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A day of mourning is held for the 3,300 people who died in China, where the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The Nigerian Army has arrested two of its soldiers, who threatened to rape and infect women in Warri, Delta State, with HIV in retaliation for the alleged killing of their colleague. 

The slain soldier was alleged to have been killed by a mob after he shot dead a man named Joseph Pessu in Warri on Thursday. 

Pessu’s killing led to protest by angry residents of Ugbuwangue, a suburb of Warri, who blocked major roads and burnt tyres to express their pain.  See Also Human Rights Protest Erupts In Delta Over Killing Of Man By Army Personnel 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

In the 26-second long video, the two arrested soldiers sweared at the people of Warri and promised them a tormenting experience for daring to take the life of their colleague.

Speaking in disjointed Pidgin, one of the soldiers said, “Warri people, una don buy job o. Una kill soldier ba? Your mothers, I will make sure I f..k your mothers skin to skin without condom. 

“I will make sure she carry HIV, your daughters will carry HIV, your wives will carry HIV. 

"You get mind to kill soldier ba? Dan ubanku.”  

But reacting to the issue in a statement on Friday, the Nigerian Army said the men were arrested at 9 Brigade, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos, adding that further investigations were ongoing.

The statement reads, "Soldiers in a viral video using uncouth and uncivilised language purportedly threatening to molest women in Warri, Delta State, were arrested at 9 Brigade, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos State, today 3 April, 2020 and further investigation is ongoing.  See Also Military Panic In Warri As Nigerian Army Personnel Threaten To Rape, Infect Women With HIV After Death Of Colleague 0 Comments 6 Hours Ago

"The general public should be assured that the investigations will be swift and fair in accordance with applicable military laws. 

"The outcome of the investigations will determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that can be taken in the circumstances.

"The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it would not tolerate any form of irresponsibility and indiscipline on the part of any of its personnel."

The Nigerian Army position rubbishes an earlier denial by the Delta State Government, who described the video first published by SaharaReporters as "fake". 

Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Aniagwu, had said that the video was concocted and created by disgruntled elements bent on pitching the people against the state government.

But with the latest development, it is clear facts prevailed over sentiment.
 

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Following the announcement of the first Coronavirus case in Ondo State, palpable fear has continued to grip residents of the city.

SaharaReporters gathered that the first confirmed case is a military officer, who recently returned to Nigeria from India. 

A source told our correspondent that the state received the result of the test after some samples were sent to a laboratory in Osun State.   See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Ondo Confirms First Case Of Coronavirus 0 Comments 3 Hours Ago

"We suspected two cases on Wednesday. One from Ile Oluji in Okeigbo while the second one, a military officer at the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army Barracks in Akure. 

"Immediately, we sent the two samples for test in Ede, Osun State, and got the result of the second person today which tested positive," he said. 

Confirming the case in a post on Twitter, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu pleaded for calm in the state, adding that the man had been moved to an isolation centre. 

He said, "Ondo State #COVIDー19 index case update: The index case is a military officer who was a returnee from India. 

"He has been in isolation since he returned and has been monitored by the medical team of the military and our team throughout this period.

"Upon showing some symptoms, his samples were taken and the diagnosis confirmed by @NCDCgov at their lab in Ede." 

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Ondo State has confirmed its first case of Coronavirus.

This was announced by Donald Ojogo, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in a statement on Friday.

This is coming hours after the state government said that two suspected carriers of the virus had undergone series of tests and the results were negative. 

He however, said that state would continue to be vigilant and abide by health regulations.

This brings to 191 the total confirmed cases in the country while two persons have died of the virus. 
 

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) is here to teach us a lesson; I hope we learn. Nigeria’s healthcare is unhealthy. But instead of fixing it our rulers have been busy flying up and down to benefit from other country's productive health system. With Coronavirus, reality is upon us. No more running overseas for medical vacation. Our rulers cannot travel to the United Kingdom, United States of America or India anymore for medical care. These countries are also hanging on their last breath, battling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari spent 103 days in London receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, spending taxpayers’ money instead of investing in the country’s healthcare. Thousands of Nigerians died in the same period from different illnesses. More than 3,000 women died of breast cancer, more than 2,000 women died of cervical cancer and more than 1,500 men died of prostate cancer, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures on annual cancer mortality.  

