Crocodiles Devour Pastor Who Tried To Replicate Jesus By Walking On Water

May 13, 2017

A pastor whose name was given as Jonathan Mthethwa, was reportedly devoured and eaten up by three crocodiles when he tried to replicate Jesus Christ by walking on the crocodile infested river

The pastor, who was with the Saint of the Last Days Church, a local church in White River Mpumalanga, Zimbabwe, was said to have died today, Saturday morning, trying to demonstrate the biblical miracle to his congregants.

According to The Herald Zimbabwe, he drowned into the Crocodile River and was seen by his church members getting eaten by three crocodiles.

Deacon Nkosi, a member of the church, told the newspaper: “The pastor taught us about faith on Sunday last week. He promised he would demonstrate his faith to us today, but he unfortunately ended up drowning and getting eaten by three large crocodiles in front of us.

“We still don’t understand how this happened because he fasted and prayed the whole week.”

Pastor Mthethwa was said to have walked into the water and when he was 30 meters inside the river, attempted to ascend above the water so he can start walking, but the three crocodiles appeared from nowhere and started feasting on him.

Deacon Nkosi added: “they finished him in a couple of minutes. All that was left of him when they finished eating him is a pair of sandals and his underwear floating above the water.”

The country’s emergency agency, ER24 responded to the scene 30 minutes after, but upon arrival, there was not much they could do as the pastor was already dead. [myad]

Tertiary Education Trust Fund Boss Identifies Factors Hindering Smooth Administration Of Funds

Greenbarge Reporters

May 13, 2017

Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa has identified factors that have been hindering the smooth administration of the Fund to the nation’s universities and other higher institutions.

Dr. Baffa, who spoke to news men in Abuja today, Saturday, said that non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act of 2007, lack of knowledge of TETFund Intervention Guidelines and wrong Priorities by Benefiting Institutions are some of the negative factors.

He also identified common issues impeding access to the intervention funds by benefiting institutions to include undue delay of payment to contractors by some beneficiaries after receipt of first tranche of money from TETFund; refusal by some contractors to mobilize to site after receiving mobilization fees and; a general lack of information by the beneficiary institutions on how to effectively draw down this intervention, while most institutions do not have a Collection Development Policy (CDP) to guide their procurement of library holdings.

According to the TETFund boss, while it was observed that some of the scholars in the institutions were oblivious of the existence of this intervention thereby leading to poor access, many of the institutions had not fully accessed the intervention because of challenges of staffing, especially the newly established Universities.

He added that most times, proposals are submitted after the timeline which leads to the Conference being belated and therefore not approved.

He said also that about 98 percent of the benefiting institutions do not understand the utilization of the intervention and therefore could not access it, while scholars in some of the institutions on the receipt of funds for their Masters or Ph.D. studies overseas simply misappropriated the funds without going for further studies or, in collaboration with their institutions changed their countries of study without the approval of TETFund.

Dr. Baffa said that despite such negative factors, he is determined to continue to improve the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria and to make them globally competitive through execution of its mandates.

He said that, the Fund has resolved to place premium on regular and effective monitoring of projects embarked upon by the beneficiaries and ensure that there is accountability and value for money.

He noted that both the Access Clinic and Project proposal Defense, which held from 6^th March-26^th April 2017, afforded the Fund the opportunity to appreciate the challenges facing the institutions in implementing its interventions and to re-examine its processes with a view to re-focusing them for efficient and effective service delivery.
Dr. Baffa said that TETFund had also decided to institutionalize the Access Clinic and Project Proposal Defense as a yearly event in order to reduce to the barest minimum the challenges faced by the institutions in accessing their interventions. [myad]

UK Medical Practitioners Tribunal Bans Nigerian Surgeon From Practice For Misconduct

Greenbarge Reporters

May 13, 2017

The United Kingdom Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), a disciplinary panel, has found a Nigerian born senior surgeon practicing in that country, 59 year old Dr. Lawal Haruna guilty of professional misconduct and has banned him from treating patients.

