THE LAGOS State Government on Saturday sealed-off a private laboratory located on Banana Island, Ikoyi for carrying out COVID-19 tests without the required government approval.
Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State disclosed this in a statement.
Akosile said the state’s Ministry of Health through the Health Facility Monitoring and Accredictation Agency sealed-off the laboratory, Acouns Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre which according to him was situated in a pharmacy.
He stated that state government has advised citizens to desist from patronizing health facilities not accredited by the Lagos state government for testing or management of COVID-19 cases as ‘this poses danger to the community and staff of such facilities.’a
The governor’s spokesperson further stated that it is illegal to manage COVID-19 cases outside of an accredited facility.
“As a public, we implore you not to go for test or treatment in a private facility that has not been accredited by government. It is dangerous and you might certainly put you at risk,” he said.
Akosile, however assured that the state government would continue to do its best to ensure that health facilities in the state adhere strictly to standards to guarantee the health and well-being of Lagosians.
Members of the public were further encouraged to cooperate fully with the government to ensure the safety and health of all even as we strive to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has said that 2,191 COVID-19 patients who are located across communities have yet to submit themselves for treatment at the state care centres.
This was disclosed by Professor Akin Abayomi, Lagos state Commissioner for Health on Friday.
Abayomi said residents of the state must continue to take the responsibility of wearing face masks in public in addition to regular handwashing and physical distancing.
According to him, the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the state stood at 45,490.
“The new cases bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Lagos to 11,537 as of Wednesday. Also, 2,191 active cases in communities have yet to turn up for admission in COVID-19 Lagos care centres,” he said.
“For a greater Lagos, we take responsibility by wearing our face masks when in public spaces in addition to regular handwashing and physical distancing.”
He disclosed that 1,753 of the confirmed cases have since been discharged from COVID-19 care centres following full recovery while 7,059 of the confirmed cases are being monitored in communities by the COVID-19 Lagos response team.”
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Friday that the country recorded 575 new COVID-19 cases nationwide to bring the total cases to 31,323. The NCDC noted that 12,795 patients had been discharged while 709 deaths had occurred.
THE military authorities said it has once again neutralized some armed bandit leaders and several of their fighters in Zamfara state.
John Enenche, the General Coordinator Defence Media Operations Defence Headquarters, in a statement on Friday disclosed that the bandits were neutralized in air strikes executed by the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the Zamfara State section of the Kagara forest.
He stated that the success of the operation was achieved through human intelligence reports on July 9, indicating that some armed bandits had relocated with a large number of rustled livestock from the Sokoto State side of the forest and set up camp in the Zamfara State portion of the forest.
Enenche said intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions also later confirmed the exact location of the camp.
The Air Component dispatched Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets, helicopter gunships had engaged the location, and as the attack aircraft approached the camp, some of the bandits and their leaders were seen fleeing towards the surrounding bushes.
Consequently the attack aircraft struck the area of vegetation taking out several of the bandits.
HUMINT sources later confirmed that eight bandit leaders and no fewer than a dozen of their fighters were killed as a result of the strikes
Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff in the statement also commended the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI for their professionalism and urged them to remain resolute in the conduct of air strikes whilst continuing to provide close air support for ongoing ground operations in order to eradicate all armed bandits.
THE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has explained the reasons behind refusing 58 Nigerian Medical doctors from traveling to the United Kingdom on Friday.
Sunday James, the NIS Spokesperson in a statement disclosed that a UK-bound flight with aircraft flight number ENT 550, registration number SP-ES that flew in from London was refused departure from the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos State.
According to James, there was no official communication from the Nigerian Ministry of Health or any relevant body to notify the NIS of the traveling of 58 Nigerian medical doctors.
“There is no official communication to the Service from the Ministry of Health in Nigeria or any known Medical body notifying the NIS of the travel of this number of Medical Doctors,” the statement read in part.
James said the chartered flight approved for landing in Nigeria was to convey 42 Nigerian medical doctors for a training programme and not 58 of them.
