Man Who Was Sentenced To Death Commits Suicide In Kuje Prison
A 43-year old businessman on death row has committed suicide inside Kuje prison in Abuja.
Obinna Echianu was sentenced to death for killing Edwin Ali an uber driver, it was gathered.
Echianu was said to have committed the crime alongside Everly Nnorom, a 27-year-old student. However, Nnorom was discharged and acquitted of the crime while Echianu on the other hand was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The prosecutor, Donatus Abah told the court that both men conspired and planned to rob and kill on Dec. 25 2016 which is punishable by death under the law.
The assailants were armed with a revolver pistol and 33 live ammunition and forcefully took the deceased’s Nissan Almera car and a mobile phone at Gosa pedestrian bridge, Airport Road, Abuja. After the robbery, Echianu shot and murdered the driver before fleeing the scene.
A source quoted by Sahara Reporters said Echianu was so unhappy about his sentence that he decided to take his life.
The source said: “He went into the bathroom in his cell and hanged himself. His lifeless body was discovered dangling from a rope around his neck. It is not clear what triggered this last act.
“However, it raises questions about the condition of the prison system in Nigeria. Why could a person on death row have easy access to a means of hanging himself? Also, what is the state of healthcare in the prisons, especially for inmates with mental health issues?
“It is is now too late for anyone to know what would have been the outcome of his appeal. Death of the accused ends every criminal trial.”
The Nerve of a Super Fraud : Aiteo Slams $2.5bn Suit against Shell over Sale of OML 29
*Alleges Fraud, Deceit, Misrepresentation
Seeks compensation As DPR Awards Kugbo West Marginal Field In OML 29 To 7 Waves Petroleum
Fortune and fraud are often in business, uneven cardinal elements; one speaks to value and the other, a vice. Fraught in its pursuit of these discordant factors, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has once again, waded into the eye of the storm. Ultimately, it committed the impious fraud of industry in its sale of the OML 29 to Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited in 2014.
The SPDC perpetrated the contradiction of a business culture that cultivates sincerity and is at the same time manifests a fraud. Ask Aiteo.
The latter has dragged Shell to court over what it alleged as “fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation” in the sale.
In a suit, FHC/ABJ/C8/738/2021, dated July 27, 2021, and filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, by its lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Aiteo is claiming that the defendant breached a fundamental term of the agreement for assignment dated October 17, 2014, as set out in schedule 1 part 3 – wells, in relation to the Kugbo West and Okiori oil well s listed in schedule 1 of the agreement for assignment.
It accuses SPDC of failing to fully disclose the true nature of the oil wells to it, at the time of the sale, despite receiving the full payment for the transaction.
Shell Petroleum’s conduct was no doubt an invitation for a lawsuit. Describing the oil giant’s action as a “fraudulent misrepresentation,” Aiteo is seeking, among others, the payment of over $2 billion from Shell in general and other collateral damages as a result of the alleged lies and deceit at the time of the sale.
Trouble reared its ugly head immediately Aiteo discovered that the SPDC, from whom it bought the OML 29 in 2014, had transferred the Kugbo West and Okiori Marginal Fields to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) without disclosing this during the negotiations that led to the purchase of the asset.
The flames of discord flared and burned brightly between the parties in the wake of a letter dated September 16, 2021, and titled, ‘2020 Marginal Field Bid Round Award Of Kugbo West Marginal Field Located In OML 29 to 7 Waves Petroleum Limited’, from 7 Waves Petroleum Limited, informing Aiteo that a section of the controversial OML 29 now belongs to 7 Waves, courtesy of the 2020 Oil Bid Round conducted by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
The letter signed by Daniel Alabi, Managing Director, 7 Waves Petroleum Limited, stated in part:
“7 Waves Petroleum Limited actively participated in the 2020 Marginal field bid round conducted by the Department of Petroleum Resources [DPR] and emerged as the awardee with 100 percent equity interest in Kugbo West Marginal Field in OML 29 upon payment of the statutory signature bonus. The field would be jointly operated with our partner ‘Multiplan Nigeria Ltd’.
