Dr (Mrs) Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment flagged by Prof. Adesoji Adesugba MD/CEO NEPZA (Left), Mr Toyin Elegbede, Executive-Secretary, Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZA) and other Industry stakeholders after paying her a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.
Health care services at the University College Hospital, Ibadan on Thursday were again disrupted when doctors under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), at the hospital, staged a peaceful protest to register their displeasure over the assault on a female doctor.
The protesters, who moved through different outpatient clinics and service points at the hospital, had placards with different inscriptions like: “Doctors are not punching bags, stop beating those who take care of you,” “Let UCH doctors breathe,” “We save lives; do not take our lives,” and “Do not kill us at our place of work.”
They were also chanting messages like “don’t attack, nurses, doctors or other health workers, we are only working to save lives” and “we say no to assault or violence on any health worker in UCH.”
They said a female doctor was assaulted at the department of radiology of the hospital on August 29, 2023 while she was at her duty post performing her clinical duties.
She was said to have been severally slapped on the face by a patient’s relative in reaction to the problem of electricity power failure in the hospital, making it impossible to do the CT scan he required for his patient.
President of ARD, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr Abiodun Ogundipe, speaking on the doctors’ protest, said it is a despicable act for health workers in the course of saving lives to be assaulted by patient’s relatives, particularly with the emigration of health workers and few health workers in government hospitals to attend to patients.
Ogundipe, while saying no assault of doctors and other healthcare workers in the hospital, said the protest was to create attention to the public that any assault or violence against health workers at the hospital will no longer be tolerated.
“We are emphasizing and saying No to any assault on our colleagues and other healthcare workers in UCH, Ibadan. More than 5 doctors were attacked within two years within the hospital premises and we don’t want to condone this again.
It is not until they kill us before we will speak. That is why we have raised our voices against this action.”
The entire public needs to know that the association and hospital have a zero tolerance for assault and violence against medical doctors and other healthcare workers.”
“Anyone who engages is such nefarious acts would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, CMD, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, in a reaction, said the assailant has been immediately handed over to the police force for prosecution because the hospital views it as inhumane, unwarranted, and unacceptable.
Professor Otegbayo said members of the public are to exercise some level of decorum while accessing medical care in the hospital and patients and their relatives not satisfied with services received at any service point should channel their complaints and grievances through the SERVICOM officers for appropriate investigation and redress
He, however, said that the hospital had written a letter of compassion to apologize to the affected doctor, and the assailant on bail with 3 sureties and N100,000 from Yemetu police station in Ibadan is to be charged to the court to face the wrath of the law.
At least 110 top bank executives and junior staff members have been sacked for fraud-related cases in the past two years, findings by The PUNCH have shown.
These were contained in the ‘Reports of Fraud and Forgeries in Nigerian Banks’’ released by the Financial Institutions Training Centre between the second quarter of 2021 and Q2 2023.
FITC’s institutional members are members of the Nigerian Banker’s Committee, which comprises the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and all licensed banks in Nigeria.
A breakdown showed that while only four bank officials were sacked in Q2 2021, the figure rose by 175 per cent to 11 in Q2 2023
The highest number of sacked top bank executives and junior staff members was recorded in Q3 2022. Twenty officials were fired.
The PUNCH observed that between Q2 2021 and Q2 2022, 52 bank staff members were sacked for fraud-related issues.
However, between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023, 58 bank staff members were sacked for the same reason
Also, within the period under review, the sacked staff members were involved in a total of 967 fraud cases.
The highest number of cases was recorded in Q4 2021, with 410 cases involving bank staff, while the lowest was recorded in Q3 2021, with 32 cases.
The PUNCH further observed that between Q2 2021 and Q2 2022, bank staff were involved in 657 cases, while between Q3 2022 and Q2 2023, they were involved in 310 cases.
Also, about N18.01bn was lost due to fraud committed by bank staff and outsiders within the reviewed period out of a total of N81.69bn involved in fraud cases.
