26012020 - How bad an example was set in Zamfara

PAGE 44—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2020
Falana, others s kick against
killings, detention of journalists
By Chris Onuoha
& Onozure Dania
edia experts and
Mhuman right activists
in Nigeria are displeased
with killings and illegal
detention of journalists by
state and federal
governments.
They spoke yesterday in
Lagos at a public forum
organised by the
Committee of Media and
CSO groups and activists
under the theme: ‘State of
Media and Citizens
Freedom in Nigeria.’
The forum, coordinated
by Mr Femi Falana,
Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (SAN) and human
rights activist, had in
attendance seasoned
journalist, Khadaria
Ahmed; Mr Lanre
Arogundade; Nigeria
Union of Journalist
NUJ,Lagos Chapter
Chairman, Dr. Quazeem
Akinretin and Professor
Bola Akinteriwa, among
others, and deliberated on
vital issues affecting the
free practice of journalism
in the country.
Falana, in his speech,
charged the media to
direct attention more on
the National Assembly,
state and federal
governments who, he said,
were trying to shrink the
freedom of expression of
the media in the country.
He cited the cases of Agba
Jalingo and Omoyele
Sowore who were detained
for months and charged
for terrorism and
treasonable felony.
Falana said that
By Harris Emmanuel,
Chioma Onuegbu and
Chinazo Alozie
INITIAL fears of tension
that foreshadowed the
supplementary polls in 28
constituencies materialised
in some areas, yesterday, as
the Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC, concluded the 2019
general elections.
Apart from voters apathy and
logistics challenges in some
areas, some electoral officers
were abducted with election
materials in Akwa Ibom.
However, they were rescued
by the police who
apprehended their
abductors. A chieftain of the
People’s Democratic Party,
PDP, and Commissioner for
Trade and Investment,
Prince Ukpong Akpabio,
alleged that election
materials for six units in Ward
5, Akpautong in Essien
Udim’s rerun poll were
recovered in a politician’s
house in the area.
Akpabio did not mention the
name of the politician he
alleged was a member of the
All Progressive Congress
Congress, APC, in the area.
Akpabio spoke with
newsmen after casting his
ballot, saying that the
hoodlums who carted away
the election materials had
been arrested and taken to
the State Police Command,
Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
Ukpong disclosed that
INEC’s Ad hoc officers
including an Electoral
Officer who were abducted
with materials were released
while the suspects were
whisked away.
journalists are the
watchdog of the society
and must hold
government accountable
for every of their action.
He stressed that the list of
journalists in detention
was long and
embarrassing, adding that
the Governor of Kaduna
State said his jurisdiction
was not limited to his state
alone. Akinteriwa spoke
on the challenges facing
journalists and suggested
that the way forward was
for the media to address
the menace.
He said the attitudinal
disposition of the media
counts in carrying out its
duties, pointing out that
the killing of journalists
was not restricted to
Nigeria alone but a global
challenge. He, however,
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike with the children of Late
Dr Ferry Gberegbe , Khana Local Government Area PDP Governorship
Election Agent, who was murdered by FSARs Operatives at the Bori
Collation Centre, during a funeral Service in honour of Late Gberegbe at
Betem town yesterday
o 11 1 stat
ates
Lassa fever er spreads to 1
support states in
strengthening their
preparedness and response
•29 killed, 195 cases confirmed capacity. Over the last three
T
weeks, NCDC has deployed
he Nigeria Centre for coordinate response ( WHO), United Nations
Rapid Response Teams to
Disease Control activities on the disease. International Children’s
support five of the affected
(NCDC) says 195 In a statement last night, the Emergency Fund
states. The Honourable
cases of Lassa fever have centre said the national (UNICEF), US Centre for
Minister of Health,
been confirmed and that 29 EOC which was set up on Disease Control, and other
Dr.Osagie Ehanire led a
deaths have been reported January 24, includes partners.
high-level delegation to
in 11 states as of January representatives of the It said two health workers
Kano State on the 25th of
24.
