Federal Government suspends N-Power indefinitely.

Federal Government suspends N-Power indefinitely.

The Federal Government has suspended N-Power programme indefinitely.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu announced the suspension during aninterview with TVC News.

According to Edu, the decision to suspend the programme was birthed by several flaws within the scheme.

The Minister added that a government:s  probe into how the money has been used since the program’s inception has already kick-started.

She said that some of the beneficiaries are not found in their place of assignments yet they expect monthly stipends.

Some of the beneficiaries, according to the Minister, should have left the programme since 2022 but are still on the payroll.

According  to her:: “We must go back to look into N-Power and understand what the problems are so we will basically suspend the programe for now until we are done with proper investigation into the utilization of fund into the N-Power program.

“We want to know how many persons are basically on the program right now, how many persons are owed, amount they are owed. We are totally restructuring the N-Power and expanding it.

“There are lots going on. We met people who are supposed to have exited the program since last year and they are still on claiming that they are still teaching.

“Sometimes we contact the school or the places where they are working and they are not there. They are not working yet they keep claiming that they are being owed eight or nine months stipends.

“About 80 percent of them are not working yet they are claiming salaries.”

The Nation recalls that N-Power Program was introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to combat youth unemployment and promote social development.

Mohbad vomited, had goose bumps after receiving three injections —Police.

Mohbad vomited, had goose bumps after receiving three injections —Police.

The Lagos State Police Command has declared the auxiliary nurse, Ms. Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who injected Mohbad, as the prime suspect in the singer’s death.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Idowu Owohunwa, who gave an update in respect of the ongoing investigation into the singer’s death in a press briefing yesterday, explained that five suspects had so far been arrested, detained and interrogated on their alleged roles in the sequence of events that led to Mohbad’s death.

Owohunwa said the auxiliary nurse was contacted and invited by Ayobami Sadiq a.k.a. Spending, a friend to Mohbad, on 11th September, 2023 to treat the singer at the deceased’s residence at Lekki-Lagos.

He said: “When Ms Feyisayo was contacted at about 1430hrs on Monday 11th September, 2023, she was also unavailable but promised to come the following day, being Tuesday, 12th September, 2023.

“Ahead of her arrival, she requested that the picture of the swollen hand/injury area be snapped and forwarded to her for assessment and to guide her on the medication to come along with. This was eventually done.

“At about 1435hrs on 12th September, 2023, Ms Feyisayo eventually arrived armed with 1 Pack of Ceftriaxone injection; 1 Vial Paracetamol injection, Tetanus Toxoid injection, 1 Vial Procaine Penicillin, 7 ampules of IM Diclofenac, Tincture Iodine, and Needles/Syringes.

“Ms Feyisayo administered the Tetanus Toxoid on the arm of Mohbad and gave both the Paracetamol and Ceftriaxone injection intravenously.

“Immediately the Ceftriaxone injection was administered, Ms Feyisayo confirmed that Mohbad started vomiting while goose bumps appeared on the face and all over his body.

“At this point, it dawned on Ms Feyisayo that Mohbad was reacting to the administered medication. She consequently ran out to procure hydrol and nisaline infusion.

“While at the Pharmacy in the locality, she got a call that Mohbad had started convulsing.

Eventually, Cynthia Omoduni Adebanjo, Aduragbemi Shedrack Aloba, Olarewaju Idris Adedoja, Ayinde Habib Idowu Damola, Aderinto Fawas Ademola, and Ms. Feyisayo rushed him to the hospital in the vehicle of Engr. Chinaka Jesse, their neighbour.

“Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead on arrival at Cura-Med Hospital, Lekki.

“Not convinced, the team moved his body to Perez Hospital, Lekki where his death was re-certified.

“A death certificate was later issued by Cura-Med Hospital. Mohbad’s father, who had earlier been contacted, came to the late Mohbad’s house and after a short meeting, resolved to move the body to Ikorodu for burial, which was done the following day, 13th September 2023 at about 1400hrs.

