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  • Coalition expresses satisfaction in military’s control of Nigerian territories

    The Coalition for Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Group (CHRHRG) has expressed optimum satisfaction with the military’s sovereignty of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
    The Coalition made this known at a press conference on Monday in Abuja ahead of a tour of liberated communities in the North-East.
    In a statement signed by Executive Director, Gabriel Agibi, the group hailed the military for its doggedness and reliance in flushing out remnants of Boko Haram terrorists amidst conspiracy from different quarters.
    In a bid to carefully examine the military’s groundbreaking feat, the CHRHRG is set to embark on a systematic assessment tour of North-East, particularly strategic locations in Northern Borno Senatorial District.
    Among others, the Coalition has promised tointerface with community leaders, NGOs and other critical stakeholders in the region with a view to getting objective responses on the efforts of the Federal Government.
    According to the Coalition, the tour would also afford them the opportunity to take a cursory look at the operational strategies of the military and how it has conducted its operations in the theatre of war to state.
    In the end, the Coalition hopes to eliminate every measure of doubts and falsehood being levelled against the brave and gallant Nigerian troops.
    Read full address below:
    I welcome you all to this press conference that is put together by the Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Group in Nigeria to intimate Nigerians on the resolve by the various groups under the Coalition to undertake a systematic assessment tour of North-East Nigeria, particularly strategic locations in Northern Borno Senatorial District, to assess the efforts of the Nigerian government in the fight against terrorism.
    The Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Group is a coalition of credible associations dedicated to the entrenchment of human rights practices in Nigeria. This much has been highlighted in previous years where an alliance of this nature was inaugurated to look into the operations of the Nigerian Military in southeast Nigeria to ascertain its level of human rights compliance.
    In this regards, we wish to state that amongst a host of other tasks that have been carefully identified and outlined for the tour of North East Nigeria, the Coalition would interface with community leaders, NGOs and other critical stakeholders in the region with a view to getting objective responses on the efforts of the Nigerian Government with regards to the ongoing war against terrorism.
    We wish to state that this line of action became necessary in the light of the various news making the rounds on the occupation of Nigerian territories by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in North-East Nigeria.
    The Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Groups would use the opportunity of the tour to carry out a systematic tour of affected communities, including those on the fringes of the Lake Chad basin region such as Baga, Gubio, Magumeri, Marte, Mobbar and Guzamala.
    The Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Groups would also deploy the services of local language interpreters in areas with identified communication barriers, in an attempt to gather as much information as possible that would aid in the subsequent publication of an Independent Terrorism Index that would give an objective assessment of the efforts of the Nigerian Government in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria.
    The tour would also afford the Coalition the opportunity to take a cursory look at the operational strategies of the Nigerian Military and how it has conducted its operations in the theatre of war to state if indeed there has been any form of human rights violations and what measures were put in place to ensure human rights compliance in the prosecution of the war in North East Nigeria.
    The Coalition would interface with community leaders in communities that have witnessed terrorist attacks over the years, as well as NGOs that have been in operations in such communities to understand the dynamics involved the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria.
    The Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Group is undertaking this tour of North-East Nigeria, aside from other stated objectives, to put issues in proper perspectives as regards whether any part of Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.
    The Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Groups in the course of the tour in areas earmarked in Northern Borno would rely on first-hand information by engaging the various stakeholders in these areas such as the traditional and religious rulers, local government officials, humanitarian workers, locals as well as other concerned parties that are privy to the issues bedevilling the region.
    We consequently wish to state that the pieces of evidence gathered from the tour would be documented in the Independent Terrorism Index objectively and analytically for easy comprehension by the relevant stakeholders.
    The Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Group sees this task as necessary with a view to debunking insinuations that some parts of the Nigerian territory are under the control of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.
    It must also be noted that this tour is at the instance of the leadership of the Coalition of Human Rights and Human Rights Monitoring Group and as such the outcome of it would be as objective as possible, that would indeed stand the test to time.

  • Unity Bank head office on fire

    Several bank documents and furniture such as tables, chairs and computers were destroyed yesterday morning in a fire that burnt a substantial part of Unity Bank Plc head office on Ahmed Onibudo Street in Victoria Island, Lagos State.

    The Nation learnt that the fire which began from the third floor of the building escalated to the 10th floor.

    The banking hall and vault, which are on the ground floor, were not affected.

