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Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former senior special assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, took to his Twitter account Monday night to declare that his enemies keep failing.
The embattled leader of the Labor Party was convicted on Monday of breaching the Money Laundering Act by an Abuja-based Federal High Court and was subsequently sentenced to two and a half years in prison or pay a fine of N13 million by 4: 30 p.m. yesterday. Okupe paid the fine before the deadline.
The PUNCH previously reported that Judge Ijeoma Ojukwu, the presiding judge, gave Okupe a fine option of N500,000 on each of 26 counts, totaling N13,000,000 for which he was found guilty in a lawsuit. presented for Economic and Financial Crimes. Commission of which Okupe was the first defendant.
If he did not pay the fine for all the charges he was found guilty of by the deadline, Okupe would have been sent to the Kuje Correctional Center.
Reacting to the court fiasco in a tweet Monday night, Okupe said his enemies keep failing, declaring that God is supreme over man.
He wrote: “God is not man. The enemies have tried in many ways, but they keep failing… Victory belongs to God”.
Earlier yesterday, Okupe in a tweet also said that “lies, fabrication and misinformation are their tools. But in the end they will fail and be put to shame. Doyin Okupe has not minced any shishi nor has it changed its base by 1 mm!!! We are moving forward until God frees us all from the perpetual raiders of this lost but glorious ark. Naha.”
The presiding judge, stating that the Money Laundering Act provided that no individual or organization would receive an amount greater than N5m and N10m respectively without going through a financial institution, held that "there is no evidence that the money has gone through a financial institution" and that Okupe was not a financial institution, and that although it was said that the president authorized the funds, he did not say that the money must be paid in cash.
Consequently, the court found Okupe guilty on counts 34, 35, 36 to 59 and released him from counts 1 to 33 because the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA. .
In counts 34 to 59 for which Okupe was convicted, he was accused of receiving various sums of money ranging from N10m on different occasions from 2012 to 2015 when he was Jonathan's assistant.
He said that said sum was spent on running his office, paying staff members and laundering the image of the former president and his administration. However, the court held that receiving such amounts in cash violated the Money Laundering Law.
In addition, The PUNCH also reported that the Labor Party leadership said on Monday that it would first obtain a copy of the court ruling that convicted Okupe, who is the Director General of Obi-Datti's Presidential Campaign Council, and study it before make a decision. position on the matter.
Credit: https://punchng.com/my-enemies-keep-failing-okupe-says-after-court-drama/Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former senior special aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was found guilty on Monday of receiving more than N200 million in cash from a former national security adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (ret.).
He was therefore sentenced to two years in prison by Judge Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja with a fine option of N500,000 on each of the 26 counts for which he was found guilty.
In delivering her sentence, Judge Ojukwu held that Okupe, who is the first defendant in the lawsuit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, violated the Money Laundering Law.
She said she had until 4:30 pm to pay the option of the fine totaling N13 million for all the charges he was found guilty of or to be sent to the Kuje Correctional Facility.
Judge Ojukwu, in sentencing Okupe, considered the clemency requests of the convict's wife, Omolola, and their son, Adesunkanmi.
Although he stated that the Money Laundering Act provided that no individual or organization would receive an amount greater than N5m and N10m respectively without going through a financial institution, the judge held that "there is no evidence that the money has gone through a financial institution". and that Okupe was not a financial institution, and that, although it was said that the president authorized the funds, he did not say that the money must be paid in cash.
Consequently, the court found Okupe guilty on counts 34, 35, 36 to 59 and released him from counts 1 to 33 because the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA.
In counts 34 to 59 for which Okupe was convicted, he was accused of receiving various sums of money ranging from N10m on different occasions from 2012 to 2015 when he was Jonathan's assistant.
He said that said sum was spent on running his office, paying staff members, and laundering the image of the former president and his administration. However, the court held that receiving such amounts in cash violated the Money Laundering Law.
Shortly after his conviction, Okupe's lawyer, Francis Oronsaye, pleaded with the court to moderate justice with leniency because the defendant was a first-time offender, a family man who is also elderly and has health problems that currently is trying in Nigeria. and out of the country.
fine paid
However, PUNCH concluded that Okupe managed to pay his fine before the deadline and was allowed to leave.
