The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero has narrated his ordeal in Imo State, saying he was dragged on the floor and beaten like a thief. 

Ajaero was assaulted recently in the South-East state as the NLC enforced an industrial action in the state. While the labour chief accused police authorities and the state government of masterminding the incident, the duo have denied any involvement.

Days after the incident, Ajaero recounted how he was almost beaten to a pulp.

“I was in the secretariat of the NLC and called some journalists to join and then some of the officials of the NLC so that we can address the press on the situation in Imo.

“It was then that the police led other people – in mufti uniform – and they came and withdrew about 20 security personnel that were there. And then the policeman arrested me and handed me over to thugs. One of his men, I don’t know whether that one is a sergeant or inspector said: ‘Oga, why don’t you take him instead of handing him over to these people?’

“He shouted at the sergeant and said, ‘Come on, shut up!’ And that was how they dragged me on the floor and took me to this bus with about seven people.

“I don’t know but I can’t explain the beating. You know, but they tied my nose, tied my eyes and tied everywhere and were hitting me with all manner of things. They were asking me why I was challenging Hope and that I should say my last prayer and that they were taking me to Njoba River.”

 Court Bars Strike, Police Launch Probe

Following the assault on the NLC president, organised labour picketed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. They barricaded the airport, leaving travellers stranded on Thursday, a move the Federal Government frowned on.

Although the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the NLC threatened a nationwide strike unless police authorities fish out the officers involved in the impasse, the National Industrial Court (NIC) has barred them from downing tools.

Already, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has ordered “investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault” and promised that “appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation”.

No fewer than 195 students at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, have completed their various programmes in the university with first-class Honours.

The University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, disclosed this on Friday in Akure, the Ondo State capital at a news briefing heralding the 33rd convocation of the institution.

Oladiji said the first-class students are among the 3,491 students who would be conferred with first degrees in the nine faculties at the forthcoming convocation of the institution.

The first female Vice Chancellor of the institution disclosed that out of the total number, 195 students have first class, 1,510 have second class honours (upper division), 1,515 students have second class honours (lower division) while 254 and two students are graduating with third class and pass respectively.

The vice chancellor added that Miss Oluwanifemi Favour Olajuyigbe, a student of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering is the best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.93.

She further disclosed that the university will also confer Postgraduate Diploma, Master and Doctoral degrees on 1,806 graduates.

According to her, “Postgraduate Diploma- 490, Postgraduate Diploma in Management – 61, Master of Business Administration- 86, Masters- 940, PhD-229 “.

“The 33 Convocation Ceremony begins today and peaks on the 17 and 18 of November with the award of Diploma and certificates, first and postgraduate degrees.

“One of the highlights of the events will be the Convocation Lecture with the title Knowledge and Research: The Foundation of. Prosperous Economy and it will be delivered by. Dr Bosun Tijani, Hon Minister Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy on Wednesday, November 16.

“FUTA aspires to be a world-class University of Technology and Centre of Excellence in Training, Research and Service Delivery. Currently, we have active collaborations with universities in the USA, UK, Germany, China, Brazil, India, and Ghana. The details are in FUTA’s Giant Strides XI.

“Visiting professorship and scholar positions for academics from the Diaspora have been instituted to enrich the quality of training and research in the University. Currently, 19 scholars have been engaged. They are from South Africa (6), Namibia (1), USA (1), UK (4) Canada (2), Germany (1), Malaysia (1) and Australia (2) and New Zealand (1).”

[Leadership]

THE Hamas government in the Gaza Strip said Friday an Israeli strike on the territory’s largest hospital killed 13 people.

“Thirteen martyrs and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike on Al-Shifa compound today” in central Gaza City, a government statement said, giving a toll AFP was not immediately able to independently verify.

Al-Shifa hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya said “Israeli tanks fired on Al-Shifa hospital”, while the Israeli military did not offer an immediate comment.

Israel reported heavy fighting on Thursday near the hospital, saying it had killed dozens of militants and destroyed tunnels that are key to Hamas’s capacity to fight.

The Israeli army has repeatedly accused Hamas of using hospitals, particularly Al-Shifa, to coordinate their attacks against the army and also as hideouts for its commanders.

[AFP]

TOTTENHAM Hotspur’s Ange Postecoglou made history today as he won the English Premier League Manager of the Month award for the third time in a row, with Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah claiming the Player of the Month prize.

The Australian adds the October prize to those he received for August and September, making him the first head coach ever to win the first three Manager of the Month awards available to him, and the first to claim the first three awards from the start of any EPL season.