I had hoped that on his return to Nigeria, President Buhari would declare a state of emergency in the country’s health sector. Painfully, nothing of such happened. Nigeria’s budget allocation to healthcare has remained less than 5% of the entire budget for the past five years. Simply put, in 2020 the federal government budgeted N2,000 (£4.2) for each Nigerian with a total of N427.3 billion as budget allocation to the health sector while the United Kingdom budgeted £2,159.6 for each citizen with a total health budget of £143.4billion. It is the same dismal story in the states across Nigeria. Healthcare is not a priority. In some states in Nigeria, a hospital is a 20-minute boat ride and an hour-long car ride. Because many poor Nigerians do not own boats, a woman in labour could bleed to death before she reaches the hospital.

On March 22, 2018, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, criticized Nigerian government’s poor funding of healthcare in the country. In his words, “One in three children is chronically malnourished.” This tragedy has huge implications for the economy. According to the World Bank, addressing the stunting crisis in Nigeria would add almost $30 billion to Nigeria’s GDP. It is painful that despite Mr. Gates assertion, nothing has changed. Nigeria has remained one of the countries in the world with the worst healthcare system with over 60 deaths per 1000 live births. Nigeria has one of the worst cancer survival rates in the world, with only 2 to 3 cancer radiotherapy machines working at any time and less than 70 oncologists for a population of over 200 million. 

COVID-19 is exposing the insensitivity of our leaders to things that matter most to us. That Nigerians are disobeying the government’s safety advice on COVID-19 is a clear reflection of citizens’ mistrust for their leaders. Many Nigerians trust their religious leaders more than they trust our political leaders. Successive governments have failed the country, and it doesn’t look like thing will change anytime soon. 

Nigeria is a country where our rulers make laws today and break the same laws tomorrow. The Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) followed the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline and strongly encouraged all Nigerians coming from certain countries to self-isolate and monitor themselves, as a strategy to contain or to delay the spread of COVID-19. The president’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, returned from Germany and instead of isolating himself he was jumping from one state to another, attending events and meetings with different people, breaching the government’s own recommendation and placing the lives of other Nigerians at risk! 

Now that COVID-19 is in Nigeria we need to face it with all that we have. But can we? The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is now the country’s only perceived hope. Many Nigerians have been calling NCDC hot lines, criticizing NCDC for not testing enough people. But we should face the music and not the dancer. NCDC is crippled and not well equipped to protect Nigerians from the disease. 

In 2016, NCDC budgeted N3.7m for its recurrent and N248m for capital allocations. That is a total of N251.7m. Out of this, only N155m was released to the centre. In the same year, 1,166 Nigerians died of Cerebrospinal Meningitis. In 2017, the NCDC had a budget of N1.5b. Only N782m was released. In the same year, more than 120 Nigerians contracted Monkeypox and seven people died from the disease. That same year, the Presidency budgeted N77m for Aso Rock rent, N1b for trips and sitting allowances, and N94m for meals. In 2018, the NCDC had a budget of N1.9b. Only N654m was released. In the same year, N7.2b was proposed for Presidential Air Fleet. N440m was proposed for mandatory upgrade and installation of live TV and internet service in the presidential aircrafts, N375m for new cabin management, N418m for the landing gears. In total, over N1b was budgeted for the presidential aircrafts which is used for medical tourism and frequent trips abroad. 

On November 12, 2018, the NCDC establishment bill was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, thanks to the efforts of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, the then Chair, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases. On this premise, the NCDC was empowered with a legislation for its work in preventing and preparing for outbreaks of infectious diseases. Interestingly, the NCDC got the worst budget in 2019, the year following the passage of the NCDC Act. The Centre had a budget of N1.4b, but only N224m was released. In the same year, over 472 Nigerians were diagnosed with Lassa fever and over 110 people died from this viral hemorrhagic fever. Clearly, NCDC cannot perform magic. They need help. Nigeria is grossly under-testing for COVID-19, the laboratories are not enough, and NCDC and its affiliate agencies do not have enough manpower and resources. 

