Elevator Tragedy: Sanwo-Olu hands installer over to police for questioning

The Lagos State Government has handed the installer responsible for the faulty elevator that led to the death of medical doctor Vwaere Diaso at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, over to the police for questioning. NIGERIAN ANCHOR had reported that the incident occurred last Tuesday, prompting the government to initiate an inquiry into the accident. In a statement, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olumide Sogunle, stated that a panel has been set up to investigate the incident. The panel includes experts who will conduct a thorough mechanical and electrical examination of the elevator. The lift installer was immediately interviewed by the panel and handed over to the police for further interrogation to ensure his availability for additional questioning. Representatives of the medical associations and six house officers were appointed as witnesses and allowed to be part of the panel. The panel has been given 48 hours to complete their investigation, and a report of their initial findings is expected on Saturday. The appropriate authorities will take any necessary further actions based on the panel’s report. Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has continued its indefinite strike in three hospitals to protest the death of their colleague. Further updates on the investigation and the strike are yet to be confirmed by the appropriate authorities.

Stella Oketete not under our investigation- Code of Conduct Bureau

The Code of Conduct Bureau has denied reports making the rounds in some online media platforms that the Executive Director of NEXIM Bank, Stella Erhuvwu Oketete is under investigation by the Bureau. In a statement signed by the Director Investigation and Monitoring, Gwimi S.P. on behalf of the Chairman of the Bureau, and made available to the media, he noted that the information did not in any way emanate from their office, and as such, advised the general public to disregard the information. “The attention of the Code of Conduct Bureau, (CCB) has been drawn to the nefarious and deceptive letter with Ref No. CCB/HQ/11&M/NB/099 dated 21st March 2023 purported to have emanated from the Bureau on the above-named Public Officer being investigated by the Bureau in an online media, particularly published by the Sahara Reporters on the 29th July 2023. “The Code of Conduct Bureau wishes to state clearly that it has no hand in the information in circulation, as such the general public should disregard the letter and it’s content,” the statement said. NIGERIAN ANCHOR had reported that an Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Oladotun Hassan, asked the Nigerian Senate to disqualify one of the ministerial nominees, Stella Okotete, over allegations of corruption. Read more.. Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force also ordered a discreet investigation of Okotete over alleged falsification of documents and monumental fraud. The human rights lawyer ordered a proper investigation over the alleged use of various front companies as proxies to defraud banks of billions of naira and dollars. The petition called for a reversal of Okotete’s appointment, stating that she was not qualified to hold such a position. “Predicated upon our demand for the independent and conscientious thorough background investigation and profiling of the culprit’s academic credentials and sequence of events as stated in her unsubstantiated and ridiculously padded CV as follows: “To investigate her academic profile as regards her school’s records of exams, school fees payments and NYSC certificate, as well allowance payments during years of service. “To investigate her disqualification by the Senate and her noncompliance to Senate resolution and ruling is highly contemptuous and disobedience to the constituted authority of Senate,” the petition partly read. The Nigeria Police Force investigation order followed a petition by Barrister Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq of Juryman Associate Chambers against the ministerial nominee to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged falsification of documents, fraudulent misrepresentation of qualification to hold Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) statutory position, corrupt practice, monumental fraud and misappropriation. The lawyer in had in April, written a petition to the National Assembly through Akinyelure, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to look into the issue of the Executive Director of Nexim Bank.

