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Omicron: EFCC bars unvaccinated staff members from headquarters

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Omicron: EFCC bars unvaccinated staff members from headquarters

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, barred unvaccinated staff members from its headquarters.

The exercise, which started at about 7 a.m., saw the staff of the anti-graft agency without COVID-19 vaccine cards or evidence of being vaccinated being turned back home.

Those who were able to provide the evidence of vaccination were allowed into the office.

The enforcement of the mandatory vaccination comes amidst fears of the new Omicron variant.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed that three cases of the variant have been confirmed in the country.

The agency said the three cases of the variant were discovered through genomic sequencing, linking the cases to three passengers from South Africa.

Addressing journalists on the reason for the enforcement, the secretary of the Commission, Mr George Ekpungu said the exercise was necessary since reports on the emergence of Omicron variant into the country.

He said the Chairman of EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa had given the directive for the enforcement to ensure all staff was being vaccinated.

ALSO READ: Sterling Bank wrong to open N19.3bn bailout account, Kogi says as it drags EFCC to court

Ekpungu said that the Chairman felt, as the leading anti-corruption agency, they needed to also lead the part in the enforcement of this new directive and compliance.

“You will agree with me that the cases of COVID-19 are on the increase worldwide and we must be on the lookout in order to ensure that our staff is safe.

“We have been sensitising staff internally but felt the need to make it public to encourage others to copy from us,’’ he said.

The Chairman and management have promised to decide on measures to be taken about those who have refused to be vaccinated.

“The COVID-19 protocols were not instituted by the EFCC. They are international and national protocols.

“For those who said they will not take the vaccine, they will continue to stay locked out until they take a decision.

“We also have vaccine at our clinic here for those who are interested,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 had earlier given a directive mandating all Federal Civil Servants to be vaccinated or present evidence of negative PCR test for COVID-19, effective from December 1, 2021. 

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Sterling Bank wrong to open N19.3bn bailout account, Kogi says as it drags EFCC to court

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Sterling Bank wrong to open N19.3bn bailout account, Kogi says as it drags EFCC to court

The Kogi Government has finally dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  to court over unsubstantiated allegations that it fixed N19.3 billion bailout funds received from the Federal Government.

This is just as Justice J. J. Majebi of a Kogi State High Court, also granted an interim injunction restraining the EFCC from issuing further official or unofficial publications over the issue involving Sterling Bank Account No. 0073572696 or any other account,  purportedly belonging to Kogi government.

The Accountant-General of the state, Mr Momoh Jibrin; and Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Mukadam Asiru, were claimants in the suit, while the EFCC, Sterling Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria were listed as defendants.

The Kogi government is demanding “the sum of N35 billion only as damages against the 1st defendant for the defamatory publication, entitled:  ‘Hidden N19.3 billion,  Kogi salary bailout funds returned to CBN’ made on November 19, 2021, on her Facebook page, containing amongst others, false and unfounded allegations of N19.3 billion being returned from Kogi bailout account, which portrayed fraud and misappropriation of public fund against the claimant.”

The High Court granted the following: “An interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant/Respondents, its allies, agents, representatives, associates or whoever is acting for them or through them from doing anything either by way of publication or print or electronic media or issuing any official or unofficial publication in any print or electronic media, including online publication on its website or social media, both locally and internationally, with respect to the issues involving Account No. 0073572696 or any other account,  purportedly belonging to the 1st Claimant/Applicant domiciled with Sterling Bank Plc or any other bank registered and operating in Nigeria,  pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

“An interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant/Respondent, its allies, agents, representatives, associates or whoever is acting for them or through them from doing anything either by inviting officials of the 1st Claimant or requesting for any document with respect to the issue involving Account No 0073572696 or any other account purportedly belonging to the 1st Claimant/Applicant domiciled with Sterling Bank Plc or any other bank registered and operating in Nigeria or otherwise relating to or pertaining to the affairs of the first  claimant whatsoever, or its employees, appointees or associates pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction.”

The motion on notice shall be heard on Dec. 17, according to the court.

