EndSARS: Lagos Closes All Schools Indefinitely

FLASH: The Lagos State Government has directed all pupils/students in public and private schools to stay at home following the tension generated by the anti- SARS protests.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, who issued the directive today, said the safety of the pupils/students, parents and all staff working in schools is paramount at this critical period. She however advised parents to keep an eye on their wards and not allow them to be used as willing tools in the hands of those who might want to hijack the protests to unleash mayhem on the society.

The Commissioner also encouraged schools to utilize other means of distance teaching and learning i.e radio, television and online media as they have been doing during and post the recent COVID-19 lockdown.According to Adefisayo, a new date of resumption for all classes will be announced as soon as possible.

#endsars #nairaland

Governor Ugwuanyi Visits Defunct SARS Office To Confirm Closure

#endsars:

Gov. Ugwuanyi visits defunct SARS office to confirm closure

*To inaugurate panel on Wednesday

…As he visits ailing Mbazulike Amaechi in hospital

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Monday, visited the defunct office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Enugu to confirm that the facility has been closed in compliance with the Federal Government’s directives based on the demands of the protesting youth against SARS brutality in the country.

Gov. Ugwuanyi who was accompanied by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Miletus Eze and his Information counterpart, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, was received by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Abdurrahman, who took him round the facilities including the empty cells.

Speaking, the Commissioner of Police confirmed to the governor, who he described as “the most-friendly and security-disposed governor” that the SARS unit has been closed accordingly and the eleven detained suspects evacuated from the cells, saying: “Today, we don’t have SARS in Enugu”.

In his remark, the State Attorney General, Mr. Eze disclosed that the Judicial Panel of Inquiry recently constituted by Gov. Ugwuanyi to investigate complaints of police brutality or related extra judicial killings, as demanded by the protesters, will be inaugurated on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Gov. Ugwuanyi also visited the ailing first Republic Minister and prominent Igbo chieftain, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, who is in a hospital in Enugu and wished him quick recovery.

Chief Amaechi who expressed delight that Gov. Ugwuanyi visited him assured the governor that he will recover soon to reunite with his loved ones.

Enugu State is in the hands of God!

#amokelouis #nairaland

Reps To Bar Courts From Sacking President, Governors


A law to bar courts and election tribunals from voiding the election of a President-elect and governors-elect, because of blemishes in the educational qualifications of their running mates, is underway in the House of Representatives.

The Bill to that effect, obtained on Monday, by VANGUARD, is entitled: “An Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to Preserve the Elections of a Candidate to the Office of the President and Governor whose running mates are found to have Defected in their Qualification”.

The Bill, sponsored by Rep. Solomon T. Bob (Rivers-PDP), seeks to alter ” Section 142 (1) of the Principal Act, by “inserting a proviso to the subsection as follows: Provided that a person who has been elected to the office of the President shall have his election voided or cancelled by sole reason of any defect in the qualification of his associate nominated as his running mate”.

The Bill alters Section 142 of the Constitution, “by inserting after subsection 2, a new subsection 3(3) where a candidate has been elected to the office of the President and his running mate, has been found by a competent Court or Tribunal not to possess the requisite qualification for that office as prescribed by subsection 2 of this section, his election shall not be voided by the sole reason of such defect, but shall nominate another candidate from a same political party, which sponsored him to occupy the office of the Vice President”.

Section 187(1) of the Constitution, is amended by the Bill, “by inserting a proviso to the subsection as follows: “Provided that a person who has been elected to the office of the Governor, shall not have his election voided or cancelled by the sole reason of any defect in the qualification of his associate nominated as his running mate”.

Section 187 of the Constitution, is also altered by ” inserting after subsection 2, a new subsection 3″, to state that: ” where a candidate has been found by a competent Court or Tribunal not to possess the requisite qualification for that office as prescribed by subsection 2 of this section, his election shall not be voided by the sole reason of such defect, but shall nominate another candidate from the same political party, which sponsored him to occupy the office of the Deputy Governor”.

The Bill explains that “it seeks to alter the Provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to preserve the elections of candidates to the office of the President or Governor whose deputies, have been found to have deficiencies in their qualifications”.

#vanguard

Treasure Nduka, EndSARS Protester: Policemen Arrested, Forced Me To Take Off Bra

Treasure Nduka, one of the #EndSARS protesters arrested in Lagos, says she was beaten by more than 10 police officers and forced to take off her bra in their presence.

Speaking with TheCable, she said the police officers at the Ojuelegba station where she was arrested and detained, shot at protesters and labelled her a criminal.

As the #EndSARS protests spread across the country, there have been reports of security operatives clamping down on youths expressing their displeasure over the growing rate of police brutality in the country.

“At first, it was empowering seeing that a couple of youths were able to make that much impact and at a point, those that were stuck in traffic joined us in the protest. They came down to sympathise with us. It was really peaceful at the beginning. We didn’t know it was going to the extent of police shooting at us,” Nduka said.

“When the shooting started, I refused to believe that they were shooting. It sounded like a knockout. We heard the first one from afar and we saw people running, but I insisted that we should take our stand. I was not doing anything wrong, so I didn’t feel the need to run. All of a sudden, I saw a bunch of policemen come out and then I realised that this is actually for real.