    The first and second floors were also not affected by the fire. There was no loss of life and nobody was injured.

    The fire was said to have started  after the bank staff had resumed duties for the day. It was learnt that by noon the fire had been put out.

    It was gathered that the documents in the building escalated the fire. It was also learnt that it was the first time the building would be engulfed in fire since it was built about three years ago.

    The Nation learnt that the cause of the fire was not known but officials of the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, among others combined efforts to put it out.

    An eyewitness, who identified himself as Tunji Ajao, said he was on the road when he saw fire coming from the third floor of the building.

    Read Also: Fire in the house: Oil, war and Iran

    “The fire was much; all the bank staff and customers ran out for safety. There were major damages inside the building than can be seen from outside. Several documents were destroyed, it was the huge volume of documents on the third floor that the fire started from and it spread to the 10th floor, though from outside it seems as if only three floors that were affected.”

    A passerby, who identified herself as Toyin, said the bank has fire extinguishers but the fire still spread.

    She said the fire must have spread because everyone ran for safety and no one probably knows how to use the fire extinguishers.

    The bank on its Twitter page, revealed that no life was lost in the infemo and expressed its gratitude to agencies and volunteers who came to its rescue.

    “We are grateful to all the agencies and volunteers that supported in bringing the incident under control. Further developments regarding the incident will be communicated as it unfolds.

    “We regret to inform the public that there was a fire incident on one of the floors of our Head Office building early this (yesterday) morning. The cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained but the fire service intervened and brought the situation under control.”

    The bank has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSC) of the incident.

    While the extent of damage is being assessed, we are happy to note that there was no casualty or loss of life as a result of the incident. From current observations, however, the Banking Hall and other strategic business areas were not affected.”

    A statement by Unity Bank Plc Company Secretary Mohammed Shehu, via its twitter handle reads; “Unity Bank Plc wishes to inform The Nigerian Stock Exchange (The Exchange), its esteemed stakeholders and the general public that there was a fire incident on one of the floors of our Head Office building early this (yesterday) morning. The fire, which started from the third floor of the building occupied by a tenant, has been fully extinguished. Preliminary investigations show that the damage is localized to this floor.

    “Consistent with our Business Continuity Framework, critical staff have been relocated to approve offsite locations and our operations are not in any way affected. Consequently customers have unfettered access to their accounts through our electronic channels and branches.

    “While detailed investigation and damage assessment exercise are on0going by federal and state fire service departments, the Bank wishes to extend its appreciation to Total Nigeria Plc, the Nigerian Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, Eko Hotel and Tours, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Union Bank Plc for their prompt response. We also thank our good neughbours and the FMDQ Securities Exchange, Churchgate, ALLCO Insurance and others too numerous to mention. We thank our esteemed customers for their understanding and hereby restate our commitment to providing them safe secure and prompt services.”

  • Council chair to cultists: stop or go to jail

    The Chairman of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Dr Ahmed Apatira yesterday warned members of cult groups to desist from the act or face the wrath of the law.

    Apatira spoke in the wake of a fracas between members of Aiye and Eiye cult groups at the weekend.

    10 suspected members of the groups were arrested.

    The council boss urged youths in the area to shun any overture from members of cult groups.

    He said, “My advice to them is to desist from the devilish act, or be arrested. Anyone caught will be prosecuted and eventually jailed. So, instead of wasting your youth life and end up behind bars, why don’t you engage in something meaningful? We will not condone criminal activities in this council.”

    Apatira urged the youth to take advantage of various vocational training going on in the council.

    “Our vision is to create something out of nothing by using the power of imagination and creativity. The process of innovation will lead to wealth creation through those acquired skills. Those that have graduated are creating jobs for others. We want our youths to channel their energies to doing something meaningful. This is the time to give their lives proper direction. Whatever skill they learn will be useful to them forever,” he said.

  • Lagos-Ibadan train goes into operation in November, says Amaechi

    Commercial activities may begin on the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge train this November, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said.

    Amaechi spoke on Monday, when he and the Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemi Saraki, led other stakeholders on tour of the project.

    He said the Federal Government would also begin a free trial train service between Lagos and Ibadan for commuters.

    ”Our ambition is that by November we should begin trial of train services between Lagos and Ibadan for free,” the minister said.

    He, however, admitted that the pace of the project had been slow, adding that there was the need for the contractor to increase the pace of the project.