Dr. Lawal was found to have accidentally removed a woman’s ovary instead of her appendix in addition to botched up three operations over the course of two years. He reportedly removed the woman’s ovary because, he said, the appendix and fallopian tubes were similar ‘worm-like structures’ in the same area.

The woman who was simply referred to as Patient B, was treated by the Doctor when she was admitted for abdominal pain while he was working for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

The panel found out that during the operation, one of the woman’s ovaries was removed leaving her appendix – which was causing her great pain – in situ.

The tribunal heard how it was lucky she was not of child-bearing age as it could have affected her fertility.

Dr. Lawal Haruna botched up two further operations mistaking a lump of fat for an appendix in one case and a skin tag for a harmful lump in another.

Colleagues described the operations as poorly executed and ‘never events,’ even as Dr. Lawan Haruna who claimed to have 25 years experience, later dismissed the incidents as ‘trifling errors.’

He argued that the appendix and fallopian tubes were similar ‘worm-like structures which lie in a similar area.

The surgeon, who represented himself, told the Manchester hearing that he had ‘poor vision’ at the time he carried out the surgery, protested that it would be ‘harsh’ to strike him off. [myad]

Nigeria At Red Alert As Ebola Surfaces In Congo

Greenbarge Reporters

May 13, 2017

With the announcement yesterday, Friday, by the World Health Organization (WHO), of the fresh outbreak of deadly Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria has risen to increase surveillance at all the entry points, especially, airport, from other countries.

The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced, in reaction to the development, that adequate surveillance has been beefed up at the nation’s airports.

The airport authority’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, said today, Saturday that though there is no direct flight from Congo to Nigeria but that all the preventive measures are being put in place at the airports to stem any possibility of reoccurrence in Nigeria.

She said that the Port Health officials are also at alert at all airports, and that the authority has also informed them of the need to increase surveillance.

“We don’t have direct flights from Congo; we only have from Rwanda but I want to assure members of the public that we still have all preventive measures in place at our airports.

“There are sanitizers at our arrivals with the scanning apparatus called Thermal scanners being installed by the Port Health Services.

“The scanners have camera monitors that display pictures aside the capturing of temperature. “Passengers still fill that form to ensure that everybody arriving in the country through our airports is not potential carriers of deadly diseases.

“The port health officials are always at alert and we will also inform them of the need to increase their surveillance. So, there is no cause for alarm.”

Nigeria experienced the Ebola virus in July, 2014 when a Liberian American, Patrick Sawyer, who had the disease flew from Liberia to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and died five days later.

In response, the Federal Government observed all of Sawyer’s contacts for signs of infection and increased surveillance at all entry points to the country. Nigeria was able to curtail the disease and was subsequently declared Ebola free by WHO.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, saying that at least one person had been confirmed dead due to the virus in the country’s north-east. [myad]

Federal Govt Moves Against Fake, Unregistered Companies: Issues Directive To MDAs

Greenbarge Reporters

May 13, 2017

The Federal Government has issued directives to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to stop transacting business with companies and other corporate bodies that are not duly registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

A circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said that the directive is aimed at protecting MDAs from entering contractual obligations with fake or unregistered companies, even as the Minister of Finance warned that payments for contracts by companies that do not comply with the requirements may not be considered.

A statement from the Director of information in the Ministry of Finance, Malam Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, said that for companies and other corporate bodies to qualify for business transactions with MDAs, their letterhead must bear the registration number as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission with contact telephone numbers, valid e-mail address and official company address as well as the names and nationalities of directors of the company at the bottom of the letter heading. [myad]

WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak In Congo, Kills One

Greenbarge Reporters

May 12, 2017

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least one person has died after contracting the virus in the country’s north-east, the WHO says.

The Congolese health ministry had notified the WHO of a “lab-confirmed case” of Ebola, it added on Twitter.

More than 11,000 people died in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2015, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The last outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo was in 2014 and killed more than 40 people.

Of the nine people suspected to have contracted the deadly virus, three died, with one case of Ebola confirmed through tests at the national laboratory in the capital Kinshasa, WHO Congo representative Allarangar Yokouide said in a statement.