He stated that the situation called for refusal of departure when the Immigration noticed that out of the 58 Nigerian medical doctors only two of them have a visa to the UK.
The agency maintained that the refusal was necessary to avoid the Nigerians being repatriated from their destination due to lack of visas which could result in the spread of COVID-19.
Furthermore, James wrote that the Immigration also refused the departure because it flouts the directive of the Federal Government of Nigeria on International flights due to COVID-19.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service as the agency saddled with control of entry and departure from Nigeria of persons will not allow individuals or groups of well-educated Nigerians who should know the procedures for traveling out of their country and the requirements, which include having a valid visa for entry into a destination country to leave.
“This is to avoid refusal of entry and repatriation back to Nigeria amidst Covid-19 pandemic and spreading of same as well as flouting the Federal Government’s directive on the restriction of international flights unless for an essential reason as approved by the government,” the statement further read.
NIS stated that the action of the NIS is in line with the Section 31 subsection 2a and b, on powers conferred on the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service by the Immigration Act 2015, to prohibit departure of any person under the conditions stated in the Act.
With about 300 reported cases in just 6 months, Bauchi State is fast becoming an unsafe place for innocent children as young as seven years. In the first part of this investigation, HARUNA MOHAMMED SALISU documented how the covid-19 partial lock down, complicity by the Bauchi State Shariah Commission and ineffective laws allow the perpetrators to go scot-free, while the victims continue to live with pains and societal stigma.
MONDAY June 15 was a dark day for Habiba Auwalu (not real name) who hawks awara (a local cake produced from soya beans) at the Staff Quarters of the Federal Medical Centre Azare, in the North Eastern State of Bauchi. Habiba, 13, abandoned school for hawking in order to help raise money in support of her mother who lost her husband in March. On the morning of that faithful Monday, the teenager was lured into her predator’s den through the exigencies of her trade and got raped, by Umaru Yahaya, the CMD’s cook.
“He placed an order for Awara, while taking it to him, a friend accompanied me. Upon arrival, I could see some frustration in his face, so he angrily asked me why I came with a friend. He said I should have come alone. ” He then withheld the money and asked me to return later so I would have it.
“He warned that if I come back with my friend again, he will not pay for the cake, so I decided to go back alone in order to have my money.
“When I went back, he dragged me into a room where he defiled me; warning that if I dare let it out, he would chuck me with knife till I die and then I will be dismembered completely and nothing would happen to him”, Habiba narrates her predicament with shaking voice and teary face.
Habiba was defiled by a cook of the Chief Medical Director Federal Medical Centre Azare, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim Bichi, at his residence.
What is more appalling is the dismissal of a security guard who exposed Habiba’s predator.
“Sa’idu, popularly called Shagon, the security guard who learnt of my daughter’s defilement was dismissed from his duty post for exposing the culprit”, Habiba’s mother confirmed in amazement.
She said the security guard who was a friend to her late husband vowed to let the cat out of the bag upon learning about Habiba’s defilement by the cook of the CMD.
The security guard who spoke with The ICIR confirmed his dismissal by Bichi.
Dismissed Security Guard who exposes rapist at FMC Azare
Dismissed Security Guard who exposes Rapist at FMC Azare
Learning about a desperate move to cover-up the defilement of Habiba “to avoid embarrassment for the hospital and the CMD”, this reporter presented himself as Habiba’s uncle and requested to get the detailed information about the medical examination conducted on the innocent girl by the hospital.
Dr Hayatu Ahmed, Head of Clinical Services of FMC Azare, argued that the details information about the medical report would only be given upon a written request.
Days after the request was written, the hospital never responded to either the reporter or the mother of the victim in a move to bury the case.
Dr Hayatu Ahmad, Head of Clinical Services, FMC Azare
Dr Hayatu Ahmad, Head of Clinical Services, FMC Azare
Another Victim, Aisha, 12, (not real name) hawks sachet water. She was gang raped by two neighbours who forcefully took her on bike from her selling point close to her residence to one of the culprit’s house where they gang-raped her.
