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Tag: Abuja

  • AEDC says death of five children in Mpape not caused by electricity

    The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has distanced itself from the unfortunate inferno in which five children died in Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on   April 1.

    The AEDC, in a statement by Mr. Ahmed Shekarau, Head of Public Relations and Media on Thursday in Abuja, expressed sympathy with the family of the deceased.

    It, however, said that the management deemed it necessary to set the records straight to correct the erroneous impression being created.

    The company said that the report of AEDC preliminary investigation carried out by a fact-finding team revealed that the accident was caused by an explosion from a fuel container taken into the room where the inferno occurred.

    According to records from the AEDC control room in the area revealed that the area had no electricity supply at the time of the inferno, due to load shedding.

    It said that the team’s report also revealed that the mother of the five deceased had sent one of her children to buy petrol for use in a generator.

    According to AEDC, upon return, the child took the fuel into the room where the five deceased children were sleeping.

    “Because of the saturation of petrol fumes in that room, when the woman lit up a match stick to light up a mosquito coil to wade off mosquitoes, the flame ignited an explosion which engulfed the room.”

    It stated that some of the neighbours of the affected family had also attested to the report in separate interviews they granted to the team.

    It said one of the neighbours of the family had also explained to the team that electricity supply was not restored to the neighbourhood throughout the night of the incident.

    This, it said, had confirmed that the unfortunate inferno that led to the death of the five children was not caused by electricity.

     

  • Depression: We’re all at risk, WHO warns

    Depression: We’re all at risk, WHO warns

    We are all at risk of depression, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned, adding that about 322 million people around the world are affected by depression.

    Africa contributes about 30 million to the global figure, the agency also stated.

    WHO noted that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and a major contributor to the global burden of disease.

    Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Africa made the disclosure on the occasion marking the World Health Day, which is celebrated on 7th April every yeast to the anniversary of the founding of WHO.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is “Depression, let’s talk”.

    Moeti noted that 2017 celebration is designed to draw attention to the global burden of this common mental disorder.

    He noted that depression can lead to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 29-year-olds globally.

    The disorder WHO Director he also explained varies by age, peaking in older adults aged 55-74 years, but also occurring in children and adolescents.

    Left untreated, Moeti said depression can impair an individual’s ability to cope with daily activities and can have devastating consequences for relationships with families and friends. He also called for the allocation of adequate human and financial resources to respond to the growing burden.

    He said: “About 322 million people around the world are affected by depression. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. In the African Region, close to 30 million people suffer from depression.

    “We are all at risk: it affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. Stigma and fear of social isolation are significant barriers to seeking help. There’s an urgent need to prevent and treat those affected by this serious and complex mental health condition. Simply talking about depression can help prevent it by breaking down stigma. Seeking help by talking with trusted people can be a first step towards recovery.

    “Early recognition of the symptoms is key to preventing depression from becoming a chronic illness. WHO defines depression as an illness characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest and ability to perform daily activities for a period of over two weeks. It is associated with feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, tiredness and poor concentration. Major causes of depression include loss of loved ones or relationships, poverty, unemployment, physical illnesses, alcohol abuse, drug use, and traumatic situations such as violence and war.

    “At worst, depression can lead to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 29 year olds globally. Depression varies by age, peaking in older adults aged 55-74 years, but also occurring in children and adolescents. Left untreated, depression can be recurrent, long-lasting and debilitating. It impairs an individual’s ability to cope with daily activities, and can have devastating consequences for relationships with families and friends.

    “Resources to prevent, identify and treat mental health problems such as depression are very scarce. The African Region has a critical shortage of qualified professionals for mental health, with just one psychiatrist per one million people and a similar number of psychologists.

    “The mental health workforce of psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and social workers is woefully inadequate. Lack of availability of psychotropic medicines, proper information with well-structured psychotherapy and other effective measures for primary health care services to treat depression is cause for concern.

    “WHO has published guidelines to help countries to increase and improve health care services for people with mental health disorders through care provided by health workers who are not specialists in mental health. These include the mental health Global Action Programme and intervention guide, and the Global Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2020). With proper care, psychosocial assistance and medication, millions of people in the Region with depression could begin to lead normal lives, even where resources are scarce.

