Mohammed Shosanya

The Oyo State Government, has shut six health facilities across the state over quackery.

The shut facilities committed various offenses, including recruitment of unqualified personnel to provide medical services and engage in illicit practices.

Among the facilities sealed were the New Jobi Memorial Hospital; Omolara Clinic & Maternity Home Iped Amazing Grace Medical Clinic; Emiloju Clinic and Maternity Centre Ogbere and Safeway Clinic, Gbaremu; Emilagba clinic and Maternity Centre, Ibadan.

Speaking during an inspection and monitoring exercise held within the Ibadan metropolis, the State Antiquackery Task Force Committee Chairman, Dr. Adekunle Aremu said the team carried out the operation as part of the government’s efforts towards protecting the health and well-being of residents.

He said the Oyo state government would not tolerate any form of quackery or substandard practice in the health sector.

He added that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.

He urged the public to report any suspicious or illegal activity in any health facility to the Ministry of Health or the nearest security agency.

He also advised the public to patronize only accredited and registered health facilities in the state, adding that they must ensure only qualified personnel attend to them.

He appealed to health workers to abide by the ethics and standard of their profession.

He also urged residents to cooperate with the government in its quest to provide quality and affordable health care to the people.

He said: “The goals remain clear, Oyo state government is dedicated to upholding rigorous standards and prioritizing the health and safety of every resident.

“The government ensures that healthcare services consistently meet the highest benchmarks for quality and safety, so citizens can trust their well-being”.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has withdrawn the charge it filed against rights activist, Omoyele Sowore and Adebayo Olawale aka Mandate.

The withdrawal of the charge was sequel to a notice of discontinuance filed at the Federal High Court Abuja, where Sowore and his co defendant are being prosecuted.

The Notice of Discontinuance, dated February 15, 2023, was signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN.

“By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice tend to discontinue Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Omoyele Sowore, Adebayo Olawale aka Mandate.

An Abuja based legal practitioner, Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq, has commended the decision of the AGF to discontinue the trial of Omoyele Sowore in court, where he was charged by the Government Republic of Nigeria for alleged staging a revolution.

Olajengbesi said the decision reflects a commitment to upholding the principles of justice and fairness within the country’s legal system.

“By discontinuing the trial, the Attorney General has demonstrated a willingness to review cases objectively and prioritize the protection of citizens’ rights.

In a statement on Thursday, Olajengbesi said the action Prince Fagbemi has reinforced the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring that individuals are not unduly persecuted for exercising their rights.

“I applaud the Attorney General for his discernment and for taking proactive steps to promote a legal environment that respects fundamental human rights.

“This decision sets a positive precedent for the administration of justice in Nigeria and reaffirms the government’s dedication to upholding the rule of law.

“As advocates for justice and equality, I stand in support of such principled actions and urge continued adherence to the principles of fairness and accountability within our legal system” Olajengbesi stated.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Kwara Sustainable Development Advocacy Forum (KWASDAF),has advocated the need for the Federal and State Governments to come out accountable and transparent on mining in Kwara State.

The development was sequel to the seizure of 12-truck loads of Lithium by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This led to the arrest of over 40 people.

Musa Idris Buko,coordinator of the group,said in a statement that fear is now crippling into the mind of the populace on the potential rise of insurgency in some regions of Kwara where mining activities take place.

The pro-democracy group advised the Federal Government to prioritize Kwara State in her efforts to develop the mining sector in line with global best practices.

The statement also implored the state government to appoint a substantive Commissioner for Ministry of Works and Transport, with a view to allowing the current Hon. Commissioner for Mines and Solid Minerals,who doubles as the Supervising Commissioner for Works and Transport to squarely face his job in the Ministry he was appointed to man.

“Beyond the potential insurgency illegal mining could breed, there are issues of pollution covering land, air, and water, environmental degradation and health hazards. Political consideration for 2027 should not be the only priority for Kwara North, rather, the area and the State must live in peace to witness 2027 and beyond. However, with the increased number of illegal miners in about two years, there is need to sit and think critically about the stability of the state”,it added

According to the coordinator,the state government definitely reserves the right and power to contend with the effect of the exploration activities in Kwara State.

The group maintained that the urge to seek for increased revenue for government has led to massive attention in mining, and the State must ensure that within the capacity it has, it designs a framework that can contain the imminent threat illegal mining posesses.

It added:”Zamfara was deep in insurgency connected to illegal mining, before deploying plans for local police, Kwara State Government does not need to wait until it is late before drawing maps for local safety and policing.

“This is an advocacy for immediate action, if illegal mining in Kwara North is allowed to thrive, it will affect food security and production, the effect can only be imagined now, reality may make us wish we took a more solid ground when we had the opportunity.

