EndSARS report: Lagos accepts 11 of 32 recommendations, rejects one

The Lagos State Government has accepted 11 of the 32 recommendations by Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS-related Abuses and Other Matters.

However, one of the recommendations were rejected, according to the Gboyega Akoshile, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday.

He said this after the Lagos State Government released its White Paper on the report by the EndSARS panel that probed the Lekki toll gate incident of October 20, 2020.

In a short statement, Gboyega said 14 recommendations fell outside the powers of the Lagos State Government.

In the statement titled, ‘Highlight of the Lagos Government White Paper On The Lekki Incident Investigation’, he said, “Out of the 32 Recommendations made by the JPI in its Report of 15th November 2021, Government accepted 11, rejected one and accepted six with modifications.

“Fourteen recommendations fall outside the powers of the Lagos State Government and will be forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration. Let the healing begin.”

In a copy of the White Paper, the report of the killings was rejected, saying the report is full of inconsistencies and contradictions.

According to the leaked report of the judicial panel, at least nine #EndSARS protesters were killed at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.

The report listed 48 names as those who were casualties of the Lekki incident of October 20, 2020.

Among the 48 casualties listed, 24 sustained gunshot injuries, while 15 others were assaulted by soldiers and police.

But the White Paper claimed the judicial report contradicted the evidence of the Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, that only three of the bodies that they conducted post mortem examination on were from Lekki that only one had gunshot injury, was not debunked.

Part of the White Paper read, “The JPI’s finding of nine deaths is therefore irreconcilable with evidence of Prof. Obafunwa that only one person died of gunshot wounds at 7:43pm at Lekki Tollgate on 21st October, 2020.

“Having held that, there was no evidence before it to the contrary of what Prof. Obafunwa said. The question is, where did JPI then get its finding of nine deaths?

“This finding of nine deaths at LTG on 20th October 2020 is even more baffling because apart from listing out their names in tabular form at pages 297-298, the JPI offered no explanation regarding circumstances of their death. The names simply sprang up at pages 297-298 of the report without any justification.

“It is quite astonishing that in the list of 11 deaths set out at pages 297-298, two (2) of the names appeared twice (Kolade Salami and Folorunsho Olabisi as Nos. 37 and 38). Furthermore, the person listed as No. 46 Nathaniel Solomon who testified as a witness and petitioned the JPI in respect of his brother who he alleged died at Lekki Tollgate (LTG), himself listed as having died at LTG on 20th October 2020.

“Remarkably, Nathaniel Solomon’s deceased brother (Abuta Solomon) was then also listed as No 2 on the list of persons who died at LTG.

“The only victim of gunshot injury from LTG was picked up at 7:43pm, on 21 October, 2020 after the curfew commenced (see page 99) Furthermore, there was no shred of evidence regarding who shot him.

“Another substantial inconsistency in the JPI Report was the award y compensation to only one (1) out of the alleged nine (9), listed as “deceased” which showed that the JPI itself had doubts as to the death of eight (8) other allegedly deceased persons on its list.”

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS-related Abuses and Other Matters had on November 15, 2021, submitted its report after which Sanwo-Olu set up a White Paper committee.

The four-member committee was led by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN).

Other members of the committee are; Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu; Special Adviser, Works, and Infrastructure, Engr. (Mrs) Aramide Adeyoye and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mrs. Tolani Oshodi.

The judicial panel was inaugurated on October 19, 2020, to look into complaints of citizens against human rights abuses by the police. But following the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, the Terms of Reference of the panel were expanded to cover that incident.

The panel sat for over one year, listening to testimonies of petitioners, witnesses, experts, and lawyers.

The panel treated 235 petitions and awarded N410 million as compensation to 70 victims.

Part of the recommendations of the judicial panel are “that the Lekki Toll Plaza be made a memorial site for ENDSARS Protest: By renaming to “ENDSARS TOLLGATE”.

“The panel recommends that October 20th of every year, the day is made a “Toll Free Day” at the Lekki Toll Gate as long as the tollgate exists.

“That October 20th of every year be made EndSARS day Nationally for the remembrance of our falling youth.

“A monument memorializing the lives lost and those injured at the Lekki Toll Gate with the names inscribed on the Monument.”

How to apply as Davido opens portal for N250m orphanage fund

Popular singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has opened an online portal for orphanages to apply for the N250m fund, in commemoration of his 29th birthday.

The singer had on Monday announced that the application has begun and is open for only registered orphanages in Nigeria.

In this piece, Podiumnews highlights how interested orphanages can apply to enable them to benefit from the N250m fund.

It is pertinent to note that a principal executive of the orphanage is expected to fill the online form on behalf of his/her facility.

Steps to apply

Interested orphanage operators are to follow the link: https://linktr.ee/davidoorphanagedonations

Once the link opens, click on the ‘orphanage registration link’ option to proceed.

A welcome message will surface. Click on the ‘continue’ option to read the rules of filling the form.

On agreement with the rules, proceed to fill the form.

Instructions for applications

Kindly fill out every field as clearly and as detailed as possible.

Attach documents to support request.

All information entered will be verified as inconsistency may lead to disqualification.

The Committee may conduct search and physical inspection unannounced.

Registration closes on Thursday, 2nd of December 2021.

