By Charles Igbo
The unprecedented has happened in Anambra State.
Reports allege that gunmen have invaded a Hospital in Nkpologwu and abducted five new born babies. They also went away with yet to be washed blood-stained wrappers used in the Labour room.
The Hospital is identified as Stanley Hospital.
This is a developing story.
There is no confirmation yet from the State Police Command or the Anambra State Government.
By Akinwale Kasali
48 hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, announced Cash Withdrawal Limits, which has generated negative reactions, the House of Representatives has summoned CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to explain motive behind the initiative.
The National Assembly had criticized the new policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria which, among others, sets limits to cash withdrawals at the Deposit Money Banks and other financial institutions.
The summon was based on a motion of urgent public importance moved by a member of the House, Aliyu Magaji, at the plenary on Thursday.
A large number Of the Lawmakers had warned that the policy would have serious consequences and adverse effects on businesses and Nigerians who have no access to the banking system.
But Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority Leader in the House has a contrary opinion. According to him, the policy would check crimes as funds would now be tracked through the banking system. He said though the timing might be wrong, the country would benefit more from it.
By Akinwale Kasali
General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, has disclosed that the Military is under constant and immense pressure from certain quarters to compromise the forthcoming election.
Irabor made this disclosure at the 61st session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, where answering questions fielded by journalists.
Irabor stressed that Military personnel face pressure through inducements, but the armed forces would remain apolitical as it is taking necessary measures to ensure compliance with the directive of the President Muhammadu Buhari to maintain neutrality.
Irabor said personnel are being trained to be more professional even as the rules of engagement have been codified for distribution before, during, and after the elections.
Speaking further, the CDS revealed that several Military rescue operations and negotiations have led to the freeing of at least 300,000 people from the hands of their abductors since 2014 while refugees who fled the North-East due to insurgency, have started to return.
He said that former insurgents, now being trained, would graduate in February next year before their reintegration into the society. He added that the Military is recruiting more personnel into all branches of the security services.
The goal, Irabor said, is to increase the number of on-the-ground personnel to combat insurgency and banditry and curtail oil theft which will eventually lead to increased crude oil production.
By Ayodele Oni
After seven days in kidnappers den, Oba Clement Jimoh Olukotun, the Oloso of Oso, in Ajowa- Akoko, Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State has regained his freedom from abductors.
The 66-year old Monarch, was abducted at his residence last week by gunmen, who forced their way into the Palace and shot sporadically before whisking him away.
During the seige on the Palace, which happened around 10pm, the gunmen destroyed the main door with gunshots before accessing the residence to abduct the Royal Father.
The kidnappers later contacted the family last week Saturday and demanded a sum of N100 million ransom to free the Monarch from where he was being held hostage.
A family source confirmed on Thursday, that the kidnappers were paid a sum of N10 million before the Traditional Ruler was let off the hook.
After receiving the amount to secure his release, the source revealed that Oba Olukotun, was dropped by the abductors between Kabba and Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State around 10pm on Wednesday.
He added that the Monarch is presently receiving medicare at a public hospital in Lokoja, which was necessitated by his weariness, having been held captive for seven days.
His words: “Kabiyesi has been released. He was released around N10pm yesterday. That was the exact time the family was contacted all the way from Kogi State, where he was dropped between Kabba and Lokoja.
“The abductors collected a sum of N10m ransom being money raised by Government , colleague- Monarchs, Chiefs of our town and our successful children who are based abroad.
“Our Kabiyesi is in the hospital in Lokoja, where he is being treated, because he has become weary and needed medical treatment to regain strength.
“He will soon reunite with the family here in Oso-Ajowa by the grace of God.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo State Command, Mrs Funmilayo Omisanya confirmed the release of the monarch.
She, however, said she was unaware whether ransom was paid to secure the release of Oba Olukotun.
By Ayodele Oni
The All Progressive Congress (APC) faction loyal to former Governor Gboyega Oyetola in Osun state has welcomed the decision of its rival faction, The Osun Progressive, (TOP) to return to the fold.
Chairman of the faction, Sooko Taju Lawal said in Osogbo that members are not averse to genuine reconciliation being canvassed by leaders of TOP in the state.
The Osun Progressives (TOP) loyal to the Minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had in Osogbo on Tuesday, announced its dissolution and return to the mainstream.
Former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Folasayo Salaam who is a chieftain of the TOP announced the dissolution of the body with a disclosure that it has the blessing of Aregbesola, the who is the patron of the group.
Salaam hinted that it was the resolve of the dissolved TOP leaders to move the party forward in the state that necessitated their calling for truce.
In his response to the development, Sooko Lawal, the State Acting Chairman of the party, in a statement stated that he saluted the courage of the dissolved leaders and members of the group to tow the line of peace, which has no alternative for political stability, tranquility and improved fortune of the APC.
“The state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun received the news of the decision by ‘The Osun Progressives (TOP)’ to formally disband the group and the factional executives at all levels of the party in the state with an open arm which, it is believed, would translate to the reinvigoration of the party in all ramifications.
“The decision of TOP to tow the path of working with the mainstream is a welcome development as our leader, the immediate-past Governor Gboyega Oyetola, is also favourably disposed to any genuine and authentic reconciliation.
“Therefore, we call on all members of the now disbanded group to reintegrate with the party at their respective wards and local government and join in the party’s activities towards the 2023 General Elections in respect of the Presidential, National and State Assemblies Election.”
The Acting Chairman disclosed to the dissolved TOP members and leaders that it’s the more, the merrier in politics as it’s a game of numbers.
“On behalf of the state leadership of our party, current state executive committee of our party and the entire leaders and members of our party across the state, I hereby state that we are not opposed to a genuine reconciliation.
“If one does not forget the injustices of yesterday, it will be pretty difficult to have playmates.”
Lawal however, disclosed that the party executive under his watch would initiate and call a meeting anytime it is deemed necessary for such meeting.
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.”
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
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.”
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.
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.
