Kuje Prison riot: Boko Haram prisoner caught with 25 phones

Adelani Adepegba and Samson Folarin

Sporadic gunfire caused pandemonium at Kuje Prison, Abuja, on Monday, following a riot by some inmates, who resisted the attempt by prison officials to search their cells for banned items.

It was gathered that security operatives fired gunshots and tear gas canisters to restore law and order and control the rioters.

This happened 11 days after a similar incident in Abakaliki Prison, Ebonyi State, that led to the death of six inmates and injuries to four prison warders.

The Monday riot occurred two months after two inmates, standing trial for culpable homicide, escaped from the Kuje Prison on June 25. The fleeing inmates have yet to be re-arrested.

Sources in the prison said the violent protest was brought under control by the armed squad of the Nigerian Prisons Service supported by soldiers providing additional security cover for the formation.

The incident, it was learnt, caused panic among residents of Kuje community, who believed that the prison was under attack by terrorists.

The Controller of Prisons, FCT Command, Daniel Odharo, in a statement, confirmed the crisis at the prison but said there was no injury or escape by inmates.

Odharo said, “At about 1000hrs on Monday, staff of Kuje Prison carried out a routine cell-search which is a part of the prisons operational guidelines to prevent the breach of security within and around the prisons.

“Some inmates tried to resist the exercise, which led to an altercation between the search party and the inmates. This was quickly put under effective control. No prisoner was injured, no property damaged and the yard is calm and peaceful.”

Investigations by one of our correspondents indicated that the violence was instigated by convicts, who refused to allow  warders to carry out a search on their cells for prohibited items.

One of our correspondents gathered from a reliable source in the prison that during the search, 25 mobile sets were recovered from a suspected Boko Haram inmate.

The source stated, “The incident happened this morning. The warders, who were acting on instructions from the prison authorities, decided to search the cells and seize prohibited items.

“During the search, they found 25 handsets with a Boko Haram suspect. After a search of the convicts’ cells, they moved to the awaiting-trial cells.

“But those men, who saw the warders approaching with some ‘already’ seized items, decided to resist them.  They attacked the warders with stones and every object they could lay their hands on, and in the process, many of the warders were injured.”

It was gathered that after a search, some substances, suspected to be cannabis, were also uncovered in some cells and confiscated.

Another prison source told The PUNCH that the warders, who were overwhelmed, retreated for reinforcement.

They were said to have opened fire on some of the inmates, during which some of them were injured, though it could not be ascertained if any of the inmates died as some suspected.

“I can’t say the total number of casualties among the inmates, but I can confirm to you that many of the warders were injured,” he added.

The source explained that the inmates resisted the warders because the prohibited items were brought in by warders after being tipped.

He said, “The rot in the Nigerian Prisons Service is serious. The prohibited items that the warders wanted to seize were brought into the yard by the same warders.

“The inmates had been enjoying this privilege through trafficking by the warders. It is only natural that they will fight back, and it is a bad trend for the prisons service.”

VIP inmates resist search

It was gathered that the convicts, who were kept in a block called ‘VIP’, were allowed to enjoy certain privileges not permitted by the prison rules and regulations.

Sources stated that against prison rules, awaiting trial inmates were allowed to stay in the VIP block as it was more comfortable.

It was learnt that the dormitory-like block, where the awaiting trial inmates were kept, was congested with poor ventilation while the convicts’ cells were more pleasant to stay.

A source said, “What happened on Monday was that as the officers moved to carry out a search of their cells, the inmates refused and before you know it the situation had degenerated into an altercation between the inmates and the officers with some convicts trying to physically attack the warders.

“The armed squad had to fire into the air and they also released some tear gas canisters to bring the situation under control.”

In June, the prisons service dismissed a female prison officer for smuggling alcoholic drinks into the Kirikiri prison in Lagos.

About two weeks ago, the Federal Government dismissed 23 prison officers for alleged complicity in jailbreaks at the Kuje Medium Security Prison, Abuja, and the Koton-Karfe Prisons, Kogi State.

The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Services Board, at its emergency meeting held on August 11, 2016, approved the dismissal of three senior prison officers serving in Kuje Prison and three other senior officers serving in Koton-Karfe Prison for their complicity in the escape of prisoners from the respective prisons.

In addition, the Controller-General of Prisons, Ahmed Ja’afaru, had also approved the dismissal of seven junior prison officers serving in Kuje Prison and 10 other junior staff serving in Koton Karfe prison, who were also implicated in the jailbreaks.

My policeman friend led team that killed my son – Father

Simon Utebor,  Yenagoa

The father of Innocent Kokorifa, who was allegedly killed by a police team in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has demanded justice for his son.

Mr. Daniel Kokorifa, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Rivers State Sector Command, said his son was murdered by a team led by his friend.

He spoke on Monday when some human rights activists, led by a former Secretary, Civil Liberties Organisation, Mr. Alagoa Morris, paid a condolence visit to his home in the Okaka area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Innocent, who was first of five children, was allegedly shot dead by the police anti-kidnapping team on Air Force Road in Yenagoa on August 18, 2016.

The victim was said to be running an errand for his mother, Pere, when he was killed.

But the state police command had in a statement claimed that the victim died during a gun battle between a three-man robbery gang and the police.

The victim’s father, Daniel, however, said upon investigation, he discovered that Innocent was killed by a police team led by his own friend.

He explained that his son died on the day his West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination results were released wherein he passed all his papers.

He said, “On August 18, 2016, my wife called me that our son was shot dead by the police. We went to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, but they denied knowledge of the incident.

“We went to the anti-vice unit and they also denied. When we went to the scene of the incident, we discovered that it was the anti-vice team that came for the operation.

“The following morning, I went to the anti-vice team again, but they denied knowledge of it. I saw a friend, who worked there. When I asked him, he also denied any knowledge of it. But I later discovered that it was my friend, who led the team, that killed my son.

“From there, I went to the Emergency Ward at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, in search of my son. There, I was told that the police brought the boy in the night around 11pm, the doctors said the boy was brought dead.

“That was how I knew my son was dead. I went inside the mortuary with my son’s picture and my ID card before they allowed me in. I saw his lifeless body in the morgue.”

