The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cloning

  • Monkeys have been successfully cloned in China

    Monkeys have been successfully cloned in China

    By Moses Emorinken

    Just when we thought we had seen the heights of innovations in science and technology, scientists in China have successfully cloned two monkeys.

    China, in its aggressive bid to become the leader in science and technological innovation, have resurfaced with another groundbreaking creation – the cloning of monkeys in methods similar to the first cloned animal by scientists in Scotland in 1996 – Dolly the sheep.

    The genetically identical long-tailed macaques born in Shanghai last month, called Zhong Zhong (8 weeks old) and Hua Hua (6 weeks old), are the first primate clones produced.

    In times past, there have been scattered successes in the cloning of mammals like mice, sheep and cattle; however, the cloning of monkeys which is the closest primate to human had proven unsuccessful. Most of the failed experiments produced poorly formed monkeys or cloned monkeys that died moments after their birth.

    The cloning of these identical monkeys, which is the biggest breakthrough in science at the moment have generated a groundswell of public opinions, praises and condemnation in every quarters.

    We are tempted to reason that the implication of this scientific success is that human cloning is now theoretically possible; one that might be perfected in few years to come.

    For the open-minded and science enthusiasts, it is a welcomed development; for the cultural and religious, it means crossing the line in the limits of God’s expectations for man. To them, man has begun to play God, which is a very sad development.

    According to Muming Poo, a co-author, who directs the Institute of Neuroscience at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, “the technical barrier is now broken. In principle [this method] can be applied to humans”.

    Although the reason behind the monkey cloning program might not sit well with many in the scientific community who have raised concerns about animal ethics, Muming Poo however said that the cloned animals are to produce animal models useful for medicine, for human health; there is no intention to apply this method to humans.

    According to him, the ultimate goal is to clone monkeys on a large scale for use as test subjects because of their similarities to humans. These monkeys will be given specific diseases before they are born; this way, they can be used to test various treatments.

    It is not surprising that China is becoming a forerunner in science and technology, as it has almost doubled the number of its local universities in ten years and is heavy on state-funded research incentive programmes.

    China is poised to overtake the US and Europe in innovations in science and technology. Its aim is to become the number one innovator by 2030 and the undisputed leader in global science and technology by 2049.

  • Alleged N50m fraud: Two on trial for ‘cloning Ambode’s phone line’

    Alleged N50m fraud: Two on trial for ‘cloning Ambode’s phone line’

    TRIAL opened at a Lagos High Court yesterday of two persons, who allegedly attempted to defraud the government of N50 million by cloning Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s phone line.

    Rilwanu Jamiu and Balogun Oyewole were arraigned before Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya on a three-count of possession of fraudulent document, impersonation and attempt to commit felony.

    The Accountant-General, Mrs Abimbola Shukurat Umar, led in evidence by the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Adeniji Kazeem, said she received a text message – purportedly sent from Governor Ambode – from the suspects on February 10, 2016, directing her to transfer N50 million to a designated Keystone Bank account.

    She said she found the message suspicious and highly irregular to official accounting protocol.

    This, the witness said,  prompted her to bring the message to the attention of the governor, who distanced himself from it and ordered that the matter be investigated.

    The investigation,  conducted by the Department of State Security, led to the arrest of the defendants.

    The prosecution also called Mr Wale Odu, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lagos State Command, as a witness.

    Odu confirmed that the investigation leading to the defendants’ was conducted by DSS.

    According to him, the investigation revealed that Oyewole is one of the directors and shareholders of a firm, Clayder Limited to whose Keystone Bank account, the N50 million would have been paid.

    The case continues on February 14.   The defendants will remain in Kirikiri Prison till then.

  • SON bursts cable cloning syndicate

    SON bursts cable cloning syndicate

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has nabbed a syndicate specialised in cloning of certified made-in-Nigeria cables in Lagos.

    A statement from the office of SON Director-General Mr. Osita Aboloma said the syndicate operated from 5, Collins Street, opposite Akapo Street, Ojo Alaba, Lagos.

    The statement said the operation was carried out by a combined team of the Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police attached to SON, operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos and officials of SON Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate.

    The syndicate specialised in importing unregistered and substandard cable brands like Verginity, New Age and Sunrise, which are then rerolled, rebranded and repackaged as certified made in Nigeria cables for sale.

    The statement added that about 2,647 rolls of cables were awaiting  cloning, while 22 bags, five cartons and 270 coils of already-cloned  ones and two re-rolling and rebranding equipment were seized from the premises.

    Two suspects were arrested at the scene and are helping the Police with investigations.

    The implications of the syndicates’ activities, according to the statement, include inadvertent purchase and use of substandard cables by unsuspecting consumers; de-marketing of certified made in Nigeria cables as a result; loss in sales and revenue by genuine local manufacturers of cables; reduction in capacity utilisation and attendant job losses.

