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(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Singapore political figure Brad Bowyer on Monday corrected a Facebook post questioning the independence of state investment firms following a government request, in the first use of the country’s new “fake news” law.

Bowyer used “false and misleading” statements alleging the government influenced decisions made by state investors Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL] and GIC [GIC.UL], according to a statement on the official government fact-checking website.

Bowyer said he had placed a correction notice with a link to the government statement above his Facebook post following a request to do so under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

“I have no problem in following that request as I feel it is fair to have both points of view and clarifications and corrections of fact when necessary,” Bowyer said in a statement on Facebook.

“In general, I caution all those who comment on our domestic politics and social issues to do so with due care and attention especially if you speak from any place of influence.”

Bowyer, a naturalized Singaporean born in Britain, has been a member of the ruling party and opposition parties but has never stood for elected office.

A spokesman for the newly-created POFMA office said the correction requested by the minister for finance was the first case under the new law, which came into effect in October.

Rights groups have raised concerns the fake news law will be used to stifle free speech and chill dissent in the city state, where the ruling party has comfortably won every election since independence in 1965.

Singapore says it is particularly vulnerable to fake news because of its position as a global financial hub, its mixed ethnic and religious population and widespread internet access.

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(FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Ogun police command says it has arrested a 42-year-old woman, Temitope Akinola, for allegedly poisoning and killing her two-day-old granddaughter with a deadly insecticide, Sniper.

The suspect, a resident of Isote area of Sagamu town, Sagamu Local Government area of the state, was arrested on Nov. 21 by operatives of the command.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, said the grandmother was arrested, following the information received by the police in Sagamu division that the baby left in care of the suspect by her mother had been found dead.

Oyeyemi said that the mother of the baby was reported to have gone to the bathroom only to return and discover the lifeless body of her baby.

He noted that upon receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Sagamu, Okiki Agunbiade, dispatched detectives to the scene where the suspect was promptly arrested.

The police spokesperson explained that upon interrogation, the suspect admitted poisoning and killing the baby because she didn’t like her daughter getting married to the father of the baby.

“She confessed further that she had attempted to terminate the pregnancy, but her pastor had warned her against it, hence she waited for her daughter to deliver before carrying out her devilish intention.

“She explained further that she poisoned the baby with a deadly insecticide known as Sniper,” he said.

Oyeyemi stated that the corpse of the baby had been deposited at the morgue of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu for autopsy.

He added that the suspect had been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and prosecution. (NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Former first Lady of Lagos State and currently a Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian National Assembly, Oluremi Tinubu said APC has done a lot under President Mohammadu Buhari.

Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo, Victor Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi have been shortlisted for the 2019 CAF Men Footballer of the Year.

The trio were nominated alongside 27 others in a list released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Sunday.

Usual suspects, Mohammed Salah of Egypt,  Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, also made the cut.

The Women’s Player of the Year category boasts of record holder, Christiana Kgatalana of South Africa as well as three-time winner, Asisat Oshoala, and fellow compatriot, Uchenna Kanu.

Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chidinma Nnadozie, who was impressive at the 2019 World Cup in France, also secured a spot in the list alongside six others.

Other award categories include, the African Coach of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, National Team of the Year and Interclubs Player of the Year.

The awards, scheduled for January, will take place in Egypt. (NAN)

*(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has relieved the state Head of Service (HOS), Mr Mohammed Hassan, of his appointment.

Alhaji Usman Shuwa, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

Shuwa disclosed that the governor also approved the appointment of Mr Simon Malgwi, as the new HOS, adding that the appointment was with immediate effect.

“Gov. Babagana Zulum has relieved Mohammed Hassan of his appointment as the HOS with immediate effect.

“He has accordingly approved the appointment of Barrister Simon Malgwi, as the new HOS,” he said.

Shuwa added that until his appointment, Malgwi was the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

Similarly, Zulum approved the constitution of a committee on the implementation of the National Minimum Wage and Consequential Salary Adjustment.

He disclosed that the government side would be headed by Mr Kaka Shehu, the Commissioner for Justice, while Mr Inuwa Yusuf, the Chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) would lead the labour side of the committee.

He explained that the Head of Service (HOS) would serve as Co-Chairman to be assisted by nine other members on the government side.

He listed the members to include the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, the state Auditor General, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning.

Others members are the Head of Biometric Unit; the Permanent Secretary, Public Service and Manpower Development, two former Head of Service (HOS) and Mr Idris Jalo, a retired Permanent Secretary.

While the Permanent Secretary, Administration and General Services would serve as secretary of the committee.

He added that the labour side of the committee comprised of 10 members drawn from the leaderships of various organisations and unions in the state.

According to him, the committee is expected to submit its report within three weeks.

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Enugu State Government on Tuesday said it had completed plans to establish cancer screening centres in three zones of the state for adequate cancer treatment.

Dr Okechukwu Ossai, the Health Manager, Enugu State Hospital Management Board, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

Ossai said that the three zones for the centres are Nsukka, Agbani and Udi zones, “so as to make sure that everyone in need of the facility would have easy access to treatment.”

The manager commended Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “for his efforts in providing adequate health facilities to citizens of the state.

“One of the governor’s priorities in Enugu State is to provide adequate radiotherapy units to meet the needs of cancer patients.

“The state government also planned to employ medical and other health personnel to the three cancer screening centres for effective healthcare service delivery.”

Accoding to him, the Enugu State Ministry of Health is presently collaborating with an international partner called South Sahara Social Development Organisation
for the establishment of the cancer screening centres. (NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) No fewer than 6.7 million residents across the 25 local government areas of Niger state benefited from the distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal (LLIN) nets replacement campaign in the state.

Mr Christopher Dangana, Programme Manager, Society for Family Health (SFH), disclosed this during the state Debriefing in Minna on Tuesday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nets were distributed by SFH in collaboration with Niger state government and other global partners at the cost of over N3 billion.

Dangana explained that a total of 3,590,605 nets cards were distributed to beneficiaries as against the 3,478,812 planned during the micro planning representing 103.2 per cent mobilisation rate.

He added that 3,507,890 nets cards out of 3,590,606 issued to household during the household mobilisation were exchanged for the LLINs by beneficiaries representing 97.70 per cent redemption rate.

“According to the national strategy, LLINs were issued to household at one net for every two persons with a maximum of four nets per household,” he said.

Dangana said that 17,269 personnel were trained and engaged for the LLINs replacement campaign across the various local government areas of the state.

He, however, described the LLINs replacement campaign as “successful and disclosed that continuous security threat prevented effective monitoring in some wards in Shiroro, Munya, Rafi and Mariga local government areas”.

He advised the beneficiaries to use the nets judiciously and ensure they sleep inside the net every night.

In his remarks, Dr Maku Sidi, the state Commissioner for Health, expressed optimism with the success of the LLINs replacement campaign in the state and the use of technology during the exercise.

“I am satisfied with the whole process compared to that of 2014 and this is because of the injection of use of technology which gave us a better outcome as there was no cases of theft; everything has been accounted for,” he said.

Sidi, who was represented by Dr Joseph Kolo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, advised the beneficiaries to always sleep inside the nets so as to fight malaria.