“Feyisayo Ogedengbe is not a qualified registered nurse, and her illegal and medical negligence are believed to have been directly responsible for the chain reactions and eventual death of Mohbad at 1543hrs on 12th September, 2023.

“The time within which Auxiliary Nurse Ogedengbe administered the injections on Mohbad, through his reaction, convulsion and his eventual death is confirmed to be within less than an hour covering from 1440hrs when the principal suspect administered the sets of injections and 1543hrs when Mohbad was confirmed dead at Cura-Med Hospital, Lekki.

“Aside her admittance to the consequences of her actions, the report of the Medical Panel that reviewed Auxiliary Nurse Feyisayo’s actions concluded that she went beyond her limitations as an auxiliary nurse by administering IV Ceftriaxone on the deceased, and that this from their review, was the most likely cause of the anaphylactic reaction which could have been promptly resolved and his death possibly prevented if the deceased was treated in the hospital.”

Also speaking at the press briefing at the state Command Headquarters, Ikeja, Owohunwa revealed that there were ample electronic and credible witnesses’ evidence linking singer Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley, and a music promoter, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, to cyberbullying, threat to life and assault occasioning harm on Mohbad.

Owohunwa, who was giving preliminary reports of the investigation conducted by the police team to unravel the circumstance that led to Mohbad’s death, said: “As of today, a total of 26 witnesses have been interviewed.”

He said that those that had been interrogated include Mohbad’s father, mother, sisters, brother, wife and manager, among others.

Owohunwa stated that although Naira Marley and Sammy Larry denied allegations of criminal liability in the death of Mohbad and pleaded an alibi to justify their not being complicit in the incidents that occurred from 10th to 12th September, 2023, there are ample electronic and credible witnesses’ evidence linking them to cyberbullying, threat to life and assault occasioning harm.

According to the CP, Sam Larry admitted that he had multiple physical confrontations with Mohbad to get him to refund the N2 million which he claimed he paid to the late singer for a show he did not honour.

Owohunwa said: “During investigation, series of allegations of bullying, threat to life and possible complicity in the death of Mohbad by Naira Marley and Sam Larry were raised.

“This prompted the Special Investigation Team to widen the scope of their investigation to that aspect. Several videos touching on the allegations were analysed and witnesses were interviewed.

“Many witnesses alleged that the deceased was indeed bullied and assaulted several times by AbdulAzeez Adeshina Fashola a.k.a. Naira Marley ‘m’ and Samson Erinfolami Balogun a.k.a. Sam Larry ‘m’ and their gangs.

“It was affirmed that sometime in 2019, the deceased was allegedly signed by Naira Marley unto a record label known as Marlians Music Limited.

“Due to disagreement on the terms of the contract, the deceased, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba a.ka. Mohbad, pressed for the revocation of his contractual relationship with Marlian Music Label while also pushing to relieve his then manager who was a brother to Naira Marley.

“It was alleged that these moves irked the suspects, AbdulAzeez Adeshina Fashola a.k.a. Naira Marley ‘m’ and Samson Erinfolami Balogun a.k.a. Sam Larry ‘m’ who in consequence allegedly on several occasions conspired, bullied, and assaulted the deceased.

“It was also asserted by some witnesses with corroborative video evidence that before his demise, Mohbad had raised alarm that his life was being threatened. That he was being bullied and assaulted by Naira Marley and Sam Larry.

“Upon their arrest, AbdulAzeez Adeshina Fashola a.k.a. Naira Marley and Samson Erinfolami Balogun a.k.a. Sam Larry denied allegation of complicity in the death of Mohbad by pleading to the alibi that they were both out of the country when the incident occurred and that they were not in any manner involved in the chain of events that occasioned his death between 10th – 12th September, 2023.

“However, there are preponderance of evidence linking both Naira Marley and Sam Larry to the allegations of threat to life, cyber stalking and sundry crimes committed against Mohbad in his lifetime, and they are being so held liable.”

The CP further disclosed that the reports of the autopsy conducted on the late singer were being awaited.

NDLEA under investigation —Police

CP Owohunwa also disclosed at yesterday’s press briefing that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was also being investigated over Mohbad’s death.