Davido’s N250m donation to orphanages

On November 17, 2021, David asked his friends and fans to donate N1m each to him for his birthday.

Though he added that the goal was to get N100m, the singer received over N53m in cash transfers in less than one hour.

In three days, the singer received over N200m as gifts from his friends. Adding N50m of his personal money, the singer decided to give back to society by donating N250m to orphanages across Nigeria.

He also set up a five-man committee to monitor the progress of the disbursement of the funds.

Senate probes jailbreaks across Nigeria

The Senate on Tuesday mandated its Committee on Interior to carry out a full-scale investigation into the causes of jailbreaks across the country.

This is as it resolved to summon the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa to determine the status of correctional centres nationwide, with a view to finding out the challenges in order to prevent future recurrence.

This was after a motion titled, ‘Terror Attacks on two Communities in Plateau North and Jail Break at the Jos Medium Security Correctional Centre Jos,’ was brought to the floor by Senator Istifanus Gyang representing Plateau North Senatorial District.

Special Assistant to President of the Senate, Ezrel Tabiowo on Tuesday disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Senate probes jailbreaks across Nigeria.’

According to the statement, “Gyang, while coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules to present his motion, noted with grief the multiple terror attacks on two communities of Ta’egbe, Rigwe land and Durbi, Sheri District in a Bassa and Jos East Local Governments, leading to the death of over ten persons over the weekend.

“According to the lawmaker, the attacks caused by a security breach of the Jos Medium Security Correctional Centre, was a setback to the relative and much-desired peace in Plateau North.

“He disclosed that nine inmates, including an officer identified as Umar A. Mohammed, were also killed, while 252 inmates escaped during the jailbreak.

“He said among the inmates at large, six were fatally injured, 10 of the escapees re-arrested, 63 sentenced to death, 27 convicted, and 181 awaiting trials.

“Gyang said that the invaders responsible for the break “walked through a security zone and broke through to have over 200 inmates escape from the Centre.”

“He added that the wardens who put up a fight against the invaders were overwhelmed during a gun battle against the attackers.

“Contributing, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North) blamed the spate of insecurity in Nigeria on the inadequate number of personnel across the various security agencies in the country.

“He, therefore, called on the National Assembly to rise to the occasion by appropriating more funds to security agencies to enable them to undertake recruitment of more personnel.

“The Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), attributed the recent jailbreak in the country to what he described as a “porous prisons system”.

“He lamented that jailbreaks have become a recurring decimal which, in recent times have exposed the lives of Nigerians to harm, as a result of prisoners on the rampage to avenge their conviction.

“On his part, the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), described the string of jailbreaks across the country as “unfortunate”.

“He said the development which must be tackled headlong was a fallout of correctional services being the weakest link in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.”

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who presided over plenary on Tuesday, described the security breaches at correctional facilities as a “serious issue” that must be looked into.

He called for more funding of the office of the National Security Adviser to facilitate intelligence gathering.

Omo-Agege said, “Having given all the requisite funding to the security agencies, why are we still having these challenges? I think it is something we need to sleep over.

“But in the interim, it is clear that we have a serious intelligence gathering gap, there’s no debate about that.

“I think the Department of State Services (DSS) and most especially the office of the NSA, have not been given the kind of funding that is required for this fight, because they are the ones that are in charge of intelligence gathering.

“I’ve always taken the position that the office of the NSA, most especially, has been underfunded.

“He is supposed to be the one coordinating intelligence gathering and providing such intelligence to the other agencies for them to give requisite protection.

“If the office of the NSA is not properly funded, then, of course, it means that we are all in trouble.

“I think this is something that we must appeal to Mr. President, and even here in the leadership of the National Assembly, to look into for additional funding for the office of the NSA and, possibly, that of the DSS before the budget is finally tabled for consideration.”

The Senate in its resolutions called for a reinforcement of physical protection system and mechanism at correctional centres across the nation by the Ministry of Interior to forestall further attempts at jailbreaks.

Lionel Messi beats Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho to win his 7th Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi has won the men's Ballon d'Or for a record seventh time.

The Argentine superstar, who left Barcelona as a free agent to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, was presented with the award for best men's footballer in the world on Monday night in Paris.

Back in July, the 34-year-old ended his long wait for a major international trophy by winning the Copa America with Argentina as they beat hosts Brazil in the final.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who was the favourite to win the 2020 edition of the Ballon d'Or, came second in the vote.

Lewandowski has scored 73 goals in just 60 games for Bayern Munich since the start of last season, and won FIFA's and UEFA's men's player of the year awards in 2020.

Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho finished third in the 2021 Ballon d'Or rankings. The 29-year-old had a phenomenal 2021, after winning the Champions League and European Championships for club and country in the space of two months. 

Jorginho went on to win the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award following Chelsea's glory in Europe and in Porto back in May.

Edo senator empowers 7000 graduates, unemployed youths

About 7000 graduates and unemployed youths in Edo State have benefitted from Senator Matthew Urhoghide’s training and empowerment programmes which started in 2016.

This was disclosed by the Senator’s aide, Pet Eghobamien, who flagged off a one-day training for 220 beneficiaries in Benin on Monday, which was sponsored by Cross River Basin Authority and facilitated by the Senator.

