Author: Day Break
Activities marking the burial of the Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, will start on Wednesday.
Press Statement:
Nda-Isaiah, 58, died on Friday, December 11, after taking ill briefly.
A statement by his brother, Mr. Abraham Nda-Isaiah, said dignitaries expected to participate in the events, which would commence by 12noon on Wednesday with virtual tributes, include former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The foremost traditional ruler in Niger State, Etsu Nupe, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, is also expected to participate in the events. Nda-Isaiah held the traditional title of Kakaki Nupe, spokesperson of the Nupe people, among several other traditional titles.
There were also strong indications on Sunday that the Presidency and Niger State (where the late Chairman comes from), would send strong delegations to the events.
The statement by Mr. Abraham Nda-Isaiah said the virtual tribute for the late media mogul would start at 12noon on Wednesday.
The Service of Songs will hold on Sunday, December 27, 2020 at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja at 3pm.
“He will be interred on Monday, December 28, 2020 at the Gudu Cemetery, Abuja at 10am in what would be an invitation-only ceremony,” Abraham said.
Sam Nda-Isaiah, who was a pharmacist, entrepreneur, media mogul and an astute politician. His passing has drawn an outpouring of grief across the country and abroad.
A statement from his family announcing the death penultimate Friday had said Sam Nda-Isaiah “was a family man, serial entrepreneur and visioner, passionate politician, and above all, a man of faith.”
Although he trained as a pharmacist, “Sam”, as he was fondly called, adopted journalism as his profession and earned a mark for himself having founded the LEADERSHIP Newspaper titles, National Economy and AYAU, the first daily Hausa newspaper.
He was also a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a political platform he contested for the presidential ticket in 2014.
The media mogul is survived by his aged mother, wife, children and siblings.
Man beheads friend over soup ingredients
A 27-year old Indian hemp farmer, Owalum Benedict Ochin, has been remanded to prison custody by Akure Magistrate’s Court for beheading his friend and roommate identified as Ekon.
Benedict was said to have committed the act after a brawl over ingredients to put in a soup.
He was also alleged to attack one Blessing Opor with a machete after beheading his friend.
Benedict said he hails from Calabar in but came to Ondo State in search of job and was introduced to Blessing Opor and others who cultivated Indian hemp.
The incident was said to have happened on November 29, 2020, at about 6:30pm at Jungle forest, Ipele, Owo local government area.
Both friends were said to be labourers who engaged to cultivate Indian hemp for drug lords at the forest reserve in Ipele.
They lived together after working in the farm.
Benedict however said he killed his friend during a fracas.
According to him, “I killed my friend, Ekon because he provoked me. We were cooking soup and he went to pluck a leaf he knew would upset my stomach and put it inside the soup.
The defendant reportedly told investigators that he used to have stomach upset anytime he consumed the leaf.
He said the both of them went for their cutlasses and began to fight with it which made them sustain injuries but he had the upper hand and was able to hack his friend all over his body, before he made the last stroke at the head.
Benedict said he packed the head inside one bag and hid it inside the bush so that his crime would not be discovered.
On why he attacked Blessing, Benedict said he was angry after killing his friend and remembered that Blessing owed him some money.
He said it was the alarm by Blessing that attracted others to the scene and he was arrested.
Benedict was arraigned on a two count charge of “murder and attempted murder”.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Uloh Goodluck, said the offences were contrary to sections 516, 316 and punishable under section 319(1) and 390(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.The plea of the defendant was not taken when the charge was read to him.
Blessing was said to fled from the Federal Medical Centre Owo where he was receiving treatment.
Presiding Magistrate, N.T. Aladejana, ordered that the defendant remanded in Ondo Correctional Centre pending the outcome of advice from the office of the Department of Public Prosecution.
The case was adjourned to January 21, 2021 for hearing.
COVID-19: Gov Tambuwal goes into Isolation
The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has gone into isolation after coming in contact with a person who tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus disease.
The Governor announced this via his Twitter account on Friday.
He further revealed that he had undergone a COVID-19 test.
He said the Deputy Governor will oversee all activities of the state pending the outcome of his test result.
