At Last !! Buhari govt suspends NHIS boss, Prof. Usman indefinitely

The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf, has been suspended.

Yusuf was suspended by the agency’s governing council to pave way for investigation into allegations levelled against him.

Chairman of the governing council, Dr Eyantu Ifenne made this known at a briefing in the NHIS headquarters on Thursday.

He said that based on the review of various documents on allegations levelled against Usman, they have resolved to constitute an administrative panel to investigate and submit their report in the next three months.

He said, “The ES is suspended indefinitely to pave unfettered space for the committee to do thorough investigations into the matter.”

Efene added that approval has been got from the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, in the regard.

“The council has also resolved that Dr Abubakar Sadiq Adamu immediately step into the acting capacity of the ES to allow activities to run smoothly,” he stated. -DAILY POST

3 suspects arrested for killing businesswoman in Ilorin

The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday said it had arrested three suspects for allegedly killing one Mrs Raheedat Jimoh in Ilorin, Kwara.

CSP Aremu Adeniran, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja.

He listed the suspects as Ibrahim Aminu, 18, from Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Principal Suspect, who allegedly fired the shot that killed the victim.

Others are Saadi Abubakar, 28, from Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, who allegedly bought the Barreta Pistol used to kill the victim and Oche Ellah, 35, a dismissed police sergeant, from Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.

Adeniran said items recovered from the suspects included a Barreta Pistol and 19 rounds of live ammunition.

He said that Aminu, the principal suspect on July 7, and other suspects still at large stormed the shop of the deceased at No. 2 Jimoh Bolanta street, Kulende Ilorin, Kwara and killed her.

Adeniran said that the suspects killed the deceased in the presence of her daughter and house help and robbed her of cash and her valuables before fleeing the scene.

“The deceased was immediately rushed to the hospital where she was confirmed dead from the bullet wound sustained from the gunshot,” he said.

He said that the arrest of the suspects followed a discreet investigation into the incident by Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

The spokesman said that Ellah admitted to have sold the Barreta Pistol to Abubakar for N50,000.

“He also admitted that he bought the said Barreta Pistol at Yongo village in Benue through one Ugbede who is still at large,” he said.

He said that the suspects have made confessional statements to the police and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the crime.

“Investigation is ongoing and efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large. They will all be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation,” he said. - PM NEWS

‘Sweet codeine’: Police arrest former Emzor employee who has been on the run since May

Chukwunonye Madubuike, a former employee of Emzor Pharmaceuticals who was implicated in a BBC investigation into the illegal sale of addictive drugs, has been arrested.

Imohimi Edgal, commissioner of police in Lagos state, told BBC that Madubuike was arrested in the border town of Idiroko in Ogun state.

He was reportedly heading to Cotonou in neighbouring Benin Republic when he was arrested.

In a documentary titled ‘Sweet sweet codeine’, the BBC had revealed how some corrupt officials of big pharmaceutical companies, including Emzor, conspire with distributors to make codeine, a cough syrup, available in the open market .

Madubuike, who was a business development executive at Emzor, illegally sold 60 bottles of codeine syrup to the BBC team who posed as traders, at a hotel in Isolo, Lagos.

Olajuwon Soyinka, editor of BBC Pidgin, who was among the team which carried out the investigation, later told TheCable in an interview that he risked his life to expose the drug cartel.

After the film was aired, the pharmaceutical company sacked Madubuike while the federal government subsequently banned the production and importation of codeine in the country.

But Madubuike has been on the run since the documentary was released in May.

Edgal said Emzor had reported Madubuike on suspicion of having “knowingly supplied the controlled drugs to persons who were not supposed to have access to them contrary to Nigerian law”.

The police commissioner said Madubuike confessed that he “was only trying to meet his sales target”, adding that he should have carried out greater checks to verify the identity of the person he was dealing with and “regretted selling controlled substances to unauthorised persons”.

Codeine is a painkiller which is also capable of giving a euphoric feeling if consumed in large quantities.

It is highly addictive and, taken in excess, can have a devastating impact on the mind and body. - THECABLE

Unemployed man sentenced for drug trafficking

For trafficking in 450g of Cannabis Sativa, a Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a 38-year-old man, Bana Lliyasu, to two years imprisonment.

Lliyasu, who is unemployed, was charged with drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Making a plea for mercy, he begged the court to be lenient, and promised to turn a new leaf if pardoned.

The Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, following the guilty plea, reviewed the facts of the case before the court.

Aernan tendered as exhibits a written statement of the accused, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form, a bulk of the exhibit and remnant of the narcotics.

