The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied the report that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has died. An online report had claimed that the CDS had passed away. However, a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, disclosed that the online newspaper had since retracted the news story. “The attention of the Defense headquarters has been drawn to an unfortunate publication by an online newspaper alleging that the chief of Defense staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa passed away yesterday. The report is unfortunate, unethical and lacks credibility. “To put the records straight, the CDS, General Christopher Musa is alive and hearty. The Chief of Defense Staff who just returned from an official assignment outside the country has resumed work with more vigor to continue with his uncommon leadership style to prosper the armed forces of Nigeria. “The online newspaper have since retracted the news story and offered its unreserved apology to the CDS, his family and the armed forces of Nigeria,” the DHQ stated. The mixup may not be unconnected with the recent passing of a former Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen Chris Alli (Rtd), in Lagos.

  Amidst the political instability in Plateau the Speaker of State House of Assembly, Hon Moses Thomas Sule, has resigned his position as speaker. The deputy speaker, Hon Gwottaon Fom, has also resigned his position. The member representing Pankshin North Gabriel Dawang, has been elected as the new speaker. Hon Timothy Dantong representing Riyom constituency is now the new deputy speaker of Assembly. The reason for their action isn’t clear at the time of this reports but sources said Our the development could be connected to the sacking of governor Caleb Mutfwang and some PDP lawmakers in the state assembly. Details later…

  National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said on Tuesday, that it has received a report through its patient notification platform concerning one batch of counterfeit Meronem 1g Injection in circulation. The Agency alert Nigerians on the development, thus asking individuals or pharmaceutical companies in possession of the counterfeit product to submit the products to the nearest NAFDAC office. Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who signed the public alert No. 036/2023, on Tuesday, added that Pfizer was the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) for the product. She explained that Meronem (Meropenem trihydrate injection) is an antibiotic used to treat skin and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria and meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) in adults and children 3 months of age and older. The NAFDAC boss said that, according to the MAH, Pfizer, the patient who reported the case noted that the vial content did not dissolve when reconstituted for use and that further visual inspection of the pack was observed. She said it was also reported that the crimp code on the product did not match the code reported on the production documentation batch of 2A21F11, which is the semi-finished batch used for 4A21I17. In addition to that, the batch number and expiry date match an authentic batch of Meronem 1g injection intended for distribution in the Egyptian market. She confirmed that preliminary investigation further indicated that the production process did not meet with the Pfizer’s specifications. “The vial label compares favourably to the purported artwork version.” She was concerned that the administration of the counterfeit product will pose a high risk to patients as the quality and safety are not guaranteed. The NAFDAC boss, however, said that healthcare providers and patients have been advised to obtain all medical products from authorized/licensed suppliers. She also asked that products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked before purchase and administration, hence she implored importers, wholesalers and retailers to maintain vigilance within the supply chain and desist from illegal importation, distribution, and sale of the counterfeit Meronem 1g injection and other substandard medicinal products. She asked those in possession of the counterfeit product to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional if they had already used the product, or suffered from any adverse reaction after using the product. The NAFDAC boss also advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of adverse drug reactions, or substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, or NAFDAC phone number on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. Adeyeye also encouraged healthcare professionals and patients to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of a medicinal product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng. The public are also urged to report any adverse effect of the product via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.

