Benue Govt Arrests, Whisks To Makurdi, Abuja Journalist

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May 1, 2021

Benue government has arrested and taken to Makurdi, Benue State capital, a senior journalist with Peoples Daily newspaper, Sunday Ode over an alleged offensive statement he issued on behalf of the Association of Igede Media. Professionals.
Ode, who is the President of the association, was picked up yesterday, May 1, on the order of Governor Samuel Ortom.
A statement today, May 1 by Egah Egiri for the association, said that Ode was arrested yesterday, April 30, at Karu by armed policemen and DSS operatives.
The association said that the security operatives said that they were acting at the behest of the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom.
“They told Odeh that the Governor wanted to see him in connection with his press statements.
“The Igede Media Professionals Association of which Mr. Odeh is President, has been critical of the way Dr. Ortom has handled security issues in Benue State, especially between the Bonta Tiv (where 12 soldiers were killed in cold blood) in Konshisha Local Government and Ukpute (the Igede) in Oju Local Government.
“Dr. Ortom had reportedly threatened to deal with Mr Sunday Odeh over the association’s criticism, adding that in his heyday, he would have since sent an assasination squad to take care of Sunday Egena Odeh.
“Mr Odeh shared this information with not a few confidants.
“He was arrested this evening with his cousin, Johnson Ubeh who was later released when Sunday Egena Odeh showed up.
“The fellows that arrested him said they were police and DSS personnel. They said they were taking him to Governor Ortom in Makurdi.
“We are worried that harm may befall Sunday Egena Odeh given the fury of the Governor and his self-professed/confessed past.
“As stated earlier, his arrest is not unconnected with the group’s views on the sloppy handling of the crisis between Bonta in Konshisha and Ukpute in Oju Local Governments area of Benue which snowballed into the killing of twelve soldiers.
“Please do all that is necessary to forestall any harm coming to Mr Sunday Egena Odeh.
“We wonder on whose order Mr Sunday Egena Odeh was arrested in the first place given the fact that the courts have been on strike!”

Actress Shyngle, Recently Divorced By Husband, Attempts Suicide; Lands In Hospital

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Editorial staff

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April 30, 2021

A controversial Gambian-born Ghanaian actress, Princess Shyngle, who recently divorced her husband because of domestic violence, attempted to take her life but was saved and now in a hospital in the United States.

The movie star recently announced that she was getting divorced from her husband, Gibou Bala Gaye, three months after their marriage.

According to her, she was leaving her husband over domestic violence allegation.

The actress had in 2018, attempted another suicide, was quoted as saying: “depression is real. I gat this,” in a video clip which has now been deleted off her Instagram insta story.

In 2018, the actress was rescued by a neighbour and rushed to a hospital in Lekki, Lagos, after taking an overdose of a medication. She reportedly also drank bleach.

Though in an Insta-story post back then, Princess Shyngle who debunked the suicide attempt report, stated that she had a nervous breakdown which landed her in the hospital.

She also admitted that she has been battling depression, as she thanked those who stood by her during her stay in the hospital.

She also shared receipts and audio recordings of her estranged husband confessing to domestically abusing her.

Source: The Nation/Agency.

Nigeria Drug Regulatory Body, NAFDAC, Approves Pfizer Vaccine For Covid19

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Editorial staff

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April 30, 2021

Nigeria’s drug regulatory body, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that it has approved the Pfizer Biotech Vaccine for emergency use authorization for COVID-19 in Nigeria.

The Director-General of the Agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who made this known today, April 30 in a live/zoom media briefing in Lagos, said: “We have approved Pfizer Biotech Vaccine for possible use in the country.

“Our COVID-19 vaccine team must carefully review it to make sure that the science behind it is well understood, and also in accordance with our own regulation.”

She said that the vaccine is approved based on different mechanisms known to the agency.

“We used different mechanisms to approve COVID-19 vaccine, and one of it is called reliance, meaning that a more matured regulatory agency across the globe has already approved such vaccine.

“We can use that as a basis for our own review by getting the assessment report, know the peculiarities and our COVID Vaccine Committee will then do their job.

“We also can go ahead to review, if the World Health Organisation (WHO) has given emergency use lifting, meaning they have done their job.

“For Pfizer biotech vaccine, both cases are through, because more matured agencies have approved the vaccine.

“The approval is not a full approval, it is within the period of getting people vaccinated and gathering of data about the adverse effect following immunisation,” she said.

Adeyeye said that data gathering on vaccine is not limited to NAFDAC, adding that the agency belonged to an organization called International Coalition of Medicine Regulatory Authorities( ICMRA).

