Lagos inaugurates another sexual assault referral center

In a bid to effectively tackle cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the state, the Lagos State Government has inaugurated another sexual assault referral centre at the Alimosho General Hospital.

The centre, which is the third in the state and the 30th in Nigeria, is an initiative of the British Council and is funded by the European Union.

Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the state governor stated that the establishment of the centre showed the commitment of the administration to put an end to the reign of sexual and gender-based violence in the state.

She said, “The establishment of this centre heartily confirms the commitment of the Lagos State Government to stamp out the menace of sexual and gender-based violence in our dear state and by extension the country at large, and most importantly, care for the victims of those crimes.”

Ibijoke noted that the facility is situated in the local government that carries a huge burden of domestic violence.

“It is particularly reassuring and comforting that this centre has been strategically and intentionally established in Alimosho, which currently carries a huge burden of being the local government in the state with the highest cases of domestic and sexual violence crimes.

The acting Director of the British Council in Nigeria, Stephen Forbes, said the centre would provide victims with an environment of confidentiality.

We have a really difficult year across the world with the rise in sexual and gender-based violence enabled by people being at home and unable to complain but momentum is building in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence. We have had so many people telling their stories and that is a start,” he said.

APC extends membership registration by three weeks

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended its membership registration and revalidation exercise by three weeks.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Secretary of APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said the extension became necessary given the number of people that are willing to join the party.

The statement read: “The audit of the reports received from the National Membership Registration, Revalidation and Update Committee; the States’ Registration Committees; and that of our Situation Room indicate as follows:

Most states for varied reasons started late, and require additional time to conclude the exercise.

An avalanche of applications from critical stakeholders (including all States Caretaker Chairmen) for an extension of time to capture Nigerians who are still desirous of joining the fold of the progressives.

“The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) under the leadership of His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, had done everything possible to keep to the earlier timeline, however, it has become imperative to extend the duration of this very important party activity.

Consequently, the CECPC has approved the recommendation of the National Committee for the Membership Registration, Revalidation, and Update to extend the duration of the exercise for three weeks.”

Air Chief, Amao, arrives Borno in search of missing NAF aircraft

Investigations may soon commence in a bid to unravel the circumference that led to the disappearance of a Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet which went missing on Wednesday evening after it lost contact with radar.

This line of action was further confirmed by the arrival of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, on Thursday, April 1, in Borno State.

Upon arrival, Amao was briefed on efforts to recover the missing jet.

The missing jet was involved in the anti-terror war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province when it lost radar contact in the north-east state.

The radar is the main air traffic control system for the airspace around airports. Air traffic controllers monitor aircraft within the airspace from the radar.

The NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement, said the CAS “arrived Maiduguri this morning and was briefed on ongoing search and rescue efforts in connection with the missing Alpha Jet aircraft”.

Gabkwet said Amao “urged pilots, engineers and technicians to remain undeterred and resolute in their commitment to ensuring that peace returns to the North East.”

Akeredolu transfers power to deputy, as he goes on working vacation

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Thursday began a 15-day working vacation as first instalment of his 2021 Annual Leave and handed executive powers to his deputy, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

The Governor who will resume for duties on Monday, April 26, 2021 notified the State House of Assembly that the leave will commence from Thursday, 1st to Friday, 23rd April, 2021, including both days, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde confirmed.

It is described as the first instalment of the Governor’s annual leave for the year.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, today Thursday, April 1, 2021, begins a 15-day working vacation as first instalment of his 2021 Annual Leave.

“In a letter transmitted to the State House of Assembly and addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, Governor Akeredolu said the leave will commence from Thursday, 1st to Friday, 23rd April, 2021, both days inclusive.

“While Governor Akeredolu is away on vacation, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa will perform the functions of the office of the Governor.

“The Governor will resume for duties on Monday, April 26, 2021.”

Former minister’s residence attacked in Plateau, one killed

Gunmen on Wednesday night attacked the residence of former Minister of Sports, Damishi Sango, in Ganawuri, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

One security man was reported killed in the attack, while other security officers who sustained injuries have been taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Ripples Nigeria learnt that the former Minister was at home with his family at the time of the attack.

The Commissioner of Police and his team had visited the scene of the incident while a team of detectives and intelligence officers have commenced investigations and a manhunt for the criminals launched, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Gabriel Uba who confirmed the incident said.

He pointed out that Mr Sango and members of his families were unhurt.

Akwa-Ibom police confirm murder of officers, attacks on facilities

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed the death of a police officer, CSP Ben Ajide and two others in what it said was an ‘unprovoked attack’.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, said the deceased officer, a Commander of the Command’s Quick Intervention Unit and his colleagues were maintaining peace on 30th March 2021 when they were attacked, while four others are still missing.

