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  • Badeh’s wife, children removed from watch-list

    Slain former Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh’s wife and three children have been delisted from security agencies watch-list.

    The removal of the names from the watch-list on compassionate ground  will allow members of the immediate family to attend the burial of their patriarch.

    Those on the watch-list are Mary Iya Badeh (wife);  Alex Sabundu Badeh (Jr);  Kamtafwa Badeh; and  Asuamana Badeh.

    The ex-CDS was shot dead on December 18 by some assailants along Keffi-Abuja Highway while returning from his farm.

    Two suspects, including the man who allegedly hired the assailants and the suspect who pulled the trigger, have been arrested.

    The police and other security agencies are on the trail of other suspects implicated in the murder.

    It has been difficult for members of Badeh’s immediate family to return to Nigeria from abroad because they have been watch-listed for arrest by INTERPOL and other security agencies.

    They were marked for arrest as a result of their alleged involvement in the alleged N3.9billion fraud against the late ex-CDS.

    Most members of the immediate family fled abroad during the investigation and trial of Badeh.

    The Nation learnt that the late Air Chief Marshal Badeh’s wife and children wrote EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu through their counsel, Mr. Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Mr. Samuel Zibiri (SAN), for a “compassionate waiver” to return home for the burial of the ex-CDS.

    Olujimi sent a letter on December 20, last year, Zibiri did a follow-up on January 2.

    Olujinmi said: “Our instruction is to request you on compassionate grounds to delist from the watch-list the wife and all the children of late Air Marshal Alex Badeh, you may have included in the watch-list.

    “According to our client, it was while they were preparing to return to the country to make arrangements for the burial of their father that they learnt that their names may be on the watch-list.

    “It therefore becomes necessary to address this letter to you to request for their delisting from the watch-list.”

    Zibiri wrote: “We write this as a follow up of a letter from Akin Olujinmi (SAN) of Messrs. Olujinmi and Akeredolu and Co. in  respect of the above.

    “We are by this letter formally applying for the delisting of names of members of the immediate family of late Air Chief Marshal Badeh from the watch-list to enable them return to the country without molestation in order to make arrangement for the burial of their father, late Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

    “As counsel to the family, we write to assure you that they will be available to attend to the commission’s invitation whenever they are needed for questioning on any matter relating to the charges/allegations if any that may assist the commission for clarifications.”

    An EFCC source confirmed that Magu on Monday  approved the request of the wife and the three children. He noted the plea by the lawyers to the ex-CDS in agreeing to the de-listing.

    “The EFCC has  written the Department of State Services (DSS), the  Nigeria Immigration  Service(NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), and other security agencies to de-list Badeh’s wife and children,” the source said, pleading not to be named.

  • ’41 bullets were removed from my body’

    A survivor of shootings at the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat, Lagos, Habeeb Aweda, has narrated to The Nation how he survived gunshots by hoodlums during the last primary election.

    Aweda and others were shot on October 5 during collation of primary election results at the secretariat.

    However, Rilwan Musa (aka Apata) and AbdulQuadri Adebayo (alias Uche) were unlucky. They died during the shootings.

    Writhing in pains, Aweda said he was inside the council secretariat with others, celebrating the victory of Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, a former lawmaker, who is seeking a return to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    He said the celebration was disrupted when they heard gunshots.

    “We were jubilating at the council secretariat with my friends. Then we started hearing gunshots,” Aweda said.

    He said he looked at the direction of the gunshots and saw people running towards the gate.

    “Before I could run, the bullets hit me and I became unconscious. Friends took me to hospitals.

    “Unfortunately, all hospitals, including private ones, were not opened. I and others were taken to traditional medical attendants at Alayabiagba.

    “I regained consciousness at the place. I was told that 24 bullets were removed from my body. My people later bought me to this hospital. The doctor removed another 17 bullets. I don’t know if there are still more in my body,” Aweda he said.

    He told The Nation that he’s still feeling pains in the chest.