National Emergency in Kano state have been
January 2020, following
The centre said of the Management Agency confirmed dead.
the deaths of two health
confirmed cases, 89% are (NEMA), federal ministry of The centre also said rapid
workers infected with Lassa
from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi. agriculture and rural response teams have been
fever. In addition, NCDC
The NCDC said it activated development, federal deployed to support five out
has rapidly increased risk
a national emergency ministry of environment, of the 11 affected states.
communications and
operations centre (EOC) to World Health Organisation “The NCDC continues to
He said: “It took the
strength of Nigeria Police to
recover the stolen materials
in the politician’s house.
The Ad- hoc staff were
abducted and forced to
thumb print the ballot papers
instead of the voters including
one of the Electoral Officers
assigned to the area.
“Those arrested were too
many such that the police
called prison officials to
transport them to the state
police command.”
It was gathered that four
corps members were
abducted by the suspected
thugs.
Sunday Vanguard saw the
arrested suspected political
thugs being conveyed in two
prison trucks from Essien
Udim to Police
Headquarters, Uyo.
The Police Public Relations
Officer (PPRO) Nnudam
Frederick, Chief
Superintendent of Police,
confirmed the arrest of some
persons in Essien Udim.
He said: “Some persons have
been arrested for their
involvement in electoral
violence in Essien Udim local
government area. And some
persons are in custody as I
speak to you. Investigation is
ongoing.
“You know, I am in the field
with you, so I cannot
categorize the number
persons in custody
undergoing investigation.”
The CP however adjudged
the exercise peaceful and
orderly in all the polling units
in the local government area.
The poll was generally
peaceful even as election
results were being returned to
the Collation Center at
Ukana located at Methodist
School, Ukana (Okop-
Akama) as at the time of
filing this report.
In Imo, the Okigwe North
Federal Constituency, the rerun
elections witnessed a low
turn out of voters. Only a few
areas had a good number of
voters. There was also late
arrival of materials and
commencement of polling in
some areas.
Areas that were hit with voters
apathy in Isiala Mbano
local government area
included 013, Umuneke
Village Anara; 001,
Central school Eziama;
community engagement
activities to ensure that
IMO, A/IBOM: Voter apathy, hitches, bickering
mar supplementary polls
•Police arrest thugs, allegedly recover election materials
•Ad-hoc staff abducted, rescued by police
T
he management of
Michael Okpara
University of Agriculture,
Umudike (MOUAU), Abia
State has cleared the Vice
Chancellor, Prof Francis
Otunta, of allegations of
sexual harassment levelled
against him by a female staff
member of the institution.
It disclosed that the
allegation was a product of
frustration and vendetta by
the said staff because she was
disciplined in line with the
extant rules of the University.
In a statement signed by the
Registrar and Secretary to
Council, Mrs Jacinta N.
Ogwo-Agu, MOUAU
declared that Prof Otunta “at
no time or place did harass
physically or sexually anyone
as he has no need to do so”.
The university was reacting
to allegations of sexual
harassment by a staff
member.
stated that Nigeria media
is the most vibrant in
Africa despite the
challenges it encounters.
Khadaria Ahmed said that
freedom of the press is
non-negotiable, adding
that the problem with the
Nigerian media is focusing
too much attention on
government and ignoring
the responsibility of others
in the industry.
“We have selfish media
owners who makes money
and do not protect their
workers and it is important
that we do it with nuance,”
Ahmed said.
“Nigerian media is not doing
enough soul searching and
that has not allowed us to
agree on one thing. The
media have been focusing on
tribal and religious issue in
the last six years,
undermining cohesion.”
008, Central school Anara;
and 014 Dialum Hall.
However, 002 community
school Eziama witnessed a
high turn out of voters.
When Sunday Vanguard
called on some stakeholders
at Orlu/Orsu/Oru East
Federal constituency, the
story was different as many
said that in some polling
units voters fully turned
out.