The court marked and admitted the exhibits in evidence.

Aernan urged the court to convict and sentence the accused, based on evidence adduced by prosecution.

In his judgment, Justice Ayokunle Faji found the accused guilty of the offence as charged, and consequently convicted him.

Faji sentenced him to a term of two years imprisonment, to begin from the date of his arrest.

The court also ordered the prosecution to destroy the exhibits, if no appeal is entered against the judgment.

In the charge marked FHC/L/206C, the prosecutor told the court that Lliyasu was arrested in Lagos, on Aug. 25, following a tip off.

He said that the convict was arrested with some pouches of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise called hemp, weighing 450g.

According to him, hemp is categorised as a restricted narcotic, and trafficking same contravenes the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Law of the Federation, 2004.- PM NEWS

Popular Nollywood actor, ‘Ajimajasan’ is dead

Another Nollywood actor, Ola Omonitan also known as Ajimajasan is dead

The veteran Yoruba actor died in the early hours of Thursday, October 18, 2018, at the age of 80.

The actor’s first daughter and eldest child, Ajike confirmed the news of his death to newsmen in Lagos.

“My dad has gone, he died this morning,” Ajike said.

Prior to his death, the script interpreter had been admitted at the University College Hospital.

He suffered from an enlarged heart, spinal cord problem and prostate cancer.

The actor was discharged from the hospital earlier in the week before he passed on Thursday. - DAILY POST

48 year-old-man infects own 3 year-old-daughter with HIV

48 year-old-man, Mallam Ado Abdul has infected his 3-year-old daughter, Adama with HIV positive after having several rounds of sex with her.

It was reliably gathered that Mallam Ado Abdul who lost his wife last year due to prolonged illness, developed love for his daughter and started sleeping with her.

Source close to DAILY POST reveals that Mallam Ado who lived at Gidan Sarkin Ilele. Kasuwan Magani Kajuru Local Government area, Kaduna State, instead of allowing the little girl, Adama to stay with her grandmother, took his daughter to his house with a view to having illicit affair with her.

According to one of the residents in the area who spoke to DAILY POST on condition of anonymity, trouble started when the little Adama began to show strange signs.

” Her belly started swelling, she couldn’t eat, and we discovered serious wet from her private part. It was then, the grandmother took her to a medical facility in Kasuwan Magani to conduct a test on her,” the source said.

According to him, after several tests, it was confirmed that Adama’s swollen belly was due to excess sperm storage as damage had already been done to her private part.

The grandmother of the girl, it was learnt, immediately reported the case to Kasuwan Magani Police station and the Sarkin but no action was taken.

Angered by this, the grandmother reported the case to the Kaduna State Ministry of Women Affairs, Child Welfare Department who forwarded same to security agent for investigations.

Confirming the report, a source at the Ministry of Women Affairs who does not want his name in print told DAILY POST that it received a report from an elderly woman at Kasuwan Magani, as the ministry had since sent a memo to security agency to carry out full investigation.

According to him, based on the security report, the father of the girl, Mallam Ado went into hiding since the incident became known even as the community wanted to hide him from the public glare.

Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu. A. Sambo could not pick his calls nor respond to text messages sent to him.- DAILY POST

UN counters NPC’s figure, reveals Nigeria’s current population

The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, has said that Nigeria’s population is 195.9 million at the moment.

UNFPA also stated that 76 percent of Nigerians are between ages 0 to 24.

In its UNFPA state of world population report themed “The power of choice: Reproductive rights and the demographic,” the UN agency further said that 148.8 million Nigerians are under the age of 25.

The UN report goes in contrast with National Population Commission, NPC, figures, which claimed that the country’s population was at 198 million as early as April 2018.

The UNFPA report added that 44 percent of Nigeria’s population is aged 0 to 14, while 32 percent are aged 14 to 24.

The UN agency also revealed that Nigeria has one of the highest fertility rates in the world, with less than 20 percent of married women in urban communities using a modern contraceptive method.

In rural communities within the country, less than 10 percent of married women use a modern contraceptive method, UNFPA added.

“No country can yet claim to have made reproductive rights a reality for all. Choices are limited for far too many women,” the report read.

“And this means that there are still millions of people who are having more—or fewer—children than they would like, with implications not only for individuals, but also for communities, institutions, economies, labour markets and entire nations.”

Nigeria’s population is expected to double between now and 2050. - DAILY POST

Again 11 expatriates trapped as storeyed building collapses in Anambra

At least, 11 expatriate workers and others yet to be identified have been reportedly trapped in a collapsed building in Okpuno, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

A source in Nnewi told DAILY POST that the expatriates were mainly masons and tillers and other site workers who hail from the neighbouring West African countries.

