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The Lagos State Government has warned travellers coming into the country, who shun the required COVID-19 guidelines as stipulated by the Presidential Taskforce, to desist from such infraction or face serious consequences. 

The state Commissioners for Information and Health, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, and Prof Akin Abayomi, in a joint statement, gave this warning on Friday.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The commissioners said, “It has been reported several times through notification from Port Health Services, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Lagos State Biobank and accredited private laboratories carrying out COVID-19 tests that inbound passengers arriving Nigeria are breaching the COVID-19 protocols.

“We have good authority that some passengers, having registered and paid for COVID-19 tests, have failed to report to assigned private laboratories after completion of their seven days isolation. Some incoming passengers even were unable to register and pay for the test whilst making their journey to the country in total disregard and breach of the safety protocols.

“Likewise, a large number of international passengers provided wrong information and contact details while registering online, making it difficult for them to be reached, traced or contacted by our logistics team.

“This is not only worrisome but portends danger for public health and safety as the populace stands the risk of infection from an asymptomatic positive case who perhaps is not aware of his or her status.

“We are not going to fold our arms and watch the gains made by us against the disease to be reversed by the irresponsibility of some citizens who choose to disregard our guidelines flagrantly. This is why we are set to take action against people who flout these protocols.”

The statement warned that the flouting of directives by the international travellers to COVID-19 guidelines might push the country to a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nigeria, on February 27, 2020, had recorded its index COVID-19 case; but the cases grew geometrically within weeks, forcing President, Muhammadu Buhari, to declare a lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on March 31. 

The COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown lasted for about three months, bringing untold hardship, suffering and hunger on Nigerians.

Airports, schools and business activities were shut down, and schools were closed as the pandemic gripped the country for more than seven months.

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The Lagos State Government has warned travellers coming into the country, who shun the required COVID-19 guidelines as stipulated by the Presidential Taskforce, to desist from such infraction or face serious consequences. 

The state Commissioners for Information and Health, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, and Prof Akin Abayomi, in a joint statement, gave this warning on Friday.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The commissioners said, “It has been reported several times through notification from Port Health Services, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Lagos State Biobank and accredited private laboratories carrying out COVID-19 tests that inbound passengers arriving Nigeria are breaching the COVID-19 protocols.

“We have good authority that some passengers, having registered and paid for COVID-19 tests, have failed to report to assigned private laboratories after completion of their seven days isolation. Some incoming passengers even were unable to register and pay for the test whilst making their journey to the country in total disregard and breach of the safety protocols.

“Likewise, a large number of international passengers provided wrong information and contact details while registering online, making it difficult for them to be reached, traced or contacted by our logistics team.

“This is not only worrisome but portends danger for public health and safety as the populace stands the risk of infection from an asymptomatic positive case who perhaps is not aware of his or her status.

“We are not going to fold our arms and watch the gains made by us against the disease to be reversed by the irresponsibility of some citizens who choose to disregard our guidelines flagrantly. This is why we are set to take action against people who flout these protocols.”

The statement warned that the flouting of directives by the international travellers to COVID-19 guidelines might push the country to a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nigeria, on February 27, 2020, had recorded its index COVID-19 case; but the cases grew geometrically within weeks, forcing President, Muhammadu Buhari, to declare a lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on March 31. 

The COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown lasted for about three months, bringing untold hardship, suffering and hunger on Nigerians.

Airports, schools and business activities were shut down, and schools were closed as the pandemic gripped the country for more than seven months.

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Police officers at Batsari Local Government of Katsina State on Thursday protested against their unpaid allowances.

According to Katsina Post, the police officers took to the streets and blocked a major road linking to Batsari market.

According to the report, soldiers eventually arrived at the scene to remove the barricade, a move that provoked the police and caused an exchange of verbal abuses before the intervention of the district head of Batsari, Alhaji Tukur Muazu Rumah.

“Yes, I am an eyewitness, they block our way when going for Batsari weekly markets, claiming that we won’t have a business today because the government has not paid them their allowances for six months,” a resident, Muhammad Wada Bakiyawa, said.

However, the state’s police spokesman, Gambo Isah, said the story was not true. “It’s fake news, disregard it, it’s not true,” he said when asked by SaharaReporters.

