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  • Global Fund urges federal, state governments to invest more on healthcare

    Global Fund urges federal, state governments to invest more on healthcare

    The Head of Grant Management, Global Fund, on Tuesday urged the Federal and state governments to invest more funds to boost the country’s healthcare.

    Edington made the call during the inauguration of an oxygen pipeline project by Global Fund at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta in Lagos, initiated through the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Global Fund is an international financing and partnership organisation that invests resources to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, globally.

    Medical oxygen pipeline consists of medical oxygen generators system, medical vacuum pumps system, medical air compressor system, nitrous oxide, nitrogen system, carbon dioxide system, and central workstation.

    “We will like to see more money being invested in health because presently, Nigeria invests about six per cent of its budget on health.

    “We want the government to move towards the 2001 Abuja declaration of 15 per cent budget allocation to the health sector.

    “Both the federal and state governments must invest more in health to enhance the system, particular in life saving commodities.

    “Global Fund focuses on HIV, TB and malaria, as well as health systems. We would like the government to increase its investment anti-retroviral, viral therapy for HIV,” he said.

    On the oxygen pipeline, Edington said it was provided in the hospital to deliver life saving intervention to patients, most especially children.

    He said Global Fund had invested close to $800 million globally on oxygen.

    Edington said: “So, this initiative comes out of learnings from the COVID-19 crisis when we realised that there were just too many facilities around the world that had no access or not enough access to oxygen.

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    “As part of our COVID-19 response funding, we then invested quite heavily in oxygen around the world.

    “I’m highly impressed with what I have seen on ground at FMC hospital; the oxygen cylinders, the oxygen plant, the piping and all of these will be available to patients”.

    Speaking earlier, Dr Adedamola Dada, the Medical Director of FMC Ebute Meta, commended Global  Fund for providing the life saving project in the hospital.

    Dada, represented by Dr Saheed Ogunme, the Head of Clinical Services, said the project would ensure easy access to oxygen at a reduced cost for patients.

    “We appreciate Global Fund through the Clinton Health Access Initiative for the laudable project, which was just commissioned.

    “Oxygen is life and a patient has probably just five minutes to live when there is no oxygen. So, the impact of this project is going to be tremendous.

    “One of the things that came up during the COVID-19 pandemic was the gaps noticed in our care system, and that is one of those gaps that this project is going to cover,” he said.

    NAN reports that the Oxygen Pippine were installed at the hospital’s Paediatrics Centre, Trauma Wards, Specialist Consulting Rooms, among others.

    (NAN)

  • Adebutu arraigned for vote-buying, money laundering

    Adebutu arraigned for vote-buying, money laundering

    Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election in Ogun State, Mr. Oladipupo Adebutu, was yesterday arraigned at the High Court sitting in Abeokuta, over allegation of money laundering and vote-buying.

    Prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacobs called a witness, Mr. Seyi Binuyo, a scheme executive at Interswitch Ltd, who testified on the alleged issuance of 200,000 preloaded verve cards for vote-buying preferred against Adebutu by the Federal Government.

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    Binuyo explained that the specimen of the cards sent to Interswitch by Adebutu, through his bank, Zenith Bank PLC, was not the same issued by the bank for the purpose of alleged vote-buying on the day of the election.

    Responding on the point of law, Chief Gordy Uche, leading counsel for PDP and Adebutu, argued that the evidence provided by the witness to substantiate the distribution of the preloaded verve cards for alleged vote-buying during the governorship election could not be a primary evidence, in line with sections 89 and 90 of the constitution.

    The case was later adjourned till March 19 and 20.

  • Fed Govt arraigns Adebutu, others for alleged money laundering, others

    Fed Govt arraigns Adebutu, others for alleged money laundering, others

    The Federal Government yesterday arraigned Oladipupo Adebutu at an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, on seven-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and other offences.

    Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State in last year’s general election, was accused of criminal inducement during the poll by security agents alongside other members of his party.

    He was alleged to have ordered, through his bank, the issuance of 200,000 preloaded ATM cards with N10,000 and distributed same on Election Day across the state with criminal intent to induce voters.

