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BREAKING: Why Nnamdi Kanu may not be released today – Lawyer Ejimakor

Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Nigerian Biafra political activist, Nnamdi Kanu, and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says reports claiming his client will be freed today is “premature” and based on “assumption”.

Ejimakor said this in an interview with BBC News Pidgin published on the website on Thursday morning.

According to him, he is not happy with the rumours bandied about by most IPOB separatists. He said since the ultimate decision belongs to the court, they cannot confidently say whether Kanu would be released today (Thursday) or not.

POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that Kanu’s treason case was originally scheduled to be heard next year, but the court granted an abridgement of time after a motion was filed by the Nigerian separatist leader.

Justice Nyako had on November 10, 2021, adjourned the trial of Kanu till January 19 and 20, 2022, for trial.

But the court granted an abridgement of time after a motion was filed in that respect, and he is expected to appear in court today (Thursday).

Kanu, 54, was born at Afaraukwu, Abia State. He had been arrested in 2017 for demanding the secession of the South-East zone from the Nigerian State.

However, he jumped bail in June 2018 before leaving for the United Kingdom (UK), though he said that he fled because his life was no longer safe in Nigeria.

After more than three years abroad, Nigeria’s Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami at a press briefing in Abuja on June 29, 2021, announced that the IPOB leader was re-arrested in a foreign country and extradited to Nigeria.

Ejimakor had said the IPOB leader was re-arrested in Kenya and whisked to Nigeria.

Upon his re-arrest and extradition in June 2021, he was re-arraigned before Justice Nyako for terrorism-related charges brought against him by the AGF office. Kanu has since been remanded in the custody of the DSS in Abuja.

Some respected Igbo elders, led by Minister of Aviation in the First Republic, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, had recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock and requested the unconditional release of the detained secessionist leader.

Buhari had told them he would not want to interfere in the running of the judiciary but said he would consider their demand though “a heavy one.”

Nigerians React As Man Confronts Soldier After Breaking His Windscreen

Some Nigerians have taken to social media to react after seeing a man confront a soldier for smashing his windscreen.
Naija News reports that a cab driver had taken to his Instagram account to narrate how he confronted a soldier after he (the soldier) smashed his windscreen in Lagos.

The man identified as, Faithful Olatunde said he was driving from Muritala Mohammed International Airport Lagos when he encountered traffic on Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH .

While in traffic his passenger was trying to get gala. However, this action did not sit well with two soldiers who were monitoring the traffic and they proceeded to smash his windscreen.

He wrote: “I was driving from MM2 towards Lasuth, there was traffic on the brigde towards lasuth and This 2 soldiers were directing the traffic, just before we were asked to move, the guy I was carrying decided to buy gala, I gave him N100 to buy it then were asked to move so I started to move slowly to cover up, the guy bought the gala in less than 2seconds but ahead of me the soldier controlling the traffic asked me to move fast which I did,only for me to get to his front and he smashed my windscreen, so i stopped to confront him, and he started molesting and threatening me, He actually hit me twice on my head with the pipe he used to break my windscreen and the wiper. I did nothing wrong, while I was accusing him of his wrong doing his partner tried to rush me to collect my phone but I was fast enough to get a good grip on my phone, but he managed to crack part of the screen of my phone. I DID NOTHING WRONG FOR CRYING OUT LOUD”

Reacting to the situation, some Nigerians have condemned the security operatives action, maintaining that they were wrong in destroying the man’s windscreen.

Below are some comments culled by Naija News

Foreverdope: “How many times will they tell you Nigeria is not for you”

drizslim: “E no make sense say soldier wen suppose de fight terrorist come de terrorize the people..
Soon we go do revolution against the military.”

Jidemoo: “In as much as the dude no do the right thing but the soldier gats pay for the damages which kin showoff be that one….or make dem send am go Borno make Boko boys teach am lesson.”

rondef: “remove guns and weapons they carry about, they nothing but bloody humans.”

JosephXavier: “It’s unfortunate but their spokesman will still come and tell us how professional Nigerian soldiers are and how they use the rule of engagement to tackle insecurity.

See Video Below

Shocking: How Lagos hoodlums hack NURTW boss at home, shoot him dead in hospital

A leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos State, Kunle Ajibade, has been murdered by suspected hoodlums in Ijeshatedo, in the Surulere area of the state.

According to Punch Metro, the assailants stabbed the 28-year-old at his house and trailed him to a hospital where he was receiving treatment.

