Flowerbud News

Year: 2026

  • Enugu Govt. tasks stakeholders on grassroots awareness on free testing, treatment of malaria

    Enugu Govt. tasks stakeholders on grassroots awareness on free testing, treatment of malaria

     

    The Enugu State Government has tasked stakeholders and partners on massive malaria elimination awareness campaign at the grassroots especially on free testing and treatment of malaria in the state.

     

    There is an ongoing free testing and treatment of malaria in all government-owned health facilities and some private health facilities in the state.

     

    The Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, gave the task on Friday at the 2026 1st Quarter Malaria’s Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) Group Meeting held in Enugu.

     

     

    Represented by Dr Ifeyinwa Ugwunweze, the Local Government Health Secretary, Enugu-East LGA, the commissioner said that the state was pursuing it total malaria elimination with the overwhelming awareness needed.

     

    According to him, our health-loving Governor, His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, is optimist that Enugu State can achieve zero malaria prevalence within few years.

     

    “At this stage, we, both stakeholders, partners and everybody concerned to stop the menace of malaria, are taking the message of free testing and treatment of malaria to the hinterlands, to our rural people.

     

    “For the rural people to know that it is their right to demand and access free testing and treatment of malaria in the Primary Healthcare Centres close to their homes.

     

    “We are sending massages of other necessary things to be done to eliminate malaria by good environmental cleanliness and always sleeping under insecticide treated nets, which some have already,” he said.

     

     

    The commissioner appreciated various stakeholders and partners for their huge contributions to malaria elimination in the state.

     

    He noted that there was need for more aggressive work to be done by getting every resident to key in into the malaria elimination focus of the state government to hit its target.

     

    Corroborating, Igwe Emmanuel Anichebe, who represented the Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, said that the royal fathers would give the government all support to drive the message to all communities in the state.

     

    “Royal fathers will drive the message home and ensure that government-owned health facilities in our communities are up and doing in the state’s free testing and treatment of malaria campaign,” Anichebe noted.

     

    Speaking, the Chief Imam of Enugu, Sheik Ibrahim Ugwu, assured that religious leaders would work with the government on the awareness on malaria elimination, adding: “The People’s lives will be better protect”.

     

    In a message, Mr Ozioma Nwobodo, State Coordinator of Johns Hopkins University Affiliate (Jhipiego), assured that the organisation would continue to provide professional partnership to Enugu State.

     

     

    Nwobodo noted that Jhipiego would scale up it support not only on malaria elimination but other aspect of health to improve the quality of lives of the residents of the state.

     

    Earlier, the Programme Manager, Enugu State Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Ifeoma Otiji, noted that the stakeholders and partners of the programme had created huge visibility and discourse on malaria as a state emergency.

     

    Otiji noted that the ACSM Group in the first quarter had put malaria prevention messages in the front burner and ensured accurate message of testing malaria first before treatment was imbibed by all.

     

    “We achieved sending tenths of radio/television and print messages as well as discussions and fora on how residents can ensure malaria elimination and then taking advantage of the free testing and treatment of malaria.

     

    “The group did lots of council areas and community engagements/advocacy and ensure that all government-owned health facilities and some private-owned health facilities are delivering the free testing and treatment of malaria.

     

    “Going forward, we are going to deepen our reach into the hinterlands in rural communities; do more group and interpersonal communication about malaria elimination,” she said.

  • Federal High Court Judgment: Elder Statesman says judgment strengthened confidence in judicial system

    Federal High Court Judgment: Elder Statesman says judgment strengthened confidence in judicial system

    Federal High Court Judgment: Elder Statesman says judgment strengthened confidence in judicial system

    An Elder Statesman, Chief Hycienth Ngwu, says the latest Federal High Court Judgment on the electoral system has strengthened confidence in judicial system of the country.

    Ngwu, who is a popular community leader in Enugu, disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday while reacting to the import of the judgment.

    He noted that the revised INEC operational timetable had put pressure on political parties.

     

    According to him, the judgment was a bold move that has strengthened the confidence of most Nigerians in the Nigerian judicial system.

    “The INEC’s revised timetable put enormous challenges and undue pressure on the political parties; thus, suffocating the system.