In a video that went viral shortly after his death, the 27-year-old singer had claimed that he was once arrested by the anti-drug agency and made to drink water from a white bottle.

Mohbad said in the video: “They gave me water inside a white bottle to drink. They said I was using drugs.

“I was the only one who drank it. They didn’t give others to drink. And they immediately told me to go home and told the others to wait.

“They even hit a gun on my head.”

Mohbad died on September 12, 2023 and was buried in Ikordodu, Lagos State.

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.

FCCPC wants Patients’ Bill of Right domesticated in states.

FCCPC wants Patients’ Bill of Right domesticated in states.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has called for the entrenchment and domestication of the Patients’ Bill of Right by the state governments and concerned healthcare providers with a view to increasing consumers’ confidence in the services they receive.

FCCPC Technical Assistance to the Executive Vice Chairman, Morayo Adisa, made this call at a healthcare provider training organised by Ace in collaboration with FCCPC.

The programme themed, ‘Strengthening Patient-centered Care: A Health Care Provider Training’, was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday.

She said, “Indeed, the National Health Act was passed in 2014 and it includes a lot of things. I would say that in as much as we are not yet satisfied with the implementation of the Act, this is the more reason why the FCCPC came up with the PBoR in 2018 to simplify the rights of patients and make it more accessible.

“Certainly, grassroots level engagement is very important because if the people don’t know their right, they won’t be able to assert or enforce it or come to people like us to complain when such rights are being violated.

“Our strategy is to sensitise consumers at the grassroots level and also healthcare providers. As long as we continue on this sensitisation path which we started in 2018, over 20 healthcare facilities have domesticated the PBoR,” She explained

Ex-VP chasing shadows, says President’s Chicago lawyer.

Ex-VP chasing shadows, says President’s Chicago lawyer.

Mr Wole Afolabi, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chicago-based lawyer said last night that all the claims by Atiku Abubakar on Chicago State University (CSU)’s documents on the President as obtained, were false.

He also said the former Vice President his on a wild goose chase, if he took the documents to the Supreme Court.

Speaking from his base on Television Continental (TVC), he said: “The wrong information was planted out there that President Bola Tinubu did not attend Chicago State University and someone sold that to Waziri Atiku Abubakar and on that premise, he approached, through his lawyers, the High Court in Chicago asking that its record be released to him that he had it on good authority that he (Tinubu) did not attend university. 

 “The Chicago State University (CSU) through its Registrar, deposed to an affidavit wherein it was stated that not only did the President attend CSU, but he in fact graduated with honours in very rigorous majors, accounting, he was one of their best students. No wonder, he was hired directly out of college.

“So, confronted with this information and being reluctant to beat a retreat they pivoted and went in the direction that the certificates that he (Tinubu) presented to INEC was forged.

“Now, the university came out and said that this is their characteristics. (For diplomas) what is important to them and to many universities is in America is transcripts.

“It is in the transcript that you see the grades, the courses that he took and everything related to the students, all you need to know about the students basically. But the diploma is merely ceremonial. 

“So, the university said the practice is that once you give it out (Diplomas) they don’t retain copies, so haven’t given out the version that the president submitted to INEC they did not have it in their possession.

“Now, at some point the president requested for a replacement diploma as some students do. It was prepared but the president did not go back to pick it up it was asked of the registrar why he did not pick it up or ask that it be sent to him and he correctly answered that ‘Why don’t you ask him?, I’m not in a position to answer to that.’”

Afolabi said Atiku’s camp failed to realise that “in America, it is not just one diploma that is issued for all purposes. You can have as many diplomas as you want if you want to apply for it or you have to do is to pay for it. 

“Like in the president’s case, there were other students who applied for the diplomas and didn’t pick them up. And this is school made available to Waziri Abubakar’s lawyers for comparison. Social media is awash with all of these documents.

“If you take a look at what was issued to the President and some of the samples that the university filed you’ll see similarities they are very similar. Honestly to me with all sense of responsibility to me honestly this is not it just doesn’t make any sense.

