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The Delhi High Court has granted an Indian couple the right to use the frozen sperm of their late son, Preet Inder Singh, for surrogacy.
Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman agrees to carry and deliver a child for another person or couple, who will become the child’s parent(s) after birth.
It is often used as a solution for individuals or couples facing infertility, medical complications, or other barriers to conceiving and carrying a pregnancy to term.
BBC reported on Wednesday that this landmark ruling followed a four-year legal struggle after a hospital refused to release the sperm.
The couple expressed their joy, stating, “We were very unlucky, we lost our son. But the court has given us a very precious gift. We would now be able to get our son back,” Preet’s mother, Harbir Kaur, told the BBC.
Harbir Kaur and her husband, Gurvinder Singh, initiated legal proceedings after Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi refused, in December 2020, to release the sperm stored in its fertility lab.
Their 30-year-old son, Preet Inder Singh, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in June 2020 and admitted for treatment.
“Before he began chemotherapy, the hospital advised him to store his semen as the treatment could adversely affect the quality of his sperm,” Gurvinder Singh explained. Preet Inder, who was unmarried, agreed, and his sperm sample was frozen on June 27, 2020.
He passed away in early September of the same year.
Months later, when the grieving parents sought access to the sperm, the hospital denied their request, prompting the couple to turn to the Delhi High Court.
In their plea, the couple, now in their 60s, assured the court that they would raise any child born using their son’s sperm, and in the event of their death, their two daughters had undertaken responsibility for the child.
Justice Prathiba Singh ruled that under Indian law, there is no prohibition against posthumous reproduction if consent has been given by the sperm donor.
She noted that, in the absence of a spouse or children, Preet Inder’s parents were entitled to the sperm under the Hindu Succession Act, as they became his legal heirs.
The couple’s desire to use the sperm was driven by their wish to continue their son’s legacy.
Quoting Indian Express on Thursday, Hindustan Times reported that the judge, referencing the Hindu Succession Act, ruled that parents are entitled to their deceased son’s sperm as they are “Class-1 legal heirs.”
“He loved his sisters and was much loved by his friends. He is the screensaver on my phone. I start my day by looking at his face every morning,” Ms Kaur shared while declining to release a photo due to privacy concerns.
The family plans to keep the surrogacy within the family, with a relative offering to be the surrogate. Under Indian law, commercial surrogacy is illegal.
According to their lawyer, Suruchii Aggarwal, while the case is rare, it is not without precedent.
Meanwhile, TodaysFamilyLawyer on Thursday reported that last week, the judge ruled in favour of the couple, stating that “Indian law does not prohibit posthumous reproduction if the deceased has given consent.”
She acknowledged that “as Preet was unmarried and had no children, his parents became his legal heirs under the Hindu Succession Act and were entitled to access the sperm sample.”
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, has expressed its concern over the recent increase in petrol pump prices.
The National President of the association, Mr Dele Oye, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
Oye said that the prices, which had reached N998 and N1,030 per litre respectively, were placing a strain on businesses and households across the country.
He spoke on the potential economic consequences of the price hike, warning that the increase could lead to higher transportation costs, exacerbate inflation and severely impact small and medium-sized businesses.
According to him, the decision, influenced by several underlying factors, warranted careful examination of its potential repercussions on the economy, particularly in the realms of pricing for goods, services and transportation.
“With transportation costs directly tied to fuel prices, this increase will serve as a catalyst for higher freight charges.
“Given that fuel is a primary driver of inflation, the rise in petrol prices will exacerbate the already high inflation rate in Nigeria.
“Households will find themselves paying more not only for fuel, but also for everyday goods and services, prompting a vicious cycle of rising costs and economic hardship.
“The recent fuel price increase will have a profound impact on micro and nano businesses, many of which rely heavily on petrol generators to power their operations,” he noted.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has shared his preference for traditional Orisa worship over Christianity and Islam, citing a deeper personal connection and the non-violent nature of African spirituality.
In a recent interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka expressed that his faith in Orisa worship resonates more profoundly with him compared to the faith practices found in Christianity and Islam.
Soyinka emphasized that Orisa worship, as one of the indigenous African religions, promotes creativity and peace, distinguishing it from other faiths he has encountered.
