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As Over 10,000 Doctors Leaves Nigeria, NMA Seeks State Of Emergency In Health Sector

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Apparently worried by continued deterioration of the health sector in the country, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has called on the Federal and State Governments to declare a State of Emergency on the nation’s Health Care Sector in order to protect welfare of the citizenry.

The Association described as alarming the high brain drain hitting the sector in the last seven years when 10,296 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria, left the country to currently practice in the United Kingdom.

The National President of the Association, DR. Uche Ojinmah, who spoke through the Ondo State Chairman of NMA, Dr Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, made this declaration at a press briefing in Akure on Tuesday, to mark the 2022 Physicians’ Week.

According to the NMA President, “let me inform you all that the Nigerian doctors are poorly paid, over worked, lack necessary work tools and have become target for kidnap.

“We as Nigerian doctors have been taken from the lofty heights of nobility to nothingness by the neglect and possible disdain for the health sector by successive governments.

“The penchant of State governments for seizing or slashing our salaries and paying it piecemeal at their convenience without interest has become a subject of folklore and hence cannot be allowed to continue. On the need to review CONMESS, let me inform you that the ball is now in court of the Government and they are foot-dragging.

“Let no one take our civility for weakness as we shall do all within limits of legality to protect the interest of the Nigerian doctor while the Government continues in their “search” for obvious reasons behind medical brain drain.

“It is a heartbreaking situation for Nigerian doctors because review of CONMESS has been due since 2014 based on the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement we signed with the Government which stipulated a review after five years.

“We hereby call on all well-meaning citizens and statesmen to intervene now and not blame doctors later.

The theme of this year’s Physicians’ Week (Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery System and The 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time To Change The Narrative) is in tandem with the most important upcoming event in Nigeria.

“The sub-themes, Mitigating The Impact Of Brain Drain On The Dwindling Human Resource For Health In Nigeria and Health Sector Reforms In The Face Of Emerging Public Health Threats, were chosen as continued reminder to our Governments that things are falling apart in the health sector.

“The era of blind loyalty is over. Let us all patiently wait to hear the plans of the presidential candidates for Nigeria especially in the Health sector before pitching our political support tent. On the sub-themes; the issue of progressive depletion of human resource for health cannot be over emphasized.

“With the recent article from online Punch Newspaper of 9th October 2022 titled “200 Nigerian Doctors Move to UK in One Month”, the fact that checks on the website of the General Medical Council (GMC), the body which licenses and maintains the official register of medical practitioners in the UK, showed that the GMC licensed at least 200 Nigerian-trained doctors between August 31, 2022, and September 30, 2022 was revealed.

“The statistics also showed that between January 1, 2022 and September 30, 2022, about 1,307 doctors trained in Nigeria were licensed in the UK as Nigeria continues to battle one of the worst situations of brain drain in its history. ‘Overall, 10,296 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria currently practize in the UK.

“Dispersion of the emigration data for Nigeria trained doctors to UK is as follows: 233 in 2015, 279 in 2016, 475 in 2017, 852 in 2018, 1,347 in 2019, 833 in 2020 inspite of COVID Pandemic and 932 in 2021 during recovery from COVID.

“Currently, Nigeria has the third highest number of foreign doctors working in the UK after India and Pakistan.

“Meanwhile, while we are losing our human resource for health in geometric progression, Lassa Viral Hemorrhagic fever, Malaria, COVID, Ebola, Marburg, etc are still very much available in the face of worsening incidences of Systemic Hypertension with or without complications, Diabetes mellitus with or without complications, osteoarthritis, etc.

“We call on our Governments to quickly declare emergency action in Nigeria’s health sector for the sake of her citizens.

“Despite the national drawbacks, the Nigerian doctor has a lot to celebrate this week just for being alive. Let me also inform you all that we had a very successful outing in Berlin at the General Assembly of the World Medical Association (WMA).

“I’m glad to inform you that our past president Dr. Osahon Enabulele has taken over as the president of the World Medical Association. We have confidence in his ability to lead WMA well and hence project Nigeria positively to the world.”

Postings Of 21 Justices At Court Of Appeal, Routine Exercise – Chief Registrar

By
Ayodele Oni
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Court of Appeal Abuja

By Ayodele Oni

The Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja has clarified that the transfer of some of its Justices recently was normal administrative postings.

Twenty one Justices of the appellate court were transferred to various divisions in the country immediately the Abuja branch discharged and acquitted the leader of Independent People’s of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu thus fuelling insinuations that the outcome of the judgement led to their transfer.

