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DHQ Denies Terminating 10,000 Boko Haram Pregnancies

By
James Orji
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The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has denied a report by Reuters that mass abortions were carried out on female victims of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa, ISAWP.

The new agency had reported on Wednesday that the Nigerian Army carried out the abortions against the wishes of the women for which at least 10,000 pregnancies were allegedly terminated illegally.

Reacting, the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Jimmy Akpor DHQ, described the report as false and concocted, adding that it was cruel on the part of Reuters to make such a weight allegation against the Nigerian Military.

According to a statement he signed, Akpor said the news agency went too low as such was not expected from a ‘renowned’ news medium.

The statement read in part: “It took Reuters 13 solid years to craft an allegation of infanticide against the Nigerian military and the Nigerian nation. This shows that a news agency as “renowned” as Reuters is itself complicit in failing in its mandate to draw attention to and inform the public about supposed occurrences that violate not only the laws of armed conflict but also international humanitarian law.

“Let us analyse the period from July 2021 to November 2022. A total of 82,064 Boko Haram fighters and family members have surrendered to Operation Hadin Kai troops. Out of this number, 16,553 were active male fighters, 24,446 were women, and 41,065 were children.

“The Borno State Government is camping and accommodating them family-by-family, as per households, without having to separate the children from their parents.

“In the same camp are thousands of pregnant women and nursing mothers. A total of 262 babies were born within 4 months (94 in July, 98 in August, 60 in September, and 11 in October 2022). This figure comprises 150 female and 112 male children. The children were neither aborted nor yanked from their mothers.

“Hmmm! wickedness really runs in the veins of some people, and it surely runs deep in the veins of the Reuters team that concocted such evil for interrogation.”

Reuters in the report claimed that the investigation was based on the accounts of witnesses among them 33 victims, hospital staff, and security officials, as well as documents gathered.

According to the report, “Since at least 2013, the Nigerian Army has run a secret, systematic, and illegal abortion programme in the country’s northeast, terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls, many of whom had been kidnapped and raped by Islamist militants, according to dozens of witness accounts and documentation reviewed by Reuters.

“The abortions were mostly carried out without the person’s consent—and often without their prior knowledge, according to the witness accounts. The women and girls ranged in age from a few weeks to eight months pregnant, and some were as young as 12 years old, interviews and records showed.

“This investigation is based on interviews with 33 women and girls who say they underwent abortions while in the custody of the Nigerian Army. Only one person stated that she freely consented. Reporters also interviewed five civilian healthcare workers and nine security personnel involved in the programme, including soldiers and other government employees such as armed guards engaged in escorting pregnant women to abortion sites. In addition, Reuters reviewed copies of military documents and civilian hospital records describing or tallying thousands of abortion procedures.”

Shock As Pastor Oritsejiofor And Wife Helen, Part Ways

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Pastor Ayo Oritsejiofor and his wife Helen.

By Adesina Soyooye

Christendom in Nigeria has been shaken to its foundation by the news of the separation of Pastor Ayo Oritsejiofor and his wife, Helen.

Popularly called Mama and Papa, both have been married to each other for 25 years. They have now gone their separate ways. And the Pastor has again become a confirmed bachelor at old age.

Both of them were noted for their loud, flamboyant dress sense,  public display of love and loved up photographs which they usually flaunted.

Rumors that their marriage has broken down began many months ago.

Mrs Oritsejiofor had, in a Whatsaap message, early in tye year, accused her husband, Pastor Oritsejiofor, of wanting her dead. No reason was stated.

Nobody can put a finger on what the problem was. But whatever, it was bitter, and defied all moves at reconciliation. Sources allege that infidelity, on the part of the beautiful Helen, may not be ruled out.

Mama Helen, it is alleged, has relocated to Britain with their children, while Pastor Oritsejiofor, who allegedly moved out of their matrimonial home has moved back since after Helen’s relocation.

The renowned Pastor married Helen following the death of his first wife.

Pastor Oritsejiofor was the powerful and influential President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, a position he was appointed to in 2010.

Ayo Oritsejiofor is the founder and Senior Pastor of Warri, Delta State-based Word of Life Bible Church

Those That Looted Osun Govt House – Fmr Governor Reveals

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Immediate Governor of Osun state, Gboyega Oyetola has alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s men are behind the looting of Government House, Osogbo.

