The FCT Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Mariam Ahmodu Ali, the wife of Senator Ahmodu Ali, a former lawmaker and former chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
The arrest was confirmed to Human Rights Radio and Television/Brekete Family on Wednesday, 27 April, 2022 by the Command Spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, who said Mariam was invited on the offence of Violence Against Persons, under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Recalled that Deborah Babaji Longs, who worked as Mariam’s personal assistant, had reported a case of alleged imprisonment by Mariam Ahmodu Ali, at the Human Rights Radio and Television on Saturday, March, 26, 2022.
Deborah claims was over the ill treatment meted out to her by Mariam Ahmodu Ali due to a house rent transaction, saying she was locked up in a dog cage for three days without food and water before she was rescued after which she came to Brekete Family to lodge her complaint.
Mariam Ahmodu Ali was invited by the Brekete Family for days, after several other workers also brought complain of harassment, abuse and non payment for work done by staff, but she failed to show up.
Mariam has been reported, in the past, to have a penchant for slapping workers, associates and whoever she has misunderstanding with.
The South-West Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) Emmanuel Egbele has given reasons behind the choice of Ibadan, Oyo state as the venue for the maiden South-West Closed Scrabble championship.
Since the tournament was announced last week, plenty of excitement has been generated from players and enthusiasts alike.
Interestingly, a few observers assumed the commercial centre, Lagos would have been the venue ahead of Ibadan.
Making clarification on the reasons Ibadan became the preferred choice, Egbele explained that it was only normal for the first South-West Closed championships to be held in the biggest city in West Africa which incidentally is the Zonal headquarters of the NSF.
During a brief chat with the media, he assured that subsequent editions would be hosted by different cities across the states as Ibadan was selected during to certain parameters.
“The city of Ibadan is our Zonal Headquarters so it is home for us. It is therefore fitting to go start from there and move to other states in subsequent editions.”
He further cited the rich historical background of Ibadan city as an opportunity for participants to explore for tourism.
Furthermore, he highlighted how central the city is for participants coming from other states to access logistically.
“We also know Ibadan is central for most of the South-West States. It is also an historic city that will provide some of us the opportunity to admire the sights and sound.”
The South-West Closed Scrabble Championship is slated for Jogor Hall this Saturday.
Billionaire drug baron who is alleged to be behind the N3 billion Tramadol deal involving the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Afam Mallinson Ukatu has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
The anti-narcotic agency said Ukatu’s arrest followed months of surveillance and evasion of arrest. Ukatu, who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies, was arrested onboard a flight to Abuja at the MM2 Terminal of the Murtala Muhammadu Airport, Ikeja Lagos on Wednesday, April 13.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘NDLEA arrests drug baron behind N3billion Tramadol linked to Abba Kyaris team’.
Babafemi said investigations revealed that the suspect has been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit. Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria. This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.
Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on 4th May 2021 when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos. The price of a carton of Tramadol was negotiated at N17 million each as against the then black market value that ranged between N18 million and N20 million a carton in Lagos.
After the arrest of Ukatu’s staff: Pius Enidom and Sunday Ibekwete, Kyari’s men were then led by the suspects to Mallinson’s warehouse at Ojota in Lagos where 197 additional Cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized by the IRT Team. The monetary value of the 202 cartons of Tramadol seized from Mallinson in one day was over N3billion.
Three weeks after the seizure, the Kyari’s IRT team transferred only 12 Cartons of the Tramadol with one truck and a suspect to the Lagos Command of the NDLEA, leaving 190 cartons unaccounted for. After over eight months of following the lead, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency eventually arrested Ukatu at the Lagos airport on 13th April 2022. Kyari and four top members of his team are already facing trial for a different but similar offence at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Nigerians have been called upon to intensify supplications for peace and tranquility to prevail in the country.
The call was made Sunday by Sheikh Haris Salihu, at the one-day annual special prayers, organised by the Plateau state Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN).
He said at the Jos Central Mosque, venue of the prayers that: “Allah likes seeing His servants persisting in supplications, seeking for His forgiveness, mercies and protections.”
Sheikh Salihu who led the prayer session said women are so special in the sight of Allah, hence the need for them to always use their time to pray for the peace, security and tranquility of the society, the state and nation at large.
The secretary-general, Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), Sheikh Khalid Aliyu, harped on voter registration by the women, towards the 2023 general elections.
In celebration of the 2022 International Women’s Day and in line with its commitment to empower women in Nigeria, Keystone Bank Limited through the Keystone Bank Women Economic Empowerment Committee (KWEEC) partnered with Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd. (MEMMCOL), to train and provide financial independence for young women.
Chairperson, KWEEC, Mrs. Helen Maiyegun, said the committee was set up in line with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for commercial banks to support the empowerment of women in Nigeria.
According to her: “We have been training women on skills acquisition such as catering, bead making, fashion design among others, but this time we decided to think outside the box and this brought about the partnership with MEMMCOL.
“When you empower a woman, you are empowering the nation and that is why the Keystone Bank Women Economic Empowerment Committee monitoring and evaluation team will continue to monitor the progress of these women to ensure that they put into practice what they have learned.”