Only three other managers have won the award for three consecutive months, with Postecoglou joining Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

Postecoglou is however yet to match Guardiola’s record run of four consecutive awards, which the Manchester City manager accomplished in the 2017/2018 campaign.

Spurs finished October at the top of the Premier League table, and were the only side to win all of their matches during the month. They achieved away wins over Luton Town and Crystal Palace, and a 2-0 home victory against Fulham.

Postecoglou topped a poll of a four-man shortlist, beating Guardiola, Klopp and Aston Villa’s Unai Emery after votes from fans were combined with those of a panel of experts.

Salah’s brilliant form throughout October led him to win the Premier League Player of the Month award ahead of five other nominees, including Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Brentford’s Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo.

With the win, Egypt forward Salah moves alongside Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie to earn the accolade for a fifth time, and now has more Player of the Month awards than any other active Premier League player.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo (six), Steven Gerrard (six), Harry Kane (seven) and Sergio Aguero (seven) have won the award more times.

The 31-year-old Salah joins Tottenham Hotspur pair James Maddison and Son Heung-min as this season’s Player of the Month winners so far.

 [NaijaTimes]

Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Council, Hon. Muhammed Danasabe Muhammed, is dead.

He was confirmed dead around 4:30am at a hospital in Lokoja, the state capital.

Muhammed was rushed to the hospital after he slumped at his residence.

He was said to have been active at series of political meetings in preparation for Saturday’s governorship election.

A family source said he was rushed to Shifa Hospital, Lokoja, shortly after he collapsed in the house at the late hours of Thursday.

“Doctors confirmed him clinically dead around 4.30am on Friday”, said a family member who craved for anonymity.

The deceased was from ward B in cantonment area of Lokoja.

He will be buried at the Unguwan Kura Muslim cemetery after Juma’at prayer on Friday.

Sympathisers were reportedly seen trooping into his family house on Friday morning at cantonment areas of Lokoja to condole the family over his sudden demise.

He is survived by his mother, wife and children.

The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lokoja, Talba Lakwaja, confirmed the incident in a statement.

“This is to notify the general public that the remains of the Lokoja Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Mohammed Dasebe Mohammed, will be buried at Anguwan Kura burial ground 2pm immediately after jummat prayer. The body will depart his family house at cantonment to Lokoja Central Mosque by 1:30pm,” he said in a statement.

[DailyTrust]

An appellate court sitting in Lagos, on Friday, upheld the election of Barr Peter Mbah as the governor of Enugu State.

The judgement was delivered by a three-man panel of the Appeal Court in a case filed by Barr Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party, LP.

The court affirmed the judgment of Enugu Tribunal delivered on September 9, 2023, by the Hon. Justice K.M. Akano led tribunal.

All the three issues which were subject of the appeal were resolved in favour of Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

More to come…

[DailyPost]

President Bola Tinubu on Friday described the death of  Nigeria’s first female Major-General, Aderonke Kale, as a painful loss to the country.

Kale, also the first female Commander of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps died on Thurday at the age of 84.

Tinubu, in a condolence statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, also sympathised with the Kale family, the Nigerian Army, and the society of medical practitioners in Nigeria on the passing away of one of their own.

Tinubu stated that as a pioneer in her field, the late Major General ” embodied the courage, professionalism, capacity, and resilience of the Nigerian woman”

The President prayed for the repose of the soul of the late officer and encouraged her beloved family to take solace in the peerless legacy she left behind.

[Punch]

The attention of the Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, OFR and other leaders of the apex Yoruba body has been drawn to a communique purportedly released in the name of Afenifere by the General Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseni, where Afenifere is said to fault the Supreme Court judgement upholding Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's election as the President of Nigeria.

This is far from the truth about Afenifere's leadership position on the matter. Let it be on record that Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, OFR and other Afenifere leaders are not privy to such ignominious press release, did not authorise it and do not subscribe to the seditious act such may portend.

It is merely an unfortunate misadventure of some Labour Party elements within the Afenifere fold who would rather drag the body's reputation in the mud to achieve whatever sinister and seditious end they might have concocted.

The world will recall that the Leader of Afenifere himself, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, OFR had congratulated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on his election into office, and also expressed solidarity over his victory at the apex court.

It is then clearly underhanded and mischievous to have such preposterous attack on the judiciary by intemperate elements within the fold, fanning the embers of national discords with political motives, using the name of Afenifere.

We are unequivocal in reiterating that Pa Ayo Adebanjo is the Acting Leader, who, in the natural and traditional order of Afenifere, is expected to defer to his leader who appointed him, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, OFR without reservations.