Reps to probe illegal helicopters’ sale by NCAT

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has resolved to probe alleged sales of two training helicopters by the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State. The Committee Chairman, Hon. Ademorin Kuye said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday. The chairman said the committee attention was drawn to the development through media reports on July 30, 2023, on the purported sale of 2 Bell 206L-3 helicopters. He said the helicopters were public assets acquired for training pilots by the NCAT for N1.2 billion. “The Sale of the helicopters under the pretext of under-utilisation by the authorities of the College of Aviation in March 2023 has now become a symptom of the worrying trend of asset stripping.” This according to him cut across all sectors of the economy by all MDAs toward the twilight of the last administration. “This is in spite the offer of Nigerian Navy to acquire same and possibly use to address the security challenge facing the country in the area of oil pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft.” He said the committee equally felt the assets could have been converted to the use of Nigerian Police to fight banditry and insurgency in the country. He said the urgency in the sales and concession of public assets at the twilight of the last administration called for suspicion since the supposed approval was gotten from that administration. He said it was only right that the new administration is allowed to be part of the completion of the sale process if there were no hidden agenda. He said the committee would investigate the sale of those important training national assets to ensure that due process was followed and that the country was not shortchanged in the deal. The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, had said it auctioned two helicopters at 556,200,322USD (₦1.2 billion), because of under-utilisation. The Rector and Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Capt. Alkali Modibbo, told newsmen on Sunday in Zaria that the two Bell 206B – III model helicopters were disposed after satisfying all due diligence. Modibbo explained that a Federal Government licenced auctioneer, Messrs Tresmo Nigeria Limited, was appointed to dispose the affected helicopters sequel to the approval and valuation reports obtained from the Federal Ministries of Aviation and Works, respectively. According to him, the auctioneer paid $275,782,661.25 and $280,417,661.25 (totalling ₦1.2bn) vide FGN Remita receipts bearing reference numbers 3008-4333-3046 and 1008-4304-1098, accordingly.

Certificate Scandal: Court orders probe of lawyer prosecuting Stella Oduah

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the arrest and investigation of a lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed, for filing a criminal charge against Sen. Stella Oduah in the name of the EFCC while serving in the Nigerian Police Force. Justice James Omotosho gave the order shortly after Mohammed announced appearance for the Nigerian Police in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/275/2023 filed against Oduah. When the matter was called, Oduah, who was the sole defendant in the case, and her lawyer, were not in court. The drama, however, occurred when Justice Omotosho asked Mohammed if the defendant had been served. The prosecuting lawyer told the court that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in the case informed him that Oduah, who represented Anambra North Senatorial Distinct in the 9th National Assembly, could not be served because when she was called on phone, and she said she was indisposed. The judge then asked who signed the charge which the lawyer was holding and which office was he representing. Mohammed responded that he was seconded to the EFCC but redeployed back to the police in November last year. He added that he resumed at the legal department, Police Headquarters in January. Justice Omotosho, who inquired further, asked why he signed the charge on June 22 when he was no longer in the anti-graft agency since November 2022. The lawyer said he mistakenly put the EFCC in Benin as his office while preparing the charge. The charge has the Legal and Prosecuting Department, EFCC, No 1, Court Road, GRA, Benin City as the prosecuting lawyer’s address. Responding, Justice Omotosho said: “Will a reasonable man believe you? You will go to EFCC and explain this. I will call for an investigation of the counsel. The judge, in a short ruling, however, ordered Mohammed to be handed over to the anti-corruption agency for a thorough investigation. “In view of the fact that Ibrahim Mohammed signed this charge on June 22, and has admitted that he left the EFCC in November 2022, this court makes an order that the EFCC investigates and reports back to the court. Counsel shall report to EFCC immediately,” he declared. The head of the police in FHC, Titus Okuba, led Mohammed out of the courtroom. The EFCC was expected to arraign Stella Oduah before Justice Omotosho today (Tuesday) on allegations bordering on perjury and document falsification. The ex-lawmaker is being accused of misrepresenting facts about whether or not she participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and was issued a certificate to that effect. She was alleged to have falsified documents with which she got into public offices, including being a minister and a senator in the fresh charge.