    “The doctor said we should do chest X-ray. That has been done. We are awaiting the results” Aweda said.

    A neighbour, Abdullahi Omobolaji, said he learnt that a party leader, who was not happy about the outcome of the election, ordered hoodlums to “shoot on sight.”

    “Immediately, the man gave the order, the hoodlums opened fire on everybody. People scampered for safety. Many, who sustained gunshot injuries, were taken to hospitals. Unfortunately, the General Hospital and private own ones were shut. Some were taken to traditional medical attendants, others were rushed to medical centres outside the council,” he said

    Another victim, Abdul Rasak Umar, who lives at Alayabiagba, said he sustained bullet wounds in his head, back and leg.

    “We were in the council secretariat, awaiting the result when we heard gunshots. Everybody ran for safety. As I was running, I sustained gunshot injuries in the head, back and leg. My brother, Ridwan, was shot dead,” he said.

    Olawale Aweda said a bullet hit him in the leg.

    “I was taken to General Hospital on Lagos Island, where I was treated with three others,” he said.

    Yakub Lafia said the guns and other weapons used to attack the people were kept in a vehicle in the council secretariat.

    “When we got to the council, we sat on a bus, unaware that the hoodlums hid guns and other weapons inside the bus. Someone told us not to spoil the bus and we were asked to stand up. We went outside the secretariat. While returning, the hoodlums fired two shots at the crowd. We were also shot. We saw blood and heard the voices of our people, who were injured. We were chased with guns,” he said.

     

  • Kevin Spacey to be removed from finished movie

    Kevin Spacey to be removed from finished movie

    Hollywood actor, Kevin Spacey’s role in the already completed movie, ‘All the Money in the World’, will be reprised by fellow actor, Christopher Plummer.

    This is coming on the heels of the series of allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against Spacey. According to information, the film’s director Sir Ridley Scott and Imperative Entertainment have decided to take the unprecedented move.

    Plummer is set to take over the role of J Paul Getty, with re-shoots of all of Spacey’s scenes set to begin immediately. Scott is also reportedly aiming to keep the film’s original December 22 release.

    The actor originally worked for around eight to 10 days on ‘All the Money in the World’, playing the oilman who refused to pay a ransom after his grandson was kidnapped.

    Sony Pictures gave the go-ahead for the re-shoots, alongside the film’s cast and crew and stars Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg.

    The decision comes days after the movie was pulled from the closing night slot of the AFI Festival following the allegations against Spacey.

    The actor faced fresh allegations after journalist, Heather Unruh, accused him of groping her 18-year-old son last year. Additionally, a London barman has also accused Spacey of sexual misconduct.

    Spacey originally faced accusations from ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ actor Anthony Rapp that he made advances when the latter was only 14 years old.

    Eight current and former workers on ‘House of Cards’ have also come forward with their own sexual harassment and assault claims, and he has been suspended by Netflix. He is also under investigation in the UK for separate claims.

    A spokesperson for the star has said he is currently seeking “evaluation and treatment”.

  • Why subsidy was removed —Oyegun

    Why subsidy was removed —Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said yesterday that the government had to do away with the subsidy regime because it was evident that Nigerians were not benefiting from it.

    Odigie-Oyegun told reporters at the party national secretariat in Abuja that only  a few Nigerians who had manipulated the sector over the years were enriching  themselves from proceeds of the subsidy regime in the country.

    He appealed  for the  understanding of organised labour and their civil society allies, as well as the Nigerian public over the increase.

    He said that while Nigerians have a right to subsidy on oil, “the subsidy regime has become so intensely manipulated, so abused that it really was no longer operating in the interest of the Nigerian public.”

    “I think that it has become very clear that the kind of queues that has become endemic over several regimes in this nation is a clear indication that something has gone seriously wrong with the subsidy regime. Those who were privileged were exploiting it to amass more wealth.

    “Meanwhile, the people for who it is basically meant has to bear the cost in higher transport fare. Each time these queues develop, of course the ordinary Nigerian bears the cost, while the importers and manipulators of the system are the ones that make  all the money.