Months ago, being unwell evoked empathy; today being unwell evokes fear. The fear of COVID-19? No! It is the fear of not having access to the care that you need, the fear of absence of ventilators, the fear of a broken health system. It is the fear of death. Our political leaders have stolen from the sick through corruption. Many Nigerian governors build non-functional hospitals in their states. Usually, after the commissioning of these hospitals, all the CT Scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and other medical machines—some of them fake—are returned to where they were purchased or left to rot. 

Hospitals in Nigeria are some of the worst in the world. Our teaching hospitals are now museums where less than 5% of clinical trial and research is going on because of poor laboratory. Medical tourism has therefore become the norm. Dubai hospitals, Saudi Arabian hospitals, etc., are advertising in Abuja and Lagos for Nigerian patients. They are recruiting Nigerian doctors, including consultants. Nigeria is not only facing “brain drain,” we are also facing “patient drain.” Our doctors and nurses work in the worst conditions. Hazard allowance for health workers is about N5,000 while wardrobe allowance for members of the National Assembly runs into millions. 

Now is the time for Nigeria to confront its healthcare crisis. The Nigerian government must accept its failure. Our political leaders must brace up to their responsibility and seriously reflect on the problem their greed has brought to Nigeria. This is the time to invest in a result-oriented healthcare system. Health is wealth as the saying goes. A good healthcare system is the foundation of any nation. 

If we survive COVID-19, we need to consider a law to restrict all public officials from seeking medical care abroad. It may be perceived as strict, but it will save future generations since we don’t know which pandemic would come next and when. 

Let’s give every Nigerian a space to live and a not chance to die. 

Runcie C.W. Chidebe is Executive Director, Project PINK BLUE. He is currently a Commonwealth Scholar on Transforming and Leading in Health Care at Birmingham City University, United Kingdom. He tweets @runciecwc

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Commissioner Danga

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered the suspension of Mr Abdulmumuni Danga, Commissioner for Water Resources in the state, who assaulted and raped a lady over a Facebook post.

Sources revealed to SaharaReporters that the governor has also ordered an accelerated investigation into the case.

SaharaReporters had reported how the commissioner kidnapped, assaulted and raped the lady identified as Elizabeth Oyeniyi before releasing her. See Also Human Rights Kogi Commissioner, Abdulmumuni Danga, Brutalises Lady For Calling Him Out On Facebook 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

An online petition has also been launched to demand the prosecution of Danga.

The petition can be signed here: http://chng.it/ygKH2vMbzM

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Commissioner Danga

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered the suspension of Mr Abdulmumuni Danga, Commissioner for Water Resources in the state, who assaulted and raped a lady over a Facebook post.

Sources revealed to SaharaReporters that the governor has also ordered an accelerated investigation into the case.

SaharaReporters had reported how the commissioner kidnapped, assaulted and raped the lady identified as Elizabeth Oyeniyi before releasing her. See Also Human Rights Kogi Commissioner, Abdulmumuni Danga, Brutalises Lady For Calling Him Out On Facebook 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

An online petition has also been launched to demand the prosecution of Danga.

The petition can be signed here: http://chng.it/ygKH2vMbzM

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The Victim

The Delta State Government, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, and others across Nigeria have called for investigation into the killing of a young man, Joseph Pessu, by army personnel in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday. 

Pessu was killed while driving through the city in the midst of a stay-at-home order put in place by the state government to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

Reacting to the incident, Commissioner for Information in Delta, Charles Aniagwu, in a statement, said the state government was worried about the matter.

He said, “The state government has sent a delegation to the deceased family to condole with them over the loss of their son. 

“The military authorities have been contacted to carry out an investigation into what led to the killing of the deceased.”

On his part, Keyamo vowed to forward a petition to the relevant authorities for a thorough investigation with a view to bringing the officers, who perpetrated the dastardly act to book.