  The Lagos State Government on Monday sealed several establishments in the Oshodi/Isolo area of the state for various environmental infractions. The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) confirmed this in a statement, saying the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration aims to keep the state clean. “As part of its ongoing initiatives to tackle noise pollution and other environmental violations, yesterday, LASEPA sealed several establishments, including a mosque, a company, and hotels in the Oshodi/Isolo area of the state for various environmental infractions,” LASEPA said. The facilities affected are Adura Agba Ratibi Mosque, Stag Engineering Nig Ltd, Green Point Hotel and 4 Season Hotel and Suites. Other establishments sealed are Big Apple Hotel and Suites, Honey Dew Hotel and Suites, Humble Signature Hotel and Suites and New Ground Hotel. In another development, the Lagos State Government on Monday cleared the frontage of Ajara Senior Grammar School in Badagry to restore sanity. The spokesperson of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina made this known in a statement with the directive coming from Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab. “HC MOE&WR Tokunbo Wahab, acting on a petition from the authorities of Ajara Senior Secondary School Badagry on indiscriminate and unauthorized commercial activities in front of the school by street traders and undesirable elements directed an immediate investigation,” Adeshina said. “The Monitoring Enforcement and Compliance dept of MOE&WR took up the challenge, visited the location, investigated and served necessary abatement notices. “Following subsequent expiration of the served abatement of nuisance notices and refusal to comply, MEC operatives moved in on Monday and cleared the frontage of Ajara Senior Grammar School Badagry to restore sanity.” In addition, the operatives also cleared illegal structures and commercial activities on the setbacks of the following schools: Anglican Primary School Ilogbo- Eremi, Morogbo Primary School, Morogbo and the Nigerian French Language Village all in Badagry. Adeshina added that the latest enforcement have become imperative following the discovery that the unwholesome commercial activities within the precinct of the schools are a contributory factor to d rise in truancy, hooliganism and other vices inimical to learners’ moral & intellectual development

  Former President Muhammadu Buhari has maintained that he did his best in the eight years that he governed Nigeria. Buhari made the disclosure in an interview with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). Daily Trust reports that this is his first interview since leaving office on May 29, 2023. He said Nigerians are a difficult bunch to manage because “they think they should be” in charge “not you”. “God gave me the opportunity to serve my country, but I did my best. But whether my best was good enough, I leave for people to judge. “Nigerians are extremely difficult. People know their rights. They think they should be there, not you. “So, they monitor virtually every step. And you have to struggle day and night to ensure that you are competent enough,” he said. Questioned on the integrity of many of the people surrounding him during administration, the former president stated that “it is their problem “, querying what the persons who criticized him fiercely had done at their individual levels to fight corruption. Buhari said he allowed people to do their jobs when he assigned tasks, stressing that if he was given the same chance he would not do anything differently under Nigeria’s current system. The former president stated that he endorsed the controversial naira redesign policy in the twilight of his administration to protect his own integrity and to show Nigerians there was no shortcut to success. “Whether Nigerians believe it or not, we are an underdeveloped country. And in that sort of situation, there’s materialism and sometimes ruthlessly they didn’t care how they made the money. “I still feel that the only way I could deprive these people was just to make sure that my integrity became unquestionable… I think as a developing country we still have a long way to go. “The motivation (for the policy) was to try and make Nigerians believe that there is no shortcut to successful leadership,” he said.  

  Police operatives attached to the Suleja Area Command in Niger State have arrested two suspects after they allegedly attempted to swap an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card belonging to a female victim at a commercial bank in the town. According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, the victim discovered the suspects were attempting to swap her ATM card and raised the alarm but the suspects immediately zoomed off. The police patrol team subsequently trailed the vehicle and was intercepted at the old NEPA roundabout in Suleja Town. However, while the driver identified as David Therma abandoned the vehicle and escaped, the suspects, one Aver Wase and Godwin Deor, were arrested. The police spokesman said, upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that they both left Lokoja for Zuba in Abuja and met Therma, who was said to have taken the vehicle from the driver of a ride-hailing service in Abuja. The suspects claimed that they were graduates of educational technology from Benue State University and that they had been carrying out such nefarious activities for the past five months. They reportedly confessed to withdrawing about N170,000 from other victims’ accounts in Nasarawa State, of which about N90,000 was withdrawn through victims’ cards in Lokoja. However, the attempt in Suleja was not successful, they were quoted as saying. The items recovered from the suspects included a Toyota Corolla vehicle with registration number YAB-267 CW, nine ATM cards, one POS machine and a flash drive.   The suspects are undergoing further investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department Minna, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend Therma, who is still at large.