Daniel, while thanking various rights groups that had been standing by the family, said his son’s dream of studying law at the university had been cut short.

“From birth, he never had any criminal record. The day he died was the day his principal called me that he made all his papers. Now, he is dead. All I demand is justice,” he added.

The victim’s mother, Pere, said she asked him to give N2,000 to her elder sister’s daughter around 10pm on the day of the incident.

“We started searching for him when he didn’t return on time. We went to hospitals and police stations, but they all denied knowing the whereabouts of my son. The following day, when my husband returned from Port Harcourt where he works, we went to the SCIID and they asked me to write a statement that it was bad boys that killed my son, so that they could investigate the matter, but I refused.”

Human rights activist, Morris, said, “Even a criminal is innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. And until a judge pronounces the death penalty, no one has the right to take a life.”

Another activist, Ebiserikumo Gbassa, who described the development as an extra-judicial killing, said the police had ended the life of a promising youth.

“I am appealing to all relevant authorities to ensure that the killers of the innocent boy are brought to book,” he added.

When contacted, the spokesman for the police command in the state, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the police were investigating the matter.

However, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Amiengheme Andy, last Friday, sympathised with the family of the deceased.

Andy had said, “We do not encourage such things. We all have children and nobody will send anyone out to shoot anybody and anyone who does that will pay dearly for it.

“We want to assure the family that nobody will cover up the matter.

Nigerian universities develop anti-plagiarism software

 

The University of Ilorin in collaboration with six other Nigerian universities have developed an anti-plagiarism software, designed to check academic fraud.
According to the University Bulletin issued on Monday, the other universities are Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin and Covenant University, Ota.
Others are Delta State University Abraka, Benue State University Makurdi, University of Jos and Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.
The publication said the software programme development was at the instance of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian University
This, it said, is the umbrella organisation for Vice-Chancellors of the nation’s federal, state and private universities.
It said the AVCNU had mandated its Information and Communication Technology Sub-committee, chair, and the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, to assemble IT team from Nigerian universities.
The team would develop the home-grown anti-plagiarism software with the local repository.
It quoted the Director, Computer Services and Information Technology, Directorate of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Mohammed Ahmed, as saying the software was at 80 per cent completion.
Ahmed added that using local human resource to develop the software has helped to cut down cost and show the ingenuity of Nigerians.
He explained that the software has both local and global repository with features such as peer review, document comparison, and grammar checker.
He said, “Other features are language support and title validation, with the name EAGLE SCAN being proposed for the programme.”
Ahmed said when operational, the anti-plagiarism application, would be made available to all Nigerian universities.
He said that the application would compete globally, and he called on the AVCNU to see to the digitisation of local contents in the various universities.
It said, “The VC of the Unilorin Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, commended the technical team put together by the AVCNU to develop the programme.
He noted that plagiarism is a criminal offence that has given the AVCNU concern, adding that the development of the programme is the AVCNU’s effort to ensure quality control towards quality assurance in the Nigeria education system.

Nigerians are hungry,Okogie tells Buhari

Cardinal Anthony Okogie

Friday Olokor and Leke Baiyewu

The Emeritus Archbishop of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, has said President Muhammadu Buhari must do something fast to address hunger across the country.

Okogie  said  in an open letter to the President on Monday  that  Buhari’s campaign slogan was anchored on change.

He stated, “Today, cries of “hunger” could be heard across the length and breadth of our vast country. Nigerians hunger, not only for food, but also for good leadership, for peace, security and justice.

“This letter is to appeal to you to do something fast, and, if you are already doing something, to redouble your effort. May it not be written on the pages of history that Nigerians die of starvation under your watch.

“As President, you are the chief servant of the nation. I therefore urge you to live up to the huge expectation of millions of Nigerians. A stitch in time saves nine.”

The cardinal said that Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, promised to lead the masses to the Promised Land.

He  said  that although it was not an easy task to lead, the President during his campaign  offered to take the enormous task of leadership.

The cardinal stated, “Nigerians are waiting for you to fulfill the promises you made during the campaign. They voted you into office because of those promises. The introduction of town hall meetings is a commendable idea. But in practice, you, not just your ministers, must converse with Nigerians. You are the President. You must be accountable to them. The buck stops on your desk. Even if your administration has no magic wand at least give some words of encouragement.”

He said that the President should  instruct his ministers to be sincere and polite at the town hall meetings, adding that their sophistry would neither benefit Nigerians nor the President.

“Mr. President, if you want to leave a credible legacy come 2019, in all sincerity, please retool your administration. Change is desirable. But it must be a change for the better. Let this change be real. Change is not real when old things that we ought to discard refuse to pass away,”  he added.

Okogie said that the President must take a critical look at his cabinet, policies and programmes of his  administration.

He added, “You will need to take a critical look at the manner of appointments you have been making. It is true that commonsense dictates that you appoint men and women you can trust. But if most of the people you trust are from one section of the country and practice the same religion, then you and all of us are living in insecurity.

“The Nigerian economy has never been in a state as terrible as this. You as the President, you are like the pilot of an aircraft flying in turbulence. Turbulent times bring the best or the worst out of a pilot. We can no longer blame the turbulence on past administrations. You know quite well that some of the officials of your administration served in previous dispensations. Blame for what we have been experiencing is in fact bipartisan in character.

“The entire political class needs to come together, irrespective of party differences to acknowledge its collective guilt and to seek ways of saving the sinking ship that our country has become. This cannot be done if some officials of your administration demonise and alienate members of the opposition.”

Okogie said that if a large portion of the blame for the present situation was to be laid on the doorsteps of the entire political class, the search for solution must involve everyone.

He said, “That is why no one should be alienated. All hands must be on deck.

“This is the time to revitalise moribund industries, reinvigorate our agriculture, make our country tourist and investor friendly, and enable our young men and women to find fulfillment by contributing to the common good.

“None of these lofty goals can be achieved without good education. On this particular issue, recent appointments you have made in the education sector raise a question: have you really appointed the best? Still on education, it is important that our universities be allowed to use their own criteria to admit students. It is a gross violation of the principles of federalism and academic freedom for the Federal Government to insist that only a federal parastatal can decide on who gains admission into our universities.”

Responding, the Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari was already addressing the hunger in the land as advised by Okogie.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with The Punch.