The plaintiff asked the court to declare that the publication by the EFCC containing, amongst others, false and unfounded allegations of N19.3 billion being returned was defamatory of the character of the Kogi government.

The Kogi government asked for “an order of the court, compelling the 1st Defendant to, within 48 hours of the order of this court, publish in three national dailies, a retraction of her frivolous allegations and also tender unreserved apology to the claimant for the defamatory publication written against the claimant.”

While asking the court to declare the publication as “misconceived, wrongful, illegal, null and void”, the plaintiff also asked the court to declare that the conduct of the second defendant (Sterling Bank) was wrong, illegal, null and void in opening a fixed deposit account number 0073572696 and naming it Kogi bailout account without an application, request, authority or consent of the government.

The Kogi government had earlier threatened to take the EFCC to court if the commission failed to retract and apologise over statements it continually made in the media with the aim of disparaging the state.

Particularly, the government said it could not understand how the EFCC kept attributing an account number to the state even after Sterling Bank had written to explain that there was never a time it gave the bank the mandate to open the said account.

It said it was also alarmed by what it described as “the falsehood in the activities of the EFCC, claiming that N20 billion bailout funds, belonging to Kogi, was hidden in a fixed deposit account with Sterling Bank, which surprisingly now had started a balance of less than the fixed N20 billion even after allegedly being kept for some years.”

Diplomatic crisis takes a new dimension as UAE reportedly bars other airlines from conveying Nigerian passengers to Dubai

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Diplomatic crisis takes a new dimension as UAE reportedly bars other airlines from conveying Nigerian passengers to Dubai

The diplomatic crisis between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a new dimension as the Middle East country has reportedly barred other airlines from conveying Nigerian passengers to the country.

Nigerians heading for Dubai have used other airlines since the almost one year diplomatic face-off between EmiRates airlines and the Nigerian Government began.

Among these airlines are Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwanda Air, Etihad. But on Monday, Daily Trust gathered that many Nigerian passengers who boarded Ethiopian Airlines heading for Dubai were sent off the plane.

The actions happened hours after the restrictions imposed on Emirates by the Federal Government took effect. The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had withdrawn the winter schedule earlier approved for Emirates to operate 21 weekly flights to Nigeria.

The government instead gave Emirates one weekly slot in Abuja, the nation’s capital, in a tit-for-tat measure after the Sharjah Airport Authorities reportedly denied Air Peace the three slots it requested.

Following the development, Emirates had suspended all its flights to Nigeria pending the resolution of the issues between Nigeria and the UAE.

But things worsened after Dubai-bound passengers using other airlines were reportedly barred.

A source said the de-boarding of Nigerian passengers was on the order of the UAE authorities.

“UAE says no entry for Nigerian passengers from any airline. Ethiopian just offloaded all passengers heading to Dubai. We are voiding Dubai bound tickets,” the source told our correspondent.

There has been no official communication from the UAE authorities on the latest development.

Daily Trust had earlier reported how many Nigerian passengers were stranded over the Emirates logjam.

A passenger, who was to travel via an Emirates flight on Monday, had to explore an alternative airline, paying over N500,000 to travel via Lufthansa.

Among those stranded are businessmen, students and others said to be going for medical reasons.

 “I had to book another flight on Lufthansa travelling through Brazil just to connect Dubai because the various restrictions across the world have made travel very difficult for everybody because you have to travel via a destination, not on the red list.”

“But I must be in Dubai by all means and that has cost me an extra N500,000. How many people can afford this,” a student who preferred anonymity, said.

Reasons why doctors are leaving Nigeria – NMA President 

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Reasons why doctors are leaving Nigeria – NMA President 

President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Innocent Ujah, has given reasons why doctors are leaving Nigeria for other countries.

It is estimated that at least 2,000 medical doctors leave Nigeria yearly and no fewer than 5,407 Nigerian trained doctors are currently working with the British National Health Service in the United Kingdom.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Monday, Ujah listed circumstances found around the work environment, insecurity, among other issues as reasons for exit of Nigerian doctors .