He remarked on the importance of cultural heritage and the rich traditions associated with Orisa worship, asserting that these practices encourage a harmonious existence devoid of violence.
Soyinka said, “I was fortunate to be born in two worlds – the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers. My grandfather, until he – poor man – also got converted – he was an Orisa person and a chief, and his (grandfather’s) side (of Orisa) fascinated me a lot more.
“For me, it (Orisa worshipping) was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious. I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam and that is for a simple reason that I didn’t grow up in a Muslim environment.
“Orisa is open, and very ecumenical and that is why these foreign religions were able to penetrate it and even distort the truth. Because of the generosity of this spirit (Orisa), it is not violent. It is one of those African religions which eschew violence.
“I don’t believe in the Islamic or Christian God and for the adherents of these religions if that makes me an atheist, so I say, I am an atheist. I insisted that all human beings have a certain spiritual core in their being, I believe myself to be a more spirit-sensitive person.”
The literary icon also revealed that he said he doesn’t like to watch anything adapted from his life or works.
He said, “Let me put it this way, turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. It’s wrong to say it’s terrific, let me just say I’m detached from it.
“It takes me a while to bring myself to watch me.”
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has expressed regret over the failure of Dangote Refinery to disclose the exact price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
This lack of transparency has raised concerns among stakeholders in the petroleum sector.
Despite initial expectations that the commencement of petrol sales by Dangote Refinery would help alleviate the rising cost of fuel in Nigeria, the anticipated benefits have not materialized.
Since the indigenous refinery began operations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has continued to act as the intermediary, purchasing petrol from Dangote and selling it to other retailers.
In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast program, The Morning Brief, PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harris emphasized the need for improved communication between Dangote Refinery and the retail sector.
Gillis-Harris said, “As I speak to you this morning I don’t know what the Dangote price is all about. At this point in Dangote’s campaign into Nigeria, retail outlet owners like us should be able to know this is how much Dangote is willing to sell to us and we have kept that shrouded in secrecy up until now.
“NNPC came out and gave us a price template, that also did not tell us what is the exact price input from Dangote. So, we would encourage Dangote to open up space of communication, talk with all the stakeholders, get valuable inputs from everybody because it is a business that involves Nigerians, retail outlet owners like us, marketers and different consumers.
“So, there should be some level of business transparency even if it is a private business which we are so proud of that
Some Nigerian soldiers, who were attached to the Ojo Cantonment Barracks, have been accused of killing a policeman.
The soldiers, led by a yet-to-be-identified colleague, who was accosted for driving against the traffic around Volks Bus Stop, along the Ojo Iyana Iba Road area of Lagos State reportedly stabbed the policeman, Saka Ganiyu, to death.
PUNCH Online reports that the soldier, who was not wearing his uniform, while driving an unregistered T4 Volkswagen commercial bus against the traffic, was stopped by policemen on enforcement duty at Volks Bus Stop.
Angered by the action of the policemen, it was learnt that an altercation ensued and the soldier contacted some of his colleagues, who reportedly trooped out of the Ojo Cantonment Barracks and attacked the policemen.
A document chronicling the circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ attack on the policemen indicated that Ganiyu sustained varying degrees of injury during the attack and was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment.
“However, the injured Inspector (Saka Ganiyu) later died in the hospital while undergoing treatment. The corpse was deposited at the hospital’s morgue for preservation and autopsy.
“Meanwhile, the Commander 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, has been contacted and the erring soldier was taken into custody at their base,” the document read.
It was gathered that the identity of the soldier was yet to be revealed by the military authority as a thorough investigation by the homicide detectives had been initiated to ensure justice for the policeman.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundenyin, did not respond to calls and had yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile phone as of the time of filing this report.
The spokesperson for the 81 Division Nigerian Army, Olabisi Ayeni, when contacted for a reaction, said, “Let me do my findings and get back to you.”
He had yet to get back to our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
Thirteen repentant members of the deadly terrorist group, Boko Haram have reportedly fled with rifles and motorcycles handed to them by the Borno State government.
Premiumtimes reports that the 13 are among thousands of former Boko Haram fighters and their families who had surrendered to the government and were enlisted to join the military in fighting the ins-urge.
The escapees attached to the military operatives in Mafa fled their camp between the 1st and 2nd of September.