Adesina said Buhari was working hard to ensure that Nigerians bid poverty and hunger farewell in shortest possible time.

The presidential spokesman said, “The respected cardinal asked the President to do something fast to address hunger across the country.

“That is exactly what the President is doing. He is working hard for Nigerians, so that they can say a final farewell to poverty and hunger.”

No big deal kissing OC Ukeje –Adesua Etom

 

Etomi

Anybody watching the love scene in the movie, ‘The Arbitration,’ where OC Ukeje and Adesua Etomi kissed passionately, the person might think the two actually have something going on between them in reality.

But in a chat with Saturday Beats, the award-winning actress said  it wasn’t a big deal and she wasn’t aroused in any way while she was kissing OC.

“I am a blank canvass and at the end of the day, what is most imperative to me is the story. That kiss was important in the story because it is part of the dealings in ‘The Arbitration.’ As long as you keep in mind that it is always about the story, it is never about me. I am a human being but I am also a trained actress, I have been doing this since 2004. I was not moved when I kissed OC Ukeje. Kissing in a movie is not the same as kissing in real life,” she said.

The screen diva told Saturday Beats that it was easy to build chemistry with OC Ukeje because they have been friends for a long time.

She said, “It is just that we have not worked together before, OC is my friend. Even if that was not the case, when you have two actors that understand that the work is more important than them, you will get a good film. At the end of the day, it is about the characters and making their relationship as believable as possible. The audience has to see the relationship and feel it as well.”

Beyonce dominates MTV awards

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Beyonce accepts the Best Female Video award presented by Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, and Simone Biles onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images/AFP

Beyonce on Sunday dominated the MTV Video Music Awards as she won a near-record award haul and awed the audience with a fiery dance medley with an unstated political message.

The pop superstar won Video of the Year for “Formation,” the most controversial work of her career, as she took home eight of the 11 awards for which she was nominated.

“Formation,” the first single off her intertwined film and album “Lemonade,” was shot in New Orleans and inspired by the city’s Creole culture, its bounce hip-hop scene and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“I dedicate this award to the people of New Orleans. God bless you guys,” Beyonce told the gala at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Beyonce stole the spotlight by performing for more than 16 minutes songs from “Lemonade,” managing even to change outfits in a set that culminated in the stage erupting in fire.

In one of the most striking moments, a series of gun-shots rang out as her dancers, in angelic white dresses, each dropped to the ground in a red fog.

The video for “Formation,” directed by Melina Matsoukas, had offered solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality with officers portrayed raising their hands as if under arrest.

Beyonce invited to the show, broadcast to more than 120 countries, the mothers of four young African American men whose deaths have galvanized the United States — Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin.

Martin, 17, was killed in 2012 by a white neighborhood guard, a catalyst moment for Black Lives Matter. Brown, Garner and Grant were all killed by law enforcement.

Singer Alicia Keys offered another of the night’s powerful moments as she recited a poem inspired by civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. who delivered his landmark “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington 53 years ago Sunday.

In a year marred by global conflict and a bitter US presidential race, Keys, moving seamlessly from spoken word to a cappella, said: “If war is holy and sex is obscene, then we got it twisted in this lucid dream.”

“Maybe we can love somebody / instead of polishing the bombs of holy war.”

– Kanye talks Kanye –

At eight awards, Beyonce tied her contemporary Lady Gaga and Norway’s a-ha- a sensation in MTV’s early years — for the second biggest win in a single night.

Peter Gabriel retains the record, set in 1987 after his animation-driven “Sledgehammer.”

In one of the night’s most anticipated moments, rap superstar Kanye West — who last year used the occasion to declare his intention to run for president in 2020 — delivered a nearly stream-of-consciousness speech about empowerment.

As the audience chanted his stage-name Yeezy, West likened his creative talent to that of Apple founder Steve Jobs and entertainment pioneer Walt Disney, and said that unnamed wealthy white people had warned him not to make the comparison.

He defended his “Famous,” also up for Video of the Year, which depicted clean-cut pop star Taylor Swift naked in bed with him despite her complaints about the song.

Also seen naked with West in the video are Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, known for his hardline anti-immigration stance, and fashion editor Anna Wintour.

“We came over in the same boat. Now we all in the same bed,” West said, before clarifying that the on-screen lovers arrived on “maybe different boats.”

West then presented a racy new video for his song “Fade” featuring actress and singer Teyana Taylor, who moved her body sensually in a gym before a steamy shower scene.

The video marked a theme in the evening, if accidental, of sexualized exercise.

Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj received roars of crowd approval for a sensual take on a workout, with the pop singer and rapper dancing together in a stage transformed into a gym full of highly physical young men.

– Drake smitten with Rihanna –

Drake won in the rap category for “Hotline Bling,” one of the most popular songs of the year.

But Drake did not appear to accept the award. According to the presenter, rap icon Puff Daddy, the Toronto star got stuck in New York traffic.

Drake however did show up to present the Video Vanguard Award — named after late King of Pop Michael Jackson — to Rihanna, in recognition to her contributions to pop culture.

Drake gushed that Rihanna was “someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22.”

The 28-year-old Rihanna put on four medleys of her songs throughout the show in outfits that began with a snug white T-shirt.

In an acceptance speech, Rihanna pledged never to forget her native Barbados.

 

US player Serena Williams reacts while playing Russia's Elena Vesnina during their women's semi-final match on the eleventh day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships.. AFP

Serena Williams retains top spot in the WTA world rankings Monday heading into the US Open with Angelique Kerber snapping at her heals.

The top 10 in the rankings remains unchanged but Kerber, just 190 points behind the American, is hoping to alter that at the last grand slam of the season starting in New York.

Kerber had a chance earlier this month to unseat Williams at the Cincinnati Open but lost in a shock final defeat to Czech Karolina Pliskova.