    “However, the recent judgment has come as a big relief.

    “The judgment will help reduce the undue pressure and enable the political parties choose candidates without rancour,” he said.

     

    It would be recalled that the judgment was delivered at the Federal High Court, Abuja by Justice Mohammed Umar, on Thursday.

    Highlights of the judgment included that INEC must never fix timelines for party primaries; that political parties have until 120 Days to submit candidates for elections and INEC should not impose earlier deadlines for candidate substitution.

    The Federal High Court reconfirmed supremacy of the Electoral Act; the judgment also keeps open political defection window ahead of 2027 and INEC’s regulatory powers now under judicial scrutiny.

  • Absence of Malami’s lawyer stalls N8.7bn money laundering trial

    Absence of Malami’s lawyer stalls N8.7bn money laundering trial

     

    The absence of Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel to Abubakar Malami, in court on Friday stalled the ongoing trial on alleged money laundering offences to the tune of N8.7 billion.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, is being prosecuted alongside his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz, by the EFCC.

    The matter, which was fixed for continuation of trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, could not proceed because Daudu was not in court.

    Although the EFCC’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, was in court, including the defendants, their lawyer was conspicuously absent.

    It was, however, learnt that Daudu had earlier written to the court seeking an adjournment of the case.

    In view of the development, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until June 23 for continuation of trial.

    NAN reports that two prosecution witnesses had, on March 16, told the court how millions of Naira were paid into companies’ accounts linked to Malami, Asabe and Abdulaziz.

    The trio are standing trial on a 16-count money laundering charges involving N8. 7 billion.

    The anti-graft agency had, on March 6, opened its case against the defendants by calling its 1st prosecution witness (PW-1), David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank.

    Malami, his wife and son were re-arraigned on Feb. 27 over alleged money laundering charge but pleaded not guilty.

    They were, thereafter, remanded in Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres before their bail application was heard.

    Justice Abdulmalik, on March 6, admitted them to a N200 million bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

    The judge ordered that one of the sureties shall deposit his or her title deeds of a landed property located at Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, to the registrar of the court.

    The judge, who ordered the defendants to also deposit their international passports with the court, had since perfected their bail conditions.

  • Why Sen. Shuaibu Lau won Taraba North APC Senatorial poll

    Why Sen. Shuaibu Lau won Taraba North APC Senatorial poll

     

    Sen. Shuaibu Isa Lau, on May 19, emerged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the primary election conducted for the 2027 Taraba North Senatorial District election.

    The senator, in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday was said to have defeeated Hon. Bello Badawaire in the primary conducted by the party’s leaders.

    Although stateholders in the state had earleir proposed a consensus candidacy in a bid to unite party members, the plan was jettisoned following disagreement.

    “From the six LGA that make up
    Taraba North Senatorial District (Jalingo, Lau, Ardo Kola, Karim
    Lamido, Yoro & Zing), Senator Lau polled a total of 44,533, while Hon.
    Bello polled a distant 11,634 votes,” the statement said.

    Lau is a three-time senator, seasoned grassroot politician and a man of the people.

    He was formerly elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the ruling APC in 2025.

    His defection, it is being speculated, was part of political strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in assembling seasoned politicians that are rooted with the people in their constituencies.

    The statement said another plan to return Senator Lau to the Senate, together with other serving senators, is part of the move of Taraba State’s stakeholders of the party to position the state as a big player in the 11th Senate, for the greater benefit of people of the state.

    “Since coming to the Senate in 2015, Senator Lau has consistently been delivering dividends of democracy to his people, which has earned him the nickname ‘Baba Mai Elenteriki,’” it said.

    The statement said this was due to his achievement in providing electricity for every part of his constituency, among many other achievements.

  • Falana Challenges NADECO Narrative, Says Pro-Democracy Struggle Predated Coalition

    Falana Challenges NADECO Narrative, Says Pro-Democracy Struggle Predated Coalition

    By Majekodunmi Oseriemen Ebhohon 

    Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has criticized the attempts to centre the history of Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle around the activities of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), following the recently concluded NADECO event organised by the coalition’s secretary and spokesperson, Ayo Opadokun, where several individuals and organisations were honoured.