    The police charged Adebutu and six others for the alleged offence and the PDP candidate sneaked out of the country for months at the time and returned last December.

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    In his submission, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, orally withdrew the prior information supplied and substituted same with amended information without any objection from the lead counsel to the defendants, Chief Gordy Uche.

    While all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge preferred against them, Uche pleaded with the court to allow the second to fifth and 10th defendants to continue to enjoy bail on earlier terms.

    He prayed the court to grant the first defendant, Adebutu, bail on self-recognisance, saying he came to the court on his volition.

    But Jacobs opposed the prayer, saying while he had no objection to the prayer for bail, he disagreed with the self-recognisance clause.

    The presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, granted Adebutu a N1 million bail with a surety in like sum who may be a family member or bondsman.

    The matter was adjourned till today for hearing.

  • Ogun guber fallout: FG arraigns Ladi Adebutu, others over money laundering, others

    Ogun guber fallout: FG arraigns Ladi Adebutu, others over money laundering, others

    The federal government on Tuesday, February 6, arraigned Oladipupo Adebutu before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta on seven count charges bordering on money laundering and other offences, with case number AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu &Ors).

    Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the gubernatorial election held on March 18, 2023, was accused of criminal inducement during the poll by security agents alongside other members of his party

    He was alleged to have ordered through his bank the issuance of 200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000 and distributed same on the day of election across the state with criminal intention of inducing voters in the State.

    Adebutu and six other people were later charged to court by the police, during which he sneaked out of the country for months and returned December 2023.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, earlier in his submission orally withdrew the prior  information supplied, and substituted same with amended information, without any objection from the lead cousel to the defendants, Chief Gordy Uche.

    While all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven count charges preferred against them, their lead counsel, Chief Gordy Uche pleaded with the court to allow the 2nd to 5th and 10th defendants to continue to enjoy bail on earlier terms.

    Read Also: Temitope Adebutu quits

    He then prayed the Court to grant the first defendant, Oladipupo Adebutu, bail on self recognizance, saying he came to the court on his volition. 

    However, his prayer that Adebutu should be granted bail on self recognizance was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, noting that while he has no objection to the prayer for bail, he disagreed with the self recognizance clause.

    The presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, therefore, granted the 1st defendant  bail in the sum of N1million with a surety in the like sum who may be a family member or bondsman, as the case was  adjourned till 7th February 2024 for hearing.

  • Adebutu congratulates Ogun governor

    Adebutu congratulates Ogun governor

    The Odole-Oodua of The Source – Ife, Sir (Dr) Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, has congratulated Prince Dapo Abiodun on his re-election as Ogun State governor and the validation of same by the Supreme Court of Nigeria last Friday.

    In a congratulatory letter addressed to Governor Abiodun to felicitate him on his victory in an election and election litigations in which his son, Ladi Adebutu, was a major challenger, the Odole said the apex court is the final arbiter and its verdict a clincher in all matters of litigations.

    He urged the governor to take the opportunity of his victory to reconcile indigenes and youths of Ogun State, particularly those of the Remo extraction, and all those that might have taken sides to file behind him in respect of the governorship contest and not allow the negative vibes generated in the process to fester the more.

    He said: “I write to formally congratulate Your Excellency, on your re-election and validation of same by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which is the final arbiter and its verdict a clincher, in all matters of litigations in our dear country.

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    “Inarguably, it was an intense contest involving my scion, but irrespective, there must be an end to litigation and unhealthy rivalry hence: I have counselled my son to sheathe sword and join hands in moving Ogun State forward.

    “Furthermore, having expressed the desire to HRM the Akarigbo & Paramount Ruler of Remo-Land on the 23rd of December 2023, to meet with Remo Royal Fathers for the purpose of reconciliation, it is of essence I seek Your Excellency’s cooperation towards seizing the opportunity of your victory, to reconcile our indigenes, youths and all those that might have taken sides to file behind Your Excellency, with a view to not allowing the no love lost created by the governorship contest to fester the more. This is being magnanimous in victory Your Excellency. I thank you in anticipation.”