He said, “I have received disturbing reports and images of the high-handedness and shooting of innocent citizens by men of the armed forces deployed to enforce the COVID-19 lockdown in my state, Delta State.

“Specifically, I have received reports of the killing of an innocent young man, Mr Joseph Pessu, in Warri.

“I unreservedly condemn this barbaric act by men of the armed forces who should exercise restraint when dealing with the civilian populace.

“I will be forwarding a petition to the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this murder and bring the officer(s) to book.”

Also condemning the incident, human rights activist and lawyer, Ogaga Ifowodo, said the army authorities must bring those responsible for Pessu’s killing to justice.

He said, “A soldier, eager to save himself from a 28-year-old citizen, Mr Joseph Pessu, who was in the street, concluded that the only way to do so was to kill him.

“There is no report so far that Pessu was armed, but even if he had been and threatening the life of the soldier, it would still be shocking that the soldier did not choose the non-lethal option of shooting to disable at the leg or hand, if he must.

“The Chief of Army Staff and Inspector-General of Police must ensure that the murderous soldier is fished out from wherever he is currently hiding.

“The Federal and Delta State governments must not only show true contrition for this needless killing of a citizen but also compensate adequately the family of Joseph Pessu.” 

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Chairman of United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Sub-committee on Africa, Karen Bass, has condemned ongoing violence in Guinea over plans by President Alpha Conde to seek a third term in office. 

Conde has tried to amend sections of the country's constitution to make way for his continued stay in power but the people are resisting that move. 

As a result, the government has unleashed security forces on political opponents and all those against the move. 

In a statement on Thursday, Bass said,"I am disappointed that a constitutional referendum passed that could allow President Alpha Conde to run for a third presidential term. 

"I also condemn the violence against the political opposition, protestors, and the citizens of Guinea by government forces. 

"The people of Guinea have spoken by continuously protesting and boycotting. 

"Reportedly, citizens who opposed the government’s constitutional reforms have been killed, kidnapped, and detained by the country’s government.
 
"Young people are organized, engaged, and using their own voices to display anger over a possible third term by President Conde. 

"It is every person’s right in Guinea to protest peacefully.  

"The Government of Guinea should listen to the will of the people and let its citizens express themselves freely.

"Once more, I urge President Alpha Conde to not seek a third presidential term and allow the political process to play out during the elections later in the year."

Conde is desperate to keep his hold on power despite already serving two terms of five years each that elapses at the end of this year. 

The situation has led to widespread violence in the West African country with over 31 civilians and some policeman killed already. 

A referendum should have held on March 1 but was moved to March 22, which has eventually been put on hold as a result of of the outbreak of Coronavirus.

The West African country has been in turmoil since that period. 

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The Peoples Democratic Party, House of Representatives Caucus, has called on the Nigerian Government to provide free electricity, tax holiday as well as stimulants for medium and small scale enterprises to cushion the impact of Coronavirus lockdown on the lives of people.

The party in a statement by Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, PDP House of Representatives Caucus leader, said government must take into account measured responses that alleviate the poor economic conditions of Nigerians and guarantee the rights of citizens.

The statement reads, “The President should as a matter of utmost urgency issue an Executive Order, pursuant to his powers preserved by Section 5 of the 1999 constitution, directing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, National Food Reserve Agency and National Emergency Management Authority to release and manage the distribution of food in our national reserves.

“The executive order must set out clear consequences for breach, particularly as they relate to public officials who seize on the times to make brisk businesses and gains from the miseries of the people.

“Other measures such as food prices control should be ramped up; though specific, targeted and temporary legislation for enforcement.”

The PDP caucus called on government to maximise the two weeks lockdown and open free testing and treatment centres in all zones of the country, step down VAT and give partial tax holiday on essential commodities for two months, make electricity available and free for citizens within the period of total lockdown.

 

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Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered an immediate investigation into the case of brutalisation and rape of a lady by his Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Abdulmumini Danga.

SaharaReporters had on Wednesday published how Danga abducted, brutalised and raped the lady identified as Elizabeth for asking him to take care of his family.

