Atiku invites Obi, Kwankwaso to join in upholding good morals in governance

By

-

October 5, 2023

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate Atiku Abubarkar in a world press conference on Thursday for the first time spoke to the world on the verdict of the appeal court that upheld the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which LN247 earlier reported that he was going to challenge at the Supreme Court. This comes in the light of evidence gotten from Chicago State University disclaiming the certificate presented by President Tinubu to INEC before the elections.

Atiku called on the people to defend the ground rules in the country regarding electoral laws stating the constitution requires that those who seek office must have their certificates verified by relevant bodies stating for the sake the country’s reputation.

He further thanked the lawyers in Nigeria and the United States for assisting Nigerians in bringing clarity to the issues that defined the country, Nigerians and journalists across the country for exposing the water gate scandals and bridging the gap where government had failed.

Atiku made a call to fellow candidates who contested during the elections: Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso to join hands in bringing accountability and upholding good morals and uprightness in government.

Court martial declares Maj-Gen guilty of $1.476m theft

By

Mana Balagbogbo

-

October 5, 2023

0

A Special Court Martial set up by the Nigerian Army has found the former Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Major General Umar Mohammed, guilty of 14 of 18 count charges, including stealing and other sundry offences, which are all contrary to service laws.

The charges brought against the General bother on stealing, forgery, conspiracy, theft, unauthorised diversion of Army property, among others.

In one of the charges on which he was found guilty, General Mohammed was alleged to have collected the sum of $1.045,400 paid by shipping companies for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty located at no 6 Marina, Victoria Island, Lagos

He was also found guilty of a theft of $430.800 being monies paid into Nigerian Army Domiciliary account at Unity Bank, Abuja for use of Nigerian Army Jetty, Marina, Lagos

The court martial also found him guilty of withdrawing and confiscating the sum of N74million out of N75million paid for a property belonging to the Nigerian Army at Ikoyi, Lagos.

The general was however found not guilty on allegations that he sold Army property worth N200million in Lagos as well as stole the sum of another N750million out of the sum of N2.5billion secured from banks as well as contribution from subscribers for a Army housing estate in Asokoro, Abuja.

He was also not found guilty of charges of forging a Deed of Agreement document pursuant to confiscating another Army property in Lagos.

The Special Court Martial with Major General Kames Myam as President, has seven other Major Generals as members and a Brigadier General as Judge Advocate and it is expected to read out its sentences for the accused by Tuesday next week.

During the court-martial, Major General UM Mohammed was brought into the court in a wheelchair but the President of the court, Maj-Gen Myan said all necessary medical checks were carried out on the accused and all proved that he was fit to stand trial.

Lead counsel for the prosecution was Col BA Oguntayo (Rtd) while Lead counsel for the Defence was Olalekan Ojo, SAN.

Relate

Senate investigates alleged killing, incarceration of 250 Nigerians in Ethiopia

By

Mana Balagbogbo

-

October 5, 2023

0

The Senate has directed its Committees on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to investigate alleged unlawful killings and incarceration of 250 Nigerians in Ethiopia. The upper chamber consequently gave the committees two weeks to report back.

The resolution was sequel to a motion, tagged ”Urgent Need to Investigate the Unlawful Killings and Incarceration of over 250 Nigerians in Ethiopia,” was sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkwon, and co-sponsored by Sen. Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra) at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Mwadkwon said in spite of the clarion call for unity among nations of the world, there was still widespread information currently being circulated by Dr Paul Ezike.

He said: “Ezike is calling on the Nigerian government to intervene on the inhumanity and torture that Nigerians are receiving in Ethiopia without evidence of commission of any crime.

“Based on the wide spread information being circulated, that over 250 Nigerians who have continued to face these maltreatments and inhumanity have not committed any crime known to any law.

“There is no evidence of any court proceedings stating the categories of crimes they have committed or any court conviction in that regard.

“At the moment, based on the sovereignty of this country and the sanctity of the lives and property of all Nigerians all over the world as captured in the Nigerian Constitution, there is no justification whatsoever for taking away the dignity of any person, let alone taking away the life of a citizen.”

He said that in the midst of the economic and social hardships being experienced by Nigerians, some 250 people were currently being subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.

“This calls for urgent intervention of this hallowed chamber as the lives of those 250 people matter most to us,” he said.