Eghobamien said the training is regularly organised by the Senator, adding, “For this particular training, 200 persons would be trained on fabrication with N50,000 take-off fund, while the 22 persons to be trained in hair making would be given all the equipment needed to start their business.

“As of today, we have trained 7,000 people. He doesn’t just train them, he empowers them. He does it regularly and there is another one coming before Christmas which will end before the year runs out. The training will resume next year. He has promised and he will fulfil it.

“Those who have benefitted in the past also got what they need to start their businesses. For barbers, we gave them everything, including generating sets to start. All they need is to get a shop and start the business.”

Some of the trainees expressed delight and promised to use their skills to help themselves and the community.

Kaduna begins transition to four-day working week Dec 1

The Kaduna State government on Monday announced that it will commence the transition to a four-day working week from December 1, 2021.

The move, which will permit public servants to work from home for one day per week, is a measure designed to help boost productivity, improve work-life balance and enable workers to have more time for their families, for rest and for agriculture.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye disclosed this in a statement titled ‘KDSG Begins Transition To Four-day Working Week From 1st December 2021.’

According to the statement which read in part, “The measure also reflects lessons learnt from managing the Covid-19 pandemic which required significant relaxations of old working traditions and the ascendance of virtual and remote working arrangements.

“A statement from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House stated that the Kaduna State Government will begin implementation of the transitional arrangements in the public service of the state from 1st December 2021. From that date, working hours for public servants hours are adjusted to 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

“However, all public servants, other than those in schools and healthcare facilities, will work from home on Fridays. This interim working arrangement will subsist until the government is ready to move to the next stage of the transition which will culminate in the four-day week across all MDAs in the state.

“Senior officials are working on detailed guidelines to ensure that the emergency services and the education and health systems in the state continue to deliver services 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the transition and beyond. The government will also ramp up its efforts to give public servants access to digital devices and platforms to enable them work effectively from home. Given the significant investments the state government is making in ICT, it will ensure that most of its automated services deliver the levels of performance required to give citizens seamless access.

“The state government expects the required legal and regulatory framework to be in place by January 2022. This will also enable the organised private sector to engage with the process and agree a longer transition period to a four-day working week.”

Fire guts three-storey building in Mushin, Lagos

A three-storey building has been gutted by fire in the Mushin area of Lagos State around 11.22pm on Sunday.

The fire is said to have emanated from an open land on Shotiloye Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin used by carpenters as a plank market.

The situation has since been contained by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other responders.

A statement by LASEMA read in part, “Fortunately, there was no record of loss of lives, however, the fire escalated to an adjoining three-Storey building (Centri-Fit Auto parts) at 85, Ladipo Mushin. The joint efforts of LASEMA Response Team and other Responders were able to subdue the fire from escalating further.

“The cause of the inferno could not be ascertained as at the time of writing this report. Other Responders at the scene are Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force Olosan Division and National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA.

“Dampening down ongoing.”

Evans’ co-defendant in kidnap trial dies of cardiac arrest in custody

Chiemeka Arinze, one of the codefendants in the alleged kidnap trial of Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has died in the custody of Correctional Services.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Arinze was charged alongside, Evans, Joseph Emeka, and Udeme Upong, with the attempted kidnap of Chief Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors.

They were arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

They were also charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap, and sale and transfer of firearms.

According to his death certificate obtained by NAN on Monday, Arinze passed away at 9:08 pm on November 26 as a result of cardiopulmonary arrest.

The death certificate which was issued by Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajegunle, signed by Dr B. E. Salisu indicated that the deceased who died at the age of 45 was also suffering from complicated Advanced HIV.

According to officials of the correctional facilities, who spoke under anonymity, Arinze, who was battling ill health, was rushed from the hospital of the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Center to a General Hospital on Friday where he passed away.

As at the time of the filing of this report, the counsel to Arinze, Mr Ogedi Ogu is in court for the kidnapping case which is slated for hearing.

He disclosed to NAN that he intends to inform the court of Arinze’s demise and apply to withdraw from the case.

(NAN)

Twitter has agreed to all FG’s demands – Keyamo

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has stated that the microblogging website, Twitter, has agreed to all the demands laid down by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Twitter was banned indefinitely in Nigeria after the website took down a post by the President, Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari, on his official handle, which it claims violated its community policy.

Speaking on Channels TV on Monday, Keyamo said twitter reached out to the FG to iron out issues that led to the ban.

He said, “It was Twitter that reached out to the federal government to say they want to know what and what they can do to straighten up the relationship with the federal government and so, we have gone far but I may not, at this forum, let out a lot but we gave them a lot of conditions and they have agreed to all the conditions.”

The FG had alleged that the social media platform was acting against the interest of the country hence its suspension of access from Nigerian internet space.

Buhari had set up a committee to ensure that the US-based tech giant complied with its demands for it to resume access in Nigeria, after he stated in his Democracy Day speech that the suspension would be lifted.

Keyamo, a member of the committee set up to engage Twitter, stated that the president took to decision to examine the government’s relationship with the platform.

The minister added that a technical committee had been set up to ensure that Twitter fulfiled the government’s demands before the suspension would be lifted.

“The reason why the president took that step is to recalibrate our relationship with Twitter and not to drive them away from our country.