Afolabi also explained the use in court of the phrase “irreparable harm” in defence of Tinubu’s opposition to the release of his academic records.

He said there was nothing sinister or unusual about it, rather, it is a legalese.

But explaining what he meant, Afolabi said: “That was a lawyer’s language, that’s legalese. Any lawyer that you speak to who is a practitioner will tell you that when you approach the court of law to get an interlocutory relief that is after someone gets a judgement rule against you want to appeal you can go to the court and say you want a stay of execution, meaning don’t do that thing before this appeal or this review as in this case is done.

“It is actually one of the things you have to satisfy the court is that you have to tell the court that look your honour if you go ahead and allow this document to be released now irreparable harm would have been done. What does that mean in everyday language? It means that once the genie is out of the bottle, you can’t put it back. 

“Now, we contested based on FERPA laws – Federal Educational Rights Privacy Act – a student is entitled to protection, that a student’s records are entitled to protection, that was what we maintained. I have three kids here, one has graduated college and two are still in college; I don’t have access to their records. I can’t go to their registrar and say hey, I’m paying their tuition, turn these things over to me. 

“So, we maintained that under FERPA, the President is entitled to privacy to his records, unless he elects to release them. So, the magistrate judge Gilbert, having ordered that the documents be released within 48 hours, was just a few hours away from reaching the time frame. So we went to Judge MacDonald and said ‘your honour, put a stop to the execution of this order, because if you don’t and these records are released, then they’ll be nothing for you to review anymore.

“That was all that we meant by that. Not irreparable harm by being shot or been killed. No. It’s a legal term. If you’re asking for a stay, you have to demonstrate that if this order is not granted, there’ll be nothing for you to review and the judge listened to us and granted that order. The judge agreed with us.”

Ogun Begins Payment Of New Salaries To Beneficiaries Of 2021 Promotion.

Ogun Begins Payment Of New Salaries To Beneficiaries Of 2021 Promotion. 

In fulfilment of his promise to implement the payment of incremental salary of the 2021 Promotion in September, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the immediate payment of new salary to beneficiaries of the 2021 Promotion.

The State Head of Service, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun made this known in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta while fielding questions from journalists.

He said the 2021 and 2022 promotion letters were released to deserving Civil/Public Servants of the State in August 2023 with the assurance that the implementation of 2021 will take effect from September while that of 2022 in December.

"The implementation, which represents the government's demonstration at enhancing the welfare of Public Service and ensuring the healthy wellbeing of its workers, further complements government efforts in the ‘Building Our Future Together’ Agenda of the present administration" he noted.

Mr. Fagbohun added that while the implementation of 2022 promotion is expected in December, ‘’the State government, under the leadership of Prince Abiodun has embarked on various people-oriented policies and programmes, some of which are pivotal to his commitment towards the welfare and motivation of workers’’.

The Head of Service said others are directed towards providing succour for the petrol subsidy removal by the Federal Government which included, the renewal of the State Public Service via the appointment of key personnel, allocation of Official Vehicles to Government Officials, approval of Site and Services for Civil/Public Servants, payment of hazard allowance to health workers, payment of peculiar allowance to deserving workers, and release of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus to workers.

He further enumerated the efforts of the government in the area of workers’ welfare including payment of ₦10,000 cash palliative for Public Servants for a period of three months, approval of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure for Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), various training initiatives for middle and management level officers.

Others are the constitution of various Committees to develop an induction/orientation manual, review of the Public Service Rules and the Financial Regulations, and approval to replace top-level Officers retiring from the Public/Civil Service at entry levels, among others.