They were said to have shot him multiple times.

The victim’s brother, Kehinde, who urged the police to investigate the killing, said his brother was being rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital when he gave up on the way.

Our correspondent learnt that the circumstances surrounding Kunle’s death started during a celebration tagged Prosper Day.

The party held last Saturday on Ijikoyijo Street, Ijeshatedo, where Kunle was the vice-chairman of the NURTW.

Members of two rival gangs reportedly attended the party to also catch fun.

While one of the gang members was led by a man identified as My Son, the other gang was led by a transport worker identified as Kolom.

Kehinde said trouble started when one Malik, a member of Kolom’s gang, started misbehaving after drinking to a stupor around 10pm.

He claimed that Malik’s action infuriated members of the other gang, which led to a fight between the groups.

“Also in Ijesha, there is a group known as the Ultimate, led by one Alaka.

“During the fight, members of the Ultimate group supported My Son group.

“Kunle and some people tried to settle the fight. But Alaka became annoyed and engaged in a shouting match with my brother.

“One of Alaka’s boys, Jabi, even broke a bottle on my brother’s head, but we ensured that the matter was settled for peace to reign. The party ended and everyone went home,” Kehinde added.

He alleged that Alaka, however, led his gang to attack Kunle at midnight, adding that they stabbed him with different weapons, including machetes.

“I was asleep when my phone rang around 2am. I checked it and realised that it was my wife calling. I picked it, but my mother started speaking and she said I should go to Ijikoyijo Street because some people had used machetes to inflict serious wounds on Kunle.

“When I got there, I was told that they had taken my brother to a private hospital on Ogunmuyiwa Street. On my way there, I met his friends, who said while at the hospital, Alaka led his boys to attack the medical facility and shot my brother.

“They shot him in the hand, back and thigh. Even without the gunshots, the probability of him surviving the injuries he suffered during the attack with machetes was low. They cut his hand and head. I have Alaka’s voice recordings confirming that he attacked my brother.

ABDUL SAMAD RABIU’S ASR AFRICA DONATES 2.5BILLION NAIRA TO EDO GOVT TO EQUIP STELLA OBASANJO SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) – brainchild of Industrialist, philanthropist and founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has provided a grant of 2.5billion Naira to the Edo State Government towards the equipping of the New Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City currently being reconfigured, upgraded, and expanded to a 250-bed specialist hospital.

This donation makes Edo State the fourth state after Sokoto, Ogun and Kwara states to receive a 2.5billion Naira grant from ASR Africa’s 10bn Naira Tertiary Healthcare Systems Support Grants Scheme for 2021 drawn from the Annual ASR Africa $100million Fund for Social Development and Renewal.

Presenting the grants award letter to Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo State, Ubon Udoh, Managing Director, ASR Africa Initiative said the 2.5billion Naira Healthcare grant to Edo State, was in fulfilment of the pledge made by the founder of ASR Africa, Alh. Abdul Samad Rabiu, in June 2021 when he specifically set aside 10billion Naira for tertiary healthcare interventions in 4 states in Nigeria. He further added that the 2.5billion grant, which will be put towards equipping the new Stella Obasanjo Hospital, will go a long way in raising the standard of care accessible in the region. He also commended Governor Godwin Obaseki, for his commitment to healthcare development at all levels within the State.

Governor Obaseki, whilst thanking the ASR Africa Initiative for the grant, stated that his government decided to improve healthcare delivery in the state by renovating, improving, and upgrading the Stella Obasanjo Hospital to a 250-bed hospital. He also added that new buildings and services are being added to complement and support the existing complex.

According to Governor Obaseki, “I am immensely grateful to Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu for this grant through his ASR Africa Initiative. Beyond improving healthcare delivery in Edo State, this partnership with ASR Africa is very important for us in creating a template for the implementation of future development partnerships.”
The brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa

Ganduje mourns as death toll in Kano boat mishap hits 36

Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Wednesday expressed deep pains and grief over the death of 36 persons in a boat mishap in the State.

The incident occurred on Tuesday in Badau village of Bagwai local government area.

Seven of the victims are in an intensive care centre of Bagwai hospital.

Eyewitnesses said some other persons on board the ill-fated boat were still missing as at press time even as rescue teams continued tirelessly with their search operations.

According to a police report on Wednesday, 36 bodies have been recovered with 29 confirmed clinically dead by medical doctors.

Among the dead are 21 females and 8 males, the police said.

