Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Friday 31st July 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 31/07/20
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President Buhari Needs Prayers, Says Gowon
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has expressed fears that Nigeria may crumble totally if citizens don’t pray for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gowon disclosed this during the thanksgiving service and reception organised by the Chrietian Association of Nigeria in honour of the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, in Abuja.
Though he acknowledged that Buhari was doing a lot, the security challenges are still obvious in the country, he said.
Gowon reemphasised that if Nigeria’s territorial integrity was undermined, Somalia will be a child’s play, warning that no one should be allowed to toil with the unity of the country.
Represented by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume, the former military ruler alleged that some people with sinister motives don’t want peace to reign in the country, hence the need for prayers.
He said, “This commission is crucial and sensitive as one of the agencies of government.
“You are coming into the office at a time that we have very serious security challenges. We have made a lot of efforts to solve these problems along with people of other religion.
“We need peace to succeed. I know President Muhammadu Buhari is doing a lot but the challenges are still there. There are people with sinister motives, who wouldn’t want peace. But through prayers, I appeal to CAN to continue to pray not only for Yakubu Pam but for the president and all of us, and for your dear country, so that Nigeria will not go asunder.
“A scholar said that we are structurally complex and pluraly diverted. If our territorial integrity is undermined, Somalia will be a child’s play. We don’t have to toil with our unity. You are in a very good position working closely with CAN and people of other faith so that together we can reestablish peace, push forward our agenda for our territorial integrity, push forward for our oneness so that together supporting the president, we can take our country to the next level, we have the human and material resources to take Nigeria to the next level.”
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BREAKING: Multiple Blasts Rock Maiduguri, Many Feared Killed
Multiple explosions suspected to be from Boko Haram insurgents shook Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday.
The blasts, about three in number, were heard at about 6:30pm, with many residents of the city feared to have been killed in the process.
SaharaReporters gathered that the explosion occurred at Gunge, a residential area, Mairi and Custom within the metropolis.
Agitated residents said it could be another attack by Boko Haram.
Boko Haram has continued to operate in different parts of the North-East, especially in Borno State despite claims by the government that the sect had been defeated.
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Ondo Government Shuts Down Private Hospital Over Unapproved Training For Nurses
A private hospital belonging to a senior government official where ladies are being trained to become nurses without necessary approvals has been shut down by the Ondo State Government.
The medical facility known as Precious Specialist Hospital, belongs to Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee of University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital, Ondo, Dr Michael Gbala.
A source, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said no fewer than 15 young ladies had been undergoing training at the health facility as nurses.
The inexperienced young ladies were deployed by the hospital’s management to attend to patients, thereby putting their lives under grave risk.
“He (Dr Laja) had been training the ladies as nurses in his private hospital for a long time.
“What he is doing in that hospital is called professional malpractices because as a senior doctor who is also working in a government hospital, he knows the implication and the Ministry of Health had to step in by shutting down the hospital.
“These ladies only learn for a period of six months or one year before attending to patients,” the source said.
Gbala refused to comment on the issue when contacted by SaharaReporters.
An official of the Ministry of Health in the state, who confirmed the shutting down of the hospital, said Dr Gbala was not given any approval to train nurses on behalf of the state government.
“We had to lock up the hospital. Although, there is no disciplinary measure, we would fine him and he would have to sign an undertaking,” the official said.
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E2%80%99s-agf-malami-indicted-predecessor-adoke-opl-245-scam-while-testifying-london How Nigeria’s AGF Malami Indicted Predecessor Adoke In OPL 245 Scam While Testifying In London
Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has made egregious corruption claims against his predecessor, Mohammed Bello Adoke, while testifying for Nigeria in the ongoing P&ID case.
Malami, while testifying, said Adoke accompanied P&ID in making Nigeria lose the case.
He also accused Adoke to have received a bribe of more than $800,000.