  • Ogun APC demands apology from PDP, Adebutu

    Ogun APC demands apology from PDP, Adebutu

    Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its defeated governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, to “apologise publicly for all their political shenanigans against the governor, government and people of Ogun State.”

    Reacting to a publicised congratulatory message purportedly issued by the PDP to APC on the heels of last Friday’s Supreme Court verdict that affirmed the election of Prince Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of Ogun State, which put any doubt or controversy on the governorship election to rest, the APC in a statement by its spokesman, Tunde Oladunjoye, yesterday in Abeokuta, described the said PDP message of congratulation as “hearsay”.

    Oladunjoye said: “We read the message just like any other person or party. We saw it as hearsay. You know nothing is beyond the Ogun PDP, they can still deny authorship of the statement as they have done in the past. They had also said in the past that the olive branch extended to them by peace-loving Governor Abiodun was an insult. Our party is yet to be formally communicated to and PDP’s defeated and loquacious candidate, Ladi Adebutu, is yet to put a call through to our victorious governor, Prince Abiodun.”

    The statement recalled that the defeated deputy governorship candidate of the PDP, Adekunle Akinlade, who contested on the platform of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) against Prince Abiodun and APC in the 2019 governorship election, was the only candidate that failed to congratulate Governor Abiodun to date.

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    “Akinlade pursued his vainglorious governorship ambition desperately from the Tribunal in Abeokuta to the Court of Appeal in Ibadan and finally to the Supreme Court in Abuja and our party and candidate won unanimously at every stage of their perennial litigation. Even after the judgment of the Supreme Court, to date, Akinlade has not congratulated Prince Abiodun.

    “If the disembodied PDP is desirous of congratulating our party and candidate, we believe that a party like the PDP that touts itself as leading opposition party not only in Ogun State but also in Nigeria, needs not to be tutored on the proper route to take and the impression to make on its defeated candidate to make the call to our victorious candidate and governor. We cannot receive such message from the ‘airwaves’.

    “If and when the party and its candidate formally felicitate our party and governor, we will then be sure about it. We are magnanimous in victory. We will only ask the party and its serial contestant to apologise to the people, government and the governor of Ogun State for the childish attacks, libellous statements, insults and decorated falsehood perpetrated against Governor Abiodun, all in the name of politicking and electioneering. Adebutu, under the spur of God-knows-what, insulted almost everybody, the governor especially; even traditional rulers, our revered royal fathers from Yewa land were not spared. So, a flying message of congratulations will not address all that. The man should be bold enough to apologise publicly and rescind all the unprintable name-callings by himself, his party and their led-by-the-nose, cheeky, supporters.”

    “Politics is not an excuse for unfounded allegations, libellous statements and unbridled insults on leaders and our revered traditional rulers. In political combats, there is a level you must not descend to, no matter your frustration or dampened hope. We must not fight like a pig in the gutter, because only God enthrones, and you cannot force yourself on the people. In anyway, Ogun people have demonstrated at the polls that the seat of the governor of the state was not for sale and will never be for sale. It is beyond gambling.

    “On the hints of possible contest in 2027, we advise Ladi Adebutu to first address the allegations of money laundering and vote-buying hanging on his neck and take a deserved rest. He should take time to look after his health, which he claimed took him on medical vacation abroad for about eight months. Health is wealth; Adebutu should take proper diagnosis and treatment of his undisclosed ailments. We wish him good health and advise that he should place premium on solving his health challenges. It is only God and the people of Ogun State that will determine the governor of Ogun State in 2027. It is too early for Ladi Adebutu to embark on another visionless voyage of political misadventure. Man shall not live by contesting elections all the time.

    “Finally, we must thank the people of Ogun State for voting for our party and candidate;  for keeping faith with us all through the months of distractions by the unpopular rabble rousers,” the party said.

  • Alleged vote-buying: Adebutu reports to police in Ogun

    Alleged vote-buying: Adebutu reports to police in Ogun

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State in the last general election, Mr. Ladi Adebutu, yesterday reported at the police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, following invitation by the police in connection with alleged vote-buying and money laundering during the March 18, 2023 governorship poll. 

