Police Arrest Primary School Dropout Working as Medical Doctor in Lagos

Police Arrest Primary School Dropout Working as Medical Doctor in Lagos

The police in Lagos have blown the whistle on a primary school dropout who has been practising as a medical doctor in Lagos for four years.

Thirty-nine-year old Abdulrahman Mohammed told reporters at a police parade in Ikeja, today, that he was a medicine merchant, but the police found that he had been giving his patients intravenous injections, conducting medical tests, and taking their urine and blood samples.

He said that he was buying his drugs from Idumota market.

The fake doctor, Mohammed, and medical items allegedly recovered from him.

Mohammed was paraded alongside a dismissed policeman, Gimba Zalaba, who was found doing illegal activities in police uniform.

Addressing reporters at the parade, the state commissioner of police, Mr Imohimi Edgal said “Detectives from the Area D Command, Mushin, arrested one Abdulrahman Mohammed, a native of Ran Village in Gamboru Ngala local government area of Borno State for operating as a medical doctor at House Number 3, Bamishile Street, at Idi -Araba, whereas his education stopped at primary school level.

“Further investigation into the activities of Abdulrahman Mohammed, who has been impersonating as a medical doctor for the past four years revealed that he had been practicing as a doctor since 2014. He had been administrating intravenous injections, conducting medical test on his patients, and taking urine and blood samples from his patients. According to him, he buys his drugs from Idumota market.”

Narrating how he was arrested, Mohammed said, “I was a hawker. I was hawking drugs before I decided to open a pharmacy. I did not finish my primary school and I was not taught to sell the drugs. My pharmacy was not licensed.”

The arrested fake policeman, Zalaba.
On his part, the fake policeman said, “My name is Gimba Zalaba. I was dismissed in 2015 because I travelled without permission for one month.

The police declared me a deserter and that was what led to my dismissal. Someone called me to come and carry out a security job, but I did not have money so I wore the uniform to get free ride. I was however arrested under the bridge at Ikeja.”

EFCC Drags Globacom, Israni To Court Over $6.7m Fraud

EFCC Drags Globacom, Israni To Court Over $6.7m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday charged  telecommunications company, Globacom Limited and its Head of Marketing Department, Ashok Israni, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja over an alleged $6,786,674.61 fraud.

The Globacom and Israni were dragged before the court presided over by Justice Olusola Williams on a one count charge by the anti-graft agency.

The one count charge read, "Ashok Israni and Globacom Limited, sometime in 2008 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, induced Emitac Mobile Solutions, LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates to confer a benefit on you by permitting Emitac Mobile Solutions, LLC to provide you with Blackberry solutions services, valued at USD6,786,674.64 on the understanding that the benefit will be paid for, which pretence you knew to be false."

The EFCC maintained that the firm and Israni acted contrary to Section 1(2)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

However, the planned arraignment of the defendants could not go on Monday, as they were not in court.

The prosecutor, A.B.C. Ozioko, told the court that the EFCC was making efforts to produce Israni, who had been granted an administrative bail by the anti-graft agency.

Ozioko said, "My Lord, we are sorry we are not able to produce the defendants.

"As part of efforts to ensure that trial commences, we brought the complainants all the way from Dubai.

"We have no choice but to seek a date for arraignment," the lawyer stated.

Based on the development, Justice Williams adjourned the case till May 15 for the arraignment of the defendants.

4 Months After Flag-off, NRC Yet To Move Cargoes From Kaduna Dryport

4 Months After Flag-off, NRC Yet To Move Cargoes From Kaduna Dryport

Commercial activities at the Kaduna Inland Container Dryport (ICD) has suffered massive setback as the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has failed to move cargoes from the Apapa seaports to the dryport, LEADERSHIP investigation has shown.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on January 2, 2018 officially flagged-off the Kaduna ICD for activities. The Kaduna ICD is the first of its kind in Nigeria created and designed to receive cargoes from Apapa Port in Lagos, through the railway.

