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  • Ogun Govt Sacks Nurse For Granting Radio Interview on Poor Welfare

    A staff nurse in the employ of the Ogun State government, Aisha Olufunke Ajibola, an executive of the state chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), has been sacked for granting an interview on an online radio station where she talked about the poor welfare of her members.

    Ajibola who worked at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), was reportedly sacked on November 25, for granting the interview which the government found to be “instigating and inflammatory.”

    Speaking on a radio station on Thursday, December 24, Ajibola revealed the termination of her appointment by the state government for speaking out against injustice and persecution.

    “I never had any misunderstanding with anyone during that period because I earnestly discharged my duties. I was surprised that I am now being subjected to various physical, psychological and financial assaults by Mrs Enaholo, the Director of Nursing Services (DDNS) and Mr Awoyomi A. A., Director of Administration (DA), over the nursing association matter that required justice,” Ajibola said.

    “Everything was fine before I became the unit NANNM treasurer, state UGONSA (University Graduates of Nursing Science Association) secretary and unit chairman.

    “Immediately I was elected as unit NANNM treasurer and on assumption of office, handing over was done but without any documents like income and expenditure book, vouchers and impress book.

    “When I requested for them, they took me as an enemy and treated me badly, which prompted me to petition Mrs Ogundein for threatening to slap me.

    “I was removed from the nurses’ WhatsApp platform on the 23rd of August 2019, thereby cutting me off from other members who voted for me because I complained about not being allowed to ask questions after enduring three and a half hours in a meeting in which DDNS Enaholo and CNO Adekambi were shouting at me

    “All my life, justice for nurses is what I have always agitated for, and that has put me in danger and in their black book. The National NANNM president was invited and he instructed Enaholo, state NANNM chairman, Mrs Solarin, and unit NANNM chairman, Mrs Ogundehin, to return me to the OOUTH nurses’ WhatsApp platform.

    “But since the 22nd of April that the president instructed them to do that, they have refused to add me back.

    “The victimization continued after Enaholo threatened me for agitating for justice for our nurses and directed some elders to call my husband to warn me to keep shut on CNO case, but my husband did not accept to suppress my good intentions for nurses.

    “Going forward, in September and October 2020, I decided to defend Nurse Prince Tega, who was being victimized for partaking in a legitimate strike action called by the Nigeria Labour Congress and NANNM. I tried to beg the NANNM unit to intervene in the matter and free Prince.

    “On 5th October, I was invited for an online radio interview programmme on our own radio station, Nurses Arise Radio, about my activism and unionism life and my impact in people’s lives.

    “Tega’s issue was raised and I said the truth about his case for justice to reign though I was still recuperating from a surgical operation.

    “I was surprised to be given a query letter on 3rd November, and a sack letter on 25th November, by Awoyomi, the Director of Administration, for granting an interview on the nurses’ online radio programme to discuss nurses’ association issues as they affect our members.”

  • Four Remanded For Allegedly Attacking Lagos Environmental Corps

    An Ogba Magistrate Court has remanded four men in custody of a Lagos Correctional Service centre for allegedly attacking officers of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).

    The defendants were arraigned in court for allegedly attacking the LAGESC officials with stones and other dangerous weapons from a flyover bridge on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, inflicting various degrees of injuries on the officials while dislodging street traders around the area.

    The act was said to have gone contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

    The defendants include; Etem Linus, Remond Ogalego, Nwagli Sunday and Wisdom Obinna.

    They pleaded not guilty to the case and were granted bail by Magistrate H. B. Magaji, with one surety.

    However, the defendants failed to meet up with the bail conditions, hence the reason for them being remanded.

    Meanwhile, a statement by the LAGESC Corps Marshall Mrs Gbemisola Akinpelu, issued by the agency’s Public Affairs Unit Officer, Adebayo Kehinde, at the command’s office at Bolade-Oshodi, condemned the incessant attacks on its personnel carrying out their official duties of ensuring the cleanliness of the environment.

    Akinpelu, warned that such attacks on its men would no longer be tolerated by the state government.

    “it is one too many of attacks on enforcement officers in the state, which has resulted in the loss of lives and injuries on its personnel while trying to ensure that our roads, walkways and road setbacks on major highways in the state are free of illegal trading activities and street hawking which mostly impedes free flow of human and vehicular movement that often constitute traffic gridlock on our roads,” she said.

    She reiterated on the agency’s commitment to ensure that every part of the state be free of any form of environmental nuisances, as directed by the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Akinpelu, also appealed to all market leaders and transport unions to partner with the Agency in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.

  • Lagos Govt Threatens To Prosecute Residents Of 30 Buildings For Contravening Environmental Laws

    The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has served warning notices to residents of 30 buildings across the state over alleged contravention of the state’s environmental laws.

    It threatened to prosecute the erring residents for using distressed septic tanks, open discharge of effluent and unkempt general surroundings.

    The LAGESC Corps Marshal, Gbemisola Akinpelu (retd), who disclosed this at the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi area of the state, said the affected buildings were located in Oko-Oba in Agege, Jakande Estate, Ejigbo, and Oshodi areas of the state.

    She said: “Through its monitoring team and petitions from concerned citizens, the agency recently served three blocks of flats at the Millennium Housing Estate, Oko-Oba, Agege , abatement notices for contravening environmental infractions such as defective plumbing works, vegetal nuisance, open discharge of effluent, distressed septic tanks, and inappropriate discharge of waste water among others.

    “In the same vein, blocks of flats at Jakande Estate, Ejigbo, were also served notices on related environmental infractions.