Mr. Fagbohun said the Governor had also extended magnanimity to the pensioners through the; 

1. Implementation of the minimum pension of ₦10,000.00 to both the State and Local Government Pensioners,

2. The inauguration of a Committee on Pension Consequential Adjustment to review upward the Pensioners’ monthly pension across board, and to align with the economic reality, 

3. Payment of monthly pension to Fifteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Six State pensioners as at when due, 

4. Upward review of the quarterly release of gratuity from Six Hundred Million Naira (₦600,000,000.00) to One Billion Naira (₦1,000,000,000.00), 

5. Distribution of palliatives to the citizens of the State including State Pensioners, 

6. The commencement of the direct payment of ₦10,000.00 palliative from July 2023 to State Pensioners and; 

7. Individual approvals of fund for Pensioners with urgent medical needs/surgery.

The Head of Service enjoined workers in the State to reciprocate the kind gestures of the Governor at enhancing the quality of the Civil/Public Service by being more dedicated and committed to their duties, and performing their responsibilities conscientiously, while equally providing all necessary support, toward the continued actualisation of the ISEYA mantra of the present administration.

Ogun Assembly Commends International Breweries For Promoting Local Content In Employment, Raw Materials.

Ogun Assembly Commends International Breweries For Promoting Local Content In Employment, Raw Materials. 

Ogun State House of Assembly has commended the management team of International Breweries Plc, for  giving high regards to the promotion of local content through massive employment of Nigerians in the company and major  reliance on local sources of raw materials for their products.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, gave the commendation, while leading other members of the Assembly on a facility tour of the company as part of the stakeholders' engagement with the Management of the Gateway Plant of the Company along Abeokuta-Sagamu interchange in Obafemi/ Owode Local Government Area of the State.

Oluomo noted that for the Company to have Nigerians occupying the management positions and for all its employees being mainly Nigerians,  was a good step towards the growth and development of the nation's economy.

He also acknowledged the laudable efforts of the company in according high regards to safety in work environment, noting that such step would reduce office accidents and promote well-being of workers, which in turn would help boost the overall output of the company.

He encouraged the organisation not to rest on its oars, stressing the need to further encourage internship  programmes for  undergraduates of engineering from tertiary institutions and corps members posted to the State on safety and other training that would advance their career prospects.

Earlier in his presentation on safety and production process in the company, the Head of the Gateway Plant, Mr. Akintayo Olutunde, explained that the company which had its headquarters in Belgium, began its operations in the State in 2018, aside from other plants in Ilesha, Onisha and PortHarcourt. 

Mr. Olutunde said that the company accorded high regards to safety, maintenance, quality control, logistics and safe environment, adding that it relied on 97% local packaging materials with over 15,000 being employed through value chain.

He stressed that the company paraded 99% local manpower utilization out of 2,000 employees of the company, with high regards to water stewardship, smart agriculture,climate action, youth entrepreneurship and empowerment as well as stakeholders' engagement.

Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olakunle Oluomo, 8th from right, Head of the Gateway Plant of International Breweries, Mr. Akintayo Olutunde (7th right) and other members of the Assembly and Staff of the company during a facility tour of the Plant at Abeokuta-Sagamu interchange, Ogun State.

Akpabio Mourns Adeyemi, Deceased Tribune Senate Correspondent.

Akpabio Mourns Adeyemi, Deceased Tribune Senate Correspondent.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Alhaji Tijani Adeyemi, who was the Senate Correspondent of Tribune Newspapers.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 5, 2023, through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President lamented that Adeyemi’s death had robbed the nation of one of the richest handlers of the institution memory of the National Assembly.

Quoting from a letter to the widow, Alhaja Mamunat Adeyemi, he said:

“Though your husband and I were not particularly close, but my information is that he was a very peaceable and gentle in all his dealings.

“To his colleagues, he was a very diligent journalist whose assiduous dedication to duty made him one of the most established journalists in the National Assembly.

“I am informed that he qualifies to be so described as the doyen of the National Assembly Press Corp, having covered the Fourth National Assembly from about its establishment.

“Though he has crisscrossed the media terrain from broadcast to print under different organisations, it was the outstanding streak in legislative reporting that made the various organisations he worked for to post him to the National Assembly.

“The institutional memory of the National Assembly and his rich flair in legislative reporting shall surely be missed.

“On behalf of my Distinguished Colleagues, I pray God to comfort you and your four children.”

“I join you to pray for the repose of his soul in Aljannah Friddaus.”