“We belong to ICMRA, which is a global gathering of regulatory agencies across the country, where we share our experiences, like that of Oxford Astrazeneca Vaccine.”

NAFDAC director-general said that the agency’s COVID-19 Vaccine Committee has worked to ensure that post vaccination regulation is put in place.

“Our committee started their work to ensure all the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed to ensure that post vaccination regulatory activities such as pharmacology vigilance or safety monitoring is put in place.

“So, it is not just the vaccination alone, it is what happens after that.”

On the storage of the Pfizer Biotech Vaccine, Adeyeye said the country has what it took to store the vaccine effectively.

“We have the capability because the freezer temperature is now -30 degrees unlike when it was -80 to -60 degrees temperature. So, the storage is not an issue in Nigeria.”

The director-general also disclosed that the agency was reviewing the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine.

What Federal Capital Has Gained From University Of Abuja, Minister Narrates

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Editorial staff

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April 30, 2021

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has itemized some of the gains the capital city has made from the siting of a university at its backyard.

Receiving members of the Presidential Visitation Panel to the University who paid courtesy visit today, April 30 in his office, the minister said that the institution has been closely linked with the FCT Administration as well as the growth and development of the city.

According to the Minister, the presence of the University and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada had enhanced the growth and development of the Satellite town to the benefit of the host community.

He said that the University has also partnered with the Administration to solve specific matters such as the seismic issues regarding some rock formations in some parts of the FCT.

Malam Muhammad Musa Bello added that the University has contributed to the manpower development of the Administration as many of its staff have taken advantage of the proximity of the University to improve on their academic and professional qualifications.

The minister said that judging from the caliber and antecedents of the members of the Visitation Panel, he is confident that they will carry out a very good job of reviewing the situation in the university and guiding its administration properly in the management of the university.

He advised the Panel to ensure that town planning and development control regulations in the university are met and that they fit into the overall FCT Masterplan.

Earlier, Chairman of the Visitation Panel, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji said that the visitation exercise is a fact finding one as part of a statutory responsibility that happens every five years and a critical part of its assignment includes an objective examination of the affairs of the University.

He said that its terms of reference includes examining issues relating to governance, accountability, evaluation of the progress made in the university after the last visitation exercise as well as looking into the working relationship between the host community and the University.

Other members of the Panel present for the courtesy visit were Professor Ahmed Ali Yakassai, Dr Ibinag Oden Ewa, Col. Danladi N. Adamu (Rtd), Engr Abubakar A, Matazu and Arc Samuel Ikani who is the Secretary.

Presidency Describes Father Mbaka As Fake, Looking For Contracts

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Editorial staff

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April 30, 2021

The Presidency has described Father Ejike Mbaka as fake, in search of contracts from those he claimed to have supported to power.

A statement today, April 30 by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that Mbaka is claiming to be what he is not.

“An outsiders distilling the avalanche of verbiage, will be surprised that after supporting the President two times to win the Presidency, Father Mbaka has made a complete U-Turn, preposterously asking President Buhari to resign or be impeached.

“Here is the point of departure: Father Mbaka asked for a meeting and to the shock of Presidential Aides, he came accompanied by three contractors. The President graciously allowed them in, and to everyone’s surprise, Father Mbaka asked for contracts as compensation for his support.

“Anyone familiar with President Buhari knows that he doesn’t break the laid down rules in dealing with contracts or any other government business for that matter. He requested the appropriate authorities to deal with the matter in accordance with laid down rules.

Inside the Villa, discretion prevailed, that if those pictures and requests were made public, the followers will turn against the religious leader. None of it was released. Now, this is what is eating Father Mbaka.”

We’re Not In Any Financial Stress, NNPC Faults Media Report

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Editorial staff

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April 30, 2021

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has made it clear that it is not in any form of financial stress as reported in the media.

It explained that the revenue projection contained in the letter to the Accountant General of the Federation being cited in the media pertains only to the Federation revenue stream being managed by the Corporation and not a reflection of the overall financial performance of the Corporation.

A statement today, April 30 by the Corporation’s spokesman, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said that the clarification became necessary in the light of media reports insinuating that the Corporation is in financial straits.

NNPC maintained that it is conscious of its role and is doing everything possible to shore up revenues and support the Federation at all times.

“The shortfall will be remedied by the Corporation as it relates only to the Federation revenue stream being managed by the NNPC and does not reflect the overall financial performance of the Corporation. The NNPC remains in positive financial trajectory for the period in question.”

The Corporation pledged to continue to pursue and observe its cost optimization process with a view to maximizing remittances to the Federation Account.