A spokesman of the former Governor expressed disappointment at the false alarm by Adeleke’s men who, according to him, should have been ordinarily guided by the record of the inventory taken before the formal handover of the items in Governor’s lodge and Presidential quarters in Government House respectively.

The spokesman, Ismael Omipidan averred that it was unGodly for Adeleke’s loyalists to have raised empty alarm over an illicit action taken by them, saying it is on record that the new government took over the possession of the Government House a day to the inauguration of Ademola Adeleke.

Addressing a Press Conference on Wednesday in Osogbo, Omipidan described the looting allegation as not only ridiculous but sarcastic as it was intended to soil the reputable image of his principal.

Omipidan slammed Adeleke and his men for their failure to protect all the items bequeathed to them by the administration of Oyetola, just as he queried why it took them 72 hours after they had formally taken over the property before raising obnoxious allegation of looting.

He asserted that all the items alleged to have been carted away were intact as at the time of handing over, saying “if there was any looting as being claimed by the agents of the new government, then we should look in their direction.”

Omipidan who described his principal as a man of impeccable character, asked “how on earth any right-thinking person will accuse him of stealing things as cheap as  spoons, methylated spirit, cooker and emptying the First Aid Box?”

He said his principal stopped sleeping in the Government House on Saturday, November 19, 2022 and by November 26, 2022, an inventory was conducted in company of DSS officials who were attached to the Government House. Go back

According to Omipidan, in the DSS report dated November 26, 2022, and titled: “INVENTORY OF ITEMS IN OSUN STATE GOVERNOR’S AND PRESIDENTIAL LODGES,”  it is reported that, “On 26th November, 2022, about 1400houre, a team of the Protocol Department, Osun State Governor’s Office, Abere, led by Mr. FALODE, in company of two(2) officers of the Department of State Services (DSS), namely Usman ADEDIRAN and Sunday Posu, painstakingly took the inventory of items in the above mentioned places.

“The items were thereafter handed over to A. UMALE and Pius AKPAN, DSS personnel and security details of the new Governor, ADEMOLA ADELEKE without any complaint.

“It is further noteworthy that nothing suggests that any of the items in the buildings was carted away, as all were intact as at the time of handing over.

” And they went further to list the items one by one, covering 8 pages. In the inventory, among the items listed are: 6 Face Big Gas Cooker with Oven and 4 Face Kenstar Cooker with Oven among others.

“It is, therefore, ridiculous to accuse my Principal of taking away spoons, cooker and methylated spirit. From the foregoing, if there was any looting as being claimed by the agents of the new government, then we should look in their direction.

“They cannot take over, and then come to raise alarm 72 hours later that there was looting in the same place where they held their inauguration party on Sunday, November 27.”

CNPP Tackles Critics Of New CBN Withdrawal Limits, Says Getting Leadership Right Is Worth Every Sacrifice

By
The Source
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Chief Willy Ezugwu

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said that critics of the new cash withdrawal limits imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are missing the key gains of the policy, especially ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP stated that “Nigerians are suffering today because of bad governance and every sacrifice towards getting the right leadership into offices from 2023 is worth it.

“Bad governance is a product of Nigeria’s flawed electoral processes over the years which threw bad and corrupt leaders on the masses. This became the case as a result of highly monetised electoral processes.

“But, any process that will minimize the domination of the Nigerian political space by moneybags and corrupt politicians, is worth whatever sacrifices by the ordinary citizens, who bear the brunts of bad governance the most.

“Secondly, information available in public domain shows how several millions, if not billions, of naira notes got mutilated and became of no use where the country’s thieving leaders stashed the cash, thereby denying the economy, especially the banks the liquidity for productive enterprise.

“Poor fiscal policies in the country over the years is as a result of having the wrong persons in public offices due to electoral process that abhors level playing ground.

“Therefore, the CBN should be commended, rather than criticised for the fresh cash withdrawal limits.

“Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the CBN Governor is unarguably the hero of Nigerian democracy and champion of good governance by virtue of the twin policies of redesigning of the naira notes and the reviewed cash withdrawal limits, with a perfect timing of the dates for implementations.

“The CNPP urges the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, and by extention, all security agencies and anti-graft bodies to act swiftly to ensure that no politician or highly placed individual influences banks to circumvent the cash withdrawal policy.

“We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the CBN policy on cash control as part of efforts to secure the future of the country, particularly ahead of the 2023 general elections”, the CNPP stated.