The dryport is also designated as port of origin for exports and port of destination for imports. It was also designed to accelerate the implementation of the federal government’s economic diversification policy by providing for importers and exporters located within the nation’s hinterland, especially industrial and commercial outfits, access to shipping and port services without necessarily visiting the seaports.

But, the motives for the creation of the dryport is greatly under threat as importers now move their cargoes from the port through trucks instead of rail.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, a top management staff of the ICD said the inability of the NRC to move cargoes from the seaport to the ICD has affected operations. The source who craved anonymity said few cargoes they received at the dryport were brought by trucks.

The source also said even though the railway corporation promised to dedicate wagons and locomotives at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos for the exercise, after the commissioning, they are yet to fulfil their promise.

“When we had a stakeholders meeting at Federal Place Hotel, Lagos, the Managing Director of NRC promised that they will dedicate locomotives and wagons but as at now, they have not done their part, but they promise they are working on it.

He stated further that shippers from the Northern part of the country have expressed disappointment over non-functional rail system into the dryport. “Northern Shippers have been coming and asking whether the rail is working and we have told them they will start operations by this quarter.

They believe rail is cheaper and safe.

“If we use rail, we have more advantage to attract northern shippers and the dryport has cost leverage compared to what is obtainable in Lagos ports. If we are to entice customers, rail use must be working because, we can use rail for both import and export,” he said.

He said: “They have not started moving containers either in or out, but they have promised that before the end of this quarter they will give us locomotives and wagons. The movement of cargoes they did was last year, and that was when they had a wash out but they have concluded the washout. What we need now is wagons and locomotive.”

On the impact of the trucking cargoes by road, he said “Since the train is not working, we have been getting cargoes by roads and you know our roads are bad and the best option is the rail even in South Africa that is what is used.”

But, speaking to LEADERSHIP in January, managing director of NRC, Engineer Fidet Okhiria disclosed that the corporation would be discussing with the Kaduna ICD management for movement of cargoes in and out of the dryport. “We will be discussing with the Kaduna ICD management and if the goods going to the dryports are readily available, then we are ready to move the cargoes.

“Rail doesn’t carry goods in pieces rather, we carry in bulk. We have the wagons and when they are ready they are loaded and not that they will be waiting for Mr. A to bring one cargo or Mr. B to bring in another cargoe, rather it is direct from the shippers to the dryport.

“We believe the containers will be readily available and not one person taking container to Benin, another to Warri but everyone having containers destined for Kaduna dryport being taken on the rail and have it loaded on the wagon and taken to the ICD,” he said.

Anxiety As Importers Smuggled 530 Expired Energy Drink, Spagetti Out Of Lagos Ports

Anxiety As Importers Smuggled 530 Expired Energy Drink, Spagetti Out Of Lagos Ports

A total of 530 packages of expired energy drink imported from Europe and banned spaghetti from Turkey were smuggled out of the Lagos Port Complex without necessary Customs clearance, last week, LEADERSHIP has learnt.

At the time of filling this report, it was not clear whether the containers illegally exited through the Apapa Port or the Tin-Can Island Port, but importation of Spagetti is on the federal government’s import prohibition list.

According to the import prohibition list on the website of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Spaghetti/Noodles – H.S. Codes 1902.1100 – 1902.30.0000 are banned from being imported into Nigeria.

Confirming this, the Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Compt. Mohammed Uba, disclosed that the container also contained 2,260 cartoons of Gonca Spagetti made in Turkey.

LEADERSHIP recalls that that was not the first time cargoes would be smuggled out of the Lagos port without proper clearance procedure.

Last year, 661 pump action rifles were smuggled out of the Apapa Port without necessary clearance but was intercepted by officers of FOU Zone A on its way to the owners’ warehouses.

Also, in May 2016, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Maritime Command, Musa Katsina, intercepted a truck conveying a 40-foot container that he alleged was smuggled out of the ports at midnight. The container when examined contained used tyres that were not declared and used vehicles that were under declared.

Stakeholders at the port have, however, confirmed that containers especially contrabands are smuggled on a daily basis out of the Lagos Port -Apapa and Tin-Can – with the connivance of Customs officers.