The PUNCH learnt that the highest amount lost was N5.79bn in Q2 2023, while the lowest amount lost was N472.28m in Q1 2023.
For the total amount involved, the highest amount was N34.78bn in Q3 2021, while the lowest amount was N1.18bn in Q2 2022.
The PUNCH further observed that mobile fraud, computer/web fraud, and P0S-related fraud were the most prevalent types of fraud, and this trend persisted in Q2 2023.
In June 2022, the PUNCH reported the continued trial of three former workers with the First Bank of Nigeria facing attempted fraud charges before a Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
The defendants, Ozioma Ugorji, 35; Ugwu Emeka, 32; and Obike Chukwuka, 38, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission for allegedly attempting to steal N20bn from the bank.
The PUNCH learnt that the defendants conspired to tap into the bank’s server to grant access to a syndicate.
They were, however, apprehended by the EFCC on March 6, 2021, following an intelligence report.
In June this year, four men were arraigned at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding their employer, Think Finance Microfinance Bank of N150m in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State.
The defendants include the company’s Head of Risk Management, Ojimi Ayodeji, the Loan Officer, Isaac Eddy, Joseph Setonji and Juwon Irinyemi, and were arraigned before Magistrate Patrick Nwaka on three counts of theft.
The PUNCH had reported recently that four Nigerian deposit money banks lost a total of N1.77bn to fraudulent activities involving the banks’ employees and consumers in 2021.
This was contained in the 2021 financial statements of the banks, which included Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, First Monument City Bank, and Wema Bank.
The PUNCH also reported that Access Bank, GTB and Fidelity Bank recorded 26,877 fraud cases in the first six months of this year, according to analyses of their financial reports for the first half of 2022.
This was a 56.45 per cent decrease from the 61,715 fraud cases that were recorded by the banks between June and December, 2021.
The President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Dr Uju Ogunbunka, recently urged banks to educate their staff and create protective measures that would discourage fraud.
Commenting, ICT expert and Senior Partner of e86 Limited, Olugbenga Odeyemi, recently said several fraud cases needed insiders from banks.
He stated, “Some of the hacking and fraud cases that we’ve seen, happened not because of the lack of security on the banks’ electronic platforms, but because of poverty, greed, and sometimes the lack of education on the part of the customers.
“Other than asking banks to invest more in the security of their platforms, it’s equally important that banks spend more resources on educating their customers.
That said, several fraud cases couldn’t have happened without the help of insiders in some of the banks. I think Nigerian banks should spend more money on the welfare of their staff while making appropriate changes to their internal processes, starting from their hiring processes.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, recently urged the CBN to introduce sanctions and eliminate policies that promote corruption.
He said, “I think what they can do is to activate sanctions on anyone found wanting. Aside from the tracking, there must be evidence. And once there is evidence, they should close in on anyone they find. Cyber fraud is the biggest threat in the banking industry.’’
The FITC advised banks to strengthen their security protocols and utilise advanced fraud detection systems.
It said, “Considering the rise in the total amount involved in fraud cases and the amount lost, Nigerian banks should strengthen their security protocols and systems to prevent unauthorised access to customer accounts and sensitive information. This may involve incorporating measures such as multi-factor authentication, implementing strong encryption techniques, and ensuring regular security updates are in place.”
Rectors of Federal Polytechnics across the country on Thursday refuted allegations that they were asked to give bribes by members of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating alleged job racketeering and mismanagement of the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).Chairman of the Committee of Federal Polytechnics’ Rectors, Engr Yahaya Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the polytechnic rectors who were present at the resumed hearing of the investigative hearing said they had at no time interfaced with any member of the panel and also denied being given any account number to pay bribes as alleged.
Gagdi also threatened that the committee would take legal action against the online medium over the publication which he said was to “blackmail and discredit” the committee
Recall that an online platform had on Tuesday in an investigation, reported how some members of the panel had asked vice chancellors of universities and heads of tertiary institutions to pay certain amount of money as bribes into a bank account inorder to give them a soft landing.
