By Adenike Ayodele

Embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha , accused of defiling a 14-year-old minor has closed his defence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baba Ijesha is facing a six-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.

The charges were proffered against him by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

During Fridays proceedings, the defence counsel, Mr Dada Awosika (SAN), notified the court that the fourth defence witness, Mr Olukayode Ogunbanjo, was the last witness in the trial.

I wish to appeal to the court for the possible date of adoption of final written address, Awosika said.

Earlier, Ogunbanjo who goes by the alias, Pastor Jerosi, in his evidence claimed that Baba Ijesha and the minors foster mother, Ms Damilola Adekoya, alias Princess, werein a relationship.

Led in evidence by a co-defence counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran, Ogunbanjo told the court that he had worked with Baba Ijesha for over 15-years in the entertainment industry.

The witness, an actor and a comedian, told the court that Baba Ijesha was his friend and a colleague.

He revealed that Baba Ijesha got in contact with Princess during one of the shows he anchored called Orisun.

We were about five persons that used to do the show together. On that day, while the show was going on, Princess called on the hotline that she wanted to join our programme.

There was a day she called Baba Ijesha that he should come over to her place in Iwaya. I drove the car to her house in Iwaya.

When we got there, Ijesha prostrated to her mother and the woman said take good care of my daughter.

Baba Ijesha at that point revealed to me that he was dating Princess but she was taking the relationship too far, the witness said.

Under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, the witness, however, said he did not have any knowledge of what transpired inside the comediennes house.

On April 19, 2021, I will be correct to say that you were not at No. 13 Wellbow St., Iwaya, as a result, you do not know what transpired inside Princesss house?, Sule asked.

On April 19, 2021, I did not know what transpired inside the house as I was in Aguda in Surulere.

All I know is what I have said. I was not inside the house. I do not have any knowledge of what happened in the house, Ogunbanjo responded.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until June 6 for the adoption of final written address.

NAN reports that the defendant was arraigned on June 24, 2021. During the trial, six prosecution witnesses testified against him.

They are actress and comedienne, Princess, the 14-year-old minor, a child expert, Mrs Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, a medical doctor, Dr Aniekan Makanjuola, the Investigating Police Officer, ASP Wahab Kareem and a policewoman, Insp Abigail Omane.

The DPP closed its case against the defendant on Dec. 15, 2021 while Baba Ijesha opened his defence on Feb. 17.

Source: NAN News

Ruth Oketunde

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), says it is working with relevant agencies to ascertain the proximate cause of the fire incident at Karmo Market, located in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The Director-General, FEMA, Mr Abbas Idriss, said this in a statement by Nkechi Isa, Head, Public Relations Unit, FEMA, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an early morning fire razed the popular market, known for the sales of second hand clothing among other household items, on Thursday.

Idriss who commiserated with the affected traders on behalf of the FCT ministers, said that though there were no casualties during the incident, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The loss and accessors team of FEMA, NEMA, Traders Association, Area Council Local Emergency Management Committee as well as security agencies are on the field to get an estimated value of losses incurred by the traders.

FEMA was working with all relevant agencies to ascertain the proximate cause of the fire and would forward a full report to the administration after the investigations, he said.

The director-general commended the search and rescue team of FEMA, shop owners, security agencies, community leaders and the people of Karmo for their efforts in salvaging some goods and properties from the inferno.

He, however, appealed to traders not to reside or cook within the markets, while ensuring that they put off all electrical appliances to avoid a repeat of such inferno. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Doris Esa

The Federal Government says it will explore the potentials in the Chinese Juncao technology for the development of a stronger agricultural base for the country.

A statement by Mrs Eno Olotu, Deputy Director, Information in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Thursday explained that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said this would be done through the ministry.

Abubakar said this when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria , Cui Jian Chun visited him on Thursday, in Abuja.

The minister applauded China for its vast agricultural programmes and projects which he said has helped the country attain food sufficiency despite its huge population.

If China can feed itself with over one billion population, we can too. We are ready to leverage on the Chinese technology to also develop our agricultural base, he said.

Abubakar commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his focus and interventions in the agricultural sector, saying that it is a viable sector that would create jobs especially for the youth and boost economic development .

He assured the Chinese ambassador that the ministry was keen in partnering with China to share in the Juncao technology in grass feed for livestock farming, traditional medicine and in biomass energy for crop protection.