    “As we commemorate World Health Day, I call on countries to support mental health programmes by allocating adequate human and financial resources to respond to this growing burden. I appeal to Member States to include mental health in their national health development agenda. The Brazzaville Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases states the necessary steps for achieving this.

    “More broadly, governments, partners and civil society can work together to bring depression out of the shadows in the Region. WHO is committed to supporting countries to address it as an important public health problem.

    “”Developing community-based services which focus on depression – and talk out against stigma – will encourage more people to seek treatment. This can be done by having conversations about depression the same way we do with any other disease. School-based programmes which provide counselling and support persons with depression and their families, as well as early detection and prevention, especially among children and youths, are also strategies to keep depression at bay.

    “At worst, depression can lead to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 29 year olds globally. Depression varies by age, peaking in older adults aged 55-74 years, but also occurring in children and adolescents. Left untreated, depression can be recurrent, long-lasting and debilitating. It impairs an individual’s ability to cope with daily activities, and can have devastating consequences for relationships with families and friends.”

  • Misuse of antibiotics increases resistance – Pharmacist

    Misuse of antibiotics increases resistance – Pharmacist

    Mr Osa Osaretin, an Abuja based pharmacist, has warned that indiscriminate use of antibiotics could lead to resistance and morbidity.

    He gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    He described antibiotics as drugs used to treat bacterial infections, while resistance is a situation where an antibiotic loses its ability to kill the targeted bacteria.

    Osaretin also explained that drug resistance was where the bacterium is no more susceptible to the action of the drug.

    According to him, antibiotics are designed to target and disrupt certain biochemical processes or to destroy some cells, and by so doing kills the bacteria.

    He noted that resistance to antibiotics occurred due to genetic mutation that altered the targeted biochemical processes of the drug.

    “Overtime, the bacteria can understand the action of the drug and also design ways to protect itself.

    “One common way is for the bacteria to alter its cell wall structure so that the drug cannot penetrate,’’ he said.

    Osaretin identified under dosage or wrong dosage of antibiotics, abuse, misuse and indiscriminate use of drugs for the wrong purpose as causative factors to drug resistance.

    He also blamed non-compliance with prescribed dosage as well as duration of usage of the drug as another factor that contributes to drug resistance.

    The expert therefore advised patients to avoid self-medication, use drugs as prescribed and stop misuse of antibiotics, invest in research and development of new drugs in order to avoid complications.

  • IPOB: Court reserves ruling on review to April 25

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday reserved ruling on whether or not it will reverse its order on witness protection in the ongoing trial of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu to April 25.

    Justice Binta Nyako, on March 27, insisted that she would not review her judgment on the issue of protecting the identity of the witnesses as long they were security operatives.

    “I will not vary my order on protection of security operatives; It is either they wear a mask or are behind a screen.

    “Security operatives need to be protected not because of this case but because of the future, and so as long as the witnesses are security personnel, they will be taken behind a screen,” Nyako said.

    But counsel to the defendants maintained that since some of the charges against the defendants had been struck out, there was need for the order to be reviewed to reflect the current charges.

    At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the matter was slated for argument on the application to review the court’s decision on witness protection.

    Counsel to Kanu, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor told the court that he had filed an application asking the court to review its stand on protecting the identity of witnesses in the case.

    Ejiofor said that part of the reason he filed the application was on the grounds that six out of the initial 11-count charge against the defendant were struck out.

    He prayed the court to vacate the order it made allowing the prosecution witnesses to give evidence behind a shield and to instead order the witnesses to testify in an open court.

    Mr E.I Eseme, counsel to the third defendant, Benjamin Madubugwu, in his argument, also prayed the court for the same relief, adding that his application was brought pursuant to Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution.

    He urged the court to review the order it made on Dec. 13, 2016, to shield witnesses, set aside the order and direct that all witnesses should testify in public.

    Eseme added that his client was not standing trial for any of the offences that required witness protection.

    According to him, Section 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that it is mandatory for proceedings in all criminal trials to be public.

    He noted that there was no counter- affidavit from the prosecution, adding that it could only mean that the facts were not contradicted and so they were not opposing the application.