    In a detailed reaction to the public presentation of Opadokun’s book, Falana described “the NADECO story” as “an attempt by bourgeois politicians to claim credit for the arduous struggle of the Nigerian people for democracy.”

    Referencing comments made at the event by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Falana said: “At the public presentation of Ayo Opadokun’s book yesterday, Prof Wole Soyinka rightly warned that no group should privatise the collective struggle of the Nigerian people.”

    Falana argued that several civil rights and pro-democracy organisations had already been active years before NADECO was formed. According to him, “NADL, CDHR, & CLO were born in the 1980s. Even JACON was established before NADECO.”

    He added: “In actuality, NADECO was born on May 31, 1994 in the house of General Adeyinka Adebayo at the GRA, Ikeja whereas the campaign against military rule commenced in 1984.”

    The senior advocate also questioned the democratic credentials of some individuals who later emerged as NADECO figures, stating that “a number of the ex-military officers and politicians who later assembled in NADECO had served the military regimes of Buhari and Babangida.”

    Citing an example, Falana said: “For instance, Chief Olu Falae was the greatest defender of the World Bank-induced Structural Adjustment Programme.”

    He contrasted this with the resistance mounted by activists and students during the SAP era. “NANS had led students to protest against SAP while Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN was arrested and detained in Gashua in Borno State for organising an Alternative to SAP conference in Lagos,” he said.

    Falana further recalled that “as NBA President, Comrade Alao Aka-Bashorun put together a team of 270 lawyers led by GOK Ajayi SAN who defended Chief Fawehinmi.”

    In one of his strongest remarks, Falana stated that “the NADECO chieftains were part of the military regimes which arrested, detained and charged comrades with all manners of criminal offences including treasonable felony in the 1980s and 1990s.”

    He also revisited the experiences of activists who travelled through neighbouring countries during the military era to evade state restrictions. “Have comrades forgotten that we had been travelling outside the country to attend human rights conferences abroad through Benin Republic since 1980s to avoid the seizure of our passport?” he asked.

    Falana added: “Did politicians not later call it ‘the NADECO route’?”

    Concluding his remarks, the lawyer said: “The NADECO story is a challenge to others to put the record straight.”

  • Consensus best option for APC unity in Zamfara – Elders Group

    Consensus best option for APC unity in Zamfara – Elders Group

    Consensus best option for APC unity in Zamfara – Elders Group

    The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress Elders Group has described the adoption of consensus during the party’s National Assembly primaries as the best option for promoting unity, peace, and cohesion within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The group commended the efforts of key stakeholders, including Gov. Dauda Lawal, Minister of State for Defence, Mr Bello Matawalle, and other party leaders, for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the primaries across the 14 local government areas of the state.

    This was contained in a joint statement issued to the newsmen and signed by Alhaji Adamu Magaji and Alhaji Haruna Musa Mafara on behalf of the APC Elders Group and the Youths Initiatives Forum.

    The forum also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his intervention and support towards the successful conduct of the National Assembly primaries in the state.

    According to the statement, the President’s “fatherly intervention, dialogue and guidance” played a major role in uniting political stakeholders in Zamfara and ensuring the adoption of consensus arrangements that led to peaceful primaries.

    “The last-minute intervention of Mr President through dialogue and reconciliation made it possible for the peaceful conduct of the primaries across the 14 local government areas of the state,” the statement said.

    The group noted that Tinubu’s commitment to peace and stability in Zamfara demonstrated his concern for the state despite his numerous national responsibilities.

    “His love for Zamfara made it possible for him to intervene despite his tight schedule and other commitments to the nation.

    ” This intervention helped to save resources, reduce political tension, and prevent possible crises,” the forum added.

    The elders while assuring their total support for President Tinubu and Gov Dauda reelection in 2027 urged all political stakeholders in the state to abide by the agreements reached and continue to promote peace, understanding, and unity within the party.

    According to them, the interest of peace and political cohesion in Zamfara should remain paramount above personal ambitions in order to strengthen the APC ahead of future elections.

    The group further commended Governor Dauda Lawal and Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, for their commitment to ensuring peaceful primaries despite attempts by some political actors to create tension within the party.

    They also applauded other stakeholders and the national leadership of the APC in Abuja for supporting reconciliation efforts and fostering political unity in the state.