“Our firm would be glad to discuss and engage with Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited being the leaseholder for OML 29 with the underlying objective of executing the required Farmout Agreement thus (to) enable our firm commence field development activities essential to meet the timeline set by the DPR.
“We would be glad to set up an introductory meeting to discuss the next steps, kindly notify our firm of a suitable date and time. Thank you for the assistance, we look forward to a mutually beneficial and long-lasting working relationship.”
Aiteo had earlier received the rude shock when DPR notified it of the new development in a letter dated August 3, 2021 and signed by Edu Inyang for Director/CEO, DPR.
The SPDC was the legal and beneficial holder of a 30 percent undivided participating interest in OML 29, which is part of the undivided percentage interest held by the defendant in conjunction with TEPING, NAOC, NNPC amongst others.
Prior to the assignment of the lease to Aiteo, Shell as the operator of OML 29 published Information Memorandum in October 2013 wherein it invited bids from interested entities for the acquisition of their joint undivided 45 percent participating interest in OML 29.
Aiteo claimed it did not only join others to bid for OML 29 but emerged successfully. “As consideration for the agreement, the plaintiff made the following respective payments of; $220,000,000.00 as deposit pending the negotiation, completion, and execution of the transaction documents and relevant agreements and the balance of 2,130,000,000.00 upon the execution of the transaction and acquisition documents and the agreement,” it stated.
The plaintiff further averred that based on the agreement for assignment dated October 17, 2014, the defendant in conjunction with TEPING and NOAC as Assignors transferred to it their entire participating interest in OML 29 together with the rights, interest, obligations thereto and in the process purportedly also transferred their participating interest in the wells, “when they knew or ought to have known that they had surrendered and given the wells to the NNPC/ the federal government about five years earlier for valuable consideration”.
While Aiteo claimed its bid for the acquisition of OML 29 was based upon a complete reliance on the representations in the electronic data room information, IM, and the Agreement, particularly as they concern the wells contained within OML 29, it noted that issues came up in 2020 when it wanted to commence work on the assigned wells.
Aiteo claimed that “In the circumstances, therefore, the plaintiff avers that the representations made by the defendant as aforesaid were made falsely, deceitfully and fraudulently with the intention of depriving the plaintiff the full benefit of the assets and the undivided 45 percent participating interest in the wells.”
Consequent upon the SPDC’s deceit, Aiteo claimed its expectations as it relates to the wells can no longer be achieved and that its financial position has been severely and adversely impacted upon, as it is unable to fully repay its alleged indebtedness to its financiers due to the wrongful actions of the SPDC.
While claiming that it paid the sum of $46.2 million for the wells, the plaintiff argued if the money had been invested in other business ventures at the rate of 9.9 percent interest rate per annum from 2014 till the commencement of the suit it would have yielded an additional sum of $52 million. Plaintiff, therefore, claimed that it is entitled to a refund of $99 million.
Aiteo is also praying the Federal High Court to order Shell Petroleum to refund to it, the sum of $46.2 million as payment attributable to Kugbo West and Okiori oil wells being money had and received for a consideration which has totally failed.
Aiteo is also asking for another sum of $52 million being the interest that ought to have accrued on the sum paid on the two wells. While it is claiming the sum of $500,000 general damages, it is also seeking the payment of $2.1 billion as the amount it would have derived from the sales of 32,000,000 barrels of crude oil and other petroleum products from the Kugbo West and 41,000,000 barrels of crude oil and other petroleum products from Okiori wells.
It would be recalled that the SPDC suffered a huge legal blow earlier in the year, as a court in The Netherlands, compelled it to compensate two Nigerian farmers for damages over 2004/2005 oil leaks.
Its alleged bullying tactics and exploitation of legal technicalities in the production and evacuation of crude oil to allegedly short-change not only the Federal Government but also local operators in the oil and gas business were clearly nipped in the law court.
The SPDC was also mired in a missing crude oil scandal by the local regulator, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) through an illicit metering system, which it allegedly deployed to steal crude and cheat local operators.
Peter Obi has been named in a global money laundering scandal
The former governor set up secret companies abroad and refused to declare them as part of his assets.
A former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has been named in a global tax evasion scandal and investigative reporting carried out by more than 600 journalists in 117 countries.
The investigation is called Pandora Papers.