LAHA Explains Why Bill On Surrogacy, Human Fertilisation Is Important In Lagos; Stakeholders Commend Bill

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Mudashiru Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State House of Assembly has explained the importance of Surrogacy and Human Fertilisation Bill in the State. The House said that a complex State like Lagos deserves such Law to regulate its practices and other related areas.

During a Stakeholders’ meeting on the Bill, Wednesday, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the State deserved a law as regards surrogacy, human fertilisation and other related areas.

Obasa stressed that it is necessary to work towards provision of a legal framework for regulating surrogacy in the State, adding that the bill will further seek the prohibition of certain practices in connection with embryos and gametes.

Desmond Elliot, a Lawmaker in the House who represented the Speaker noted that the proposed law would give a ‘human face’ to the practice by experts in the field and add to the advancement of Lagos.

“Lagos State has consistently grown since 1999 when we birthed the current democracy. Today, we remain proud to say that we are in a State that has become a good example to others in terms of governance, advancement in thoughts and actions and good leadership.

“The bill being discussed today is another example of good thinking and effective leadership,” the Speaker said.

He promised that the opinions and contributions of the stakeholders, including those from the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) sector would be considered by the House in passing the bill.

Obasa noted that the bill would address the controversies and litigations associated with surrogacy and related matters in the society.

The Chairman of the Committee on Health Services, Hon. Sokunle Hakeem, urged the stakeholders to submit memoranda that would help the passage of the bill into law.

Hon. Victor Akande, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, has an overview saying that the proposed law is to help ensure that surrogacy is practised responsibly and in accordance with the law.

Contributing to the discuss, Prof. Osato Ona Frank Giwa-Osagie, founder of OMNI Medical Clinic and expert in In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), urged the House to ensure that a comprehensive legislation about Assisted Reproductive Technology to make for effective enforcement.

He applauded Lagos for being a leading State in the health sector in Nigeria.

He also implored the House to incorporate the regulations of Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) into the bill.

Congratulating the House Committee on Health Services for the effort, he appealed to the House to incorporate professionals, especially where technicalities arise in the consideration of the bill.

On his part, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) and President of the Academy of Medicine Specialities of Nigeria, also urged the House to bridge the laws from HEFAMAA to create an enabling surrogacy law.

The founder of Met Surrogate Mothers Agency, Mrs. Olaronke Thaddeus, suggested that the bill should include surrogacy agencies as the latter is the registered practitioners that connect intending parents to surrogate candidates.

Highlighting that the rights of women and children must be protected as they are the key candidates in surrogacy, Dr. Ivie Omoruyi of the Blossom & Oasis RHS, opined that children and women must be factored in the bill.

Contributing also, Ogunmade Ty-Lolu, CEO, Precious Conceptions and beneficiary of surrogacy, who shared the depressing and traumatic experience she had for 13 years before going for surrogacy in India, suggestee that the five-year limit before couples can engage in surrogacy be expunged from the bill.

She also spoke on the importance of considering the society as surrogacy is not just for experts and practitioners, but for the society.

While commending the participants, Hon. Adebisi Yusuff, a member of the House, stated that the laws of the Lagos Assembly gives the State the legislative backing it needs to be better.

Speaking at the meeting, the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, noted: “We have one of the best parliamentary system in Africa and our laws have been requested and replicated even by some countries. We should be proud of this advancement and be certain that the inputs and memorandum you (the stakeholders) have submitted today will be considered in the bill.”

Commending the House, Prof. Ashiru assured that the society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, are anxious for the passage of the bill with their contributions included.

He promised to support its engagement and enforcement.

Legislative Aides Perform Duty Of Law Making – Chairman National Assembly Commission

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Ahmed Amish

By Ayodele Oni

Chairman, National Assembly Commission (NASC)  Ahmed Amish and the Acting Clerk, Alhaji Sani Tambuwal, have highlighted the roles of legislative aides in law making process.

The Clerk declared that “The role of aides in the legislature revolves around analysing constitutional provisions and drafting letters.”

The chairman, NASC said  “The lawmakers are so busy. They hardly have time to go through the laws, it is you, the legislative aides that have to go through every process of lawmaking.

The National Assembly legislative aides have therefore been assured of regular payment of their entitlements.

They gave the assurance in Abuja  at the 2022 Induction/Orientation programme for legislative aides to senators and members of House of Representatives.