The Chief Registrar of the Court Mohammed Bangari, in a statement on Tuesday insisted that the transfers have nothing to do with the judgment  of the Court that discharged and quashed the terrorism charges against the leader of the proscribed IPOB.

Contrary to a report in a section of the media, the Appellate Court said that the postings of 21 out of its 81 Justices  were routine exercise aimed at reinvigorating the justice delivery of the Court.

Bangari denied the media report that the three Justices who delivered the October 13 judgment that ordered the release of Kanu from detention were transferred.

In the statement he personally signed, the Chief Registrar said that only one Justice out of the three that handled Kanu’s matter was affected by the postings.

“The attention of the Court of Appeal has been drawn to a publication in the media on Monday October 24, 2022 with a caption “Nnamdi Kanu: 3 Justices on Appeal Court Panel Transferred.

“The publication in question conveyed the innuendo to the effect that the recent postings of Justices of the Court of Appeal were in connection with or in response to the judgment of the Court of 13th October 2022 in Nnamdi Kanu Versus the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We wish to state categorically that the general postings of the Justices of the Court of Appeal under reference were routine and aimed at reinvigorating the justice delivery system of the Court.

“In fact, 21 out of 81 Justices including 6 Presiding Justices of the Court were affected by the general postings.

“It is therefore incorrect to insinuate that the Honourable Justices who delivered the judgment in the Nnamdi Kanu appeal were the targets of the routine posting exercise.

“A few minutes of inquiry by the media could have clarified the fact.

“We appeal to the media to exercise restraint and circumspection in reporting matters pertaining to the Court and its operations.

“The Court of Appeal has an open door policy of providing easy access to the media to make inquiries and seek clarification on any matters of interest to the media for the benefit of the general public.”

2023: Reject Presidency By Proxy – Obi-Datti Media Office Tells Nigerians; Condemns Use Of Govt Plane By Mrs Tinubu

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Media Campaign Office of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has responded, strongly,  to a bait thrown at Obi by the Spokesperson of the APC Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, SAN.

A son of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Seyi Tinubu, had held a political rally for his father, Bola Tinubu, in Lagos.

Following that, Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour, had asked Obi to get his own son to hold a rally for him in Anambra.

However, the Obi -Datti Media Campaign Office has laughed at such suggestion, and told Keyamo that “Obi’s family is not part of his politics. They are running their lives, contributing to development without nearing public funds. They are no parasites to Government funds.

“The LP candidate, Peter Obi, is the man seeking the mandate of the Nigerian people to serve them as President not any other member of his family. He has said it repeatedly that Nigerians must reject anybody desiring to be President by proxy.

“It is dangerous and discomforting when we cannot differentiate public funds from family and private funds, and a serving Minister of the Republic is defending and celebrating it.”

The full text of the statement reads:

“The attention of the Obi-Datti Media Campaign office has been drawn to a challenge thrown to the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi by one of the opponents attack dogs, the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo for his son to organize a successful campaign rally in his state Anambra akin to what APC flag bearer’s son Seyi Tinubu did for his Dad in Lagos.

“But the attack dog forgot to differentiate the two sons, and their fathers.

“The only thing that joins Obi and Tinubu is that they were once governors of States in Nigeria. After that, one became a parasite to the State Government he served with his entire family while the the other left Government House and he and any members of his family never collected a dime from Anambra state. This assertion is verifiable for Keyamo and his other hirelings.

“Unlike Tinubu and his household who have grown to be stupendously  wealthy with no identifiable industry or means of making money outside the State Government for over two decades.

“If Keyamo had taken time to study the family he speaks for very well, he would have avoided this comparison that is bound to expose the parasitic life of his Principal and understand why the entire household is headlong in the campaign.

“The other time Tinubu’s wife, Senator Remi was threatening fire and brimstone over Lagos, then the daughter and now the son is showing off with rally. Do you blame a people struggling to keep a family business? The Tinubu family have cornered the commonwealth of Lagos state which they now run as a family enterprise.

“Obi’s family is not part of his politcs, they are running their lives, contributing to development without  nearing public funds.

“Obi-Datti Media office also noticed that Tinubu’s wife and some parasitic First Ladies took government airplane to campaign spots because they can hardly exist without government patronage.

“The LP Candidate, Peter Obi is the man seeking the mandate of the Nigerian people to serve them as President not any other member of his family. He has said it repeatedly that Nigerians must reject anybody desiring to be President by proxy.