WTA rankings

 

1. Serena Williams (USA) 7,050 pts

2. Angelique Kerber (GER) 6,860

3. Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) 5,830

4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 5,705

5. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,151

6. Venus Williams (USA) 4,005

7. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 3,551

8. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 3,465

9. Madison Keys (USA) 3,286

10. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 3,190

11. Karolína Plíšková (CZE) 3,135

12. Carla Suárez (ESP) 3,100

13. Dominika Cibulková (SVK) 3,100

14. Johanna Konta (GBR) 2,905

15. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 2,713 (+1)

16. Petra Kvitová (CZE) 2,580 (-1)

17. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 2,370

18. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 2,195

19. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 2,101 (+4)

20. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 2,054

Floods, windstorm wreak havoc in Lagos,Ogun and Sokoto

 

Samson Folarin and Afeez Hanafi

Thousands of Lagos and Ogun residents have been displaced and property estimated at billions of naira destroyed after downpours on Saturday and Sunday left many streets and homes flooded.

PUNCH Metro learnt that many Christians could not hold their Sunday service as their churches were flooded.

A heavy windstorm in Tundun Yan-Dogo village of Dange-Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto on Saturday also destroyed filling stations, cars and uprooted some poles in the community.

Our correspondents gathered that the worst hit in Lagos were residents of Oworonshoki, Bariga, Ketu, Ikorodu, Lekki areas, while more than 50 houses were affected in the Ita Oluwo area of Ogun State alone.

A pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, Pastor Bola Bolawole, told one of our correspondents that he could not hold church service due to the situation, adding that three of his members were trapped in the floods.

He said, “We could not access our church on Sunday even as of 2pm. The road was completely flooded and we were covered up in water to the waist level. We had to stand by a shop to hold the service, but the rain still drove us away from the place.

“After that, I went on visitation to some of my members and I saw many of them scooping out water from their homes. You can’t go to some parts of the community right now. Water has completely taken over Bakare and Oriola streets and other parts of Alapere. Televisions and fridges were submerged by the floods. Many people have been cut off from their homes.”

Bolawale explained that some residents were afraid that if it poured again, some of the buildings could collapse, calling for urgent government intervention.

A resident of Bariga, Bolatito Ibiyemi, said some parts of the community were not accessible due to the floods.

She said, “The rain has been intense. Places like Oko Oba, Amodu and Arobadade streets and Ilaje Road, have been rendered completely impassable. A church in Ayedun Street was flooded and the members could not hold their service.”

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Michael Akindele, said the agency received distress calls from residents of Oworonshoki, Ifako, Ikorodu and Lekki areas.

He said, “Several property and items worth millions of naira were damaged, but no life was lost.  The affected streets around the Oworonshoki area include Fasasi Ojomu, Ogunyomi,   Abiola, Akewusola, Adebanmwo, Unity, Oduduwa and Agberin streets, among others, while Hassan Street in Owutu and some other streets were affected in the Ikorodu area.

“LASEMA’s Emergency Response Team was dispatched for the assessment of the affected areas to avert further disaster. The flood was exacerbated by blockages of some of the major drainages in the affected areas.”

The Lagos State Government has, however, called for calm among residents, saying necessary steps are being taken to avert flood disaster in the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, in a statement on Sunday, explained that the state government had carried out a tour of some of the flood-prone communities to clear up blocked drainages and canals.

He warned that the government would no longer tolerate the building of illegal structures along drainage paths in the state.

He urged residents living on wetlands and flood-prone areas to relocate.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 200 residents were displaced after floods took over about 50 houses on Unity Estate in the Ita Oluwo area of Ogun State.

It was learnt that the estate was submerged around 12pm on Sunday after the fence of InoPlast – a nylon producing company in the area – collapsed.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the fence served as a barrier, which prevented water coming from Ogijo, a neighbouring community, from flooding the estate.

A lot of valuables were said to have been trapped in the floods as most of the dwellers had gone to church when the rain started.

The Chairman, Community Development Association, Mr. Femi Abolude, said 50 houses were affected by the floods.

He said, “This incident first happened about two years ago when the company’s fence fell. We reported the situation at the state governor’s office and the fence was reconstructed. But we queried the quality of the fence and after some time, water started streaming under it. The same fence fell again today (Sunday). The whole community was affected and about 50 houses were seriously flooded.”

Another resident, Paul Idogu, a lawyer, said all his credentials and property were destroyed by the floods and called for a quick intervention from the state government.

He said, “When I woke up around 12pm, I saw floods entering into my house. I was totally helpless. All my credentials and documents were submerged by water. We went to the company but none of the officials came out to speak with us. The police officers we met there told us to come back on Monday.

“When the fence fell two years ago, the company assured us that they would build a stronger one. But what they did was shabby. We wrote them while they were constructing the fence that it was not strong enough, but they didn’t listen. The government should find a way to save the situation. Proper drainage should be constructed.”

A landlord, Cosmas Okoro, said, “All our property has been destroyed. I am just praying the house should not collapse because water is everywhere. I don’t know where to start from. It was my daughter who came to call me from the church. We are just hanging around now; we don’t know where to go to”

An engineer, Christopher Okoro, said he was only able to salvage his television, which was hung on the wall.

“All other valuables, including my laptop, clothes, my wife’s credentials, were destroyed. As I speak with you, I don’t know what to do; I am stranded,” he added.

Prisoner jumps to death after sentencing at court

 

Prisoner jumps to his death after sentencing at court

Authorities say a man took his own life at an eastern Ohio courthouse moments after he was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Jefferson County prosecutor Jane Hanlin says 42-year-old Jason Binkiewicz was being led out of the courtroom by a deputy, Friday, when he got away and threw himself over the building’s third floor banister.
He was then pronounced dead. Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla says the deputy grabbed the handcuffed man’s clothing as he jumped, but could have gone over, too, if he held on.
Binkiewicz was sentenced on attempted murder and felony assault charges after he was found guilty in July of shooting a man in the face.

Abdalla says the attorney general’s office and Steubenville police will investigate Binkiewicz’s death.

The Naira fell to a new low of 414/dollar

Oyetunji Abioye and ‘Femi Asu

The naira fell to a new low of 414 against the United States dollar on Sunday amid the continued scarcity of foreign exchange in the country, with economic experts predicting further pressure in the forex market this week.

The development came five days after the Central Bank of Nigeria had banned nine commercial banks from the forex market for failing to remit the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s $2.334bn into the Treasury Single Account in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive last September.

The naira was sold for 414/dollar across some black market segments in Lagos and Abuja on Sunday. It hit an all-time low of 412 against the greenback at the parallel market on Friday, after closing at 409/dollar on Thursday.

