Flowerbud News

Month: February 2024

  • Lion Kills University Staff in OAU

    Lion Kills University Staff in OAU

     

    By Iyiola Olalere

    Ile-Ife (Flowerbudnews): A staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Olabode Olawuyi has been mauled to death by a lion in the University’s zoological garden.

    The untimely death of Olawuyi occurred when he was attacked on Monday afternoon by a 9 – year old male lion when he was feeding them in their den at the Zoological garden of the University.

    A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that Mr Olawuyi, a Veterinary Technologist, had been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade.

    The management, staff, students and the entire campus have been thrown into mourning following the untimely death of Mr. Olabode Olawuyi.

    The other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities.

    On hearing the sad news, the management team, led by the Vice Chancellor, abruptly ended an on going meeting for an on the spot assessment

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, was informed, on arrival, by the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.

    Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive Lion has been neutralised.

    Mr Olawuyi has been taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about 9 years ago but, tragically, the male Lion killed the man who had been feeding them.

    The University management has sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life.

    Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Breaking: Lion attacks, kills OAU zoo keeper

    Breaking: Lion attacks, kills OAU zoo keeper

    A staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Olabode Olawuyi was on Monday attacked and killed by a lion he was feeding.

     

    Olabode, who works in the zoological department and was in charge of the Lion was said to be feeding it when he was attacked by the wild cat.

     

    Efforts to rescue the man from the Lion by other staff in the department proved abortive which eventually led to Olabode’s death.

     

    Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the school, Abiodun Olarewaju said the deceased was attacked while feeding the nine-year-old lion in its den.

     

    He said the news of the incident threw the University community into mourning as the management ended its meeting abruptly on hearing of the sad incident, saying the wild cat had been euthanized.

     

    It reads, “Mr Olabode Olawuyi, a Veterinary Technologist, who has been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade, was attacked this afternoon, Monday, 19th February 2024, by a 9-year-old male lion when he was feeding them in their den at the Zoological garden of the University.

     

    “The other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities.

     

    “On hearing the sad news, the management team, led by the Vice Chancellor, abruptly ended an ongoing meeting for an on-the-spot assessment.

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, was informed, on arrival, by the Acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.

     

    Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive lion has been euthanized.

     

    “Mr Olawuyi has been taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about 9 years ago but, tragically, the male Lion killed the man who had been feeding them.

     

    “The University management has sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life.

     

    “Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.”

     

     

     

     

  • FG to PDP Governors: It’s time to do the work you were elected for

    FG to PDP Governors: It’s time to do the work you were elected for

     

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, notes the statement by the PDP Governors Forum, directing a call for resignation at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

    The call is nothing but an attempt at distraction by people who should instead be busy supporting the President’s efforts at bringing economic relief to the Nigerian people.

    It is our considered view that the PDP and its Governors should not be seeking, through the back door of intimidation, what they have consistently failed to achieve by democratic means, since 2015,”Rabiu Ibrahim,
    Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation disclosed in a statement.

    Those who could not bring transformational change when they had a lengthy chance to, should not seek to interrupt or distract those who are busy at work on the presidential vision that Nigerians elected them to implement.

    The administration of President Bola Tinubu has also, since inception, generously extended financial support to all the State Governments, regardless of partisan affiliation. In addition, the removal of the petrol subsidy—which, incidentally, was one of the main planks of the PDP presidential campaign—has swelled the revenues of all States, including the PDP States. To whom more has been given, more is therefore expected.

    The President and his administration recognise the unfinished business of revamping our national economy kickstarted by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through programmes focused on large-scale infrastructure, social welfare, prioritizing the equipping and welfare of the military and security agencies, and reclaiming Nigeria’s strategic place in the comity of nations. Boko Haram and its affiliates, on the ascendancy in 2014/2015, have since been decimated, and similar bold gains are now being made with bandits and other criminals.

    Nigerians have not forgotten that it was the APC administration that cleared several liabilities left behind by the PDP government, such as subsidy claims by oil marketers, Paris Club Refunds, unpaid pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears owed various categories of pensioners from liquidated and existing State-Owned Enterprises.

    Major oil sector reforms that the PDP touted for years but could not deliver – passage of the PIB, new refineries, as well as the revamp of existing ones, and so on – are the very real and continuing legacies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    All of these have been accomplished without access to the oil windfall that the PDP government enjoyed for much of the time that it was in power, and also against the backdrop of the most devastating global shock since the Second World War: the COVID-19 pandemic.

    We must continue to state these facts so Nigerians will know where we are coming from, and appreciate what is being done in its full context.

