JUDGE’S ABSENCE STALLS ABBA KYARI’S ARREST, EXTRADITION

The absence of Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, stalled the hearing of a suit filed by a group against the police over the suspension of DCP Abba Kyari.

Although counsel to the applicant, the Incorporated Trustees of Northern Peace Foundation, Hamza N’Dantani, was in court, the court registrar apologised over the inability of the judge to sit.

The matter, which was on number six on the cause list, was however fixed for April 4 for hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the matter could not proceed, on Jan. 12, due to the absence of counsel to the plaintiff and the respondents in the suit.

Justice Okorowo then adjourned the matter until today for hearing.

NAN reports that the foundation, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/854/2021, sought to stop the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from arresting and extraditing DCP Kyari.

The suit filed on Aug. 9, 2021, is praying the court to grant a temporary order of injunction against the police and the AGF pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit.

NAN reported that the matter came up for the first time before Justice Okorowo on Jan. 12.

The case, which was earlier before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, was reassigned to Okorowo.

Okorowo, in the last adjourned date, ordered that hearing notices be issued on the parties.

Recall that DCP Abba Kyari was allegedly indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in an alleged multi-million naira advanced fee fraud said to have been perpetrated by a Nigerian citizen, Ramon Olorunwa Abbass, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

HOUSE OF REPS PROPOSES 7 YEAR JAIL TERM FOREIGN MEDICAL TRIP BY PUBLIC OFFICERS

A bill for an Act to amend the National Health Act, 2014 had scaled through second reading in the House of Representatives.

The Bill proposed seven years jail term and N500 million fine for any Public Officer of the Government of the Federation or any part thereof, seeking undue medical check-up or treatment abroad.

The Bill sponsored by Sergius Ogun of Edo State, seeks to amend the Principal Act (National Health Act, 2014) to make provision for sanctions against any public officer who violates the provisions of the law.

Ogun said the Bill, if passed into law, will curtail the excessive foreign medical trips embarked upon by public officers and encourage attention to develop the poor state of the country’s health sector, as well as improved renumeration for Medical Doctors.

Section 46 of the National Health Act,2014 provides: “Without prejudice to the right of any Nigerian to seek medical check-up, investigation or treatment anywhere within and outside Nigeria, no public officer of the Government of the Federation or any part thereof shall be sponsored for medical check-up, investigation or treatment abroad at public expense except in exceptional cases on the recommendation and referral by the medical board and which recommendation and referral shall be duly approved by the Minister or Commissioner of health of the State as the case may be.”

Meanwhile, clause 2(2) of the proposed amendment provides; “Any public officer of the Government of the Federation or any part thereof who violates the provision above shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000,000 or to an imprisonment term of seven years, or both.”

“This Bill will stop the export of cash abroad and redirect the same to the development of our economy. This cash which flies abroad in the disguise of one medical trip or the other will be retained here in our country and be used to develop our nation.”

“The poor attention being given to the country’s health sector, accounts for this and has resulted in a shortage of medical Doctors in the country.”

“This bill, when passed into law, will demonstrate the government’s commitment to the welfare of her citizens in the sense that funds which were hitherto expended in foreign medical trips will be redirected into building an efficient and effective health care system in the country. This will in turn positively impact the lives and wellbeing of the people,” Ogun stated.

COURT REMANDS 2 NSCDC OFFICERS FOR ALLEGED ARMED ROBBERY

A Lagos High Court, sitting at Ikeja has ordered the remand of a 27-year-old female officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amarachukwu Asonta and her colleague, Adebayo Ajayi, 32, in a correctional facility over the alleged armed robbery.

The judge made the order after they pleaded not guilty to a two counts charge of conspiracy and armed robbery filed against them by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The NSCDC officers and others now at large allegedly committed the offences on January 30, 2018, along Yaya Abatan Road, Ogba, Lagos armed with guns and other offensive weapons.

They allegedly highjacked an Iveco container truck with registration no; LSR746XD.
which was carrying 1,700 cartons of Chelsea and Action Bitters drinks valued at N2.7 million, waybills, mobile phones and an unspecified cash sum, contrary to Sections 297(2)(b) and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

While urging the court to remand the suspects at the Correctional Centre, the Prosecution led by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Jide Martins, told the Court that the Defendants have been evading the court before the court issued a bench warrant for their arrest.

According to the Prosecuting Counsel, the first defendant (Asonta) was arrested with the aid of the NSCDC.