A source said: “Okupe has paid; they returned with the bank papers around 4:25 pm. The court prosecuted it and everyone signed, including the EFCC attorney.”
Shortly after his release, Okupe tweeted: “God is not a man. Enemies have tried many ways, but they keep failing. Victory belongs to God."
labor party speaks
Meanwhile, the Labor Party leadership said on Monday that it would first obtain a copy of the court ruling that convicted Okupe, who is the director general of Obi-Datti's Presidential Campaign Council and study it before taking a position on it. regard.
Campaign council spokesman Yunusa Tanko revealed this in an interview with The PUNCH shortly after Okupe was convicted.
Credit: https://punchng.com/money-laundering-okupe-pays-n13m-escapes-two-year-jail/
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A fact-check report by the Daily Trust has indicated that the claim that Dr Reuben Abati, host of Arise News' Morning Show, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for raising N500 million of funds illegal was "partially true".
A Twitter user @AbiolaYaqub had alleged on Thursday, December 15, that Abati, former special media adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arrested by the EFCC for raising N500 million of illegal funds.
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Furthermore, it alleged that the funds were paid to Abati through the office of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
Verifying the claim, the Daily Trust stated that their verification revealed that in October 2016, the EFCC arrested Abati and Bala Mohammed, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who is now the governor of Bauchi State.
The anti-corruption agency later revealed that Abati received N50 million from the embattled former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
In addition, Abati reportedly told investigators that he spent the N50m on media relations related to his work as Jonathan's media adviser.
But when asked for evidence of how the money was spent, he said such details were not documented.
read also
Abati was not charged or convicted. A few days after his arrest, the EFCC released him on administrative bail.
The newspaper concluded that the claim that Abati was arrested for collecting 500 million naira of illegal funds is misleading because the amount in question is 50 million naira.
However, it is true that the Arise TV host was arrested as claimed.
In a separate report, the APC Presidential Campaign Council has insisted that the party's candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will not attend the town hall debate hosted by Arise TV.
This was disclosed in a lengthy article written by Bayo Onanuga and Dele Alake in response to Arise TV owner Obaigbena's article.
Source: Legit.ng
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Credit: https://www.legit.ng/politics/1509946-reuben-abati-arrested-n500m-dasuki-gate-fact-emerges/
A Twitter user @AbiolaYaqub said Thursday that Dr. Reuben Abati, host of the Arise News Morning Show and former special media advisor to former President Goodluck Jonathan,...
According to the Twitter user, the funds were paid to Abati through the office of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
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Twitter user @AbiolaYaqub on Thursday tweeted an image of three people, including Abati and former Minister of State for Defense Musiliu Obanikoro, saying: “This is Reuben Abati of Arise TV in EFCC custody for raising 500 million naira from the Dasuki arms funds deal. Today, the same Abati works with Nduka Obaigbena, owner of Arise TV, created with money destined to fight the insurgency, but he complains about insecurity”.
The image has generated around 1,500 likes, more than 1,000 quote tweets, and retweets.
Claim 1: Image of Abati in custody of the EFCC
The Daily Trust submitted the image posted by @AbiolaYaqub and found that the image was cropped as the full image comprised a group of five people, including a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode.
Although Google's reverse image search was unable to determine the exact location where the image was taken; whether at an EFCC facility or not, as it first appeared on the internet, the Daily Trust can confirm that all the people in the full image at the time it was taken were members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP).
Claim 2: Reuben Abati collected N500m from the NSA
Checks carried out by the Daily Trust revealed that in October 2016, the EFCC arrested Abati and Bala Mohammed, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who is now Governor of Bauchi State.
The anti-corruption agency later revealed that Abati received N50 million from the embattled former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
In addition, Abati reportedly told investigators that he spent the N50m on media relations related to his work as Jonathan's media adviser.
“He said that the details of the relations with the media are never documented,” the EFCC sources said.
Abati was not charged or convicted. A few days after his arrest, the EFCC released him on administrative bail.