    President Tinubu is not and will never be overwhelmed by the current challenges the country is facing. He will not abdicate his responsibilities. He will courageously continue to wrestle with the challenges and surmount them, laying a durable foundation for the new Nigeria that is emerging.

    He has also never shied away from acknowledging the pain of ongoing reforms, and has seized every opportunity to assure Nigerians that inside the pain of the reforms lie the seeds of lasting prosperity and national development.

    To the PDP Governors, let us reiterate: This is not the time for distraction. It is time instead for the rolling up of sleeves, to support and complement the hard work of the President and his administration. (Flowerbudnew

  • UPDATE: Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release their seized items

    UPDATE: Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release their seized items

     

    Flowerbudnews

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, discharged Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare of alleged treasonable felony preferred against them by the Attorney-General.of the Federation (AGF), Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

     

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling after counsel for the AGF, A.R. Tahir, withdrew the charge, struck out the matter.

     

    “In view of the application made by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, this charge, between Federal Republic of Nigeria and Omoyele Sowore and another, is hereby struck out and the defendants discharged,” he declared.

     

    Justice Nwite also ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to immediately release three phones and the sum of N10, 000 seized from Sowore during his arrest.

     

    The judge equally ordered the DSS to release a phone belonging to Bakare and the sum of N1, 500 confiscated from him on his arrest.

     

    Justice Nwite further ordered that Sowore’s international passport be released to him forthwith.

     

    The orders followed an application by lawyer to Sowore and Bakare, Mr Femi Falana, SAN.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sowore and Bakare (1st and 3nd defendants) were earlier arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in 2019 before the matter was reassigned to Nwite after Ojukwu was transferred to another jurisdiction.

     

    The Federal Government had dragged them to court on allegations of treason and attempts to overthrow former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

     

    When the matter was called, Tahir, an Assistant Chief State Counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, informed the court that she had a notice of discontinuance of the case dated Feb. 14 but filed Feb. 15 before the court.

     

    Tahir, said the application was filed pursuant to the powers conferred on the AGF in Section 174(1), Paragraph C of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 107(1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

     

    “We intend to discontinue the charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019 against the 1st and 2nd defendants,” she said

     

    The lawyer, who said that presently, hearing in the matter was yet to commence, urged the court to strike out the charge.

     

    But lawyer to Sowore and Bakare, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, disagreed with Tahir’s submission.

     

    Falana, who argued that contrary to her submission, the matter had been partly heard, prayed the court to dismiss the case.

     

    The senior lawyer reminded that before the matter was reassigned to Justice Nwite, the 1st prosecution witness had been taken before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.

     

    “My learner friend did not remember then. it was Mr Hassan Liman that was prosecuting the matter.

     

    “To that extent, the matter ought to be dismissed,” he added.

     

    Falana, however, commended the AGF and Minister if Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for taken the bold step.

     

    “I wish to appreciate the position of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbermi, SAN, for taken a hint from this honourable court because the court said in the last adjournment that this matter would be dismissed, even if heaven will fall.

     

    “Finally, we are compel to profess our sincere gratitude to this honourable court for the threat to have this matter dismissed for want of diligent prosecution,” he said.

     

    He said though he would not be asking for a cost on behalf of the defendants who had been standing trial since 2019, he, however, urged the court to make an order compelling the DSS to return Sowore’s three phones and the sum of N10, 000 seized from him during his arrest.

     

    Falana also prayed the court to order the DSS to release a phone belonging to Bakare and the sum of N1, 500 seized from him during arrest.

     

    The lawyer equally urged the court to make an order for the release of Sowore’s travel documents and the title deeds submitted to the court as conditions for his bail.

     

    Tahir, however, opposed Falana’s application for court to dismiss the case.

     

    She argued that it was in the court record that the matter started denovo (afresh) after it was reassigned.

     

    “My lord, the learner silk pointed out that there was a counsel handling the matter but it was not within my knowledge to confirm that,” she said

     

    She insisted that since the charge had not commenced before the court, the proper thing to do is for the charge to be struck out

     

    Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite aligned with Tahir that the matter started afresh before him after reassignment.

     

    He held that in any criminal proceeding, the AGF had the power to discontinue a matter, even where a suspect had been committed to prison or was on bail.

     

    “Without much ado, the provision of ACJA is clear and unambiguous,” he said, while striking out the charge.

     

    NAN reports that the judge had, on Feb. 14, threatened to strike out the charge for lack of diligent prosecution.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

  • Tinubu Meets Brazilian Pres. Lula, Discusses Establishment of Direct Flights

    Tinubu Meets Brazilian Pres. Lula, Discusses Establishment of Direct Flights

     

    By Biola Lawal

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, on the sidelines of AU Summit in Addis Ababa.