“That recalibration, we have started it, and the president graciously added me to the committee.

“We also set up a technical committee to interface with Twitter and come up with a lot of conditions for them to fulfil for us to lift the suspension,” Keyamo stated.

How to apply as 2021 police recruitment begins

The Nigerian Police Force on Monday announced the commencement of applications for the 2021 police recruitment exercise.

For the preliminary stage of the recruitment exercise, the force has opened an online application portal for interested persons.

Requirements for application

National Identification Number, functional email address, and valid phone number.

Applicants must possess a minimum of 5 credits in not more than 2 sittings in WASSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB with credit passes in English and Mathematics.

Scanned copy of their original O’Level result(s) to be uploaded on the portal.

Applicants must be aged between 17-25 years.

Applicants must be medically, physically, and psychologically fit and must not be less than 1.67m tall for males and 1.64m tall for females.

How to apply on online portal

Once these requirements have been made ready, applicants are to visit www.policerecruitment.gov.ng to fill and submit the online form.

It is necessary for all applicants to review the information filled on the online form before submission in order to avoid mistakes and ensure they are correct.

After filling and submitting the forms, applicants must print their completed online forms, guarantor forms and submit same at the recruitment physical/examination screening centres.

The online application portal would be open for a period of six weeks starting from Monday, November 29, 2021 to Monday, January 10, 2021.

Upon completion of the application, successful applicants would be invited for physical screening from January 10 to January 24, 2021.

24-year old prospective corps member dies in fatal crash on way to camp

A fatal crash has claimed the life of a 24-year old prospective corps member, Matu Esky, who was on his way to Katsina State, for the three weeks mandatory orientation exercise.

Our correspondent gathered that the crash occurred on Friday afternoon in Jigawa State on his way to the orientation camp. One other passenger also died in the incident.

The deceased, who hailed from Ungwan Maryam in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi state, was the firstborn of four children.

He was a graduate of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, where he studied Architecture, both at the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels.

Esky, popularly called “Phil Chase”, was an upcoming artist in Bauchi State and was said to be passionate about music.

A cousin to the deceased, Nuhu Arewa, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday night.

He said, “Yes, the incident is true, he was my cousin. He was a very talented and promising young man.

“He was posted to Maiduguri, Borno state for his one-year national youth service but their orientation camp is to hold in Katsina state. So, he was on his way to the camp that Friday when the unfortunate incident happened.

“He boarded a vehicle to Kano State, where he was to board another vehicle that would take him to Katsina. Unfortunately, he did not even reach Kano because the crash occurred in Jigawa State and he died.”

Arewa, who described the incident as very sad and painful, said he saw the deceased last that same day when he was about to leave Bauchi for the orientation camp.

“I saw him last that same Friday shortly before he left town for Katsina. He was in a car which was going to his house to pick his things and go on his journey. He saw me and waved me; that was the last time I saw him, only for us to hear of this sad and pathetic news that he died in a fatal crash in Jigawa.

“Humanly speaking, I feel very sad but since God is the giver of life and he takes it anytime being who he is, I am okay with that. I take it as the doing of the Lord because that is how he provws who he is,” he stated.

Minister proposes castration for rapists, sexual perverts

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, has recommended castration for rapists and sexual perverts in Nigeria.

He said that such people should be shamed and named to check the situation.

Tallen stated these on Sunday during a press conference organised to herald the hosting of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Natalia Kanem.

She said, “It is the worst crime against any child. It is not only the child that is badly traumatised and she will live with it for life, the mother too will remain traumatised for all her life and for that, we are advocating for a very stringent punishment for such cases of incest.

“I commend the government of Kaduna state for amending the VAP law to include castration and I am advocating that for any perpetrator that is caught to be castrated.

“If we do one or two, I believe the high burden of incest and rape will drop and that is why we are insisting that all states must domesticate the VAP Act and the Child Rights Act but not just domesticating it, but ensuring high implementation.

“The naming and shaming of perpetrators will also help to stem down the cases of incest.”

While advising women and girls who fall victims to rape and incest not to be coerced into silence especially by family members, Kanem advised the society to desist from laying blames on affected individuals, but rather, demand justice for the right, dignity and wellbeing of the victims who may end up traumatised.

Online application portal opens for 2021 police recruitment

The Nigeria Police Force on Monday opened the online application portal for its 2021 recruitment exercise.

This was announced in a statement signed by the Police Headquarters Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.

In the statement titled, ‘2021 recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force’, the force announced that successful applicants would be enlisted as Police Constables (recruits).

The online application portal would be open for a period of six weeks starting from Monday, November 29, 2021 to Monday, January 10, 2021.

Upon completion of the application, successful applicants would be invited for physical screening from January 10-24, 2021.

Read statement below for more information:

Seven inmates re-arrested after gunmen attacked Jos Correctional Centre — Police

The Plateau State Police Command has said that a total of seven inmates who escaped from the Jos Correctional Centre after gunmen attacked the facility on Sunday have been re-arrested.

The spokesman of the command, Ubah Ogaba who confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday night said, “On 28/11/2021 at about 1720hrs, the medium-security custodial centre in Jos came under attack by yet to be identified gunmen where some inmates escaped.