Seconding the motion, Sen. Mohammed Monguno, (APC-Borno) said the constitution gave primacy to the protection of lives and property, adding this was the essence of governance.

“All hands must be on deck by all arms of government; the executive and legislature in particular that this ugly scenario should be investigated and the interest of our citizens where ever they may be should be jealously guarded and protected,” he said.

For Sen. Titus Zam (APC-Benue), “humanity requires of us to seek to protect any Nigerian where ever they are.

“Urgent steps should be taken to liaise with the Nigerian embassy in Nigeria to find ways of resolving this matter without sacrificing any single Nigerian in spite of whatever is the situation out there.”

Atiku to address Tinubu’s CSU certificate saga in world press conference today

By

Mana Balagbogbo

-

October 5, 2023

0

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar is expected to address the issue of President Bola Tinubu’s academic records released by the Chicago State University (CSU) at a press conference today.

A statement released on the press conference invitation reads, “This is to inform and invite you to the World Press Conference of Our Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, GCON, at the Yar’Adua Centre, Tomorrow, Thursday 5, October 2023, in the afternoon.

“The exact time will be communicated shortly. Please endeavor to attend. Thank You.”

Recall that Atiku had secured release of Tinubu’s education records from the CSU through a court subpoena, against the disclosure by the President.

The released records, which came first on October 3 and a deposition on Tuesday, showed that Tinubu’s 1979 CSU certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was different from samples of the certificates the University issued to students that same year.

Under oath, CSU Registrar said he could not authenticate the certificate Tinubu presented to INEC. Atiku had maintained silence since the release of the documents.

Tinubu directs reservation of 10% humanitarian interventions to Older Persons – Edu

By

Mana Balagbogbo

-

October 5, 2023

0

Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, says President Bola Tinubu has directed her ministry to reserve 10 per cent of social safety net intervention for older persons. This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by her Media aide, Mr Rasheed Zubair, in Abuja. It stated that the minister was speaking during a stakeholder meeting to commemorate the 2023 National Day of Older Persons in Nigeria.

”Mr President has directed that my Ministry should set aside 10% of social safety net intervention programmes for older persons in the country.

”The rights of senior citizens in the areas of job security, health, livelihood, agriculture and other development planning must be considered.

“Presently, older persons are said to be about 14.8 million out of the entire population, that’s why President directed that in all our social welfare interface older persons must be involved,” she said.

Edu assured the senior citizens of the federal government’s resolve to provide them with necessary support towards improving the quality of their lives.

“The President also directed that those who are under the poverty line must be assisted and captured in the social intervention programmes.

”We would inaugurate two of such social intervention programmes with an emphasis on senior citizens because we will be providing for senior citizens who are affected by humanitarian crises,” she said.

She assured them of the administration’s readiness to prioritise their welfare and well-being, especially in its renewed hope agenda. Edu assured the citizens that the government would do everything possible to prevent older persons from slipping below the poverty line in the country.

“Older persons are one of the priorities of the federal government whose lives must be protected.”

The minister appealed to UN agencies and development partners to factor in the interest and well-being of older citizens in their day-to-day operations. On his part, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale, said the engagement offered stakeholders the opportunity to reflect on the impact of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Schmale especially noted the protection of the rights of older persons and commended Nigeria for establishing the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), saying it is a step in the right direction.

He regretted that despite the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights, older persons continue to face obstacles in the enjoyment and exercise of their human rights.

“Ageing is a complex and multifaceted reality that will touch all of us if we are lucky.”

The Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omakaro, commended the minister for attending the event despite her tight schedule.

Omokaro explained that the centre, which began operation in 2021, has in a short period brought to the fore the plight of older persons in Nigeria. She expressed optimism that with Edu in charge of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation older persons in Nigeria would soon enjoy a new lease of life.

Nigeria deepens bilateral relations with EU on security cooperation

By

Mana Balagbogbo

-

October 5, 2023

0

The Federal Government said it was ready to deepen bilateral relations with the European Union (EU), on security cooperation. This was announced in a statement by Mr Hope Attari, Acting Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, on Thursday in Abuja.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, disclosed this when he received the delegation of the European External Actions Service (EEAS), on Wednesday, at the Ship House. Badaru said that Nigeria as a nation was desirous of restoring partnership with EU and strengthening collaboration with the union in fighting violent extremism, maintaining peace and security as well as enhancing regional cooperation.

