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Family Planning Report Slams Nigeria Over Poor Services

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Family Planning Report Slams Nigeria Over Poor Services
Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole
Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole

Chikezie Omeje

A new report launched on Tuesday by the Family Planning 2020, FP2020, has ranked Nigeria among the worst countries in the delivery of family planning services. Nigeria is second to India in a global ranking on the number of women that die as a result of pregnancy.

The report used as baseline the target set at the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning where countries made a commitment to mobilise resources to enable 120 million women and girls use modern contraception by 2020 in 69 poorest countries, including Nigeria.

Despite significant global progress which has given more than 30 million additional women and girls access to modern contraction across the 69 FP2020 focus countries,  Nigeria is still among the poor performing countries.

According to the report, there are more than 300 million women and girls using modern methods of contraceptives this year, a development that has  averted 82 million unintended pregnancies, 25 million unsafe abortions and 124,000 maternal deaths.

Nigeria’s poor records of family planning have been attributed to the inability of the Nigerian Government to fulfil the pledge it made at the London Summit in 2012.

Nigeria made a commitment to increase its total funding for reproductive health commodities from $3 million to $11.3 million annually over four years, but it has so far released only about $3 million since 2012.

Chairman, Association for Advancing Family Planning, AAFP in Nigeria,  Ejike Oji said the government has failed in its commitment  to family planning as only about $3 million has been released so far by the federal government since 2012.

In Africa, according to the FP2020 Report, Eastern and Southern African countries have experienced the fastest growth in the use of modern methods and the steepest decline in unmet need, adding that for the first time, more than 30% of women are using a modern method of contraceptives in the regions.

The progress in eastern and southern African countries is in sharp contrast with Nigeria where only 2.7% of women of reproductive age are using a modern method of contraceptives whereas Nigeria committed at the London Summit to increase the percentage of women and couples using contraceptives by 2% each year to reach 36% by 2018.

Nigeria is in the group of poorest performing countries, such as Benin, Central Africa Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

Due to the poor performance of these countries, the FP2020 fell short of reaching 19.2 million women and girls to be on the right track of achieving the 2020 target. Though the report noted that exciting progress has been achieved and more women and girls have been reached more than historical trends would predict.

Oji, a medical practitioner, said family planning could reduce the number of women that die as a result of pregnancy by up to 30%.

He lamented that within every three hours, 15 Nigerian women and girls will die due to pregnancy related causes, noting that about 70% of these deaths occur among women aged between 13 and 19 years.

He disclosed further that  Nigeria currently has a maternal mortality ratio of 576 deaths out of every 100,000 live births. “This translates to about 40,000 women dying every year, 111 dying every day, or 5 people dying every hour,” he added.

FP2020 Report noted that Nigeria has only added 1,628,000 modern contraceptive users since 2012 which resulted in increased contraceptive prevalence rate to 14.7%, compared to 12.1% in 2012.

This little progress by Nigeria, according to FP 2020 Report, averted 1,450,000 unintended pregnancies and prevented 9,000 maternal deaths through the use of modern contraceptives in the past year.

The report stressed the need for Nigeria to accelerate progress on family planning services as the population of women of reproductive age grows by more than 1 million every year in the country.

The President of Association for Reproductive & Family Health,  Oladapo Ladipo, a professor, called on Nigerians to push for the ban on child marriages as girls are too young and often have obstructed labours which contribute mainly to a large proportion of girls that die from pregnancy-related causes.

He said family planning revolves around three reasons which include health, economy and human rights, pointing out that family planning would reduce infant and maternal mortality as well as reduce poverty.

Ladipo said that family planning is central to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, noting that women should have access to free family services.

The representative of Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, Charity Ibeneme pointed out that family planning is not just about women and there are also family planning services for men.

She argued that Nigerian men should start using vasectomy to complement their spouses while emphasising that both Christianity and Islam support family planning.

Evidence from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey of 2013 indicates that Nigeria has not made a significant improvement in its uptake of family planning services over the last 10 years. The contraceptive prevalence rate has remained the same at 10% for the past 10 years with a marked difference between the urban and rural areas which are 17% and 6% respectively.

The use of the modern method of conception is particularly very low in the northern part of the country with less than 3% of women in the North East using contraceptives while in the South West, as much as 25% of women of reproductive age make use of modern contraceptives.

The FP2020 Report urged Nigeria to change social norms around family planning so that the topic is less taboo and also improve counselling and education to increase demand for contraceptives.