Credit: https://dailytrust.com/fact-check-was-reuben-abati-arrested-over-n500m-dasuki-gate/
The editors of THISDAY and Arise Television have accused Bayo Onanuga and Dele Alake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council of silencing free and fair journalism.
In a Monday release, the news organizations said they had begun to run into problems with the campaign council after they published a report on the death of one Mueez Adegboyega Akande, an associate of Bola Tinubuwho was allegedly named by US authorities in a drug trafficking case in 1993.
The editors of THISDAY/Arise said that Onanuga, the media director of the campaign, denied the link between the above person and Tinubu and pretended to be one Kolapo.
“In light of these ongoing attacks aimed at bullying and silencing free and fair journalism, we will now set the record straight,” the publication reads.
“In a statement he made on November 21, 2022, Onanuga accused THISDAY of belittling Kolapo, a doctor and “a few years ago Accord Party candidate for the House of Representatives.”
“But a quick internet search showed that the Accord Party candidate in question was indeed Mueez. Where was Onanuga's professionalism in passing Mueez for Kolapo? Has he verified his story as a journalist of decades?
The media platforms said three online news outlets that published Mueez's campaign poster as the Accord Party's candidate have since removed it from their websites.
The news organizations said the media should not shy away from investigating candidates associated with alleged drug trafficking.
They insisted that APC standard bearer Tinubu give a satisfactory response to the circumstances surrounding the forfeiture of funds to the US government.
“It is a national security issue that all patriots must seek answers to – it touches the very core of our nascent democracy and even our political stability. We need full and complete answers about all the circumstances leading up to the forfeiture," they said.
“We recall the case of Manuel Noriega, the Panamanian leader who helped the US rise to power between 1983 and 1989, and whose involvement in drug trafficking later led to the US invasion of Panama, and his capture, trial and conviction in Miami .
“Nigeria cannot afford a Noriega moment, despite some acrobatics from APC spokespersons trying to cover up the forfeiture of funds linked to drug trafficking.
“Let the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) have investigated?
"We need their reports and clarity, regardless, on this most important national security issue about the 2023 election with implications for our democracy."
The THISDAY/Arise editors also accused the Tinubu campaign of filing requests to remove THISDAY editor Shaka Momodu and The Morning Show co-host Rufai Oseni from their current positions.
The organizations noted that despite the "unwarranted attacks," they will continue to provide honest coverage of the Tinubu campaign.
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The editorial boards of ThisDay Newspaper and Arise News Channel have accused All Progressives presidential candidate Bola Tinubu of trying to silence the news outlet and the Nigerian media and force them to dance to the candidate's tune.
The Council also called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to investigate and publish the report on Tinubu's involvement in drug trafficking in the United States . years ago.
This is stated in a joint statement that ThisDay and Arise sent to THE WHISTLER on Monday titled 'Tinubu and THISDAY/ARISE Media Group and the Attack on Free Speech'.
Matters between the APC presidential campaign board and THISDAY/Arise board of directors went bad after the latter published a report on November 18, 2022 claiming the death of Mueez Adegboyega Akande, an associate of Tinubu, also named in an investigation into drug trafficking in the US in 1993.
But the APC PCC denied the report, accusing the paper of bias and that ThisDay/Arise mixed up the identities of two brothers.
“Unknown to ThisDay, their imaginary hibernating Kolapo was an Accord Party candidate for the House of Representatives several years ago,” said Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity, APC PCC.
In the statement, ThisDay/Arise insists: “To date we have not heard from the family. The fact is that errors in reporting the death of someone who may not have died are not uncommon in the media. But then a quick statement from the family of the deceased.”
According to the paper, despite the lack of a statement from Mueez's family denying his death, members of the APC PCC have continued to attack the papar.
The statement read: “In at least four separate press statements and interviews over the past three weeks, the APC PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, and his Strategic Communications Advisor, Mr. Dele Alake, rather than actually responding to the issues or sending a petition to our Ombudsman, have variously accused the group of bias towards its nominee, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“They are wrong. Truth and its pursuit, and reporting facts is not prejudice. The duo has brought unprofessionalism, recklessness, picayune politics and blackmail to a new art form.”
Reports and public space documents allege that the APC presidential candidate was shrouded in a drug charge in the US, where he forfeited $460,000 to the US government.