  The Abia State Government has denied spending over N900 million on the feeding and welfare of Governor Alex Otti from July to September 2023. Earlier, reports emerged that a budget performance report indicated that the government spent N927 million within three months on refreshments and meals, allowance, settlement of honorarium and welfare packages.   It was alleged that the Otti-led government spent N223,389,889.84 on refreshments and meals while N305,400,000.00 was spent on honorarium and sitting allowances for government officials in July and September 2023. As a result, some Nigerians took to social media, wondering how such amounts of money could have been spent in the space of three months, in view of current economic realities. However, in a statement on Monday, the media aides to the governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma and Kazie Uko, described the reports as false. “The total amount spent so far by the entire government of Abia State for Refreshments and Meals for the period is N223,389,889.84,” the statement read. “The figure above is as captured in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government. Please, note that this figure is for the entire state and not for the Office of the Governor, as being erroneously portrayed. “The stated figure covers expenses for special events, such as retreats, conferences, and related events. For welfare, the Abia State Government has so far spent the sum of N397,520,734.84. “The Welfare expenditure is in line with the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme (SFTAS); an initiative of the Federal Government. “Also note that the Welfare Expenditure covers all the Ministries’ Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and not just the Governor’s Office, as wrongly alleged. “Expenses under Welfare deal with issues of Health, Rehabilitation and Public Emergencies. The Abia State Government, under the leadership of Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, will continue to uphold transparency in governance, as has been demonstrated in the publication of the budget performance report for two consecutive quarters.”

  Political veteran Joseph Boakai was on Monday declared winner of Liberia’s presidential election, beating incumbent George Weah, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) said after completing the ballot count. Boakai won with 50.64 percent of the vote, against 49.36 percent of the vote for former international football star Weah, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, president of the commission, told reporters. Boakai won with only a 20,567-vote margin. Weah had already conceded defeat on Friday evening, based on the results of more than 99.98 percent of the polling stations. The outgoing president and former football star won praise from abroad on Monday for conceding and promoting a non-violent transition in a region marred by coups. “Liberians have once again demonstrated that democracy is alive in the ECOWAS region and that change is possible through peaceful means,” the Economic Community of West African States said in a statement. Since 2020, ECOWAS states have seen abrupt regime changes with military forces seizing power by force in four of the fifteen member countries: Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger. The election six years ago of Weah — the first African footballer to win both FIFA’s World Player of the Year trophy and the Ballon d’Or — had sparked high hopes of change in Liberia, which is still reeling from back-to-back civil wars and the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic. But critics have accused his government of corruption and him of failing to keep a promise to improve the lives of the poorest.   While his party lost, “Liberia has won,” Weah had said on radio. Weah said he had spoken to the man he called the “president-elect” to congratulate him and urged his own supporters to accept the election result. “This is a time for graciousness in defeat,” he said, adding “our time will come again”. The African Union sent its congratulations to the president-elect on Monday. chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat also called on “all parties to continue to display maturity and embrace dialogue to consolidate democracy”. – ‘Defied the stereotype’ – The West African bloc also said that the post-election phase was “crucial”, and called on “the people of Liberia to maintain and safeguard peace and security”. However, the electoral commission head said that on Friday it had received two appeals from Weah’s party concerning the conduct of the election in Nimba County. The commission has 30 days to investigate and reach a decision, she said. Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who led a mediation mission for the election, said he was “deeply pleased with the successful outcome of the democratic process”, in comments posted on X, formerly Twitter. He went on to congratulate Boakai, urging him “to be magnanimous in victory and seek to continue the efforts to unite” Liberia. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is a heavyweight in the West African bloc, commended Weah’s concession saying it had averted any form of socio-political crisis. “He has defied the stereotype that peaceful transitions of power are untenable in West Africa,” Tinubu said. Several presidential elections in the region are upcoming in 2024, including polls in Senegal, Ghana and Mauritania, as well as military-ruled Mali and Burkina Faso. AFP