He said, “Many of the reasons are poor work environment, insecurity, poor remuneration and poor equipment to work with. I think these are some of the issues.

“Remuneration and environment in other countries like Europe, America and Saudi Arabia are far better than Nigeria. No doctor would want his children to be out of school, we want to have the best for our children.

“We believe that the appropriate thing to do is to have a conducive environment to work. We have lost over 20 of our doctors to COVID-19.

“Many of our doctors are adopted and kidnapped; once there is insecurity in the land as it is, it becomes very difficult for people to stay.

“The best thing for us to do is to find a solution to this hydra-headed monster. It is not too difficult to reverse but we need commitment, focus and a clear understanding of the need to ensure that the few that we train stay back to render service to our people.

“Over 50 per cent of our doctors are outside the country, we estimate that about 80 thousand Nigerians have been trained as doctors but only about 40 thousand are at home.

“And these surely are not enough and adequate. Even where they are going to, their services are better than our own, they also have more doctors than we have.”

The Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stem the brain drain affecting the country in the medical sector.

“The issue of brain drain has been a serious issue to medical practitioners. A lot of Nigerians are going out of the country for many good reasons.

“We believe that the president needs to quickly direct the appropriate agencies and ministries to ensure that we have a roundtable meeting to be able to find out what could be done,” .

The president of the Nigerian medical association, Dr. Francis Faduyile had before now also alluded to the same reasons shared by the NMA President. He noted that a high rate of insecurity, unemployment, low remuneration, bad roads, and poor healthcare system are some of the reasons why doctors are leaving the country in search of greener pastures. He noted that 75,000 Nigerian doctors were registered with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), but over 33,000 have left the country.  

A recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that for every 10,000 persons in Nigeria, there are four doctors available to treat or attend to them. The World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the doctor:patient ratio at 1:600 standard. However, Nigeria’s doctors to patients ratio of 4:10,000 falls below the global recommendation. 

Nollywood Actor, Samuel Ajibola, wife welcome baby boy

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Nollywood Actor, Samuel Ajibola, wife welcome baby boy

Nollywood actor, Samuel Ajibola, and his wife, Sandra, have welcomed their first child; a baby boy, barely a week after the actor attained a Master’s Degree.

The new parents took to their individual Instagram accounts on Monday to share the good news.

Sharing pregnancy photos of his wife, the actor wrote, “I can’t thank God enough for you babe. He has used you to multiply my seed. Love you to bits @sandrajibola #LatestParentsInTown #BabyBoy.”

The new mum, while sharing the same photos, said, “What more can I say than Thank you, Lord! A journey that ended in Glory.”

#AFRIMMA: Wizkid Wins Artist of the Year, others

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#AFRIMMA: Wizkid Wins Artist of the Year, others

Singer, Wizkid has bagged three awards at the African Muzik Magazine Awards held on Sunday.

At this year’s award themed, ‘Flavors of Africa’, Wizkid won, Artist Of The Year, Song Of the Year (Essence ft Tems and Justin Bieber) and the Crossing Boundaries With Music categories.

Reacting to the wins, his manager, Jada Pollock tweeted, “Wizkid won 3 awards at this year #afrimma2021 Awards…”

Wizkid is definitely ending the year with a bang – he recently made huge news when he edged out superstars like Drake, Kanye West and a couple others and MOBO awards.

At yesterday’s award night, he bagged “Artiste of the Year”, “Song of the Year” and, “Crossing Boundaries With Music”, making him the biggest winner of the night.

Also on the win list was, Adekunle Gold and his wife, Simi. They both won “Best Female & Male Artiste for West Africa”.

Kenya’s Sauti Sol won the “Best African Group” category. Nigerian gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, won the “Best Gospel” category.

P. Prime bagged “Music Producer of the Year”. DMW lead man Davido, also made the headlines after winning “Best Collaboration” with the hit release with Focalistic. 

Ruger won the “Best Newcomer”.

