Where is Nigeria's $16bn power project? - Buhari inquires

The president has asked for the $16 billion (N5.76
trillion) power plant project authorised by the last
three administration
- Buhari made the inquiry at the Presidential Villa on
Tuesday, May 22
President Muhammadu Buhari has inquired
about the $16 billion (N5.76 trillion) power
project authorised by former president Olusegun
Obasanjo, Daily Trust reports.
Speaking while receiving members of the Buhari
Support Group, led by the comptroller general of
the Nigerian Customs Service, Ahmed Ali, the
president said he wondered where the power
project is since its launch.
Although the president did not mention
Obasanjo's name, the former president had
during his tenure approved the spending of $16
billion on a power project.

However, in 2008, the House of Representatives
described the $16 billion spent on power as a
colossal waste. The lawmakers blamed such
'waste' on poor budget planning and a lack of
proper oversight by relevant bodies.
Also, a civil society organisation, Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), urged
the acting chief justice of Nigeria, Walter
Onnoghen, to launch an investigation into the
project.
SERAP in a statement issues in 2016 asked the
CJN to appoint an independent counsel to
investigate allegations of corruption in the
spending of $16 billion on electricity by
Obasanjo's government.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that the federal
government is set to establish a nuclear research
centre with ROSATOM.
The centre will offer nuclear technology and
knowledge, with which insects could be
controlled through: Sterile Insect Technique.

It was also gathered that the centre will mainly
benefit Nigeria's agricultural sector especially in
the production and safety of groups.

Metuh was asked to sit down but he decided to fall down on his own - Justice Abang

Justice Okon Abang has said that the former
spokesperson of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, fell down on
his own
- Abang at the resumed trial on Tuesday, May 22, said
he did not direct any doctor to attend to Metuh when
he collapsed before the court on Monday
- According to the judge, he rose briefly upon hearing
that the defendant fell down on his own
A judge of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
has suggested that the former national publicity
secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Olisa Metuh, is faking 'ill health'.
Justice Okon Abang said Metuh deliberately fell
down as the court’s proceedings were about to
start on Monday, May 21.
Punch reports that Justice Abang at the resumed
hearing of the N400 million suit against Metuh
by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission on Tuesday, May 22, said, "the first
defendant fell down on his own".


While speaking on a submission made by the
defence counsel, Tochukwu Onwubufor, for an
adjournment of the matter due to his client's
absence, Abang said the court did not direct any
doctor to treat Metuh.
The judge said: “The court did not direct the doctor to
attend to the defendant. I would not know the person that
directed the doctor to see the defendant when I rose briefly
upon hearing that the defendant fell down on his own.
“The court directed him to sit down where he was but he
decided to fall down on his own," Abang added.


The judge also interrupted the prosecuting
counsel to make the same clarification when the
prosecution was opposing the request for
adjournment by the defence.
Metuh is absent from today's ruling over ill
health issues.


 earlier reported that Metuh during his
hearing on Monday, May 21 , fell down while
trying to enter the dock.
It was gathered that the former PDP
spokesperson was immediately attended to by a
doctor residing within the court.

Following the collapse of the former PDP
spokesperson, the trial judge, stood down the
matter to enable medical officials attend to him.
The medical officials who entered the courtroom
at 9.19am were still attending to Metuh till about
9.25 am before directing that he be taken to the
hospital for immediate attention.

2018 Budget: Why NASS included additional funding for Primary Healthcare - Tejuoso

The reason why the National Assembly included
funding for basic health in the 2018 Appropriations
Bill has been revealed
- Senator Lanre Tejuoso said it was a clear
demonstration of the commitment and responsiveness
of the 8th Senate
- He said he hopes Nigeria's health care system will be
a model for other African countries
Chairman, Senate committee on health, Senator
Lanre Tejuosho has revealed why the National
Assembly, included funding for the Basic
Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the 2018
Appropriations Bill.
In a press statement to NAIJ.com on Monday, May
21, Senator Tejuoso stated that: “While the Executive
did not include the BHCPF in the 2018 Appropriation Bill
submitted to the National Assembly, the Senate embarked
upon a phenomenal task of ensuring the inclusion of BHCPF
in the 2018 appropriation and its effective implementation.”
According to him, the Senate mandated its
committee on appropriation to work out a
modality for accommodating the fund in the 2018
appropriation.