“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew N. Onyeka who led reinforcement to the scene, directed that the entire centre be cordoned.

He continued, “The CP also directed immediate stop and search where seven escapees have been re-arrested by the police and are in custody while one escapee voluntarily surrendered himself to the police.

“Based on the prompt response, the situation was brought under control by the superior gunfire of Security Agencies.

“The CP reaffirmed that the Police and other Security Agencies are currently on the ground to effectively deprive the hoodlums of the space they desire to perpetrate their evil acts. Meanwhile, the situation is under control.”

Scores kidnapped as Kogi commissioner escapes, sustains gunshot wounds

The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment, Victor Adewale Omofaiye, on Sunday escaped being kidnapped but sustained gunshot wounds when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle.

It was reliably gathered that the incident happened between Ikoyi and Iyara at about 5:00 pm on Sunday.

Our reporter further gathered that the commissioner was on his way to Lokoja when over 20 suspected kidnappers opened fire on his vehicle.

The source said they were three in number in the car but the commissioner sustained gunshot wounds from the kidnappers as they were able to escape from the scene of the attack.

However, other travellers were not so lucky as scores were marched into the bush by the suspected kidnappers.

The source further confirmed that the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, who doubles as ALGON chairman in Kogi State, Isah Taufiq, has mobilised the vigilantes and hunters in search of those that were kidnapped by the kidnappers.

The Ikoyi-Ijumu Development Association leadership has said that they are on top of the matter and said they were highly impressed with the very swift response of the security personnel, especially, the DPO at Iyara and vigilantes, including local hunters under the direct supervision of Ijumu LG Chairman.

The Olukoyi has also reportedly visited the site of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner, Ade Omofaiye is reported to be in a stable condition having escaped with injuries.

The state police public relations officer, DSP William Aya, who confirmed the incident, however, said that the number of those kidnapped had yet to be ascertained.

He said that officers in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilantes are on the trail of the Kidnappers.

Omicron could have originated in HIV patients –German expert

The surprising number of mutations in the Omicron Coronavirus (COVID-19) variant could signal that it originated in a patient with HIV or another immunodeficiency, a top German immunology expert said.

Carsten Watzl, secretary general of the German Society for Immunology, told dpa that it was not only conceivable but also probable, citing similar findings that have been published in other cases.

The virus can replicate over many weeks in people with weakened immune systems, Watzl said.

“During this process, there can be repeated isolated mutations which may not give the virus any advantage, but could nevertheless continue to multiply due to the immune system’s failure to control them,” he said.

He said this could lead to additional mutations, which in combination could be an advantage for the virus.

Compared to the original strain of coronavirus which first surfaced in Wuhan, China, Omicron has an unusually high number of about 30 amino acid changes in the spike protein alone.

Some of the mutations are known to be associated with greater transmissibility and immune evasion, but Watzl said it is still not clear what effect this particular combination of mutations will have.

Many HIV patients in Africa do not receive adequate treatment, which is why their systems are significantly weakened, Watzl said.

To prevent the spread of variants as extensively mutated as Omicron, it would be important to identify infected immunocompromised people and isolate them until they are no longer infectious, he said.

“Because even if the virus mutates severely in a person, it is the passing on of the mutated virus that is really dangerous,” he said. 

(dpa/NAN)

Canada detects two cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant from two travellers to Nigeria

Canada said on Sunday it has detected its first cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid in two people who had travelled recently to Nigeria.

The government of Ontario confirmed that the two cases are in the capital, Ottawa.

Federal and Ontario provincial officials said both patients are in isolation while public health authorities trace their possible contacts.

“I was informed today by the Public Health Agency of Canada that testing and monitoring of COVID-19 cases has confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of concern in Ontario,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in a statement.

“As the monitoring and testing continues, it is expected that other cases of this variant will be found in Canada,” he was quoted as saying by France24.com.

But Federal Government had claimed that the new COVID-19 variant was not in Nigeria yet.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said in a statement on Sunday that the centre is prioritising sequencing of recently accrued samples from SARS-COV-2 positive travellers from all countries, especially those from countries that have reported the Omicron variant already.

Podiumnews had reported that virologists have faulted the decision of the Federal Government not to test the South African delegates on their arrival in the country on Monday (today) despite the newly discovered strain of the coronavirus in Southern Africa.

The World Health Organisation has listed Omicron as a “variant of concern” and countries around the world are now restricting travel from southern Africa, where the new strain was first detected, and taking other new precautions.

The WHO says it could take several weeks to know if there are significant changes in transmissibility, severity or implications for Covid vaccines, tests and treatments.

On Friday, Canada banned travel from seven African countries over concerns about the spread of the Omicron strain. Nigeria was not one of them.

The United States top infectious disease official, Dr Anthony Fauci told President Joe Biden on Sunday it will take about two weeks to have definitive information on the Omicron variant.

Biden, returning to Washington following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, was briefed in person by his coronavirus response team on Sunday afternoon as officials expect the new variant to reach the United States despite an impending ban on travellers from Southern Africa, where it was first detected.

Fauci said he believes existing vaccines are likely to provide “a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID”, and officials reiterated their recommendation for vaccinated Americans to get booster shots, according to a readout of the briefing.