Nigeria was also admonished to  ensure women can exercise informed choice as well as establish the infrastructure and health care  providers to deliver quality family planning services.

The report noted that the low rate of contraceptive use by Nigerian women reflected high fertility desires and limited access to information about family planning, thereby making it difficult for Nigeria to accelerate progress.

Fulani Leaders, Traditional Rulers Sign Peace Pact In Kaduna

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Fulani Leaders, Traditional Rulers Sign Peace Pact In Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

Fulani leaders and traditional leaders in Kaduna state have signed a peace deal which is aimed at bringing to an end  the series of clashes that have brought about loss of several lives and destruction of valuable property.

The peace deal is as a result of a meeting convened by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Adeniyi Oyebade, a Major General.

The meeting was attended by traditional rulers and leaders of the Fulani community, as well as heads of other security agencies in the state.

Since the beginning of 2016, about ten communities in Jemaa and Sanga local government areas of Kaduna state have witnessed increased attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, leading to the several deaths and destruction of houses and farmlands.

After the army general had informed the gathering of the purpose of the meeting, the leaders made their presentations and the meeting went into a closed-door session.

About five hours later, journalists were called into the room where the GOC read out their resolutions.

According to Oyebade, it was agreed at the meeting that a peace and reconciliation committee should be set-up to resolve all pending issues.

Banning of child herdsmen from grazing with cattle on farmlands and major roads, as well as prohibition of carrying of fire arms by herdsmen, were agreed upon.

The army GOC appealed to both parties to sheathe their swords for the interest of peace, warning that any party or individual that is found going against the peace deal would be prosecuted according to the law.

He also reassured the citizens of the state that the army, together with the other security agencies, would continue to discharge their responsibilities of protecting lives and property in the area.

After the meeting, National Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Baba Othman, assured that his people would abide by the resolution.

He told journalists that a committee would be set up by all the parties for full implementation of the resolutions.

Kaduna State has, over the years, witnessed series of ethno-religious crises that have ravaged many communities.

In late October this year, three villages – Godogodo, Akwa’a and Anguwan Anjo – were attacked by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen and over 60 people were killed in the attack.

About four days ago seven people including a community leader were murdered in cold blood with no trace of their killers.

Appeal Court Suspends Ruling On PDP Power Tussle

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Appeal Court Suspends Ruling On PDP Power Tussle
Gavel and scales
Gavel and scales

The appeal court has suspended ruling on the leadership tussle case that is rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The appellate court had fixed today to hear the case involving the two factions of the PDP led by Ali Modu-Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi respectively.

Also scheduled for hearing today was the issue of the authentic PDP candidate for the Ondo State governorship election which has been scheduled to hold on November 26.

Court officials told journalists that the ruling was suspended due to a petition against the judges accusing them of bias; and no new date has been fixed for the ruling.

The three-man panel of judges led by Jumai Sankey said that the petition was filed by Biyi Poroye, a member of the PDP faction led by the Modu-Sheriff faction.

Sankey said the petition was forwarded to the President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, alleging that the court, under her leadership, was prone to being compromised for financial gains.

Subsequently, the three judges on the panel withdrew their participation in the case, pending the determination of the petition by the National Judicial Council, NJC.

She said her panel would return the case files to the President of the Appeal Court.

Modu-Sheriff, a one-time Borno State Governor and Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna State, have been locked in a series of legal battle over who is the authentic leader of the opposition PDP.

The Makarfi faction had approached the Appeal Court to set aside the judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja which upheld Modu-Sheriff as the authentic PDP national chairman.

Justice Abang also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognize Jimoh Ibrahim, candidate of the Modu-Sheriff faction, as the authentic PDP candidate for the Ondo governorship election.

Before the judgement, INEC had already recognized Eyitayo Jegede, who won the primary election organized by the Makarfi-led faction.

Jegede then approached the Abuja Federal High Court, in keeping with the rules of the Federal High Court, to ask for permission to appeal the judgement, but Justice Abang denied the application, saying that Jegede has no local standi to appeal the ruling, and once again reaffirmed Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP candidate in Ondo.

Consequently, INEC removed Jegede’s name from the Ondo governorship candidates’ list and replaced it with Ibrahim.

Jegede, as well as the Makarfi-led PDP faction then appealed to the Appeal Court asking that justice Abang’s judgement be set aside.

The appellate court fixed today (Tuesday) to hear the matter but the hearing has now been suspended.

With just about three weeks to the Ondo Governorship election, its difficult to predict what the next line of action by Jegede and his faction would be.