Mrs. Maiyegun further charged the trainees to be good ambassadors of Keystone Bank and Momas Metering School by utilizing the training to better their lives and encourage other women within their communities.
On his part, Mr. Kola Balogun, chairman, Momas Electrical Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd commended the bank for supporting these young women in their quest for financial independence and appealed to other corporate organizations as well as state and local governments to also key into this initiative to positively engage women.
Chairman of the Academic Board, Momas Metering School, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi also lauded the bank for providing a unique opportunity for young women, stressing that the initiative will not only add value to their lives but to their families, community, and Nigeria at large.
Keystone Bank is committed to championing women empowerment initiatives with focus on information sharing, capacity building, and networking programmes, amongst others. The bank has continued to work with like-minded organizations to ensure women have access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.
The Medical Director, St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital Kaduna, Dr. Shurkuk Clestus Bako, has fingered timely and effective first aid administering on accident victims as Panacea for accident deaths in Nigeria.
Delivering a talk on First Aid for Accident Victims on Saturday in Kaduna at the Media Health Day organised by Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPANIA) Kaduna State Chapter, Shurkuk maintained that” data from Federal Road Safety and National Bureau for statistics says 41, 709 persons died in Nigeria between 2013 and 2020 in road accidents.”
He said World Health Organization predicts 40% increase in global death due to injuries by 2030.
Shurkuk revealed that to reduce accident deaths, Nigerians must ensure safe driving, and calling for help and rushing patients to health facilities, assessment of patients, checking for obstruction in the mouth or throat, performing CPR if there is no pulse and keeping patient in recovery position.
In his welcome address, the Chaplain Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN) Kaduna State Chapter, Reverend Father Stephen Onyema who commended Participants for coming, reemphasize the essence of healthy living, thanking the National Eye Centre, St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital and Sky View Scan and Laboratory for the support in ensuring that the Media Health Day is a success.
Also speaking, the Chairman Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria Kaduna State Chapter Comrade Nicholas Dekera maintained that the awareness for health is key in eliminating illness orchestrated poverty and ensuring safer society.
Dekera Stressed that members must be more conscious of Health issues and must embark on regular medical check-up to keep the family safe.
No fewer than 578 million people worldwide might become diabetic by the year 2023 if necessary measures are not taken to control the rising rate of diabetic patients.
The Chief Medical Director, National Eye Centre represented by Dr. Murtala Umar, a senior Consultant and Eye expert from the National Eye centre stated this while making a presentation on the topic;.”Diabetes and the Eye” during a media health day organized by the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN) in Kaduna.
Dr. Umar pointed out that a diabetic patient could become blind eventually if not treated at early stages of discovery, adding that although the body cannot function effectively without sugar but warns that poorly controlled sugar level could affect several organs of the body and when it affects the eye could result into blindness.
He disclosed that the current statistics which varies from the to time has it that 463 adults are presently diabetic, adding that, ” it has the tendencies of increasing to 578 million globally by 2030 if unchecked.
“Consistent high sugar level damages blood vessels and other organs, eg the kidney, heart, eye, liver, and brain but the eye shows quick damage which is a window to the brain.
“Retina can be affected by diabetes which could lead to blindness. Poorly controlled diabetes lead to cataract and other eye challenges. Watery eyes and discharges could be as a result of diabetes complications”.
Dr. Umar further disclosed that million of deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year, adding that both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades.
As part of measures to the increasing rate of diabetes amongst people, he advocate regular creation of awareness, sensitization on effective working of the pancreas, consumption of more of vegetables, chicken and fish and avoidance of excessive consumption of sugar or food with too much of sugar content
Ahead of the forthcoming presidential primary election, the initial presidential consensus arrangement for northern aspirants in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has collapsed.
To this end, the Governor of Sokoto state and PDP presidential aspirant, Aminu Tambuwal, has pulled out.
This was disclosed in a press statement by the Tambuwal Campaign Organization (TCO) on Saturday night in Abuja.
The terse statement signed by Nicholas Msheliza, Director Organisation and Mobilisation for TCO, reads, “The attention of Tambuwal Campaign Organization (TCO) has been drawn to a news item that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Gov. Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state have emerged as consensus candidates from amongst the four of us announced at a meeting in Minna, Niger state.
“This is, to be candid and forthright, not correct. The correct situation is that the team met on Wednesday 20th April, 2022, at Bauchi Governor’s (lodge in Abuja and had a review meeting; and, unanimously agreed that the consensus arrangement was not working.
“The team further agreed that Sen. Saraki should come up with a draft statement on how to communicate this decision to the Nigerian public. This was the last time that members of the team sat and mutually agreed on anything. The proposed meeting to review and vet the statement scheduled for 10 pm of the same day was aborted unilaterally by Sen. Saraki via a WhatsApp message.
“However, on Thursday, 21st, 2022, same Sen Saraki circulated yet another WhatsApp message suggesting that members of the team should head to Minna for a meeting on Friday, Gov. Tambuwal reached other members of the team and informed them that he stands by the decision of the team that the initiative is not working. This is the reason Gov. Tambuwal was absent at today’s (Friday) meeting in Minna. As a result therefore, the outcome of the Minna meeting has no consequence or any implication on the aspiration of Gov. Tambuwal, who had earlier on informed his colleagues of maintaining their agreed position that the initiative has collapsed.