Ten months since the young men violated the 12-year-old Aisha, she is not anyway near getting justice as the culprits continue to walk free in the neighbourhood while she languishes in pain and misery.
Aisha
Aisha
Remembering the violence, she went through, Aisha was trembling and crying when the reporter was having a conversation with her as she narrated her experience with her molesters.
Like Habiba, Aisha also hawks sachet water to support her mother following the death of her father when she was two months old.
When her abductors took her, they blindfolded her, threatened to kill her should she make any attempt to shout and crave for attention.
The predators took her to a room where they took turns to rape her.
She said her defaulters were later arrested with the help of a neighbour who overhead what was going on in the room. But they were released few days after they were arrested because Aisha’s mother does not have the financial muscle to pay for the medical examination and seek the services of a lawyer who would help her seek redress.
Alas, she is living at the same environment with her tormentors who keep on making “derogatory comments on her” for her inability to get them punished even after having their ways on her.
Her mother who is equally touched by the unfortunate incident that saw her daughter defiled at 12 years said; “I’m a poor widow who survives on begging, but I don’t want my children to see begging as a business, so I decided to ask her to hawk sachet water instead.
“On the day she was raped, I came back from begging and realised she was not at home, when I learnt that she was abducted, I started crying. One of our neighbours came to console me, telling me to thank God that my daughter is even alive, she was with the police.
“When I visited the police station, my daughter rushed to hug me and we all started crying; it was horrible”, the frustratingly looking Maimuna, Aisha’s mother recalls.
Maimuna said although the culprits were arrested by the police, she could not recall how the case ended because the household could not get support to seek redress for the atrocities committed on the innocent girl.
The police never told them the situation of the case to date, but the police say, they have transferred the case to the command’s head office in Bauchi.
Fatima Abdullahi, 7, was defiled by her uncle at Bema ward in Warji Local Government Area of Bauchi. Her stepmother tried to conceal the incident in order to shield the culprit but was unsuccessful because the 7 year old girl now suffers from vesico vaginal fistula, VVF from the wounds she sustained when she was raped.
Recalling the moment she was defiled, Fatima said, “that day I was together with some of my mates playing outside the house and he (referring to her uncle who raped her) came and met me, he asked me to help sweep his room, I refused, but my step mother asked me to go and sweep the room for him and I obliged. “While I was sweeping, he came into the room and pushed me on his bed; that was how I was defiled.”
Fatima suffering from VVF after being raped by her uncle
Fatima said her mother, a divorcee, only got to know about the defilement of her daughter when, “someone in the house later leaked the secret to my mother.”
Fatima said the uncle, “used a piece of cloth to cover my mouth so that I could not shout for help. “He inflicted serious injury in my private part in such a way that I started urinating uncontrollably”, the little Fatima said in irritation.
Fatima suffering from VVF after being raped by her uncle
Although Fatima is young and may not really understand the level of damage done to her, she said that the experience of being defiled has made life meaningless to her.
“Since then, I have found life very difficult, I can’t walk normal, I always isolate myself from my friends because of my condition, I am always indoors, sleeping and crying; life is terrible for me” she stated.
Rape cases soar during Covid-19 period
The partial lockdown introduced in Bauchi State in March to help tame the spread of the coronavirus pandemic might have exacerbated cases of rape, pedophiles and gender-based violence, accounts from civil society organizations handling rape cases in Bauchi has suggested.
Mrs. Comfort Attah, the Executive Director of Attah Sisters Helping Hands Foundation says in the month of March 2020 alone, her organisation has received reports of 35 rape cases from different parts of the state.
Within a period of 3 months, Mrs. Attah said her organization has recorded 82 rape cases, but regretted that none of the perpetrators were brought to book.
She said because of the partial lockdown, courts were not on sessions from March to June, leaving many rape cases untried.
“From March when COVID-19 started coming up, we started having increase in cases, so scary and so weary”, she said.
Mrs. Attah said her organization “developed a committee called ‘community peace observers’; this community peace observers are people in the community that report cases through community leaders.”
She said the method has helped her organization in tracking some of the rape cases in Bauchi State.
