JUST IN: JERRY GANA GROUP HOLDS PARALLEL PDP CONVENTION IN ABUJA

The faction of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has carried out its threat of conducting a parallel national convention.

The faction is currently holding its national convention in Abuja, while another convention is simultaneously holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

The Port Harcourt convention is led by Alhaji Modu Sheriff, the party’s interim national chairman.

Prof. Gana and other leading members of the party had announced the “removal” of Alfani Modu Sheriff from the office, saying they had taken over the administration of the party.

The Abuja convention is being attended by some of the founding fathers of the party.

Those attending the Abuja convention include former Minister, Tunde Adeniran, former Deputy Senate president, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, and former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, among others.

Senator Mantu, who is chairing the Abuja convention, said the Abuja convention was a non-elective convention, citing a court ruling stopping the party from electing a new chairman, secretary and auditor.

Messrs Adeniran, Mantu and Gana are to provide leadership for the faction till its next convention, the group announced.

EFCC / FG TEAMS UP WITH UK GOVT !

🇫resh facts emerged yesterday that more than 60 top Nigerians may lose assets and cash laundered in the United Kingdom.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) may soon submit a list of those convicted, under probe, the fleeing suspects and those watch-listed to the relevant agencies in the UK.

The UK was said to be in custody of over £40 million stolen funds recovered from some Nigerian government officials in 2008.

This is apart from about £22.5million recovered from the Island of Jersey.

Of the cash, about £6.8million loot had been traced to ex-Governor James Ibori.

Some of those likely to be affected include ex-governors like James Ibori, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Joshua Dariye, the late Abubakar Audu, Chimaroke Nnamani, Lucky Igbinedion, the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and others.

Others are about 13 ex-governors on trial for financial crimes, some former ministers either on trial or under investigation, some indicted top bankers during the 2008 financial crisis.

Six of the ex-governors were alleged to have acquired assets worth £15million in the United Kingdom, while in office.

One of the governors allegedly paid £1.6million at a go in 2005 for a posh mansion in London.

According to findings, about 60 highly-placed Nigerians, especially politically exposed persons and their fronts, have assets and looted funds in the United Kingdom and Island of Jersey.

For instance, Ibori’s assets in the UK are said to worth more than $150 million. A former director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) owns a flat in St George Wharf worth about 450 pounds more than 10 years ago, while another top civil servant owns 1.65 million pounds Fulham property.

It was learnt that the decision of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to collaborate with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has dimmed the hope of the affected treasury looters.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “With the pledge of the British Prime Minister, we will just go to our shelf and reel out the list of those with suspected loot and laundered funds in the United Kingdom.

“Already, we have the dossiers of all these suspects right from the days of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the EFCC chairman.

“We can talk of about 60 on our radar, including about 13 governors, former ministers, oil subsidy suspects, indicted top bankers and some of those involved in the $15billion arms deals.

“We will recover all the stolen funds. In fact, very soon, we may start publishing the photographs of the identified assets of some of these suspects.

“In fact, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, met with the Special Fraud Office in London on Thursday.

“We can seize these assets under the Interim Forfeiture Order in Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act.

The section reads: “Any property subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the commission in the following circumstances- (a) the seizure is incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the Court following an application made by the Commission in accordance with the prescribed rules.

“Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this Act, the Commission may-(a) place the property under seal; or (b) remove the property to a place designated by the Commission.

“Properties taken or detained under this section shall be deemed to be in custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of a Court.”

The EFCC and the Metropolitan Police have been collaborating in the past few years.

The British government had, in 2008, expressed its willingness to return about £40 million stolen funds recovered from some Nigerian government officials.

A former Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Tansley, on September 27, 2007 handed over two cheques for more than $250,000 (£126,000, 29.3m naira) to Nigeria.

The UK Metropolitan Police had said the amount was only a fraction of the fortunes that the former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, and other Nigerian officials had diverted to London.

A cheque for $2 million belonging to a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was also returned to Nigeria by the British government.

President Muhammadu Buhari had during the week pleaded with the UK to return stolen funds to Nigeria.

“I am not going to demand any apology from anybody. What I am demanding is the return of assets,” Buhari said at a function in London.