Confirming further, the Customs CAC said the container even though was declared as baking powder in the Single Goods Declaration (SGD), further investigation revealed it was cartons of Gonca Spagetti and energy drinks that were not examined nor cleared from the seaport.

He said: “The 1x20ft container no: CSNU 106087/4 carried 2,260 cartoons of Gonca Spagetti made in Turkey and 530 package of Rifle Energy drinks made in Europe as against baking powder declared in the SGD. Investigation revealed that the container was never exited, we are still investigating and all those found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.

“While 1x40ft container no: PCIU 865957/1 was seized for carrying 200 cartons of ladies shoes, 134 cartons of children’s ware among other items as against keyboard and mouse declared in the SGD; 1x40ft container no:FCIU 80992/0 was seized for carrying 2,300 cartons of tiffany chocolate,385 cartons of tiffany crunch ‘n’ cream biscuit as against “Tapet for fuel pump complete”.

These are clear cases of false declarations, liable to seizure and forfeiture.”

The Customs boss also warned smugglers both at the nation’s seaports and land borders to desist as his officers are on standby to subdue them. “Let me warn all smugglers/intending ones and their accomplices to desist from such trade malpractices and invest their money in legitimate business, as the Unit has devised other operational modalities that will give them a run for their money and count their losses and finally end in jail” he said.

63,000 Disengaged Workers Withdraw N20.64bn From Pension Funds

63,000 Disengaged Workers Withdraw N20.64bn From Pension Funds

The incessant loss of jobs by workers in the public and private sectors on a daily basis,  in the country, may have taken its tool on the N7.51 trillion pension assets as about 63,000 unemployed Nigerians withdrew N20.64 billion from their pension contributions in 2017 alone,
LEADERSHIP investigation can now reveal.

This payment is about 24 per cent of the total amount of N82.57 billion paid to this category of people since the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) in 2004.

Of the 63,000 disengaged workers, LEADERSHIP finding shows that 95 per cent of them are from private sector, an indication of lack of job security in the private sector of the nation's economy. The public sector seems to be better in terms of job security as only about five per cent of pension contributors were affected by the job loss.

The Pension Reforms Act (PRA) 2014, currently in use, makes provision for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders under the age of 50 years who were disengaged and were unable to secure another job within four months of their disengagement to access 25 per cent of their pension contributions.

Investigation shows that the cutting cost measure adopted by public and private entities is leading to consistent loss of jobs.

However, the lean prospect of finding a new job immediately after the loss of an earlier job, was responsible for increase in demand for 25 per cent of pension contributions.

A document sourced from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) revealed that, in the first quarter of last year, precisely, between January to March 2017, 15,863 pension contributors, under the age of 50 years, who were disengaged from work and were unable to secure another job within 4 months of disengagement, were granted N3.97 billion from their respective Retirement Savings Account(RSA).

Further findings show that the private sector accounted for 95.22 per cent of the disengaged RSA holders, with the public sector accounted for 4.78 per cent.

In the second quarter 2017, however, PenCom granted approval for payment of N5.17 billion to 13,337 disengaged workers, while in the third quarter, 16,165 unemployed RSA holders, who falls under the aforementioned category, were paid N5 billion from their pension accounts.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, approval was granted for payment of N6.54 billion to 17,828 RSA holders who were under the age of 50 years and were disengaged from work and unable to secure another job within 4 months of disengagement, thus, bring the cumulative payment for last year to N20.64 billion paid to 63,000 disengaged workers.

Further finding shows a cumulative total number of disengaged RSA holders who were paid 25 percent was 250,293 and were paid N82.57 billion from inception to date. From this figure, the private sector accounted for 95.40 percent (238,786) while the public sector accounted for 4.60 percent (11,507). 

Moreover, while some firms in both public and private sectors have downsized, some are preparing to lay-off more workers in the current year, in a bid to cut their expenditure, meaning that, more workers are going to be disengaged, hence, more pension contributors will demand for 25 per cent of their RSA balance in the current year.