Especially as it appears the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have closed ranks and agred to support Rotimi Akeredolu as its flag bearer.

Akeredolu visited president Buhari on Monday where he reportedly assured the president that he has secured the endorsement of party Chieftain, Bola Tinubu.

The former Lagos State Governor had initially supported Olusegun Abraham who lost out in the primaries to Akeredolu.

Another Bomb Blast Kills 9 In Borno

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Another Bomb Blast Kills 9 In Borno

Diary blast

Not less than nine persons were killed in another bomb attack in Borno state, on Tuesday morning.

A pick-up van was blown up as it travelled along the Maiduguri-Gubio road, killing all nine passengers on board.

The vehicle was said to have come out from the bush path and exploded shortly after climbing the tarred road heading towards Gubio town, about 80 kilometres from the capital, Maiduguri.

Victor Isuku, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the incident.

“There was an explosion today along Gubio road just before the military check point,” he said.

“According to preliminary report, a pick up van with nine persons onboard, emerged from a bush path to join the road to Gubio town, when it exploded killing all the persons on board.”

Tuesday’s blast is the fifth in a series of recent bomb attacks within and around Maiduguri in the last three weeks.

On Saturday, October 29, a twin suicide bomb attack claimed the lives of 9 people while 24 others were injured, according to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

The next day, the Army authorities also said that an attempted suicide attack was averted after the would-be bomber was “neutralized” by vigilant troops.

Senate Rejects Buhari’s Request To Borrow $29.960 Billion

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Senate Rejects Buhari’s Request To Borrow $29.960 Billion

buharis-nominee-insists-senate-must-go

The Senate has turned down the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow about $30 billion.

The president’s request was sent to the National Assembly last Tuesday asking for approval to borrow the sum of $29.960 billion with which to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.

However, when the request came up for consideration at the Senate on Tuesday, and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki called for a voice vote, the response was an overwhelming ‘nay’.

The Senate president asked the question a second time and the response was the same.

President Buhari had in his letter last week said that the external loan – which is the biggest in the country’s history – will be used to fund targeted projects cutting across all sectors with special emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation.

The breakdown of the projects for which the borrowing was intended is as follows: proposed projects and programmes loan, $11.274 billion; special national infrastructure projects, $10.686 billion; Euro bonds, $4.5 billion and Federal Government budget support, $3.5 billion.

There were calls from many sections of the country against the proposed borrowing, notably from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well as from a popular Lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana.

The outspoken legal practitioner advised the legislators no to approve Buhari’s proposition as it would mortgage future generations of the country.

Buhari Meets Niger Delta Delegation

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Buhari Meets Niger Delta Delegation
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with stakeholders from the Niger Delta as efforts continue towards finding a lasting solution to the militancy in the oil-rich region.

The presidency posted this message on its social media handle: “Meeting with Niger Delta Stakeholders this afternoon: Governors, former Governors, Ministers, Legislators, Traditional Rulers, Activists, Youths.”

A closed-door affair, the meeting is holding at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the launch of a new energy sector roadmap, ‘The 7 Big Wins’ last week, Minister of state for Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu had told journalists that a meeting between the President and Niger Delta elders is on the cards.

“Our target is to ensure zero militancy in the area. This planned meeting shows the level of interest the president has to ensure peace in the area,” Kachikwu had said.

Speaking at the event, President Buhari also reiterated commitment to bringing peace to the Niger Delta region, so as to boost the production of crude oil and shore up the Nation’s resources.

He said: “Whatever challenges we are currently facing in the region, our resolve and capability to work with all stakeholders to restore normalcy will guarantee success.”

240 Repentant Terrorists Surrender To Military Authorities

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240 Repentant Terrorists Surrender To Military Authorities

240-repentant-terrorists-surrender-to-military-authorities

At least 240 Boko Haram fighters voluntarily surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, on Monday after they came under intense pressure from troops.

Spokesman of the MNJTF, Muhammad Dole, a colonel, said in a statement that the mass defection took place in Bagasola town, in neighbouring Chad, considered by troops as Sector 2 Area of Responsibility (AOR).

The statement read in part: “The firepower of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) ground troops and joint Air operation during the Operation GAMA AIKI forced a massive defection of remnants of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT).

“Sustained offensive operations and blockage of logistics supply routes made the terrorists’ locations untenable; as a result, BHT and their families abandoned their locations and surrendered with their arms to the nearest locations of the ground forces in the operation areas.”

The statement added that the 240 Boko Haram Terrorists were being profiled and camped in Bagasola.