He noted that the country needed intelligence and security equipment from the EU to combat insecurity in the country. According to him, the major challenges facing the country were banditry in the North West and North Central, Boko Haram in the North East, Oil vandalism in the South-South, sectional agitation in the South East and general insecurity at the Gulf of Guinea and the Lake Chad region.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, said that Nigeria as the “Giant of Africa” needed the cooperation of the EU in the fight against insecurity bedevilling the country. He noted that the safety of Nigeria was the safety of Africa, and therefore called for cooperation of the EU in the fight against insecurity in the country.

Earlier, the Head of the delegation, Deputy Secretary General of the EEAS, Helena Konig, said the purpose of the visit was to seek Nigeria’s area of priorities in terms of security issues where the EU could intervene. Konig added that the priority areas would be discussed extensively at the forth coming high ministerial meeting.

According to her, EU wants to work extensively with Nigeria in counter terrorism, to stabilise the region, considering that the country was a strong supporter in maintaining the Africa territorial region.

Exhaustion cause of my collapse during screening – Kaduna minister Balarabe

By

Mana Balagbogbo

-

October 5, 2023

0

A minister from Kaduna State, Balarabe Abbas, who slumped during the ministerial screening on Wednesday, says exhaustion was the cause of his collapse while appearing before the Senate.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, Tuesday, wrote the senate seeking the confirmation of Balarabe alongside two other ministerial nominees, Jamila Ibrahim (Kwara) and Ayodele Olawande (Ondo).

Speaking with journalists after the incident, Balarabe stated that he was exhausted.

“I’m alright now. I’ve been treated, and I’m alright now. It was basically exhaustion.”

Balarabe, shortly after he concluded his introduction, collapsed, with the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, calling for a closed-door session.

Supreme Court fixes Dec 15 to determine Nnamdi Kanu’s fate

By

Mana Balagbogbo

-

October 5, 2023

0

Supreme Court fixes Dec 15 to determine Nnamdi Kanu’s fate

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, slated December 15 to deliver its judgement on the appeal that is seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

A five-member panel of the apex court headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, okayed the matter for judgement, after counsel for both FG and the detained IPOB leader, adopted their final briefs of argument.

While FG was represented by a team of lawyers that were led by an Acting Director, Civil Appeals at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. T. A. Gazzali, SAN, Kanu’s legal team was led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN.

Even though Agabi, SAN, led Kanu’s team of lawyers, however, it was Prof. Mike Ozehkome, SAN, that presented his appeal to the apex court panel.

Ozehkome, SAN, prayed the court to not only order the immediate release of his client from detention, but to equally award “very heavy and punitive cost” against FG.

“We urge my lords to uphold our Cross-Appeal in order to do substantial justice to this matter and to the Respondent who has been in detention since June 29, 2021, even after the lower court ordered his release and that he should never be prosecuted again on the same counts.

“They are still holding him unconstitutionally. We pray my lords to deliver justice and use this case, just like in Ojukwu Vs State, to demonstrate that no man or government should be above the law,” Ozehkome, SAN, pleaded.

However, in his submission, FG’s lawyer, Gazzali, SAN, urged the apex court to uphold the amended brief of argument he filed on May 3, 2023.

He prayed the court to allow FG’s appeal, set-aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal which ordered Kanu’s release, and order the resumption of his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism related charges.

Gazzali, SAN, further urged the apex court to dismiss Kanu’s Cross-Appeal.

It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had in a judgement it delivered on October 13, 2022, ordered Kanu’s release from detention.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court equally quashed a 15-count terrorism charge that FG entered against the detained IPOB leader, before the Federal High Court in Abuja .

The court said it was satisfied that FG flagrantly violated all known laws, when it forcefully rendered Kanu from Kenya to the country for the continuation of his trial.

It held that such arbitrary use of power by the Nigerian government, divested the trial court of the jurisdiction to continue with Kanu’s trial.

However, dissatisfied with the judgement, FG took the matter before the Supreme Court.

It further persuaded the appellate court to suspend the execution of the judgement, pending the determination of its appeal.

U.S. Government Issues First Ever Fine To Dish Network

By

Angel Gimalo

-

October 5, 2023

0

The US government has issued its first ever fine to a company for leaving space junk orbiting the Earth.