The BBC writes that the “Pandora Papers is a leak of almost 12 million documents that reveals hidden wealth, tax avoidance and, in some cases, money laundering by some of the world’s rich and powerful.”
The Pandora Papers details how rich and powerful individuals from across the world– including more than 330 politicians from 90 countries–launder money by setting up businesses in tax havens like the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, as well as in countries like Switzerland and Singapore.
These places are called ‘tax havens’ because it is easy to set up companies there, there have laws that make it difficult to identify owners of companies and there is low or no corporation tax within their jurisdictions.
According to Premium Times, a Nigerian publication that was part of the global investigation under the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) umbrella in Washington DC, Obi discreetly set up a company called Gabriella Investments Limited, in the British Virgin Island.
He named the company Gabriella Investments Limited, after his daughter Gabriella Nwamaka.
Obi, the online newspaper reports, first approached Acces International, a secrecy enabler in Monaco, France, to help him incorporate an offshore entity in one of the world’s most notorious tax havens.
Acces International then contracted a local registered agent – Aleman Cordero Galindo & Lee Trust (BVI) Limited (Alcogal) — to set up Gabriella Investments Limited for Obi.
Gabriella Investment Limited was born on November 17, 2010.
On the same day the company was incorporated, the nominee directors met and issued 50,000 shares of Gabriella Investment in favour of Hill International Holding Corporation, a shell International Business Company operating under the laws of Belize, another tax haven.
The director of the company is Mr. Van Vuuren, who is also one of the directors of Gabriella Investment.
Change of name and breaking Nigeria’s laws
Gabriella Investment is now known as PMGG Investments Limited in what is a combination of the first letters of the first names of Obi’s nuclear family: P for Peter (ex-governor), M for Margaret (the ex-governor’s wife), G for Gabriella (the ex-governor’s daughter) and G for Gregory (the ex-governor’s son).
Obi has also created a trust known as The Gabriella Settlement, an entity also registered in the BVI.
The Gabriella Settlement is the sole shareholder of PMGG Investments.
Obi also incorporated another company called Next International (UK) Limited on May 16, 1996, in London.
Investigations show that Obi continued to act as director of Next International (UK) Limited for 14 months after becoming Governor of Anambra State, thereby breaking Nigeria’s laws.
In Nigeria, a person is statutorily obligated to withdraw from engaging in or directing a private business, upon becoming a public officer, as stipulated in Section Six (6) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
Obi resigned from Next International on May 16, 2008, 14 months after he assumed duties as Anambra Governor.
Obi also contravened Section 11 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which stipulates that public officers are required to declare “immediately after taking office and thereafter all” their properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his (or her) unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.
Investigations have revealed that Obi did not declare the companies he tucked away in offshore secrecy havens to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Asked about his offshore assets and shell companies, Obi told Premium Times that: “I am sure you too will not like to pay inheritance tax if you can avoid it.”
Obi, 60, was PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections.
He often preaches frugality, parsimony, anti-corruption, lean governments and probity every other day on prime time television.
He also once told the world that he wears only one wrist watch, even though images of him at different events showed him wearing different brands of pricey wristwatches.
BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap Ondo varsity lecturer, demand N10m ransom
Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Akoko, AAUA, Ondo state.
The academic, Mayowa David Adinlewa was abducted during the weekend along Akure-Ikere-Ekiti road.
The abductors have contacted the lecturer’s brother, Toyin, demanding for N10 million ransom.
It was gathered that the victim was on his way to visit his his family at Ikere in Ekiti when he was waylaid by the gunmen.
The assailants have reportedly spoken to Adinlewa’s wife, warning her against alerting the police if she wanted to see her husband alive.
It was also gathered that the victim spoke with his wife during her conversation with the kidnappers.
He begged his wife to ensure that he is freed as he had trekked for hours without food and water, stating that his health was deteriorating rapidly.
When she requested for a location, the kidnappers forcefully retrieved the phone from the victim’s wife and switched it off.
The abduction was confirmed by a lecturer of the university who promised that the victim will soon be released.
When asked if other lecturers were planning to raise the ransom, he said that “all I can tell you is that he would soon be released. We are on top of the situation.”