The source said the incident happened on Wednesday night and has generated a lot of tension in the industrial town of Nnewi.

The source said rescue workers were already at the scene trying to rescue victims, while security agents were also at the site.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed confirmed the story, stating that it happened on Wednesday.

He said nine of the expatriates had been rescued alive, while rescue workers were working assiduously to rescue the remaining two.

He said,” A distress call was received from the vigilante group in Okpuno that a three Storeyed building belonging to one Mr Avoyi Collins collapsed at Okpuno Otolo in Nnewi LGA of Anambra State.

“Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander Nnewi, Nnanna Ama rushed to the Scene and cordoned off the Area to prevent looters from taking advantage of the situation to steal.

“Volunteers were also mobilised for the rescue of trapped victims including 11 foreign masons from the Republic of Togo.
“So far, nine of them were rescued alive from the collapsed building while efforts are ongoing to rescue two others who are still trapped inside the debris.

“The rescued victims were rushed to the Community Health Center Okpuno for medical attention and investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident”.

It could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report why the building collapsed. - Daily Post

Land of FRAUDSTERS !! $9.5m embezzlement: EFCC drags 3 NFF officials to court

Three officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were on Thursday docked in an FCT High Court at Maitama, accused of misappropriating 9.5 million Dollars and $1. 3 million.

The defendants are Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance, Reagan Zaka, Cashier and Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department.

They were dragged to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation.

The prosecutor, Mr Steve Odiase told the court that the three defendants conspired between Jan. 8 and Jan. 26, 2015 to commit the offences, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code.

Odiase alleged that Andekin was entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

He said that Andekin however fraudulently diverted $1.3 million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act that is contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code.

He further alleged that Zaka on his part, fraudulently diverted 7. 2 million Dollar grant from FIFA for development of football in Nigeria while Mamza diverted $2. 3 million.

The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Mr Arinze Egbo applied for their bail.

The Judge, Justice Peter Affen upheld the administrative bail granted to them earlier by the EFCC.

In addition, he ordered that the sureties should sign bond with the registrar of the court, and the defendants should deposit their International passports.

Affen then adjourned until Nov. 27, for commencement of trial. - PM NEWS 

Okada rider jailed over anal sex with 6 boys

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger, has sentenced a 23-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Adamu Mohammed to four years imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with six boys through the anus.

Mohammed was docked on a count charge of an unnatural offence, contrary to section 284 of the penal code law.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP. Daniel Ikwoche told the court that one Yusuf Buhari reported the matter at the Chanchaga station on Oct. 6.

Ikwoche said the complainant accused Mohammed of luring his 10-year-old son into his room at Korokpa village, Minna and had sex with him through the anus.

He said further investigation revealed that the accused person also committed the act with five other boys between the ages of 10 and 12 years, all of Korokpa area.

When the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

The prosecutor, thereafter, prayed the court to try him summarily in line with section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Nasiru Muazu sentenced the accused to four years in prison with hard labour without an option of fine. - PM NEWS

DEFENDING NAIRA: Foreign reserves fall by $2.1bn in 30 days

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have declined by $2.15 billion in the last 30 days, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) position itself in defence of the naira.

Since the United States Federal Reserves raised interest rates on September 26, 2018, the Nigerian reserves have dropped by $1,541,891,539, as investors continue voting their monies out of the Nigerian economy.

The reserves moved from $44,458,822,331 on September 26, 2018 to $42,916,930,792 as at October 16, 2018.

In a statement issued by the American central bank in September, the Fed decided to lift the benchmark overnight lending rate by a quarter of a percentage point to a range of two percent to 2.25 percent.

Explaining the effects of this on the Nigerian economy and reserves, Isaac Okorafor, spokesperson of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said the fall in reserves is due to a hike in interest rates by US Federal Reserve and the CBN’s interventions in the forex market.

He explained that investors who had left the world’s biggest economy for emerging markets like Nigeria, Brazil, China, due to low-interest rates are returning to the US, following the increase in rates.

“You can see that the reversal of capital flows which is eating most economies and bringing about depreciation in their currency,” Okorafor had said.

Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, also explained in Bali, Indonesia, that in order to avoid depreciation in the Nigerian currency, the bank would have to defend the naira, via interventions in the foreign exchange market.

“You can only build reserve buffers if you want to hold on to the reserves while allowing your currency to go and wherever it goes is something else,” Emefiele had said.