“So, they are the ones calling us to tell us what is happening and we also trained them so that they will act like our eyes over there since we can’t move because of COVID 19.
Agreeing with Mrs. Comfort, Yahcit Susan Dala, Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission in Bauchi also said the agency recorded 37 cases of rape between January 2020 and June, majority of which were reported during the covid-19 partial lockdown in the state.
Dala attributed the increase in the number of rape cases to “restriction on movements”, saying, “People are forced to stay at home.”
She said idleness might have led to the increase in the number of cases since the lockdown has forced the rapists to stay at home and sometimes at close proximity with their preys.
“That’s why most abusers are known to the victims or rape survivors. So, because of the restrictions on movements, they are forced to stay in the same vicinity with the abusers.”
Dala also said the increase in the number of rape cases may be as a result of the increase in awareness on the dangers associated with rape.
Figures reported to the Federation of Muslims Women Society of Nigeria, FOMWAN within a space of three months according to Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim Kilishi, the state Chairperson of the Organization stood at 46.
Of the 46 cases reported to her organization from March 2020 to June, none has been successfully tried Figures from Rahama Women Development Association and Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative stood at 13 and 17 cases respectively, from March to June
Reported data from the Bauchi State Police Command obtained by The ICIR revealed that 56 cases related to rape and pedophilia were documented from January to June 14.
Of the 56 cases, according to the Command, 50 were reported during the Coronavirus pandemic, an indication that further proves an increase in the number of cases during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Findings by this medium revealed that the rise in the number of rape cases due to Coronavirus pandemic may be attributed to many factors that include excessive poverty where job loss from parents and guardians force young girls to hawk, drugs addiction among rapists and idleness, among others.
For instance, the Police Public Relations officer, Bauchi State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakili, said during the period, many of the rapists arrested by the police were under the influence of drugs, majority of who may be addicted out of frustration of either job loss or poverty.
He said the inability of parents to shoulder the responsibilities of their children has also contributed in exposing them to danger, making it easy for them to be trapped by their predators.
Lack of support, Police complicity and fear of Stigma truncate justice for rape victims
In all the foregoing accounts, what appears more worrisome is how rape survivors continue to remain silent in fear of societal stigma, as lack of support to hold their predators to account and police complicity during investigations mar chances for justice.
For instance, of all the 56 rape cases reported to the Bauchi State Police Command from January to June, none of the perpetrators has been convicted to date.
All executive directors and principal officers of NGOs and civil society organizations who track rape cases in Bauchi told our reporter that none of the cases reported to them from January to date has been filed, tried and concluded, so that perpetrators are brought to book by a competent court of law.
In the case of Fatima Abdullahi who was raped by her uncle, Tarasulu, her mother recalled how the Warji Divisional Police, which was supposed to investigate and prosecute the culprit before a court of law, released him on bail even before investigations were concluded.
Tarasulu said when the incident happened, she was deceived that her daughter will be taken to Bauchi for medical examination, and the result will be made available in two weeks.
But one year after her daughter was defiled and contracted the dreaded VVF, her uncle who defiled her is still at large, and the Warji Divisional Police never found it worthy to bring him to book after “releasing him on bail”, an action that betrayed the police’s trust not to release alleged rapists since their cases constitute criminal offences.
Tarasulu said it took the intervention of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, to get the culprit re-arrested and reprimanded at the Criminal Investigation Department at Police headquarters in Bauchi.
She said although her daughter does not face discrimination since Fatima is still young, she fears that societal stigma will continue to hunt her.
Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim Kilishi, the Amira of FOMWAN in Bauchi blamed divisional police officers at local government levels for destroying rape cases before they are transferred to the headquarters for proper investigations and possible prosecution.
She also blamed parents for persistent hesitation to expose rapists on the idea that their children may be exposed to societal ridicule associated with stigma.
She cited instances where pressure from guardians forced her organization to withdraw a rape case it instituted on behalf of a client on account of fear of societal stigma.