  • Court voids eNaira Ltd’s name, awards N10m fine in CBN’s favour

    Court voids eNaira Ltd’s name, awards N10m fine in CBN’s favour

     

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the eNaira Payment Solutions Ltd from parading itself as the registered proprietor of the trademark, “eNaira.”

    Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also granted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s counter claims and awarded the sum of N10 million against the company, the plaintiff in the suit.

    Justice Omotosho ordered the eNaira Payment Solutions Ltd to immediately change its name to another distinct name without the use of the word “Naira.”

    The judge agreed with the defendants’ arguments that though the company had been incorporated since 2004, it had a misleading name.

    Details later

    He held that “the name chosen by the plaintiff on its incorporation is in the circumstances unregistrable due to the misleading nature of the name which suggests government’s patronage.”

    The judge held that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) was, therefore, right to issue the directive to the company to change its name in line with Section 852(2)(a) and (b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that eNaira Payment Solutions Ltd had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1113/2021, sued CBN, the Registrar of Trademarks and the Registrar General of CAC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

    In the amended writ of summons dated and filed on April 5, 2024, the plaintiff sought 17 prayers including a N90.10 billion in damages.

    It prayed the court to restrained the defendants from withdrawing the trademark, “eNaira,” from it and stopping the CBN from claiming or conferring ownership of the name on itself.

    It described the acts of the defendants as unconstitutional takeover of its personal property which it had maintained for over 20 years, among other reliefs.

    But CBN filed a further amended statement of defence and a counter claim dated and filed on July 5, 2024, and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1591/2021.

    The apex bank sought five reliefs, including, a perpetual order restraining the company from parading itself as the registered proprietor of the Trademark “eNaira”.

    The CBN sought an order directing the company to pay it a N20 billion as general damages for the colossal and global embarrassment it caused to it by laying claim to the proprietorship of a trademark that does not belong to it.

    It also sought a fine of N200 million as a cost of the suit.

    Besides, the CAC, in its statement of defence and counter claim dated April 30, 2024, but filed May 2, 2024, sought an order directing the company to change its name to another distinct name without the use of the word, “Naira.”

    In establishing its case, the plaintiff called one witness, the CBN and CAC also called a witness each while parties tendered documentary evidence as exhibits.

    Delivering a consolidated judgement in the suits, Justice Omotosho observed that the Trademark Registry, through a letter dated Nov. 15, 2021, had written to eNaira Ltd canceling and withdrawing the acceptance letters issued to the company in respect of applications for eNaira in class 36 and 42.

    He observed that the registry had directed for the withdrawal on the grounds that “eNaira is a national intellectual property and constitutes a symbol and national asset of Nigeria.”

    According to the judge, as it stands, the plaintiff has no greater legal right to the trademark than the 1st defendant.

    “A party that has no legal right cannot be entitled to an injunction

    “The purport of this is that prima facie, the plaintiff has no valid trademark to the exclusive use of the eNaira trademark,” he said.

    Besides, the judge held that by Section 852(2) of CAMA, CAC is at liberty not to register a company with names which suggest that the company enjoys government patronage.

    “The ‘eNaira’ name is so closely linked to the legal tender of Nigeria which is exclusively controlled by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “The plaintiff with the name ‘eNaira’ even though it had been incorporated since 2004, has a misleading name.

    “An average person on the street is most likely to think that the plaintiff is an agent of the Federal Government or the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “The proposed business of the plaintiff which according to the evidence in chief of PW-1 is the creation and control of a digital fiat currency on their electronic payment platform.

    “This, no doubt, creates the impression that the plaintiff has the authority of the Federal Government of Nigeria to issue and control a digital form of the Naira.

    “A misleading name is a ground for the 3rd defendant (CAC) to direct a company to change its name,” he said.

    Justice Omotsoho observed that the section of the law also gives CAC the power to change any company’s name which must be complied with within six weeks from the date of the directive.

    “The plaintiff had six weeks to comply with the directive which was issued 9th December, 2021.

    “The plaintiff has however not complied with this directive,” he said.

    The judge held that allowing the plaintiff to have control to the name is tantamount to surrendering Nigerian sovereignty to a private company, citing sections of the Trademarks Act to back his decision.