He also informed that his committee through the
Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the legislative
network on Universal Health Care (UHC) held
series of sensitization, capacity building and
media parleys to galvanize support towards
implementation of the BHCPF and reiterate the
commitment of the National Assembly towards
the cause.
Tejuoso added that the push to ensure that there
was increased funding in the 2018 budget was a
clear demonstration of the commitment and
responsiveness of the 8th Senate, under the
leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Senate
President, who is also a medical doctor, to ensure
that the healthcare needs of Nigerians are met.
“I am happy to inform you that the Senate President and
the Senate committee on health have lived up to their
promise to Nigerians by including the BHCPF in the 2018
Appropriation Bill. By this important milestone, we have
demonstrated our collective and sustained will to harness
and align our human and other resources towards
transforming the health landscape in Nigeria.
“We have to remain vigilant to ensure that nothing scuttles
our collective will towards actualizing the dream of
affordable universal health care for all Nigerians. It is my
vision that one day, Nigeria health care system will be a
model for other African countries and the country will be a
reputable destination for medical tourism,” the senator,
who is also a trained medical doctor said.


Meanwhile, the director general of the WHO, Dr.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has commended
Saraki, on his commitment towards ensuring that
Nigeria’s primary healthcare system is
strengthened by the inclusion of one per cent of
the country’s Consolidated Revenue Fund is used
to provide basic primary healthcare services
across the nation.
Dr. Ghebreyesus who commended the Senate
president in a tweet on his personal Twitter
handle, @DrTedros, also stated that political will
is needed to provide universal healthcare
coverage.

Addiction: PCN starts recall of codeine cough syrup

Following federal government's directive, the
Pharmacists Council of Nigeria has started recalling
cough syrup containing codeine from its stakeholders
- Regulatory bodies were directed by the minister of
health, Professor Isaac Adewole, to supervise the
recall
- This is because the drug is being abused by some
Nigerian consumers
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it
has started recalling cough syrup containing
codeine from its stakeholders in compliance with
federal government's directive.
The registrar of PCN, Elijah Mohammed, revealed
this in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, May 19 in Abuja.
The minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole,
had directed PCN, NAFDAC and other regulatory
bodies to supervise the recall of codeine from the
market, NAN reports.
NAIJ.com notes that Mohammed reaffirmed that
codeine is an opioid drug similar to morphine
which has been approved and accessed over the
counter in low doses for relieving patients of
symptoms associated with dry cough.


According to the registrar, codeine in such
preparation, usually in smaller doses, serves as a
cough suppressant and relieves pain associated
with the stress of coughing.
He said: “However, due to its inherent properties when
used in high doses over a long period, it has been associated
with dependence and powerful addictive propensity
especially when used for recreational purpose."
Mohammed noted that the council in view of the
ministerial directive has carried out enforcement
exercise in Ogun, Sokoto and Nasarawa states,
adding that same activities were currently going
on in Adamawa.
The registrar noted that the council had met with
the leadership of the National Association of
Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors
(PPNVs), among other stakeholders, in the
pharmaceutical industry in order to facilitate the
recall.
Mohammed, who emphasised that codeine
containing cough preparation was not included
in the approved medicines list of PPMVs,
however urged them to desist from the sales of
codeine and other unethical drugs in order to
guard against sanctions.
According to him, the council as part of efforts to
rid off codeine in the society had also met with
the leadership of the Association of Community
Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and they made a
strong commitment to enforce the recall process
as well.
the registrar said: “In continuation of various efforts of
implementing the ministerial directives, PCN enforcement
team has been strengthened to ensure strict compliance
with regulations and extant policies as they relate to the
council’s mandate.
“PCN is the agency of the federal government established by
Cap P17 LFN 2004 and charged with the responsibility of
controlling and regulating pharmacy education, training
and practice in all aspects and ramifications."
Mohammed, however, appealed to
manufacturers, importers and distributors of
drugs to display more sense of ethical and moral
responsibilities in the production, supply and
sales of codeine.
He added: “Economic interest and financial
considerations should not override the health implications
associated with the abuse of these preparations. The health
of Nigerians must come first before any other interest."