“We, therefore, join our candidate to demand that candidates, not their wives , sons or daughters are seeking for the peoples votes and they should be scrutinized by the people.

“It’s dangerous and discomforting when we cannot differentiate public funds from family and private funds and a serving Minister of the Republic is defending and celebrating it.

“But that is exactly what Nigerian youths through the Obidient Movement are out to halt through their take back Nigeria mantra.”

Institute Presses For National Council On Public Procurement; Meets Senate Committee

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has called for the setting up of the National Council On Public Procurement.

Besides, the institute also called on the National Assembly to amend the 2007 Act establishing the institute, to enable it change name.

The President of the Institute, Mr Ado Jibrin made the call when he led a delegation of the institute on a courtesy visit to the chairman of Senate Committee on Public Procurement, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha in Abuja.

He said that the members of the institute were on the visit to discuss areas “That we feel is important for the National Assembly to come together so that we rescue the problems of purchasing in the country.”

Jibrin pointed out that the institute sought an amendment to the 2007 Act to enable it change name from Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria to Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain Management.

“We are pleading with them that we will forward a private bill to ensure we have our name changed.”

In his contribution, the Registrar of the Institute, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, said the need for a name change has become imperative and in line with global trends.

“The purpose of the visit to the Senate Committee Chairman on Public Procurement is to request for an amendment to Act 14 establishing the Institute in 2007.

“It will make it to tally with what we have done with the National Board For Technical Education (NBTE) that has changed the nomenclature of the course in schools to read Procurement and Supply Chain Management in place of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management.

“Procurement is broader than purchasing hence, the need for the request to the distinguished senators.

“Also, it will interest you to know that a study, report and recommendation issued by the World Bank popularly referred to as Country Procurement Assessment Report (CPAR 2000) listed the most important ingredients of success in a business and good governance during the decade ahead.

“Procurement and supply chain management strategy led the others by a considerable wide margin.

“In this regard, it is worthy of note also that, in all planning being done by private and public today, the procurement and supply chain management forecast serves as the foundation of all such planning

“We can, therefore, categorically say with confidence that the businessman whether in private or public, who does not have some basic knowledge of the rudiments of modern procurement and supply chain management cannot hope to rise far in the business of the modern world of tomorrow.

“The prime reason for procurement and supply chain management taking the center page and assuming a more strategic focus in the scheme of things globally stems from the many pressures placed upon it from the competitive environment.

“In simple terms, it is called “PEST”, Political, Economic, Social and Technological.”

Peter Obi Defends The Anger Of Obidient People

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, and the leader of the Obidient Movement, who are striving to take back Nigeria from those holding it down, Peter Obi has given reason why it appears his supporters and members of the movement are angry and combative.

“My followers and supporters known as Obidient Movement are made up of Nigerians who are very angry and furious over the pitiable state of their country and want an immediate change.”

The LP flag-bearer in the 2023 Presidential election  said while fielding questions from Arise Television anchor team on Monday on the aggressive attitude of his supporters, that some dubious social media persons are hired by opponents to distort and discredit the mission of the movement, but noted however, that some are genuinely reacting to the deplorable state of affairs in the country.

“We are aware of infiltration by opponents just to discredit but some are genuinely angry and distressed at the situation of things in the country. All I do is to appeal to them”

The former Anambra state governor who paused his national campaign last week to enable him empathize with victims of flooding in some states, fielded questions on a number of burning issues in his mission to lead Nigerian youths in their aspiration to take back their country and rebuild it.

Obi visited the most ravaged states of Benue, Bayelsa, Anambra and Delta, where he empathized with the victims, made some cash donations while some Nigerians happy with his humanitarian approach made their own donations in support.

Wike Is A Prodigal Son, A Liar – PDP Group

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP supporters Group, known as the PDP Young Stakeholders, Lagos State Branch, has dismissed the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as a liar. The Group also likened Wike to the Biblical Prodigal son.

The Group was responding to Wike’s allegation on Monday that he was not consulted before some members of the Rivers PDP were appointed to the Presidential Campaign Council. The Governor had declared that the Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had come to his backyard, and without consulting him, picked enemies of Rivers State as members of the Presidential Campaign Council.

But the Group in its response called Wike a big liar and a prodigal son.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Tai Oyekan, the Group revealed that of all PDP Governors, Wike was the only one who refused to send nominees when the Governors were asked to do so. It said that it was after he refused to send the names of nominees, that the PDP Leadership decided to pick people from the State as members.