On his part, the Defence Counsel, Dapo Daramola, submitted told the court that he had filed an application for the Defendants’ bail.

Trial Judge, Hon. Justice Oyindamola Ogala, accordingly ordered that the Defendants be remanded in the Correctional Centre and adjourned the hearing of their bail application to February 23, 2022.

SPORTS: OBASEKI, SHAIBU UNVEILS NEW JERSEY FOR EDO QUEENS, BENDEL INSURANCE FOOTBALL CLUBS

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, have unveiled the 2021/2022 season jersey for Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin and Edo Queens Football Club.

Performing the ceremony, at the Government House in Benin City, Obaseki disclosed that his administration will continue to harness the sporting potentials with a view to positively engage youths and create economic opportunities for Edo people.

“I am sure that with the performance of Bendel Insurance this season and that of Edo Queens, we will have our friends that will do the same thing as Sterling Bank is doing for Bendel Insurance.

“But as a government, we are very clear that our emphasis is on our people. We are lucky that sports is not on the exclusive list in this country, so we are not going to wait for anybody to develop sports or develop our sportsmen to become global sportsmen.”

“We will continue to invest our hard-earned money in sports and will monitor that those investments yield the required results,” Obaseki said.

Also speaking, the State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade philip Shaibu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the development of football.

He urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sanction any football club that fails to abide by the rules of the game.

“I want to challenge our NFF to make our teams in Nigeria professional teams; sanction any club that does not follow your rules; that is the starting point.

“We can no longer win the champions league or the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) trophy, not because we don’t have the talent, but because of bad administration. I am challenging the NFF today. We have a governor who loves sports and is ready to assist.

“When we were sworn in, we promised to make sports our number one priority and return Edo to its number one sporting position in Nigeria. We started by rebuilding the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other sports facilities in the state,” Shaibu noted.

First Vice President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwumi, who reassured that the football regulatory body will look into the activities of the management of the Nigeria National League (NNL), to ensure the right thing is done lauded Edo government for sustaining her investment in sporting activities.

HOW ADULTERATED PETROL FOUND ITS WAY INTO NIGERIAN PUMPS

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mele Kyari, explained how ‘adulterated’ Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, from Belgium into the country undetected as well as the companies that are responsible for the importation.

Mele Kiyari’s explanation was issued in a Press conference on Wednesday.

Full text of the Press conference

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for joining us at this press conference.

1. We wish to update our customers and the public on the ongoing efforts by NNPC and other stakeholders to resolve the issues generated by the unfortunate supply and discharge of methanol blended gasoline (PMS) in some Nigerian depots.

2. On 20th January 2022, NNPC received a report from our quality inspector on the presence of emulsion particles in PMS cargoes shipped to Nigeria from Antwerp-Belgium.

3. NNPC investigation revealed the presence of Methanol in Four (4) PMS cargoes imported by the following DSDP suppliers namely:

Importer Vessel Name Load Port
1 MRS MT Bow Pioneer LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium
2 Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium MT Tom Hilde
3 Oando MT Elka Apollon
4 Duke Oil MT Nord Gainer

4. Cargoes quality certificates issued at load port (Antwerp-Belgium) by AmSpec Belgium indicate that the gasoline complied with Nigerian Specification.

5. The NNPC quality inspectors including GMO, SGS, GeoChem and G&G conducted tests before discharge also showed that the gasoline met Nigerian specification.

6. As a standard practice for all PMS import to Nigeria, the cargoes were equally certified by inspection agent appointed by the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has met Nigerian specification.

7. It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for Percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors.

8. In order to prevent the distribution of the petrol, we have ordered the quarantine of all un-evacuated volumes and the holding back of all the affected products in transit (both truck & marine).

9. All defaulting suppliers have been put on notice for remedial actions and NNPC will work with the authority to take further necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations.

10. NNPC wishes to reassure Nigerians that we are currently sourcing additional cargoes to ensure product sufficiency.

COURT REMANDS FORMER ODIONWERE OMUADA ROLAND OSAGBAEKHOE IN CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

A federal High Court sitting in Benin City has remanded a former Odionwere, Omuada Roland Osagbaekhoe Omo Ogbebor, in the custody of the Correctional Centre for alleged fraud related charges.

He was docked before the Court for allegedlly swindling two unsuspecting person to the tune of thirty-one million naira.