Meanwhile, adegokblog .com previously reported that the
National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was
directed by the federal ministry of health to ban
with immediate effect further issuance of
permits for the importation of codeine as active
pharmaceutical ingredient for cough syrup
preparations.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday,
May 1 by the minister of health, Professor Isaac
Adewole.

Sokoto court remands Shagari, 4 PDP chieftains in police custody over N500m money laundering

- A Federal High Court in Sokoto has remanded Alhaji
Mukhtari Shagari, and some top officials of the PDP in
police custody
- The suspects were accused of misappropriating about
N500 million
- Their case has been adjourned to Thursday, May 24,
by Justice Saleh Idrissa, the presiding judge
A former deputy governor of Sokoto, Alhaji
Mukhtari Shagari, and four chieftains of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been
remanded by a Federal High Court sitting in the
state which was presided over by Justice Saleh
Idrissa on Tuesday, May 22, over alleged money
laundering
The looted fund amounted to N500 million from
former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-
Madueke’s alleged loot, This Day reports.

The rest four suspects were Ibrahim Gidado, the
former state commissioner for information, the
party's state treasurer, Nasiru Dalhatu, its
chairman Ibrahim Milgoma and Abdallah Wali, a
PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 election.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) prosecuting counsel, Johnson Ojogbane,
said the it preferred the five-count charge
against the accused persons bordering on money
laundering and cash transaction outside
regulated financial institution which contravened
Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 and
punishable under section 16 (2) (b) of the act.
Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari on his way to court with EFCC
officials (Photo Credit: EFCC)
One of the accused heading to court (Photo Credit: EFCC)
Another accused person arriving the federal High Court in
Sokoto (Photo Credit: EFCC)
Ojogbane said that the offences were committed
in March 2015, and the money was handed over
to the accused persons by one Abdulrahman
Ibrahim a day before the polls.
He said: “The Money Laundering Prohibition Act frowns
on money laundering and financing of illegal activities.
"There is a threshold to transact a cash business and when
you cross that threshold, it is an offence and there is
punishment for that. This issue has to do with the N500
million Diezani money that was given out for elections.”
Ojogbane further said that the charges came with
the affidavits, list of witnesses, summary of
evidences as well as proof of evidence.
However, after the reading of the charges, the
accused persons pleaded not guilty, denying the
allegations.
In reaction to this, Ojogbane opposed their
application for bail because the administrative
bail ended when they were served with charge
sheets.
He pleaded with the court to adhere to due
processes and sought for adjournment to
commence full trial.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, the counsel to Gidado and
Dalhatu and Milgoma, applied for an interim bail
for the accused persons pending the moving of
formal bail application filed by the defendants.
Abdullahi said that the defendants had been on
EFCC administration bail since 2016, emphasising
that the accused were not likely to endanger any
investigation.

Ibrahim Idris and Aiyelabegan Abdulkadiri,
counsel to Shagari and Wali respectively, aligned
themselves with Abdullahi’s submission on
granting the accused persons bail in continuation
of the administrative bail granted earlier.
Justice idrissa, therefore, adjourned the case to
Thursday, May 24, for hearing of bail application
for the accused persons and ordered that they
should be remanded in police custody in Sokoto.
Earlier, adegokblog .com had reported that Shagari, and
the PDP chiefs were to be arraigned before a
Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto on Tuesday,
May 22.

