Sick nation !!! NEMA under probe for allegedly looting N19.4bn relief materials’ fund

The House of Representatives, Thursday mandated its Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to probe the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, over looted N19.4 billion relief materials funds for victims of disasters.
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The directive followed a motion promoted by Benjamin Wayo, under matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the House.

The funds, according to the lawmakers, were for hunger intervention in the North East and food intervention across the country.

The lawmakers noted that the funds were illegally siphoned by officials of the agency through dubious award of contracts without delivering relief items to the victims.

Explaining the breakdown of the funds, while leading the debate on the motion, Wayo said the agency has received more than N10 billion from the 20 percent National Ecological Fund in the last one year.

Other funds on the radar of the lawmakers are the N5 billion for hunger intervention in the North East, about N2 billion for food intervention across the country and the N2.4 billion the Director General of the agency, Mustapha Maihaja, allegedly awarded to the companies he has interest in.

The lawmaker explained that the mandate of NEMA was to coordinate the management of disasters across the country and to assist victims of such disasters, but added that in spite of the core mandate, several cases of disasters across the country had not been given necessary attention.

“The hunger issue in IDP camps in the Northeast; the farmers/herdsmen conflicts; fire disasters victims and many other such cases across the country have been neglected.

“The agency has received more than N10 billion from the 20 per cent National Ecological Fund in the last one year, N5 billion for hunger intervention in the Northeast, about N2 billion for food intervention across the country,” the lawmaker said.

“These funds were illegally siphoned by officials of the agency through dubious award of contracts without delivering relief items to the victims. The Director General of the agency also awards contracts to companies he has personal interests in, and has violated his approval limits by awarding contracts to a single firm without due process.

“Example, one company called Olam Nigeria Limited got a contract of N2.4 billion, which is against the agency’s approval limit as stated in Section 16 subsection 1 of the NEMA Act. It should be made clear that the section pegs the approval limit at just N30 million,” the lawmaker said. - Daily Post

Really ? INEC sets up panel to probe underage voting in Kano

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) has set up a committee to probe the underage voting in Kano state.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the electoral body, disclosed this at a workshop in Lagos on Friday.

He said findings of the panel, headed by a national commissioner, will be made public.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigated,” he said.

“A national commissioner will lead a team including technical staff drawn from voter registry, ICT and electoral operations departments for an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

“We will share the findings with Nigerians.”

There was outrage after images of underage voters were circulated on social media earlier in the week.

Many had expressed concern about its implications for the 2019 election.

The commission had earlier said it could not be held liable for the development because it does not have control over the Kano state electoral agency which conducted the local government election where the illegible voters participated in.

“The commission wishes to inform the public that the images do not relate in any way to any election organised, conducted or superintended by INEC,” Oluwole Uzzi, INEC’s director, voter education and publicity, said in a statement.

“As far as the commission can ascertain, they relate to a local government election conducted at the weekend, and over which we have no legal control or responsibility whatsoever.

“While the commission is charged with conducting elections at the state and national level, state electoral commissions are responsible for conducting the elections on the local government level.”

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, had denied that underage voters took part in the exercise. - Cable Nigeria

Alfa Kills Co-Tenant Over N600 House Bill

The Ogun State Police Command has launched a manhunt for an Islamic cleric, identified only as Raheem, for allegedly killing a co-tenant, Monday Olaleye, aka Messiah.

The duo, who lived in a house on Adebayo Close, in the Ibafo, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, reportedly had a disagreement which degenerated to fisticuffs.

The fight, which occured on Sunday, February 11, started after 49-year-old Olaleye demanded the N60 contribution of Raheem for the replacement of a burnt electric fuse.

Olaleye was appointed by other tenants to collect funds for the purchase of the new fuse, valued at N600.


During the fight, Raheem, aka Alfa, was alleged to have hit Olaleye with a stick, while the victim used a plastic chair to fight back. Both men were reportedly injured.

The next day, Olaleye’s health condition deteriorated and he was rushed to a private hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The deceased’s family members were said to have reported the case at the Ibafo Police Station.

Punch Metro learnt that neighbours, who got wind of a possible mass arrest, fled the house.

When Punch correspondent visited the community on Thursday, he observed that the house had been locked up.

Residents approached  for information either declined comment or feigned ignorance of the incident.

However, Punch Metro established contact with a few of the runaway tenants, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A father of two said the police locked up the house when they did not meet anyone, adding that they left with three generators belonging to tenants.

He said, “I remember the two men had a disagreement over payment for a burnt electrical fuse which was valued at N600. We are 10 tenants in the house occupying the 10 single room apartments. We divided the money and everybody was asked to pay N60.

“I was sleeping when I heard a noise. I was indisposed and couldn’t go out. But I learnt there was a fight between Alfa and Messiah over the fuse money. Within a few minutes, it was over and everybody dispersed.

“By morning, the man woke up, took his bath, drew water from the well, and prepared a meal which he ate. But around 12 noon, we observed that his door was ajar. I heard heavy breathing and rallied other tenants to get him to a hospital.”