Watch Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and BBNaija Whitemoney cook together

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Watch Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and BBNaija Whitemoney cook together

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and BBNaija Whitemoney known as Hazel Oyeze Onou were seen together on Sunday, this time, doing something rather unusual – the two were cooking at the Lagos food festival .

According to the organisers, “Lagos food festival aims to showcase our rich diversity in Nigerian Cuisine and delicacies thereby creating awareness on Nigerian’s rich food culture. It celebrates the one thing that unites all Nigerians- a love for good food”.

The event premiers the best of food, chefs, restaurants across Lagos. Guests are treat to a day of immersion in variety of tastes in food, music and fun. 

The Governor, dressed in a black apron, set up the symbolic outdoor kitchen and he serenaded guests by preparing stir-fried rice, which is the official meal of the festival.

This marked the beginning of the event organised by the Ministry of Agriculture at the Justice Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island. The initiative, formerly known as Seafood Festival, is a yearly event hosted by the State Government to exhibit local delicacies and agricultural commodities produced in Lagos for the international market.

The Governor, assisted by a guest chef, White Money, winner of 2021 Big Brother Naija made Lagos delicacy made from onion, smoked fish, mixed granules of bonga fish and crayfish, pepper and seasoning.

Why we sacked Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles Coach – Amaju Pinnick

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Why we sacked Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles Coach – Amaju Pinnick

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has explained why the nation’s football governing body sacked Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles coach during an interview with Channels Television on Monday.

Pinnick said the NFF took the decision as a proactive step to avert a disaster, “He (Rohr) happens to be the longest-serving manager of the Super Eagles.

He continued, we gave him all the support,” said Pinnick who was a guest on the morning show. “But we didn’t want to wait for a disaster to happen before parting ways. The last two games were very tough games for us.

“It wasn’t an individual decision; it was a collective decision by the entire executive committee. We were winning our games … there are a lot of things we took into cognisance. When you part ways, you don’t want to start ascribing blames; you just let it go and face the future with renewed hope and renewed zeal.”

The NFF president disclosed that the body considered some reports of its committees before sacking the German who managed the Nigerian side for five years.

He stated that Nigeria almost lost the ticket for the forthcoming World Cup, added that a lot of factors were considered before the decision was taken.

Pinnick also confirmed that the NFF was owing Rohr for some months.

“We did everything that we could, but one major factor was that discipline in the team is lost practically. In the dressing room, discipline in the team was at its lowest edge and once you remove discipline, that foundation in the team has cracked,” he said.

“Players now talk back at you, players believe that they are indispensable. A lot of factors that will now militate against the team. We are only owing about two matches of all the matches they played in both AFCON qualifiers and World Cup qualifiers.

“For Gernot Rohr, I know we paid him for about five months. We were owing him for a couple of months, then we cleared about five months.”

No vaccination, no access to orientation camps — NYSC DG tells prospective Corps members

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No vaccination, no access to orientation camps — NYSC DG tells prospective Corps members

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has declared that prospective corps members without evidence of vaccination would be barred from entering any of its orientation camps across the nation.

Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, NYSC DG, who announced this, said the measure will take effect from the next orientation camp, which is a few weeks from now.

He made the assertion while addressing the 2021 Batch “C” Stream Two Corps Members and Camp Officials.

Explaining why the scheme is taking such action, the NYSC DG said it was to stem the spread of the Omicron COVID variant.

Ibrahim also warned the Corps member against travelling at night. He advised “We have NYSC Corps Lodges, Secretariats and Army barracks, find out where they are and make sure you pass the night there for journeys that will take you beyond six to get to your destination”.

South African president, Ramaphosa, tests positive for COVID-19

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South African president, Ramaphosa, tests positive for COVID-19

South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for mild Covid-19 symptoms.

Ramaphosa had on December 1 visited his counterpart President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria.

The SA president who is fully vaccinated ended his trip to West Africa five days ago according to a statement by the nation’s presidency.

“The president and the delegation returned to South Africa from the Republic of Senegal on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, after obtaining negative test results.

“The president also tested negative on his return to Johannesburg on 8 December”.