Dole also stated that the Commander of the MNJTF, Lamidi Adeosun, stopped over at the camp of the ex-terrorists during his operational visit to Sector 2 AOR.

“The Commander commended the leaders of the ex- BHT for their courage and for taking the right decision to abandoned terrorism and insurgency for normal life.

“He assured them of safety and good care as long as they remain in the camps. He also urged them to encourage their colleagues in the bush to stop fighting and join them in the camps,” Dole stated.

According to the army spokesman, the peaceful disarming and profiling of repentant terrorists demonstrates the army’s professionalism and adherence to International Humanitarian Laws and Laws of Armed Conflict in combat operation.

He said that the Commander MNJTF donated money “for the purchase of two cows and 10 bags of assorted food stuff for each of the 2 groups for the welfare and up keep of the ex-BHT and their families.”

Dole also revealed that the total number of repentant terrorists that have so far surrendered to MNJTF troops in sector 2 is now “four hundred and sixty-four.”

“The ex-BHT are expected to receive training in different skills and small businesses as scheduled by government agencies and NGOs,” he stated.

The Commander also made cash donations to families of officers and soldiers who were killed in Action, KIA, or Wounded in Action, WIA, during the clearance operations.

Dole stated: “As part of encouragement and alleviation of suffering to the victims’ families and wounded personnel, the Headquarters, MNJTF made provisions of One Million CFA (1,000,000.00 cfa) only for each family of KIA and Five Hundred Thousand CFA (500,000.00 cfa) only for each WIA in the battle field.

“During the presentations in Sector 2 Bagasola (Chad) and Sector 4 Diffa (Niger), General Adeosun prayed for the souls of the departed colleagues for the supreme sacrifice they made in the service to humanity and praised the courage and bravery displayed by the WIA.”

Boko Haram Planning Major Offensive On Maiduguri

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Boko Haram Planning Major Offensive On Maiduguri
Boko Haram fighters
Boko Haram fighters

The Boko Haram insurgency group might be planning a major terrorist attack on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the www.icirnigeria.org gathered from a military source on Monday.

A reliable military source told our reporter on Monday evening that the military had intelligence of the planned terrorist onslaught on the Borno State capital and was ready with a battle plan.

This news comes on the heels of two successive explosions on Monday evening in the Bakassi area, the same neighborhood where an Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp is located.

Although there are no details yet about the explosions, which went off at around 8.00pm on Monday, the IDP camp, where more than 14,000 displaced persons are sheltered, is believed to be the target.

It is the third consecutive day that explosions are rocking the Bakassi area where the camp is located.

Our source said that the intelligence about the insurgent’s planned attack on Maiduguri was obtained from two members of Boko Haram who turned themselves in to military authorities in Damatturu, the capital of Yobe State.

According to the source, the two suspects who are being interrogated in an undisclosed location disclosed that the insurgency group plans to invade Maiduguri with more than 300 of its fighters, including several suicide bombers.

However, the suspects could provide no information about the nature and possible date of the attack, it was learnt.

It was gathered, however, that Nigerian troops have been put on high alert while there are plans to move more men to Maiduguri.

Attempts to get the Army spokesman to comment on the issue were unsuccessful as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered on Monday night.

Nigerian Govt. Knew About Rape Cases in IDP Camps But Failed To Act

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Nigerian Govt. Knew About Rape Cases in IDP Camps But Failed To Act

NIGERIA-UNREST-BOKO-HARAM-HEALTH

 

By Chikezie Omeje

A report by the Human Rights Watch, HRW, indicating that Nigerian government officials and security agents have sexually exploited women and girls in the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps, has forced President Muhammadu Buhari to order a full investigation into the sexual abuse allegation.

But most of the findings of the HRW were a confirmation of an investigative report published by www.icirnigeria.org on January  19, 2015 on the rampart cases of rape and child trafficking in IDPs camps across the Northeast.

The story, entitled : “ Grim Tales Of Rape, Child Trafficking In Displaced Persons Camps, chronicled sad tales told by victims and some aid workers in the IDPs camps but it was dismissed by the government, which said that there was no evidence even after setting up an investigation panel.

In the federal government’s reaction to the new disclosures by HRW, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu said President Buhari was “worried and shocked” by the report.

The statement reads, “The welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of his government. “Nigerians and the international community can rest assured that the allegations raised in the HRW are not being taken lightly.

“President Buhari has instructed the Inspector General of Police and the state governors of the affected states to immediately commence investigations into the issue.

“Their findings will determine the next course of action for the government and define an appropriate response.”