NEW DISEASE HITS NIGERIA: STEVENS JOHNSON SYNDROME (SJS) IS IN NIGERIA, KILLS ONE, HOSPITALIZED ANOTHER

Man with Stevens–Johnson syndrome Photo credit: Wikipedia

🇹he Federal Minister of Health, Issac Adewole, has revealed that there is a new disease in Nigeria which has killed a Nigerian while another is currently undergoing treatment at the National Hospital Abuja.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, on Friday, Mr. Adewole said the health condition known as Stephen Johnson Syndrome (SJS) was an unusual allergic reactions in Nigeria and some parts of Europe.

He said, “We have to find a means to communicate with Nigerians,so they should all be aware of this dangerous disease and it is the sole business of government to enlighten the society by trying to increase their awareness, knowledge and to improve their quality way of life.”

Dr. Olanrewaju Falodun a Senior Consultant Physician/Dermatologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, shed more light on the disease and the cases being handled in his hospital.

“Stephens Johnson Syndrome, is an immune complex mediated hypersensitivity reaction that typically involves the skin and mucous membranes and was first described in 1922 by Albert Stevens and Frank Johnson,” Mr. Falodun said.

SJS is a rare and unpredictable reaction, and is also a minor form of toxic epidermal necrolysis with less than 10 percent body surface area involvement, the consultant said.

“SJS is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening contagious drug reaction. Incidence of SJS is estimated between 1.1 and 7.1 cases per million per year and is more prevalent in women than men. Incidence in Europe is two per million per year” Mr. Falodun said.

He confirmed that two cases were being treated at the Abuja National Hospital, saying one patient already passed while the other was still undergoing treatment.

He said the incidence was higher in Africa due to extensive use of herbal preparations and the prevalence of HIV.

He listed the symptoms of the SJS disease to include fever, sore throat, running nose, fatigue, general aches and pains, ulcers in mouth, genitals, anal regions as well as conjunctivitis.

The health complications, Mr. Falodun said, are pigmentation problems, skin scarring, scarred genitals, joint pains, lung diseases, obstructive disorders and eye complications, adhesions, ulcers, and blindness.

He however said the cause of the disease remained unknown in a quarter to half of cases but that self-medications appeared to be one of its causes.
He advised Nigerians to avoid misuse of drugs, while individuals with previous drug reactions should always inform healthcare practitioners so that in future they would be able to predict who is at risk of the disease using genetic screening.

Here are ways Mr. Falodun said SJS could be managed by hospitals:

1. Cessation of suspected drugs
2. Hospital Admission: Preferably in burns unit/intensive care
3. Nutritional and Fluid replacement
4. Temperature maintenance
5. Pain relief
6. Mouth-care

POLICE IN LAGOS HAVE COMMENCED MAN HUNT FOR MAN THAT BEAT HIS WIFE TO DEATH IN LAGOS.

The Lagos State Police Command has launched a manhunt for Mr. Lekan Shonde, who allegedly killed his banker-wife, Ronke, in Lagos on Thursday night.

Ronke Shonde, a mother of two, was found dead in their apartment located on Tiemo Close, Off Awori Street, in the Egbeda-Idimu area of Lagos State on Friday morning.

The husband was said to have fled with his wife’s mobile phones after the incident occurred.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos Command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident on Saturday, adding that the matter had been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.

She said “marks of violence” were found on Ronke, suggesting that she was murdered in cold blood.

The police spokesperson further said the command had launched a manhunt for the husband of the deceased.

Badmos said, “Yes, I confirm the incident. It was reported on Friday at about 8am by the landlady. She said at about 7am, she heard the screaming of Mrs. Ronke Shonde’s children, who is one of her tenants, as they couldn’t find the key to open their door from inside.

“When the door was forced open from outside, the lifeless body of the victim was found on the floor.

“Police operatives visited the scene and the corpse was removed and deposited at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.”

The police spokesperson explained that the deceased’s husband was at large and could not be reached on his telephone lines, which had been switched off.

“Effort is on to get him. The command will certainly get to the root of the case. The case has been transferred to the homicide section of the SDCI for discreet investigation,” she added.

Some residents of the street on which the couple lived, lamented that the deceased had been enduring an abusive marriage.

It was gathered that Ronke was the second of three siblings to die within two years.

A neighbour, who has a shop on the street, said Ronke died on Thursday night but the neighbours did not know until Friday morning.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the neighbour said, “It is a very unfortunate incident. The man had serially abused and assaulted his wife until the Thursday attack led to her death.