Narrating her ordeal, the young lady had said, “On the 29th of March, I made a post about the commissioner.  See Also Human Rights Kogi Commissioner, Abdulmumuni Danga, Brutalises Lady For Calling Him Out On Facebook 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

“After making the post, they started attacking me on social media and he sent some guys to come and get me.

“On getting there, they flogged me. He flogged us himself, stripped me naked and made a video of me threatening to post it when next I make any public comment about it.

“They also made me apologise that what I said about him was not true under duress. I had to do so because they were all over me.

“He did not release me and took me to a hotel nearby. Over the night, he made advances and raped me.” 

In a statement, Commissioner for Information and Communication in Kogi, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, said Governor Bello would not allow intimidation and oppression of citizens of the state.

He said, “The governor, being an avowed advocate of fundamental human rights, is shocked by these allegations and will not allow them go without being investigated.

“The governor has ordered accelerated investigation into the matter and hereby assures both accuser and accused, as well as the general public that the whole truth will be uncovered and justice served as appropriate.

“We will not tolerate violence against women or children under any form or guise.

“We give our word that if these allegations are proven, everyone found culpable will be brought to justice.”

 

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Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has responded to an attack on him by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu. 

Shehu, speaking on behalf of the Presidency, had urged Nigerians to ignore Soyinka's comments on the lockdown order declared by Buhari on Sunday during a broadcast. 

The lockdown to take place in Lagos, Ogun and FCT, was part of wider measures adopted by government to halt the spread of Coronavirus in the country.   See Also Politics Nigerian Government Attacks Soyinka Over Comments, Tells Citizens To Trust Science, Not Fiction 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

Shehu therefore said that Nigerians should ignore Soyinka for kicking against the move because he lacked knowledge on issues of health and science in general. 

But responding on Thursday morning, Soyinka described Shehu as a paid propagandist doing the bidding of a clueless administration. 

He said, "Mr, Shehu Garba failed to mention a most important profession in which I am confirmed: Alarmist. Unpaid. It's a universal function of humanity even in the midst of the worst of crises. 

"To save me the trouble of responding to the mind boggling irrelevances of paid errand voices, a professional colleague kindly sent me an affirmative article in the New York Times. 

"You will understand that I cannot take issues with a propagandist whose clear mission is to distract public attention from the complex issues of health - both the physiological and the mental."

The New York Times article referred to by Soyinka raises concern on how the global health crisis was creating an avenue for political leaders to exhibit dictatorial tendencies. 

The article went on to express fear over whether the new powers acquired by heads of governments in many countries of the world including in Nigeria will be relinquished by the end of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Recall that several leading legal practitioners in Nigeria including Femi Falana had said that the lockdown order by Buhari could not stand except backed by law. 

Shortly afterwards, Buhari on Monday announced the signing into law of the COVID-19 Regulations.

Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004) conferred such powers on him. 

It was the legal framework needed to enforce the lockdown order in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT. 

The order has taken effect in Lagos and FCT while it will be enforced in Ogun starting from Friday. 

 

 

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Former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has donated N25m to the state in support of the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Amosun becomes the latest individual to donate to the fight against the spread of the virus in the state.

Ogun has restricted entry into the state and is set to go on lockdown on April 3, 2020.

Amosun said he made the donation to the bank account of the state in a letter to the governor, tagging it as a personal contribution.

“Please be informed that the sum of N25m has been transferred and cleared into the Access Bank Account (No 1384210113 Ogun Coalition Against COVID-19) as my personal contribution to the management of COVID-19 challenge in Ogun.

“I am in constant touch with federal agencies in and outside Ogun with a view to offering maximum assistance to our people in these trying times.

“In addition, arrangements are also in place to assist in ameliorating the challenges arising from the lockdown in Ogun within the period by supporting 25,000 households across the state.

“It is my fervent prayer that the Almighty God will see our people in Ogun and indeed Nigeria through the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter read.

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The Nigerian Government has attacked Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, over his criticism of government's lockdown order of Lagos, Ogun and FCT to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country. 