Contacted, the state police command spokesperson Funmi Odunlami said, “initially, we thought it was a case of an abandoned vehicle. It was later that the family contacted the police that their son had been kidnapped.
“The incident happened between the boundary of Ondo and Ekiti States.
“Our anti-kidnapping unit has swung into action towards rescuing the victim. They are already combing the bush and the axis where it happened.
Odunlami said: “I’m not aware if contact has been made with the family. I don’t know anything about the demand for ransom.
Yahaya Bello Dumps 2023 Presidential Ambition, Eyes VP Slot
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has dumped his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the rulingAllProgressivesCongress (APC), DailyIndependent hasre¬liably gathered.
The governor, who has not hidden his desire to succeed PresidentMuhammaduBuhari, recently said Nigerians were askinghimtocontestfortheseat of thepresidencyin2023general elections.
He also said that he believes he has the necessary qualities to perform excellently aspresident, especially in uniting the nation, which, according to him, is seri¬ously divided.
“Theyouthsandwomenand all Nigerians, including very objective elite, are asking me to run for president in 2023. And I believe that it is high time that we looked into capacity — who can do the job? Who is going to unify this country? And I think they are seeing something in me that they are asking me to come and unite and fix this country,” he said.
However, speaking with Daily Independent, a serving Commissioner in Kogi State, who is a close ally to the gov¬ernor, said the governor has toned down his presidential ambition “given a strong feel¬ing that the APC might pick its presidential candidate from the South”.
Healsoaddedthattheresolve by the Southern Governors’ Fo¬rum (SGF) that they will work against any political party that picks a presidential flagbear¬er from the North in 2023 has really caused a major setback to Governor Bello’s ambition, even though he is yet to formal¬ly declare.
“Yes, the governor has not given up but he is lying low now. Many youths and other Nigeri¬ans are still asking him to run in 2023andmanysolidaritygroups are still springing up every day declaring support for him.
“However, recent develop¬mentsin the polity, especially the resolution by the Southern gov¬ernors that they won’t support any Northerner has made him to tone down on his ambition. While some people in the APC are calling for the presidential ticket to be thrown open, the majority of party members are calling on the party leadership to zone it to the South, given the fact that President Buhari who is from the North will be completing eight years in 2023.
“So, the governor will formally make his position known soon on whether he will contest the presidency or not but he has not given up, especially with mas¬sive support and endorsement he keeps receiving throughout the country.”
Another credible source in the party, however, informed Daily Independent that the gov¬ernor has already begun consul¬tations with party leaders on be¬coming the running mate of the would-be presidential candidate of the party, if the presidential ticket is eventually zoned to the South.
“I am aware he is leaving his options open for running mate to the presidential candidate if the ticket is zoned to the South because naturally the vice-pres¬idential candidate will be picked from the North. But that is also hinged on many factors. If the presidential candidate is a Mus¬lim, can Nigerians afford to vote for two Muslims on the same ticket?”
When contacted, Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s Commission¬er for Information, declined to respond to our enquiries on whether the governor has given up on his presidential ambition.
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has dumped his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the rulingAllProgressivesCongress (APC), DailyIndependent hasreliably gathered.
The governor, who has not hidden his desire to succeed PresidentMuhammaduBuhari, recently said Nigerians were askinghimtocontestfortheseat of thepresidencyin2023general elections.
He also said that he believes he has the necessary qualities to perform excellently aspresident, especially in uniting the nation, which, according to him, is seriously divided.
“Theyouthsandwomenand all Nigerians, including very objective elite, are asking me to run for president in 2023. And I believe that it is high time that we looked into capacity — who can do the job? Who is going to unify this country? And I think they are seeing something in me that they are asking me to come and unite and fix this country,” he said.
However, speaking with Daily Independent, a serving Commissioner in Kogi State, who is a close ally to the governor, said the governor has toned down his presidential ambition “given a strong feeling that the APC might pick its presidential candidate from the South”.
Healsoaddedthattheresolve by the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) that they will work against any political party that picks a presidential flagbearer from the North in 2023 has really caused a major setback to Governor Bello’s ambition, even though he is yet to formally declare.