“Members of the public should be reminded that what was canvassed for was a consensus candidate and not consensus candidates.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Gov Tambuwal has submitted his Presidential nomination forms and now that the quest for a consensus candidate out of the four has clearly collapsed, will go ahead and face screening and indeed contest the PDP presidential primaries.
“This is in consonance with his acclaimed outlook as a pan-Nigerian candidate, with pedigree of national service as the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, life member of the Body of Benchers and now in his second and final term as Governor of Sokoto state.”
Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Betta Edu, has called on party leaders, governors and other stakeholders to rally around all female aspirants in their different states and ensure they emerge candidates of the party in their different positions.
This was disclosed at the APC zonal and state women leaders strategy planning and capacity Building workshop held in Abuja.
At the workshop, Dr Edu announced that as part of her programmes for Nigerian women, she would embark on low cost housing scheme for less privileged women in the party, empowerment for women from polling unit to national.
According to Edu, the party’s decision to give out free forms to female aspirants and many other considerations should serve as incentives and motivations to the aspirants, noting that sales of forms begins on Tuesday .
Her words: ” I am.particullarly happy to have my fellow women here and other party leaders across board. This workshop is meant to prepare our Zonal and state women Leaders to be ready for the elections as the primary election is here.
“Am also using this opportunity to call on our Governors and other key stakeholders in their various states to ensure that all female aspirants win the tickets to represent the party at the polls.
” We are willing to partner and ensure that women occupied a good number of elective and appointive positions in line with the 35 percent affirmative action.
” I have also begun plans to initiate the door to door mobilization for INEC Registration, financial empowerment, a low cost housing scheme for the less privileged women amongst us.”
On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, said that women are ready this time to work with one another under the leadership of the brand new Women Leader, promising that women would be Empowered going forward. She called on women to rise to the occasion asking state and zonal women leaders to unite with one voice to project female candidates while working for them to be successful. She encouraged women to shun violence and love one another. Furthermore she called on men to support women rather than beat or kill them.
Director of Organisation, All Progressives Congress (APC) in an interactive session with the Zonal and State Women Leaders of the APC, spoke on the Guideline and Processes of the Party Primaries and fielded questions on the forthcoming primaries.
The women further resolved to work together to increase female participation, across board, at the National and State Assemblies by ensuring that women have two (2) out of five (5) delegates (Adhoc) in every ward and one out of the three in the LGA.
Another resolution adopted was to demand for effective women representations in employment, in National and State, appointments and board levels.
The immediate past women leader , Hon Stella Okotete was also at the event.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has warned political parties wishing to conduct their primaries within its timelines to prepare and submit their membership registers to the Commission or risk running foul of the law.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the charge Friday in Abuja at the second regular consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs.
According to him, only one out of Nigeria’s 18 registered political parties have fulfilled that important aspect of the law.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to remind political parties that by the provision of Sec. 77 of the Electoral Act 2022, each party is required to maintain a membership register in hard and soft copy and to make such register available to the Commission not later than 30 days before the date fixed for primaries, congresses and conventions.
“So far, only one political party has complied. It is a mandatory requirement of the law and all parties are required to comply. Doing otherwise is like going into an election without the register of voters. There can be no credible primary or general election without a credible register of voters”, he said at the meeting.
Giving an update on the number of parties that have notified it of their dates for primary election, Yakubu said 14 political parties have now notified the commission.
“As you are all aware, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election a day after the Electoral Act 2022 was signed into law. The next activity under the Timetable is the conduct of party primaries by political parties. So far, 14 parties have submitted their notices and schedule of primaries to the Commission.
“As required by law, the Commission shall monitor the primaries in the constituencies where the parties intend to field candidates. This means that the State offices will be heavily involved in the exercise. I urge you to exercise our monitoring responsibility with absolute neutrality. There are sanctions for violation of the law and you should know this and warn our staff accordingly”, he stated.
The INEC boss also added that inspite of the security challenges, stakeholders must remain resolute in the determination to conduct the 2023 General Election as scheduled.
He said; “In doing so, every eligible Nigerian must be given the opportunity to vote, including citizens in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp. Happily, the Commission has a standing policy on IDP voting which has been periodically reviewed. In the light of the security challenges around the country and guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission will immediately review the policy to ensure that no internally displaced Nigerian in any part of the country is disenfranchised. The issue of IDPs is one of the issues to be discussed at this meeting.
“The Commission is confident that our security agencies have the capacity to deal with the security challenges ahead 2023 General Election. Fortunately, we have started the preparations for the election early. There is therefore ample time to deal with the current situation to enable the Commission and all stakeholders to deploy nationwide for the election. We will continue to work with the security agencies for a peaceful electioneering and conduct of elections. To this end, the Commission will hold high-level meetings with the security agencies and consultations with stakeholders immediately after the forthcoming national holidays”.
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