    Amaechi said: ”They (contractor) need to increase their speed. They reduce their speed within the period that the government dissolved the last cabinet.

    Read Also: President to unveil Transportation varsity, rail factory in September, says Amaechi

    “Now that we are back, my colleague, the minister of state, and I resolved to push back the pressure to ensure they stick to the completion timelines.”

    The minister disclosed that the double lane speed tracks had been laid up to kilometre 155, adding that where the project was recording challenge now was the completion of the stations, which according to him was impeded because the cabinet was not in place.

    “The tracks are no longer the problem, the problem now, is how to get them to finish the stations on time,” he said.

    Amaechi disclosed that the contractor, CCECC, had promised to complete all the minor stations in three months, but six months after, they had yet to do so.

    The minister added that he would continue to put pressure on the contractor to ensure that all the minor stations were completed in due course.

    “We know that by January next year, they are going to finish both the minor and major stations so that we can move on,” Amaechi said.

    Speaking on the Railway University and the manufacturing factory projects, Amaechi said while the Ministry of Transportation had secured a date for the factory’s ground breaking ceremony from the Vice President, it was waiting for the President to return to the country to give a date for the ground breaking ceremony for the university project.

    He also said the government was waiting on the Chinese government and the China EximBank for the loan for the Ibadan-Kano standard gauge line.

    The minister said the Federal Government was ready with its own counterpart funding, but would require the ChinaExim Bank to grant the facility for the project to begin.

    Saraki expressed happiness that the Ministry of Transportation was delivering on the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to make the train the backbone of the nation’s economy.

    She said once the speed train fully come on stream, it would be able to unlock the huge potential of the sector to create jobs for teeming Nigerian youths.

    Saraki, who supervises the maritime sector of the transportation ministry, said she was determined to work with other stakeholders to unlock the potential and opportunities of the maritime sector.

  • Accountant admits stealing N38m

    A 38-year-old woman Funmilayo Oyelaja on Monday admitted diverting N38 million that National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) paid by the federal government to a Health Management Organisation (HMO) Clearline for onward distribution to some hospitals.

    Oyelaja who worked in the company for 10 years, said she was moved to accounts unit in 2014 and that it was from that time she got involved in the fraud.

    She claimed she diverted more money but personally received N38million which she transferred to her account, those of her son and sisters instead of the real hospitals.

    It was gathered that the suspect fled the country to Ghana in 2017 immediately the alleged fraud was discovered but eventually turned herself in at the weekend following the arrest of her live-in lover Tunde Ogunseye, who returned to the country to bury his late mother.

    According to the woman, she stole the money with the consent of two of her bosses, who she claimed notified her partner that the deal had been exposed and that they should live Nigeria immediately.

    “I was handling accounts. I worked with Clearline for 10 years. It was while I was working that I diverted NHIS money paid to Clearline. My bosses knew about it. It is what they do there. The company steals money from NHIS and my boss is aware of it.

    “We are supposed to pay hospitals and return those of hospitals we cannot trace or identify. But instead of refunding them, Clearline we move them to another account to make it look like the money has been paid.

    “I was on leave when someone called my husband that we should leave the country immediately because the company was aware we took money. They wanted us to run away so that we would not mention the names of others involved.

    “I do not know the exact person that called but I am sure it is from the company. The company said I stole N60m but I only took N38million and the company owed more than N60million. I started to work with account in 2014.

    “I used my share of the money to buy a house and other properties which the company has seized. They also took the remaining money. They have taken everything. The company is accusing only me but I am not the only one involved.

    “I have been in Ghana since 2017. My husband was the one who helped us to flee the country. I had to come back to surrender when they arrested him,” she said.

    Ogunseye confirmed it was one of his lover’s bosses who called and told him to take her out of the country immediately. He said they already had valid visas before the lid was blown, adding that his offence was assisting his woman to flee the country.

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    He said they have managed to stay away since then until his mother died last week and he had to come home for the burial at Ifako, Ogba where he was arrested.

    Commending the police for arresting the woman, General Manager Clearlines Mrs. Ijeoma Ayam said they would ensure others she mentioned as her accomplices were arrested and investigated.

    She however dismissed her claims that the company was involved in diverting NHIS funds describing it as “the story of a drowning man.”

    She said: “The truth of the matter is that for almost two years now, she has been on the run and were just caught over the weekend. So, now that she is saying that she is not the only one, the others are still there and would be apprehended and questioned.