    Abaloma urged Nigerians to continue to provide useful information to assist regulatory agencies serve them better in the overall interest of the nation and its people.

    “The suspects will be prosecuted in line with the provisions of the SON Act 14 of 2015 on conclusion of investigation,”the statement added.

     

  • Trader arraigned for ‘cloning’ N5m bank cheque

    A 55-year-old trader, Lade Obaseki, who allegedly cloned an Access Bank manager’s cheque worth N5 million, was yesterday arraigned in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The accused is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Nicholas Akpene said the accused and others at large committed the offence on April 26 around 2pm at Access Bank PLC, Lagos.

    Akpene said the accused forged the cheque and presented it so that it would be acted upon as genuine.

    He said the offence contravened Sections 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate S. K. Matepo granted the N2million accused bail, with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and show evidence of tax payment.

    Matepo adjourned the case till May 25.

  • Pastor charged with cloning bank manager’s cheque

    The police have accused a 63-year-old self-acclaimed clergyman, Samuel Bonny, of cloning an Access Bank manager’s cheque worth N5 million.

    Bonny, whose address was not given, was docked yesterday before Mrs S. K. Matepo of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Nicholas Akpene told the court that the defendant and others at large  committed the alleged offences on April 26, at 2:00 pm, at Access Bank PLC headquarters, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant attempted to defraud Access Bank by presenting a cloned manager’s cheque of N5m for confirmation at the bank.

    Akpene said that the accused forged the cheque and presented it so that it would be acted upon as genuine.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendant denied the charge.

    Magistrate, Mrs. Matepo, admitted him to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in the like sum.

    The sureties, she added, must swear to an affidavit of means and must be tax compliant.

    The case was adjourned till May 25 for mention.

  • Alleged cloning of Ambode’s number: Man dies in DSS’ custody

    Alleged cloning of Ambode’s number: Man dies in DSS’ custody

    •Family cries out for justice

    A 39-YEAR-OLD man, Saheed Damilare Eyitayo, whose friend was arrested for ‘cloning’ Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s phone number, has allegedly died in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

    His family is alleging foul play, asking the DSS to explain how he died.

    It has refused to collect the body for burial from the DSS until the circumstances of his death are clear.

    The late Eyitayo was arrested in the midnight of April 4 by the DSS operatives, who were on the trail of the syndicate that cloned Ambode’s mobile number. He was taken to the DSS office at Shangisha, where he allegedly died during interrogation.

    The Nation learnt that the DSS operatives were acting on information that Rilwanu Jamiu, a member of the syndicate, might be hiding in the late Eyitayo’s home at 37, Aje Street, Pleasure Bus Stop in Iyana Ipaja.

    The DSS operatives allegedly broke into the late Eyitayo’s apartment while he was asleep. On being woken up, he was reportedly beaten and his hands and legs chained. Eyewitnesses told The Nation that the DSS operatives grilled him for minutes, asking him of Jamiu’s whereabouts.

    A resident, who pleaded not to be named, said: “I overheard Eyitayo telling the DSS people that the person they were looking for does not stay with him. He told them the suspect was his friend and only visited him the previous day. But, his explanation did not convince them. They beat him mercilessly till blood came out of his face. We could not recognise him again.”

    The DSS operatives, The Nation gathered, moved to other apartments in the building, allegedly beating occupants and searching their rooms for the suspect. After three hours, the DSS operatives whisked Eyitayo to their Shangisha office.

    Jamiu, it was learnt, was arrested that day in Alakuko.

    The late Eyitayo’s friends, who had been going to the DSS office for his bail, were kept in the dark about his death. On April 6, two days after his death, the DSS Director, invited his landlord, a pastor, to help the agency look for his family members.

    The landlord said: “Two days after he was taken away in chains, I was invited by the DSS Director. When I got there, the Director called me to his office and told me Eyitayo slumped during interrogation. He said they tried to stabilise him medically but he eventually died. The director asked me to help find his family members, but I told him I did not know anybody with him.

    “The DSS copied out five numbers from the late Eyitayo’s phone and gave me to call. I could not reach any of them except one man, who had been coming to the house as his brother. I could not tell him his brother is dead. Some 19 days after, we eventually met with the family members. We all went to the DSS office together and they heard the news from the DSS themselves. We were told the body had been taken to the mortuary.”

    The bereaved family is accusing the DSS of torturing Eyitayo to death. The late Eyitayo’s neighbour, who was allegedly maltreated by the DSS operatives, said the victim was chained before being taken away.

    The family, yesterday, asked the government to fish out the DSS operatives, who tortured Eyitayo to death. They wondered why the late Eyitayo would be chained and tortured when he did not know anything about the alleged crime. They rejected the DSS’ offer to release the body to them for burial, demanding investigation on the circumstances surrounding his death.