#nairaland

Lawyers Protest Absence Of Substantive CJ In C’River


Lawyers under the aegis of “Concerned Lawyers in Cross River” on Monday embarked on a peaceful protest to demand the swearing-in of a substantive Chief Judge(CJ) in the state.

The Lawyers, who displayed placards with different inscriptions, such as: Cross River deserves a Chief Judge, No Chief Judge no access to justice, Cross River Judiciary in want of leadership, among others.

The lawyers called on the executive arm and legislative arm of governments in Cross River to immediately appoint a substantive Chief Judge as recommended by the National Judicial Council.


They also called on the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to provide judges and magistrates with official vehicles as he did to members of the state executive and legislature.Spokesperson for the lawyers, Enome Amatey, said the appointment of a CJ had never been so politicised in the state as it was currently.



“The admirable tradition of succession in the Judiciary should be respected and upheld. The uncertainty created by the unavailability of a substantive Chief Judge in the state is unhealthy.“One wonders what will happen after the current acting Chief Judge’s tenure; another acting Chief Judge”?. This certainly is not the interpretation of the letters of the constitution.

“We call on the executive and legislature in the interest of the state to do the right thing and fill the vacancy in a substantive capacity as doing so will be absolutely fair,” he said.

He lamented that over 100 cases including fundamental human rights applications filed by citizens could neither be assigned nor heard.Similarly, another NBA member, Effiom Ayi, who said that the state had been without a substantive CJ for 11 months, called on the state government to restore the names of the 40 magistrates in the Ministry of Justice that were illegally removed and their owed salaries paid them.

He however, urged the state government to award contracts for the building of more courts, renovation and furnishing of all existing state courts in Cross River.Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Eno Edet said that the state judiciary had been without an administrative head for more than 300 days, adding that the development was not healthy for the state.According to her, the Judiciary is an arm of government and not a department “hence, the judiciary should not be without a head.

“The NJC has recommended Justice Akon Ikpeme to be sworn in by the state government as the substantive CJ of the state.“As at now, there is no just cause why they rejected swearing her in. Our protest is to draw government’s attention that the right thing must be done in line with the constitution,” she said. (NAN)


#orientdailynews

CP Condemns Murder Of #endsars Protester In Abuja

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Bala Ciroma, has condemned the attack on one Anthony Unuode, a member of ENDSARS protesters in Kubwa area.

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the FCT, ASP Mariam Yusuf, said the victim was attacked by hoodlums who infiltrated the ranks of the ENDSARS protesters.

She said that the assault on Unuode resulted in him sustaining injuries that led to his death on Saturday.


Yusuf said the CP had called for calm among protesters following a clash between the ENDSARS and PROSARS protesters at the Central Business District of Abuja on Monday.



She said that preliminary investigation into the clash had revealed that no life was lost, but added that one vehicle was set ablaze.

The PPRO said the CP had ordered discreet investigation into the incident and urged protesters to be law abiding, peaceful and shun all forms of violence.

She pledged the commitment of the CP to ensure the protection of lives and property in the FCT.

Yusuf urged the public to reach the command on any of the following numbers: 08003913803, 08061581938, 07057337653 or 08028940883 for emergency or distress call.

According to her, for report of conduct of police officers, call the Public Complaint Bureau (PC on 09022222352.(NAN)


#orientdailynews

NMA President Decries Worsening Health Indicators In Nigeria


The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says the statistics of health indicators in the country, which have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, is clearly unacceptable to Nigerian doctors.

Prof. Innocent Ujah, the NMA President, made this known on Monday in Lagos at the association’s press briefing in celebration of the 2020 Physicians’ Week .

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Physicians’ Week is an annual weeklong event in all the state branches of the NMA.


The week is used to celebrate all doctors, who are contributing to effective healthcare service delivery and health research in Nigeria. It also use the opportunity to review events of the healthcare sector in the past 12 calendar months.

Theme for 2020 event is: ‘’Strategy for Health System Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria’’, while sub-theme is “Dental Caries: The Four-Pronged Fork”.

Ujah said that the worsened healthcare indicators portend a great danger and threat to the nation’s survival, even as it had just celebrated the 60th independence.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic must jolt the Nigerian Government to adequately invest in healthcare system.

“This calls for more strategic and focussed planning and actions as no meaningful development can take place in a society where disease and deaths are ravaging the potential leaders and the hopes of our tomorrow.

“We must reverse this ugly trend very quickly, since there is no time to waste any more,” he said.

The NMA leader said that for Nigeria to achieve the objective of improved healthcare, there must be health strengthening that include improved service delivery, health workforce and health information systems.

Ujah said that other building blocks of health strengthening include: improving access to essential medicines, paying more attention to healthcare financing and ensuring good governance in leadership at all levels.



He added that the country must honour its Constitution and the international human rights treaties it ratified that guaranteed all citizens the right to health.

“The right to health include: ensuring availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health care goods, facilities, and services,” the NMA president said.