    According to the judge, the world today is becoming more digitally advanced and this is even more prevalent in the financial sector where there is a large adoption of cryptocurrencies by nations around the world.

    “Any digital currency with the name ‘eNaira’ will no doubt create the impression that it is an official digital form of the Naira.

    “The plaintiff cannot assert control over the ‘eNaira’ name or issue it.

    “This would be disastrous for the Nigerian economy and will create skepticism among users as it is not guaranteed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “The claims of the plaintiff are therefore bound to fail while the counter-claims of the 1st and 3rd defendants will succeed on the strength of the evidence before this court.

    “In final analysis, this court will rule against the plaintiff as the claim is incompetent on grounds that it was not brought under the appellate jurisdiction of this court.

    “Furthermore, the facts and the law are against the plaintiff.

    “In contrast, the counter-claims of the 1st and 3rd defendants succeeds,” the judge ruled.

    Justice Omotosho, consequently, dismissed the eNaira Payment Solutions Ltd’s suit and declared that the company was not the registered owner of the Trademark “eNaira.”

    He declared that the plaintiff, not being an agency of government or an entity licensed to issue legal tender in Nigeria, was not entitled to register the Trademark, “eNaira.”

    The judge, who ordered the company to change its name to another distinct name without the use of the word, “Naira,” also gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the firm from parading itself as the registered proprietor of the Trademark “eNaira.”

  • NAFDAC destroys Expired, falsified drugs, etc,  worth N2bn in Kaduna

    NAFDAC destroys Expired, falsified drugs, etc,  worth N2bn in Kaduna

     

    (NAFDAC Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye)

     

    By Stella Kabruk

    Kaduna:  The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday destroyed counterfeit drugs worth N2 billion in Kaduna.

    Speaking during the exercise at the dump site in Kaduna, Dr Martins lluyomade, Director Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC, and Chairman Federal Task force on counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome process foods in Nigeria, said the destruction was aimed at preventing seized products from finding their way back into circulation.

    “We are here today to destroy some counterfeit medicines that some people brought into this country through faking other people’s products.

    “The current management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control will not take that lightly,” he said.

    He said NAFDAC have zero tolerance for counterfeiting and everybody who is in the business will know that they are in a hard time at this period.

    He added that the destruction exercise was done in a collaboration with the Office of National Security Adviser and Nigerian Customs.

    “It is a joint effort. We discover that some people are bringing in these products through unapproved rules and using different means to clear them and declare them wrongly to Customs so that they can pass.

    “The information was shared and we swung into action to apprehend the products coming in through Kano Airport.”

    He said within the past two months, they were able to seize 503 cartoons of Pregabalin capsules IP 3000mg which is 11 million doses.

    “We are destroying these drugs to show accountability, and to show that nobody is here to play games with the health of Nigerians.”

    He cautioned Nigerians on how some manufacturers clone drugs already registered by taking the original drugs to different countries to be cloned.

    Also speaking, the Director North West Zone, Dadi Mullah-Natim, said the zone always conducts routine inspections of good manufacturing practices by facilities that they have approved to produce regulated products for the public.

    “We go routinely to check their facilities. We check their processes, the stuff they have, their distribution networks, stores during our post-marketing surveillance activities to ensure that the products that leave the factory are also in the same condition in which they were produced in the warehouses where they are being distributed.

    “We checkmate whatever product is produced by production facilities in Nigeria that have been approved by NAFDAC.”

    He urged the public to stop buying products without receipts.

    “Receipts must be documented in such a way that we can trace where that product is coming from.(NAN)( www.nannews.ng)

  • NAFDAC destroys counterfeit, expired products worth N1.8bn in Abuja, to Safeguard public against recycling

    NAFDAC destroys counterfeit, expired products worth N1.8bn in Abuja, to Safeguard public against recycling

    (NAFDAC’s Indefatigable DIRECTOR GENERAL, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye)

     

    –  As an Agency we regularly carry out this kind of exercises to permanently remove falsified medical products, substandard foods and illicit cosmetics from the open market and other facilities to prevent these dangerous products from being recycled or sold to unsuspecting Nigerians – DG

     

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