“He would tie her, beat her and take her mobile phones away. She should have left him long ago.”

The neighbour said the couple lived comfortably, as the wife worked with Guaranty Trust Bank while her husband works at the Apapa depot of Mobil.

The neighbour also said,
“The husband is much older than the wife; the woman was in her 30s while man should be in his 50s.”

The neighbour further said, “Some people heard when she screamed on Thursday night but nobody knew what happened to her until her nanny raised the alarm on Friday morning.

“I was one of those who packed her remains. She had injuries on her head, neck and around her private parts. There were blood stains on the walls, which indicated that she must have struggled with him until he overpowered her.

“She was a light-skinned person but by the time we broke into their apartment, her body was already becoming dark and swollen. A doctor who conducted some tests on her said she must have been killed around 11pm on Thursday.”

According to the neighbour, Ronke’s mother had three children, while her younger brother died about a year ago. He lamented that her death might have been prevented if her brother’s wife, who had been living with them, was home on Thursday night.

When one of our correspondents sought to speak with the couple’s immediate neighbours on Saturday, their residence, which had two buildings one of which was said to be occupied by the landlady, was shut.

Another resident in the area, who also declined to be named in print, said the police had sealed up the couple’s flat, while other occupants of the building had shut the gate to visitors ever silive
“The flat was not just sealed. The police called a welder to weld the doors, which are made of iron to protect the crime scene,” the souce said.

The neighbour added that Ronke’s uncle came to take the children to their grandmother who is based in Kwara State.

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LEARN HOW TO SING "YOU ARE GREAT"..BY STEVE CROWN..(LYRICS)

INTRO:

You are great, yes you are,
Holy ONE ,
Walked upon the sea,
Raised the dead.
You reign in majesty,
Mighty God,
Everything written about you, is great
(Repeat)

CHORUS:
You are great (Response)
You are great (Response)
You are great (Response)
You are great!!!
(Repeat)
Everything written about you, is great
(REPEAT CHORUS)

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

Worship you today!
Give you all the praise,
Eeeh!!!.

Mighty mighty God,
Worship you today,
Give you all the praise,
As we lift our hands to you,
With pleasure in our heart,
We raise our voice to say,
Everything written about you, is great

Isi ike’ndu
Worship you today,
Give you all the praise,
As we lift our hands to you
With pleasure in our heart
We raise our voice to say
Everything written about you, is great

REFRAIN:

Demon trembles at your presence
What a mighty God we serve
Glory, glory Alleluia,
Everything written about you, is great
(Repeat)

(Repeat chorus)
You are great, so great.
We worship you lord, king of kings,
And lord of lords
Oh so great you are,
Doing marvelous things,
Everything written about you is great

EXTEND RAILWAY TO EKITI; FAYOSE TELLS FG

Ekiti State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, extend the railway system to the state in a bid to boost its participation in international trade and achievement of the ongoing diversification of economy.
State Commissioner for Commerce, Michael Ayodele, said the rail line extension was necessary because “a lot of agricultural products are being wasted in Ekiti State because of lack of opportunities to move them out en-mass for export purpose.
The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Babatunde Akilo, spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday at a one-day enlightenment seminar organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) with the theme: “Ports Regulation: A Panacea to a Cost Effective Import/Export in Ekiti State”.
He said: “There is a limit to which evacuation can be done by road. Extension of railway system to Ekiti State would definitely increase the export potentialities of the Shippers Council”, calling on the council to use its position “to influence the establishment of more industries in the state”, saying such would serve as catalyst to its events”.
This was as stakeholders in shippers activities at the programme requested for the establishment of a warehouse in the state where their products and commodities would be housed for export rather than resorting to use of warehouses in Lagos for that purpose.

PRESIDENT BUHARI SIGNS 2016 BUDGET INTO LAW

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the 2016 budget.
Buhari’s assent finally brings an end to the controversy surrounding the budget.

The National Assembly had in April transmitted details of the budget to the president after it had passed the bill on March 23, but the President returned the document back, citing omission of certain capital projects. 

This was corrected  and sent back to the president, but again the Presidency still refused to sign.
Recall that the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza, yesterday said the corrected version of the 2016 budget has been resent to the President for consideration.

Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly complex, Gaza said the budget was transmitted to the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senate, Senator Ita Enang.