    This was announced by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Strategy and Information on his official Twitter handle.

    Onanuga said that both leaders discussed trade and cultural relations, agriculture and establishing direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil. (Flowerbudnews)

     

  • Solidarity visit: Odumegwu lauds Ugwuanyi’s magnanimity, commitment on healthcare

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Former Governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has been commended for his magnanimous heart and commitment in rendering free healthcare services to the people.

     

    Ugwuanyi received the commendation during a solidarity visit by his former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Special Duties, Dr Ejikeme Odumegwu, on Sunday in Enugu.

     

    Recall that Ugwuanyi during his tenure as governor of the state built modern hospitals in all the 17 local government areas considering health as a priority which till today his benevolence is still felt in free healthcare services to the masses.

     

    Odumegwu, popularly known as Owelle, who led his community members to see the immediate past governor, said that the visit was to express his gratitude over a good relationship he enjoyed with him as a Master during his governance.

     

    He said that apart from working under him as a Senior Special Assistant, he benefited from him as a youth during his 12 years in the National Assembly.

    He lauded Ugwuanyi for his love in saving lives, saying, ” Ugwuanyi established modern Hospitals and healthcare Centers in all the 17 Local Government Areas of the state as a Governor.

     

    According to him, as a philanthropist, Ugwuanyi has been giving free healthcare assistance to downtrodden and that’s exactly what other well meaning Individuals should emulate to save lives.

     

    “My visit to him today was to thank him, because I served as a Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties all through his eight years as the governor of Enugu State.

     

    “Beside the relationship, Ugwuanyi is somebody I knew as a youth-friendly Governor and has maintained it till today,” he said.

     

    He noted that the former governor served as a legislator in the Federal House of Representatives of my constituency for 12 years and was doing well to the youths particularly to myself.

     

    “Based on family discipline, it seemed very necessary to go and say Thank You and Happy New Year to him as my master,” he said.

    Responding, Ugwuanyi appreciated the visit by his former aide, while urging him to keep it up.

    He advised Odumegwu to continue living up to the expectations of his people, praying that the good Lord would continue to bless and prosper him. (Flowerbudnews

  • Court to hear Fubara’s chief of staff’s motion against arrest warrant on Monday

    Court to hear Fubara’s chief of staff’s motion against arrest warrant on Monday

    Flowerbudnews

    A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Monday for the hearing of motions on notice filed by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, seeking an order vacating its earlier arrest warrant order against him and others.

    Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after counsel for Ehie and five others, Femi Falana, SAN, and Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, filed separate applications to the effect

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Falana filed a motion seeking an order to set aside the Jan. 31 order made by Justice Nwite, Aladedoye filed an application for a stay of execution of the arrest order.

    NAN reports that the judge had, on Jan. 31, issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Ehie over his alleged involvement in the burning of part of the state’s House of Assembly on Oct. 29, 2023.

    Justice Nwite, who gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by counsel for Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Simon Lough, SAN, also ordered the arrest of five other accomplices.

    Those ordered to be arrested along with Ehie are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benneth, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.

    The court granted the ex-parte application as canvassed by Lough on the grounds that the six defendants had been at large to stand their trial in a seven-count preferred against five other suspected arsonists currently being prosecuted before a sister court.

    The I-G had, in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, arraigned Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37; Prince Lukman Oladele, 47; Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, 40; Osiga Donald, 42; and Ochueja Thankgod , 35, before a sister court presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon on Jan. 25 in Abuja.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.

    The I-G, who arraigned them on a seven-count criminal charge bordering on terrorism and murder, declared Ehie and five others, said to be at large, wanted.

    Ehie, who was recently appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional speaker of the assembly, was alleged to be among the suspects being charged by the I-G.

    His resignation was said to be part of the agreements reached in the bid to reconcile Fubara and former Governor, Nyesom Wike, now the FCT Minister.

    But in a motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/112/2024 dated Feb. 2 and filed Feb. 7 by Falana, Ehie and others sought two orders, including “an order setting aside the order made on the 31st January, 2024 for want of jurisdiction.

    “An order of this honourable court staying the execution of the order made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of this application.”

    Giving six grounds of argument, Falana argued that the I-G (complainant/respondent) had not filed any criminal charge or motion before the court.

    The senior lawyer argued that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the ex-parte application as the alleged offences of conspiracy, attempted murder, murder and arson took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

    “He submitted that the court lacked the vires to grant an application to arrest and declare his clients wanted in respect of the alleged offences.