According to the charges slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Defendant allegedly collected the sum of eighteen million naira from a victim under the pretence of transferring a plot of land measuring 200 ft by 200 ft for him in Okhuoromi community in April 2020.

He was also alleged to have collected the sum of thirteen million naira from another victim under the pretence of transferring a plot of land measuring 100 ft by 100 ft for him in Okhuoromi community.

The Prosecution Counsel for the EFCC, Ibrahim Mohammed, urged the Court to remand the former Odionwere Omuada in the Correctional Centre.

On his part, Counsel to the Defendant, Chief Micheal Ukpebor, informed the court that he has a pending bail application before the Court and pleaded with the Court to let his client remain in the custody of the EFCC.

The EFCC Counsel again told the Court that having concluded investigation, the Commission has no space to accommodate the Defendant.

Trial Judge, Hon. Justice S. M. Shuaibu, accordinglly remanded the former Odionwere Omuada in the custody of the Correctional Centre and adjourned hearing of the bail application to March 8, 2022.

PASTOR REMANDED FOR IMPREGNATING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL INSIDE CHURCH’S STORE

A 45-year-old Pastor with the Royal World Embassy Church, Rufus Ilatunji, has been remanded in  the Correctional Centre on the orders of an bute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly raping and impregnating a 14-year-old member.

The prosecution led by Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in August 2021, at Royal World Embassy Church, Ipaja, when the Pastor allegedlly had sexual intercourse with the girl in the Church’s store, which resulted in the pregnancy.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, F.M. Kayode, who did not take the Defendant’s plea, ordered that the pastor be remanded at Ikoyi Correctional Centre. 

The case was consequently adjourned to March 8, 2022 for mention.

Olatunji was docked before the Court on a two-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse and procuring an abortion.

REV. FR. SUSPENDED FOR BARRING IGBO SONGS DURING MASS


The Priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa, Ikorodu, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, has been suspended by the Catholic Diocese of Lagos for allegedlly barring his Parishioners from singing Igbo song during Mass celebration.

In a Disclaimer dated February 7, 2022, the Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, stated “It has been brought to our notice that Rev Fr James Anelu, the Priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu-Owa, Ikorodu, made some completely unacceptable comments about Igbo songs being sung in the Church and unsavoury remarks that do not represent the Catholic Church’s position on common brotherhood of peoples of all tribes and religions,”

“For this reason, he has been
asked to proceed on an
indefinite leave of absence to
give an opportunity for a thorough investigation of all the matters relating to his ministry on the parish.

The leave of absence takes effect from Tuesday, February 8, 2021, till further notice.”

“We, therefore, urge all Catholic faithful to hold on to the faith and continue in worship of God as one big family united and not separated by language, culture, or race.”

Fr. Anelu allegedly halted the “spirit filled” choir midway into a song saying Igbo songs would no longer be allowed in the Parish and church members who disagree with him should see him after the Mass, even as he cited examples of some communities where other songs are not allowed in the church.

2022 UTME, DE: JAMB POSTPONES REGISTRATION BY THE ONE WEEK

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has postponed commencement of the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) registrations earlier scheduled for Saturday, February 12, 2022, to Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Head, Public Affairs and Protocol of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed that the postponement was to enable more fine-tuning of the just upgraded and more user-friendly procedures for candidates’ registration.

According to him, the process, aimed at accomodating feedback from candidates and other stakeholders, will be concluded within the one-week extension period.

“The Board wishes the general public to note that the Board is ever-ready to provide world-class services to Nigerians.

“Further to the above, the new and improved procedures for the 2022 UTME Registration would be made available on the Board’s website, its weekly bulletin as well as other media outlets on Monday, 14th February, 2022,” Dr. Benjamin stated.

Going by the postponement, the registration exercise is expected to end on Saturday, March 26, 2022.

GUNMEN KIDNAPS EDO IPMAN CHAIRMAN, DRIVER KILLED

Edo state chapter Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abdul-Hamid Egele, has been abducted by gunmen.

Egele, popularly known as Baba Petrol, was abducted on Monday, at his residence in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area, while his driver was killed in the process.

Sources disclosed that the incident occurred at about 7 p.m. on Monday when Egele was returning home after the day’s business.

The source added that the gunmen who operated with two vehicles, laid ambush for the IPMAN chairman and opened fire killing his driver on the spot, overpowered his security details and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bello Kontongs, who said the state command was not aware of the incident, promised to find out from the Jattu Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of the jurisdiction.