In the declaration of Malami submitted to the United States District Court, Southern District Of New York, a copy which was obtained by SaharaReporters, the AGF made a number of statements clearly fingering Adoke as corruptly benefiting from the OPL 245 deal as he also added that he was being investigated in the P&ID corruption case in Nigeria.
Malami also said Adoke handpicked Nigeria’s counsel and refused to give them clear direction while handling the case.
He said, “Nigeria unfortunately has a history of endemic corruption at the highest levels of government. Corruption was particularly prevalent under the previous administration, and there are numerous examples of fraud and bribery on a massive scale from this period.
“The most notable example is the OPL 245 case, which involved an extraordinary series of events culminating in the release of US$1 billion held in an English escrow account to a company named Malabu, controlled by the former Petroleum Minister Daniel Etete. The Attorney General, Mr Adoke, received a substantial portion of these funds personally.
“Despite the high stakes of the Arbitration, the Attorney General at the time, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke (“Mr Adoke”), who in 2019 was charged with facilitating a $1 billion bribery and fraud oil license scheme (with Mr Adoke himself pocketing more than $800,000) (See Ex 116), handpicked Nigeria’s defense team.
“Recent investigations have confirmed that throughout the arbitration, neither Mr Adoke nor the petroleum minister provided proper direction to legal counsel.
“While to date we have not uncovered any direct evidence implicating Mr Adoke in the P&ID fraud, our investigations are sic ongoing.”
Malami also informed the court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced criminal charges against Adoke and those involved in the financial corruption scandal.
He stated that following the commencement of the Arbitration on August 22, 2012, Adoke assumed initial control of the arbitration including the selection of Nigeria’s arbitrator (Chief Bayo Ojo), which was done through a letter sent by the Petroleum Ministry’s legal adviser, Ibrahim H Dikko, On November 30, 2012.
“Although the selection of Chief Bayo Ojo was sent by the Petroleum Ministry, subsequent investigations have revealed that Mr. Adoke provided this instruction.
“In addition to directing the Petroleum Ministry to select Chief Bayo Ojo as the ministry’s arbitrator, Mr. Adoke appointed Nigeria’s solicitors and advocate in the Arbitration.
“The OPL 245 case involved large-scale corruption and fraud at the highest levels of Nigerian government, whereby Royal Dutch Shell used bribes to secure lucrative oil drilling rights in the southern Niger Delta.
“The EFCC brought charges against the former Nigerian officials and the major oil companies involved in the OPL 245 scheme. This includes Attorney General, Mr. Adoke, who EFCC charged with corruption and money laundering for receiving funds as payment for the negotiations he allegedly brokered between Shell, Italian oil company Eni, and Malabu Oil & Gas for OPL 245.
“The EFCC also charged former Minister of Petroleum Dan Etete with corruption for his role in fraudulently awarding the license to his own company in the first place as well as his involvement with Malabu. Both Shell and Eni have been charged,” Malami said.
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BREAKING: Army Blocks Lance Corporal Martins From Seeing Lawyer And Family Despite Court Order
Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Brutai, has blocked Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini, a detained soldier, from seeing his lawyer and family in a contemptuous disregard to an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Chikere of the Federal High Court had on July 22, 2020 made an order mandating the Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to grant Lance Corporal Martins immediate access to his lawyer and relative after human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, argued an ex parte application before the court.
The judge held that the inability of the detained soldier to see his family violates his fundamental human rights.
However, Akinyode, who is also the National President of Revolutionary Lawyers’ Forum, told SaharaReporters that the army had failed to honour the court order with impunity.
Akinyode said, “As soon as we obtained the court order, we wrote the Chief of Army Staff to notify him. We served a CTC of the order on the army. They’re aware of the court order but have decided to treat it with astonishing disrepute.”
A copy of the letter cited by SaharaReporters showed that the office of the Chief of Army Staff received CTC of the court order on July 27, 2020.
Akinyode said he had been to the army headquarters twice, with a last visit on Wednesday in an attempt to visit his client but was turned down by officers of the Nigerian Army.