    “LAGESC also carried out its operational activities around Olaolu and Igbeyin Adun Streets in Oshodi/Isolo local government area of the state for other environmental contraventions, while four buildings/complex including a hotel around Egbeda-Akonwonjo area of the State were issued abatement notices for erecting permanent slabs on public drains with no provision for ease of desilting, a development causing disruption of the free flow of water in the area.”

  • DSS Invites Ex-Speaker Na’Abba Over Interview Critical Of The Govt

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, for questioning over his statement on the state of the nation.

    He is expected to meet the agency on Monday.

    Na’Abba and the renowned Economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, formed a new political group, NCFront, on July 7.

    A former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr. Yunusa Tanko, confirmed Na’Abba’s invitation by the DSS in statement titled: “News Flash: DSS Invites NCFront leader and former Speaker, Ghali Umar Na’Abba.”

    The ex-speaker appeared on a Channels Television programme on Thursday and spoke on efforts to bring about a new Nigeria that works for the citizens.

    The statement read: “Distinguished Compatriots! Please be notified that the DSS on Friday sent an invitation to NCFront Co-Chair and former Speaker of (the House of Representatives) Nigeria, Rt Hon. Ghali Umar Na’aba after his very profound interview on Channels Television on Thursday in regard to the agenda of the NCFront to bring about a new Nigeria.

    “However, our leader, Ghali Umar Na’Abba has decided to honour the DSS invitation and therefore shall be visiting the DSS Headquarters in Abuja on Monday at 12noon.

    “All NCFront Organs, Structures, and Allies nationwide are, by this notice, put on the alert as ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

  • Edo Environment Commissioner Resigns

    The Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omua Oni-Okpako, on Friday resigned as a member of the state executive council.

    Oni-Okpako’s resignation came about one month after her Information and Orientation counterpart, Paul Ohonbamu, quit Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.

    She also confirmed her exit from the government in a chat with journalists in Edo State.

    “I resigned my position as Environment Commissioner earlier today,” Oni-Okpako said.

    Several key members of the Obaseki administration had resigned from the government in the last few months.

    The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Taiwo Akerele, resigned from the position in April over policy inconsistency.

    The resignations may not be unconnected with the political realignment taking place since the governor’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

  • Quadri To Defend African Senior Championship Title In 2021 As Event Postponed

    Nigerian table tennis superstar and reigning men’s African champion, Aruna Quadri will have to wait a little longer to defend his title on the continent.

    Quadri was to defend the title he won in 2018, in October this year in Cameroon, but the event will no longer hold as planned.

    This is following the posponement of the 2020 African Senior Championships by the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF).

    The continental body have officially confirmed the postponement of this year’s edition of the event which serves as the continental qualification for the World Championship.

    In a statement signed by the ATTF President, Khaled El-Salhy, the postponement became necessary owing to the COVID-19 pandemic which has halted sporting activities globally.

    “I wish to inform all table tennis friends and colleagues in your country, the importance of a safe and healthy lifestyle in the current circumstances due to the Covid-19 Pandemic,” he said.

    “On Thursday 2nd July 2020, the ATTF Executive Committee had an online meeting to discuss the case for the ATTF Calendar of 2020 which had been suspended earlier until further notice.

    “We are closely monitoring the global and continental situation day-by-day to come back to you with the following decision.

    “We acknowledge the continuation and expansion of the pandemic in the whole world and consequently in Africa, as there is no guaranteed medicine or vaccine available.

    “Even normal international travel will not be possible till the end of 2020, thus it has been decided to postpone our following planned events:

    – 2020 ITTF-Africa Youth, Juniors & Cadet Championships to be held in Madagascar

    – 2020 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships & WTTC Qualification to be held in Cameroon next year 2021.

    “Exact new dates for both events to be announced soon after checking the 2021 ITTF Calendar to ensure no conflict with other world sanctioned international events to provide better planning to your top players and national teams.” Khaled El-Salhy added.

    The first event was intially billed for Madagascar in April, with the second in Cameroon in October.

    Nigeria and Egypt are the defending champions in the team events while Quadri of Nigeria and Dina Meshref are the singles champions of the ITTF-Africa Senior Championships having emerged winners at the 2018 edition held in Mauritius.

  • EFCC Arrests Fake DSS Officer For Theft Of Foreigner’s Hand Bag At Event Attended By Buhari

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a 32-year-old Boniface Oburuku for theft of a hand bag belonging to an international guest from the Republic of Mauritius.

    The bag contained her two Samsung mobile phones, an international passport, United States Dollars, Nigerian and Mauritian currencies.

    A statement by Dele Oyewale, acting head, media publicity on Wednesday said Oburuku committed the crime on June 11, 2019 at an event organised by the EFCC to mark the year’s National Democracy Day and Anti-Corruption Summit at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

    Some of the guests in attendance at the event included President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian security chiefs, respected citizens and global leaders.

    “For over one year, the suspect has been on the commission’s watch list and was eventually arrested in Lagos few days ago,” Oyewale said.

    On how the suspect was tracked down, he quoted the team leader, Counter- Terrorism and General Investigations Unit of the EFCC, as saying that the operatives swung into action through an intelligence on the suspect all over the country, which showed that he was constantly on the move.

    “From Mpape area of the FCT to Jabi and later to Gwagwalada, all in the FCT. He finally settled in Lagos where he was arrested.

    “Investigations also revealed that, to breach security at the day’s event, Oburuku dressed smartly in a black suit and claimed to be of the Department of State Security (DSS) and was allowed access into the venue by security agents on duty without presentation of an invite,” the statement noted.

    While confessing to the crime, Oburuku apologised to President Buhari, the EFCC and his Mauritian victim.

    He called on others into fraudulent and criminal activities to turn a new leaf.

    Oyewale said the commission would soon charge him to court.