The statement added: “It is important to state that for the sake of national security, foreign policy and national interest, any candidate seeking to become President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will not shy away from media attention regarding any link with drug trafficking, or being associated with someone so involved, no matter how tangential.
“It is a national security issue that all patriots must seek answers to: it touches the very core of our nascent democracy and even our political stability. We need full and complete answers about all the circumstances leading up to the forfeiture.
“Nigeria cannot afford a Noriega moment, despite some acrobatics from APC spokespersons trying to cover up the forfeiture of funds linked to drug trafficking.
“Have the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) investigated? We need their reports and clarity, regardless, on this most important national security issue of the 2023 election with implications for our democracy.”
The board further accused two senior APC campaign officials of separately requesting that THISDAY editor and columnist Shaka Momodu and Rufai Oseni, co-host of The Morning Show on ARISE News, be removed from their current roles.
According to the board, failure to comply will be severely punished if their director, Tinubu, becomes president in the 2023 presidential election.
The board noted: “We also note that two senior APC campaign officials had separately requested that THISDAY's editor and columnist, Shaka Momodu, and The Morning Show co-host on ARISE News, Rufai Oseni, be moved from their current positions. to stop the attacks. or get a reprieve from a future Tinubu presidency.
“The editors of THISDAY Newspapers and the ARISE News Channel want to state without question that we do not fire journalists for their opinions. Facts are sacred and opinions are free is the age-old saying that all free-thinking men subscribe to. We give our editors the freedom to express their views freely and have established the Office of the Ombudsman to deal with any complaints and to sanction any abuse of office by any of our staff.”
Retired Major General. Babagana Monguno, the President's National Security Advisor (NSA), says that Nigeria recorded 52 acts of political violence in 22 states from October 8 to November 9. Monguno said this at an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security. (ICCES) hosted the National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Friday. He described the situation as bad and said it required urgent attention. Monguno said that President Muhammadu Buhari has given the green light to all security agencies to deal decisively with individuals or groups. trying to prevent the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election. “The president has also given his directive through me to all law enforcement and operational intelligence agencies to ensure that the 2023 election is held in an atmosphere free of rancor “The president is extremely pleased with the outcome of the elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states and he wants to see such a performance repeated. “A manifestation of the will of the people will triumphant over any obstacle that might dismantle the democracy we seek to protect. “I want to assure you that the security agencies have received clear instructions to prevent and deal with any situation in which any group, organization or institution decides to act. embark on what we consider to be a fundamentally criminal enterprise to be undertaken,” he said. Monguno added: “Whether it is isolated incidents, collected group activities.” It's not important. The important thing is that all Nigerians can cast their votes. And those votes must count.” He said that individuals or groups who attempt to commit illegal acts in connection with their political affiliation will receive a significant penalty.
“To those people who are pulling the strings, who control these groups that have a propensity to unleash violence, those people who have mobsters working for them, I want to send a very, very clear warning.
“A categorical and unequivocal warning to everyone regardless of party, including the president's party.
“As long as you decide to scupper the electoral process, law enforcement agencies will be equally uninhibited and will react to whatever action you have taken, you will be visited with an appropriate or proportionate response. "I want to assure you and me." I am saying this in all sincerity,” she said.
The NSA urges those who organized elements that caused chaos during the election to call their supporters to order. Mongono said security and intelligence agencies have already been tracking down some of the masterminds. Speaking, Police Inspector General Mr. Usman Baba warned those planning to undermine the 2023 general election to reconsider or be put on the book. Baba said that the police were committed to ensuring that the 2023 general election was peaceful and credible. him urging political actors to play games to allow security agencies to protect them. He said that since the beginning of the election campaign there have been incidences of party rallies and campaigns being disrupted through violence. Baba said that the police have made some arrests, while investigations are being carried out and some suspects prosecuted.
He called for the speedy administration of justice and proper punishment for those who had been arrested for election offenses to deter members of the public.
“Punishment and rewards are necessary tools in any environment. “It is our hope and prayer that now that we do not have an Electoral Court to prosecute electoral crimes, we are urging our courts that have handled our cases thus far to hurry up.