Available report reveals that all grey areas have now been addressed and the budget has been signed by the president into law. 

CORRECTED VERSION OF 2016 BUDGET SENT TO PRESIDENCY FOR ASSENT.

Reports reaching our publishing desk reveals that the corrected version of the 2016 budget was, yesterday, being Thursday 5th April, handed over to the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senate (Senator), Ita Enang.

The final conclusion and onward transmission of the corrected version of the budget, which had suffered delay, was disclosed by the Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza, while briefing journalists at the assembly complex.

Though Gaza did not give details on how and when the budget was transmitted to the Presidency, sources close to the Presidency confirmed that it was Senator Ita Enang who collected the budget from the 10-man committee of the National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun.

Recall that earlier in the day, it was scheduled that the deputy speaker would hand over the corrected version of the budget in the presence of journalists, but the plan was later cancelled and was submitted quietly.

While fielding questions from journalists on the position of the budget, Gaza said: “It is the same media that has kept the whole country abreast. Don’t forget that we are equally Nigerians and it is our desire for the country to move forward.

“A committee was set up, which was in the papers and was headed by the deputy speaker. Members from the Senate as well as the executive arm looked at the budget and I believe the resolutions have been transmitted or rather the resolutions have been submitted to the President.

“I am quite optimistic and I enjoin all other Nigerians, including yourselves, to be as optimistic as me that in the very near future, this budget will be signed into law.”

On when the budget was submitted and whether it was an amendment that was submitted, the House Deputy spokesman said: “Well, I honestly believe that we have to be quite careful with our choice of words.

“Over time, there have been differences and both arms of government had sat down to look at what those issues are. Most importantly, what we want is to see our country and our economy moving forward.”

NIGER DELTA MILITANTS BLOW UP CHEVRON VALVE PLATFORM IN WARRI

 MILITANTS in the Niger Delta region have continued their onslaught on oil installations in the area with the blowing up of the Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri North council area of Delta State. The incident it was gathered occurred at about 10:40pm on Wednesday. Though the company’s Public Affairs Manager, Deji Haastrup could not be reached for comments on the incident, on official of the Department of Security Services, DSS who spoke on anonymity, confirmed the incident adding that the platform was totally destroyed with the use of dynamites. 

The security source further hinted that the platform is a major connecting point where all other platforms link up and serves as a fulcrum to chevron BOP and the Chevron Tank farm thereby halting all operations of the company in the region. Claiming responsibility for the incident, the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group in the region in a statement on Wednesday night, while attributing the incident to the effort of its strike Team 6, stated that attack on the facility is in line with its promise to the Nigerian government to cripple the economy. 

The group which had earlier claimed responsibility for destroying the Forcados 48-inch Export Pipeline, also threatened to attack oil facilities in Lagos and Abuja, the nation’s capital. “We want to pass this message to the all international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Nigeria Military can’t protect their facilities. They should talk to the federal government to meet our demands else more mishaps will befall their installations. “Until our demands are met, no repair works should be done at the blast site,” the group added.

GUNMEN INVADES, KILL MANY, IN AHOADA, RIVERS STATE.

🇬unmen, suspected to be cultists on Saturday invaded Ula-Ukpata and Edoha communities in Ahoada East Local Council area of Rivers State, killing no fewer than 16 persons.

It was gathered that the said gunmen invaded the communities about 1pm shooting indiscriminately at people.

According to eye witnesses and some lucky ones who escaped the attack, the gunmen attacked Ula-Upata communities twice. At their first attack, they reportedly killed 12 persons, and returned around 9pm during which two more persons were killed.

It was further gathered that the gunmen thereafter moved to Edoha, a nearby village, where they beheaded five persons, and made away with their heads, while the bodies were left on the road.

However, briefing journalists on the incidence in Port Harcourt, the state Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo confirmed the incidence but claimed that only four persons were killed.

The commissioner confirmed that the killings occurred on Saturday night at Zion Nwoka’s compound in Ula-Ukpata community, giving the names of the victims as Mrs Monica Zion (62), Gospel Nwoka (45), Patricia Ziko (42) and Rogers Nwoka (28).

Kimo added that four patrol team of policemen has been deployed to the community to beef up security and forestall reprisal attack.

He however called on members of the public to work with the police, by giving them prompt information in tackling the menace in the society.