    “The complainant/respondent (I-G) did not adduce evidence of terrorism in the affidavit in support of the application.

    “The complainant/respondent did not cite any section of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013 (as amended) alleged to have been contravened by the applicants,” he argued.

    Also, Aladedoye in a motion on notice dated and filed Feb. 9, sought two orders, including “an order staying execution or further execution of the order(s) of this honourable court made on the 31st of January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicants.

    “An order of injunction restraining the complainant from carrying out or further carrying out the orders of this honourable court made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicant in this case.”

    Giving three-ground argument, Aladedoye said that a notice of appeal had already been filed against Justice Nwite’s orders.

    According to the senior lawyer, the notice of appeal contains grounds which challenge the jurisdiction of this honourable court.

    He argued that their appeal would be rendered nugatory if their application was not granted.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

  • NAFDAC, PCN Warn Manufacturers Against Supplying Medicines to Sabon Gari Market, Kano 

    NAFDAC, PCN Warn Manufacturers Against Supplying Medicines to Sabon Gari Market, Kano 

     

     

    By Biola Lawal
    Abuja (Flowerbudnews):. NÀFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) have
    warned pharmaceutical products manufacturers etc to stop supplying regulated products to companies etc in Niger Street and Sabon Gari market in Kano.

    The warning was given in a joint statement issued on Sunday, and titled: Urgent Call to Action- Manufacturers and importers Urged to Cease Supplying medicines to Niger Street and Sabon Gari market in Kano

    The two organisations warned manufacturers, importers, company representatives and all distributors that ”any company found contravening the warning ”risks losing site licence as well as the product licence”.

    ” From this very moment, (Companies must) cease supplying pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other regulated medical products to facilities or companies in Niger Street, Sabon Gari or elsewhere outside the coordinated wholesale centre in Dangwauro”, NÀFDAC and PCN warned.

    They stated that all pharmaceutical supplies must, henceforth be made at the coordinated wholesale centre in Dangwauro,, Kano state.

    NÀFDAC and PCN recalled judgement delivered by the court of Appeal ordering Kano Medicine Dealers to vacate Niger Street/Sabon Hari market and to relocate to the coordinated wholesale centre in Dangwauro, Kano.

    The measure was designed to ensure good distribution of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and thereby, help to prevent the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines, the two organisations explained.

    They urged retailers, hospitals etc to take note of the warning (Flowerbudnews)

  • Cryptocurrency Nightmare: Director’s Heavy Loss Sparks Urgent Earning Against ”CCERX” Fraud

    Cryptocurrency Nightmare: Director’s Heavy Loss Sparks Urgent Earning Against ”CCERX” Fraud

     

    Culled from NewsNav

     

    In a significant development, a company director faced a staggering loss of RM11,130,123 due to his involvement in a cryptocurrency investment scheme known as ‘CCERX,’ which was actively promoted on Facebook in September of the previous year.

    The gravity of this incident was highlighted by Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa, the deputy director (Investigation) of the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID). This particular case stands out as the largest recorded instance of cryptocurrency investment fraud.

    The affected individual, a 60-year-old company director, took decisive action by filing a police report on January 30 at a police station in Sentul. Subsequently, the police initiated an investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

    Providing a broader context, Rohaimi disclosed that the police had been dealing with a surge in reports related to investment fraud since November of the previous year. A total of 124 reports were received from victims across the nation, collectively representing a staggering loss amounting to RM90,364,463.08.

    In response to this alarming trend, law enforcement has identified 73 companies and 83 bank accounts associated with these fraudulent activities. Additionally, a singular individual bank account has been flagged as being instrumental in facilitating this widespread fraud.

    Expressing concern over the situation, Rohaimi issued a warning to individuals still entangled in the ‘CCERX’ investment scheme.

    He strongly urged them to immediately discontinue their involvement and, crucially, report their experiences to the police. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of due diligence for those considering cryptocurrency transactions.

    Prospective investors were advised to thoroughly verify the legitimacy of any service before committing to financial transactions in the realm of cryptocurrency.

    This incident sheds light on the escalating challenges posed by fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes, prompting authorities to take proactive measures in safeguarding potential victims.

    As the investigation unfolds, the hope is that these efforts will not only bring justice to those affected but also serve as a deterrent against future instances of crypto-related fraud.

    In an evolving financial landscape, it becomes imperative for individuals to exercise caution and vigilance when engaging in cryptocurrency investments to protect themselves from such financial threats.

    Evon Anak Jerim is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!