Another tenant said no one knew the victim was ill until a family member visited him.

He noted that the relative raised the alarm, blaming the neighbours for being uncaring.

He said, “After we settled the dispute between him and Alfa, everybody left for their apartments. They were both OK. Messiah was a painter and he rarely went out. We all saw him do his chores that morning; nobody suspected anything until someone said he was breathing abnormally. A relative who visited him around 12 noon queried us for not checking up on him.

“We didn’t get a vehicle on time to convey him to a hospital. We later got one. The medical workers did not allow us to take him down from the vehicle before they said he was dead. Inasmuch as I find it difficult to connect his death to the fight, some people said he might have had internal bleeding.”

Punch Metro gathered that the news of the death sent fear into the community, as many residents took to their heels.  The prime suspect, Raheem, who had gone to work, reportedly did not return to the house.

A female tenant said later that evening, the police arrived in the community in a bus.

“They broke Alfa’s apartment and took some things away. They also locked up the entire house after carrying away three generators. As I speak to you, most of the tenants are squatting with friends and family members. We have nowhere to go,” she said.

A senior police officer from the Ibafo division said it was a murder case, adding that it had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He urged the victim’s neighbours  to come forward and assist the police with information.

“The suspect hit the man with a stick and he died. It is a murder case,” he added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

He said, “There was a fight between the two tenants on Monday and in the process, one of them died. All the tenants in the house fled; nobody reported to the police. It was when the victim’s relatives arrived from Lagos that they met his corpse in the house. That was how the police knew about it.

“When we got there, we didn’t see anybody; the house was deserted. The police found two generators on the corridor and because it was not safe to leave them there, they decided to secure them by taking them to the station. We have not seen any of the tenants since then. The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Iliyasu, has ordered that the suspect be made to face the full wrath of the law.” 

Teacher Arraigned For Sleeping With Two Male Students From Behind

A School Teacher, Ali Muhammad of Mariri quarters in Kano metropolis has been arraigned before a Senior Magistrate court 49 sitting in Gyadi-Gyadi for alleged defiling his two students, Sulaiman Umar and Bashir Yahaya respectively.

The teacher was charged with unnatural offense contrary to Section 284 of the penal code law.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), parents of the victims reported the case to Kano state Hisbah Board sometime in 2017 that the accused person had lured the two students into his room at Marini and forcefully slept with them one after the other.

The charge sheet added that the accused after he satisfied himself, he gave each student N50.
When the FIR was read to the accused person, he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge leveled against him.

In view of his admission, the Prosecution Officer, Sergeant Shehu Adam asked for adjournment to enable police complete its investigation.

In her ruling, the presiding Judge, Senior Magistrate Hadiza Abdurrahman ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case. 

Shocking !!! Father caught having sex with 15-year-old daughter

One Moses Udoh, a 45- year -old father has been remanded in Kirikiri prison by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged rape of his 15-year-old daughter.

The accused, an unemployed man is a resident of 45, Osundiya St., Meiran.

Police prosecutor, Sgt. Rapheal Donny, explained to the court that the offence was committed sometime in 2013 at the accused residence.

Donny said that the accused raped his 15- year -old daughter who is now 20 years old.

“The accused wife caught him while he was trying to molest his daughter sexually and she cried out.

“The case was brought to the police station and it was there the girl said that the father had raped her in 2013 and since then, he hasn’t stopped molesting her sexually,” he said.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, T. O Shomade in ruling refused to listen to the accused plea and ordered him to be remanded in Kirikiri prison.

The Magistrate then adjourned the case till Feb. 26, for mention.

Four men docked over alleged removal of human parts from grave

Four men were on Thursday arraigned by the police at Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court, for alleged unlawful possession of human parts.

The defendants, Suleiman Hammed, 35, an Islamic cleric, Olatunji Abiodun, 26, bricklayer, Olapade Saheed, 32, bus conductor and Akinyele Tope, 45, all of Ibadan.

The suspects were arraigned on a three-count of conspiracy and unlawful possession of human parts

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Samad Aliu told the court that on February 3 the defendants and others now at large, allegedly conspired to commit the offence at Alapa street, Ayegun, Ibadan.

The prosecutor added that the defendants were alleged to be in unlawful possession of one human head, legs and two hands

He said that Hammed, who was at the Funeral of the deceased, one Okunola Ashimiyu when he was buried, conspired with the other defendants to remove the human parts from the grave.

The offence contravened sections 516 and 329 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo state 2000.

Mr. Joseph Adeoye, Counsel to Abiodun and Akinyele, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Kehinde Omotosho granted the four defendants bail of N500, 000 with two sureties each in like sum.

Omotosho said one of the sureties must be a blood relation, while the second surety must be a Civil servant not less than a grade level 10.

She ordered that the human parts tendered as exhibit should be released to the deceased family for reburial.

The Magistrate, therefore, adjourned the case until April 3, for hearing. - Daily Post

Fulani herdsmen butcher another policeman in Jos

A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, Daniel Malu, was on Thursday killed by some hoodlums in Jos, Plateau State.