    Mr Chukwuma Ozougwu, counsel to the fourth defendant, David Nwawuisi, also towed the same line of argument and urged the court to grant the application in favour of his client.

    Labaran, in his reply, prayed the court to dismiss the three applications on the grounds that they were frivolous and a deliberate attempt to delay the prosecution of the case.

    He told the court that the claim by the defence counsel that since he did not file a counter affidavit, the court should assume that he was in support of the application should be discountenanced.

    According to him, if the defendants have a problem with the ruling of the court that witnesses should be protected, they should appeal the decision.

    He added that moreover, it was only journalists and the general public that would not see the witnesses but only hear them as all the defendants, the lawyers and the judge would see the witnesses.

    He said the order was granted based on the discretionary powers given to the judge by Section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

    Justice Nyako adjourned the matter until April 25 to rule on both the application to review the witness protection order and bail.

     

  • Man remanded for impersonating as lawyer

    A Lugbe Area Court, Abuja, has ordered the remand of 35-year-old man, Joseph Prince in prison custody for allegedly parading himself as a lawyer.

    Prince of Central Area, Federal Secretariat is facing a charge of impersonation.
    The judge, Garba Ogbede, ordered
    that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Prisons and adjourned the case till May 12 for further hearing.

    The prosecutor, Ndidi Ukoha, had told the court that a legal practitioner, Jolly Obazee, caught the defendant at Lugbe Police Station on March 20.

    Ukoha informed the court that on same date at about 10 a.m. the defendant introduced himself as Barrister Joseph Prince, whereas he was not.

    She added that a Penal Code and an identity card of a law firm, where Prince claimed to be working were recovered from him.

    At the resumed hearing, Obazee told the court that he caught the defendant on March 20 at Lugbe Police Station parading himself as a legal practitioner.
    Obazee said that as a legal practitioner, he became suspicious because of the way the defendant was dressed on a Monday morning.
    He said he reported the matter to the investigating officer and he called the defendant and asked him his name.
    “He introduces himself as Barrister Joseph Prince; his name was sent to branch secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for confirmation.
    “There was no name as Joseph Prince and the defendant claimed to have been called to bar in 2011,’’ Obazee said.
    The legal practitioner said that he and the vice chairman of Abuja branch of the NBA, Mr Babatunde Oyefeso and two police investigating officers went to NBA office at Central Area in Abuja for investigation.
    He said that they discovered after crosschecking that there was no name as Joseph Prince.

     

  • Driver jailed for criminal breach of trust, cheating

    A Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday sentenced one Emeka Uchenna, 31, to three months imprisonment for criminal breach of trust, cheating and theft.

    The judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, however gave the convict N3, 000 option of fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes.
    Uchenna, a resident of Gwagwa Tasha, Abuja, had begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
    Earlier, the prosecutor, Judith Obatomi, had told the court that one Martins Favour of Kado Fish Market, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on March 31.
    Obatomi said that the complainant said that on Feb. 2, he entrusted his Toyota Sienna vehicle to the convict for commercial purpose.
    She said that the parties agreed that the convict should remit N20, 000 every two days.
    The prosecutor said that since the convict collected the car he refused to remit any money, but instead switched off his phone to avoid any contact.
    Obatomi said that it was later discovered that he abandoned the said vehicle at Jabi Garage, Abuja, without telling the owner of the car.
    The prosecutor said that during police investigation he confessed to the crime, while the offence is punishable under Sections 312, 322 and 287 of the Penal Code.

  • 33,037 police officers promoted in nine months

    33,037 police officers promoted in nine months

    33,037 officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force have been promoted since the inception of the administration of the Ibrahim Idris as the Inspector General of Police.

    Details of those so far promoted was revealed on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood during the decoration of twelve newly promoted officers at the Force headquarters in Abuja.

    Giving details of the promotion in the Force in the last nine months, Moshood : “Seven Deputy Inspector General of Police  (DIGs) were promoted, 27 Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs), 40 Commissioners of Police  (CP), 86 Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCP), 118 Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPs), 12 Chief Superintendents of Police,785 Superintendent of Police, 3,144 DSPs Deputy Superintendents of Police  and 191 AssistantSuperintendent of Police  (ASP).