"This is important, so that those who have been found guilty or who we have established have a case to answer are punished," he said. INEC President Prof. Mahmood Yakubu called for urgent action to address attacks on commission facilities before the 2023 general election.
“The two simultaneous attacks on our Abeokuta South Local Government Area offices in Ogun and the Ede South Local Government office in Osun on Thursday necessitated this meeting. “Secondly, the series of attacks during election campaigns is increasing instead of decreasing. in the attack in Ede Sur it was minimal, that in Abeokuta Sur was extensive.
"The destroyed materials include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting booths, 8 electric power generators, 57 electoral bags, 30 megaphones, 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voter Credentials (PVC) and a series of other miscellaneous items such as stamps and tampons," he said. . .
Yakubu said INEC was taking urgent steps to repair the damaged building and replace facilities in Ede South Local Government Area to get the office back up and running immediately.
“For the Abeokuta Southern Local Government Area office, the destruction was total. Accordingly, the Commission is relocating our staff to the former state office (also known as the INEC office annex) in the Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta.
“All activities related to the 15 registration areas (wards) and 445 voting units in the Abeokuta South local government area will henceforth be coordinated from the new location in Oke-Ilewo.
“Similarly, the Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was ordered to compile the Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) of all 65,699 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) lost in the attack from our database and send the record for immediate reprint. " he said.
Yakubu assured that no registered voter would be disenfranchised in the affected area as a result of the cowardly act.
Regarding the avalanche of physical attacks during the ongoing political campaigns and rallies, Yakubu said that so far the INEC has tracked 50 incidents in 21 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The commission is concerned that if urgent and decisive action is not taken, the attacks will intensify as we get closer to the election date. As we all know, a peaceful campaign heralds peaceful elections. We need to take decisive action to stop the ugly trend.
“As a body, ICCES brings together the security and other agencies responsible for securing the process and ensuring peaceful elections in Nigeria. Nigerians understandably expect decisive action from ICCES.
“It is important that we move quickly to apprehend the perpetrators, prosecute them as necessary, tighten security around election officials and election infrastructure across the country.
“As we have said on several occasions, the election is a multi-stakeholder activity that involves not only INEC and security agencies,” he said. Yakubu assured that the election in 2023 is credible despite the challenges.
“The attempt to sabotage or weaken our determination will not prevent us from conducting transparent elections in which only the votes cast on election day will determine the winners of the elections.”
edited
Source Credit: NAN
The National Security Advisor (NSA), retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno says that the smart approaches taken to address the agencies' security challenges are paying off. Monguno said this at the opening of the Annual Conference of Defense Advisors and Attachés, organized by the Intelligence Agency, on Monday in Abuja. The week-long conference is themed "Sustaining Nigeria's Defense and Security: The Role of the Defense Attaché System." The NSA said the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies have made efforts to meaningfully address security threats across the country. He said he identified some of the threats to include insurgency and terrorism in the Northeast and secessionist agitation in the Southeast and Southwest. Threats also include illegal oil supply in the South-South, and banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the Northwest and North Central areas. Monguno said that the military and security agencies had recorded a high degree of success in all operations, as well as substantial levels of peace and stability in the northeast and northwest. This, according to him, is clearly evident in the massive surrender of terrorists and their sympathizers, particularly in the Northeast. "Similar degrees of success are also recorded in other areas of the country, especially in addressing oil theft and secessionist activities, among others." Monguno insisted on the need to strengthen regional cooperation to further guarantee the success of ongoing military operations. “I must also mention the support of our neighbors in our regional counterterrorism efforts, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). “The transnational nature of today's threats has made regional cooperation sorely needed. “In addition, we have continued to strengthen collaboration with our international partners in terms of capacity building and strategic intelligence sharing. "These strategic alliances are driven mainly by the Attaché system," he said. The NSA praised the agency for strengthening alliances to promote Nigeria's regional and international interest. He said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to do everything possible to ensure that the country reached the desired level of peace, stability and prosperity. Monguno said defense advisers and attaches played a significant role in intelligence architecture estimates in partnership with foreign allies. He said that it was important for DIA to broaden its horizon to explore ways to improve indigenous capacity in the various