In a statement announcing his health status, “President Ramaphosa says his own infection serves as a caution to all people in the country to be vaccinated and remain vigilant against exposure. Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalization”.

In a tweet Monday, Ramaphosa thanked South Africans for their good wishes and warned citizens to remain vigilant in the fight against the virus.

“As I recover, my message of the week is: don’t let your guard down. Do everything you can and need to, to stay safe, beginning with vaccination,” he said. “Vaccines dramatically reduce the chances of severe illness, hospitalisation and death. Let’s all protect ourselves. Vaccination is free, easy and it works.”

Ramaphosa, who would remain in self-isolation in Cape Town, has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.

The statement quoted Ramaphosa as saying that his own infection served as a warning to all citizens of the importance of getting vaccinated and remaining vigilant against exposure.

“Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalisation,” the statement said.

“People who have had contact with the president today are advised to watch for symptoms or to have themselves tested,” it added.

CTS Automotive assured of FG’s support to boost productivity

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CTS Automotive assured of FG’s support to boost productivity

The Federal Government has assured the Management of CTS Automotive of its commitment to implement policies that will attract investment interests into Nigeria. Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar stated this at Grobbeeren Germany while inspecting a CTS cargo shipment of equipment and tools bound for Nigeria.

The Ambassador’s visit was an invitation from the CTS Management led by Mr. Eddie Forkert and Mr. Obi Nweke to apprise the consignment and discuss various matters concerning the execution of existing agreement between the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (DADDC) and CTS Automotive to generate standard dividend for Nigeria.

Accompanied by Counsellors Mr. Omeh Nwopkoku and Mr. Jibril Jibril, Ambassador Tuggar assured of the Embassy’s participation in creating conducive economic environment for CTS Automotive to boost productivity. The CTS Management had earlier expressed interest to embark on projects in Nigeria but were apprehensive of the country’s security challenges and inconsistent economic policies.

The CTS Management informed the Ambassador of their mandates which include providing equipments on demand as part of the nationwide project to establish mechatronic workshops and training centres in all geo-political zones and states of the federation; partnering through Mechanical Engineering Departments of Nigerian Universities to attract technological investments into Nigeria. Through the Council’s initiative, CTS has set up mechatronic workshops in Federal University of Technology Bauchi, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and University of Ibadan and has supplied equipments to Bola Ige Mechatronics Institute in Esa Oke Osun State.

CTS Automotive is also set to make 10 cargo shipments with each cargo weighting 10 tones whose delivery will be concluded by April 2022 and installation to commence in June 2022.

While the Embassy continues to monitor the process and attract more companies to participate in the ongoing initiative, the Embassy is ready and willing to partner with relevant agencies.

Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
Nigerian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.
Date: 14-12-2021

How not to fear death — Cleric

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How not to fear death — Cleric

A cleric, Rev. Unah Umoh of the United Evangelical Church, says human beings have no reason to fear death if they lived uprightly, knowing that appointment with death is inevitable.

Umoh said this at the funeral service for the late veteran journalist, Prince Effiong Asian, held in Mbiokporo Nsit 1, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

In a sermon entitled: “Inescapable appointment’’, the priest said that the appointment called death was designed by God for every human being and all living things.

Unah, who quoted from the Book of Hebrew 9:27 said “it is appointed unto men once to die and after that, judgement’’, added that the deceased, aged 72, would have wished to live longer but could not live beyond 72 years.

He said: “prepare your mind for a time like this; everyman will die, old or young. Abraham lived for 175 years, after that he died. So make a choice because you have an opportunity to be among the living’

“ We should be prepared knowing that one day we will leave this world. Generations have all and next generations will take over; that is the beauty of life, something must kill a man.

“Moses said in the Bible: `Oh Lord teach me to number my days’; you don’t know your day, your time. You will be judged by the kind of life you lived not by the life you did not live.

“Your creator may call you any day while young, in old age, everyone is returning to his Maker. You came from God to live on earth and you will return to God, so work for the Lord.

“Get ready to leave better than you came; offer your services wholeheartedly. God gives to any man according to his good works.’’

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