The lawyer said, “We got to the army headquarters yesterday at exactly 2:45pm and met officers Aura AA and Suleiman AA and two other military personnel at the front desk who disallowed me from entering to see Lance Corporal Martins as ordered by the court.
“The officers at the front desk asked me to write a reminder letter to the Chief of Army Staff. I find that very insulting. We’re talking about a court order. A valid order of court and who is the army by the way to disobey court decisions.”
Akinyode said he called the Attorney-General of the Federation in respect of the court order and Malami promised to wade into the issue.
Akinyode added, “The AGF is a defendant in the suit and I sent him a letter notifying him of the court order. So after the army denied me entrance yesterday, I called the AGF on phone to inform him of the development. The AGF told me that he has seen my letter and has minuted on it for action.
“The AGF told me the holiday could stall the process but that as soon as the holiday was over, I should call him so he’ll follow up with compliance.”
Lance Corporal Martins remains in detention and incomunicado for over a month since he was arrested.
He was arrested shortly after he made a video castigating Buratai for the failings of the army to combat and destroy Boko Haram.
Sources within the army have revealed to SaharaReporters that Buratai considers the video personally offensive to him and had vowed to ensure the Lance Corporal “rots” in jail.
There is no information yet about Lance Corporal Martins as nobody had been able to reach him.
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Herman Cain, Former GOP Presidential Candidate, Dies Of COVID-19
Former Republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain, has died of complications from Coronavirus.
A post on Cain’s Twitter account on Thursday announced the death.
Cain had been ill with the virus for several weeks.
It’s not clear when or where he was infected, but he was hospitalised less than two weeks after attending President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June.
He was 74 years old.
“We knew when he was first hospitalised with COVID-19 that this was going to be a rough fight,” read an article posted on his Twitter page.
“He had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. We all prayed that the initial meds they gave him would get his breathing back to normal, but it became clear pretty quickly that he was in for a battle.”
Cain, who had hoped to become the first black to win the GOP nomination, was initially considered a long-shot candidate, according to a report by cnbc.com.
His bid was propelled forward in September 2011 when he won a straw poll vote in Florida, instantly becoming an alternative candidate for Republican voters concerned that former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, was not conservative enough.
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21-year-old Cult Member Arrested Over Killing Of Businessman In Bayelsa
The police in Bayelsa State have confirmed the arrest of 21-year-old Tari Logos over the killing of a businessman, Abraham Bayefa, along the Aritalin Junction area of Ovom, a suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital.
It was gathered on Thursday that the deceased was shot dead at close range by suspected cult members for intervening while they attempted to rob some business centres close to his house.
Niece of the deceased, Timipa Bayefa, said, “He was shot dead on the spot by two cultists close to his house at Aritalin Junction, Ovom, Yenagoa. The incident occurred on July 22 at around 3pm.”
It was further gathered that one of the suspects was apprehended by the local vigilante and taken to the police while his accomplice escaped.
The suspect, who is currently in police custody, reportedly confessed to the crime, adding that it was his partner, who pulled the trigger that killed Bayefa.
Spokesperson for the police in the state, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development, adding that, “One of the suspects, Tari Logos, 21 years, is being detained at state CID and investigation is ongoing to arrest his cohorts.”
Family members of the deceased have alleged that the police authorities were demanding N150, 000 as autopsy fee to confirm if it was the bullets from the suspect that killed him before charging the matter to court.
The family has said they don’t have such amount of money to carry out an autopsy.
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Company Where Nigerian University Student Was Killed By Machine Suspends Operation, Launches Investigation Into Tragedy
Late Gbadebo Richard
Expand Global Industries Limited, Ibadan, Oyo State, the company where a University of Ibadan student, Gbadebo Richard, died in an industrial accident, has suspended its operation and launched an investigation into the tragedy.
SaharaReporters had reported how 20-year-old Richard, who was on night shift, fell into one of the machines in the factory and died immediately.
Spokesperson for the soap-making factory, Aliyu Jibril, in a statement on Thursday said the company was working closely with the police and Ministry of Labour to ascertain the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.