  Justice Nelson Ogbuanya of the National Industrial Court (NIC), Port-Harcourt Division, has held that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) by extant laws, lacks the power to register organisations under Incorporated Trustee, which has aims and objectives of a Trade Union. The court made the decision while delivering Judgment in a suit marked NICN/PHC/48/2022, filed by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria against a rival Association, the Incorporated Trustees of Freight Forwarders Transport Association along with their Trustees and the Corporate Affairs Commission as the 10th defendant. The court clarifies that the registration of Incorporated Trustee though falls in the category of organisations reserved for CAC for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), and registration of Trade Unions reserved for the Trade Union Registrar under the Trade Unions Act, Justice Ogbuanya held that neither the CAC nor the Trade Union Registrar while carrying on statutory function under CAMA or Trade Unions Act, can register an organisation not falling appropriately under its statutory mandate, and so, the CAC does not have the legal power to accept and register organisation as Incorporated Trustee, which by its disclosed aims and objective, is a disguised trade union, designed to carry out trade union activities, particularly conflicting with an existing trade union, as in the instant suit. The claimant in its statement of facts have argued that some of its members led by the 6th defendant broke off from them being in its umbrella union of maritime sector, and went ahead to register another Association with the CAC, which issued it a Certificate of Incorporation in its name, Incorporated Trustees of Freight Forwarders Transport Association, which aims and objectives are in conflict with the trade union activities of the Maritime Union. The court in its decision dismissed the objection on jurisdiction as grossly misconceived by counsel for the defendants. Among the decisions in the judgment on whether an Association registered under CAMA by the CAC can legally carry on trade union activities, and whether the CAC is empowered by law to register an Association as an Incorporated Trustees with aims & objectives portraying such an Incorporated Trustees as a trade union, the court made a succinct analysis of the operational distinction in the laws regulating registration of trade unions and those of incorporated trustees, particularly the provisions of Sections 823(1) and 825 (1)(b) CAMA 2020. Those sections deal with membership, objectives and registration of incorporated trustees, and Section 45 of the Trade Union Act which stipulates that “The Companies and Allied Matters Act shall not apply to any trade union, and registration of any such body under that Act shall be void.” The court also noted that the membership of the defendant Association which includes “truck drivers, truck owners or transport agents within Nigeria” and operating at the Nigerian ports, and its principal objectives, which in Article 3(b) of its Constitution is “to ensure at all times the preservation of rights, claims, benefits and obligations of all members of the Association”, portray it as a trade union. The judge said such trade union is “basically a workplace labour-welfare-oriented organisation, recognised and registered by the Trade Union Registrar pursuant to the Trade Unions Act, with its principal role being to cater for welfare and interests of designated category of workers within the specified sector.” The court held the view that an association with such membership and aims and objectives ought not to have been accepted for registration by the CAC. The Judge noted thus: “I find that what has happened is that the CAC has aided the 1st defendant’s registration, and armed with the Certificate of Incorporation of the 1st defendant, the 2nd -9th defendants and their members started operating as a trade union within the domains of the claimant’s union, which resulted in the clash leading to the fracas at the Onne port, which was only quelled by police intervention, to restore peace and harmony. The court also went on to grant declaratory and injunctive reliefs for the claimant union. “Accordingly, the claimant’s reliefs (1) and (2) are hereby granted to the extent that it is hereby declared that the 1st – 9th defendants, not being a registered Trade Union under the Trade Unions Act LFN, cannot in law collect check-off dues or any dues whatsoever from the truck drivers or members of the claimant engaged by clearing and forwarding agencies to convey containerised goods and general cargoes from the ports including Onne Port, Rivers State to designated places within the Federation of Nigeria, or in any manner whatsoever perform the functions of a registered Trade Union. “And it is hereby further declared that given the legal regime for registration and operation of organisation registerable under Companies & Allied Matters Act and the Trade Union Act, as stipulated under Sections 823 (1) and 825 (1) (b) CAMA and Section 45 of the Trade Union Act, the Certificate of Incorporation dated January 17, 2019 issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration of the 1st defendant as an Incorporated Trustee does not in any manner whatsoever entitle the 1st defendant and its members to perform the duties and activities of the claimant trade union or any other Trade Union whatsoever. I so hold and declare.” The court awarded N10 million as general damages against the defendant union for its members’ unlawful invasion of the claimant’s union’s office, and N1 million cost in favour of the claimant.