We want to harness on these projects to create more jobs for Nigerian youth.

Anything we do in agriculture is directed to youth empowerment, we will continue to collaborate and cooperate with China to actualise our goals, he said.

Earlier, Chun, said he was in the ministry to share areas of mutual, bilateral and economic benefits between Nigeria and China.

He said that China was ready to launch a 3-prone pilot project in Nigeria, using the Juncao technology.

Chun said that the Juncao grass grows faster with high yields and rich nutrition and is used for the alleviation of soil erosion and rocky desertification.

He explained further that the technology utilises Juncao raw materials to produce feeds, fertilisers, biomass energy, biological materials to support environmental protection and climate change response.

Mr Nasir Adhama, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs, said Nigeria and China had a lot to share together especially in agriculture.

Adhama, who accompanied the ambassador on the visit said, the nation would gain more if it taps into the vast potentials of China to develop the sector.

He also said that any country that wants to develop in agriculture and generate jobs for its youth, must partner with China for their expansive and innovative technology, adding that both countries would gain a lot in the collaboration. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says the agency has acquired new mechanical devices to further check substandard drugs.

Adeyeye said this in Abuja on Thursday while fielding questions from newsmen at the unveiling of 73 new vehicles procured to aid the operation of the agency.

She said that NAFDAC staff members were already working on uploading tools on laptops that would be used as devices to check unwholesome and substandard medicine.

This devices cost 57, 000 dollars each and we have 40 of them; it will be used to check the standard even if it is tablet or capsule, it will show whether it is fake or not.

It will go further to show the quantity of the medicine, as we plan towards attaining maturity level-four; this is part of what the World Health Organisation (WHO) wants to see that we have put in place.

We will also be doing track attrite, another device to track unwholesome medicine and other products, this is highly technical, she explained.

The NAFDAC boss added that the agency was doing everything within its power to check for unwholesome medicine.

On fake drugs, Adeyeye debunked the rumour that 70 per cent of medicines found in Nigeria were fake, saying this is complete lie from the pit of hell.

She said that if at all there were fake medicines in circulation, it should not be more than 13 to 15 per cent.

She said that it would take over one year to attain Certification of Maturity grade level-four, as it required the agency to also put many other things in place.

According to her, the agency has put so many things in shape before the Certification of Maturity grade level-three was recently granted to the agency.

She said that the agency was working to complete its new vaccine building as part of the criteria to achieve maturity grade level-four certification.

Now that Nigeria is a potential vaccine manufacturing country, the WHO expects a lot in term of regulations to enable the country meet up with maturity grade level-four certification, she said.

On equipment, Adeyeye said that since assuming duty as the director-general, she had procured 143 vehicles to aid the agencys operation and more would be purchase.

She expressed the hope that every staff of the agency would work in a conducive environment with adequate equipment to ensure productivity.

Mr Yusuf Suleiman, Chairman, NAFDAC Board of Trustee said that more offices are under construction to enable the agency move from analogue to digital.

Suleiman, represented by Dr Yahaya Bolaji, a board member said that the board would ensure the welfare of the staff. (NAN) ()

Source: NAN News

By Oluwafunke Ishola

A pulmonologist and consultant public health physician, Prof. Olufunke Adeyeye, says pneumococcal disease is not getting required attention, in spite the challenges arising from the disease burden.

Adeyeye, Professor of Medicine at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, said this during a virtual meeting on Adult Vaccination on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by Pfizer Biopharmaceutical Company.

Pneumococcal diseases are bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and can affect the lungs and other parts of the body.

It is a leading cause of severe illnesses globally, with the infection causing pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infection (sepsis).

Adeyeye noted that pneumococcal diseases are public health concerns globally and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

She said that a World Health Organisation (WHO) data revealed that 10 countries in Africa and Asia were among those with the highest numbers of pneumococcal infection globally.

The professor noted that the data showed that Nigeria accounts for five per cent of the total burden, holding a third place after India and China.

According to her, the population of Nigerians affected with pneumococcal disease is worrisome, noting that the infection leads to hospitalisation which has a significant economic impact on the patients.

She asserted that the disease could result in meningitis, noting that eight out of nine persons that have meningitis arising from bacterial pneumococcal die from the infection.