    “She can claim anything. That’s how a dying man operate. A drowning man would clutch at anything but the truth of the matter is that the NHIS has all the information of remittances that are made every year to them for hospitals that have closed down or hospitals that cannot be located.

    “The money is remitted back to the NHIS so the records are there. What they are involved in is pure fraud. It has nothing to do with money remittance or no remittance. She worked in the account department and so for everyone they all have their own different portfolios.

    “This fraud was discovered when she was on leave. What she used to do was to put the names of the hospital but with her account number or that of her son or relative. In a situation where you are dealing with over 2,000 hospitals, your major concern is to ensure all the names are listed and then you approve the amount stated.

    “Each time the hospitals called while she was around, she would tell them the company was working on paying them. If a particular company disturbed her so much, she would move money from another and pay them to avoid raiding suspicious.

    “So, when another person handled her account and a hospital called to raise issue, the books were checked and we discovered that the company has been paid. When we asked them to send their account number, we realised it was different from the number on the approved list.”

    Parading the suspects yesterday, Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu said investigation was ongoing and they would be prosecuted at the end.

  • Edo 2020: Okunbor yet to be approached, says aide

    Edo business mogul and billionaire Captain Hosa Okunbor has denied reports he was approached to contest the 2020 governorship election.

    Capt. Hosa said he had never muted the idea to contest for governor, neither had he been approached for same.

    His aide, Sir Solomon, who spoke to reporters in Benin, said the state’s development remained uppermost to him.

    Solomon said the reports in the social media were attempts to drag his boss into the political mess in the state.

    According to him, his boss was concerned about the development and advancement of the state, and described those behind the lies as busybodies.

    Read Also: Edo 2020: Will Ogie contest against Obaseki?

    He said: “His major preoccupation is how to manage his growing business interests across the globe, and not the issue of governorship. He is always ready to contribute his quota to the development of the state anytime he is called upon, without necessary being political.

    “I am sure you all know the kind of man Captain is. He will not come out to address this issue but has confided in me …on it. Being a man who is very close to him, and from our discussions over time on the same subject matter, nobody has actually approached the Captain to vie for the governorship in 2020.

    “Whatever information, especially in the social media, you hear about him, are all figments of the writers’ opinion and meant to arouse ‘silly’ political discuss.

    ‘’Okunbor, who remains committed to the development of the state, is more concerned with managing his expanding business interests.”

  • Two arraigned for ‘killing’ politician in Imo

    The police in Imo State on Monday arraigned two suspects over the alleged murder of a frontline politician in the state, Hon. Agorua Christopher Eme Eji at Egwe village in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.

    Arraigning the suspects, Chimezie Unachukwu, 32, and Onyeamachi Solomon, 27, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Imo State, the prosecutor,Sergeant Timothy Eke, alleged that on March 11, 2019 at Egwe village in Oguta LGA, the suspects conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit murder thereby committing an offence punishable under section  324 of the criminal code cap 30 vol.11, laws of Eastern Nigeria, 1963 as applicable in Imo State.

    According to police prosecutor, in count 2, the suspects were accused of unlawfully killing the deceased by firing loaded guns severally at him and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 319 (1) of the criminal code, cap 30 vol. 11 laws of the Eastern Nigeria 1963 as applicable in Imo State.

    Read Also: Man jailed for robbing policeman

    The accused persons in count 3, on the same day at Egwe village, while armed with guns and other offensive weapons did rob one Agorua Ifeyinwa Ursula of one Nokia phone, one Samsung phone, a laptop computer values yet to be determined and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provisions) acts cap.R11 laws of the Federal of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Imo State.

    The presiding Magistrate, Naomi J Achinulo, however ordered the remand of the suspects in prison custody and referred the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.

    The case was then adjourned for further hearing on October 31, 2019.

  • ‘Why I pardoned my attackers’

    The recuperating Alara of Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Aderemi Adefehinti, who was chased out of the palace a few days ago following an attack on him and his wife by some youths, has said he would not seek police investigation of the matter.

    The royal father,who returned to the palace at the weekend after his medical treatment, said though police were invited during the mayhem, they were asked to keep their distance and made no arrest.

    Oba Adefehinti said, “We have decided to keep the peace by not asking for police investigation into the matter, we are very conscious of the fact that the miscreants are still our children.