A statement by police spokesman, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), explained: “36 bodies have been recovered. 29 are confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

“Seven rescued are receiving treatment at Bagwai Hospital. Of those rescued (alive), are four females and three males. Rescue mission in progress, please.”

Ganduje described the incident as a “state tragedy.”

His condolences were contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Abba Anwar.

He lamented that the same spot had swallowed many persons in a similar boat mishap some years ago.

It was gathered that the boat was sailing from Hayin Badau to Bagwai with 50 passengers, most of them Islamiyyah students, when it capsized due to “overloading.”

Ganduje said: “We learnt the boat started from Hayin Badau to Bagwai with passengers who were on their way to attend Maulud celebration.

“The boat was ferrying about 50 people with some loads. It capsized because of overload. And most of them were Islamiyyah students.

“So far, based on the information we received, as at this morning of Wednesday, there were 20 deaths, 7 in hospital and another 8 people were found this morning and the rescue operation is still going on.

“While we pray to Allah to forgive and bless the souls of those who died and pray for a quick recovery of those who are in the hospital receiving medical attention, I urge boats operators to always take the issue of loading very seriously.

“They (boat operators) should know that they can still get profit without overloading their boats.”

While saluting the courage and patriot posture of the rescue teams,” Ganduje warned: “People should know that the lives of all fellow human beings are too important to be risked deliberately.”

Lagos Attorney-General Refutes Lai Mohammed, Keyamo’s Claim On #EndSARS Panel

The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, has refuted some claims made by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Festus Keyamo, regarding the judicial panel constituted by the state to investigate the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.

Mohammed had dismissed the report which indicted the Nigerian army and Lagos government as one riddled with “errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendoes, omissions and conclusions that are not supported by evidence”.

The information minister had claimed that members of the panel concentrated on the protesters and allegedly failed to mention cases of police personnel who were “brutally murdered” during the protest, saying “Does this mean that the panel didn’t consider policemen and women as human beings?”

But Onigbanjo exonerated the panel in that regard when he appeared on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday to speak on the white paper released by the state government on the #EndSARS report. The state government had described the panel’s findings as “totally unreliable” and “unacceptable” in the white paper.

The attorney-general said that the panel submitted a two-part report to the Lagos Government, noting that the part which leaked to the media “dealt with the issues from the Lekki Toll Gate”.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said the other part of the report contains cases of EndSARS-related violence in other parts of the state, including petitions submitted by police officers and their families.

“On the issue of the allegation that the panel made no reference to the policeman or didn’t take them into consideration. To their credit, they did,” said Onigbanjo.

“They issued two reports. The report which leaked only dealt with the issues from the Lekki toll gate, there’s another report which they issued which was not leaked. That report deals with all the #EndSARS petitions, about 253 in number. Out of that 253, policemen also brought their own petitions. And in that report, they (the panel) awarded the sum of maybe N36.2 million to policemen who were affected one way or the other by the protests.

“So, to be fair to them. They did consider the plight of policemen too. And look at most of their recommendations…. for better welfare for the police, better equipment, more training, psychological evaluation, so they took them into consideration. Most certainly they did.”

The Lagos Attorney-General further deflated the claim by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Keyamo, who had faulted the constitutionality of the judicial panel.

Keyamo had claimed that state governments have no powers whatsoever to inquire into affairs affecting the Nigerian army or the police or any federal institution.

Onigbanjo, however, said: “…as to the legality of the panel, I do not agree with him (Keyamo) with all due respect, because firstly, it was the National Economic Council that directed states to go and set up the judicial panels of inquiry.

“Under the law, the tribunal of inquiry law of Lagos state, the state government is vested with the power to set up an inquiry into anything of public concern in the state.

“Now, what are we talking about here? Largely abuse of human rights. As far as I know, abuse of human rights is a matter on the residual list, which means it’s only the states that can handle such matters, and in fact, there are a couple of Supreme Court cases which say categorically that the federal government cannot set up tribunals of inquiry for the Federation. So, on so many fronts, that statement by the Honorable Minister, Mr. keyamo, is incorrect, that’s not the position of the law.”

Lagos 2022 Budget Scales Second Reading As Committees Begin Work

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Tuesday committed the 2022 Appropriation Bill of the State to a joint committee on Finance and Economic Planning and Budget after deliberations by members.

Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, last Wednesday presented to the Assembly a budget size of ₦1,388,285,459,990.51 for the year 2022.