When SaharaReporters told Isah about the pictures and video of police officers mounting roadblocks and arguing with the army officers, he said mounting of the roadblock was normal in the area because of the high rate of banditry.

“If they mount a roadblock, are they not performing their duties?” he said. “That place, do you know it’s a bandit area? The police are working with the military there. There is a special operation ongoing. They are working together.”

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Police officers at Batsari Local Government of Katsina State on Thursday protested against their unpaid allowances.

According to Katsina Post, the police officers took to the streets and blocked a major road linking to Batsari market.

According to the report, soldiers eventually arrived at the scene to remove the barricade, a move that provoked the police and caused an exchange of verbal abuses before the intervention of the district head of Batsari, Alhaji Tukur Muazu Rumah.

“Yes, I am an eyewitness, they block our way when going for Batsari weekly markets, claiming that we won’t have a business today because the government has not paid them their allowances for six months,” a resident, Muhammad Wada Bakiyawa, said.

However, the state’s police spokesman, Gambo Isah, said the story was not true. “It’s fake news, disregard it, it’s not true,” he said when asked by SaharaReporters.

When SaharaReporters told Isah about the pictures and video of police officers mounting roadblocks and arguing with the army officers, he said mounting of the roadblock was normal in the area because of the high rate of banditry.

“If they mount a roadblock, are they not performing their duties?” he said. “That place, do you know it’s a bandit area? The police are working with the military there. There is a special operation ongoing. They are working together.”

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Despite denials by the Nigerian Army that soldiers did not fire live bullets at protesters during the t#EndSARS protest at Lekki tollgate on October 20, one of the protesters said that a bullet fired by the soldiers is lodged in his body.

"I got mine in my thigh, and the bullet is still inside me," the victim who did not mention his name told Arise TV on Friday.

Twitter/EditiEffiong

He said he became unconscious after the bullet hit him and was revived the following day at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

"The bullet in me is giving me discomfort," he said. "It is affecting my leg, making it swell up every day, sometimes my leg gets stiff. Why is the government saying they didn't shoot at us while I'm still having the bullet inside me right now?"

A father of another victim, Tunde Odeyemi, said his son was seriously injured and he could not talk. "They told us to do the X-ray of the brain. So, when the doctor studied the X-ray, he noticed that there was blood at the front and back of the head."

"He said that that was why he couldn't speak. That was when they started giving him drugs. Five days later, he started talking. He hasn't returned to his normal being up to this moment, but he has improved."

Olufunmi Aiyedungbe, who lost her brother, Aiyedungbe Gabriel Ayoola, during the protest, said: "My brother was shot in the head. We were looking for him because he did not stay with us. It was two days before he passed on that somebody sent a notice to me on WhatsApp.

"It was written there that my brother was at LASUTH and they're looking for his family. We went to LASUTH. They said he has been unconscious for two weeks. But by the time we got there, he had opened his eyes and was moving his hand, but he could not talk. They were feeding him through the nose."

The clamour for justice for victims of #EndSARS has intensified as some of the survivors on Friday visited the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Friday.

Their spokesperson said: "We have people with amputated legs. We have people with brain surgery in this van. We have dozens of them that are yet to be discharged. This is from the Lekki tollgate massacre in 2020. We want justice. We don't want to be silenced. We don't want to be marginalised even in our own country."

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Despite denials by the Nigerian Army that soldiers did not fire live bullets at protesters during the t#EndSARS protest at Lekki tollgate on October 20, one of the protesters said that a bullet fired by the soldiers is lodged in his body.

"I got mine in my thigh, and the bullet is still inside me," the victim who did not mention his name told Arise TV on Friday.

Twitter/EditiEffiong

He said he became unconscious after the bullet hit him and was revived the following day at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

"The bullet in me is giving me discomfort," he said. "It is affecting my leg, making it swell up every day, sometimes my leg gets stiff. Why is the government saying they didn't shoot at us while I'm still having the bullet inside me right now?"

A father of another victim, Tunde Odeyemi, said his son was seriously injured and he could not talk. "They told us to do the X-ray of the brain. So, when the doctor studied the X-ray, he noticed that there was blood at the front and back of the head."

"He said that that was why he couldn't speak. That was when they started giving him drugs. Five days later, he started talking. He hasn't returned to his normal being up to this moment, but he has improved."