Members of the committee were also reported to have been engaging in extortion of money from heads of federal ministries, departments and agencies, including those of tertiary institutions across the country.
Mohammed, who is also the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, said this when chairman of the adhoc committee, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi asked him to speak on the allegations of bribery and extortion levied against members of the committee as reported.
The rector said, “This is our first time of interfacing with the committee. All of us came into Abuja yesterday. Chairman, we are not in receipt of any account number or account name by any member of this committee. I will say under oath that we have not received any account number from any member of this committee.”
Gagdi said he has written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the account number allegedly released to heads of tertiary institutions for the payments of bribes as reported.
He said, “I have already written to the ICPC to investigate that account number that was published, the owner of that account and whether there is any transaction by vice chancellors, rectors of polytechnics and leaders of tertiary institutions in the country.”
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed all international airlines to vacate the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, from October 1, 2023.
This became necessary, according to him, to give room for total maintenance work at the airport.
The minister disclosed this during a tour at the international airport in Lagos, where he was accompanied by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed.
The minister, while speaking at the sideline of the airport tour, directed the airlines and companies operating in the airport to move to the new terminal – MMIA Terminal 2.
Keyamo also suspended all contracts, projects, concessions in the sector until further notice.
He said: “All airlines should vacate the MMIA before October 1 and relocate to MMIA Terminal 2.”
Niger’s new military rulers have withdrawn the French ambassador’s diplomatic immunity and ordered police to expel him, according to a letter seen Thursday by AFP.
The envoy “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as member of the diplomatic personnel in the French embassy,” according to their letter, dated Tuesday, to the foreign ministry in Paris.
(His) diplomatic cards and visas and those of the members of his family have been cancelled. The police have been instructed to proceed to his expulsion,” it said.
The move follows a coup in the troubled Sahel state on July 26 that toppled a close French ally, President Mohamed Bazoum.
Relations with France spiralled downwards after Paris stood by Bazoum and refused to recognise Niger’s new rulers.
On Friday, the authorities gave French envoy Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave the country.
France refused the demand, saying that the government had no legal right to make such an order.
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron singled out Itte for praise after he remained at his post.
French military spokesman Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere on Thursday warned that “the French military forces are ready to respond to any upturn in tension that could harm French diplomatic and military premises in Niger”.
“Measures have been take to protect these premises,” he said.
The social media platform X will begin offering video and audio calling, owner Elon Musk announced on Thursday, a step towards turning the former Twitter into an “everything app.”
“Video & audio calls coming to X,” Musk wrote in a post on the platform, without specifying when the new features would be available.
The calling features would work on iOS, Android, Mac and PC systems, and no phone number would be needed, he said.
“X is the effective global address book,” the billionaire added. “That set of factors is unique.”
Last month, Musk and his newly hired chief executive Linda Yaccarino announced the rebranding of Twitter as X, saying it would become an “everything app” inspired by China’s WeChat that would allow users to socialize as well as handle their finances.
X’s payment branch Twitter Payments LLC was granted a “crucial” currency transmitter license from the US state of Rhode Island on Monday, allowing it to “engage in cryptocurrency-related activities” such as exchanges, wallets and payment processors, the crypto website CoinWire reported this week.
The license allows X to “securely store, transfer, and facilitate the exchange of digital assets on behalf of its users,” according to CoinWire.
Since Musk bought Twitter last October, the platform’s advertising business has collapsed as marketers soured on his management style and mass firings that gutted content moderation.
In response, the tycoon has moved towards building a subscriber base and pay model in a search for new revenue.
Many users and advertisers alike have responded adversely to the site’s new charges for previously free services, as well as its changes to content moderation and the return of previously banned far-right accounts.
Musk also killed off the Twitter logo, replacing its globally recognized blue bird with a white X.
Musk also killed off the Twitter logo, replacing its globally recognized blue bird with a white X.