Earlier on Sunday, Fauci told ABC News’ “This Week” that the new variant would “inevitably” reach the United States.

“It clearly is giving indication that it has the capability of transmitting rapidly. That’s the thing that’s causing us now to be concerned,” he added on NBC.

Regionalism or disintegration’ll solve Nigeria’s problem – Cleric

The Senior Pastor of Awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, has called on all Nigerians to embrace regionalism, saying it would solve many challenges facing the country.

He also said the plan by the Federal Government to remove fuel subsidy, and increase the pump price of petrol by 2022, was not a solution to the current economic problem of the nation.

The cleric stated this at his church in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday, during the 20th anniversary of the church.

According to him, Nigeria could only grow if the country could adopt a regional system.

He said, “Even without the removal of fuel subsidy, people still find it difficult to live. So, the removal of subsidy is nothing but nonsense. What Nigeria needs right now is disintegration or we go back to the regional system of government. Anything aside that is a failure.

“Abraham and Lot had a similar problem in Genesis:13. There was a crisis between the two of them,  Abraham had to call Lot, to resolve this issue amicably; ‘when you go to the south, I will go to the east, when you go to the west, I will go to the north’. Lot had to agree with him and they separated. Who said separation is not in the bible. Anybody that says that is deceiving himself.

“The problem is compounding and for us to solve the issue once and for all, we need disintegration. Disintegration will address the issue of subsidy because each region will manage itself, that is the truth, nothing but the truth.”

Giwa, however, cried out that there were attempts to silence the church, following different threat messages he had been receiving.

The pastor said, “They cannot stop me from saying the truth. But the issue of the church is that they are divided. There is wide division amongst us. Some pastors are being antagonised for saying the truth. The same problem we are having in Nigeria is the same one we are having in Christendom.

“The insecurity issue is due to the failure on the part of the government. With the amount of security vote being taken by the governors, have they been able to utilize it very well? If the security vote is being managed very well, kidnapping will be a thing of the past.

“2023 election is not our problem now. They should put aside that election. They should first address salient issues like insecurity, hunger and lots of issues affecting this country. Only God knows what will happen in 2023.”

EndSARS panels legal, set up by FG through NEC, Adegboruwa replies Keyamo

A member of the Lagos panel constituted to probe the Lekki shootings of October 20, 2020, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), has said that the EndSARS panels set up by state governments across the country are legal and can probe the brutality and extrajudicial killings committed by members of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army.

The senior advocate said the judicial panels were set up at the behest of the Federal Government, through the National Economic Council, and so, cannot be termed illegal because the findings of some of the panels aren’t in favour of the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), on Sunday, had dismissed the EndSARS panel set up by the Lagos State Government and the report it presented to the state government recently.

Keyamo had said the panel was illegal because it was out of the jurisdiction of the panel to investigate the activities of Federal Government institutions and officials such as the Police and the Army.

But in a statement on Monday titled, ‘The Legality Of #EndSARS Panels’, Adegboruwa said, “The Federal Government has recently muted the idea that all the Judicial Panels of Inquiry set up by the various States across the Federation, especially that of Lagos State, are illegal.

“It has never been part of our legal system in Nigeria, for a plaintiff who approached the court in the first instance, to turn around to challenge the legality or jurisdiction of the court.

“The EndSARS Panels were set up at the behest of the Federal Government, through the National Economic Council. In the case of the Lagos Panel, the federal government, through the Nigerian Army, voluntarily submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the Panel, the federal government called witnesses, it tendered documents and it made very lengthy presentations.

“A party cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time. Thus, a party who initiated a process and willingly and actively participated in that process, cannot turn around, after judgment, to plead illegality or absence of jurisdiction, simply because the outcome is unfavourable. We must strengthen our institutions to make them work.

“While we all await the White Paper from the Lagos State Government, it is important for government to build trust in the people in all its dealings and utterances.”

Podiumnews had earlier reported that the Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel on November 15, 2021, submitted its report to the Lagos State Government, noting that at least nine persons were confirmed dead at the Lekki toll plaza when soldiers stormed the tollgate to disperse EndSARS protesters on October 20, 2020.

The 309-page leaked report stated, “The atrocious maiming and killing of unarmed, helpless and unresisting protesters while sitting on the floor and waving their Nigerian flags and while singing the National Anthem can be equated to a massacre in context.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who received the report, said he had constituted a Committee to bring forward a White Paper within the next two weeks to be considered by the Lagos State Executive Council.

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on a two-day official visit to Nigeria recently, had said that the submission of the report by the Lagos panel was an important step towards accountability for killings and rights abuses allegedly committed by soldiers and policemen.

Blinken had met with the Nigerian President at Aso Rock in Abuja, and Buhari had said the Federal Government was waiting on Lagos State and other state governments to come up with their conclusions.

But Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed subsequently said, “It is simply incredible that a judicial panel set up to investigate an incident has submitted a report laden with allegations, the same allegations it was set up to investigate in the first instance.

“Instead of sitting for all of one year, the panel could have just compiled social media tales by the moonlight on the incident and submitted, saving taxpayers’ funds and everyone’s time. That report is nothing but the triumph of fake news and the intimidation of a silent majority by a vociferous lynch mob.”