People began to get sick on or after 22 April in Bas-Uele province in the country’s far north, he added.

The region affected lies 1,300km (800 miles) north-east of Kinshasa, close to the border with the Central African Republic.

“It is in a very remote zone, very forested, so we are a little lucky. But we always take this very seriously,” WHO Congo spokesman Eric Kabambi told Reuters news agency.

The WHO described the outbreak as “a public health crisis of international importance”.

It said the first teams of experts, including epidemiologists, biologists and hygiene specialists had been dispatched and were due to arrive in the affected region by Friday or Saturday.

While this outbreak will be extremely worrying for communities in this remote part of northern DR Congo, it is important to remember that the country has stamped out more Ebola outbreaks than any other place on earth. It is well practiced in fighting the deadly virus.

Ebola was first identified in DR Congo (then Zaire) in 1976. Since then, there have been at least nine outbreaks in the country. The last was in 2014, when – at the same time – parts of West Africa were fighting a separate outbreak, the worst in history.

DR Congo was able to bring an end to its epidemic within four months. In West Africa, which had never experienced an Ebola outbreak before, it took two years.

Authorities in the DR Congo will need to act quickly to contain the virus, and ensure it doesn’t spread to more populated areas.

This time, for the first time, health officials have another weapon they can use. The world has an experimental vaccine that could be deployed if needed. [myad]

IBB Collects N500,000 And 10 Cows From Man Who Marries His Daughter, Halimat

Greenbarge Reporters

May 12, 2017

Former Nigerian military President, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, today, Friday, gave his daughter, Halimat, in marriage to a Gombe traditional ruler, Alhaji Auwal Abdullahi, from whom he collected N500,000 and 10 cows as part of the bride price.

The groom is the Sarkin Sudan of Gombe, in Gombe state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gen. Garba Wushishi performed the symbolic ceremony of handing over Halimat in marriage to Abdullahi whereas Governor Ibrahim Dankwanbo of Gombe state received the bride on behalf of the groom, who hails from the state.

Sheik Kabiru Gombe offered special prayer for the couple, stressing the significance of marriage in Islam and called on the bride to submissive and loyal to her husband.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, including his wife, Patience led the galaxy of big political and military figures that graced the occasion..

APC National Leader Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai; Mrs. Aikhomu, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, ex-governor Babangida Aliyu were among the many personalities who witnessed the short ceremony at the Hilltop home of the retired military General in Minna, the Niger State capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Minna that among the guests were former vice-president, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, PDP factional Chairman, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, former Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi, former governor of Zamafara state.

Others were Isa Yuguda, former governor of Bauchi state, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa, Ibrahim Shema, former Gov. of Katsina, Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, former Gov. of Kebbi.

Others in attendance were Sen. Pius Anyim Pius, former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Justice Idris Kutigi, former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, also a former SGF, Gen. Magoro, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Ben Bruce, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Haruna, Chairman IBB Golf Club, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura,

Also prominent among the guests at the ceremony were businessman, Aliko Dangote and Mr. Mark Snoxell, Managing Director, Dornier Aircraft.

General Aliyu Gusau, who served several times as National Security Adviser (NSA), Dr. Okwezili Nwodo, former PDP National Secretary, Alhaji Modibo, former FCT Minister, Oba Hamid Adekunle, Oluwo Kuta, also came.

Others were Air Marshall Hamza Abdullahi, Gen Garba Duba, Sen Aliyu Wamakko ,Sen Yarima Abdullahi, Sen Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sen Nuhu Aliyu, who was also a former police DIG.

NAN. [myad]

We’ve Valid Court Order To Detain Ifeanyi Ubah For 14 Days, Secret Police Insists

Greenbarge Reporters

May 12, 2017

Nigerian secret police in the Department of States Services (DSS) has insisted that it had secured a court order giving it authority to detain the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, in its custody for at least 14 days.