dimensions of national security. According to him, the DIA has continued to play a central role in the intelligence community, particularly in providing technological capabilities and internal and external security assessments, mainly of a military nature. “This is a key function of the agency that the Chief of Defense Intelligence has performed with great zeal, commitment and determination under my coordination. “Therefore, I implore you to always provide us with timely and actionable intelligence to shape the global strategic landscape in our favor. “Let me also share with you from my experience, that developing strong partnerships and relationships in your host countries, as well as in the countries of accreditation, is very vital to a successful tour of duty as defense advisers and defense attaches. “Furthermore, I do not need to emphasize the general importance of his subordination to the ambassador or the High Commissioner, as well as the cordial relationship between the defense section and the embassy staff. “You should keep in mind that you are all military actors expected to perform established institutional tasks in a civilian setting. “This is why they were specially selected as elite transportation officers, considering that their work schedule involves dealing directly with civilian diplomats, which requires a great deal of tact and professionalism. “Furthermore, it is instructive that you align your responsibilities with the guidelines prescribed in the relevant portions of the 2019 National Security Strategy, the 2017 National Defense Policy, and the 2022 National Military Strategy,” he said. Monguno expressed his confidence that the outcome of the conference would strengthen existing strategies and propose new ones to address some perennial security challenges. The Chief of Defense Intelligence (CDI), Gen.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo said the annual conference provided the agency with an opportunity to assess the activities of its defense sections around the world. Adebayo said the conference was also about identifying new lessons, discussing modalities for common challenges, as well as strategizing for the future, especially as the election year approaches. He said the conference came at a time when the nation was facing unusual security challenges characterized by a volatile, uncertain and complex environment. Adebayo, therefore, said that the theme was carefully chosen to guide the deliberations and contributions towards achieving success in the counter-terrorism strategy and creating an atmosphere for security and sustainable national development. He said that the DIA had continued to play a key role in supporting the armed forces in dealing with the myriad security challenges they faced. The CDI added that special operations conducted in conjunction with other stakeholders, targeting different threat groups in the Northwest and North Central, were yielding the desired results. According to him, the nature of the threats posed by Nigeria reinforced the need for collaborative efforts between government departments within the security service and through foreign diplomats and defense attaches. “As we all know terrorist groups take advantage of foreign affiliations to maintain their franchise, the need for international cooperation to counter terrorist groups cannot be overemphasized. “Defense attaches and advisers have done well to obtain this cooperation from their accrediting countries and deny the same support to adversaries. “Importantly, the activities of secessionist groups that threaten our nation's corporate existence require collaborative action to overcome. “The need for continued re-evaluation of operational strategies and tactics and intelligence gathering and sharing methods to efficiently address our security challenges is very important at this time,” he said. Source Credit: NAN
The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Digital Economy Industry Working Group (DEIWG) to facilitate the digital economy agenda.
Prof. Isa Pantami,Minister, Communications and Digital Economy inaugurated the group at the closing ceremony of the Digital Nigeria Conference and Exhibition organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja.
Pantami,while inaugurating the group,charged the members to ensure the digital economy agenda was achieved through their efforts in line with the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He further said that Nigeria was doing well in the Ease of Doing Business in spite of the challenges which the government was working seriously to address.
According to the Minister,reducing the challenges on the Ease of Doing Business will ensure the success of the recent Nigerian Start-up Act(NSA) approved by Buhari on Oct. 19.
Pantami said: “When the administration of Buhari started,the global ranking of Nigeria on the Ease of Doing Business was 170, but recently we have moved 39 steps higher to 131.
“The government had initiated and implemented over 160 reforms and registering a business in Nigeria now takes less than 48 hours.
”
He added that the ministry would in the near future inaugurate a committee for the swift implementation of the NSA.
Dr Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (Research & Development) to the minister said the group was formed as an action group established as a Public Private Dialogue platform.
Adeluyi said the platform comprised of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group(NESG) and the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy,championed through close working relationship between the public and private sector leaders in the ICT industry.
Adeluyi said the group was designed to map out government initiatives and policies affecting the private sector as it pertains to the digital economy and ensure the growth of the digital industry in the country.