He also said the divisional police station in Essien Udim Local Government Area was attacked by suspected hoodlums.

In recent times, in Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, security personnel, particularly, the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom Command have come under persistent unprovoked attacks, leading to deaths and destruction of property, a trend which is totally absurd and unacceptable.

“Whereas the remote and immediate causes of these unprovoked attacks are unknown, a discreet investigation is on to unravel same and seek lasting solution.

The Commissioner of Police, Amiengheme Andrew is deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack on security personnel who were out maintaining the peace yesterday, 30th March 2021 which led to the demise of CSP Ben Ajide who was the Commander of the Command’s Quick Intervention Unit and two others, while four others are missing,” he said.

Imprisoned critic Navalny on hunger strike

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has announced a hunger strike at the penal colony where he is held, to demand proper medical treatment.

He has complained on Instagram of not receiving medical help for back pain and problems with his right leg, as well as being deprived of sleep.

Navalny, 44, returned home from Germany in January after treatment for a nerve agent attack in Siberia in August.

He was taken into custody immediately and then given a jail sentence.

He is currently being detained at the IK-2 corrective penal colony 100 km (60 miles) east of Moscow and has accused the guards there of denying him proper treatment for his ailments.

Russia’s federal penitentiary service has rejected his complaint, insisting he had “all the necessary medical assistance in accordance with his medical indications”.

A fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, Navalny was given a two-year and eight month sentence last month for violating the probation terms of an embezzlement case.

The conviction was widely seen as politically motivated and the European Court of Human Rights said he should be freed because of the risk to his life. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that Navalny was “responsible for his deeds under the law” and no different from any other Russian.

Navalny's most recent photograph in the penal colony was published in a recent Instagram post
image captionNavalny’s most recent photograph in the penal colony was published in an Instagram post

Navalny’s Instagram post on Wednesday, published by his lawyers, shows a handwritten note in which the Kremlin critic writes: “I have declared a hunger strike demanding that the law be upheld and a doctor of my choice be allowed to visit me.”

“I have the right to invite a doctor and receive medication. But they are simply not allowing me to do either. The back pain has spread to my leg. I’ve lost sensation in parts of my right leg and now the left leg too. Jokes aside, this is getting worrying,” he wrote.

He said in an earlier post that he had only been given two tablets of the painkiller ibuprofen and was yet to be diagnosed. The penitentiary service (FSIN) said at the time that his health was stable and satisfactory.

Navalny has also complained of being woken up every hour by a guard during the night which he argues amounts to torture. The FSIN said in its statement on Wednesday that staff carried out “a visual inspection of the convicts’ presence on their beds” but that did not disturb their sleep.

As well as serious back pain, he spoke of numbness in his leg which was preventing him from standing on it. He thought he was suffering from a pinched nerve after standing “crookedly” in cages during court appearances and travelling in police wagons.

418 stranded Nigerians return from Saudi Arabia

418 Nigerians who were stranded in Saudi Arabia returned to the country on Wednesday.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), which announced this on its Twitter handle, said the returnees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard a Saudi Air plane at about 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday.

The returnees brought the number of Nigerians that had arrived from the Middle East nation this to 1, 068.

The returnees, according to the commission, will proceed on 14-day quarantine at the Federal Capital Territory Hajj camp in line with the COVID-19 protocols put in place by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

Ondo police arrests security guard for robbing employer

A security guard working at a fuel station in Ondo town, Abiodun Osuntimehin has been arrested by the state police for his alleged involvement in the robbery of the station.

While Abiodun who allegedly orchestrated the robbery attack was arrested, one of the gang members was killed, while the others reportedly escaped with the sum of N2 million.

Parading the suspect, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami, said the suspect had confessed to the crime and would be charged to court.

He said, “A security guard was killed and about N2m stolen from the safe, but the good news is that the man behind that dastardly act was immediately nabbed by our detectives, who did not leave any stone unturned to see to his arrest.

“Abiodun Osuntimehin, a guard with same company, was the mastermind behind the act; he has confessed to the crime and will soon be prosecuted.”

The suspect said he regretted his involvement in the crime.

“I now regret the killing of my colleague; I did not share out of the money as the gang ran away with the loot. It was my boss that got me arrested. I knew there would be money at the station that day,” Abiodun stated.

Lawan slams Buhari’s ministers, advisers for mis-advising President to reject NASS bills

Ahmad Lawan, the Senate President, on Wednesday, March 31, criticised the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari over the rejection of some National Assembly bills.

