Hundreds donate blood for injured victims of Lagos Island collapsed building

Hundreds of sympathisers have besieged the General Hospital, Lagos Island to donate blood to surviving victims of Wednesday’s collapsed building on the Island.

The Lagos State Government had called for donation of blood to help injured victims survive.

On Thursday, hundreds of well-wishers have thronged the hospital to donate blood for the victim.

The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, Dr. Modupe Olaiya, said that hundreds of residents had voluntarily donated bloods to treat the victims.

She said aside the General hospital, more centres had been opened to assist in collection of blood for patients, as the locations would also operate at weekends.

Olaiya appealed to Lagosians to often visit the hospital and donate blood for patients, as this would reduce the agony that victims of emergency often encountered.

-PM NEWS

DIVIDEND OF CRAZY-DEMO !! Falana: N250bn spent on 2019 polls from public purse

Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) on Wednesday alleged that about N250 billion was spent in prosecuting the just concluded elections from public purse.

The activist, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, said the election was an ‘expensive joke,’ calling on Nigerians to organize themselves by going back to the drawing board if the country stood a chance at having credible elections.

According to him, “This country spent over N250 billion from public purse on this useless enterprise apart from what each of the governors and political party spent, which is more than 250 billion.

“If we want to get out of the crisis of monumental dimension, we need to go back to the drawing table, beyond the two major political parties. Nigerians must organize because this expensive joke cannot continue.”

Falana also argued that no matter the amount of preaching, electoral violence would not end in the nation, except there was an effort by the human rights community and the electoral offences tribunal to follow through the cases after elections.

In his analysis, Falana said “we have close to 40 million illiterate adults, the majority of them are roaming the street. In such an environment, you could preach till the second coming of Christ, but that will not stop people from getting involved in electoral offences and other acts of criminality.

“All those who have been caught disrupting our elections are agents of politicians. The police and security agencies have arrested in the last 6 months, over 2000 electoral offenders, what do we do with them, once the elections are over, our attention will shift elsewhere.”

“An electoral offences tribunal are to take over these cases like the EFCC or ICPC and investigate them thoroughly and charge those who have been indicted, but the suggestion was rejected.”

He said from the human rights communities, they were trying to partner with the police and the INEC to ensure that they could assemble young lawyers to take on the prosecution of the cases of behalf of INEC, saying otherwise, everyone would go back to business as usual as soon as possible.

The rights activist added that the option of ‘E-Voting’ would be problematic, citing examples of its use during the elections of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, and the Nigeria Bar Association NBA.

In his words: “Electronic voting is not the solution with the state of impunity and recklessness in the country; it is difficult. The EFCC is now investigating what we now call ‘E-Rigging’ in the NBA. The E-Voting system would be problematic because our political class is rarely prepared for credible elections.”

- PM NEWS

6 dead, 14 injured in Anambra auto crash

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that six persons lost their lives, while 14 others sustained injuries in a multiple road crash at Upper Iweka Road, along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Onitsha on Wednesday.

Mr Kunapayi Adodele, the Sector Commander of the corps in Anambra, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha.

He said that a total of 20 persons were involved in the accident, which occurred at about 4.00p.m.

“Yes, there was a fatal accident that involved an articulated vehicle loaded with kerosene which lost control and rammed into seven other vehicles at Tracas Motor Park along the Upper Iweka Road.

“Six persons, four males and two females died instantly while 14 others sustained injuries.

“The victims were taken to Toronto Hospital and Borromew Hospital Onitsha,” he said.

He also added that the affected vehicles had been towed away for further investigations.

However, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prof. Peter Katch, said the organisation evacuated seven corpses to Toronto Hospital Morgue, while four persons sustained injuries.

“A tanker loaded with kerosene lost control and rammed into people and killed a lot of them from MCC Bus Stop down to Peace Motor Park gate.

“Seven dead people were deposited at Toronto Hospital Mortuar, and one other person we took to the hospital is still receiving treatment.

“Three other injured people are at Beater Hospital along Onitsha-Owerri Road.

“That is the number of causalities recorded by the Nigerian Red Cross Society,” Katchy said.

Also, an eyewitness told NAN that fuel tanker lost control at MCC bus stop along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and jumped from the expressway to the service lane.

The source said the tanker crushed everything on its way until it finally stopped inside a drainage.

“The tanker driver ran away immediately after the incident for fear of being mobbed,” the source added.

- DAILY POST

National identification number to be included in e-passport

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have resolved to include the National Identification Number (NIN) in the new e-passport.