    “We therefore do not want to confine anyone into detention as a result of the crisis. However, I wish to appeal to the concerned youths to caution themselves against the repeat of such mayhem.”

    The monarch, who ascended the throne in 1998, pointed out that they were all witnesses to the peace, development and progress in the university’ community to date, stressing that they would not allow any devilish act to distrupt them.

    The traditional ruler said, “I have been serving Ilara-mokin since leaving university in 1968 and I will continue to seek its greatness.

    He disclosed that he had to go to a private hospital in Akure to treat himself and his wife(Olori) who according to him,was bleeding profusely on her forehead after being hit by the stone.

    Oba Adefehinti said he returned to his community a few days ago after medical treatment,while his wife was still being treated of head injuries she sustained from the attack.

    He assured that she would be discharged soon from the hospital.

    Some youths in the community last week laid siege on the monarch’s palace, accusing him of refusing to partake in this year’s new yam festival. The youths accused him of shirking his royal responsibility following his alleged ‘born-again’ stance.

    However,Oba Adefehinti while speaking with reporters in his palace, said the ‘Ijesu festival’ was the most important annual celebration to the sons and daughters in the community but the changes in celebrating it became inevitable for obvious reasons.

    The monarch said he had several meetings with his chiefs, youths and other leaders of the community earlier this year on the possible changes in the programme of event especially because of his age.

    The traditional ruler sued for peace in the community to facilitate progress.

  • Four ‘negligent’ doctors risk losing licence

    Four Asaba-based doctors risk having their licenses withdrawn by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for alleged gross misconduct and negligence of professional ethics.

    The trial of the doctors which began yesterday in the MDCN headquarters Abuja, had the following Medical Doctors undergoing trial for alleged gross negligence – Anunobi Chijioke Ralu, Iyiola Akeem Adewale, Okoye Pascal Nnamdi, and Adigba Ese Onodjohyovwe.

    The medical practitioners in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit in the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, were charged for gross negligence in managing one Mrs. Rita Uchebuego (now deceased), a pregnant woman under their care.

    The four doctors are facing a one count charge.

    The doctors were investigated by Dr. J. N Hart led Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel.

    Read Also: Doctors charged with harming patient through negligence

    The one count charge read: “That you [name of doctor], registered medical practitioner, practicing as the Registrar and Gynaecology on call on 8th March 2017 or thereabouts at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba Delta State, while managing one Rita Uchebuego (F), now deceased, as a pregnant woman under your care, were grossly negligent in her management when you failed to promptly attend to her as appropriate for the management of her condition, thereby, conducted yourself infamously in a professional respect contrary to Rules 29.4h and 31 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, 2008 Edition, and punishable under Section 16 (1) (a) and (2) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Act CAP. M8 LFN 2004 (as amended).”

    Three of the four doctors appeared on Monday before the tribunal Chaired by Chairman of the Council, Prof. Abba Waziri Hassan.

    Although the case is ongoing, revelations from one of the doctors on trial, Adigba Ese Onodjohyovwe, suggests that the deceased – Rita Uchebuego, might have died from reacting to blood being transfused to her.

    According to Adigba, few moments after the administration of the blood, she began to react adversely to it and the medical team had to stop the transfusion.

    The blood was returned back to the laboratory.

    The big question one of the members of the tribunal asked the doctor is why the same blood sample the patient reacted to was re-administered, which might have ultimately led to her death.

    The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) is the professional health regulatory agency for the professions of Medicine, Dentistry and Alternative Medicine in Nigeria, with mandate to discipline any erring practitioners whose actions or in-actions fall short of the medical professional ethics.

    The trial continues, according to the panelists

  • Warri/Benin highway reopened

    The Delta State government has reopened the Warri/Sapele/Benin highway. The road was shut for reconstruction.

    Commissioner for Information Charles Aniagwu, who announced the reopening at the weekend, said: “As earlier promised, the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration has continued to show concern for the pain road users experience following the road’s deplorable condition. It is to the glory of God that we announce the re-opening of the road today, September 20, as against September 21 earlier promised.

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    “This is in fulfilment of our avowed commitment to ameliorate the sufferings of road users. I must hail the contractors, Obakpor J. U. Construction, for their resilience and sacrifice to deliver on target.

    “The government hails Deltans and other road users for their patience and cooperation while the road was shut. Work will now begin on the other side of the road.”