The report quotes Malik Samuel, a researcher with a deep understanding of jihadi groups in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region, as saying that eight ex-fighters first escaped from the camp on September 1 before five others followed suit the next day.
He said the escapees called Abdullahi Ishaq, a special adviser to the government on security matters, threatened to unleash more violence.
After their escape, the jubilant terrorists reportedly released a video brandishing the rifles.
The state government is yet to react to this development.
Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has urged the United Kingdom, UK, government to prevail on its Nigerian counterpart to release her husband.
Recall that Nnamdi Kanu has been detained since June 2021, when he was rearrested in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement on Thursday, Uchechi recalled a recent encounter with her son, stressing that Kanu’s absence is affecting their son’s life and causing him pain.
According to Kanu’s wife, the UK has always been the forebear of human rights and has a reputation for fairness, justice, and championing human rights.
Uchechi urged the UK government to urgently intervene in her husband’s case and accelerate his release from detention by the Nigerian government.
She wrote, “Over the weekend, after football games and other activities, our little one’s homework caught my attention.
“He was asked to extend a bit on a poem about the uniqueness of one’s self.”
“My son’s last paragraph read, no matter how much people think they know about our pain, nobody can feel the way I feel about the absence of my daddy in my life. Nor the exact pain it is causing us.
“The UK is the forebears of Human Rights. The UK has always had a reputation for fairness, justice and for being a champion of human rights.
“They played an important role in producing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights after the Second World War.
“Sadly, the recent governments have actively undermined this key legacy of their forebears.
“Help me push for the release of my husband, Nnamdi Kanu and other British citizens like him, who are in arbitrary detention and held hostage against their human rights.”
A 52-year-old man, Dr. Emmanuel Chimaobi Ugwumba was arrested by the Enugu State Police Command Operatives serving in the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, on September 28, 2024, for alleged child trafficking and forgery.
In a statement released, the command's spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said Ugwumba's arrest led to the interception of a public notice on an abandoned child he made, endorsed in the name of the Enugu State Ministry of Gender and Social Development as the director of OTZ, and published in the Daily Sun Newspaper of September 27, 2024.
Ndukwe said upon his arrest, he was found to be involved in child trafficking. One pregnant woman, the four-year-old publicised child and another two-year-old child, both female, were then rescued.
‘’Investigation revealed that the suspect, who claimed to be a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Jos, owns and manages Chima Hospital and Maternity located at Ugbaike Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area. It was further discovered that between 2017 and 2024, he conspired with an acclaimed staff of the Ministry and others at large to conduct anti-natal care and delivery of seven yet-to-be traced children from different mothers in the hospital.
The suspect was also found to be in unauthorised possession of different documents from the Ministry of Gender Affairs and unverified pest/vector certificates from the Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources.''
Ndukwe said the suspect has been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre pending a further hearing.
How Emefiele Bypassed Established Protocol In Naira Redesign - Ex-Nigerian Central Bank Deputy Governor Testifies
AFOLABI
On Wednesday, Edward Adamu, the fourth prosecution witness in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele, testified at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that Emefiele lacked the necessary approval from the CBN Board for the 2023 redesign of the naira notes, as mandated by regulations.
Adamu is a former Deputy Governor of the CBN.
The witness said the design also deviated from what Emefiele claimed was approved by then President Muhammadu Buhari.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Adamu disclosed that the usual process for currency redesign begins with the Director of Currency Operations submitting a proposal to the Committee of Governors (COG).
The COG then transmits the proposal to CBN Board for approval, with the final stage being the seeking of presidential endorsement.
He said Emefiele bypassed these procedures by simply calling for a COG meeting and presented what he claimed was a presidential approval and proceeded with the redesign, straightaway, a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said on Wednesday.
Adamu was quoted as saying, “I became aware of it in October 2022 when the governor informed us, the deputy governors, that he had gotten an express approval to redesign the currency.
“Then on the 26th October, 2022, we were formally informed of the presidential approval of the redesign, so that is what happened in October, then there was a formal announcement of the currency redesign.
“At the meeting, the governor showed us the approval of the president, by showing us the page where the approval of the president is. “Subsequently, there was a board meeting of the board of directors, where we were also informed of the presidential approval of the currency redesign.”