Olufunmi Aiyedungbe, who lost her brother, Aiyedungbe Gabriel Ayoola, during the protest, said: "My brother was shot in the head. We were looking for him because he did not stay with us. It was two days before he passed on that somebody sent a notice to me on WhatsApp.

"It was written there that my brother was at LASUTH and they're looking for his family. We went to LASUTH. They said he has been unconscious for two weeks. But by the time we got there, he had opened his eyes and was moving his hand, but he could not talk. They were feeding him through the nose."

The clamour for justice for victims of #EndSARS has intensified as some of the survivors on Friday visited the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Friday.

Their spokesperson said: "We have people with amputated legs. We have people with brain surgery in this van. We have dozens of them that are yet to be discharged. This is from the Lekki tollgate massacre in 2020. We want justice. We don't want to be silenced. We don't want to be marginalised even in our own country."

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The last has not been heard of the Boko Haram terrorists' onslaught on Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State as the insurgents invaded rice farms on Thursday, shooting sporadically to scare away the residents.

Some of the witnesses told SaharaReporters that the terrorists came to the area but nobody was killed or abducted as people fled their homes.

File Photo: Boko Haram Google

Last Saturday, Boko Haram inflicted one of the greatest casualty figures in the state by slaughtering no fewer than 78 rice farmers in the community – an incident that has attracted national and global condemnation.

See Also Sahara Reporters We Informed Military Before The Attack But Nothing Was Done, Zabarmari Residents Say 0 Comments 4 Days Ago

One of the residents, Ishaya Ahmed, said women who were on their way to farm on Thursday first caught a glimpse of the terrorists.

"While some of our women and girls were on their way to the farm on Thursday, they came across the Boko Haram in large numbers, moving in a single line from north to south and, at the sight of the women, they began to shoot sporadically into the air to scare people away.

"So, the women froze at the gunshots and could not proceed to the farms. They had to return. I think the insurgents spared them because they were women. If we, the men, had followed them, they might have killed us."

A community leader in Zabarmari, who did not want his name to be mentioned, told SaharaReporters that boys and men were affected in the Saturday's gruesome murder.

"Some of them were newly-weds," he said. "Some with very young families. Others were mostly school-age boys while some were hired to harvest the farm for some fee. We heard the rumours that women were also killed, but it is not true."
See Also Sahara Reporters Zabarmari: It Hurts That B’Haram Addressed Nigerians While Buhari Hasn’t – Aisha Yesufu 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

Meanwhile, a woman in the community who lost her husband during the attack, said: "We got married eight months ago. I don't have a child, and I don't have any business I am doing. I only survive by what my husband makes from the farm. At the moment, I am staying with my mother since the death of my husband."

The Senate earlier on Tuesday called on the president to fire the service chiefs who have failed to secure Nigerians while the House of Representatives summoned the president to brief the house on the mass murder.

The Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, who seemed to have lost trust on Nigerian armed forces, had on Monday asked the president to engage the services of mercenaries to fight Boko Haram.

"One of our recommendations as possible solutions to end the insurgency is the immediate recruitment of our youths into military and paramilitary services to complement the efforts of the Nigerian forces," he said. "Our third recommendation is for the President to engage the services of mercenaries to clear the entire Sambisa forest."

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The last has not been heard of the Boko Haram terrorists' onslaught on Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State as the insurgents invaded rice farms on Thursday, shooting sporadically to scare away the residents.

Some of the witnesses told SaharaReporters that the terrorists came to the area but nobody was killed or abducted as people fled their homes.

File Photo: Boko Haram Google

Last Saturday, Boko Haram inflicted one of the greatest casualty figures in the state by slaughtering no fewer than 78 rice farmers in the community – an incident that has attracted national and global condemnation.

See Also Sahara Reporters We Informed Military Before The Attack But Nothing Was Done, Zabarmari Residents Say 0 Comments 4 Days Ago

One of the residents, Ishaya Ahmed, said women who were on their way to farm on Thursday first caught a glimpse of the terrorists.

"While some of our women and girls were on their way to the farm on Thursday, they came across the Boko Haram in large numbers, moving in a single line from north to south and, at the sight of the women, they began to shoot sporadically into the air to scare people away.

"So, the women froze at the gunshots and could not proceed to the farms. They had to return. I think the insurgents spared them because they were women. If we, the men, had followed them, they might have killed us."