“Parents don’t normally agree to bring cases forward to enable us institute court case, based on the argument that doing so will tarnish the image of the victim and the household in general”, she said.
Suspects enjoy freedom as survivors falter in trauma, die in silent
Aisha, who was gang-raped by her neighbours weeps anytime she remembers her experience with the sex predators.
When The ICIR placed asked her to relate her experience with our reporter, the trauma in her face was evident as she struggled to control the tears.
“What is more painful for me is that those who raped me are freer than myself because I persistently suffer from stigma as a result of the incident, because everyone in our neighbourhood knows that I was defiled,” she regrets.
Her mother who also shares her pain told The ICIR that her daughter weeps anytime she recalls the scenario 10 months after.
The same scenario plays out with Fatima’s defiler. The suspect is freely moving around doing his normal business while his seven-year-old victim continues to wallow in frustration, trauma and pains occasioned by the VVF she contracted with.
Yet the authorities at the Federal Medical Centre Azare fired the security guard who exposed the alleged rapist of Habiba.
The hospital neglected the victim and denied her guardians the necessary medical details that will help them take action against the culprit.
Some possible psychological abnormalities triggering rape and paedophilia in Bauchi according to Dr. Dr Mahmud Dan-Asabe.
Incurable rape defects that survivors will leave with for life
These cases, where outright denial of justice seems evident, have life-time psychological effects that will continue to haunt rape survivors for most of their lives.
Dr. Mahmud Dan-Asabe, a senior lecturer and Head of the Department of Psychology, Federal University Gashua, Yobe State, says the thinking and reasoning faculty of rape survivors is affected for life if proper psycho-social support mechanisms are not conducted.
He said most of the rape survivors in Bauchi and many other states only undergo clinical examinations and treatment; which he argued are not enough to holistically restore the physical and psychological well being of survivors.
“It has to be a holistic treatment; it has to be a combination of both medical treatment (i.e. pharmacological treatment) and psychological treatment, because 60% of the problems of these victims is psychological”, he said.
Dan-Asabe told noted that depression, flashbacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, self harm and panic attacks are serious psychological problems that will continue to inflict survivors of abuse that clinical medicine cannot not address at the moment.
The psychologist lamented that in the whole of the north eastern states of Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa and Taraba there are only three clinical psychologists.
He said the increase in the number of homicides in Bauchi State has a strong linkage with psychological backlash associated with rape and paedophilia; “because any girl that was raped will not forget the trauma, they will have what we call psychological defense mechanism which leads to repression, and the victims are only waiting for time to retaliate.”
He said marrying such types of women could be dangerous, “because one day one time, if care is not taken, she will retaliate; she may kill herself, she may kill the children and she may kill the husband.”
Source: International Centre for Investigative Journalism (ICIJ)
This investigation was published with support from the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)
SANs Edu. a member of SANs Technology Institute, based in the United States of America has apologised for listing Nigeria as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
SANs Edu. had denied a Nigerian seeking admission into the institute on the ground that the United States Department of State had listed Nigeria as a sponsor of terrorism.
The institute made the apology when an ICIR reporter called them out on Twitter, demanding that they retract their statement following a Fact Check in June that proved that Nigeria was never listed by the US as sponsoring terrorism.
“We sincerely apologize for the offense caused by the miscommunication to this applicant, which does not reflect our beliefs. We’ve been in direct contact with the student and are reviewing our processes to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” SANs Edu said in a response to The ICIR reporter’s tweet.
Nigerians on social media had reacted to a screenshot of the mail sent to the applicant whose name was protected in which the reason he was denied admission into the institute was because Nigeria is listed as a “state sponsor of terrorism” by the United States Department of State.
“Thank you for your interest and enquiry. We appreciate that you highlighted that your education and background is from Nigeria.”
“Unfortunately, this does, in fact, impact our ability to accept you into our programs. As a longstanding matter of policy, the SANS Technology of Institute does not accept students from a number of countries where the governmental regime is a cause for international concern,” the email to the applicant read.