“Gov Tambuwal goes into isolation after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
“The Deputy Gov will oversee all activities of the state pending the outcome of the test result of the Governor.
Recall that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, recently tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus disease.
Lai Mohammed assures Nigerians no school children will be kidnap again
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Friday promised that Federal Government will make sure there would be no future occurrence of kidnapping of school children.
At a press conference on Friday, Mohammed, however, said every country and government would experience insecurity at one point or another.
He explained that the students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, who were released by their abductors on Thursday evening will undergo necessary medical tests before they are released to their families.
“We also wish to thank the governments of Katsina and Zamfara states and indeed all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria.
“Let me be clear: What happened in Kankara – and in Chibok and Dapchi before it – is totally unacceptable. Our children should not have to go to school in trepidation.
“The Federal Government is doing everything possible to secure all our schools, and indeed all Nigerians. And we will not relent until all Nigerians can go to bed at night with their two eyes closed.”
The minister said the release of the school boys was a testament to the importance that the administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians.
“What stands any government out is the manner it responds to such challenges.
Kankara school boys marked the second of its kind under this administration, coming after the unfortunate abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018.“Just like the good news from Kankara, all but one of the kidnapped school girls in Dapchi were rescued unharmed. And in 2014, 276 school girls were abducted by terrorists in Chibok, Borno State, out of which 112 remain in captivity after this administration rescued over 100 of the school girls.
Mohammed noted that on the two occasions, government had moved with speed and determination and the results attest to this.
“Each time this has happened, we have always accepted responsibility, rather than being in denial,” he added.
Mohammed promised to continue to make efforts that will secure release of remaining students in captivity including Leah Sharibu and Chibok girl
National Identity Number: Nigerians Expose NIMC Officials Demanding Bribe, Harassing Enrollees
The NIMC officials and enrollment officers insisted that until the money was paid, enrollees would not be given the information data forms to fill.
According to a victim of the extortion, Mr Kingsley Unegbu, who went to enrol on Thursday, the NIMC needs to investigate the fraudulent acts and bring the officials to book.
Unegbu, who also wrote a petition to the NIMC authorities on the extortion, noted that he was disappointed that the enrollees would pay for forms marked, “free and not for sale.”
A copy of the petition obtained by SaharaReporters, reads, “The NIMC staff or enrolment officers were extorting and demanding the sum of N1000 from each enrollee before giving out the information data forms to fill. I resisted and refused to give any money to the enrollment staff after they issued me with the form.
“I was besieged with stiff resistance by the staff of NIMC who forcefully withdrew the form from me and pushed me out of the arena.
“The enrolment officer, who I could not identify his name, boldly came out and addressed us, saying that the money they were collecting from us are known to their bosses at the head office, and I cannot do anything about it.
“I am therefore calling on the management of NIMC to carry out a thorough investigation on this petition and bring all the culprits to book because this amounts to official gross misconduct and corrupt practices.”
Some officials of the National Identity Management Commission have been accused of harassing and demanding N1000 from enrollees who want to get the National Identity Number in the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the NIMC officials and enrollment officers insisted that until the money was paid, enrollees would not be given the information data forms to fill.
According to a victim of the extortion, Mr Kingsley Unegbu, who went to enrol on Thursday, the NIMC needs to investigate the fraudulent acts and bring the officials to book.
Unegbu, who also wrote a petition to the NIMC authorities on the extortion, noted that he was disappointed that the enrollees would pay for forms marked, “free and not for sale.”
A copy of the petition obtained by SaharaReporters, reads, “The NIMC staff or enrolment officers were extorting and demanding the sum of N1000 from each enrollee before giving out the information data forms to fill. I resisted and refused to give any money to the enrollment staff after they issued me with the form.
“I was besieged with stiff resistance by the staff of NIMC who forcefully withdrew the form from me and pushed me out of the arena.
“The enrolment officer, who I could not identify his name, boldly came out and addressed us, saying that the money they were collecting from us are known to their bosses at the head office, and I cannot do anything about it.