A community leader in Zabarmari, who did not want his name to be mentioned, told SaharaReporters that boys and men were affected in the Saturday's gruesome murder.

"Some of them were newly-weds," he said. "Some with very young families. Others were mostly school-age boys while some were hired to harvest the farm for some fee. We heard the rumours that women were also killed, but it is not true."
See Also Sahara Reporters Zabarmari: It Hurts That B’Haram Addressed Nigerians While Buhari Hasn’t – Aisha Yesufu 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

Meanwhile, a woman in the community who lost her husband during the attack, said: "We got married eight months ago. I don't have a child, and I don't have any business I am doing. I only survive by what my husband makes from the farm. At the moment, I am staying with my mother since the death of my husband."

The Senate earlier on Tuesday called on the president to fire the service chiefs who have failed to secure Nigerians while the House of Representatives summoned the president to brief the house on the mass murder.

The Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, who seemed to have lost trust on Nigerian armed forces, had on Monday asked the president to engage the services of mercenaries to fight Boko Haram.

"One of our recommendations as possible solutions to end the insurgency is the immediate recruitment of our youths into military and paramilitary services to complement the efforts of the Nigerian forces," he said. "Our third recommendation is for the President to engage the services of mercenaries to clear the entire Sambisa forest."

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No fewer than 19 high achieving, low-income students from southern Nigeria have received full scholarships totalling $2.17million to attend American universities and colleges for the 2020/2021 academic session. 

This feat was made possible through the Opportunity Funds Program of the United States Consulate General in Lagos, with support from Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.  

During a reception held in Lagos in honour of the US-bound students, the United States Consul General, Claire Pierangelo, congratulated them on their success, while urging them to make the most of their opportunity to get a top-notch education.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is pleased that our two major EducationUSA centres in Lagos and Abuja helped brilliant, deserving and high achieving students defray the cost of applying to study in the U.S. You have successfully navigated the daunting U.S. college and university admissions process, and we are so excited for your future.

“During your time in the United States, please take full advantage of every opportunity you have, not only to learn but to expand your horizon. You have excelled in Nigeria, and I have no doubt that you will continue on that path of academic excellence in the United States,” Consul General Pierangelo told the departing students.  

Izunna Okpala, one of the 2020 Opportunity Fund Program scholars, received full funding for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in Information Technology with a concentration in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing at the University of Cincinnati.

He described the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program as a “game-changer” in his quest to receive an international education.  

The 19 departing students — two undergraduates and 17 graduate students —will be studying a variety of majors including Infectious Diseases, Biomedical Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry, Climate Change and Climate Variability, Geology, and Political Science.

The list of acceptances includes the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Purdue University, Duke University and Northwestern University.

Now in its 11th year, the Opportunity Funds Program assists talented and determined, low-income students who are good candidates for financial assistance from U.S. colleges and universities but lack the financial resources to cover the up-front cost of obtaining admission.  

Following a competitive selection process, the successful students received financial aid that covered expenses involved in the college application process such as payment for standardized tests, application fees, visa and SEVIS fees as well as air travel to the United States. 

EducationUSA advisers also worked closely with the students through regularly scheduled meetings and seminars to assist them throughout the application process.  

According to the latest Institute of International Education Open Doors Report, Nigeria retained its top ranking as the number one source of African students studying in the United States. About 13,762 Nigerians study at more than 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

 

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A group of persons with visible injuries came to the premises of Lagos State Court of Arbitration, Lekki, venue of the Lagos State Panel of Judicial Inquiry, on Friday, to demonstrate that their injuries were caused by the soldiers who shot at them on October 20 during the #EndSARS protest.

They arrived at the venue in a white bus, followed by a placard-carrying group, New Nigeria Network.

“We have people with amputated legs. We have people with brain surgery in this van. We have dozens of them that are yet to be discharged,” said their spokesperson. 

“This is from the Lekki tollgate massacre in 2020. We want justice. We don’t want to be silenced. We don’t want to be marginalised even in our own country.” 

While the Nigerian Army has consistently denied killing any protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, video evidence has shown that the soldiers indeed killed some of the protesters while others survived with gunshot wounds.

 

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The Delta State government has threatened to punish any nurse or midwife who joined the strike by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives in the state.

