Fiery lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has said that the Adamawa State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru’s acceptance speech confirmed that she was in on the illegal declaration. Falana stated this in an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday. The SAN described Binani’s declaration and her acceptance speech as a ”charade”. He said: ”With respect to the acceptance speech, it already confirmed that she was party to the charade. She has to be brought in by the police and investigated. “How did you prepare a speech if you did not know that you were going to be declared the winner because, at that stage, the collation had not been concluded? “The last point is the role of NTA. The NTA televised the acceptance speech. I expect the NBC to move in speedily and sanction the NTA because, at that time, collation was still ongoing.” Recall that the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Hudu Yunusa, had declared Binani winner of the state guber election. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, reversed the purported declaration of Binani as the winner of the Adamawa election by the REC. The Commission said the action of the REC was a move to usurp the power of the Returning Officer. It further declared it null, void and of no effect. Meanwhile, Falana has demanded that Binani be investigated by the police.

  Members-elect of the House of Representatives are launching another alliance soon, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June. The PUNCH reliably gathered on Wednesday that the group of members-elect, who were drawn from across party lines, would be known as ‘The 10th Assembly Pathfinders.’ The Pathfinders group would be the third coalition or alliance by members-elect of the 10th House towards the election and selection of leaders for the legislative chamber, especially the presiding officers – Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Our correspondent obtained a copy of the agenda of the new group, which is billed for launch soon after the National Assembly resumes from Easter and Ramadan break on Tuesday. The mission statement of The 10th Assembly Pathfinders is “to build a strong, independent, respectable parliament that will work for Nigerians and make Nigeria more stable, peaceful, and prosperous.” The document partly read, “We are a group of parliamentarians drawn across political party lines for the purpose of building a network of nation builders who will use the platform of the legislature to propose, support, and promote legislative activities to: “Promote national unity, good governance, responsible leadership, and prosperity of all parts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; promote healthy conversation, debates, and collaboration for national development; ensure equity, fairness, competence, and justice in the allocation of offices, responsibilities, resources, and powers in the 10th House of Representatives; ensure inclusiveness in the leadership composition of the 10th House of Representatives; and harness the social, economic and professional expertise of members of the 10th House of Representatives to propose bills, motions and advocacy for national development.” When contacted, one of those leading the alliance, Bamidele Salam, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Osun State, confirmed the development. The ranking lawmaker noted that the groups were not formed to compete with one another, noting that he belongs to one of the coalitions that emerged earlier. Salam said, “We have gone very far. At the last count, we were over a hundred. Our agenda is two-fold: the first is to support the emergence of a leadership that will be credible, competent and respectable. We want to look at all the people who are vying for positions, to look at credibility, competence and those that will earn respect for the institution.” When asked about party membership of The 10th Assembly Pathfinders, the lawmaker noted that it was across party lines. Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the coalition of minority parties may suffer a setback as some of the leaders of the movement were said to have openly supported an aspirant on the platform of the APC. A ranking member of the House, who was at the Abuja meeting, said the members-elect later realised that the agenda of the coalition might be different from what the conveners claimed.

  The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has congratulated Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on his election victory. This was even as Zelensky invited him to his war-ravaged country of Ukraine on a state visit. The felicitation is coming two months after the former Lagos governor was declared winner of the contentious presidential election. Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart in Labour Party, Peter Obi, who garnered 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes respectively. In his congratulatory message, Zelenskyy praised Tinubu over his victory, adding that his war-torn country is determined to further strengthen cooperation with Nigeria. The Ukrainian leader also used the opportunity to extend an invitation to the president-elect to visit Ukraine on a state visit after his inauguration on May 29. His letter read, “Please accept my sincere congratulations on your election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Despite extremely difficult testing times, caused by the full-scale armed aggression of Russia against our state, Ukraine is determined to further strengthen cooperation with Nigeria at the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations. “We are grateful for your country’s support of the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization “Principles of the UN Charter underlying a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. “I count on the active participation of Nigeria in its practical implementation. We see the further provision of global food security, of which Ukraine was and remains a reliable guarantor at the global level, as an important direction of cooperation. “The fulfilment of this task will be facilitated by the successful implementation of the Ukrainian initiative “Grain from Ukraine”, which is designed to significantly increase the supply of grain to African countries in order to prevent famine. “Taking this opportunity, I invite you to pay an official visit to Ukraine at a time convenient for you. “I am confident that your visit will strengthen the dialogue between our countries and contribute to further consolidation of joint efforts of the international community aimed at solving the urgent challenges of today, in particular the crisis situation caused by Russia regarding the guarantee of world food security.”