Soyinka had earlier in the week said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no constitutional backing to declare a 14-day total ban on movement in the three cities. 

Buhari made the declaration on Sunday during a nationwide broadcast on the global health crisis and measures his administration was taking to stop the spread in Nigeria. 

Responding to Soyinka's comments on Wednesday, the Presidency through Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, urged Nigerians to ignore the famous writer because he had no expertise in matters of health and science generally. 

In a statement, Shehu said, “The esteemed Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, made comments on the legal status and description of 14-day lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Soyinka is not a medical professor. His qualifications are in English literature, and his prizes are for writing books and plays for theatres. He is of course entitled to his opinions – but that is exactly all they are: semantics, not science. They cannot – and should not - therefore be judged as professional expertise in this matter in any shape or form.

“Across the world – from parts of the United States and China, to countries including the United Kingdom and France, government-mandated lockdowns are in place to slow and defeat the spread of Coronavirus. 

"All have been declared and made necessary based on medical and scientific evidence. The guidance of the Nigerian Government’s medical specialists is to advise the same.

“As for the legality of the lockdown, the Government of Nigeria’s primary duty in law and action is the defence of the people of Nigeria. 

"We face a global pandemic. Nigeria is now affected. The scientific and medical guidance the world over is clear: the way to defeat the virus is to halt its spread through limitation of movement of people.

"We ask the people of Nigeria to trust the words of our doctors and scientists, and not fiction writers at this time of national crisis.’’

 

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Days after it emerged that 35 governors, 15 ministers and dozens of other public office holders are among Nigerians, who own 800 choice properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, suspected to have been bought with stolen funds, SaharaReporters can exclusively confirm that there are still so many high-profile Nigerians with luxury apartments in the Arabian city never previously mentioned.

A report by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a United States-based non-governmental organisation, had on March 19, 2020 revealed how the likes of Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu, and former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, invest in luxurious properties in Dubai using proxies and stolen public funds.

The 800 Dubai properties linked to Politically Exposed Persons under scrutiny by anti-graft agencies in Nigeria is estimated to be worth well over N164bn ($422m).

However, in the new list of Nigerians, who own properties in posh Dubai sections seen by SaharaReporters, it was discovered that a former governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, a former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, two wives of Kebbi State governor, Aisha and Zainab, wives of immediate-past governors of Oyo and Anambra states, Florence Ajimobi and Margaret Peter Obi, are all proud home owners in the popular tourist city.

The list also include incumbent lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Uba Sani, a brother to Kebbi State governor, Bello Bagudu, businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, immediate-past Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, and Adamu, one of the sons of Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Mr Abiodun Awosika, husband to a former Chairman of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Ibikun Awosika, is also on the list.

Out of the 404 units of luxury apartments owned by Nigerians on the list obtained by SaharaReporters, former governor, Ambode has four units, which is located at The Lotus.

The property is placed in the care of Biodun Afinowi of District Concept Ltd, Lagos.

Recall that mid-way into his reign as governor of Lagos, Ambode fell out of favour with power brokers in the state including a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, leading to his denial of a second term ticket by the party.

Shortly after leaving office in May 2019, the Lagos State House of Assembly accused Ambode of misappropriating N9.9bn of public funds.

On August 20, 2019, after receiving a petition against him, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission raided his residence in Epe and Parkview in Ikoyi.

On October 10, 2019, the Lagos State Assembly threatened to arrest him if he failed to appear before the House to make some explanations on the purchase of 820 buses for public transportation in the state.

“Mr Akinwunmi Ambode did not report to the House before commencing the purchase of the buses in question, and investigation revealed that over N48bn was committed to the project, excluding the import duty totally N20.2bn.

“Out of 820 buses in question, 520 are still at the Nigerian Port Authority, Lagos,” Chairman of a committee established to look into the case at the time, Fatai Mojeed, said.

A few days later, Ambode instituted a law suit against the Lagos Assembly at the High Court in Ikeja contesting the constitutionality of the probe.