Abuja Building Collapse: FCTA sets up panel, vows to sanction culprits

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has set up a committee to determine the immediate and remote causes of the collapse of a three-storey building on Monday at Dape in Life Camp. Abuja. The Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, stated this during an assessment visit to the site. Adesola said that the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Shehu Ahmad, would chair the committee, to determine the immediate and remote cause of the collapse. He added that the committee, would also establish culpability, whether from officials of the administration or external persons. He noted that the operating practice of engineering was very clear, with Codes for all kinds of offences, adding that the FCTA, would invoke all the penalties and sanctions when investigation was concluded. “Until investigation is concluded, this site is permanently closed. “I want to assure the public that all factors are considered when a property is duly authorised by Development Control, but in this case, there were some variables that were not taken into consideration. “The development control directed that all work should be stopped to enable the FCTA advise appropriately, but the developer continued,” he said. Earlier, the Director, Development Control Department, FCDA, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, said that the site was Plot 965 within Dape District, allocated to one Nazia Building and Civil Engineering Company Ltd. Galadima said that the plot was allocated for a mix-use development in 2019 for a commercial and residential facilities on a three suspended floor. He added that the developer was asked to stop the project, following some observations, particularly that the topography was not reflected in the initial design. “We also noticed that the site was sloppy and swampy, and so we asked the developer to submit his design for reassessment. “In the course of the development, there was an alteration and the developer was asked to stop work on the site until the modifications are integrated in the design. “Also, the building failed our integrity test, indicating that it will collapse. Regrettably, the developer mobilised workers to site on Monday, and the building collapsed,” he said. Galadima said that the title right of the developer on the land has been revoked in line with FCTA policy whenever a building collapse. He stressed the need to prosecute all persons found culpable. On his part, the Director-General FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alhaji Abass Idris, said that the agency received a distress call about the building collapse around 3:30 p.m. on Monday. Idris said that agency immediately mobilised stakeholders to the site for rescue operations. “In the process, nine people were rescued alive and were taken to hospital, of which six were discharged while three are still receiving treatment,” he said. Also, Emeka Ozioko, Chief Inspector, Engineering Regulation Monitoring, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), said that the council’s panel would also investigate the causes of the collapse. Ozioko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene, that if the engineers were found wanting, they would lose their professional license and face other penalties. “The problem in this country is that nobody is punished for doing wrong. The moment a person is sent to jail to suffer for causing the lives of citizens, others will sit up. “Let us all deal with the rules and whoever has violated the rules let him suffer for it,” he said. Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, also told NAN that officials of the institute have taken samples to determine the quality of the construction. Duna identified some of the factors that lead to building collapse as unprofessional practice, quackery, lack of proper assessment of soil properties, use of substandard materials, and non-adherence to professional procedure, among others. On his part, Mr Kenedy Aimiuwu, Chairman, Practice Committee of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, attributed some cases of building collapse to unprofessional practices. Aimiuwu said most of the builders in construction sites were not professionals, as such, lacked the requisite knowledge of the dangers of unwholesome practices. An adjoining building, believed to be an event centre, was earlier demolished by officials of the FCTA Development Control department. The director of the department said the action was necessary to forestal the collapse of another structure. According to him, the demolished building was a “disaster waiting to happen”, due to visible cracks around it, as such “it had to be demolished before it kills people”. 

4 killed in Ibadan-Oyo Expressway auto crash

Four persons lost their lives to an auto crash on the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway on Saturday while many others were injured as the bus involved in the accident somersaulted several times. Unit Commander of the FRSC at Atiba, Oyo, DCC Bayode Olugbesan, blamed the accident on over speeding and overloading. Olugbesan said the 14-seater bus was carrying 20 persons when the accident occurred. He said corpses of the dead had been deposited at the mortuary of the State Hospital, Oyo. “The bus, conveying all-male passengers was travelling toward the northern part of the country when the accident occurred,’’ he said. “The bus was designed to carry 14 passengers, but was loaded with 20 passengers,’’ he noted. Olugbesan appealed to road users to be careful while driving, and to avoid over speeding, overloading and night travels.