  The Programme Manager, Anambra State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Management, Dr Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, says the state ranks highest in Childhood Tuberculosis contribution in Nigeria. Chukwulobelu made the disclosure at the ongoing stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Health, in partnership with the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and Breakthrough Action Nigeria, on Thursday in Awka. He described TB as an airborne disease caused by a bacteria called “Mycobacterium tuberculosis” which usually attacks the lungs and could also damage other parts of the body. The programme manager said the disease spreads through the air when a person with tuberculosis of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks. “According to statistics on TB burden, Nigeria ranks number six in the world and number one in Africa, with every local government having TB cases. “Anambra has the highest burden of TB drug resistance cases and childhood TB contribution in the South-East and Nigeria. This is not a good thing for the state. “To reduce the high burden of TB, the state government, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme and other partners, set up 14 laboratories with gene Xpert machines for diagnoses. “We have about 800 Directly Observed Treatments Centres for TB, but the major problem is lack of awareness among residents about TB, its diagnosis and treatment,” he said. Chukwulobelu urged the media to intensify reportage on the burden and symptoms of the disease as well as how and where patients could get medical help. “Persistent cough for two weeks or more, fever, unexplainable weight loss and drenching night sweats are signs used to screen patients. Residents should report suspected cases of TB within their communities. “TB patients should also adhere to their treatments to prevent drug-resistant TB cases which are even more dangerous. “Everyone has a role to play to reduce the burden of the disease,” the programme manager said. Also, Dr Chijioke Oke of KNCV-Nigeria, said children living with adults, who have TB, children who are HIV positive and malnourished children, were at risk of getting TB. Oke identified low childhood TB awareness, stigma, low funding for childhood TB and low index suspicion for childhood TB by healthcare providers, as some of the challenges with the control of the disease in the state. He said that children’s stool was required to test children for TB because they do not know how to spit out sputum after coughing, but rather swallow it. “Our major challenge with Childhood TB control in the state is that parents are scared and do not allow doctors to take their children’s stool for tests. “Some of them think the medical personnel want to use their children’s stool for ‘juju’. “It shows the level of ignorance and lack of awareness among residents,” Oke said,” NAN

  Thursday 20 April 2023 Adamawa poll: Police warned against cover-up El-Rufai raises the alarm over insecurity ahead May 29 FAAC: Allocation drops as FG, states, LGs share N715bn Crude oil exports: Malami allegedly paid $200m as whistleblower fees — Reps FG’s Disobedience of court orders: Ohanaeze fumes over Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention Why 3,298 inmates are on death row in Nigeria — Prisons Service Eid-il-Fitr: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays Romance scam: Lady arrested for allegedly defrauding German citizen of $220,000 Adamawa Poll: NSCDC Boss Summons State Commandant Over Alleged Complicity Buhari Returns From Eight-Day Trip To Saudi Arabia Imo Elders Visit Uzodimma, Seek Adoption Of Equity Charter Presidency Tackles Ortom On Insecurity, Senatorial Bid, Says Benue ‘Rejected’ Him APC Vice Chair Lukman Writes Adamu, Issues One-Week Ultimatum To Convene NEC Meeting Why Weaponising Ethnic, Religious Biases For Politics Can Be Destructive – Osinbajo Bandits Killed 214, Kidnapped 746 In Three Months – Kaduna Govt Father Allegedly Chains, Starves Children To Death In Ogun Immigration Officers, Lecturer Killed In Taraba Bandit Attacks Onyeka Ibeh: Court Remands Suspected Killer Cop In Delta Kwara POS Operator Arrested For Lavishing N280m Sent To His Account In Error FG approves N1.5trn for construction, rehabilitation of over 700km roads Sources: NBS/World Bank study to reveal ‘sharp drop’ in Nigeria’s unemployment rate Tinubu asks police to probe ‘all that transpired’ in Adamawa guber poll Two dead, four rescued in Abuja collapsed building Retired NPA staff bags 14 years jail term over N24.3m fraud Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  A 45-year-old man, Gbenga Ogunfadeke, has been arrested in Ogun State for allegedly chaining and locking his two children in solitary confinement which led to their death. Channels Television reports that Ibiade was arrested on Tuesday in the Waterside Local Government Area (LGA) of the state by men of the State Security Network, Amotekun. The state commander of the Amotekun security outfit, David Akinremi, has confirmed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital. It was gathered that the suspect, a father of three, had accused his children of stealing, chained and locked them in solitary confinement, without food and water for over three months which allegedly led to the death of two of the children.   He was also accused of maltreating the children whose ages range between 16 and 18 since he took custody of them, following his crashed marriage with their mother, Busola Otusegun. The suspect was said to have been arrested after a complaint by his ex-wife. “One of the three children came across his aunty in Ibiade where he currently lives with his father (suspect) and narrated their experience with their father which led to the death of his two elder siblings between April and June, 2022 in Ijebu-Ode where they were all living with the suspect until he relocated back to Ibiade,” the Amotekun commandant said. One of the victims narrated that their father chained and locked them in solitary confinement, without food and water for over three months which led to the death of the two siblings, adding that he alone “miraculously” survived the ordeal.   Akinremi stated that the suspect, when interrogated, admitted to the alleged confinement of the children for months, but denied depriving them of food and being responsible for their death. According to the suspect, his action was based on the children’s involvement in stealing, hence the need to ensure they are prevented from such criminal action. He added that the suspect claimed that the two deceased children were taken to hospital for treatment at different times when they fell ill, but unfortunately died in the process. “What is however curious about his defence is that the hospital where he claimed the two children died in Ijebu Ode could neither be located nor where he allegedly buried them behind a rented apartment he lived in Ijebu-Ode before relocating to his present abode in Ibiade with the third child for possible exhumation be traced. “The fact that he refused to make the incidents known to any member of the family also gives course for concern more so when the suspect is a herbalist, thus further fuelling the suspicion of having killed the deceased for possible rituals,” Akinremi added. The case has reportedly been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation with a view to establishing further facts that will facilitate the suspect’s prosecution of the suspect.