Ondo deputy speaker sacked, replaced

Ondo state House of Assembly deputy speaker lroju
Ogundeji has been Impeached
- The impeached deputy speaker staged a walkout
while the plenary was ongoing
- The reason for the action of the lawmakers against
Ogundeji has not been observed
The Deputy speaker of the Ondo state House of
Assembly Iroju Ogundeji was on Tuesday, May
23 impeached by his colleagues in the House
during the plenary session of the Assembly.
Punch reports Ogundeji, who represents Odigbo
Constituency II in the Assembly and member of
the APC was removed after 18 out of the 26
lawmakers had signed for his removal and the
signature was received by the Speaker of the
House Bamidele Oloyeloogun, during the session.
The reason for the action of the lawmakers
against Ogundeji was not known yet as of the
time of filing this report; but a source told our
correspondent that the former deputy speaker
was removed following some allegations of
“gross misconduct” leveled against him.


Another source in the Assembly said that
Ogundeji ‘s impeachment came as a result of the
“misunderstanding that ensued between him and
the speaker.”
The former deputy Speaker was among the 18
lawmakers who defected to the ruling party from
the Peoples Democratic Party shortly after
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu became governor in
February 2017.
Ogundeji was immediately replaced by Bimbo
Fajolu, who represents Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo state
Constituency.


Fajolu’s nomination for deputy Speaker was
moved at the plenary session by Israel Olajide,
and was seconded by a former Speaker, Jumoke
Akindele.
The new deputy speaker was immediately sworn-
in by the Clerk of the House Bode Adeyelu.
Meanwhile

 had reported Ondo state
House of Assembly appointed an acting Speaker,
Malachi Coker, following the resignation of the
Speaker, Jumoke Akindele in Akure.
The legislators at the plenary session, also
appointed Arowele Samuel from Owo l
Constituency, as the deputy speaker.
Others are Olamide George, representing Akure
North Constituency as the Majority Leader and
Mukaila Musa as the Minority Leader.

You’re not with us, APC chairman attacks Buhari’s minister

The chairman of the APC, Plateau state chapter,
Latep Dabang has disclosed some secrets about the
minister of youth and sport development, Barrister
Solomon Dalung
- Dabang said the minister has never attended any of
our meetings since he was appointed minister in spite
of several invitations to our meetings
- Dalung could not be reached for his reaction on the
accusations leveled against him by the APC chairman
in the state
The chairman of the All Progressive Congress
(APC), Plateau state chapter, Latep Dabang said
the sports minister, Solomon Dalung who hails
from the state, has never attended any function
of the party since he was appointed minister.
Premium Times reports that Dabang made this
known Monday, May 21 at the party secretariat
in Jos, during a press conference where he
briefed journalists on the activities of the party.
Dabang said: “The minister of youth and sport
development, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has never attended
any of our meetings since he was appointed minister in
spite of several invitations to our meetings.


“During the ward congresses, the minister was in Daura, in
Kastina state. If the president of the country, President
Buhari, can go to his party ward to participate in the
congresses, I wonder what the minister was doing in the
country home of the president.”
The APC chairman also said the minister did not
attend the just concluded state congress of the
party held last Saturday in Jos.


The APC state congress in Plateau state were held
under tight security. The state governor, Simon
Lalong, and his deputy, Sonni Tyoden,
participated in the congresses.
Dalung could not be reached for his reaction on
the accusations leveled against him by the APC
chairman in Plateau state.
He did not return calls and did not respond to
text massages sent to him via his mobile
telephone about 24 hours ago.
Meanwhile, adegokblog .com had reported that the
Plateau state chapter of the APC denied
endorsing Governor Simon Bako Lalong for
second term in 2019.
The state chairman of the party, Latep Dabang,
made the statement on Sunday, April 15, when
reassuring all governorship aspirants of a level
playing ground ahead of the APC primary
election.
The APC leader said despite the standing ovation
Lalong received from stakeholders when he
declared his intention to seek a second term, the
governor will not be given an automatic ticket.