    Mr Hassan Kareem, who spoke on behalf of the family, said: “We have been told how Damilare was chained and tortured for hours before he was taken to custody. The DSS told us that he fell down as he attempted to escape. How is it possible for somebody whose hands and legs were chained to attempt to run? We are yet to be told the truth about the death of our son. This is why the government must help us to get justice.”

    Jamiu and Balogun Stanley Oyewoye were on April 20 arraigned before an Isolo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly cloning Ambode’s number.

    A DSS source told The Nation: “At 8:23am on the fateful day, Damilare was said to have slumped in a room where he was being interrogated and was said to have been rushed to the clinic in the DSS premises.  He was stabilised and allowed to rest for 45 minutes after which he was taken back to the investigation room. Several minutes after, he was rushed back to the clinic unconscious. He died at 11:50am.”

  • Two remanded for cloning Ambode’s phone number

    Two remanded for cloning Ambode’s phone number

    The Department of State Service (DSS) yesterday arraigned two men before an Isolo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly cloning Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s phone number.

    Rilwanu Jamiu of 10, Giwa Street, off Oka Akoko Street, Lagos and Balogun Stanley Oyewole of 65, Unity Street, Ikotun, were brought before Mrs. Adetola Adedayo on a two-count charge of fraud preferred against them by the government.

    The suspects and others at large were alleged to have conspired to commit felony, to wit: obtaining by false pretence, on February 10, at about 10:02am, within Lagos Magisterial District.

    Count two of the charge reads: “That you Rilwanu Jamiu, Balogun Stanley Oyewole of the above addresses and others at large, on the above date, time and place fraudulently cloned the Glo line number of His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with intent to induce him by false pretence and used the Glo line to send a text message for the transfer of a sum of N50million and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State”.

    Also docked with the defendants was one Aderemi Bello, who was charged with impersonation and fraud.

    Bello’s charge reads: “That you Aderemi Martins Bello of No. 2 Walter Carrington Street, Victoria Island, in February 2016 at the USA Embassy, within the Lagos Magisterial District, impersonated as a United States of America citizen and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 378 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State”.

    Bello was alleged to have fraudulently collected N485,000 from Isaac Ademola Fowowe, for procurement of USA citizenship passport application.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The defendants had no lawyers. The prosecutor, Peter Okerinmodun, prayed the court to remand them in prison custody because of sensitivity of the case.

    Okerinmodun alleged that the defendants’ accomplices were still at large, adding that it could jeopardise their trial and the evidence.

    He argued that remanding the defendants in custody would shield them from threats by their accomplices and also ensure their protection.

    Adedayo rejected his request because it was an oral application.

    She granted them N1million bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    One of the sureties must be a community or religious leader within the court’s jurisdiction. They must also have five years’ tax clearance.

    The Magistrate ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Prison pending the perfection of their bail. She adjourned till May 10.

  • Senate set to ban human cloning in Nigeria

    Senate set to ban human cloning in Nigeria

    •National Health Bill suffers setback 

    The Senate yesterday moved to ban human cloning in Nigeria.

    It sent the controversial National Health Bill to its Committee on Health for further legislative work.

    Sections 48 to 57 of the bill deal with the control and regulation of the use and removal of blood, blood products and tissue, as well as the regulation of the manipulation, import and export of human zygotes and embryos.

    It also deals with the prohibition of cloning of human beings and regulates transplantation of tissue.

    The Senate may adopt the recommendation of the prohibition of cloning of human beings, as recommended.

    The Presidency refused to sign the bill in the Sixth Senate following the disagreement on regulation of the manipulation, import and export of human zygotes and embryos.

    The submission of the bill yesterday followed the consideration of the report on: “A Bill for An Act to Provide Framework for the Regulation, Development and Management of a National Health System and Set Standards for Rendering Health Services in the Federation and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2012”.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta North), presented the report for consideration.

    Okowa’s committee recommended the prohibition on the cloning of human beings.

    But the bill ran into a hitch when some lawmakers opposed some of its provisions.

    The lawmakers rejected Section 11 (2)(a) of the bill, which seeks to establish the National Primary Health Care Development Fund, to be drawn partly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) also said some provisions of the bill were already covered by the National Primary Health Act.

    He noted that it would be wrong to enact into law issues that have already been enacted in an existing Act.

    Okowa, in the report, explains that the Bill intends to establish a National Health System, which shall define and provide a framework for standard and regulation of health services, encompasses public and private providers of health services while promoting the spirit of cooperation and shared responsibilities.

    He said the bill proposes the establishment of a National Primary Health Care Development Fund for mobilising funds.

    The senator said the import of the fund is to ensure the provision of basic minimum package of health services to all Nigerians, as may be prescribed by regulation.