“Yes, the governor has not given up but he is lying low now. Many youths and other Nigerians are still asking him to run in 2023andmanysolidaritygroups are still springing up every day declaring support for him.
“However, recent developmentsin the polity, especially the resolution by the Southern governors that they won’t support any Northerner has made him to tone down on his ambition. While some people in the APC are calling for the presidential ticket to be thrown open, the majority of party members are calling on the party leadership to zone it to the South, given the fact that President Buhari who is from the North will be completing eight years in 2023.
“So, the governor will formally make his position known soon on whether he will contest the presidency or not but he has not given up, especially with massive support and endorsement he keeps receiving throughout the country.”
Another credible source in the party, however, informed Daily Independent that the governor has already begun consultations with party leaders on becoming the running mate of the would-be presidential candidate of the party, if the presidential ticket is eventually zoned to the South.
“I am aware he is leaving his options open for running mate to the presidential candidate if the ticket is zoned to the South because naturally the vice-presidential candidate will be picked from the North. But that is also hinged on many factors. If the presidential candidate is a Muslim, can Nigerians afford to vote for two Muslims on the same ticket?”
When contacted, Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s Commissioner for Information, declined to respond to our enquiries on whether the governor has given up on his presidential ambition.
Presidency Reacts As Ethiopian Prime Minister ‘Becomes’ Buhari’s Personal Driver In Addis Ababa
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of the East African country of Ethiopia.
As earlier reported, Buhari is billed to attend the inauguration of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for a second five-year term in office on Monday.
Buhari, who departed Abuja and arrived the Ethiopian capital on Sunday, is scheduled to deliver a goodwill message at the inauguration ceremony.
He is also expected to attend a State Banquet in honour of visiting Heads of State and Government.
Naija News reports that upon arrival in the East African country, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, His Excellency, Abiy Ahmed Ali opted to drive President Muhammadu Buhari out of the airport as he arrived in Addis Ababa ahead of the Prime Minister’s inauguration tomorrow.
Buhari in Ethiopia
Reacting to the development, Buhari’s personal assistant on digital/new media Bashir Ahmad gushed about the respect and honour the Nigerian leader elicits from other African leaders.
Taking to his Facebook account on Sunday, he wrote; “The respect most of African leaders have for President Buhari is second to none, the Ethiopian Prime Minister today after receiving the President at the Airport also offered to personally drive him to where he’d be staying in Addis Ababa.”
Many Killed As Gunmen Attack, Burn DSS, Police HQ In Anambra
Unknown gunmen on Sunday attacked and burnt down the police and the Department of State Services offices in Nnewi, Anambra State.
According to witnesses, the attacked occured on Sunday afternoon around 1:00 p.m.
It was gathered that when hoodlums stormed the offices, they overpowered personnel and set fire to the facilities.
“The attackers said they don’t want to see any Nigerian flag standing in the area,” a witness told Peoples Gazette.
The number of those killed or injured cannot be ascertained as at the time of filing in this report.
In related news, an aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, of burning down his house in Nnewi, Anambra State.
In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, Joe Igbokwe accused IPOB members of being behind the incident.
According to the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, he was not hurt
“IPOB invaded my house in Nnewi about now. Iam sure they raised down the my house giving the jerrycans of petrol I saw being offloaded from their Sienna car via CCTV. To God be the glory . Iam still alive. My Study is my greatest regret,” Igbokwe wrote
Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has claimed that his house in Nnewi in Anambra State, has been razed by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) insurgents.
Igbokwe claimed the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, and he said IPOB members are behind it.
“IPOB invaded my house in Nnewi about now. Iam sure they raised down the my house giving the jerrycans of petrol I saw being offloaded from their Sienna car via CCTV. To God be the glory . Iam still alive. My Study is my greatest regret,” Igbokwe wrote on his known Facebook page.
Tying of legs after snakebite wrong, fuelling amputations, deaths – Experts
Health experts have cautioned Nigerians against the practice of tying the legs of victims of snakebite with a cloth to stop the movement of the snake venom.
According to the experts, the practice and other crude management of snakebite are fuelling avoidable mortality and morbidity.