He further disclosed that the current designs of the notes fundamentally differ from what was originally approved, stating that Emefiele unilaterally made the changes. The redesign affected N200, N500, and N1000 notes.
When the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, sought to know if there had been instances where a presidential approval was gotten for an action before the CBN Board was informed, the witness stated that such was not the practice during his time at the apex bank.
Justice Maryanne Anenih discharged the witness from the dock at the end of the cross-examination and adjourned the matter till October 17, 2024 for continuation of trial.
The Federal Government is exploring gas reticulation systems for urban buildings in Nigeria and has established a Technical Working Group (TWG) to develop a policy for safe and efficient gas distribution.
Gas reticulation involves a network of pipes supplying gas directly to buildings, a practice common in developed countries for efficient energy delivery.
This initiative, led by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, aims to improve urban gas distribution with a focus on energy efficiency and safety.
The TWG, a collaboration between the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), was inaugurated by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Amb. Nicholas Ella.
Amb. Ella highlighted that a key tool in achieving such cities is adherence to the National Building Code, which provides guidelines for building design, construction, and post-construction stages.
“Most modern cities in developed countries have evolved to energy smart cities where energy, specifically gas and other utilities are piped to districts and estates.
“However, one of the key tools in creating energy smart city is the National Building
Code which, in essence, sets the guidelines on Building Pre-design, designs, construction and post-construction stages,” he said.
He outlined the benefits of reticulated gas systems, noting that they allow for metered gas supply, similar to water and electricity services, eliminating the need for frequent manual refills.
Additionally, he explained that these systems enhance safety by using buried pipes and advanced safety equipment.
More insight
The TWG is responsible for designing a comprehensive policy to establish best practices for gas distribution using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Piped Natural Gas (PNG), and Bio-Gas in Nigeria’s building sector.
- Its tasks include reviewing the National Building Code, assessing global standards, and recommending quality standards for materials used in gas installations.
- Amb. Ella stressed the importance of rigorous safety protocols and urged the group to consider environmental sustainability in their recommendations.
- The TWG is expected to submit its report by November 15.
- Mr. Samson Opaliwah, Chairman of CORBON, assured the council’s commitment to collaborating with the TWG.
- He highlighted CORBON’s expertise in ensuring the safe integration of gas infrastructure into buildings and estates across Nigeria. He emphasized that their efforts would result in standardized guidelines for safe and effective gas systems, supported by a skilled workforce.
- This initiative aims to address gaps in Nigeria’s gas supply chain, ensuring a reliable and safe gas supply to urban areas.
The Federal Government hopes that by resolving issues associated with manual refills and inefficient distribution, the quality of life for residents will improve, supporting broader economic growth.
[Nairametrics]
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Lagos State government has lamented the state’s poor participation in military recruitment.
During a quarterly meeting with the Chairman and members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Ikeja, the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, noted that the state is lagging in terms in terms of military recruitmentas only a few individuals apply from the area.
Salu-Hundeyin stated this on Wednesday, stressing that the nation’s security is a collective responsibility and that serving in the military constitutes a significant contribution to the state and the country.
She expressed concern over the low enrollment of local youths in the military, particularly highlighted during the recent recruitment drive.
Furthermore, she noted that the Federal Government has mandated that military recruitment should be evenly distributed, with each state allocated 150 positions.
“We discovered that in the military in Nigeria, Lagos State has been seriously short-changed. We hardly have people there. So, we are looking at this opportunity now, that it should not escape indigenes again.
“The military is about the security of a nation, and the security of any nation must be everybody’s business.
“It should not be for a particular group only, but because everybody cannot wear uniform, the government, in its wisdom, now says those of you that want to do this job, you will apply.
“Unfortunately, in Lagos State, our children don’t like to join the military. They don’t see any reason they should be part of the army. If your state does not participate, you are short-changing your state,” Salu-Hundeyin said.
A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a case brought by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria that challenged the implementation of the Band A electricity tariff review by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and 11 other entities.
A statement by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on Thursday stated that the judgment was delivered on Monday.
In the judgment, the court was said to have considered all the parties’ arguments and ruled that MAN’s suit was an abuse of the court process, being premature and without due regard to the provisions of Section 51 of the Electricity Act 2023.