The Legislative Council of Ijebu East local government area of Ogun State, has suspended the Council Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo for a period of three months over what it described as ‘financial maladministration’.
The LG lawmakers, in a letter titled, “Financial Maladministration of Hon. Wale Adedayo as Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Ogbere, Ijebu”, said the Council legislators had received several allegations against the Chairman Mr. Adedayo.
The letter was signed by the Leader of the House, Hon. Fasheyi Akindele Adesuji and six other Councillors.
While directing Mr. Adedayo to hand over all the Council property in his care to the Council Vice Chairman, the Councillors noted that the three months suspension will enable them carry out necessary investigation of the Chairman.
Some of the allegations levelled against Mr. Adedayo included; that the Chairman withdrew N4million from the local government account for empowerment in 2022, but no empowerment was done till date, wastage of N2milion naira on August 20, 2022 on Isese festival, N250,000 duty tour allowance for the Chairman and other top functionaries in June 2023 and nother N250,000 duty tour allowance for the Chairman and other top officials engagement.
Others allegations are; the Chairman purportedly spent N426,000 on production of report on 2020 ‘Jigbo’ festival in Ijebu East, when we were even yet elected, inauguration expenses of Women in Politics in ljebu East LG N350,000 in 2022, but no money was released to the women group.
“Entertainment and other logistics expenses during the commissioning of Legislative Building building N350k on 18th of April 2023. Another entertainment on the same commissioning of the Legislative Building N295k same day, 18th of April 2023”.
“The second 8.2 million sent from phase 2 of the project (tables and the chairs for schools) 20 (twenty) chairs were made with N8.2m. (Eight million two hundred thousand naira)”.
“Another N20 million sent from state is nowhere to be found.”
Another N15 million sent from the state went same way without any project to show for it.
Award of two boreholes at a scandalous price of N1.8 milliom each, totaling N3.6 million for just two boreholes, August 2023, while he collects N3 million monthly as security votes, he has held on to the N300,000 monthly security vote of the Vice Chairman for about five months. He has refused to pay up, despite several interventions and meetings on the issue by the ALGON Executives, led by Hon. Tunde Emiola Gazal and inability to account for over N2.5m left in the project Account of the council by the previous administration for the completion of a school at Kajola, Ogbere, and the school still
remain uncompleted till date”.
Mr. Adedayo was also accused of Iilegal tax collection from Ijebu East Okada riders and drivers via what he called “levy” without the approval of the Legislative Council, which is double taxation for the people of ljebu East at this tough period.
The letter read, “having received the above allegations, there is need for thorough investigation by the House. The House therefore resolved as follows: That the Chairman steps aside for the proper conduct of investigations.
“The Council Chairman, Hon. Wale Adedayo, is hereby suspended for three months pending the conclusion of the investigations and therefore directed to handover all the properties of the Council in his possession to the Vice Chairman, who will act as the Chairman during the suspension of the Chairman as provided in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The Council Chairman is directed to appear before the House on the next sitting of the House on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
“That the Council Treasurer, through the Head of the Local Government Administration (HOLGA) should furnish the House with financial/bank statement of the Council in the last two years, along with other relevant documents and vouchers as the House may require in order to aid investigations.
“That the above Resolutions be copied to the Governor of Ogun State and the Ogun State
House of Assembly”.
THE Lagos State government, yesterday, disclosed that its Blue Line Rail from Marina-Mile-2 route would commence official commercial operation on Monday, September 4, 2023.
The rail system is to be powered electrically.
The Managing Director, of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, in a chat with newsmen, said: “There will be 12 trips per day stopping at each station for 90 seconds.
“The timetable is available on LAMATA and at every station. Passengers will be using a cowrie card for the ride.
“The locomotive will be in operation for the next four weeks before the electric system is finally introduced and the tracks energised electrically.
“The kick-off operation will run from 6.30 am to 10 am, morning service, and 3 pm to 10 pm, while the service will run from 5.30 am to 10 pm, when fully in operation. The service is expected to carry 175, 000 passengers per day.”