    “What the new regime is therefore doing is to ensure availability and having fuel at all, so as to prevent indecent queues at petrol stations has become something that is no longer desirable especially considering the fact that when you eventually get the fuel, it is already over priced.

    He added:”In any case, the current budget did not provide for subsidy and so, if the regim of subsidy is to be reintroduced, it can only divert resources from the crying needs of other sectors, including the programme to help the Nigerians living at the margin.

    “So, the appeal which is a very sincere appeal to the Nigerian people; yes there is a lot of hardship, yes increased pump price will also increase that hardship. But the economy is being freed in a way that the ordinary Nigerian will become the major beneficiary and we are talking of a matter of months from removing this one last bottleneck that has held the Nigerian economy down”.

  • Kogi House speaker removed

    Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker Momoh Jimoh-Lawal was yesterday removed with two other principal officers, the Deputy Speaker, Ali Akuh, and Minority Leader Hassan Bello.

    Jimoh-Lawal was removed on the allegations of incompetence in the running of the affairs of the assembly.

    Addressing reporters in Lokoja, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, John Abbah, said the action of “the 17 members” of the Assembly to remove Jimoh-Lawal should not be seen as novel, but imperative, in view of the demand to remove the speaker before now.

    He said there had been moves to remove Jimoh-Lawal, but they tolerated him, adding that when the 17 members could no longer manage him and others, they removed him.

    Abbah, the new deputy speaker, said Jimoh-Lawal was removed because of incompetence, greed and betrayal of members.

    The House has elected Godwin Osuyi as the speaker. John Abbah was elected as the deputy speaker and Eneche Ojochemenemi Linus is the new minority leader.

    Osuyi said the action had nothing to do with the political situation in the state.

    He said the 25 lawmakers were capable of being speaker, and if any was not competent, such could be removed.

    Jimoh-Lawal said he remains the speaker.

    Reacting to his removal yesterday, he said due process was not followed.

    Jimoh-Lawal alleged that the signatures of the members, who purportedly supported the removal, were forged, saying the police would be invited to investigate the matter.

    “I remain the speaker,”   he asserted.

     

  • ‘Fibroid now being removed without surgery’

    Women no longer have to undergo fibroid removal surgery following new method of treatment, Dr Felix Ogedegbe has said.

    Speaking at the opening of Cedarcrest Hospital in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, Ogedegbe said, the hospital has infrastructure and personnel to handle maternal health challenges.

    He said: “Breast reconstruction is the removal of the breast that is infected by cancer and a new breast would be fashioned from different part of the body. The new breast with the blood vessel is brought to where the old breast was. The blood vessel is then joined to the arteries and veins at the location of the old breast. A new breast will be reconstructed immediately.”

    Ogedegbe said with this new development, women would not have to go through the process of suffering the loss of their breast.

    Ogedegbe, while speaking about uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE), said women who have fibroid can have a catheter passed through their blood vessel to get to the fibroid, adding: “Certain things are put on the fibroid to make it burn away in few weeks. Women do not need to have open operation to have fibroid removed anymore.”

    The MD said most patients treated in Abuja often go home immediately after their surgery or the next day.

    “Blood transfusion is often not needed, risk of infection, long stay in the hospital and all things that traditional fibroid operation comes with. It is proven to be beneficial to a lot of women because it is common among black women.

    “We have doctors who are residents in Nigeria and other countries. When the need arise, the doctors would fly to the patient not the other way,” Ogedegbe said.

    Nigerians, he said, do not need to travel overseas to fix their troubled knees and joints, among others because orthopaedic equipment and experts are available in the facility.

    He said the 20-bed facility would help to improve health care delivery.

    The hospital is equipped to treat trauma, orthopaedic, and other surgical cases, as well as general medical problems.