“The court also held that MAN’s case disclosed no reasonable cause of action as it had not exhausted the dispute resolution mechanism.
“It thus held that the suit was not instituted with due process of law, and consequently struck out the case,” the NERC said.
The PUNCH recalls that MAN had challenged the minor review of the electricity tariff by the NERC and filed a lawsuit at the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.
The manufacturers sought four reliefs: that due process stated in the Act for the review was not fulfilled before AEDC and the others applied to NERC for the tariff review on July 31, 2023.
It stated that regulatory requirements for tariff reviews were not followed before NERC issued the Supplementary Order of 3 April 2024 and the subsequently reviewed rate of May 6, 2024.
MAN also held that placing the burden of the tariff increase on only Band “A” feeders and leaving out other bands amounted to discrimination against such consumers.
It then noted that the defendants must comply with administrative procedures for tariff review before rightfully implementing the April and May Supplementary Orders.
NERC had objected to the suit stating that MAN’s case constitutes an abuse of court processes, being hasty and prematurely filed without following due process of the law.
Band A customers are premium customers with no government subsidies. However, they have the guarantee of at least, 20 hours of electricity supply daily.
With N209.50 per kilowatt-hour, manufacturers who fall under this category of customers said their tariffs have tripled, impacting production costs negatively.
The Joint Tax Board (JTB) has announced the approval of new rates for the issuance of national driver’s licences and vehicle number plates, set to take effect from November 1, 2024.
The revised rates aim to enhance the quality and security features of these identification documents, in line with international standards.
Under the new pricing structure, Nigerians will now pay N15,000 for a three-year motor vehicle driver’s licence, while a five-year licence will cost N21,000.
Motorcycle and tricycle drivers will face an increase as well, with a three-year licence priced at N7,000 and a five-year licence at N11,000.
For vehicle number plates, the new rates start at N30,000 for both standard private and commercial vehicle plates. Fancy number plates will cost N400,000, while motorcycle plates are priced at N12,000. Dealer vehicle number plates will be issued for N100,000.
The JTB has also adjusted prices for government-issued number plates. Government fancy vehicle plates will now cost N120,000, and standard plates will be N80,000. Motorcycle number plates for government vehicles are set at N50,000 for fancy options and N20,000 for standard.
According to the JTB, these adjustments will introduce improved security features, aiding in the identification process for both drivers and vehicles across the country.
Olusegun Adesokan, Secretary of the JTB, emphasized the importance of public awareness and education regarding the new rates. In a circular obtained by BusinessDay, Adesokan stated, “The secretariat has requested that the FRSC [Federal Road Safety Corps] notify the JTB of its public engagement and sensitisation plans. We believe that a robust engagement will ensure a seamless implementation of the revised rates.”
The FRSC is expected to spearhead the public sensitisation campaign ahead of the November implementation.
Things Were Bad Before Tinubu Took Office, He Is Working Hard To Restore Happiness – Minister Of Women Affairs Begs Nigerians For Patience
AFOLABI
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, has appealed to Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu time to fix the economic crisis in the nation.
Ohanenye made this appeal during a charitable event held in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, where she distributed palliatives to support the less privileged in the community.
The minister’s remarks came as she handed out 5,000 bags of 10 kg rice, 300 gas cylinders, and 500 bags of 50 kg fertilizers, aimed at easing the burden faced by vulnerable families in the area.
During her speech, Ohanenye acknowledged the difficulties many Nigerians are currently experiencing but emphasized that the government’s efforts to improve the situation would take time.
She expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and commitment to transforming the country for the better.
The Minister stated, “I plead with you to be patient with the president. He is doing everything to change the negative practices that have crippled the nation’s economy. Just give the president time; in the next few months, things will begin to improve.
“He needs time to clean up the mess left by previous administrations. Honestly, things were bad before President Tinubu took office, and he is working hard to bring happiness to Nigerians.”
According to her, the Tinubu-led administration has introduced numerous social security initiatives aimed at uplifting Nigerians, especially the poor.
She encouraged individuals to submit their BVN so the government can plan and provide assistance to the less privileged.
“The BVN helps the government identify those who qualify for federal social security palliatives. The aid is meant for the poor, not the rich, who have cornered these resources over the years,” she added.