Adeyeye said that significant proportion of mortality from pneumococcal disease occurs among the elderly, especially those with co-morbidities, noting that preventive measures through pneumococcal vaccination in adults should be intensified.

She noted that vaccines are readily available, noting, however, that data, funding, adequate awareness and mobilisation should be intensified to enhance vaccine uptake.

The professor also stressed the need to erase the notion that vaccines were for children and pregnant women, noting that vaccines are important strategy that prevents people from being sick.

Also, Dr Ogugua Osiogbu, a Consultant Physician, said that adult vaccination was crucial and should be up-to-date, noting that immunity from childhood vaccines could wear off over time.

Osiogbu, Head of Geriatrics Unit, National Hospital, Abuja, said that vaccination reduces the incidence of disease among populations and the social and economic burden of the disease on communities.

Every year, thousands of adults in Nigeria become severely ill and are hospitalised because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent.

Many adults even die from these diseases. It is harrowing when I see young Nigerians die from liver disease which could be prevented through Hepatitis B vaccine.

By getting vaccinated, a lot of people can help protect themselves from much of this unnecessary suffering, she said.

She listed some adult vaccines to include Hepatitis A and B vaccines, Tetanus vaccine, Meningitis vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccine, Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, among others.

According to her, vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures against diseases.

She appealed to the three levels of government to evolve strategies that would bridge adult vaccination gaps by resolving issues of vaccine affordability to encourage more adults take the vaccine.

According to her, this can be done through a national immunisation programme for adults, or coverage of the vaccination through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Osiogbu noted that mass vaccination was pivotal to achieve Sustainable Development Goal three, reduce unnecessary hospitalisation and assist population live longer and healthier life. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, March 31, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian Army has denied the alleged report that its troops killed one Cyril Obruche in OvreEku community, a border town between Edo and Delta states.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, described the report as misleading, false and orchestrated to present the Army in bad light.

Nwachukwu said troops were not deployed during the protest when the unfortunate incident allegedly occurred at PRESCO Plc in the border community.

For the records, considering the sanctity of human life and the enormity of the allegation, the Nigerian Army formations under whose areas of responsibility the community fall conducted a discreet investigation that revealed that troops were not deployed to the said company, PRESCO plc.

The media report is not only misleading, but laced with falsehood orchestrated to present the NA in bad light.

It Is important to unequivocally state that no soldier was deployed at Ovre-Eku community, thus the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Master Cyril Obruche during the protest cannot be attributed to troops of the Nigerian army.

It is also pertinent to reiterate that, the corpse of the deceased is not in the custody of the Nigerian army, he said.

Nwachukwu extended the Nigerian armys sympathy with the family of the deceased and members of Ovre-Eku community.

He urged individuals or groups peddling the falsehood to get their records straight and desist from misinforming the public just to tarnish the image and reputation of the Nigerian army.

He assured Nigerians that the army would remain resolute in its resolve to respect the fundamental rights of the citizenry and adhere to extant rules of engagement in internal security operations.

The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Security Manager of the company, Mr Ahmed Rabiu, had earlier absolved the Nigerian army of any involvement in the incident.

In a letter dated March 30 and addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 5, the manager did not made mention of any involvement of soldiers in the incident. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on Thursday in Abuja, engaged relevant stakeholders in a validation meeting on nutrition guidelines to improve school feeding programmes.

Dr Umar Bindir, the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme of the ministry said that the aim was to have a globally acceptable document.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the validation meeting on nutrition guidelines of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme was organised by the ministry.

Bindir further said that the school feeding programme was aimed at boosting the enrollment of pupils as well as their nutritional status.

The objective of the guidelines is to identify national nutritional requirements and reduce micronutrients deficiencies.

We also need to promote nutrition best practices to strengthen the programme better.

The nutritional status is one of the most important components and objectives of the programme and this is what brought about nutritional guidelines that we are here to validate.

The guidelines are so important to us knowing that part of the role of the state government is to develop the menu being developed by the nutritional officer in that state.

We need to ensure that what is on that menu is of nutritional value and beneficial to the pupils nutritionally and academically, he said.

In her remarks, the minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq said that the school feeding programme began in 2016 and was implemented in 35 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory.

Umar-Farouq was represented by her Technical Assistant on National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Zainab Abubakar.