Lawan made this disclosure at a public hearing organised in Abuja by the Senate Committee on Health to deliberate on three bills.

The proposed bills are:

• The National University of Health and Medical Sciences, Suleja, Niger State (Establishment) Bill 2021, sponsored by Senator Sani Musa.

• The Federal University of Medical Sciences Abeokuta, Ogun State (Establishment) Bill 2021, sponsored by Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The bill for an Act to amend the Orthopedic Hospital Management Board Act No. 21 of 1979 to provide for the establishment of the Federal Orthopedic Hospital, Kuta (Niger State), Bill 2021, also sponsored by Senator Musa.

During the session, Lawan bemoaned the absence of the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunmibe Mamora, or any representatives.

Lawan explained that the development was responsible for situations where bills passed by the National Assembly were denied assent by Buhari, adding that the President sometimes acted on wrong advice from ministry officials.

The Senate President said, “I have a written speech for this event, but before then, where is the Minister of Health or Minister of State Health? Or is there anyone representing the Ministry of Health?

This is an anomaly and we don’t take it kindly because sometimes, the National Assembly will process a bill and the bill will be taken to Mr. President for assent and somebody will just go round and mis-advise that the bill should not be assented to.

“This is done mostly by ministry officials. So, it is always in the interest of government and good governance that when there is a public hearing – the ministry, government officials, the technical people – should be around to hear the views of the people.

“If they have any objection, they should say so in the presence of everyone, so that they listen to arguments.

Therefore, it is sad that neither the minister, nor the minister of state, or anyone from the Federal Ministry of Health is here to attend this particular public hearing and I think it is sad. And nothing should happen to our bills.”

Gunfire near Niger Presidential Palace days before inauguration

Two days before the swearing-in of president-elect Mohamed Bazoum, heavy gunfire was heard near Niger Republic’s Presidential Palace in the capital early Wednesday for about twenty minutes.

A few soldiers were reportedly arrested, according to a security source, as calm returned to the capital, Niamey.

“Heavy gunfire was heard for half-an-hour in the presidential palace area. The presidential guard repelled the attack and the situation seems to be back under control,” France 24 reported.

Witnesses who spoke to a news agency in Niamey said the heavy gunfire early Wednesday lasted between 15 to 20 minutes.

“It was around 3am, we heard shots from heavy and light weapons and it lasted 15 minutes before stopping, followed by shots from light weapons,” one resident said.

“The gunfire lasted about 20 minutes,” another resident said.

The US Embassy in Niamey put out a security alert saying it would be closed on Wednesday “due to gunshots heard near our neighbourhood.”

No riffraff can sack me from PDP —Iwuanyanwu

An elder statesman and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Tuesday, said nobody can sack him from the party, noting that he is a life member of the party’s Board of Trustees.

He also stated that he has committed his winner time working for the success of the party.

Speaking during a visit by the caretaker committee of the Imo state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in his office in Owerri, the party chieftain said he was made a life BOT member of the PDP because of his commitment to growing the party.

He said, “I did not say I regretted voting for the PDP during the Imo state governorship election in 2019.

I did not also say I regretted voting for an Owerri zone man during the 2019 governorship election. I was quoted wrongly in the media and, because of this, a pack of riffraff has been calling for my sack from the PDP.

“No riffraff can sack me from the PDP. I am a life BOT member of the PDP. I know the prominent role I played in making sure that the party won the 2019 Imo governorship election.”

Earlier, the chairman of the caretaker committee of NUJ in the state, Precious Nwadike, said the union was happy with the elder statesman’s role in maintaining peace in the society.

Ex-US President, Donald Trump Launches New Website After Social Media Bans.

The former president will return to social media in two to three months on his own platform, according to Jason Miller, a long-time Trump adviser and spokesperson for the president’s 2020 campaign.

Donald Trump is back online.
The former US president and first lady, Melania Trump, have launched a website to serve their personal offices. The website, 45office.com, comes after Trump’s ban from social media sites in the aftermath of the January Capitol insurrection.

The site features a lengthy biography for the former president that starts, “Donald J. Trump launched the most extraordinary political movement in history, dethroning political dynasties, defeating the Washington Establishment, and becoming the first true outsider elected as President of the United States.”

According to CNN, it also includes more than a dozen pictures of himself, in which he is depicted boarding Air Force, greeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and, yes, kissing a baby. Other photos are of the president and Melania Trump dancing at the inaugural ball and at black tie dinners in the White House. The website makes no mention of his two impeachment trials. It does reference how “the coronavirus plague arrived from China,” and says that Trump “acted early and decisively to ban travel from China and Europe, which saved countless lives.”

