The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the manager of Paragon Clinics and Imaging Diagnosis, a private health facility located along Stadium Road in Port Harcourt, the state capital. The police said the arrest was part of an investigation following the report of the death of a first-class graduate of Micro Biology from Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State identified as Rebekah Sekidika at the hospital. The father of the deceased, Sampson Sekidika, had told PUNCH Metro that his daughter died during a procedure at the hospital on February 2, 2024. Sekidika faulted those who performed the procedure on his 24-year-old daughter, saying she did not require surgery. AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Lose To Elephants To Clinch Runner-up0.00 / 0.00 He noted that he drove Rebekah to the facility stating that he insisted that she was healthy and without any medical condition but needed to carry out a text following delayed menstruation before embarking on a foreign trip. “The complaint was that she had not seen her period for a while. So, she needed to know why it was so. When she had the clinical visit, they subjected her to some tests, including a pregnancy test which came out to be all negative. “But they told her to see a specialist to be sure. On the day of the appointment, they took her into the theatre and gave her an anaesthetic for a simple procedure that didn’t require surgery where she developed complications and died. “She (Rebekah) was supposed to travel to the United Kingdom for her Masters and PhD programmes. Everything was set, flight booked, tuition paid, everything arranged, ” the distraught father told PUNCH Metro. The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of the manager to our correspondent on Sunday. Iringe-Koko expressed dismay that an earlier invitation by the police to the doctor and the person who administered the anaesthetic was not honoured. She stated, “Yes I can confirm that the manager has been arrested. We have also invited the doctor and one other person as part of our investigation. “The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for proper investigation. ” She further said two others who were also arrested have been released because their duties at the facility have no direct link with the incident.

  At least twelve people have been killed and nine others brutally injured by bandits who attacked Gindin Dutse Makyali village of Kufana district in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The police authorities in Kaduna State have not confirmed the incident, but a community leader, Moses Musa, told Channels Television that the attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday very close to a military checkpoint. He said that the bandits invaded the community around 5am as the residents were still asleep and immediately started shooting sporadically. He disclosed that nine people were burnt to death inside their rooms, while nine others sustained varying degrees of injuries from fire burn. The community leader also disclosed that 17 houses were burnt by the bandits during the attack that lasted for some hours without any resistance from the military that were stationed in the community. Attacks by armed bandits in the North-West especially in Kaduna State has been on the increase in recent weeks. The Sunday attack in Kajuru is coming after another reported attack in the same LGA by bandits which killed at least six persons including a former Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and his younger brother in Kwassam and Sabon Layin communities. According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Josiah Abraks, the bandits attacked the Kwassam community on Friday night. He also said that 50 people were kidnapped by the bandits in another attack at Sabon Layin village at the same time. Abraks called on the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to step up action against the bandits who are constantly terrorising communities in Southern Kaduna.

  Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the allegations against Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are so numerous that the federal government does not know which charges to pin on him. Akpabio made the remarks on Sunday during a thanksgiving service organised by Barinada Mpigi, senator representing Rivers south-east senatorial district. The number three citizen also blamed the economic hardship sweeping through the land on the policies and actions that “they took”. He did not specify who “they” entails. Akpabio further said the prevailing hunger and economic hardship are consequences of almost 60 years of rot. He appealed to Nigerians to be patient, while promising that the current administration will deliver on the promises they “campaigned and danced” around the country for. “So the kind of debt and the economic mess that we are in… and lots of people do not understand,” Akpabio said. “I remember President Obama saying you cannot know Washington until you get to Washington. So by the time we went in to look at the economic situation of the country, it was terrible. “So you know that the former governor of central bank, we don’t even know what to charge him with. “Whether to charge him for putting foam on top of a pail, or to charge him for illegal possession of firearms, or to charge him for printing notes without income. I don’t know what we’re going to charge him with. “But what we know is that yes, there is hunger today because of the kind of policies and actions that they took and we recognise that, and I think every political party should recognise that there is hunger and we’re battling to ensure that Nigerians can sleep with their eyes closed. “There is insecurity. We’re battling to ensure Nigerians can eat three square meals a day. “But rest assured that we campaigned for this job, we campaigned and danced around the country. We will not let you down. “We will get to the bottom of it. All we need is patience. The rot that has happened in Nigeria for so many years, for almost 60 years, cannot be solved in six months. So what we need is patience… patience from all quarters.” The event, which took place in Koroma, Tai LGA of Rivers, was also attended by Dave Umahi, minister of works; Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the Rivers house of assembly; and other dignitaries. BACKGROUND Emefiele was suspended on June 9, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu, who also ordered a probe into his tenure as governor of the apex bank. He was subsequently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and on July 25, he was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on “illegal possession” of firearms, at a federal high court in Ikoyi. He was later granted bail in the sum of N20 million. However, he was rearrested by the DSS on the court premises on the same day. In August, the court struck out the suit after the federal government filed an application to withdraw the charge of “illegal possession of firearms” against him. A fresh 20-count charge was then filed before the federal capital territory (FCT) high court by the federal ministry of justice. He was subsequently arraigned at the FCT high court in Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on procurement fraud, and remanded at the Kuje correctional facility. On November 8, Emefiele was granted bail and released, after spending 151 days in detention. On January 18, the federal government amended the criminal charges filed against him. The charges, formerly six counts, were increased to 20 counts. The amended charges border on alleged breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.

  The insecurity situation in Plateau has claimed the life of the publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr Sylvanus Namang. According to reports, the APC spokesperson was shot dead in Pankshin town, Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Saturday, February 17, 2024 by yet-to-be-identified gunmen. It was gathered that Namang was gunned down outside his hotel room in the area by the hoodlums around 7:30 in the morning. An official of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident to journalists. The source told DailyTrust that the APC scribe died from injuries sustained in the attack. He described the late Namang as a dependable ally, and deeply committed to the development of the APC at the grassroots and state levels. He noted that the party would issue a statement regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to “promptly account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues.” SERAP said the allegations are documented in the latest annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation. SERAP urged Mr Kyari “to name and shame those responsible for the disappeared oil money, surcharge them for the full amount involved, and hand them over to appropriate anticorruption agencies, as provided for under paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009, and recommended by the Auditor-General.”   SERAP also urged him “to ensure the full recovery and remittance of the missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion into the Federation Account without further delay.” In the letter dated 17 February 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “The missing oil revenues have further damaged the already precarious economy in the country and contributed to very high levels of deficit spending by the government.” SERAP said, “Without the full recovery and remittance of the missing USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion oil revenues, the dire economic situation may worsen and Nigerians will continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services.” According to SERAP, “the Auditor-General has for many years documented reports of disappearance of public funds from the NNPC. Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing oil revenues.” The letter, read in part: “The alleged missing oil revenues reflect a failure of NNPCL accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institution’s continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.” “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel the NNPCL to comply with our requests in the public interest.” “Had the NNPCL and its subsidiaries accounted for and remitted the disappeared public funds into the Federation Account, it is likely that more funds would have been allocated to the fulfillment of economic and social rights, such as increased spending on public goods and services.” “The missing oil revenues have also impeded Nigerians’ ability to enjoy their economic and social rights, and denied them access to essential public goods and services, especially at the time of cost of living crisis in the country.” “Explaining the whereabouts of the missing public funds, naming and shaming those suspected to be responsible and ensuring that suspected perpetrators are brought to justice and the full recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators.” “Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the disappeared oil money. Ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of oil revenues would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.” “According to the recently published 2020 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit over USD$2 billion and N164 billion oil revenues into the Federation Account.” “The Auditor-General fears that the money may have been diverted into private pockets, denying the government the funding needed to carry out its activities.” “The NNPCL reportedly failed and/or refused to remit N151,121,999,966. The NNPCL without any justification deducted the money from the oil royalties assessed for 2020 by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) now Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).” “The NNPCL has failed to account for the missing public funds. The Auditor-General wants the money recovered and remitted into the Federation Account.” “The NNPCL also failed to remit USD$19,774,488.15 collected as government revenue into the Federation Account. The Auditor-General wants the NNPCL to account for the money, recover and remit it into the Federation Account, and to hand over those suspected to be involved to the ICPC and the EFCC.” “The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Ltd also reportedly failed to account for USD$2,021,411,877.47 and N13,313,565,786.49 of royalties collected from crude oil and gas sales and gas flare.” “The Auditor-General wants the public funds fully recovered and remitted into the Federation Account and for those suspected to be responsible for the missing public funds to be handed over to the ICPC and the EFCC.” “These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], national anticorruption laws, and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.” “The allegations have undermined the economic development of the country, trapped the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprived them of opportunities.” “SERAP is concerned that despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.” “Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations.” “SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” “Section 16(2) of the Nigerian Constitution further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’” “Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] imposes clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.” “Paragraph 3112(ii) of the he Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, ‘Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the full amount involved and such officer shall be handled over to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).’” “Nigeria has

  Labour Party (LP) Chairmen in the 36 states have asked its National Chairman, Barr Julius Abure, to step aside for proper and fair investigation into the allegation of misappropriation of party’s finances leveled against him. The call was made by Forum of LP States Chairmen in the 36 States of the Federation while addressing Journalists in Abuja, Saturday evening, led by Comrade Solomon Ndem, Plateau State labour Party Chairman. Recall that Oluchi Opara, LP National Treasurer, had earlier asked Abure to account for N3.5 billion generated from the sales of nomination forms and other activities ahead of the 2023 general election. Reading the text of the briefing made available to Journalists in Bauchi, Solomon Ndem stated that, “We extend warm greetings to all faithful members of the Labour Party (LP) of Nigeria and to every Nigerian dedicated to the New Nigeria project. Your commitment and enthusiasm for positive change are truly commendable.” The Forum added that, “We stand before you with a profound appreciation for the responsiveness of HE Peter G. Obi, a stalwart in our party, for his swift action in response to the call for the external auditing of the LP accounts. This gesture underscores his unwavering commitment to transparency and the principles of the New Nigeria project. “However, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where we must address certain internal matters for the sake of our party’s integrity in the spirit of openness and accountability as elected Chairmen of Labour Party in Nigeria, we wish to address certain concerns that have come to our attention,” the Forum stressed. “We are appealing to His Excellency, Peter G. Obi, Senator Ahmed Datti, and other distinguished personalities within the party to join us in requesting Barrister Julius Abure to step aside. “This step is essential to facilitate the establishment of an independent investigative panel that will thoroughly examine various allegations, including the misappropriation of funds level against him by the Treasurer of our Party and indeed the complaints of forgery and impersonation by a lot of our party aggrieved members.” The Forum added, “It is crucial that no one acts as a judge in his own case, and we believe this measure will ensure a fair and impartial inquiry. “Furthermore, we want to draw attention to a critical matter that could impact the upcoming off-season election in Edo State. We want to remind the party and the people of Edo State about the potential repercussions if we emerge victorious and these legal complexities surrounding the leadership of the party have not been addressed,” it stressed. “A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, led by Justice Hamza Muazu, on April 5th, 2023, restrained Barrister Abure from parading himself as the National Chairman of the LP. It is imperative for the party and the people of Edo State to consider this matter seriously, as the actions of one individual should not jeopardize the efforts of our candidate and the aspirations of our voters in Edo State. “In conclusion, let us emphasize that this press conference is convened in good faith. We remain committed to the principles of the New Nigeria project and believe that by addressing these concerns head-on, we can strengthen the Labour Party, uphold justice, and continue our journey towards a brighter future. Long live Labour Party, and long live the great people of Nigeria,” it concluded.