He said the objectives of the DEIWG would be to create framework for strengthening the immediate delivery of initiatives based on the eight pillars as outlined in the Nigerian Digital Economic Policy and Strategy (2020-2030).
“They will facilitate the creation of an Enterprise Programmes Management Office (EPMO) and funding mechanism which will serve as a framework of funding for DEIWG Secretariat.
“The group will formulate, in partnership with the government, mechanisms that drive and catalyse growth and increase investments in the Digital Economy.
“They will examine the current efforts by the Federal Government to digitally transform through policies, projects and programmes
and co-create a private sector response plan.
“Facilitate leadership mindset that is digital-driven for Shared Prosperity and Shared National Vision and drive continuity of the policies and enhance the institutional arrangement to drive the Digital Economy,” he said.
Adeluyi added that the group would call to action for private sector to take lead of the creation of the Nigeria Digital Economy showcasing the opportunities in the E-Government Masterplan and Digital Economy Policy and Strategy.
The DEIWG has the Minister as the Chairman, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa,Director-General of NITDA as well as other Chief Executives of agencies under the ministry as members.
Members from the private sector include Mr Laoye Jaiyeola,Chief ExecutiveOfficerof NESG,as Private Sector Co-Chair and Ms Funke Opeke of MainOne,Mr Sim Shagaya of uLesson,among others.
Meanwhile, Director-General of NITDA,Mallam Kashifu Inuwa,said that the government would take into cognisance issues discussed at the conference,adding that the government was a listening one.
Inuwa encouraged participants and the youth, while promising that the government was willing to work with the youth to make Nigeria a global talent factory.
“We have reviewed our potential during the conference and have understood that for us to create wealth,it has to be through innovation,”he said.
The D-G added that stakeholders needed to work within the legal framework and keep supporting the government towards achieving a digital economy because the political will and talent were available.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has called for safer medication practices to reduce risk of errors and deaths during the administration of drugs.
The NSA made the call while addressing news conference on Sunday in Abuja to commemorate the 2022 World Anaesthesia Day celebration which is celebrated on Oct. 16.
The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Medication Safety’.
The National President of NSA, Prof. Elizabeth Ogboli-Nwasor, highlighted the role of anaesthesia in global health and calling for safer medication to eliminate any mistake or errors that might results to death or cost implications.
” Unsafe medication practices and medical errors are the leading causes of avoidable harm in health care across the world.
“It is projected that five per cent of all patients who are admitted to a hospital experience a medication error.
” An average hospital will have one medication error every 23 hours or one in every 20 admissions.
Those errors result in severe patient harm, disability and even death.
“Globally, the cost associated with medication errors has been estimated at $42 billion annually,” she said.
Ogboli-Nwasor who is also from the Department of Anaesthesia, Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, called on the government and drug manufacturers to ensure drugs were visibly labeled and should not be in the same ampoule with others to minimise errors.
According to her, some of the factors that contributes to medication errors include stress, fatigue, poor condition of training for anaesthetics and shortage of anesthetists to carter for the Nigerian populace.
She noted that administretion of the right drugs with appropriate dosage to the right patient and at the right time would reduce some of the errors in medication.
Similarly, Prof. Saidu Yakub, who is also an anaesthetist Consultant at the ABUTH, Zaria, stressed the need for government and stakeholders to synergise in curbing fake drugs.
“When we administer medication or when a fake drug is supplied, It means that one has to continue to administer it to the patient because the patient may not respond due to low potency of the drug.
“Also, in that process, there will be excess medication administered to that patient, which may lead to harm.
“But if you administer the appropriate medication with the correct dose, the pain will go away and the patient would be able to sleep.
“So, we must do something about the issues of fake drugs,” he said.
Also, Dr Queeneth Kalu, a Consultant Anaesthetist in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital emphasised that hospital management team, doctors, nurses and engineers in charge of electricity supply were all critical towards achieving medication safety.
Kalu, while calling on the government to ensure uninterrupted power supply in hospitals, charge stakeholders to effectively discharge their responsibility judiciously.
NAN reports that the day seeks to celebrate the expertise that anaesthesiologists and the anesthesia community bring to improving medication safety practices and reducing medication errors.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