The event was organised by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) with the theme “Basic Lawmaking Processes and Procedures for Effective and Efficient Legislative Aides Performance”.

In his remarks, Tambuwal, who underscored the role of legislative aides in lawmaking said that he would ensure that effort would be to address their welfare.

“I will work hard to meet your demands. The National Assembly under my leadership is highly committed to the welfare of both staff and legislative aides.

“I will work assiduously to ensure that all demands you are pursuing with the Federal Ministry of Finance, in the shortest period will be realized.

“I want to assure you that with the support of the management of the National Assembly, I will ensure that you have an environment conducive for working to discharge your responsibility effectively.”

The acting clerk also said that the workshop was timely and apt, taking into consideration and understanding the basis of law-making processes and procedures which was among the core role of legislative aides.

“The role of aides in the legislature revolves around analysing constitutional provisions and drafting letters.

“This shows clearly the need to undertake this induction/training programmes toward value addition to self, legislators, constituents and our dear country.

“Let me express my appreciation for the good work the commission has been doing to support the National Assembly toward delivering its mandate.

“This is because a lot has been achieved not only in area of training legislative aides, but also in the recruitment, promotion and disciplining of the staff in the national assembly.

“Let me assure the commission of our unflinching loyalty and commitment to effectively serve legislators and the good people of Nigeria in the discharge of our duty.

“Our dear legislative aides and personal assistants, the task before you will surely add value to self and country.

“Kindly take advantage and privilege of this training and ensure that you are not left behind.

“I hope and pray that at the end of the induction, the National Assembly will witness a great improvement in the services toward better legislative processes, procedures, and democratic development of Nigeria,” he said.

NASC Executive Chairman, Ahmed Amish said that the commission had, over time, taken the issue of training and retraining to develop the capacity of staff and personal aides to lawmakers.

“This is because we have the belief that in law-making, it is not the lawmakers that always prepare the laws, it is you, aides, that prepare everything for the lawmakers.

“This is to enable your principals to be equipped to stand in the assembly and deliberate on the processes of law-making in the assembly.”

Reno Omokri Arrested In London

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Reno Omokri Attested in London

By Adesina Soyooye

One of the Spokespersons for the Atiku Campaign Organization, Reno Omokri has been arrested.

Omokri was arrested on Tuesday by the Police in London for, allegedly, constituting himself into a public nuisance at Chatham  House.

Omokri led scores of people  to Chatham House where the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, was scheduled to address, and take questions from the audience, on his plans for Nigeria, should he win the 2023 Presidential election to protest, vehemently, Tinubu’s presence at the venue.

Carrying placards, with messages against Tinubu, they also called Tinubu names.

However, there were, also, some pro-Tinubu placard- bearing people at the venue to counter Omokri and group.

Tinubu later, however, carried on with the business for which he was there, and later danced to Kizz Daniel’s Buga, at lunch, with his entourage.

West Africa Elders’ Forum Says Nigeria’s 2023 Election, Significant For Africa’s Stability

By
The Source
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0

The West Africa Elders’  Forum has called Nigerians to ensure that the 2023 elections are credible and conducted in a violence-free atmosphere. The forum says this will signal to the rest of the region that democracy has come to stay and discourage the trend of democratic recession in West Africa.

Head of the WAEF Pre-election Mediation Mission and former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, stated this at a news conference while presenting the forum’s post-mission statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Koroma emphasized that the 2023  general election in Nigeria is of great significance for West Africa and the entire African continent.

His words: “we call on all Nigerians to exercise their rights to civic participation both before and during the coming elections without fear while also respecting the rights of others to do the same.

Our region, West Africa, of late, has experienced some reversal in democratic practice with unconstitutional changes of government in some countries. At the heart of the instability within the sub-region are the issue of disputed elections and citizen disaffection.

“The 2023 general elections in Nigeria is crucial not just for Nigeria alone but for West Africa and the African continent. “They are the first of three to be held in the region next year. The successful conduct of peaceful, credible, inclusive, free and fair elections here will set a good example for others.

“This will not only send a message that democracy is here to stay in West Africa but will also resuscitate hope at a time when the sub-region is plagued with various challenges.

“The WAEF will stay engaged and accompany the process before, during and after the general elections until a smooth and peaceful transition is achieved.