He said the “Abuja Declaration” was a significant political commitment that supports African countries’ obligations to fulfill the right to health, urging Nigeria to fulfill its pledge of committing 15 per cent of its total budget to the health sector.

“COVID-19 must mark a turning point for healthcare financing and healthcare services.

“The present moment offers a unique opportunity to strengthen our health systems, through greater access to life-saving technologies, improvements in critical subsystems, long-term investments in institution building, capacity building and leadership development,” Ujah said.

He recommended that for the government to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to its people, the National Health Insurance Scheme should be made compulsory for all adult Nigerians.

According to him, there should be an establishment of Health Bank and intensification of Public-Private Policy (PPP).

The NMA leader stressed that the government should, as a matter of urgency, implement an upward review of the current abysmally poor hazard allowance paid to doctors and other frontline health workers in the public service.

He said that giving incentives to healthcare workers would motivate them to work harder and give their best.

“As of Oct. 8, there were 1,031 doctors who were exposed to Coronavirus in Nigeria, and 321 confirmed cases; sadly, 16 mortality rate of 4.98 per cent of our members were painfully lost in the battle to save the lives of Nigerians.

“This the prize we have to pay in obedience to the Hippocratic Oath,” the NMA leader said.

He appealed to Nigerians to continue to be vigilant and maintain all COVID-19 safety guidelines, especially now that Nigeria appeared to be flattening the curve with the rate of new infections decreasing.(NAN)

#orientdailynews

Enugu Protesters Want Police Reformation, Decentralisation


A coalition of youth groups in Enugu State declared on Monday that the Nigeria Police Force would do a better job if it was reformed and decentralised.

The leader, Dr. Mkginger Ibeneme, said in Enugu on Monday at a rally demanding for the scrapping of the Federal Special Robbery Squad (FSARS) that youths in the state had had their fair share of SARS brutality.



He said that beyond the on-going peaceful protests to end police brutality, “Nigerians need good governance, good medical care, while education should be accessible to all. We demand for accountability from our leaders.’’


Ibeneme said youths in Enugu State would organise candle light processions in honour of victims of SARS brutality on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and also at the Michael Okpara Square, both in Enugu. (NAN)

#orientdailynews #endsars

Edo Govt Declares 24-Hour Curfew



Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has imposed a 24-hour curfew across the state until further notice.

Obaseki’s directive is contained in a statement by Mr Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to the State Government.

According to the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Benin, the curfew will take effect from 4 p.m. on Monday.


“This decision has become necessary because of the very disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on private individuals and institutions by hoodlums in the guise of #endsars protesters.



“While the government of Edo State respects the rights of its citizens to undertake legitimate protests, it cannot sit idly when hoodlums have taken laws into their hands to cause mayhem on innocent citizens and the state.

“By the directive, schools and businesses are to shut down activities accordingly. Those who cannot move safely are to stay put between now and 4pm till calmness is restored.

“Parents are advised to rein in their children, youths and wards, to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“The responsibility of government is to protect lives and property and maintain law and order. Therefore, anyone found outside in violation of the curfew would be dealt with according to the law.” (NAN)


#orientdailynews

NUC Accredits 15 Courses For Arthur Jarvis Varsity


The National University Commission (NUC) has given full accreditation for 13 courses in Arthur Jarvis University in Calabar, while two others were given interim accreditation, the Vice Chancellor of institution, Prof Ani Nkang, has disclosed.

Nkang, who stated this during the 4th matriculation ceremony of 262 new students which took place at the institution’s campus in Akpabuyo, said the university scored 100 percent in the result of the October/November accreditation exercise conducted by the Commission.


“Furthermore, the university scored 100 percent in the result of the October/November accreditation exercise conducted by the National University Commission, with 13 courses (87 percent) having full accreditation, while two others were given interim accreditation,” he stated adding that the university was issued a Full Statutory Licence to operate as a tertiary institution since June, having met all the qualifications following a 2019 review of initial provisional license.

While warning against social vices, Nkang said the institution was determined to take drastic steps against any student involved in cultism, rape, exam malpractices amongst others, and that such a one would not only be expelled but would also be handed over to law enforcement agents for prosecution.



He said the university would always provide best academic atmosphere for learning and therefore charged students to reciprocate the gesture by staying off crimes.

Prof Nkang disclosed that the new students, made up of 140 males and 122 females, were admitted into its five faculties and enumerated such faculties as those of Natural & Applied Sciences; Humanities, Management and Social Sciences; Basic Medical Sciences; Law as well as faculty of Education.

He said of the number, 64 students were admitted into Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences; 11 into faculty Humanities, Management and Social Sciences; 47 into Basic Medical Sciences and 34 into faculty of Law.

“I wish to re-emphasize that the university has zero tolerance to examination misconduct, drugs, secret cult activities, possession of dangerous weapons on campus, fighting, rape, stealing, impersonation etc.

“Such activities and behaviours are considered criminal offences, and culprits will be promptly dismissed from the university and further handed over to appropriate law enforcement agencies for prosecution. The random drug test policy of the university is still in force,” Nkang warned.

#orientdailynews