But on February 27, 2020, the court threw out the former governor’s suit, allowing the Lagos Assembly to go on with the probe.

Ambode has been quiet since that period.

On his part, Ikuforiji, who has one unit apartment located at Lincoln Park Residential, is also not new to scrutiny over his involvement with public funds while in office as Speaker of Lagos Assembly between December 2005 and July 2015.

For instance, on December 11, 2019, he was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged misappropriation of N338.8m.

He was charged alongside his former Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, on a 20-count charge bordering on money laundering.

They first appeared in court on March 1, 2012, before Justice Okechukwu Okeke but were both released on bail after pleading not guilty to the charges.

Ikuforiji has since fizzled away from public glare only for his name to pop up on the list of Nigerians, who own choice properties in Dubai.

Out of the 404 units of apartments on the new list obtained by SaharaReporters, wife of former Oyo governor, Florence, has one unit at Lakeside while Mrs Peter Obi, whose husband was a former governor of Anambra State, also has one unit at Damac Heights.

In January, Mrs Ajimobi opened an ultramodern shopping centre at Ringroad, Ibadan, and have also made some other bold investments in recent times.

However, observers posit that the two former first ladies could just be fronting for their husbands, who are both ex-two-term governors each.

Kaduna senator, Sani, on his part has two units – one at The Crescent and another at Lakeside, while Fowler, a tax expert, has one unit at The Lotus – the same place as that of Ambode.

Sani was a Special Adviser on Public Affairs to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, and remains a close ally of Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

Fowler on the other hand is popular with Lagos’ power brokers even though in recent times all had not gone well around him especially following the end of his tenure in December 2019 as FIRS Chairman and President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision not to renew his reign.

Recall that in June 2019, a group, Concerned Staff of FIRS, petitioned President Buhari over alleged atrocities and infractions by Fowler in the agency.

The group recommended that his activities be investigated and he be punished for all infractions he committed during his time in office.

Since that period, there have been a handful of allegations against Fowler with some persons in fact taking offence in his alleged extravagant weekly spending on concerts and parties within and outside Nigeria.

Businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, is by far owner of the highest number of properties among Nigerians in Dubai.

Ibrahim, who is founder of Global Fleet Group and once contested to be governor of Ondo State, boasts of 38 units of luxury properties in Dubai.

Of the bunch, 28 units are located at Park Towers, Ocean Heights (9) and Marina Terrace (1).

Interestingly, Ibrahim registered the properties with the email of one Janet Osio Ibru – a director at Total Nigeria – raising suspicion that he could just be fronting for several high-profile Nigerians trying to escape the radar of anti-graft agencies and investigators.

In January 2010, a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Akinjide Ajakaiye named Janet Osio Ibru among accomplices of a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic International Bank Plc, Mrs Cecilia Ibru, in a N399bn financial misconduct.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission equally seized 103 houses and shares in 77 companies in Nigeria belonging to the former Oceanic Bank CEO in that case.

A Nigerian woman named Nanaishetu Priscilla Abdulai has 25 units of luxury apartments at Tera Del sol (8), Ocean Heights (9), and Park Towers (8).

Interestingly, upon closer look by SaharaReporters, it was discovered that the properties were also registered with the email address of Janet Osio Ibru.

Upon further digging, it was discovered that Nanashetu Abdulai, who also sometimes poses as Priscilla Bedell, Nanashetu Bedell or Nana Bedell, has been a front for the Ibru family and other top Nigerians for many years.

She was a former personal assistant to Cecilia Ibru’s husband, Michael, who passed away in 2016.

Three other Nigerians, Foluke Abdul Rasaq and Mufutah Gbadamosi, who own one unit each at Park Towers and Ocean Heights, and Taofeek Oki with two units at Park Towers, also had the properties registered with the email of Janet Osio Ibru.

All these persons are likely to be fronts for the Ibru family and other highly placed Nigerians all over the world.

On their part, Kebbi governor’s wives, Aisha and Zainab, have one unit each at Park Towers and The Lotus respectively, while his brother, Bello Bagudu, owns one unit at Lago Vista.