    Adebutu was said to have met with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Alamutu, around 11am in company with some chieftains of Ogun PDP. 

    The former federal lawmaker returned to the country a few days ago after over six months sojourn abroad for what he revealed earlier as medical vacation. 

    Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the PDP governorship candidate for heeding its call to turn in himself to the police over the allegations of money laundering and vote-buying levelled against him and some members of his party by the Federal Government.

    The APC had in a statement issued on Tuesday welcomed Adebutu back to the country and urged him to toe the path of honour by honouring the police invitation, “which he has evaded since April on the pretext of embarking on medical vacation abroad.”

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    “While it is commendable that Mr. Adebutu has finally honoured the police invitation, after eight months, to ward off any unpleasant consequences that his non-attendance would have caused him, we wish to urge the police authorities to use this case to serve as a deterrent to desperate politicians and prove to all that no one is above the law and that truly the law is no respecter of persons,” the party said.

    APC advised that the politician should take a step further by accepting court papers, which bailiffs have been unable to serve on him since April 2022.

    “Adebutu should take a step further to accept the court papers containing charges against him, so that he can enjoy his fundamental right to fair hearing,” the statement said. 

    “The police must investigate the allegations to the fullest, as even the PDP had publicly acknowledged in a statement dated December 9, 2023 that “Mr. Adebutu has been linked with the alleged offences of money laundering and vote-buying.”

  • INEC List: Don’t rejoice yet, Adebutu tells Kashamu

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, yesterday advised Sen. Buruji Kashamu not to rejoice yet over his recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s candidate in the state.

    Adebutu said the INEC’s final list, which has the name of Buruji and his co – travellers as candidates for the forthcoming general elections, is “just a temporary one,” declaring that he, Adebutu, would not only smile but also laugh last.

    The federal lawmaker, who made this known in a statement by Dayo Rufai, the Associate Media Team Head, Ladi Adebutu Democratic Organisation, added that it was disheartening that INEC would insist on listing Kashamu as a governorship candidate when he was never a part of valid a primary organised and conducted by a legitimate committee of the PDP.

    The statement reads: “It is disheartening to note that after we have complied with all electoral guidelines in line with the constitutional provision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, INEC insists on doing its bidding. We went through an open primary, supervised by the National Secretariat of the party, and even monitored by the same INEC as the electoral umpire, and at the end of it all, we were declared the winner.

    “Few weeks after, Sen. Buruji Kashamu, who was never part of the primary sat down somewhere and personally handpicked some names to represent the interest of the party in the state. “To push their desperation further, Buruji went to an Abeokuta High Court to seek for an injunction to force INEC to accept their own list. The injunction was hurriedly granted only for the Court of Appeal in Ibadan to set the order aside.

    “So, rather than INEC to respect the order of the appellate court, and accept our own list in compliance with the directive of the PDP NWC, INEC with their position, has now become a tool in the hand of APC where the umpire is now to choose who and who represents the party interest. “Anyway, we remained unshaken and even much more determined to carry on with our campaign to all the LG areas in the state. “We are very hopeful and in high spirit that the final list, which has the name of Buruji and his co travellers, is just a temporary one, as Hon. Ladi Adebutu and other party candidates will smile at the end of the day.”

  • PDP: Adebutu is our governorship candidate in Ogun

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said Ladi Adebutu is its authentic and legitimate governorship candidate in Ogun State ahead of the March 2 election.

    The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to save itself from unnecessary controversies and immediately reflect Adebutu’s name as its candidate in the Gateway State, in compliance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal of December 18, last year.

    It also advised party members, supporters, the electorate and the public to ignore anything to the contrary.

    A statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary and Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, reads: “The PDP hereby informs the public, security agencies, all electoral organs, observers and particularly, its teeming supporters in Ogun state that its candidate in the March 2, 2019 election in Ogun state remains Ladi Adebutu.

    “The PDP cautions the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to insulate the commission from unnecessary controversies by immediately obeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal of December 18, 2018, and without further delay reflect Ladi Adebutu’s name on the ballot, in the interest of a hitch free and peaceful election in Ogun state.