“It is a choice we have to make and at this time, the choice for Nigeria is to maintain a stable exchange rate so that businesses can plan and we don’t create problems in the banking system.”

As at Tuesday, October 16, Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $42,916,930,792.

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear time and again that his government will do all in its capacity to defend the naira from further depreciation. - THECABLE

No-work-no-pay rule: Labour rebuffs Nigerian Govt’s threat

The Organised Labour says the threat by the Federal Government to activate the “no-work- no pay’’ rule clause, will be a negation of workers’ right of association.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the assertion in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Wabba’s reaction followed the Federal Executive Council’s approval on Wednesday to apply the `no work, no pay’ principle during strike.

According to Wabba, the right to strike is a human and trade union right and cannot be wished away by any government policy.

“That’s why strike is legalised by our laws and has been exercised since colonial era to date.

“The right to strike is what differentiates a worker from a slave; just like the right to strike, right to picketing the right to work to rule, right to protest and peaceful assembly.

“So, the issue of no work no pay has always existed. It is morally and legally wrong to apply a phrase in a body of law without respecting all other provisions of the same law.

“Same law provides that a worker’s wage is due after 30 days; where this and or any collective bargaining agreement is violated, it is legally and morally justifiable for unions and workers to apply “no pay no work,’’ he said.

The NLC president said the threat to no-work-no-pay would not deter workers and trade unions from exercising the right to strike.

Wabba stressed that there were clear procedures provided by law on how workers can embark on a strike, saying “once this legal requirement is met, no- work- no pay rule cannot apply.”

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the implementation of the no-work, no pay principle when workers go on strike in the federal public service.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, told newsmen after FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari that the approval was sequel to the adoption of the Draft White Paper on the Report of the Technical Committee on Industrial Relations Matters in the Federal Public Service.

Ngige said that the public service in Nigeria was bedevilled by problems and conflict areas; hence governments over time set up various committees and brought out circulars in a bid to stem the tide of industrial dispute. - PM NEWS

Five killed in renewed boundary dispute between Ebonyi, Benue

No fewer than five persons from Ngbo in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State were on Wednesday allegedly killed by gunmen suspected to be from Agila community of Benue State.

The victims were reportedly killed following the renewed boundary crisis that ensued between the two states, which according to investigation has lasted for over forty years.

It was gathered that some persons in the affected Ngbo community have stated fleeing the area for fear of further attack.

However, the Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo who visited the scene, said everything had been brought under control.

He called on the people of the area to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.

Responding, the governor of Ebonyi State Chief David Umahi, who also visited the families of the affected persons at Ekwashi and Ukwagba communities, expressed shock over the killings.

Umahi, represented by the Deputy Governor,, Dr Kelechi Igwe further expressed dismay over what he called flagrant disregard to agreement by the Agila people.

He observed that Ebonyi people had suffered incessant attacks from the Agilla people in the recent times, and called on the federal government to intervene before the people would resort to self defence.

Umahi appealed to the people to remain calm and be law abiding, assuring that government would ensure permanent resolution of the crisis.

Also speaking, the chairman of the affected Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Barr Clement Odaah alleged that Benue people invaded the people of Ngbo despite peace agreement signed with Ado Local Government council few weeks ago.

He lamented that the incessant attacks by Agila people were getting out of hand, just as he called on the governor of Benue State to call Agila people to order. - Daily Post

Herdsmen killings: Tiv people drag Buhari, Miyetti Allah to court, demand heavy compensation

The Incorporated Trustees of Mdzough U Tiv, a socio-cultural association of the Tiv people, have dragged the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and President Muhammadu Buhari to court.

The body filed N550 billion fundamental rights suit against Buhari and Miyetti Allah at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

In the suit which has the President General of the Mdzough-U-Tiv, Mr Edward Ujege, as plaintiff, the Tiv people are demanding compensation for damages for the victims of attacks by herdsmen in Benue State.

Others listed as respondents in the suit: are the Incorporated Trustees of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore; Abdullahi Bodejo, Saleh Al Hassan; Garius Gololo and Husaini Bosso.

The body is also seeking a court order directing President Buhari to provide “effective security and protection to all surviving victims and members of the affected communities in their ancestral homes” across Benue State.

The suit highlighted the destruction caused by armed herdsmen across the state.

Presiding over the matter yesterday, Justice I. Ekwo ordered that the court processes be served on the respondents through newspaper publication.

The trial judge, consequently fixed hearing for October 24, 2018. - Daily Post