The email then added in the case of the enquirer, the U.S. currently lists their country of citizenship (Nigeria) as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
“Because of this designation, we must decline your inquiry to pursue a higher education degree program with the SANS Technology Institute,” the email concluded.
The Institue Apology and their response to the applicant.
According to the US Department of State, state sponsors of terrorism are countries that have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. Inclusion on the list imposes strict unilateral sanctions.
But SANS Edu. in the response sent to the applicant included a link, which only showed four countries on the list: Syria (designated in 1979), Sudan (designated in 1993), Iran (designated in 1984), and North Korea (designated in 2017).”
Nigeria is not among the countries on the list.
Cuba was enlisted in 1982 and later removed in 2015; Iraq was added in 1979 and removed in 2004; Libya was added in 1979 and was removed in 2006; finally, former South Yemen was likewise part of the list in 1979 and dropped in 1990.
Also, a Fact Check by Humangle, a Nigerian based media platform in June, 2020 had stated that Nigeria is neither currently listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. nor has it ever been.
AFTER spending four days in police detention, Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is seeking release from the Force’s detention facility on self recognizance.
Magu was picked up by security operatives attached to the inter-agency panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 6, following corruption allegations levelled against him by Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
In a letter written by Tosin Ojaomo, his lawyer and sighted by The ICIR, addressed to Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Magu is requesting that he be released on bail, promising to be available whenever called upon by the inter-agency panel investigating the allegations against him.
He maintained that he is innocent of all allegations of corruption, adding that he has provided documents to clear himself.
Magu in the letter also pleaded with the IGP to tamper justice with mercy, citing his reputation for ensuring that the rights of every Nigerian is respected in cases where they are detained for billable offences.
“Our decision to write this application to your office is premised on your declaration and avowed commitment at your inauguration as the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the constitutional rights of all Nigerians is protected under your leadership,” the letter read.
“In view of the billable nature of the allegations levelled against our client , we hereby apply that you grant him an administrative bail pending the completion of the investigation into the allegations levelled against him so that he can adequately prepare himself for the defense of this allegations in accordance with relevant provision of the constitution.”
The letter further proposed that in a situation where the bail on self-recognizance is declined, a credible surety who can ensure the availability of Magu at anytime he is needed for the purpose of investigation would be provided.
Meanwhile, Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State on Tuesday demanded that the Magu, be placed on a ‘watch-list’ so that he would not run away.
OLUWATOYIN Akeredolu, Ondo State Chief Judge, says the State House of Assembly did not complete the constitutional procedures that would enable her set up a seven-man probe panel against Agboola Ajayi, the embattled Deputy Governor of the state.
Ondo State House of Assembly had written the Chief Judge to set up a seven-man investigative panel to look into allegations of gross misconduct levied against Ajayi in order to pave way for his impeachment.
Akeredolu in her reply to the State Assembly request, quoted Section 188 sub sections 1,2,3,4 and 5 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the procedure for the impeachment of a state governor or the deputy.
In the letter dated July 9, 2020, she also listed all the items attached with the letter earlier sent to her by the House of Assembly.
“In view foregoing, the Hon. Members of the House of Assembly have not implemented the constitutional process that would lead your very good self to invite my humble self to set up a panel of 7 to investigate allegations of gross misconduct as stipulated in the Constitution,” Akeredolu wrote.
She further stated in her letter that she had also received a letter from Kayode Olatoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) which posited that the “matter of impeachment of the deputy governor is ‘sub-judice.”
“Furthermore, I wish to bring to your notice the copy of the letter which I received earlier today from Kayode Olatoke, SAN which letter tells me clearly that the matter of impeachment of Hon. Alfred Agboola Ajayi, Deputy Governor of Ondo State is sub-judice,” the Chief Judge wrote.
Babatope Okeowo, Spokesperson to the Deputy governor told The ICIR that the Ajayi had approached the court to protect his fundamental right of freedom of association.
Okeowo said his boss is being targeted because he defected from the All Progressive Congress (APC)to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“He filed the suit to protect his right that as a citizen of Nigeria he has the freedom of association to belong to any political party of his choice,” Okeowo said.