    “The PDP states that Ladi Adebutu’s name was duly and statutorily submitted to INEC after he won the governorship primary conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC), the only body empowered by law to conduct such primaries. The PDP has not substituted his nomination with anybody and such is not in our contemplation.

    “The PDP charges the INEC Chairman to note that since the ruling of the Court of Appeal validating Ladi Adebutu as the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state, no other court, not even the Supreme Court has over turned that extant ruling.

    “INEC is, therefore, compelled to obey the law. It cannot choose for itself which judgment to obey and cannot operate in waiting, anticipation or contemplation of a non-existent consideration in the conduct of the Ogun governorship election.

    “In this regard, the PDP urges all Nigerians, particularly the people of Ogun state, to completely disregard certain individuals, including Senator Kashamu Buruji, who has been making misleading comments and trying to create an impression that the Supreme Court has made a pronouncement on the issue.

    “Moreover, the PDP holds that Senator Buruji cannot under any imagination be the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun state. He is not a member of our party; he did not participate in our Ogun state governorship primary and has no connection whatsoever in our governorship nomination process at any level for that matter.

    “INEC cannot go to the streets to pick a candidate for our party. It must therefore, in compliance with the extant judgment of the Court of Appeal, immediately reflect Ladi Adebutu’s name in the ballot, otherwise Nigerians will have no other option than to conclude that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has become compromised to cause confusion and anarchy in Ogun state.

    “Finally, the PDP appreciates the people of Ogun state for rallying behind our candidate, Ladi Adebutu, as he continues to consolidate on the consensus already reached by the people to freely give him the mantle of leadership of their state on March 2, 2019.

    “The PDP therefore cautions certain manipulators in INEC as well as fifth columnists, who are being funded by anti-democratic forces to destabilise our party in Ogun and cause trouble in the state, to desist from such acts as they will be firmly resisted by the people.”

     

  • Adebutu remains Ogun gov candidate, PDP insists

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) on Thursday maintained Hon. Ladi Adebutu is its authentic and legitimate governorship in Ogun State for the March 2 gubernatorial polls.

    The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to save itself from unnecessary controversies and immediately reflects Adebutu as PDP candidate in the Gateway state in compliance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal of December 18, 2018.

    It also advised party members, supporters, voters and the public to ignore anything to the contrary.

    This was contained in a statement by National Publicity Secretary and Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan.

    The party said: “The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) hereby informs the general public, security agencies, all electoral organs, observers and particularly, its teeming supporters in Ogun state that its candidate in the March 2, 2019 election in Ogun state remains Ladi Adebutu.

    “The PDP cautions the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to insulate the commission from unnecessary controversies by immediately obeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal of December 18, 2018, and without further delay reflect Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name on the ballot, in the interest of a hitch free and peaceful election in Ogun state.

    “The PDP states that Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name was duly and statutorily submitted to INEC after he won the governorship primary conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC), the only body empowered by law to conduct such primaries.

    “The PDP has not substituted his nomination with anybody and such is not in our contemplation.

    “The PDP charges the INEC Chairman to note that since the ruling of the Court of Appeal validating Hon. Ladi Adebutu as the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state, no other court, not even the Supreme Court has over turned that extant ruling.

    “INEC is therefore compelled to obey the law. It cannot choose for itself which judgment to obey and cannot operate in waiting, anticipation or contemplation of a non-existent consideration in the conduct of the Ogun governorship election.”

    The party described Senator Buruji Kashamu as an imposter, saying he cannot fly its flag at the polls.

    Read Also: Ogun 2019: You’re on your own, INEC tells Adebutu

    The PDP insisted: “Moreover, the PDP holds that Senator Buruji cannot under any imagination be the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun state.

    “He is not a member of our party; he did not participate in our Ogun state governorship primary and has no connection whatsoever in our governorship nomination process at any level for that matter.

    “INEC cannot go to the streets to pick a candidate for our party. It must, therefore, in compliance with the extant judgment of the Court of Appeal, immediately reflect Ladi Adebutu’s name in the ballot, otherwise Nigerians will have no other option than to conclude that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has become compromised to cause confusion and anarchy in Ogun state.”