Harmattan: Ekiti set to strengthen fire-fighters with equipment

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said that the state is in the process of distributing fire-fighting equipment and appliances to fire stations across the state as part of efforts to strengthen fire-fighting especially as the dry season sets in.

Fayemi, who expressed happiness that fire disasters had declined in the state since 2019, attributed it to the synergy among all relevant institutions working to prevent fire outbreaks in the state.

He pledged his administration’s sustained support to the Ekiti State Fire Service to improve on response time and thereby reduce loss of lives and property to fire incidents and other emergencies.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, who spoke on Friday at the Passing-Out Parade of the newly-recruited 59 fire personnel made up of 42 men and 17 women into the Ekiti State Fire Service in Ado Ekiti, said, “Some fire equipment and appliances are being refurbished to be distributed to fire stations across the state.”

A statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, titled, ’59 new officers recruited into Ekiti Fire Service’, stated that the fire equipment and appliances were undergoing refurbishment and it includes; five fire engines, one water tanker and water reservoir to be distributed to fire stations without engine and those yet to have one including the Oja Oba Ultramodern Market, Ado Ekiti.

He lauded Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) for approving the creation of a Federal Fire Service Command in Ekiti State and the provision of one firefighting truck to complement the activities of the state government at combating fire outbreaks in the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Mr Bamidele Faparusi, said the Fayemi administration had repositioned the Fire Service which he said was abandoned by the immediate past administration.

Faparusi, who stressed that the importance of Fire Service to the state economy could not be overemphasized, hailed Fayemi for promptly approving the proposal to employ 59 new fire personnel to ensure effective service delivery to the people.

Kwara Fire Service prevents explosions from two fuel-laden tankers

The Kwara State Fire Service has said that it saved two petrol tankers loaded with 66,000 litres of fuel from an explosion during an accident on Ilorin-Jebba road in Kwara State at the weekend.

The Fire Service in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Hassan Adekunle on Sunday said that the two petrol tankers with Reg. No WSE163XA and FGF372ZS had a head-on collision in the road accident that occurred at Kambi-Oloru on Ilorin-Jebba express road on Saturday.

He said, “It was a head-on collision between the two vehicles loaded with 33,000 Litres of fuel each. We prevented the tankers from exploding thanks to the firemen. Most importantly, no lives were lost in the accident.”

Adekunle said that the fire department gathered that the accident was caused as a result of careless overtaking by one of the drivers.

He however said that the Director, Kwara State Fire Service Prince Falade Olumuyiwa urged drivers particular transporters to always exercise patience whenever they were driving on the road.

In another development, Adekunle said that the Fire Service on Friday saved four out of eight plank shops gutted by fire at the Nigeria Railway station, Ilorin from destruction.

According to him, the fire incident occurred at Challenge Area, beside the Nigeria Railway Station in Ilorin. It incident occurred when a fire from a burning refuse accidentally spread to the plank shops.

“Although it was a late call, however, firemen were still able to perform excellently well by eliminating the ravaging fire on time. And out of the 8 shops in the vicinity, 4 shops were burnt by the fire,” he said.

Lagos #EndSARS panel illegal, can’t probe military, police – Keyamo

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), on Sunday dismissed the #EndSARS panel set up by the Lagos State Government and the report it presented to state government recently.

Keyamo said it was out of the jurisdiction of the panel to investigate the activities of Federal Government institutions and officials such as the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army.

The minister, while appearing on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme on Channels Television which our correspondent monitored from Abuja on Sunday, however, said he was not speaking for the Federal Government.

The panel had stated in its report that at least nine persons were killed on the night soldiers and policemen stormed the Lekki tollgate to disperse #EndSARS protesters, describing the incident as a “massacre in context.”

However, Keyamo was asked on Sunday why the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), called for constitution of panels across the states to investigate cases of human rights abuses while the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, would later dismiss the report by the Lagos panel.

He said, “I will not answer this question as a sitting minister. I will answer this question as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria – a member of the Inner Bar, and so I am entitled to my opinion. This is not the Federal Government’s position. From me, that panel was an illegal panel. It was totally illegal.

“All lawyers who are listening to me should go back and read the Tribunals of Enquiry Act of Lagos State. It says that the governor will have the powers to inquire into the conduct of any person – underline any person – and chieftaincy matters and any other matter that will promote the good of the public.

“However, ‘any person’ there was defined in Section 21 to mean public officers of the state. It is defined to mean somebody within the public service of Lagos State or of the local government as the case may be.

“Then, the phrase was used at the end of Section 1 that says ‘any matter’…that they can inquire into any matter. People now think that to inquire into any matter, it means that you can just be at large.

“However, if you look at Section 21 again, it says that it has to be within the legislative competence of Lagos State. In other words, it is only people over whom the Lagos State has control that they can inquire into their conduct. If you don’t have control over me, you cannot inquire into my conduct.

“Policemen, the Armed Forces, military; they are not under or officers of Lagos State, they are officers of the Federal Government. By virtue of the Constitution, it is only the Federal Government that can control the conduct of policemen and the military. Lagos State cannot be in control; they cannot legislate too, regarding police and military matters; they are on the Exclusive Legislative List.”