It was gathered that Malu was hacked to death by suspected Fulani herdsmen during an operation on the Saki-Ogbooro Road in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.

Malu, 58, whose last office was ‘A’ Division in Jos, was also killed in his Dorowa residence, in the Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

The killing of the police officer is coming barely one week after the murder of a serving ASP and Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Saki Unit, in the Oyo State Police Command.

DAILY POST had reported that the lifeless body of a policeman who was among the four men kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen was discovered with both eyes, and nose plucked out. 

The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, confirming the death of the retired ASP said the corpse has been deposited at Ola Hospital mortuary in Zawan.

He said efforts were being made to arrest the hoodlums.

His confirmation was contained in a report from the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division sent to Punch on Thursday in Jos.

The report says, “Information reached us around 6am today (Thursday) that one ASP Daniel Malu (retd.), who last served at ‘A’ Division was killed by unknown persons who cut him with machetes all over his head and body at about 3am at his residence in Dorowa in the Jos South LGA.

“A team of policemen was mobilised to the scene. Photographs were taken and corpse removed and deposited at Ola Hospital mortuary, Zawan. Effort is being made to arrest the hoodlums.” - Daily Post

WHO : 140m babies born annually

Worldwide, an estimated 140 million births take place every year and most of these occur without complications for women and their babies, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

Nothemba Simelela, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents, stated this while issuing new guidelines on global care standards throughout labour and immediately after childbirth.

The WHO official said the new guidelines aimed at reducing the use of needless and potentially harmful routine clinical and medical interventions.

Simelela said: “We want women to give birth in a safe environment with skilled birth attendants in well-equipped facilities.

“However, the increasing medicalisation of normal childbirth processes are undermining a woman’s own capability to give birth and negatively impacting her birth experience”.

Worldwide, an estimated 140 million births take place every year and most of these occur without complications for women and their babies.

However, according to WHO, over the past 20 years, health practitioners have increased the use of interventions that were previously only used to avoid risks or treat complications, such as oxytocin infusion to speed up labour or caesarean sections.

Studies show that a substantial proportion of healthy pregnant women undergo at least one clinical intervention during labour and birth.

“If labour is progressing normally, and the woman and her baby are in good condition, they do not need to receive additional interventions to accelerate labour,” Simelela added.

Based on 56 evidence-based recommendations, the new guidelines include having a companion of choice during labour and childbirth.

It also include ensuring respectful care and good communication between women and health providers and maintaining privacy and confidentiality.

It further allowed women to make decisions about their pain management, labour and birth positions and natural urge to push, among others.

It recognised that every labour and childbirth is unique and that the duration of the active first stage of labour varies from one woman to another.

The UN agency also noted that with more women giving birth in health facilities with skilled health professionals and timely referrals, they deserved better quality of care.

Estimates show that about 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications around the world every day – the majority of which can be prevented with high-quality care.

“Achieving the best possible physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes for the woman and her baby requires a model of care in which health systems empower all women to access care that focuses on the mother and child,” WHO underscored. - The Nation 

14-year-old Nigerian rescued from prostitution in South Korea

THE Federal Government will today receive a 14-year-old Nigerian girl who was allegedly sent to South Korea by her sister for prostitution.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs Mrs. Abike Dabiri Erewa made this known yesterday at the 4th International Conference on Love and Tolerance organised by the UFUK Dialogue in Abuja.

The conference, with the theme: “Countering Violent Extremism”, is aimed at promoting love, peace and tolerance. It was held at the International Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR)

Describing such attitude as inhumane and extreme form of hatred, the presidential aide added that young girls between ages 12 and 13 were rescued at the international airport at the verge of being flown abroad for prostitution.

According to her, the culprit was later apprehended by the security operatives and detained.

“Just yesterday, I got a call from our embassy in South Korea. We are bringing in tomorrow (today) a 14 years old girl, who was actually sent to South Korea for prostitution by her own sister.

“That is extreme hatred. That is not love but extremism.

“My sister, a former Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire just this morning also raised alarm about a few girls at the airport. Somebody was trying to traffic 14, 13 and 12 years old girls and a very observant Nigerian was able to get that stopped,” Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said.

She narrated at the conference how mothers offer their children for domestic abuses abroad and uncles molesting their cousins, stressing that relatives contribute more to extremism.

However, she said beyond the high insecurity challenges such as herdsmen crisis, Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping among others, it became imperative to shun hatred and promote love and tolerance.

She identified need to deal with hate speeches especially on the social media.

Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Muhammed, urged Nigerians to put the nation first and despise ethnicity and religious intolerance.

The first lady, who was represented by her aide in charge of administrative duties, Dr. Hajo Sani, emphasised on peaceful coexistence.

She hailed organisers of the UFUK Dialogue, stressing that peaceful coexistence remains vital for nation building.

“Irrespective of the religion and where we come from, we are Nigerians and we should put the nation first.

“Tolerance is important. Religion is a personal issue. We should be proud of our nation and we cannot be proud of that except we are one,” she said. - The Nation