The agencies made the resolution when Aliyu Aziz, director general of NIMC, visited Muhammad Babandede, comptroller general of the NIS, on Monday.  

Loveday Ogbonna, head corporate communications, NIMC, and Sunday James, public relations officer, NIS, said the resolution was based on a presidential directive.

When he unveiled the new e-passport on January 15, President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the NIN be inserted as additional data in the new passports.

The NIMC DG said the commission had upgraded its software and infrastructure to enable the generation of the NIN in just micro seconds, ensuring that applicants are successfully enrolled into the NIDB (National Identity Data Base).

“Few months ago, we had an issue that made NIN generation take up to hours and people had to come back the following day,” he was quoted to have said.

“However, right now it is instantaneous and that is the way we intend to maintain the system. The type of Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) we utilize makes sure that the NIN is unique –that is our only job.”

On his part, Babandede said the NIS is willing to accommodate NIMC in all its 44 diplomatic missions abroad and 42 locations in Nigeria to ensure that all legal residents in the country  are enrolled into the NIDB.

“We are ready to provide space for you to operate in our locations to facilitate real time online, integration,” he said.

“If an immigration officer touches the computer, he should be able to connect to NIMC real time online, get the number, so that he can issue a passport.”

- THECABLE

‘It’s touching to lose precious lives’ — Buhari speaks on collapsed building

President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathised with families of victims who lost their lives in the three-storey building that collapsed at Ita-Faaji, Lagos Island.

Speaking through Femi Adesina, his special adviser on media and publicity, the president said he is extremely saddened by the incident which left fatalities, particularly children.

The building, which houses a primary school on the second floor, caved in on Wednesday morning while pupils were in their classrooms.

At least 12 persons, including nine children, have been confirmed dead.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other rescue officials had rescued some of the children trapped in the building, while those who sustained injuries among the pupils were taken to the hospital.

The president wished the families God’s comfort and the injured speedy and complete recovery.

“It touches one to lose precious lives in any kind of mishap, particularly, those so young and tender,” the statement read.

“May God grant everyone affected by this sad incident fortitude and succour,”

Buhari commiserated with the Lagos state government and pledged assistance of the federal government as may be required by the state.

The president charged the state government to do “all that is needful, so that such tragic developments do not recur in future. “

- THECABLE

UEFA League final may affect England’s chances against Netherlands – Southgate

England’s preparations for their UEFA Nations League semi-final match against the Netherlands on June 6 could be thrown into disarray, national team manager Gareth Southgate has said.

Southgate said the team’s chances could be on the line if two English Premier League (EPL) clubs reach the UEFA Champions League final.

The UEFA Champions League final will be held in Madrid on June 1, with England set to play their semi-final in Portugal five days later.

This is certain to leave Southgate little time to work with his players.

“It could be a mess,” the 48-year-old told reporters. “Let’s say if two of our teams made it to the UEFA Champions League final then we wouldn’t see them, at best, until the Monday
before we play on the Thursday.

“And with the emotion of (the Champions League final), can those players even realistically play on the Thursday night for us?”

Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool are in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

It is the first time since 2009 that four clubs from England’s top flight have reached the competition’s last eight stage.

Southgate’s squad for this month’s European Championship qualifiers has 13 players from the four clubs, including Spurs striker Harry Kane, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and City
winger Raheem Sterling.

“They would all need a period where they would need to psychologically switch off,” Southgate added. “We’d have to look at UEFA Champions League final players when we get to it.

“It will be a little bit like the FIFA World Cup, in that players will finish at different times.”

England face the Czech Republic at Wembley on March 22, followed by a trip to Montenegro three days later.(Reuters/NAN)

OLAL

Real Madrid agree €50m deal for first summer signing under Zidane

Real Madrid have agreed a €50million (£42.6m) deal to sign Porto defender Eder Militao, Globo reports.

The 21-year-old has impressed for Porto, since arriving in a €4m (£3.5m) deal from Sao Paulo last summer.

He will now become Madrid’s first summer signing for Zinedine Zidane, after the Spanish club agreed to pay his €50m buyout clause

The report also claims that the Brazilian defender has agreed a six-year contract with the LaLiga giants and had a medical in Portugal on Monday.

Zidane returned to Madrid on Monday for his second stint as manager, following talks with the club’s president Florentino Perez.

It is understood that in order to convince Zidane to come back to the Santiago Bernabeu, Perez has agreed to overhaul the squad in the summer transfer window and has promised to spend in the region of £300m on new players.

