forcing COVID-19 pandemic on our State are not willing to cease their evil plot and intentions.”

On the toll his restriction orders take on the Rivers populace, he appreciated the “overwhelming majority for complying with the Stay at Home and Stay Safe orders, including temporary closure of business outfits and activities throughout the State.

“Quite, unfortunately, some residents have chosen to put themselves and the public at risk of infection with an irresponsible show of disobedience to our restrictions on human and vehicular movements during the lockdown.

“While we appreciate the intervention and plea of clemency from well-meaning Rivers citizens, it is our position not to condone any sentiments on this matter because of the seriousness of the situation.”

He affirmed that vehicles, whose owners have been convicted for violation of the Covid-19 orders with ownership already forfeited to the State will be duly auctioned by Deputy Sheriff of the State High Court.

“Unfortunately, despite our determined efforts, the State recorded three new cases, bringing our total confirmed COVID-19 infections to 17 as at the 7th of May 2020.”

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.

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