    Others affected belong to the rank of Inspectors and Rank and File.  They are; 7,628 Inspectors, 20,667 Sergent, and 332 Corporals.”

    Those however affected in the latest promotion are eleven officers who were elevated from the rank of  Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCP) to the rank of Commissioners of Police while one was elevated from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    The officers include; CP John Amadi, CP Undie Adie, CP Olugbenga Adeyanju, CP Patrick Garba, CP Joseph Agaji, CP Akinpelu Olajumoke, CP  Attabor Aromeh, CP Augustine Ezechukwu, CP Ududo Ududo, CP Busari Aramide, CP Johnson Kokumo and ACP Akinbayo Olasoji.

  • Reps reject powers to impeach governors, deputies

    Reps reject powers to impeach governors, deputies

    • Altered constitution ready in eight months, says Lasun

    An attempt to constitutionally empower the National Assembly  (NASS) to impeach State governors and their deputies when the need arises was vehemently rejected by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

    This is as the Chairman, Special ad hoc committee on the review of the constitution and Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun, disclosed that a reviewed constitution would be ready in about eight months.

    At the plenary when a bill to alter the Constitution to allow governors to be impeached by the National Assembly was about to be debated, Lasun said the process has gone very far,  that in eight months, it should be concluded.

    Sponsors of the bill, Edward Pwajok  (PDP, Plateau) and Ali Isa (APC, Gombe) said the bill is seeking to delete the Proviso to Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution to enable the National Assembly remove a Governor or Deputy Governor of a State in appropriate circumstances.

    Pwajok in his lead debate said the intent of the bill is to ensure that the nation was not helpless when situations arise in some States in which normalcy ought to be restored even if it entails removing the governor.

    “It is not as if we just want to remove a governor or deputy for the sake of removing them, no, it is based on Section 11 (4): ‘At any time when a House of Assembly of a state is unable to perform its function, the National Assembly shall do so on its behalf’.

    “In the 1979 Constitution, there was no proviso, but in that of the 1999 there’s a proviso. If Section 11 gives the National Assembly powers to legislate for State Assemblies in their absence, I think it should be allowed to remove the governor or deputy,” he said.

    Isa, in his contribution, said the constitution has already given the National Assembly powers to take over the responsibilities of a State Assembly, which should be all encompassing.

    The majority of the members did not agree with the argument saying that it was an attempt to turn the National Assembly into an institution with absolute powers.

    Most members even rejected the idea of debating such a bill with Ayo Omidiran (APC, Osun) saying, “Do you want to make us omnipotent?  We have powers to remove President and his Vice, you now want us to be removing governors and their deputies?

    “Anyone that has a problem with his governor should go and settle it. We should not even debate his any further because the more we talk about it the more it will attract embarrassment to us and the institution we represent”.

    Peter Akpatason (APC, Edo)  said the constitution did not empower the National Assembly to such an extent.

    “What happens is if it is impossible for the State Assembly to legislate, we then come in. I don’t think we should use that temporary power to remove a governor. If we allow it, one day we may seek powers to remove a local government chairman,” he warned.

    Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila said the bill was seeking to install a unitary government in the country through the back door.

    “Of course the constitution can be amended for any purpose but certainly not for such. The keywords in the are Federal Republic. Our constitution tells us that we run a federal system of government. Allowing this bill means a unitary system of government.

    “The bill dies on the ground of vagueness. For us to determine what is appropriate. Why are we wasting our legislative time on this bill? It’s dead on arrival. Why is this bill before this House? To allow us to impeach a governor?”

    While Mohammad Monguno (APC,  Borno) noted that the debate was an exercise in futility and  purely an academic exercise, Adams Jagaba (APC, Kaduna) warned of the consequence of passing the bill.

    “If passed, we are going to send a very terrible signals to the public. The section cited on taking over the legislative functions of a state assembly remains the way it is” he said.

    While Yakoob Balogun (APC, Lagos) said the bill should  die naturally, Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) regretted that on the surface, the bill seeks a removal of he country’s  federalism.