Koroma further noted that although some stakeholders expressed some concerns and misgivings towards the forthcoming polls, the mission got assurances from relevant authorities that all concerns would be adequately addressed ahead of the elections.

He said: “We note that although some stakeholders expressed some concerns and misgivings, we were assured by relevant authorities that all concerns will be adequately addressed ahead of the elections.

“We are optimistic that a secure and free environment and a level playing field will be guaranteed for all citizens and political actors, irrespective of political affiliations.

“The Independent Electoral Commission assured us that the permanent voters’ cards of all new registrants are ready, and distribution at the local government offices will commence on Monday, 12th December 2022.

We urge all who registered recently to use the opportunity to take the initiative to collect their PVCs.”

2023: Respite For Tinubu As Court Dismisses Suit Challenging His Candidacy

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola is standing solid, as a Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja dismissed a suit by a Right Advocate and APC stalwart, Ngozika Ihuoma.

She had dragged Tinubu alongside the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to Court on June 9 for allegedly violating extant Electoral Laws few days after the former Lagos State Governor won the APC Presidential Primary.

In the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/854/2022, the two Presidential Candidates were sued alongside their parties, Independent National Electoral Commission and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The petitioner, Ihuoma, had sought for six reliefs, which included INEC barring Tinubu from contesting the 2023 presidential election.

Babatunde Ogala (SAN)  who is the defense Counsel for the APC filed a counter affidavit in opposition to the originating summons and a notice of preliminary objection.

In dismissing the case, Justice Fadima Muritala described the plaintiff as a “meddlesome interloper having no locus standi to institute the suit.”

He, therefore, dismissed the case for being speculative after APC’s counsel, Julius Ishola Esq, from Babatunde Ogala had urged the court to dismiss it with heavy cost for wasting judicial time.

It was the fourth case to be dismissed by the court in recent times.

Reacting in a statement he issued, the Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, said that the counter affidavit challenged Ihuoma’s locus standi and grounds for the action.

He said, “The counter affidavit also punctured Ihuoma’s case as academic, theoretical and an abuse of court process. The court on Monday upheld the defense counsel’s objections and struck out the case.

“In the last couple of weeks, the courts have dismissed several cases brought against Asiwaju Tinubu by opposition elements, including Action Alliance, for being frivolous, lacking in merit and abuse of court processes.”

Edo Fire Incidents : State Govt Reacts, Says Handiwork Of APC

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Government has swiftly taken on the main opposition party, the All Progressive Congress,(APC) in the State, accusing it of complicity in fire incidents that gutted major markets in the State capital, Benin City.

The APC had earlier fingered the State Government over of possible involvement in the “annual market fire outbreak that has wrecked major markets in Benin-city.”

Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare in a press release in Benin City, Wednesday, said “the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed our strong suspicion that they are responsible or at least complicit in the Lagos Street, Benin fire of yesterday and similar fire incidents that have happened in eve or during electioneering campaigns season in the past, in our State.

“The coincidence of the timing of these unwarranted fires is cause for concern. Edo State government strongly believe that the APC must be involved.

“Prior to the 2020 gubernatorial election, Eki Osa, Santana and Oba Markets were set on fire as confirmed  by the spokesman of the APC, John Mayaki.

“In fact traders in Ekiosa Market told journalists then that the fire was the handiwork of mischief makers, at a time the APC was aggressively looking for ways to blackmail Governor Godwin Obaseki and dent his high popularity ratings weeks before the election.

“It would interest you to know that since after the last gubernatorial election in Edo State, there hasn’t been any market fire.

“Now that elections are coming again, the APC has resorted to one of its devilish and inhuman tactics and has started with the Lagos Street fire incident.

“Burning down markets is not a way to resurrect a dead political party that has manufactured unprecedented levels of poverty for Nigerians.

“The APC and their collaborators should desist from this life of crime. Arson is a crime punishable by jail time. Both sponsors and perpetrators are equally liable.

“We advise the youths not to allow themselves to be used to sabotage our mothers and fathers in the markets and in the larger society.

“The relevant agencies of government have commenced investigations  into the Lagos Street fire incident and no stones will be left unturned in the process because enough is enough.

“Col Imuse Rtd, APC State Chairman and Mr. John Mayaki, Chairman of Edo Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Presidential Campaign Council are persons of interest and should be invited to help with the investigation of not just this fire, but all previous market fires on the eve of elections in Edo State.”

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