She said that the programme would provide one free nutritious meal to pupils from Primary 1 to Primary 3 in public schools nationwide.

According to Umar-Farouq, the school feeding is a collaborative programme between the Federal Government and state governments.

Also speaking, Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, National President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria said that the school feeding programme could be breakfast or lunch.

School feeding improves pupils school performance, alleviates hunger, increases school enrollment, and improves nutrition and health, Afolabi said.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the Bank of Industry (BOI) for creating more than nine million jobs in the last seven years.

He also commended BOI for disbursing over N1.24 trillion to 4.2 million beneficiaries in Micro, Small, Medium and Large enterprises.

The president made the commendation when he virtually inaugurated the Second Tower of BOI building, in Abuja on Thursday.

Buhari said that the bank had continued to successfully execute its mandate as a policy institution of the Federal Government, extending single digit interest rate loans to manufacturers.

He, therefore, commended the management of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and BOI for their contributions to the economic development of the country and wellbeing of Nigerians.

He said: In order to further enhance its capacity to impact the industrial sector on a transformational scale, I approved the issuance of a sovereign guarantee to help the Bank raise funds in the Eurobond market.

I am glad to note that the Bank has recently completed the transaction by raising 750 million Euros from international investors.

The proceeds of this Eurobond will be disbursed to Large, Medium

By Habibu Harisu

A Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has adjourned hearing in the case of five car dealers standing trial for allegedly violating Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regulations.

The defendants are: Shehu Ahmad, Shehu Mariga, Aliyu Dauda, Tukur Shehu and Umaru Yabo.

The defendants were arraigned along with their companies, Ijabah Motors, Jangwarzo General Motors, KGN Gumbi Motors, Daraja Motors 2 and Gamji Motors.

They were accused of allegedly failing to submit declaration of activities, in line with extant regulations on customer identification and rendition of returns on transactions to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML).

The defendants had pleaded guilty when case was first mentioned on March 17.

The parties were, however, asked to prove and defend their case, in the interest of justice.

At Thursdays sitting, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Saad Hannafi, led a witness, Ahmad Bello, an EFCC official who testified on non-compliance by the defendants and tendered exhibits, which were admitted by the court.

The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, adjourned the case till May 11 for prosecution and defence counsel to adopt their written addresses.

Omotosho ordered the defendants to continue with the bail earlier admitted by the court.

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Yauri

Dr Sufyan Ibrahim, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria, has said fasting is one of the medical remedies for the control of borderline type-2 diabetics and other ailments.

Ibrahim made this known during Ramadan Lecture organised by Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) ABUTH Chapter in Zaria on Thursday.

Ibrahim, who was also Amir of the association, described the one month fasting observed by Muslims during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar as a period of health enhancement.

He explained that glucose is the primary source of energy, within few hours of fasting the glucose would be used-up and the body would use fatty acid which are metabolised in the liver to form Ketone bodies.

He added that Ketone bodies are not just fuel used during periods of fasting; but are potent in signaling molecules with major effects on cell and organ functions.

He said ketone bodies are the efficient fuels for the brain and organs in the body where it regulates a lot of metabolic pathways that help increase sensitivities of cells to insulin for diabetic patients.

Most of the things we have in type two diabetic patients is that their cells were not utilizing the insulin that is available in their system thereby making their cells resistant to insulin.

Even though the body produces enough insulin the cells cannot use it appropriately.

Ramadan fasting helps to make their cells to be more sensitive to insulin; it also enable glucose to go into the body and allow the cells to function appropriately, he said.

Ibrahim said that fasting also helps diabetic patients to lose weight, adding that a lot of weight on its own is way of increasing cellular sensitivity to insulin.

He, therefore, advised diabetic patients who are already on drugs to take their drugs regularly.

Ibrahim said that apart from ameliorating insulin resistance and obesity; fasting reduces the occurrence of spontaneous tumors during normal aging and suppresses the growth of many types of induced tumors.

Earlier, Malam Abdulazeez Hassan, the Amir of the association said the lecture was aimed at sensitising the public on the benefits of Ramadan and its obligations.

He said the association had also concluded plans to reach out to the needy such as orphans and other less-privileged with some palliatives to enable them have a hitch-free exercise. (NAN)

Source: NAN News