On Wednesday, a day after the CBN banned the nine banks from the forex market, the local currency depreciated to 402/dollar, down from the 397 it closed against the greenback on Tuesday.

Forex dealers said the demand pressure on the dollar, mounted by summer travellers and parents paying schools fees of their children studying overseas, was exacerbated by the CBN’s forex ban on the nine lenders.

The currency dealers said the naira started falling after the CBN banned the lenders from forex transactions.

It first touched 400/dollar at the black market this month since the CBN floated the currency on the official interbank market in June.

At the interbank market, the naira closed at 314.95 on Friday, with traders saying interbank rates would ease this week when part of July’s budget allocation must have entered the banking system.

But experts said the naira would plunge further against the US dollar this week at the parallel market as forex supply remained a major challenge.

Forex traders said even though the CBN had continued to sell dollars daily on the interbank market, its efforts were considered weak and inadequate, Reuters reported.

The Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said, “There is nothing in the policy environment that will arrest the decline unless the central bank has increased capacity to supply the market, which unfortunately it doesn’t have. So, we should expect the naira to remain under pressure in the coming week.”

He said for the naira to stabilise, there must be a funding that the Federal Government or the CBN could access, such as a credit support from either the World Bank or a trading partner like China.

Chukwu said, “The decline of the naira against the dollar is beyond the recent suspension of some banks from the forex market. We have witnessed suspension of banks in the past, and it did not lead to any spike in exchange rate. The major challenge we have now is supply shortage. If that improves, naira will stabilise.”

He said the naira might hit a low of 420 to the dollar this week.

A currency analyst at Ecobank, Mr. Kunle Ezun, said the supply issue, ban on 41 items from the official forex market and activities of speculators would continue to push the value of the dollar up against the naira.

He said, “Sincerely, there is no major thing that one can expect in the parallel market. The only thing that could bring calm to the market is the supply of the US dollar. What we have in the market is basically demand and supply interplay.”

According to him, the volatility in the parallel market will continue as the importers of the banned 41 items have resorted to the market.

“A lot of people in the official market will want to actually maximise the gains on their dollar holding by channelling it through the parallel market,” Ezun said.

Nigeria’ll be among top business-friendly nations in 2019 – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Sunday that Nigeria would be one of the top countries on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index in the next three years.

Nigeria is currently ranked 169 out of 189 countries on the bank’s 2016 Ease of Doing Business report.

But Buhari said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that the country moved up 20 places in the first year and be in the top 100 within the next three years.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke at a plenary session on “Dialogue with the Private Sector” at the sixth Tokyo International Conference for African Development holding in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said his administration was implementing policies and measures to create the right and enabling environment for business and investors in Nigeria.

He told the gathering that included several African leaders, the Japan Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, and international business executives that his administration’s vision was to make Nigeria one of the top investment destinations in the world, within the shortest time possible.

He said his administration had therefore established the Presidential Enabling Environment Council and Inter-Ministerial Council with the responsibility of driving the move.

The President said, “One of the most important priorities of our government  is to create the right and enabling environment for business and investors in Nigeria.

“Our vision and objective is to make Nigeria one of the most attractive and the easiest places of doing business in the world. We believe government has a particular responsibility to create the right and attractive environment for business and economic activities to thrive.

“In furtherance of this vision, we have launched the Presidential Enabling Environment Council, and Inter-Ministerial Council to oversee the efforts of the government to remove various bottlenecks that stifle businesses and economic activities and thereby creating economic activities,  the right enabling environment and investment climate in Nigeria.

“The secretariat will include strong private sector representation that will be led by experienced business professionals from the private sector. We are committed to moving up the ranking of the World Bank’s ease of doing business index 20 places in first year and be in the top 100 within the next three years.”

Meanwhile, the Pesident has said that the government will sustain concrete measures aimed at diversifying Nigeria’s economy by devoting more resources to agriculture in the 2017 budget.

Shehu, in a separate statement on Sunday quoted Buhari as saying this while granting an interview on the sidelines of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Nairobi.

The President also said African countries, including Nigeria, must learn from Japan how to develop agriculture.

He said the extra votes that would be allocated to agriculture in next year’s budget would cover areas such as procurement of machinery for land clearing, fertilizers, pesticides and training of less-educated farmers.

Chibok girls: Uproar as Buhari shuns protesters

Security operatives stop protesting members of #Bringbackourgirls from gaining access to the Presidential Villa, Abuja ... on Monday.

Everest Amaefule, Adelani Adepegba, Eniola Akinkuotu, Friday Olokor and  Ade Adesomoju

There were angry reactions on Monday after President Muhammadu Buhari shunned the #BringBackOurGirls group and the parents of the Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted by the Boko Haram sect 861 days ago.

The BBOG and the some parents of the girls had assembled at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja, at 10am from where they marched towards the Presidential Villa.

Together with hundreds of sympathisers, who joined them on the way, the protesters had moved towards the President’s office, demanding concrete actions from the Federal Government to save the girls.

But the movement of the protesters was cut short by armed riot policemen who blocked the access road to the seat of power.

The protesters, who arrived at the junction to the Presidential Villa at 11.07am, were prevented from going inside by policemen who told them that they had no clearance to see the President.

The protesters, led by the Co-convener, BBOG, Oby Ezekwesili, later set up a camp on the access road to the President’s office.

In response to Ezekwesiki’s query about the blockade, the officer in charge of the police team, CSP Obasi Chuks, said he could not allow the protesters to proceed to Aso Villa because they did not have an official clearance.

Neither Buhari nor any of his aides came out to address the protesters for more than three hours that they sat on the access road to the villa.

 BBOG urges military action, negotiation

The BBOG in a statement read to journalists by its Strategic Committee Chairman, Aisha Yesufu, said the Federal Government must rescue the 219 Chibok schoolgirls either through a military operation or negotiation with Boko Haram or a combination of both.

It observed that each option had risks, but added that the nation had the capability to assess the risks and adopt the best solution to rescue the girls.

“Three options are available for the rescue of our #ChibokGirls – the use of military force, negotiation for their release or a combination of both. We acknowledge that each option comes with inherent risks, but we also understand that Nigeria has the capability to assess and adopt the best solution,” the coalition stated.