However, there are strong indications that Governor Bagudu could have used his wives and brother to act as fronts for the Dubai properties where eight others are registered against his name and are worth over $4.8m.

Bagudu is famed to have helped late Nigerian military dictator, Sani Abacha, loot billions of dollars in public funds during his cruel reign in the mid to late 1990s.

He continues to deny those allegations whenever being confronted with it.

Adamu, eldest son of Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, owns one unit of the 404 choice properties on the fresh list seen by SaharaReporters.

The apartment is at Lakeside, while Abiodun, Ibukun Awosika’s husband, owns two units in The Crescent and Emirates Gardens.

Adamu, who is the Commissioner for Works and Energy Development in Adamawa State and Deputy Managing Director at INTELS, a company owned by his father, is said to be one of the richest young men in Nigeria today courtesy of his dad’s wealth and vast business and political networks.

Two other Nigerian with several properties tied to their names in Dubai are Ebenezer Okunowo, who has 32 units – Water's Edge (18), Executive Bay (13), Ocean Heights (1), and Anthony Aribisala whose entire 17 units is located in The Corner.

NOTE: SaharaReporters has not alleged that all persons on the list are engaged or have been linked to public or private sector corruption.

See full list

Top List Of High-profile Nigerians Who Own Luxury Apartments In Dubai by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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After intense pressure from the Nigerian public especially from senior legal practitioners and other prominent citizens, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday announced the signing into law of the COVID-19 Regulations. 

Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004) conferred such powers on President Buhari. 

It was the legal framework needed to enforce the lockdown order in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT issued by Buhari on Sunday during a nationwide broadcast. 
The announcement was made on Monday night by Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina. 

President Buhari had addressed Nigerians on the outbreak and continued spread of Coronavirus 35 days after the country's first case was recorded. 

A flurry of criticisms over his silence and perceived lack of concern on the damage caused by the pandemic had pushed him to speak. 

Recall that earlier on Monday, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had said that the lockdown order could not be enforced except it was backed by a law. 

He said, "No doubt, the President is empowered to adopt any measure deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease but such measure have to be spelt out in a Regulation made pursuant to section 305 of the constitution or under the Quarantine Act. 

"Otherwise the presidential order on restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police." 

Another lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, while reiterating Falana's position, in fact vowed to challenge the illegality of Buhari’s action in court. 

He said, "After a deep reflection on President Muhammadu Buhari's decision to lock down all movements in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja by presidential fiat for 14 days, I have resolved to challenge this unconstitutional action in court.

"No responsible, democratic and civilised country will throw its constitution and laws into the dustbin in an effort to tackle a pandemic like COVID-19 the way President Buhari has done. Freedom of movement is a fundamental right guaranteed by Section 41 of the constitution.

"While it is conceded that this right is not absolute, Section 45 of the constitution is clear to the effect that freedom of movement can only be taken away in the manner allowed by a law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society. Buhari has not relied on any law.

"If Buhari is convinced that extraordinary measures are needed to contain Coronavirus, the proper action would have been for him to issue an instrument published in the official gazette of the government and make a proclamation of a state of emergency in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja."

Also adding his voice to the issue earlier on Monday, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, said that President Buhari had no constitutional backing to declare a total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja. 

He said, "The worst development I can conceive is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the Corona pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis. 
"So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency. 
"We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution." 

However, earlier defending Buhari’s declaration of a lockdown in all three cities, Nigeria's Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said that the President did not need any special legal framework to have the order enforced as the Quarantine Act already covered that. 

Malami said, “The correct position remains that the President acted rightfully under the powers conferred on him by the Quarantine Act 1990 CAP 384 LFN. 

"Section 3 of the Act enables the President to declare any part of Nigeria as an infected area. Section 4 of the Act further empowers the President to make regulations to prevent the introduction, spread and transmission of any dangerous infectious disease."

But with Buhari’s latest move on Monday, Malami now stands alone on the matter.

Enforcement of the order is now expected to commence in Lagos and FCT while it will take effect in Ogun from April 3.

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