“I am therefore calling on the management of NIMC to carry out a thorough investigation on this petition and bring all the culprits to book because this amounts to official gross misconduct and corrupt practices.”
PDP Reps, call for Buhari’s impeachment
Doris Ferdinand
The House of Representatives’ caucus of the People’s Democratic Party PDP has promised to seek judicial answers to the statement made by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that the National Assembly lacks power to invite the President over security matters.
The Caucus argued that the AGF erred in law, as his statement “implies that the president who was elected under the provisions of the constitution which he swore to uphold is above the law”.
PDP spokes person in the House of Representatives, Rep Kingsley Chinda stated this while briefing news media at the national assembly complex, said in a presidential system of government and constitutional democracy, the National Assembly of legislature is the only arm of government entitled to classified information because of their Constitutional role, it is only in Nigeria that Mr. President prefers to liaise with his appointees instead of those elected by Nigerians to represent their interests.
The Caucus also reiterated its earlier call on Nigerians to urge their representatives in the National Assembly, to commence impeachment moves against President Muhammadu Buhari over the lingering insecurity in the country.
The Caucus however lamented that in less than 24 hours to the scheduled address over such weighty matters that involves lives of Nigerian citizens in the hands of bandits,he choose to stayed away for the fear of being embarrassed by PDP members,adding that Mr. President administration and the APC as a party continue to pretend as if they do not realise they are already an embarrassment to Nigeria and her citizens hence need not fear further embarrassment from imaginary sources.
Spike: FG, States Agree To Enforce Stricter Covid-19 Protocols
… As Lockdown May Become Last Option
By Williams Anuku Abuja
There are indications that the resurgence of Covid-19 is already sending shock waves across the country and the development may prompt the Federal and State governments to re-enforce stricter protocols in the coming days.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and state Governors came to this conclusion on Thursday at a virtually held National Economic Council meeting which lasted for several hours.
The entire participants, expressed alarm at the spike in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria hence decided to act on the strict enforcement of measures to contain the spread of the disease across the country.
A statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said the Council noted that it “is alarmed that the current trends are now approaching or surpassing the levels reached during the lockdown imposed at the height of the epidemic earlier in the year.”
He noted that NEC enlarged the membership of its Ad-Hoc Committee on COVID-19 and mandated it to urgently come up with additional measures to deal with the spike in cases.
According to Akande, NEC noted that “the country is now experiencing a huge resurgence of COVID-19 patients needing intensive care and the existing health facilities are fast becoming overwhelmed.”
The Committee chaired by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa with the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Anambra and the FCT Minister, has now been enlarged with the addition of the Governors of Ogun and Kaduna.
To this end, the Minister of Health has also joined the Committee, while the Federal Ministers of Information and Youth and Sports have also been asked to join.
Also, Health and Information Commissioners in the States would also now be co-opted into the assignment.
While charging the expanded committee, the Vice President asked the Committee to urgently develop innovative and new measures to curtail the spread of the disease, acting in the best interests of both the health and overall welfare of Nigerians.
“Today at its monthly meeting, the National Economic Council, NEC, received a briefing on the coronavirus disease pandemic in Nigeria and notes with serious concern the increasing number of cases in many States across the country.
“NEC is alarmed that the current trends are now approaching or surpassing the levels reached during the lockdown imposed at the height of the epidemic earlier in the year.
“The trends also show that more and more younger people are getting infected. While many of the young victims may be asymptomatic or recover without serious illness, they pass the virus to older and more vulnerable people, especially people with pre-existing health conditions, who develop serious illnesses and may easily lose their lives in the process.
“Sadly, the country is now experiencing a huge resurgence of COVID-19 patients needing intensive care and the existing health facilities are fast becoming overwhelmed.
“NEC notes that this increase is being accelerated by non-compliance with the non-pharmaceutical interventions advised by government, including the wearing of masks, limiting of gatherings, especially indoors and the washing/sanitization of hands.
“NEC, therefore, wishes to reemphasize the importance of these measures. Particularly as we approach the end of the year and the social gatherings associated with the holiday season, we must avoid activities or behavior that may aggravate the situation and necessitate another lockdown.