    “Cedarcrest has been at the forefront of promoting the local availability of world class healthcare in the country. We believe that Nigerians do not need to go through the rigours and attendant risks of travelling abroad to access high quality healthcare,” Ogedegbe said.

    He continued: “It has come to be known that the skill and equipment employed and the outcome achievable in other climes are also possible in Nigeria.”

    Prominent people, he said, have received treatment at the hospital branch in Abuja, even though they could afford to travel abroad.

    “The hospital treated Kogi State Governor Idris Wada when he had an accident in December 2012,”he said.

    Ogedegbe said the hospitals have worked tirelessly to change the perception patients have about the local hospitals.

    He said: “The Abuja hospital has treated nearly 20, 000 new patients and over 60, 000 returning patients over the last seven years. Nearly 3, 500 specialised surgical procedures have been carried out during this period.”

  • Bill Cosby’s Disney Hall Of Fame statue removed

    Bill Cosby’s Disney Hall Of Fame statue removed

    The end is yet to be heard on the multiple sex scandals that have trailed the life and career of Hollywood actor/comedian, Bill Cosby.

    The latest is the ordered removal of his Hall of Fame statue, sequel to new facts that emerged, months after a Change.org petition created in 2014 urged Disney World to remove the bust, which stands in the park’s Hall of Fame Plaza, alongside other Television Academy Hall of Fame inductees such as Lucille Ball and Walt Disney.

    Bill Cosby’s bronze bust as reported was removed from the Walt Disney resort’s Hollywood Studios theme park on July 8, spokesperson.

    The company’s decision comes just one day after unsealed court documents revealed Cosby to have admitted to obtaining drugs to use on women he wanted to have sex with in 2005.

    The Wrap reports that the decision was made internally and not due to the petition. They cited “an individual with knowledge of the removal.’’

    The embattled comedian admitted in a 2005 deposition that he bought Quaaludes with the intention of giving them to women he wanted to have sex with. In the same deposition, he reportedly admitted to giving drugs to a female former Temple University employee who filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape that same year.

    The suit claimed that the comedian drugged and raped the woman — later identified as Andrea Constand, the former director of operations for Temple’s women’s basketball program at his Philadelphia mansion in 2004.

    Meanwhile, singer Jill Scott, expressed regret and disappointment over the news. The singer-actress expressed in a Tweet on Monday, saying she was “disgusted” with Cosby. First, she announced that she had defended him only because there wasn’t any definite proof against him. Once she read his newly revealed testimony from 2005, however, her view changed. “About Bill Cosby, sadly his own testimony offers proof of terrible deeds, which is all I have ever required to believe the accusations.”

    Noting that she doesn’t believe in using someone as a scapegoat, and that there are many black men imprisoned for crimes without sufficient evidence. “We live in America. Many African American men are detained or imprisoned for crimes without evidence. I will never jump on bandwagons based on social media or hearsay. Proof will always matter more than public opinion. The sworn testimony is proof. Completely disgusted,” she added.

  • ‘Why Oyinlola was removed as Black Culture Centre chair’

    Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr. Ajibola Basiru, has explained why former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was removed by the government as the life chairman of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding.

    The commissioner, during a quarterly press conference of his ministry yesterday in Osogbo, faulted how the former governor appointed himself as the chairman of the board of the centre while still in office.

    He said Oyinlola flouted every known norm by doing so.

    Basiru said: “The former governor did not follow the path of honour, he did not follow the path of integrity and did not follow the path of moral, transparency and probity by appointing himself while in office as the chairman of the board of the centre, which was established through the funds of the government.

    “This administration, on assumption of office, looked at the issues surrounding the appointment of board members and found a lot of errors, which were corrected by the bill from the House of Assembly that Governor Rauf Aregbesola assented to.

    “The governor went further to dissolve the board and appointed a renowned cultural icon of international standard as the chairman of the board, with credible people from different parts of the country as members.”

    Governor Aregbesola has since replaced Prince Oyinlola with Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, following the dissolution of the former board in May.

    The Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding was established by the former governor in 2009.