As of Tuesday, Covid-19 has killed at least 550,371 people and infected about 30.3 million in the United States since last January, according to data by Johns Hopkins University.

Trump has largely remained off the internet since the January 6th Capitol insurrection that killed five people and led the Justice Department to charge at least 150 people with insurrection, a number that could increase to 400 or more. In its aftermath, Trump was permanently suspended from Twitter and other social platforms, such as Snapchat.

The former president will return to social media in two to three months on his own platform, according to Jason Miller, a long-time Trump adviser and spokesperson for the president’s 2020 campaign. The new platform will attract “tens of millions” of new users and “completely redefine the game,” Miller added.

Following Trump’s ban on Twitter, Jared Kushner, the former president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, intervened to stop the efforts of aides who attempted to get Trump on fringe social media platforms such as Parler and Gab.

Visitors to the former president’s website can also request a personalised greeting from the president and the First Lady, or request that the Trumps attend an event. Due to the high number of requests, the greetings page says it will take up to six weeks for processing.

As for having the Trumps attend an event, the website said it there would be no status updates “due to the volume of requests President and Mrs. Trump receive. Requests must note if media will be present and if there will be any notable attendees.”

Trump Sued by Two Capitol Police Officers for Inciting ‘Wild’ Riot.

Two U.S. Capitol Police veterans who were on duty during the Jan. 6 riot sued Donald Trump accusing the former president of inciting the violent mob that injured scores of officers.

The complaint filed Tuesday follows earlier suits by two Democratic members of Congress who also blamed Trump for stoking the insurrection in a months-long effort to reverse his election loss to Joe Biden.
Officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby claim protesters attacked them with aerosol chemicals, including pepper spray and tear gas, that burned their eyes, throat and skin. The officers not only suffered physical injuries but Blassingame is also dealing with depression since the riot, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Washington.

Blassingame “is haunted by the memory of being attacked, and of the sensory impacts — the sights, sounds, smells and even tastes of the attack remain close to the surface,” according to the complaint. “He experiences guilt of being unable to help his colleagues who were simultaneously being attacked; and of surviving where other colleagues did not.”

The officers seek unspecified monetary damages for claims including aiding assault and battery and directing infliction of emotional distress.

The case is Blassingame v. Trump, 21-cv-00858, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington).

Lawan dispels reports of tenure elongation for Buhari

Senate President Ahmed Lawan has refuted allegations that he is in support of a tenure elongation for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Lawan issued this disclaimer on Tuesday, March 30, via a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja.

According to the Senate President, he firmly stands by the constitutional provision for term limit for elected public officers and would not support any move to amend the section.

The statement reads: “The Office of the President of the Senate has noted a tweet by one Cmr Mayor attributing a fabricated statement to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

In the mischievous tweet, the Senate President was quoted as saying he “won’t mind a constitutional amendment to allow unlimited term of office for President if President Buhari wishes to remain in office beyond 2023.”

Our initial reaction was to ignore the ignoble mischief especially since it is not new, having been posted two years ago on 27 March 2019.

“But because the tweet has been trending again on social media, it becomes necessary to issue a formal rebuttal of its purport.

“We therefore say categorically that the Senate President has never made any such statement, before or after 2019.

“The old tweet which was entirely the handiwork of mischief makers is now being circulated again on social media by purveyors of fake news

The 1999 Constitution has a firm position on the tenure of the President that reflects the popular stand of Nigerians”

Hoodlums set police inspector ablaze in Akwa-Ibom

A police officer in Akwa Ibom State identified simply as Inspector Aniekan was on Monday set ablaze by hoodlums in his apartment in Ikot Afangha community, Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state.

The hoodlums were said to have traced him to his residence and razed it down around 2:30am while he was fast asleep.

“We woke up to see the charred remains of the inspector buried in the rubble of his house that was completely burnt down by the inferno deliberately set to consume him and his household properties,” a source who preferred anonymity said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police, Amiengheme Andrew, was saddened by the attacks against police personnel in the state.

He stated, “We are aware of the incident and it is quite unfortunate. We have yet to really establish the remote and immediate causes of the incident and we will be able to establish that when investigations are concluded.

“The Commissioner of Police is deeply saddened and has condoled with the bereaved family and has ordered mass police operations in the area.

“There is an ongoing operation right now in the area and hopefully the culprits will be apprehended and I can assure you that justice will prevail at the end of investigation.