The Federal Communications Commission fined Dish Network $150,000 (£125,000) for failing to move an old satellite far enough away from others in use.

The company admitted liability over its EchoStar-7 satellite and agreed to a “compliance plan” with the FCC.

Space junk is made up bits of tech that are in orbit around the Earth but are no longer in use, and risk collisions.

Officially called space debris, it includes things like old satellites and parts of spacecraft.

The FCC said that Dish’s satellite posed a potential risk to other satellites orbiting the Earth at its current altitude.

Dish’s EchoStar-7 – which was first launched in 2002 – was in geostationary orbit, which starts at 22,000 miles (36,000km) above the Earth’s surface.

Dish was meant to move the satellite 186 miles further from Earth, but at the end of its life in 2022 had moved it only 76 miles after it lost fuel.

The $150,000 fine represents a tiny proportion of Dish’s overall revenue, which was $16.7bn in 2022.

However, the fine may still have an impact on other satellite operators, according to Dr Megan Argo, senior lecturer in astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire. http://www.ln247.news

It is estimated that more than 10,000 satellites have been launched into space since the first one in 1957, with over half of them now out of use.

According to Nasa, there are more than 25,000 pieces of space debris measuring over 10cm long.

Nasa boss Bill Nelson told the BBC in July that space junk was a “major problem”, which has meant that the International Space Station has had to be moved out of the way of debris flying past.

“Even a paint chip… coming in the wrong direction at orbital speed, which is 17,500 miles an hour [could] hit an astronaut doing a spacewalk. That can be fatal,” he said.

Kwara to Distribute Over 2.6m Treated Mosquito Nets – Official

By

Cleopatra Okohai

-

October 4, 2023

0

The Head, Media and Communication Manager, Society for Family Health Nigeria, Mr. Gbue Daniel, says 2,692,209 free Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets would be distributed among households in 193 wards of Kwara State.

Daniel disclosed this at the malaria orientation campaign held in Illorin for media persons.

LN247 reports that the Kwara Government in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme with funding support from the Global Fund Malaria Project, carried out the 2023 ITN/SMC malaria campaign.

Daniel explained that the campaign included a door-to-door approach in the 2023 Integrated Insecticide Treated Nets and Seasonal Malaria Chemotherapy mass campaign to eliminate malaria in the state.

He also revealed that the 2,283,800 Sulfadoxin-Pyrimethamine with AmodiaQuine (SPAQ) would be administered to eligible children aged three to 59 months as malaria prevention drugs.

“The objective of the integrated SMC/ITN mass campaign is to ensure that for every person in Kwara state, there is one-bed Mosquito Nets to sleep inside, and every eligible child receives a full course of SPAQ.

“Simultaneous household registration and distribution of ITNs and SPAQ will commence from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1, 2022. Households must ensure that they leave somebody at home within this period to collect Mosquito Nets,” he said.

Daniel added that households who have eligible children between three to 59 months old must ensure they receive SPAQ.

He noted that SPAQ is given only to children who are not sick and are between three and 59 months of age.

“Caregivers must ensure their children complete the SPAQ dosage for days two and three. The newly collected ITNs must be aired under a shade for 24 hours before hanging and sleeping inside. Bring down the old Mosquito Nets and hang the new ones,” he said.

The state Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, said about 6,000 personnel would be deployed for the exercise, including ITN distributors, SPAQ dispensers and recorders.

He lamented that malaria has significant consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations like children under five years, and pregnant women, adding that it is also a leading cause of illness and death in Nigeria.

According to him, malaria contributes to high child mortality rates and reduced productivity, and untreated malaria can result in complications such as anaemia, organ failure and even death.

“It is the most common cause of absenteeism from schools, offices, farms, markets, etc., resulting in lower productivity.

“In addition to the overburden on the health system, it also exerts a huge social and economic burden on our communities and country.

“It retards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 40 per cent annually and billions of Naira is lost to malaria annually in the form of treatment cost, prevention and loss of man hours,” he said.

He stated that the team would visit households, register the household, give them health talks, issue them Mosquito Nets and administer SPAQ.

“Households must ensure that someone is available at home within this period to provide information to the CMDs and collect the Mosquito Nets. The Mosquito Nets are Free as well as the SPAQ,” he added.