The campaigners said they would no longer entertain any delay in the rescue of the girls.

The group said, “When the proof of live video (released by the CNN on April 14, 2016) was dismissed on the premise that the authenticity of the source could not be ascertained, we advised that every source of intelligence must be treated as actionable. This however did not happen.

“The return of our #ChibokGirl, Amina Ali, on May 18, 2016, her revelations and details of the state of our girls provided a source of first-person intelligence which should have inspired a decisive action. Again, this did not materialise.

“The release of the plea-for-rescue video on August 14 and its corroboration of Amina’s revelations must now be the final part of the decision-making requirements.”

The coalition demanded that the President addressed Nigerians on his rescue plan, stressing that he should constitute a #ChibokGirls Rescue Operation Monitoring Team made up of the representatives of the Federal Government, parents of the Chibok girls, Chibok community and #BringBackOurGirls group, to monitor the President’s sustained action towards rescuing the girls.

The group also requested Buhari to preside over national emergency in the North-East conference to find a cohesive response plan to the humanitarian crisis there.

The BBOG said Buhari should direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to set up a special desk with the responsibility for fast-tracking the trials of the arms procurement funds fraud.

It also demanded that the Chief Justice of Nigeria prioritised the trials of all counter-insurgency related corruption cases.

It rejected the excuse by Buhari that the government did not know which Boko Haram faction to negotiate with and called on  western nations to assist Nigeria.

The BBOG called on President Barack Obama of the United States, Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to support Nigeria with their military and intelligence assets to rescue the Chibok girls.

“We reject the recurrent excuses by the President that the Federal Government does not know which faction of the splintered terrorist group it should engage in negotiations,” the statement added.

It said, “Our movement shall monitor the response of Mr. President and shall return on a march to the Villa every 72 hours until persuasive actions become evident to all.”

 ‘I’m not ready to watch another video’

 Esther Yakubu, the woman whose daughter, Dorcas, spoke in the latest Boko Haram video, stated that she was not ready to watch another video of the abducted girls, insisting that the government had credible evidence to get them back.

She expressed dissatisfaction with the government over its slow response, stating that the schoolgirls deserved to be freed.

She said, “I will like the government and the world to know that we are ready to receive our girls back in whatever form; we are not happy with the government. Why are they not making efforts to rescue our girls? Is it because we are poor?”

Yakubu stated that since the government claimed that it had defeated Boko Haram, it meant it could negotiate with the group from a position of strength, noting that the war against the insurgents was not over until the girls were rescued.

A BBOG campaigner, Maurine Kabrik, said the President was not a man of the masses as widely believed, noting that he had failed to live up to the expectation of the people.

She stated that the BBOG would continue to demand answers from him about the missing girls.

‘We regret voting for Buhari’

The Chairman, Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Abana, said the members of the community worked for Buhari in 2015 and expressed regrets for voting him into power.

He flayed the President for not fulfilling his electoral promise of rescuing the girls, noting that one year after assuming power, Buhari had not rescued the girls and had yet to visit the North-East.

Abana said, “No one has spoken to the family of any of the Chibok girls since the last video was released by the terrorists. We regret our votes. We regret them.

 “We were promised that the President would visit the Sambisa Forest after becoming President; we were also told that within two weeks our girls would be rescued.

“But over one year now, there is no tangible action about our girls. The Presidency stated, instead, that it was confused about the insurgents.”

FG keeps mum on protest

 Attempts to speak with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were abortive as his calls rang out. He also did not reply text messages sent to his mobile phone.

 Rights groups flay President

 Some socio-political groups also berated the government for not granting audience to the protesters.

The President of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, said preventing the campaigners from getting to the Presidential Villa was an indication of the government’s lack of empathy for the families of the kidnapped girls.

He added, “The campaign for the release of the girls is already an international affair. A campaign fully endorsed by the international community for which reason they ought to allow free access in order to continue to show empathy, understanding, determination and resolve to resolve the menace.

“It will be counter-productive to unleash policemen on the protesters because that will expose the government as an intolerant government even if the government means well.”

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said the BBOG was no more the darling of the government.

He said “The group should know by now that those who found mileage in what they were doing almost two years ago must see them as a nuisance today since roles have changed.

“Those who knew the whole game among them have moved into the government and secured positions. It would be naive on the part of those remaining there not to know that they are no longer the darlings they were in the past.”

The President of the Campaign for Democracy, Abdul Usman, said, “It’s unfortunate that the government that capitalised on the Chibok girls rescue today will close its doors on the same group that led the advocacy.

“The call on the rescue of Chikok girl is a necessity and the civil society organisations will not give up until they are rescued.”

Prophet chains 28 ‘sick’ persons in Lagos apartment

 

Some of the victims

Olaleye Aluko

A self-proclaimed prophet, Emmanuel Adeyemi, has been arrested by the police in Lagos State after 28 persons were allegedly found chained in his apartment in the Oke-Ira, Ogba area of the state.

Our correspondent learnt that there was confusion on Olamidun Close, Oke-Ira, where the suspect lived, on Friday when operatives from Area G Command, Ogba, stormed the apartment and found the victims chained in several rooms.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the victims, who comprised 15 adults and 13 teenagers, were discovered after a neighbour gave the police a tip-off that a 17-year-old boy, Toba Adeyemi, who happened to be the suspect’s son, was  chained in a room.

It was learnt that the police stormed the house at about 12pm and found Toba, they also discovered 27 others in a similar condition.

A police source in Area G, Ogba, told PUNCH Metro that the suspect claimed that his son, Toba, and the 27 others were deranged and he chained them to cure their illness.

He said, “The report we initially received was that a boy, Toba (Adeyemi), was being chained down by his father, a self-proclaimed prophet, in the estate. But when we got there, it was more than just the boy. There were 27 others chained in various rooms in the apartment.

A victim

“The suspect claims to be a spiritualist and a prophet. He said his work is to pray for sick people to get well. He said the victims were sick and he had been praying for their healing. The suspect has some magical inscriptions on the wall of his house. The victims comprised six adult males, nine adult females, seven female children, and six male children.

“The families of the victims have not shown up to identify them.”