    Zakari Mohammed (APC, Kwara) however expressed caution saying that  the carfters of the constitution were very careful,  “The constitution only talks about a situation where there is crisis, which is temporary, moreover it provided a time line of three months which is renewable,” he noted.

    When he realized the direction the debate has taken,  Pwajok commended his colleagues for displaying nationalism on the issue while encouraging them to show such courage on subsequent national issues.

    He withdrew the bill before a vote was taken by the presiding officer Yussuff Lasun.

  • Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday said 18 people suspected to be responsible for the crisis in some parts of Benue state have been arrested.

    The police chief also disclosed that a cache of arms belonging to a repentant militant, Tewase Akwaza popularly known as Ghana has also been recovered.

    The suspects arrested are believed to be the close associates of Ghana.

    The police noted that Ghana and his associates are responsible for some of the crisis witnessed in the state, adding that he (Ghana) has been placed on a wanted list.

    The police chief also hinted that the weapons in Ghana’s possession can be used to attack a country.

    He said this in Abuja at the monthly meeting with members of the management of the Force and other senior officers.

    According to him: “A non-militant who has been declared wanted has taken it upon himself to cause havoc in Benue State.

    “As at two days ago, a joint operation was conducted with the military and state services and a lot of array of weapons have been discovered and some of the weapons are going to be used to prosecute some of the suspects.

    “We have about 18 suspects in detention presently from that area, though the man himself is still on the wanted list and we are pursuing him.

    “His close associates have all been arrested and in few days times, some of them will be paraded so that this country can see the kind of people that are causing crisis all over the country.

    Describing the weapons in Ghana’s possession, the police chief said: “I want people to see the array of weapons recovered from him. With the arms he has, you will think he wants to attack a whole country.

    “I have to appreciate the governor of the state because he came openly and admitted that he made a mistake to have given him amnesty because with the recent recovery of arms, what he gave during the amnesty programme was just to deceive Nigerians.

    “I am saying it because some of the disarmament processes are just connivance to fool the public.

    He urged senior officers to give special attention to repentant criminals.

    According to him: “No matter the issue of amnesty, we should put a close eye on repentant criminals because in the case of Ghana, he has so many weapons like machine guns and he claimed to have repented during the amnesty programme.

    “He was paraded in the public with rickety weapons to deceive us unknown to us that he has more. So, we have to take a second look at some of these things.

    “Hundreds of people were killed by him who pretended to have embraced amnesty while in the real sense, his armaments are buried within those areas,” Idris said.

    It was also revealed that over 100 kidnappers have been arrested in less than a year by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by ACP Abba Kyari.

    He said: “We have to give kudos to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for what they are doing to arrest some of the criminals. The team led by Kyari is doing wonderful jobs because they have arrested hundreds of kidnappers.

    “In the history of this country, we have not seen where police respond immediately to kidnapping issue and so far, we have to commend them.”

  • Minister installs countdown clock at Abuja airport

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has installed a countdown clock at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to mount pressure on contractors to meet the six weeks deadline.

    This is in fulfillment of his promise to install the clock to remind contractors that the April 19 reopening date of the airport would not be extended.

    Sirika said the clock was a sign of seriousness and commitment of government to ensuring that the programme of work was followed by contractors, and remind to them that time was of essence.

    According to his twitter @hadisirika, the countdown clock installed at the gate of Abuja airport to remind and pressure contractors to deliver in 6 weeks.

    When the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited the airport on Wednesday, the clock was displayed, “13 days: 13 hours: 24 minutes: 40 seconds” to the reopening of the airport.

    One of the clocks was installed at the access gate (toll gate), the second one at the entry of the terminal and the third in the main hall.

    However, the contractor handling the runway has achieved an appreciable progress in the rehabilitation work while the electrical installations on the runway were being done.

    Sirika also announced on his twitter handle that the rehabilitation work had reached 75 per cent as at Tuesday night.

    “Happy to announce we are at 75% completion of Abuja airport rehabilitation. Programme of work is running as outlined,” he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government shut the Abuja airport on March 8 for six weeks, to enable Julius Berger to carry out much needed repair on the failed 3.6 km runway.

    The runway was said to have been in use for 35 years without any major rehabilitation and proper maintenance as against the original 20-year life span.