To do otherwise is to tread such ignoble path in national discourse as this unfortunate release reveals. The meeting recently held in Ogbo Ijebu, at no point raised or decided on the attack on the judiciary as the statements of the General Secretary seemed to portray.

The leaders of Afenifere would like to challenge Chief Ebiseni to offer the world, the true record of deliberations at the said meeting to confirm its concurrence with the communique he so released to the world. Afenifere believes that it is time for real governance beyond the politicking that the judiciary has sealed with the Supreme Court judgement.

We look forward to good governance from the federal, state and local governments, and are prepared to offer constructive feedback, counsel and criticism in the quest for a better Nigeria, and a prosperous nation with viable federating entities.

The ethos and structure of Afenifere vest the leadership authority in the Leader as the Olori Ebi, until such time that he joins his forebears, notwithstanding whoever he has chosen to act on his behalf. Pa Adebanjo is an acting capacity, hence finality rests with the Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, OFR. Lai ku egiri, enikan o gbodo fi awo e se gbedu.

Otunba Kole Omololu

National Organising Secretary – Afenifere

The Appeal Court, Lagos Division, on Thursday, reaffirmed Thaddeus Attah of the Labour Party as the duly elected House of Representatives member representing Eti Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos State.

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which sat at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, had earlier invalidated Atta’s victory. Attah who hails from Ekperi in Etsako Central LGA of State briefed Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to appeal against the tribunal judgment on his behalf. Ozekhome filed and argued the appeal before the three-member panel of the Court of Appeal,which on Thursday in Lagos set aside the previous decision by the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal.

The panel, in its unanimous decision, agreed with Ozekhome and held that the lower tribunal erred when it relied on the evidence of witnesses who were not party agents where elections were held or where elections were cancelled,but only came to tender Form EC 8 which they did not author before the court.

The appellate court further held that for the tribunal to conclude that the margin of votes where elections were not held or were cancelled can sway the votes cast, the list of registered voters must be presented before it. This was not done.
In addition, the court held that the “Voters’ register was never placed before the lower tribunal", adding that the tribunal merely relied on Form EC 8 brought by witnesses who were not even the makers.

The court also held that the elections were conclusive and faulted the tribunal’s directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a supplementary election within 90 days in specific polling units.
On the whole, the Appeal Court wholly set aside the judgment of the lower tribunal.
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, had, in a unanimous judgment, declared the elections inconclusive and ordered INEC to conduct a supplementary election within 90 days in 33 polling units where elections did not hold.
The Peoples Democratic Party candidate Bankole Wellington (Banky W), who was declared second in the polls, and the All Progressives Congress’s Ibrahim Obanikoro, had both filed petitions to challenge the elections of February 25, 2023.
INEC had declared Attah winner of the February 25 election, having scored 24,075 votes, while Banky W who was represented at the Court of Appeal by Chief Kemi Pinhero,SAN, scored 18,668; Obanikoro represented by Chief Abiodun Owoniko, SAN, scored 16,901 votes, respectively.
In his petition, Banky W had argued that the respondent was, at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election and that the election was invalid because of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
The popular music artist and actor had also contended that the Labour Party candidate was not duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes cast at the election.
Reacting to the judgment, Ibrahim Obanikoro in his X handle formerly Twitter, said, “I would like to congratulate Representative Jude Thaddeus Attah on his victory at the appeal court today.

“Let’s throw our support for him so that he will give us a good representation for the next four years in Eti-Osa.”

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to conduct a baseline survey on fake anti-malaria medicines in the six geo-political zones of the country and report back within four weeks.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance jointly sponsored by Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) and Ibe Osanwa (LP, Abia) at the plenary on Thursday.

Presenting the motion, Rep Osawaru said the use of fake drugs brought complications in treatment and increased the risk of death.

He noted that counterfeiting of drugs was almost ignored or at least largely underestimated and that it had now clearly emerged as one of the most dangerous threats to public health problems in Nigeria.

He said, “In June, 2018, NAFDAC was informed of the circulation of some fake varieties of anti-malaria drugs imported fraudulently from India.

“According to the research of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2022, it was estimated that 116,000 people died in Sub-Saharan Africa each year because of counterfeit malaria drugs.

“WHO’s Global Malaria Report (2023) states that 22 persons die every hour from malaria in Nigeria; making approximately 200,000 deaths annually.”

He noted that although important efforts had been made to fight against the criminal act by NAFDAC, much more needed to be done.