Our correspondent gathered that the police had handed over the victims to officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Youths, Sport and Social Development.

While some of the victims were taken to a shelter, others were said to have been rushed to hospitals, which the police did not disclose.

A resident on the close, who identified herself only as Basirat, told our correspondent that the prophet was known to run a home for mentally challenged people.

She said, “The police got a hint that the man chained his son, who has mental illness. But the place is a home the man built for mentally challenged people. Policemen were here on Friday and they arrested him and his wife. Toba is Adeyemi’s son, but a neighbour, who saw how the father chained him was not comfortable with it and reported to the police.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident.

She added that the police had commenced investigation into whether the victims were mentally sick or not.

She said, “A total of 28 persons were rescued from the suspect’s apartment. The man has been arrested and he is undergoing interrogation. The command will get to the root of the matter. The police are also investigating to find out whether the victims are mentally sick or not.”

The police also on Friday arrested a 27-year-old suspected robber, Sunday Onjefu, during an operation at Itedo bus stop, Lekki Phase 1 area.

Our correspondent learnt that Onjefu, who hails from Benue State, was arrested by the Maroko Police Division while allegedly dispossessing some ladies of their handbags and other valuables.

The police spokesperson, Badmos, said the suspect had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, for further investigation.

She said, “The police found two toy guns and a knife on him. The suspect said he had robbed people staying in the area with the toy guns.”

Man who named dog Buhari sent to prison

 

Iroko

Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta

The man who named his dog Buhari, Joachim Iroko, aka Joe, was remanded on Monday at the Ibara Prison following his arraignment at the Ota Magistrate Court 2, Ogun State.

He was charged to court by the police with conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, in a case with suit number MOT/617c/2016.

The prosecutor, Inspector Itaita Ebibomini, said the accused committed the offence on Saturday, August 13, 2016, at the Hausa section of Ketere Market in Sango-Ota in the Ota Magisterial District.

The prosecutor told the court that the offence was punishable under Section 249 (d) of Criminal Law of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2016.

The accused, who was represented by a counsel, U. Michael, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The charge read, “That you, Joachim Iroko, aka Joe, and others still at large, on Saturday, August 13, 2016, at about 5.30pm at the Ketere area, Sango, in the Ota Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace, by writing a name, Buhari, on a dog and parading same in the Hausa section of Ketere Market, Sango, thereby, committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Law of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2016.”

His counsel, however, pleaded that the accused should be granted bail. The prosecutor did not oppose the application for bail. The two witnesses in the case were present in court.

The Chief Magistrate, B. J. Ojikutu, admitted Iroko to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum, adding that the sureties must be regular taxpayers in the state.

“They must attach four passport photographs each to the bail bond, depose to affidavits of being gainfully employed, and reside in the court’s jurisdiction,” he added.

The case was adjourned till September 19, 2016.

Iroko, who had been formerly identified as Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, was arrested on Saturday, August 13, after one of his neighbours, who is of Northern extraction, complained that he named the dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari.

The suspect was first taken to the Sango Police Station, from where he was transferred to the state police command headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta.

However, as of press time, his family members had yet to perfect the bail for his release. He was subsequently taken to the Ibara Prison.

Fulani herdsmen kill RCCG pastor, two others in Kaduna...Read It All On Tafia World

Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Sunday night reportedly killed three persons among them, one Pastor Luka Ubangari of the Redeemed Christian Church of God,  Unguwan Anjo, near Godogodo in the Jema’a Local Government Area of  Kaduna State.

The cleric was said to have been ambushed, shot and killed while on his motorcycle  after an evangelical visit to Golkofa, also in the area.

The incident occurred a few days after the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, visited Godogodo and Sanga districts, in the Jema’a and Sanga local governments areas, all  in the southern part of the  state to appraise the attacks of suspected Fulani herdsmen in the area.

El-Rufai  in  the  affected villages of Gada Biyu, Anjo and Godogodo penultimate Tuesday,  condemned the killings, describing them as ‘senseless,’ promising to arrest the perpetrators.

A source told our correspondent that two days after the murder of Ubangari, suspected herdsmen attacked Ningon village, 6km from  Gwantu, headquarters of Sanga LGA, killing two persons and seriously injuring another person.

The source, who craved for anonymity, noted that their joy during the visit of the state governor to the area, turned sour as result of the latest attack.

He said, “We were happy that Governor Nasir el-Rufai visited and assured us of improved security and that the killers would be found and punished.

“To our shock, Pastor Luka Ubangari was ambushed, shot and killed as he was riding his motorcycle after an evangelical visit to Golkofa. He was killed by Fulani men who were out to remove us from our ancestral lands.”

Mr. Nuhu Tukura, the President of the Ningon Community Development Association, said Ningon was attacked on Sunday night and  two natives, Gambo Sule, 38, and Benjamin Auta, 35, were killed by gunmen.

He added that the police only arrived on Monday morning following a distressed call put on to them on Sunday night.

Tukura said, “At 8:45pm Sunday night, Mr. Gambo Sule, 38, Mr. Benjamin Auta, 35, were killed by unknown herdsmen.

“We are seriously troubled by all these happenings. Now, we don’t even know what we can do to have rest. Our farms, we cannot go, and our houses we cannot live in. What else shall we do?

“We called the police immediately the incident occurred around 8:45pm on Sunday night, but they did not come until around 7:30, this morning, (Monday). “We are pleading with the state government to help us with security and assist us in feeding. Most farmers are afraid to go to the farm and there will be food scarcity problem this year and the next.”

The Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the incident  told our correspondent on phone that only one person was killed.

Usman said but for the timely intervention of the police, the casualty figures would have been higher.

He said the police used armoured personnel carriers to chase the armed bandits out of the villages.

Usman said, “When the people learnt of the invasion of the attackers, the police in the area swiftly moved in with APC to chase away the attackers. However, one person was killed. Our men acted quickly to save the situation.”

BREAKING: We’ll declare Niger Delta Republic Oct 1 – Avengers...Read It All On Tafia World

Niger Delta Avengers

Ovie Okpare, Warri

The Niger Delta Avengers on Thursday threatened that it will declare a Niger Delta Republic on October 1 should President Muhammadu Buhari fails to restructure the country.