Nigerian govt urges health institutes to ensure proper use of N49bn intervention fund

The Federal Government has tasked all Federal health institutions in the country to ensure proper utilisation of the N49 billion intervention fund released for the upgrade of their health facilities.

Mr Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, made the call, on Tuesday, during an assessment and evaluation visit to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), in Edo.

While commending the management of ISTH on the utilisation of the fund, the minister noted that only those institutions that had judiciously applied the funds would get the balance of 50 percent.

He said that each of the 52 federal health institutions were meant to get N950 million to upgrade their infrastructure and improve resilience in the sector.

“This fund is meant for some specific purposes such as, the building of molecular laboratories at the cost of N18.5 billion for 52 health institutions and also equipment for isolation centers at N5.2 billion.

Provision was also made for the building of 520 Intensive Care Units (ICU) at 10 each for the 52 institutions at the cost of N18.3 billion and provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at N7 billion.

“In all, each of the federal health institutions is to get N950 million. Edo State is blessed with three federal health institutions and this has brought close to N3 billion into the medical centres in the state. This is aside from the N1 billion given to the state.

“Every state got N1 billion, with the exception of Lagos, Kano, and FCT, that got more because they are the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I have the same impression with what I saw in the centres I have visited before now; quality work being done, the equipment has been purchased. ISTH has always been an institution of reference for others,” Agba said.

Kogi govt makes u-turn, as state expresses readiness to receive COVID-19 vaccine

The Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Saka Haruna, on Monday, expressed the state’s readiness to start administering the COVID-19 vaccine to its residents, noting that the state would receive doses of the vaccine on Tuesday (today).

Kogi is the only state yet to commence the administration of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to its residents after three weeks of its rollout in Nigeria.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) had attributed the delay to the state’s concerns around the contradictory information about the vaccine and the non-repair of its cold-chain store.

It would be recalled that when the vaccine doses arrived in Nigeria, the Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, who openly expressed his doubt about the existence of COVID-19 in Kogi, said, “I’m not going to subject the people of Kogi State to vaccination; I will not make them guinea pigs.”

But speaking with newsmen on Monday, Haruna said, “We have done the micro-planning and everything has been completed with the NPHCDA. Anybody willing to receive the vaccine will receive it; nobody is exempted and nobody will be forced to receive the vaccine.

He noted that residents would be given “unhindered access to receive the vaccine”.

Haruna said the state would announce further plans, including the location of the vaccination launch, after the supplies have been received, however, failed to confirm if government officials, particularly the governor would receive the vaccine.

The governor does not have to receive the vaccine before others will; I don’t think there is anything special about COVID that we have to bring the governor out to come and receive the vaccine,” he added.

Barack Obama’s step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, has died

Barack Obama’s step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, has died at a hospital in Kenya at the age of 99.

Affectionately called Granny Sarah by the former president, Mrs Obama defended her grandson during his 2008 presidential campaign, when he was said to be Muslim and not born in the US.

Her home became a tourist attraction when he was elected as the first black US president.

Sarah Obama was the third and youngest wife of Barack Obama’s grandfather.

She died early on Monday at a hospital in the western town of Kisumu, her daughter Marsat Onyango told Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper.

A family spokesman said Mrs Obama had been unwell for a week, but did not have Covid-19.

She will be buried later on Monday.

“We will miss her dearly,” Barack Obama said, “but we’ll celebrate with gratitude her long and remarkable life.”

Before her grandson became a household name, Sarah Obama was well known for the hot porridge and doughnuts she served at a local school, AFP reports.

She became more widely known when Mr Obama visited Kenya in 2006. At the time he was a senator from the state of Illinois, but a national celebrity in Kenya, and his grandmother spoke to the media about his rise in politics.

He returned in 2015, becoming the first sitting US president to visit Kenya, meeting Mrs Obama and other family members in Nairobi.

Mr Obama visited his step-grandmother’s home in the village of Kogelo in 2018, after leaving office, joking he had been unable to visit earlier because the presidential plane was too big to land at the local airport.

Barack Obama with Sarah Obama in Kenya
image captionAfter leaving office, Barack Obama visited his grandmother’s village of Kogelo in western Kenya

Sarah Obama was born in 1922 in a village on Lake Victoria, according to AFP. She was a Muslim and part of Kenya’s Luo ethnic group.

For decades, she ran a foundation in Kenya to help educate orphans and girls, something she felt strongly about as she couldn’t read herself.

She was the third wife of Hussein Onyango Obama, President Obama’s paternal grandfather.

Her husband, who died in 1975, fought for the British in Burma, now called Myanmar, and is reported to be the first man in his village to swap goatskin clothing for trousers.