- DAILY POST

CL : Lewandowski slams Bayern Munich tactics after 3-1 loss to Liverpool

Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski, has criticised Niko Kovac’s tactics, after they were sent crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

Lewandowski feels their approach in the 3-1 defeat was negative.

The reigning Bundesliga champions also struggled to score at Anfield in the first leg.

“Of course, we knew it would be a tough game.

“But in both games I think we played too defensive. We didn’t try to push forward to create situations – in the first game and today.

“We didn’t risk much, we were playing at home it was our game but that’s why I think Liverpool beat us. We were playing too deep, we didn’t take risks, I don’t know why.

“We tried to push Liverpool but offensively sometimes it was two against four players and that’s why we didn’t do much.

“I have a lot of duels today, it was very difficult because I was alone.

“If you are alone against two or three good players it’s very difficult to play,” Lewandowski told Viasport.

- DAILY POST

EFCC re-arraigns Saraki’s aide over alleged corruption

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday rearraigned Gbenga Makanjuola, a Deputy Chief of Staff to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, before Justice Maureen Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, accepting cash payment beyond threshold and money laundering to the tune of N3.5billion.

Makanjuola was charged alongside Kolawole Shittu, cashier to the Senate; Robert Chidozie Mbonu, a former Managing Director, Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria, who is at large; Melrose General Services Limited; and Obiora Amobi, Operation Manager, Melrose General Services Limited.

The EFCC had submitted a report to President Muhammadu Buhari linking the Senate President and some of his aides to the diversion of the sum of N19billion from the N522.74billion Paris Club refund.

At the resumption of hearing, EFCC counsel Bashir Kamil informed the court that today was slated for the re-arraignment of the defendants due to the transfer of Justice Babs Kuewumi, who was handling the case earlier.

Justice Onyetenu ordered that the charge be read to defendants for their plea to be taken.

One of the counts read: “That you, Gbenga Makanjuola, sometime in December 2016 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept cash payment of the sum of $500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only) from Kolawole Shittu without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.

“That you, Robert Chidozie Mbonu (now at large) and Melrose General Services Limited between the 14th day of December, 2016 and January 2017 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took control of the sum of N3,500,000,000.00 (Three Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira Only) transferred from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s account into Access Bank Plc account number 0005892453 by Melrose General Services Limited, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund represented the proceeds of lawful activities to wit-conspiracy, stealing and fraud, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (9) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by the Act No.1, 2012) and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, Bashir Kamil, the prosecution counsel, asked the court for a trial date.

However, Okwudili Anozie, counsel to the second and fourth defendants, holding the brief of Paul Erokoro (SAN), applied that the court should allow defendants continue on the bail earlier granted by Justice Babs Kuewumi who was transferred out of Lagos earlier this year.

Also, Omeoga Chukwu, counsel to the third defendant, urged the court to allow his client continue on the existing bail.

Consequently, Justice Maureen Onyetenu granted the defendant application to continue on the existing bail earlier granted and adjourned till May 20, 21 and 22 for trial.

- DAILY POST

INEC REC reveals how he turned down secret meeting abroad with politicians

Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Akwa Ibom state, has claimed that those accusing him of committing electoral fraud are people who tried to take him abroad for a secret meeting.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, have accused Igini of colluding with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to rig the election.

But in an interview with The Nation, Igini said his accusers wanted him to compromise the elections.

“The very people who wanted me to compromise are the ones who are accusing me. They are the ones who wanted me to travel abroad to hold a secret meeting with them and I said no.

“I said why do you want to go abroad and discuss the affairs of an electoral process outside Nigeria? Why do you want me to enter aeroplane and go to where? If you want to have a meeting with me, come to my office.

“Since I have been in this state, anybody who says he has given me pure water, let him or her come forward and say so. All those who contested the elections whether in PDP or APC or any party, I don’t know them other than their lists of the names.

“As I speak to you, I don’t have their contacts, even those who won. If I see them on the way, I won’t recognise them,” he said.

Igini also said the era of “writing fictitious results are over”.

According to him, apart from 1999, no genuine elections had been conducted in the state until the last one under his watch.

“In Akwa Ibom, apart from 1999, they have not been delivering ballot papers results sheets to polling units.

“They have been writing results in Akwa Ibom state. There were no genuine elections in the state and I said there has to be a paradigm shift to the side of the will of the people,” Igini added.

- DAILY POST