Oyekan: ” To put the records straight, and which can be corroborated by every stakeholder in the party, the PDP  and its Presidential candidate consulted all Governors and leaders in each State before nominating members into the Presidential Campaign Council.

“Whereas all State Governors made nominations into the Council, it was only in Rivers State that the Governor refused to forward his nominations into the Council.

“It was, therefore, upon the refusal of the Governor, that the PDP and its Presidential candidate went ahead, by their own discretion, to make   nominations into the Council.

“It is public knowledge that Governor Wike has gone amok with the party since his failure to emerge as the Presidential candidate of the  Party and has stated publicly, also, that he would not cooperate with the Party  in our Presidential Campaign.

“Governor Wike can be likened to a prodigal son who took his inheritance in annoyance. But we are hopeful that the Party, as father of all will accept Governor Wike back whenever he chooses to return in penitence.

“But before then, we wish to admonish Governor Wike that for the purpose of posterity, he should desist from telling lies against the PDP and leaders of the Party.

“Nigeria operates a Democratic system. That means that Governor Wike has the right to choose whether or not to participate. Be that as it may, however, he alone does not approximate Rivers State.

“There are respected leaders who have made their mark in life and politics and are indigenes of Rivers State.

“We consider it inglorious on the part of the Governor that he would describe such people as ‘enemies of Rivers State’ only because they refused to be a party to his solo-travel to political obscurity.

“We also want to urge members of the PDP in Rivers and everywhere else that the Party is cohesive, and there are many groups, like ours, who are ready to work assiduously for the success of the Party in all levels of the election next year.”

PDP Crisis: Rivers PDP Members In Presidential Campaign Council Are Enemies Of The State – Wike

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nyesom Wike

By Akinwale Kasali

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has declared that any member of the Peoples Democratic Party from his State, who is a member of the Party’s Presidential Campaign Council, is an enemy of the State.

Wike said the reason is that he was not consulted before the PDP picked them from his State.

Governor Wike said he was disrespected and sidelined by the Presidential  Candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar who picked the State’s PDP presidential campaign nominees without his contribution and consent.

Wike made this allegation while inaugurating the PDP Campaign Councils and the launching of the party’s Governorship Campaign office in Port Harcourt on Monday.

He said that Atiku selected “enemies” of Rivers into his Campaign Council for the 2023 general elections.

Wike stressed that the photos of Atiku and those of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, are missing from the State’s PDP campaign materials because they don’t want him to campaign for the Party at the national level.

“Some people have asked me why they haven’t seen the Presidential candidate’s picture and the party Chairman’s. I said what are you talking about? The Presidential candidate entered my State and picked members of the presidential council without a whole (sic) Governor of a State having a contribution.

“The presidential candidate entered Rivers State and picked those he wants to pick without my contribution. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, that they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself?

“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers State and go and choose those who are enemies of the state without our contributions.”

Speaking on who he and his team will campaign for in the forthcoming election, Wike said they will only campaign for the Party’s Governorship candidate, the Senatorial candidates, and others who carried them along.

“If they want us to be involved in the campaign, they will come and tell us. If he (Atiku) thinks we are important, they will come and meet us,” the governor maintained, adding that nobody can intimidate Rivers when he is still governor of the State.

Speakership Tussle: Obasa Gets Lawmakers Backing For Third Term

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Mudashiru Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

The plans by some aggrieved Lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly to deny the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, s third term in office as Speaker has hit the rock.

Sure of being re-elected by his constituents, Obasa, a two-term Speaker is looking for a third term as Speaker in 2023. A good number of the lawmakers have thrown their weight behind him.

Hon. Abiodun Tobun and Hon. Mojeed Fatai Adebola, top ranking lawmakers  have promised to champion the re-election of Obasa as Speaker of the House when a new session begins in 2023.

The Lawmakers representing Epe Constituency 1 and Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I respectively, said this in separate statements in which they further rebutted a claim by some bloggers that they were eyeing the Speakership seat of the Assembly.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, had earlier denied being interested in the speakership of the House following speculations that he was part of those plotting that Obasa wouldn’t be retain the seat.

Tobun had earlier said in a Statement that he had no reason to think in the direction of Speakership of the House but that one of his major preoccupations remains to support the current occupier who have shown a mastery of legislative practice thus placing Lagos on the global parliamentary map.