The call by the medical experts is coming after the Federal Government called for renewed vigour among stakeholders in snakebite management
One major harmful practice of snakebite management that should be discouraged, according to the experts, is the tying of the leg of victims after snakebite.
They stressed that the practice is fuelling cases of limb amputation.
According to them, victims of snakebite should rather immediately call for help and ensure they are taken to good health facilities for appropriate treatment.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH HealthWise, a Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr. Bright Igbinoba, said there are things that were done in the past when a person was bitten by a snake that are being discouraged nowadays.
Igbinoba said it is also important to quickly rush a person bitten by a snake to the hospital to avoid orthopaedic effects that could lead to complications and amputation of the limb.
The orthopaedic surgeon explained, “The first thing that should not be done after a person is bitten by a snake is tying something tight around the limb.
“Normally, once a person is bitten by a snake, the limb is swollen. So, as you tie it, it becomes more swollen and blood will not flow into the limb and the limb will die. And once the limb is dead, it will need an amputation.
“Before, if a person has a snake bite, they will ask him or her to tear a piece of clothing and tie the leg. Tying that piece of clothing on the leg has been found to increase the risk of amputation.
“Again, the practice of cutting the bite mark of a snake with a razor blade should be discouraged. It has been found to introduce infection.
“Also, the practice of sucking the venom by mouth is also discouraged. It doesn’t really help because the venom can enter the mouth of the person trying to suck it.
“The use of cold compress is also discouraged.”
Igbinoba noted that snakebite might not lead to death or amputation if people get help on time and seek appropriate treatment.
According to the World Health Organisation, snakebite is a neglected public health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries.
The United Nations health agency says about 5.4 million snakebites occur each year, resulting in 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenoming (poisoning from snakebite).
“There are between 81, 410 and 137, 880 deaths and around three times as many amputations and other permanent disabilities each year,” WHO says.
Recalled that the Minister of State for Health, Dr.OlorunnimbeMamora, had recently said Nigeria records an average of 15,000 to 20,000 cases of snakebites every year.
Quoting a recent survey, Mamora said snakebites in the country occurred at 479 cases per 100,000 people.
The minister had said, “Nigeria records an average of 15,000 to 20,000 cases of snakebite every year, with about 2,000 people killed and between 1,700 and 2,000 people whose legs or arms are amputated to save their lives after snakebite.
“States with the most cases of snakebite in the country are Gombe, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Nasarawa, Enugu, Kogi, Kebbi, Oyo, Benue and Taraba.”
He called for renewed vigour to ensure strong partnerships among member states, development partners, donors and other stakeholders for snakebite management.
Giving insight into snake venoms and their complications, Igbinoba said, “We have the ones that destroy the blood and are very toxic to the blood. Those ones are called the haemotoxins venom or snakebite.
“Snakes with this type of venom, once they bite a person, their venom enters the bloodstream and starts destroying the blood. And the person will start bleeding from the snakebite and can bleed into the internal organs and die from there.
“Then you have the neurotoxic venom. The ones take over the nerves of the body and weaken the person and the person cannot move again.
“The venom will completely take over the person’s nervous system. The last type of venom is necrotizing fasciitis. Now, what do snakes do when they bite an animal or prey, the venoms contain enzymes and so as they inject it into a person’s body, the body starts digesting.
“That digestion, what it does is to kill the cells. And that is what causes the limb to start getting rotten.
“It causes it to have a big wound and swell,” he explained.
The physician advised that people should avoid drugs not prescribed by experts when they are bitten by a snake.
“People should immediately call for help once they are bitten by a snake.
The person should be quickly rushed to the hospital.
“The person should try and know the type of snake so that we will be able to know the type of venom that the snake has.
“It is also important to note the time of the bite so that we can plan and know the speed at which to attend to the patient”, the surgeon counselled.
WHO further says most of the deaths from snakebite occur in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“In Asia, up to 2 million people are envenomed by snakes each year, while in Africa there are an estimated 435 000 to 580 000 snakebites annually that need treatment.
“Bites by venomous snakes can cause acute medical emergencies involving severe paralysis that may prevent breathing, cause bleeding disorders that can lead to fatal haemorrhage, cause irreversible kidney failure and severe local tissue destruction that can cause permanent disability and limb amputation,” WHO added.