As the lawmakers read the bill for a second time, many of them commended the Governor for allocating 59 percent of the proposed appropriation to capital expenditure with some saying it would further bring the dividends of democracy to the residents of the State.

Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, said the allocation to capital expenditure proposes that more hands would be engaged within the year as the government develops more infrastructure.

“If this budget is well funded and monitored properly, democratic dividends would be felt more,” he said.

In his contribution, Hon. Temitope Adewale urged that the revenue generation net of the state should be widened with lesser emphasis on borrowing.

On his part, Hon. Fatai Mojeed, urged that while considering the bill, there should be consideration for the microeconomic indices of the State like its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He commended the Governor for allocating 23 percent of the budget to education but raised concerns over what he called an overbloated personnel cost in the Ministry of Establishment.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, noted that some of the MDAs performed woefully in 2021 adding that there was need for some of the revenue-generating institutions of the government to be rejigged.

He also suggested that the government create more vocational centres for the youth while advising against excessive borrowing.

Speaking on the budget, the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, suggested that the House approves only what is feasible and that if the state needs more, it could make a recourse to the Assembly.

Others who spoke included Hon. Setonji David, who wants the fiscal instruments of the budget to be spelt out properly at the committee stages of defence, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu, who advocated for a realistic budget, Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, and Hon. Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, who urged the government to consider vulnerable women and children.

Meanwhile, the House, at the sitting, passed the bills to amend the Lagos State pension reforms law and that which amends the public office holders (payment of pensions) law.

BREAKING: Again, Fani-Kayode arrested by EFCC

A former Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, was on Tuesday re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was arrested at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, who was in court over his forgery trial, was exiting the courtroom after the matter was adjourned till January 24, 2021, when he was approached by an EFCC investigator.

He was subsequently arrested and moved to a nearby EFCC custody — a week after his earlier arrest.

It is understood that he is still being quizzed over false documents.

More to follow…

Grand Winners Emerge in the Shalina Young Talents Awards Season 3

Photo caption: At The Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) National Grand Finale at Radisson Hotel, Lagos .
L-R: Mr Folorunsho Alaran, Marketing Manager (West Africa), Shalina Healthcare; Ms Okafor Cynthia Chidera, University of Ibadan, 2nd Runner Up; Ms Zakariya Farida, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Winner, Shalina Young Talents Award, SYTA Season 3, (Best Pharmaceutical Student in Nigeria); Oyenyi Adedoyin Emmanuel, University of Lagos, 1st Runner Up; and Mr Arun Raj, Vice President/ Head, Shalina West Africa at the National Grand finale of SYTA 2021 held in Lagos, Tuesday November 23, 2021.

National grand winners have emerged in this year’s Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) organized by Shalina Healthcare, a leading pharmaceutical company in Nigeria.

They emerged after a keenly contested competition amongst the final year pharmacy students in universities across Nigeria.

The grand event took place in Lagos recently at the Radisson Hotel, where Ms Zakariya Farida of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Oyenyi Adedoyin Emmanuel of University of Lagos, Idi- Araba, Lagos State and Ms Okafor Cynthia Chidera of University of Ibadan, Oyo State emerged the Grand Winner, 1st Runner up and 2nd Runner Up respectively.

According to the Vice President & Head – West Africa Shalina Healthcare, Arun Raj, the Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) “is a Value-Added Initiative designed to bring the best out of pharmacy students in Nigeria”.

“This pharmacy contest tagged ‘The Quest for the Best Pharmacy Brains in Nigeria’ began in August with Zonal Championship Contests. The zonal winners who emerged from the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria competed for the coveted crown at the grand final where the national winners emerged. In this process, we had put in place, the right resources and appropriate structure to ensure that the best brains in the Nigerian universities emerged in the exercise”, Arun said.

Speaking in the same regard, Folorunso Alaran, the Head of Corporate Marketing said, “the contest had indeed lived up to its aim and objectives”.

He stated, “this is the 3rd edition of the academic contest and had been an improvement from the past editions. From zonal levels where great numbers of students participated to the grand final where the zonal champions slugged it out among themselves, it had been a battle of wits, excellence, and ideas. Eventually the national winner had emerged, endorsed by our respected panel of judges made up of Deans of the Faculties of Pharmacy, thus by many standards is the current best pharmacy student in Nigeria”.

Speaking about her experience in the competition, the grand winner, who was visibly elated at the event, Ms Zakariya Farida of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria said the contest had given her the opportunity to study more and had also spurred her to double her efforts to ensure that she remained focus.