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The statement reads, “Our onsite emergency team immediately stopped all operations and promptly informed the relevant authorities of the incident. The local authorities arrived onsite within minutes to carry out the necessary investigations and safely transport the deceased to the morgue where an autopsy could be conducted.
“The company is shocked and saddened by this loss and our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the deceased.
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How Nigerian University Student Gbadebo Richard Died Inside Machine Of Soap-making Factory In Ibadan
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“Expand Global Industries Limited is working closely with the police and Ministry of Labour to ascertain the circumstances leading up to this tragic incident.
“Production at site remains suspended until further notice. The safety and health of our people is of utmost importance to us.”
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E2%80%94can-president Scarcity Of Trustworthy Leaders Killing Nigeria —CAN President
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Reverend Samson Ayokunle, President of Christian Association of Nigeria, has noted that the scarcity of trustworthy leaders was one of the things killing the country.
Ayokunle spoke during a thanksgiving service in honour of the new Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam, at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
The CAN President said many leaders were embezzlers and rogues, adding that resources committed to them ended up being mismanaged.
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He said, “One of the things killing our nation Nigeria today is the scarcity of trustworthy leaders. The nation is crawling because some, if not many of those in leadership are untrustworthy.
“They are embezzlers and rogues. You cannot commit any resource into their hands and expect good returns.
“Many companies in this country had shut down because of unfaithful managers and workers. Our country is in great danger because of this.”
Ayokunle urged Christian leaders in the country to always stand for what is right and act gently and humbly.
He added, “A humble leader would always appreciate the contributions of others.
“This appreciation is the reinforcement you would give them to do better in the subsequent assignment. Jesus washed his disciples feet. In your humble leadership, serve with your team and take good care of their welfare as Jesus did.”
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COVID-19: Stakeholders Call For Protection Of Trafficking Victims, Abolition Of Illegal Trade
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Stakeholders have called for the protection of victims of human trafficking across the world.
The call was made to mark this year’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
The stakeholders are also calling for an end to the illegal trade.
The United Nations designated July 30 every year as a day to raise awareness on the plight of victims of cold-hearted activities of human trafficking, and promote and protect their rights.
The Coronavirus pandemic has made difficult the essential role of first responders to victims of modern slavery, according to Chinaka Okoro in a report by TheNation.
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The UN urged law enforcement officers, social workers, health care professionals, non-governmental organisations, members of staff and many others working around the world to protect the vulnerable and end the crime of human trafficking.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, noted that during the COVID-19 crisis, the essential role of first responders had become even more important; particularly as the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have made their work even more difficult.
He said, “Like the frontline heroes saving lives and sustaining our societies in the COVID-19 pandemic, these providers are keeping vital services going throughout the crisis. They help in identifying victims, ensuring their access to justice, health, social assistance and protection, and preventing further abuse and exploitation.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated many global inequalities, created new obstacles on the path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and left millions of people at greater risk of being trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour forced marriages and other crimes.
“Women and girls already account for more than 70 per cent of detected human trafficking victims, and currently are among the hardest hit by the pandemic. With previous downturns showing that women face a harder time getting paid jobs back in the aftermath of the crisis, vigilance is especially important at this time.
“If the world is to put human dignity and human rights at the centre of the COVID-19 response and recovery, we need to do more to protect trafficking victims and prevent vulnerable people from being exploited by criminals.”
According to Pathfinders Justice Initiative, a non-governmental organisation committed to the eradication of modern slavery, women and girls represented 84 per cent of the 15.4 million people in forced marriages and 59 per cent of those in private forced labour.
On why the dingy business of human trafficking flourishes, the Index also revealed that the illegal trade is a high profit, low-risk business which allows traffickers to operate with impunity.
It noted that in 2018, there were only 11,096 prosecutions (down from 17,471 in 2017) and 7,481 convictions (up from 7,135 in 2017) globally, even as it states that of all the global victims, only 85,613 were identified (down from 96,960 in 2017).
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