  An Ikeja special offences court has sentenced Nasiru Ogara, a retired staff of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to 14 years imprisonment over fraud. Delivering judgment in the case on Wednesday, Mojisola Dada, the presiding judge, held that the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred a four-count charge against Ogara and his company, New Age Motor Waste Basket Ltd. According to Nwandu Ukoha, EFCC counsel, Ogara in 2017 induced one Usman Ademoye, director of Kelly Newton Nigeria Ltd, to confer a benefit on him by delivering 8,000 units of waste bin worth N5.2 million to him in the understanding that the waste bins would be paid for. The commission said that Ogara knew the representation to be false. The anti-graft agency told the court that Ogara also induced Ademoye to confer a benefit on him by delivering copies of Kogi state vehicle consolidated documents worth N19.1 million to him in the understanding that the documents would be paid for. The first defendant was also said to have issued dud cheques to the complainant. Although the defendants were acquitted on count four, they were found guilty on counts one, two, and three. While Ogara got 14 years in prison on counts one and two, he was handed a two-year sentence on count three. The judge held that the sentences should run concurrently. She also imposed a fine of N15 million on the retiree’s company and ordered that it should be wound up, while its assets sold and the proceeds used to pay the complainant. She ordered the convict to restitute N24.3 million to the complainant.

  Two immigration officers have been killed by suspected bandits along the Takum Ussa Local Government Area link road in Taraba State. Confirming the incident to Channels Television on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdullahi Usman said the officers were not only shot dead but had machete cuts on their bodies with their motorcycle abandoned. The officers were identified as inspectors Adike Austin and Uzo James of the Immigration Department attached to the Ussa local council checkpoint. Usman disclosed that their remains have been deposited at the morgue for autopsy with a full-scale investigation launched, adding that the killing of the immigration officers is not related to the ongoing herders/farmers crisis in the area.   In a related development, a lecturer with the Federal University Wukari has been confirmed killed in his farmland by a suspected Tiv militia group. Until his death, the lecturer – Daniel Bala – worked with the university’s Faculty of Agriculture. In a reprisal attack, the irate youths of Wukari killed a Tiv businessman and injured his friend. The Tiv vs Jukun crisis has become a recurring decimal in Taraba State, especially during the rainy season and it is expected that the government takes drastic action to nip in the bud the attack and counterattacks before it escalates.

  A Point of Sale (POS) operator simply identified as Alfa Rafiu has been arrested in Kwara State for allegedly squandering 280 million naira mistakenly sent to his account. The suspect, it was gathered, is a resident of Akuji compound, Abayawo area in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state. According to sources in the area who are familiar with the issue, Rafiu had suddenly gone on a spending spree after he received the alerts in batches of several millions some weeks ago. “About two weeks ago, he received several bank alerts that scaled up to N280 million which he knew nothing about.   “But instead of him to draw the attention of the bank that mistakenly transferred the huge fund, he went on a speeding spree. “Rafiu bought houses, cars and sponsored people to the lesser Hajj. Some of those he sponsored are presently in Saudi Arabia as we speak. Although he was generous to several people in the community, some residents were surprised about his sudden wealth as a POS operator,” the source added. It was gathered that the suspect has been arrested by police officers from the “C” Division Police station, Oja-Oba, Ilorin which is in charge of the area accompanied by some bank officials. The POS shop has been closed and some of the residents in the compound said he has travelled and they don’t know when he will be back.   When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Kwara State Command, Ajayi Okasanmi (SP), confirmed the incident. According to him, “Yes, the matter is true, but his arrest was effected by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) from Alagbon-Close, Ikoyi, Lagos which makes it completely out of our purview”.