In its report released on Monday, HRW said it recorded 43 cases of women and girls in IDP camps in Maiduguri who had been abused by camp leaders, vigilante groups, policemen, and soldiers in July this year.

HRW said in the report that four of the victims were drugged and raped, while 37 were coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.

According to HRW, many of those coerced into sex said they were abandoned if they became pregnant and they and their children have suffered discrimination, abuse, and stigmatization from other camp residents.

Eight of the victims told HRW that they were previously abducted by Boko Haram fighters and forced into marriage before they escaped to Maiduguri.

HRW told a story of how a 17-year-old girl said that just over a year after she fled the frequent Boko Haram attacks in Dikwa, a town 56 miles west of Maiduguri, a policeman approached her for “friendship” in the camp, and then he raped her.

“One day he demanded to have sex with me,” she said. “I refused but he forced me. It happened just that one time, but soon I realized I was pregnant. When I informed him about my condition, he threatened to shoot and kill me if I told anyone else. So I was too afraid to report him.”

The HRW’s findings are similar to our investigative report in which many aid workers in the IDP camps alleged that there was a conspiracy of silence among state officials which encouraged unscrupulous camp officials, including police, military and health officials to continue to exploit displaced persons, especially women and girls.

The ordeal of this 17-year-old is similar to what 16-year-old Laraba told the www.icirnigeria.org in Gombe that an official of the state emergency relief agency named Ibrahim took her from the camp where she was to his home on the pretext that she would be helping the wife with household chores.

“I was happy leaving the camp, but when we got to his house, there was no wife. He raped me continuously for three nights, locked me inside his house for days and threatened me.”

She continued, “I managed to escape and came back to the camp. I got pregnant. An old woman we call ‘Kaka’, gave me some leaves. I was bleeding for almost two weeks and smelling.”

Laraba said she had to suffer in silence as she could not tell anyone because she thought nobody would believe her and for fear of being sent away from the camp.

The investigative story by www.icirnigeria.org also contained the stories of other girls who were raped and sexually exploited by the camp officials and security agents.

HRW pointed out that victims of rape and sexual exploitation may be less likely to seek health care, including psychological counselling, due to the shame they feel, noting also that men used their positions of authority and gifts of desperately needed food or other items to have sex with women.

The www.icirnigeria.org story of nearly two years generated a lot of anger, particularly among international humanitarian agencies, forcing the government to set up a probe panel comprising members from the Department of State services, DSS, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, National human Rights Commission, NHRC, Journalists against Disaster, JAD, among others.

Interestingly, officials of some of these same agencies form the bulk of those accused of sexually abusing girls and women in the camps.

Curiously, the panel in its report which has never been made public said that there is no evidence to prove such cases of abuse in the camps.

Kukah Commends EFCC’s Treatment Of Detainees

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Kukah Commends EFCC’s Treatment Of Detainees

kukah-commends-efccs-treatment-of-detainees

Outspoken Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassa- Kukah has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on how it treats suspects who were being detained in the commission’s facility.

Wilson Uwajuren, spokesman of the EFCC, made this known in a statement released on Monday in Abuja.

Uwajuren quoted the Catholic Bishop as making the remarks after paying an unscheduled visit to the EFCC headquarters where he was shown round the commissions detention facility and clinic.

Kukah reportedly had a chat with the trio of Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati, three prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who were recently arrested and detained by the anti-graft agency.

Uwajuren reported that Kukah described the detainees as cheerful.

“I discussed with some detained suspects like Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati; and I am quite pleased they are looking cheerful,” the EFCC spokesman quoted Kukah as saying.

He added that the clergyman was conducted round the facilities by the Commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, after which Kukah had only words of commendation for Magu and his team.

He said: “I was also happy with the humility of the acting Chairman who took me round and the way he interacted with the detainees.

“This is what is important for our country so that nobody takes these kinds of things personal. I am happy I came.

“We are all staff of EFCC to the extent that we want a better country and we are doing what needs to be done.

“We’ll continue praying that God guides you, keeps you safe and ensure that we build a country that we all will be proud of.

“This country has suffered so much, but we hope and pray that we can bring the suffering and trauma to an end as we collectively fight corruption,” Kukah was quoted as saying.‎

The statement also quoted Magu as assuring the detainees that their being held in custody was nothing personal.

“It is not personal. This is all about Nigeria and making it better. And I think there is a consensus around this,” Magu said.

The EFCC spokesman noted that Kukah prayed for the detainees before his departure.

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