The state’s Ministry of Health issued the threat in a circular dated December 3, 2020, and marked HNC3/T/15, to all principals of the state’s schools of nursing and other government centres where the nurses and midwives are employed.

Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa
Instead of implementing the demands of the health workers, the state government threatened to deal with any nurse or midwife who “flouts this directive” according to the rule of engagement and extant provisions.
See Also Sahara Reporters Nurses, Midwives Begin Indefinite Strike In Delta 0 Comments 3 Hours Ago
SaharaReporters gathered that the health workers commenced their strike on Thursday, based on a five-point demand.

The strike stems from the demotion of principals of nursing and midwifery schools and the imposition of a junior nursing officer as the director of nursing services.

Other issues include implementation of license community nursing and midwifery and volunteer nursing recruitment instead of actual recruitment, as well as promotion, arrears and uniform allowance of the workers.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives had asked their members in the state to begin the indefinite strike on Thursday.

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The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja on Friday, has affirmed the death sentence on Maryam Sanda.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court had, in January 2020, sentenced Sanda to death by hanging for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.

File Photo
The Nigerian police charged Sanda for culpable homicide in November 2017 and sought the death penalty against Sanda in a two-count charge.

After the lower court found her guilty of killing Bello, she approached the appellate court to upturn the judgement.

In a notice of appeal predicated on 20 grounds, the appellant through her legal team described the judgment of the trial court as “a miscarriage of justice”.

She submitted that the judge relied on circumstantial evidence as there was “lack of confessional statement, absence of murder weapon, lack of corroboration of evidence by two or more witnesses and lack of autopsy report to determine the true cause of her husband’s death.”

But the appellate court dismissed her appeal for lack of merit.

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"The tragedy of Africa is wrought in the minds of politicians who behave like demi-gods and delude themselves that they have monopoly of wisdom."- PLO Lumumba.

Africa is the cradle of civilization and the root of mankind. A land flowing with milk and honey; nature is kind with her, beautiful weather, optimal temperature for diverse ecosystem balance, giving rise to an array of different types of resources, but the inhabitants are like its own natural disasters.

The mindsets of the average African are tailored more towards a set goals for personal aggrandizement, individual accomplishment, self-centeredness, materialism, and slave mentality. This may be part of the reasons for the types of leadership that emerged and the society we have today.

Except for few countries like Ghana, Botswana, Rwanda etcetera; that are fortunate enough to have succeeded by reasons of good leadership, prudent management of resources and electoral system that is relatively credible.

Most of the other African Nations with defective systems, products of poor leadership and fraudulent elections are not doing well at all, in all facets of life. Nigeria example in particular: the citizens are wallowing in hopelessness; oppression, hunger, and violent crimes against humanity. A typical case of systemic failure which originates from failed leadership.

Richard Odusanya

Recent events in Nigeria, specifically, the #EndSARS protest, that resulted in the now famous #LekkiMassacre, which was a peaceful protest for the malfeasance, corruption and brutality of the Armed forces and police in Nigeria. The youths are seeking for a better Nigeria and a decent society where Nobody is unduly; harassed, intimidated, oppressed or killed. It was supposed to be a wake-up call, unfortunately, events of the past few days appear to be in the contrary.

This calamitous regime has completely failed the test of integrity and embarked on dishonesty, subterfuge, subterranean moves to stifled information and continue in its old ways of cruelty and crudely behaviour.

The gladiators and their spine doctors have been playing the game of divide and rule tactics with the minds of gullible citizens, using both religion and tribal sentiment to achieve their selfish motives. 

This further polarised us as a nation, the method was really working for them, until the past few days after the series of violent crimes, kidnapping/killings, including that of a first class traditional ruler (Olufon of Iron) in Ondo State Southwest of Nigeria and the recent brutal massacre, in Zabarmari village of Bornu State in the Northern part of Nigeria.

The elders of the Northern and Southern Nigeria, including socio-cultural organization can now see through the gimmicks and pranks that was designed for the continuous cover up of their misdeeds.

The most recent, is the frivolous and vexatious lawsuit filed by the legal department of the Nigeria police force trying to use judicial gymnastics to stop the judicial panels probing the activities and atrocities of police officers brutality across the states to unravel the rot and brutality of police officers. 