It also said the group is praying for the Buhari-led federal government to discover oil in commercial quantity in the northern part of the country.

NDA had claimed responsibility for major attacks on oil facilities in the region in recent past vowing not to relent until the nation’s economy was completely crippled.

The group’s spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, stated this on Thursday in reaction to President Buhari’s order directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to increase tempo on oil exploration in the North-East.
It said that the discovery of oil in commercial quantity would make Nigerians appreciate what the people of the Niger Delta experienced in the hands of the Nigerian government.
NDA reemphasised that the country was in dare need of restructuring. It accused the present government of dividing the country through her ‘misdirected policies’.
The militants said, “Our prayer for Buhari and the Northern hypocrite (Northern Governors) is that oil should be found in commercial quantity in the North, so they can let the Niger Delta go.
“The Buhari Led government has failed Nigerians with their misdirected policies that has divided the country, as such nobody wants to be part of that failed state not even the Niger Delta.”
The statement added further, “The October 1st, declaration of independence is still sacrosanct, If the Nigerian government fails to retrace its step by restructuring this country.
“We want to warn the general public that those using NDA to defraud people days of reckoning is close.”

Drug scarcity hits Aso Rock clinic despite N3.87bn budget...Read It All On Tafia World

Punch Newspapers

 

Drugs

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

Despite the N3.87bn allocated to it in the 2016 Appropriation Act, lack of drugs and other essential medical items have crippled operations at the State House Medical Centre, The PUNCH has learnt.

The centre provides medical services to the President, Vice-President and their families, aides, members of staff of the State House and other entitled public servants.

It is also a training facility for house officers and other medical personnel.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that the centre located in Asokoro, a highbrow area of the Federal Capital Territory, is gradually becoming a shadow of its old self.

A cross-section of the centre’s patients told The PUNCH that patients were now being asked to go and buy drugs from outside as they were no longer available in the centre.

Most hit, it was further learnt, are patients with kidney problems who are currently undergoing dialysis in the facility.

Although, some of them are expected to be undergoing the dialysis at least twice a week, the centre’s management has been cancelling such exercise lately, therefore putting the lives of the patients at risk.

In some instances when they attend to them, the patients are made to come with some of the items the doctors will use for the exercise.

Our correspondent learnt that the centre’s management had resorted to sending text messages to patients on items they should bring for their treatment.

In one of such messages sent to a patient which is in The PUNCH’s possession, the management wrote, “Mr. XXX (names withheld), when u (sic) are coming for dialysis on Monday, buy IVF Normal Saline to be used for ur (sic) dialysis. The office doesn’t  have it. Buy like four pieces.”

Normal Saline IVF solution is used in the treatment, control, prevention and improvement of conditions such as low sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium levels as well as blood and fluid loss.

It improves the patients’ condition by maintaining proper fluid balance and keeping the tissues hydrated.

Another patient who spoke with our correspondent said he had a crisis recently because the centre cancelled his routine dialysis.

He said the centre’s management cancelled the session because of non-availability of bloodline.

He showed our correspondent a message sent to him on the cancellation.

The message read, “Gudevening (sic), we can’t dialize (sic) you tomorrow because we don’t have bloodline. When it is available, I will get back to you. Pls (sic) dialyse (sic) somewhere else. Thanks.”

The patient said the first time the session was cancelled, he was referred to a private hospital in Garki where he paid N20,000.

He added that when he could not afford the cost the second time, he was directed to another hospital in Wuse.

“As a result of the stress I passed through, by the time I returned home, I was very weak. My health situation deteriorated midnight and my people rushed me to the hospital. I was discharged about three days after,” he said.

Many other patients who spoke with our correspondent said the medical centre could no longer boast of “ordinary malaria drugs.”

“The clinic does not even have ordinary paracetamol. Paracetamol was included in the list of drugs they asked me to go and buy recently. Before now, they were giving us drugs.” another patient said.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, did not pick his calls when our correspondent attempted to get his reaction on Tuesday.

He also did not respond to a text message sent to him on the issue.

The Permanent Secretary, State House, Alhaji Jalal Arabi, had while defending the State House’s budget before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs, and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties disclosed that N3.2bn of the budget was earmarked for the upgrade of State House Clinic to a Centre of Excellence.

Arabi had said, “The budget for the State House Medical Centre included N3.219bn proposed for the completion of ongoing work as well as procurement of drugs and other medical equipment.

“The Medical Centre provides health care treatment for the President and Vice-President, their families as well as numerous civil servants working in the State House and across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government and of course, with due respect, including parliamentarians and members of the legislature in addition to other notable dignitaries.

“Interestingly, Mr. Chairman, on a lighter note, not only those that have been captured here attend (the Medical Centre) there are poor of the poorest that attend because we receive reference from Gwagwalada, Garki, Wuse hospitals.

“So, if they come, we attend to them and interestingly too at no fee at all, we don’t charge.

“The anticipated improvement of the Medical Centre will propel it to serve as a Centre of Excellence and also reduce medical tourism.

“May I also add that the State House Medical Centre, unlike other medical centres does not charge any fees for its services and hence does not generate any revenue for itself.

Olympics: Nigeria’s medal hopes dim as Brume, Oduduru falter...Read It All On Tafia World

Nigeria's Ese Brume competes in the Women's Long Jump Qualifying Round during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS

Nigeria’s quest for an Olympic medal continued on a woeful note in the early hours of Thursday after two of the country’s medal hopes, Ese Brume and Ejowvokoghene Oduduru, failed to soar at their separate events.

Brume, a track and field athlete who specialises in the long jump and holds the African junior record in the event, fell a distant fifth behind 30-year-old Tianna Bartoletta of the United State in the finals of the women’s long jump.

She could only muster a leap of 6.81m while Bartoletta won the event after jumping 7.17m.

Meanwhile, Ejowvokoghene Oduduru could not gather the speed and pace which took him to the semifinals of the 200m track event behind Usain Bolt after clocking 20.59sec, a notable time difference from the 20.34sec he ran in round one.

Gatlin out

American sprinter Justin Gatlin failed to qualify for the men’s 200m at the Olympics on Thursday.

Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, finished third in 20.13sec and missed out on one of the eight final berths for Fridays’s final.