The DSS counsel, Peter Oluremodu, who appeared before Justice Idris today, Friday, at the Federal High Court in Lagos with a notice of objection to the order to produce Ubah in court, said Ubah was being detained on the orders of Justice Y. Haliru of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The lawyer said the order was lawfully obtained in compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Ubah’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, urged Justice Idris to hold that the DSS violated his order by not producing Ubah.

Ubah had described his arrest as an attempt to blackmail him.

The oil magnate said that the claim by the DSS that he was involved in theft of petrol kept by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in his tank farm in Lagos was wrong accusation.

DSS last Friday, picked up Ubah over his connection with the missing petroleum product, valued at over N11bn.

It said that Ubah’s action amounted to economic sabotage, with “capacity to negatively impact on national economy.” [myad]

Reps Member Laments: N125 Billion Budget For National Assembly Is Inadequate

Greenbarge Reporters

May 12, 2017

A member of the House of Representatives, Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP), has lamented that the N125 billion appropriated for the National Assembly is not adequate to carry out its functions effectively and efficiently.

Ossai, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today, Friday in Abuja, insisted that the legislators need more funds to discharge their duties.

The National Assembly had, on yesterday, Thursday published its 2017 budget of N125 billion, which was higher than the N115 billion approved in 2016.

Ossai, however, said that the additional N10 billion inserted in the budget would strengthen oversight functions by members of the National Assembly.

“This is necessary so that Nigerians will have the impact and value creation of what has been budgeted.

“Nigerians are not looking at that, we are looking at the National Assembly as 360 members of House of Representatives and 109 Senators; calculate it with the money that has been budgeted without looking at other aspects.

“We are not looking at other agencies under the National Assembly like the Public Complaints Commission, National Institute for Legislative Studies, the National Assembly Service Commission and supporting staff.

“The committees are carrying out national functions in line with Section 88 of the Constitution to expose corruption.

“That committees not only expose corruption, but block leakages; definitely, we need a lot of money to address these issues.

“To the best of my knowledge, that money is not enough to address the issues of carrying out the national functions of the national assembly,” Ossai claimed.

Meanwhile, a legislative aide told NAN on ground of anonymity that they were being owed Duty Travel Allowance (DTA) amounting to N1.3 billion.

“We have been owed since 2015 and the management informed us that the allowance was not captured in the 2016 budget.

“With this development, we are aware of what is appropriated for legislative aides in the 2017 budget, we are now sure the money is there and there will be no room for excuses anymore.

“The DTA for an individual is N75, 000 and about 3, 000 aides are being owed.”

A breakdown of the 2017 estimates shows that N23.7 billion would go to personnel cost, N85.8 billion for overhead and N14. 9 billion to finance capital projects.

The National Assembly Management has N14.9 billion with the Senate taking N31.3 billion and the House of Representatives N49 billion, while the National Assembly Service Commission gets N2.4 billion.

The budget provides N9.6 billion for legislative aides, while the Senate Public Accounts Committee takes N118.9 million and that of Reps N142.7 million.

N12.5 billion has been earmarked for general services, N4.3 billion for the National Assembly Legislative Institute and N391.3 million was earmarked for service wide vote. [myad]

357 Prisoners To Sit For Exams Into Higher Educational Institutions

Greenbarge Reporters

May 12, 2017

No fewer than 357 prison inmates in Nigeria are set to participate in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scheduled for tomorrow, May 13.

Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyedeboard, who addressed newsmen today, Friday in Abuja said that a total number of 1.7 candidates are expected to sit for the examinations..

Professor Oloyede advised candidates to ignore rumors that the examination has been postponed, even as he asked candidates to go to their respective centres for the examination.

The registrar said that the examinations would still hold as scheduled except for those that have Seven Days Adventist service.

He also advised UTME candidates to always check their e-mails for further updates, noting that some candidates are fond of giving out their passwords and e-mail addresses to strangers in spite of several warnings from the board.

“Candidates should be aware of fraudsters who hide under cyber cafe operators to defraud innocent children.

“We have caught some of them while mischievously collecting money from candidates with the help of some security officers.” [myad]

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