The spokesperson said the Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Political Matters, Victor Olabimtan had said “they would even take extrajudicial measures to ensure that the deputy governor is impeached for defecting to the PDP.”
“In fact the Special Adviser to the Governor, Victor Olabimtan said on radio they would use all means, both extrajudicial to ensure he is impeached for going to PDP from APC, he even said it in the radio,” Okeowo added.
In another letter seen by The ICIR, nine members of the Ondo State House of Assembly had distanced themselves from the impeachment of the deputy governor on ‘personal conviction’.
Out of the 26 members of the State Assembly, 14 of them signed the impeachment notice of the deputy governor, Ajayi over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse, and abandonment of office, among others.
However, section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that “if the report of the seven-man committee is proved, the house shall by a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the Assembly act on the recommendation of the panel.
“Where the report of the panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within 14 days of the receipt of the report, the House of Assembly shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of the House of Assembly, supported by not less than two-thirds majority of all its members, the report of the panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report.”
IN a bid to ensure transparency and accountability by government ministries, agencies and departments, Nigerians have been charged to take full advantage of the different data platforms provided by government and civil society organizations.
The charge was made by Joshua Olufemi, the founder of DATAPHYTE, while featuring on a radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG).
Accompanied by Paul Adeyeye, a Research Analyst at DATAPHYTE, Olufemi said the aim of his organisation is to provide data for civil society organisation, activists, journalists, and others to do their work better.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government had launched Transparency Policy and Open Treasury Portal, as well as Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) to enable citizens to have access to information on government’s activities.
According to Olufemi, the two portals were designed to foster accountability in MDAs, explaining that while Open Treasury portal provides payment information, NOCOPO portal takes care of procurement information.
Highlighting some of the importance of using data in Nigeria’s war against corruption, Paul Adeyeye said that data is very essential for government planning, promote transparency and anti-corruption fight, and help citizens to be aware of government projects and programmes.
He, however, stressed that these platforms will aid the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, (ICPC) and Bureau of Public Procurement, (BPP) in carrying out their mandate.
Similarly, Okhiria Agbonsuremi, a co-anchor of the programme and the Executive Director of PRIMORG, stressed the need for citizen’s involvement in monitoring government platforms where spendings and procurements are published from the comfort of their homes and raising questions when necessary.
“As citizens, if we do not participate in governance, then we let the government and civil servants run the show and whatever we get is what we have,” Agbonsuremi noted.
PUBLIC CONSCIENCE is produced by PRIMORG with support from the MacArthur Foundation.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the suspension of Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and appointed Mohammed Umar as new acting head of the anti-graft agency, a statement from the office of Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation has disclosed.
The statement, signed by Umar Gwandu, the spokesperson to the AGF, noted that the suspension was issued to allow for an unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel into the allegations against Magu, under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar, should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives in that regard,” the statement read in part.
It could be recalled that Magu, was picked up by security operatives attached to the inter-agency panel set up by President Buhari, following several allegations of corruption against him.
The former EFCC boss, who has since been in detention, is accused of embezzlement, owning properties abroad, abuse of office, insubordination among others.
The ICIR earlier had detailed how the presidency ignored the corruption allegations against Magu in 2016.
Despite an indicting report from the State Security Service and double rejection by the Senate, Magu was retained as the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency till his suspension on Tuesday, July 7.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Friday morning signed the revised N10.8 trillion budget for the year 2020.
Buhari signed the budget during a short ceremony held at the presidential villa, Abuja.
Speaking at the event inside the Council Chambers, he said the budget had to be revised because of the effect of coronavirus on the Nigerian economy.
Buhari noted that ministries, departments and agencies will be given 15 per cent of their capital allocation by the end of the month.
Also confirming the development, Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media posted on his Twitter handle that the president has signed the revised budget following its passage by the National Assembly, last month
Present at the signing were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari.
Others were the Ministers Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of State Finance, Clement Agba, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emiefile and Director General Budget, Ben Akabueze; Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and Hon. Kawu Sumaila, on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
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