The lawmaker said he was not aware of any of such plans or consultations relating to matters of Speakership ahead of 2023 and that he would never be party to any move against the progress of the Lagos legislature.

“I am totally in support of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa’s good plans and vision for the legislature and the state at large.

“I am solidly behind any move that will help him achieve his goals and aspirations.

“I have a great relationship with the Speaker and I support his re-election to office as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“I will continue to support him and also contribute my quota to any idea that will help him achieve his vision for the development of the Lagos legislature and the state at large,” Tobun’s statement read.

While urging members of the public as well as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disregard what he described as fake news, he added: “I, Abiodun Mustainu Tobun, hereby dissociate myself from any story connecting me to such plans.

“I am not aware of such sinister moves, plots or consultations related to matters regarding speakership and I will never be a party to any conversation that is against the success and progress of the head of this legislature, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.”

He called on those peddling the fake news to desist because they would continue to fail.

“We are more focused on our collective and individual successes at the coming general elections from that of the presidency to the State Houses of Assembly.

“I hereby reaffirm my loyalty to the ‘Speaking Speaker’ of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” Tobun said.

On his part, Fatai while debunking the claim, declared that he remained confident in the leadership style of the Speaker.

According to him, Rt. Hon. Obasa has remained exemplary in the administration of the House and thus, must be supported for a more prosperous Lagos.

He described the Lagos Assembly as the most peaceful in Nigeria adding that he remains focused on delivering his primary duty of lawmaking as well as ensuring victory for all the candidates of the APC in Lagos State in the 2023 election.

Rishi Sunak Is New UK Prime Minister

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Rishi Sunak - UK Prime Minister

By Akinwale Kasali

Following the resignation of Liz Truss as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom last week, 46 days in the saddle, Rishi Sunak has emerged the new Leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party.

According to an announcement made by Sir Graham Brady, only one nomination was received by the 1922 Committee for the new leader of the party, and backed by 100 MPs.

Sir Brady, therefore, declared Sunak to be the next Party Leader, and consequently the new Prime Minister.

He confirmed that the new Tory leader Rishi Sunak will address MPs at 14:30 BST.

Earlier, one of the contenders for the UK top job, Penny Mordaunt, had announced his withdrawal from the race, leaving Sunak as the sole candidate for the position.

Mordaunt, in a statement, said, “Our Party is our membership. Whether we are elected representatives, activists, fundraisers or supporters. We all have a stake in who our leader is.”

Sunak was born in Southampton on 12th May 1980, to parents of Punjabi Indian descent who migrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s.

He was educated at Winchester College, read philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at Lincoln College, Oxford, and gained an MBA from Stanford University in California as a Fulbright Scholar. While studying at Stanford.

He has been Leader of the Conservative Party since 24 October 2022.

He was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022 and Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2019 to 2020. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks) since 2015.

Sunak is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, the Indian billionaire businessman who founded Infosys.

Sunak and Murty are the 222nd richest people in Britain, with a combined fortune of £730m as of 2022.

After graduating, Sunak worked for Goldman Sachs and later as a partner at the hedge fund firms the Children’s Investment Fund Management and Theleme Partners.

Alleged Witchcraft: Extra-judicial Murders In Ndong Nwong

By
The Source
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0
Madam Iquo Edet Eyo: Murdered over alleged witchcraft
Madam Iquo Edet Eyo: Murdered over alleged witchcraft

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

Jungle justice against alleged witches is a reoccurring decimal in some Cross River communities.

For example, extra-judicial murder of alleged witches routinely takes place unchecked in Boki area of the state.

The barbaric and primitive act however, recently reared its ugly head in Ndong Nwong community, Odupkani, local government area of the state.

Odukpani, inhabited majorly by the Efiks and a sprinkling of the Ejagham ethnic stock, is situated in the Southern part of the state. It shares boundary with Akwa Ibom state.

According to a human right activist and an indigene of the state, Citizen Agba Jalingo, one Madam Iquo Edet Eyo was one of the women recently murdered by youths in Ndong Nwong after being accused of witchcraft.

Jalingo writes on his Facebook page: “Madam Iquo Edet Eyo, one of the women murdered by youths in Ndong Nwong community in Odukpani LGA in Southern Cross River.

“She was murdered along with four others, (two males 60years+ and two other females 60years+), and buried in a shallow grave, after the community accused them of witchcraft.

“Four other accused (two males nine years each and two females forty years+) were pardoned”

It not clear yet if the police is aware of the extra-judicial murders in Ndong Nwong.

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