The Inspector General of police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu and the management team in a clever somersault, considering the backlash of such misdemeanour and misconduct of agency of the state working at cross purpose with constitutional bodies and among themselves. The 'IGP' and the management team clearly disassociated themselves and claimed unaware as usual, in continuation of unsustainable lies and cover up, that our institutions have degenerated into, as usual there will be no consequences, nobody will resign, or be sanctioned.

Fundamental, for the sake of the African Nations with defective system and in dire need of rescue, we must earnestly begin the process of freedom from despotic governance, poor leadership and lift herself from the morass of POVERTY. The propensity of putting truth on guillotine must be checked, particularly for the seek of building strong institutions. Arise and shine the beautiful continent! Arise from deep slumber Nigeria our beloved country.

Odusanya is the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI.

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A second prosecution witness at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has said that a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN, paid the sum of N65million into the bank account of Uwemedimo Nwoko, the Attorney- General, Akwa-Ibom State.

The witness, Abdulrahman Arabo, told Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the FHC, Ikoyi that Usoro was first arraigned on December 18, 2018, before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court.

Paul-Usoro

He was later re-arraigned on March 1, 2019, before Justice Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.4billion brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

One of the counts reads, "That you, Paul Usoro, SAN, Emmanuel Udom (currently constitutionally immune against criminal prosecution), Uwemedimo Thomas Nwoko (still at large), Nsikan Linus Nkan, Commissioner of Finance, Akwa Ibom State (still at large), Mfon Jacobson Udomah, Accountant-General, Akwa Ibom State (still at large) and Margaret Thompson Ukpe (still at large), sometime in 2015 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversion of the sum of N1,410,000,000,000.

"Also, the property of the Government of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act."

Usoro had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

See Also Corruption Money Laundering: Witness Reveals How Ex-NBA President, Usoro Received N1.1bn From Akwa Ibom Govt 0 Comments 9 Hours Ago

At today's sitting, Arabo, an investigator with the EFCC, told the court that Nwoko ignored the EFCC's invitation when he was invited to corroborate the claims of the defendant that the sum of N65million paid into his account was payment for lawyers, who handled the election tribunal matter in court.

According to a statement from the EFCC, when asked by the defence counsel, O.E.B Offiong(SAN), if he could not have called any of the lawyers who received the money from the Attorney General on account of the defendant, Arabo said: "The Attorney-General was the only one we could call because the money went into his account and it was natural to invite him as the sole signatory to the account."

Arabo, during cross-examination, further told the court that though the EFCC had written letters to the Secretary to the State Government of Akwa-Ibom state requesting the release of certain officials, the Attorney-General was, at that time, not included because the need had not arisen.

He added, "However when he was needed, he failed to show up."

Justice Aikawa adjourned the case to January 20 and 21, 2021 for the continuation of trial.

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Nurses in Delta State, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, on Friday, commenced an indefinite strike.

A statement by the association said the decision was sequel to the resolutions adopted by the State Executive Council (SEC)-in-session during an emergency meeting held on November 24, 2020.

File Photo
“The move became necessary due to the unwillingness of the Delta State Ministry of Health to meet the association’s demands as contained in the 14-day ultimatum to the Delta State government and other correspondences to the Commissioner of Health on the abuse/violation of the Civil Service Rules and Scheme of Service as it relates to the career progression of nurses and midwives in Delta State,” the statement read in part.

The leadership of NANNM, in their directives to members on the observance of the strike, remarked that “skeletal services will not be provided while the strike lasts” adding that “the strike will not be called off until all the demands are met”.

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Nurses in Delta State, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, on Friday, commenced an indefinite strike.

A statement by the association said the decision was sequel to the resolutions adopted by the State Executive Council (SEC)-in-session during an emergency meeting held on November 24, 2020.

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“The move became necessary due to the unwillingness of the Delta State Ministry of Health to meet the association’s demands as contained in the 14-day ultimatum to the Delta State government and other correspondences to the Commissioner of Health on the abuse/violation of the Civil Service Rules and Scheme of Service as it relates to the career progression of nurses and midwives in Delta State,” the statement read in part.

The leadership of NANNM, in their directives to members on the observance of the strike, remarked that “skeletal services will not be provided while the strike lasts” adding that “the strike will not be called off until all the demands are met”.

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