It would be recalled that NNPC, in a letter to the Accountant General of the Federation entitled: Re: Impact of Hike in Crude Oil Prices on the Deregulated Downstream Sector: Projected Remittance to the Federation Account for April to June 2021, which was inappropriately shared by unscrupulous persons, had projected that it would deduct the sum of N112bn from Oil and Gas proceeds for the month of April 2021 to ensure continuous supply of petroleum products to the country and guarantee energy security.

This has fueled reports of impending revenue shortfalls with dire consequences for the various tiers of government.

NNPC, however, assured that it would continue to meet its financial obligations to the Federation.

Married Woman Lied To Husband Of Going To Funeral But Found Dead In Priest’s House

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Greenbarge Reporters

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April 30, 2021

A married woman (name withheld), who lied to her husband that she was going to a funeral was found dead in a Catholic priest’s house.
The woman is said to be a member of the Catholic Women’s league from St Maurice Catholic Church in Lusaka, Zambia.
It was learnt that the Church has suspended the Priest, Father Abel Mwelwa and also forced him to pay for the funeral expenses of the deceased.
Father Abel Mwelwa was said to have invited the married woman to the parish house on the night of Holy Thursday. Archbishop Alick Banda eventually suspended the clergyman as the judicial vicar of the Archdiocese of Lusaka moments after the occurrence became public.
Father Mwelwa had ceased being the parish priest of Kaunda Square parish. An official memo from the church also stated.
“I hereby wish to inform you that I have with immediate effect suspended the Rev. Ringford Abel Mwelwa from the priesthood indefinitely. With this suspension, he ceases to be Parish Priest for Kaunda Square Parish. “Secondly, the priest also ceases to be the Judicial Vicar of the Archbishop of Lusaka.” A part of the memo read.
An unconfirmed source, however, said that the priest reportedly injected some substance into the deceased in an attempt to abort her pregnancy .
The deceased’s family has asked the clergyman to pay for the funeral expenses.
The woman’s family called on the police to investigate the real cause of her death.

Boko Haram Leader, Shekau, Kills His War Commander For Betrayal

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Editorial staff

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April 29, 2021

Factional leader of the outlawed Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has personally killed his war commander Abu Fatimah, accusing him of betrayal.

Information had it that Shekau has quickly appointed Abu Muhammad to replace the slain Commander of War.
It was gathered that two other senior Commanders were also eliminated by Shekau last week..
source: PRNigeria

No Nigerian Airport Is Under Security Threat, National Security Adviser Assures

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Editorial staff

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April 29, 2021

The Office of the National Security Adviser has assured aviation stakeholders that no Nigerian airport is under any security threat.

The Officer explained that reports of a threat on the nation’s airports by some media in the country were not true because they got it from routine internal government correspondence, which is “a routine threat assessment to ensure preparedness of agencies and not meant for public dissemination.

A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication of the Security Adviser, Z.M Usman, said that in the period covered by the correspondence, threat analysis identified the need to advise Airports Management nationwide to upgrade existing security measures around the nation’s airports.

“Regrettably, the unauthorized release of this advisory is likely to raise fear among airport users at home and abroad.

“Accordingly, this statement is issued to reassure the public and all aviation stakeholders of the safety of our airports. The security and intelligence services will continue to monitor security threats and provide the assessment and timely advise required by Airports Managements to continuously upgrade security measures in the airports.

Reno Omokri describes Father Mbaka As Author Of Confusion, Calls For His Removal

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Editorial staff

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April 29, 2021

An aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has described the Catholic Priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Father Ejike Mbaka as “author of confusion” and asked the Catholic Church to “defrock” him.

In a string of tweets today, April 29 reacting to Mbaka’s latest attack on Buhari and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Omokri wrote, “Father Mbaka is an author of confusion. Today, he is calling on General Muhammadu Buhari to “resign or be impeached”. In 2015, he told Nigerians that God told him Buhari was Nigeria’s saviour. If the Catholic Church doesn’t defrock this man, he will rubbish their name.

“A man of God should not speak from both sides of the mouth. How could God have told Mbaka that Buhari is the saviour in 2015, and now God is telling him another thing in 2021? This same man falsely accused then President Jonathan of attempting to assassinate him!”

Mbaka had earlier blessed the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, for championing the cause of his people and said God had asked him to withdraw his support for the President, Muhammadu Buhari and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and to prophesy against them.

The fiery priest had also caused controversy last year when he prophesied that then Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, would be removed by the Supreme Court and Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress would be made governor.

Mbaka had also prophesied that Buhari would defeat Jonathan and become President in 2015 and continued to support him at various times.

Only last week, Mbaka said that Buhari government had failed to protect lives in the country, describing the situation as devastating.

Source: Punch