Photos from the wedding of the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, and his heartrob, Olamidun Majekodunmi

The wedding of the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, to his heartthrob, Olamidun Majekodunmi, took place in Ibadan, Oyo state yesterday November 27 and was well attended by prominent Nigerians including the state governor, Seyi Makinde, his Ondo and Ogun state counterparts, Rotimi Akeredolu and Dapo Abiodun.

Olamidun is the daughter of the popular Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, the Baagbile of Egbaland while her mother is Honourable Justice Tokunbo Majekodunmi.

See more photos from the wedding below...

Bandits demand N299m for abducted police orderly, Kaduna worshippers

Bandits, who abducted Dambo Hosea, the police orderly of a slain former governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Sagir Hamidu, along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway last Sunday, have demanded N200m as ransom for his release.

Also, abductors of 66 worshippers of the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kakau Daji, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have  demanded N99m to release the 61 remaining victims in their custody after shooting five of them; killing three and injuring two.

It was learnt that the bandits involved in the policeman’s abduction gave a six-hour ultimatum to his family to raise the N200m ransom.

They reportedly claimed they were about to relocate to another place where they couldn’t make phone calls and would move along with the victim.

A Hausa tabloid, Muryar ‘Yanci, published in Kaduna on Friday, claimed to have obtained the recorded phone conversation between the bandits and the policeman’s family.

The newspaper said the family begged to pay N2m but the bandits replied that “You shouldn’t say so because this is a big man in our custody. You are saying what is not possible.

“The gunmen were annoyed when the family pleaded that they could afford to pay only N2m. The gunmen expressed their anger and gave the family a six-hour deadline to pay the N200m ransom,” the paper added.

The Kaduna State Police Command could not be reached for comments on the incident as calls put through to the command’s spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige, rang out. He had also yet to reply to a text message sent to his phone as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Northern states and Abuja, Rev. John Hayab, on Friday told journalists that the abductors of the 66 worshippers of the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kakau Daji in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were demanding N99m ransom.

The worshippers were kidnapped by bandits who invaded the church on Sunday 31, October, 2021 during church service.

Two of abductees were killed on the spot, one other was later shot dead while two were injured and hospitalised.

Hayab said, “As I speak with you bandits that took away 66 worshippers at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kakau Daji on the 31st October, 2021 and on November 6th, they picked five young men between the ages of 15 to 24 as if they were going to release them, not knowing that they had evil intention.

“They opened fire on all of them. Two died on the spot and one later died. We have buried three and two others who sustained injuries are still being treated but 61 are with them in the bush and nothing is happening.

“They first asked us to give them food which they rejected but later accepted. Then, they are demanding N99m for those 61 people that are with them. So, where is the security working to fish out these criminals?”

Hayab also confirmed the release of one of the remaining four Bethel Baptist High school students, Kaduna, after spending over 150 days in captivity.

The students, numbering 121, were kidnapped by bandits in the early hours of July 5, 2021 on the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia highway, and had been released in batches.

The cleric identified the freed student as the school’s head boy, adding that N5m was paid before he was released.

Special courts to be established for sexual and gender-based violence, says Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, has affirmed the support of the Ministry toward the establishment of special courts to prosecute Sexual and Gender-based Violence cases in the country.

Malami made this affirmation during the 7th Network Conference on Sexual Assault Referral Centres jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice, FCT High Court, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme.

The theme for 2021 is the Imperative for Special Sexual and Gender-based Violence courts as part of events lined up for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in commemoration of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The AGF was represented by Ag. Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Barr. (Mrs) Victoria Fila Ojogbane.

“It is my firm belief that the creation of special courts to handle cases of sexual and gender-based violence will improve the effectiveness of courts services, ensure support for the victims, improve victim participation in the prosecution of their cases and promote efficiency and better information sharing,” he stated.

“In the pursuit of this essential need, I approve the constitution of a Federal Special Prosecution Team comprising of investigators and prosecutors from the Ministry, NAPTIP, Nigerian Police Force and other Agencies for training and other incidentals tailored towards achieving the ultimate goal of improving access to justice by survivors of SGBV,” he further stated.

The AGF used the opportunity to appreciate and thank development partners particularly the European Union, United Nations Agencies, ROLAC, UNICEF, UNODC as well as Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development among others especially in relation to building capacity of critical justice actors and in supporting the Ministry’s efforts at galvanizing synergy among justice and law enforcement actors.

In her opening remarks, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen OFR lamented the huge number of pending sexual related cases in courts. She assured that her office was taking all necessary steps in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Office of Chief Justice of Nigeria, National Assembly and development partners to expedite action on the pending cases and get justice for the victims.

“Women and children that are being violated are too huge. The number is too huge to be ignored and these are future mothers. And it is not only the girl-child, even the boys. The number of boys that are violated and being abused is also huge. We can’t sit and do nothing. They are our future mothers and future leaders,” she declared.

While delivering his keynote address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, represented by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Amina Augie, advocated for synergy between security agents, the public and the media in tackling the prevalent problem of gender-based violence.

“Courts do not go looking for cases but courts entertain cases brought to it by the public,” the CJN stated.

He, therefore, urged the Media to step up reportage on violence against women and girl child adding that cases of violence against women were being under reported.

The CJN further pledged the commitment of the courts to working with the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Women Affairs in speedy prosecution of the offenders.