“The state government should also kindly come accountable and transparent on the derivations received on mining of mineral resources in Kwara. The amount of Lithium and other resources being mined calls for serious account and transparency.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacheus Adedeji has described as unlawful the three year old N2.59trillion Tax Credit Scheme introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari administration for road construction across the country.

The FIRS boss has also called for the discontinuation of the scheme.

This is even as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL), explained the $3.3billion loan facility secured for the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) for stabilization of Naira in the foreign exchange market.

These developments came up when FIRS and the Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umoru Ajiya, appearance before the Senate Committee on Finance.

President Buhari had introduced through Executive Order 7 of 2021, the N2.59trillion Tax Credit Scheme.

The Senator Sani Musa led Committee had invited the duo, to shed light on implementation of the scheme vis – a vis, the poor state of Federal Roads across the country.

While the NNPCL Chief Financial Officer praised the scheme that it is helping to fix the dilapidated roads across the six geo political zones in the country with N664billion spent so far, the FIRS boss stated otherwise, adding that the scheme should be discontinued.

He said: “The Mandate of FIRS lumped with execution of Tax Credit Scheme for road construction is to access, collect tax and remit it into the federation account and not to appropriate it for any purose through executive order .

“It is not the duty of FIRS and NNPCL to be paying contractors. The Ministry of Works should be in line with its core mandate, allow to award road contracts and pay for them.

“The scheme to people serves as faster way for road reconstruction or rehabilitation across the country, but we should stop increasing speed towards wrong direction.

“As a way of stopping the wrong approach, FIRS and CBN are holding meeting with the Ministry of Works Friday this week, where stock would be taken of what have be done through the scheme and thereafter, to the right path.

“We should in a nutshell, not continue in the wrong trajectory,” he said.

The Chairman of the Committee, who was impressed by his submission, said relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), are against the scheme, because monies NNPC and FIRS are being made to spend on the roads through tax credit, supposed to be remitted into consolidated revenue fund .

“We are waiting for outcome of meeting of the three agencies involved in the scheme, before deciding on how to help the present government to correct mistakes of the past,” he said.

On the $3.3billion loan facility, NNPCL informed the Committee members that it was secured to support CBN to suppress foreign exchange volatility.

It said $2.2billion had already been secured for the apex bank while the balance of $1.05billion, would be credited the apex bank before the end of the month .

Mohammed Shosanya

Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has stated that Bauchi state has been selected as one of the states of the federation to kick-start the Special Intervention Squad as an intervention to handle crisis situations.

The IGP,who stated this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Mohammed at the Government house in Bauchi,said the police under his leadership will be establishing the Special Intervention Squad in all the 36 states of the federation,but will be first launched in 10 pilot states of the federation.

According to him,members of the squad will be officially selected, trained, equipped and specially motivated, adding that they will not engage in routine anti-crime patrol, but will be housed, fed and adequately taken care-off.

He explained that the mission of the squad is to respond to all crisis in their respective domains and return to base to continue training, stressing that with the establishment of the squad in all the states of the federation, activities of armed bandits will be reduced to the barest minimum.

“If we have this kind of squad in all the states of the federation, from our experience, we find out that if we face a particular state that is troubled by bandits, as we are chasing the bandits away from a particular state, they are moving into a neighbouring state and if you go to that state again, they will move to the next state.So we want to stop that, if we have this squad in all the states, as we are chasing them, they will not have another place to run to” he said

Responding to the visit, the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed said that security is the priority of his administration, pointing that the selection of Bauchi State as one of the states of the federation to have a Police Special Intervention Squad was a welcome development.

“The Special Intervention Squad that you are establishing, we very happy that you are including Bauchi state and definitely whatever support you need, we are going to give it because security is the main thing we need.Security is what we need to go to school, farm as we are peasants here with a very large state. Our geography is difficult to manage, we have gulleys, rivers, valleys, ungoverned spaces, large forests and the demographics is not helping us, people are coming into the state because of the relative peace”

“We are a gateway to seven states and all the zones within the north.The North-East, the North-Central and the North-West and some of the activities of the federal government in the North-West is affecting us because you can see how intellect is deployed, as you are fighting them in the Northwest and the bandits are running into the North-East and this is the root which is Bauchi state”.

“We don’t have bandits in Bauchi state, what we have are informers and they are doing that because of poverty, poverty of mind and lack of community engagement.However, we don’t have technology to combat insecurity, we have written severally to the presidency, we need the Monitoring and Evaluation, we need the drones so that we can manage our country.It is unacceptable, we will employ the presidency to help you with the resources to deploy technology to complement the deficient we have in the area of human capital ” he said