In Njaba state constituency,
it was same the story. It was
mixed fortunes in terms of
voters turnout.
speaking on the turnout, a
chieftain of the All
Progressives Congress, APC,
Chinedu Iwuala, said: “The
turn out is average because
this is not our voting strenght.
There were some hitches at
the initial time. One of the
card readers developed fault
and they made a call to the
INEC and the INEC brought
another card reader.”
MOUAU clears Vice Chancellor of sexual harassment allegation
It explained that the
accuser, alongside more than
100 other staff, was recently
“properly placed from her
previous position in line with
the approval given by the
Council at its 21st emergency
A
tlantic Hall School,
Lagos is set to launch N2
billion fundraising initiative
as part of the activities lined
up to mark the 30th
anniversary of its
establishment.
On February 1, distinguished
men and women will
assemble to give back to the
school which nurtured the
foundation of their success.
The school was founded in
1989 on the vision of five
women, namely Chief Mrs.
Taiwo Taiwo, Mrs. Eniola
Fadayomi, Lady Gbeminiyi
Meeting held from Monday,
May 13 to Thursday May 16,
2019”.
It also disclosed that the
accuser’s salary was
“suspended after she
travelled abroad and
Atlantic Hall School launches N2bn fund
Smith, Dr. Kehinde.O. Dina
and Mrs. Olabisi Towry
Coker, as well as other likeminded
trustees.
The institution has over the
years produced trailblazers,
inventors, care givers,
educators, administrators,
entertainers, and all-round
achievers at the highest level
of society both at home and
abroad.
It is against this background
that Atlantic Hall School’s
alumni will also embark on
a five-year transformational
agenda titled Charting a new
path; an agenda driven by the
absconded from her duties
without due authorization. In
line with the rules of the
University, her immediate
superiors reported her
absence from duty”.
notion “what got us here
won’t get us there”.
Activities marking the event
are the unveiling of the
Transformational Agenda,
showcasing of the
Ambassadors of the Decade,
an anniversary gala finale
and presentation of honorary
awards to distinguished
members of the alumni.
The fund raiser’s school target
are N300 million Atlantic
Hall Endowment Fund,
N200 million Solar Power
Initiative and the new N1.65
billion Multi-Purpose Hall
for the school.
Nigerians are aware of the
risks of Lassa fever and
measures to protect
themselves,” the statement
read.
“There has been a decline
in the case fatality rate of
reported Lassa fever cases
from 23.4% in 2019 to 14.8%
this year. NCDC continues to
support treatment centres
across states in the country to
effectively manage Lassa
fever cases.
“Nigeria is contributing to
research and other activities
for the development of a
Lassa fever vaccine. NCDC
and the three main treatment
centres in the country- Irrua
Specialist Teaching Hospital,
federal medical centre Owo
and Alex Ekwueme federal
teaching hospital Abakalilkiare
set to commence Lassa
fever epidemiological studies
that will provide data to guide
research and response
activities.
“The Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control remains
committed to protecting the
health of Nigerians. It is
important for members of the
public to practice good
hygiene and take measures to
protect themselves and their
families.”
*More Lassa Fever story
on page 27
Akinmade, others
emerge as Ondo
club gets new exco
lub 66, Idanre, yesterday,
Celected a new set of
executives to pilot its affairs
for the next few years.
It elected the Chairman of
Henry Pinner Glass Nigeria
Limited, Chief Henry
Olofingorite, as its new
President.
Also elected at the club’s New
Year maiden dinner was the
President
of
Telecommunications
Association of Telecomms
Companies of Nigeria
(ATCON), Engineer Sola
Teniola, as Vice President,
while Hon Kayode
Akinmade, a former
Commissioner for
Information in the state,
emerged as the General
Secretary.
Other elected officers include
the Commissioner for
Culture and Tourism in Ondo
State, Honourable Yemi
Olowolabi (Financial
Secretary); Mr. Korede
Adeyemi, Kunle Akinyelure
(Social Secretary); and Chief
Biyi Akinseye (ex-officio).