Thanking the organizers of the academic contest, Farida said “Shalina Healthcare must be well acknowledged for their contribution to the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria and most especially in creating competitive platform for pharmacy students to drive best standards in pharmacy study through the Shalina Young Talents Award (SYTA)”.

The event witnessed a roll call of top Pharmacy professionals and personalities led by the Special Guest of Honour and the #1 Pharmacist and President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof Cyril Odianose Usifo, and the National Secretary – Pharm Gbenga Falabi. The rollcall also includes Pharm Ken Onuegbu, National Chairman of the NAIP; Pharm. Adewale Oladigbolu, National Chairman of the ACPN; Pharm. Olabode Ajayi Ogunjemiyo, National Chairman of the AHAPN; Dr Ezekiel Olugbenga Akinkunmi, National Chairman of the NAPA; Pharm Folasade Lawal, the MD/CEO Victory Drugs representing the National Chairman of CPAN; Pharm (Chief) Yetunde Moroundiya, Vice Chairman Board of Fellows representing the National Chairman of the ALPS.

In attendance were also Pharm Gbolagade Iyiola, Chairman of Lagos State PSN, and his Vice Pharm Babayemi Oyekunle; Pharm Shakirat Adeosun, DPS Primary Healthcare Board Lagos State; Pharm Paul Owolabi, Vice Chairman ACPN Lagos; Dr Arinola Joda, Chairman NAPA Lagos; Pharm Hafusat Adesina, Chairman ALPS Lagos. Pharm Layi Ogidan, representing the Registrar of the PCN; Pharm Mrs Olufunke Awopegba, MD/CEO Funket Pharmacy Ltd; Pharm Mrs Olaide Soetan, MD/CEO NHC Pharmacy Ltd; Pharm Tunde Oyeniran, President of SocPharmSMN, and many more who had graced the occasion with their presence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FTnLEXxWEE

BREAKING: Twitter’s Jack Dorsey ‘Emotional’ As He Resigns After 16yrs As CEO

In a tweet on Tuesday, Dorsey said he was leaving after 16 years of co-founding the company and occupying the positions of CEO, chairman, executive chairman and interim-CEO.

The 45-year-old billionaire said he had come to realize that it was “severely limiting” for a company to continue to be founder-led, describing it as “a single point of failure.”

While noting that his primary wish was for Twitter Inc to be “the most transparent company in the world,” Dorsey gave the following as the 3 main reasons he was stepping down as the company’s CEO.

“The first is Parag becoming our CEO. The board ran a rigorous process considering all options and unanimously appointed Parag. He’s been my choice for some time given how deeply he understands the company and its needs. Parag has been behind every critical decision that helped turn this company around. He’s curious, probing, rational, creative, demanding, self-aware, and humble. He leads with heart and soul, and is someone I learn from daily. My trust in him as our CEO is bone deep.

“The second is Bret Taylor agreeing to become our board chair. I asked Bret to join our board when I became CEO, and he’s been excellent in every way. He understands entrepreneurship, taking risks, companies at massive scale, technology, product, and he’s an engineer. All of the things the board and the company deserve right now. Having Bret in this leadership role gives me a lot of confidence in the strength of our board going forward. You have no idea how happy this makes me!

“The third is all of you. We have a lot of ambition and potential on this team. Consider this: Parag start. here as an engineer who cared deeply about our work and now he’s our CEO (I also had a similar path…he did it better!). This alone makes me proud. I know that Parag will be able to channel this energy best because he’s lived it and knows what it takes. All of you have the potential to change the course of this company for the better. I believe this with all my heart!”

He added that, “Parag is CEO starting today. I’m going to serve on the board through my term (May-ish) to help Parag and Bret with the transition. And after that…I’ll leave the board. Why not stay or become chair? I believe it’s really important to give Parag the space he needs to lead. And back to my previous point, I believe it’s critical a company can stand on its own, free of its founder’s influence. or direction.

“I want you all to know that this was my decision and I own it. It was a tough one for me, of course. I love this service and company…and all of you so much. I’m really sad…yet really happy. There aren’t many companies that get to this level. And there aren’t many founders that choose their company over their own ego. I know we’ll prove this was the right move.

“We’ll have an all-hands meeting tomorrow at 9:05 AM Pacific to discuss it all. Until then, thank you all for the trust you’ve placed in me, and for the openness to build that trust in Parag and yourselves. I love you all.”