Some of the beneficiaries, industry sources disclosed, are investing this money in their business ideas in a bid to be self employed, while some used it to meet their more immediate financial needs.   

Speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP at the weekend, the Managing Director, AXA Mansard Pension Fund Administrator(PFA), Mr. Dapo Akinsanya, said the job loss shows the tough time the country is passing through, noting that, the pension industry is performing one of its civic responsibility, by paying the 25 per cent pension contribution to these beneficiaries. 

He said the industry is losing nothing as the investment income emanating from investment of pension assets far outweighs the payment made to these people.

Believing that this will also enhances the integrity of the new pension scheme, he added that, the pension funds has been growing irrespective of whatever payment made out of it.

The former Head, Benefits and Insurance Department, PenCom, Mr. Olulana Loyinmi, had, in 2016, said, the increase in the number of contributors applying for the 25 per cent of their pension contributions was as a result of increase in job loss adding that, 50 per cent of the documents PenCom processed on pension matters are actually from those demanding for 25 per cent of their pension contributions.

"That is an indication of how people are losing their jobs or are getting disengaged and having waited for about four months without getting another job, they resort to access their retirement account," he said then.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER

Naira Abuse: Police, CBN Arrest 5 in Ogun

Naira Abuse: Police, CBN Arrest 5 in Ogun

After issuing several warnings, the police and officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria have swooped on people allegedly abusing the Naira in Ogun State.

According to Ogun police spokesman, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, five persons were captured in various parts of the state for hawking and selling Naira notes this weekend.

Oyeyemi identified the suspects as: Toyin Alegbe, Kehinde Akinbode, Shoneye Latifat, Kehinde Olanrewaju and Iyanuoluwa Shokunbi.

He said that they were arrested in Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Abeokuta areas of the state “during a sting operation jointly carried out by police operatives of Ogun State police command and officials of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th of April 2018”.

Oyeyemi added that the operation was in line with the provisions of section 21(1) of the CBN act 2007, which made hawking, selling and abuse of Naira a punishable offence.

“Various denominations of Naira notes totalling 1,560,000 were recovered from the suspects who were publicly exhibiting their illicit trades,” he said.

Oyeyemi told NewsmakersNG in his statement that the Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, Aminu Alhassan, to commence full scale investigation into the activities of the suspects.

The CP has further warned members of the public to desist “from any act capable of soiling, abusing or destroying the Naira which is one of the symbols of our national identity.

The CP therefore expressed his readiness to work with all government agencies to stamp out crime and criminality in the state”.

FoI Act Applicable To All States In Nigeria, Says Appeal

FoI Act Applicable To All States In Nigeria, Says Appeal 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has ruled that Nigerian states have no powers to reject any requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI).

The Court ruled that the requests for information, especially around public expenditure, under the FoI, are made in public interest and should be honoured by all states across the country.

A three-member panel of the Court gave the ruling in an appeal filed by a journalist, Martins Alo, against the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly and Auditor-General of the state.

Alo had demanded the audited report of Ondo State Government between 2012 and 2014 to properly access how public funds are utilised in the state.

His request was,however rejected by the authority concern, prompting him to seek judicial redress.

Akure Division of Ondo State High Court had previously ruled in 2016 that the journalist had no right to demand how the state was spending money.

The lower court presided over by Justice Williams Akintoroye ,ruled that the FoI was not applicable to states and the request was not in public interest to begin with.

Akintoroye, also said Alo should pay a damage of N10,000 for wasting time and resources of the state.

But Mr Alo’s lawyer, Femi Emodamori, appealed the ruling on behalf of his client, arguing that Mr Akintoroye erred in his judgment and that his client was acting in public interest.

But Court of Appeal judges who sat on the matter which included Uzo Ndukwe-Anyanwu, Obande Ogbuinya and Ridwan Abdullahi, rejected Mr Akintoroye’s ruling and agreed with the appellant that the FoI was applicable to states and it was in public interest for the state government to release its audited report.

Ndukwe-Anyanwu wrote the lead opinion, saying Mr Alo has a right to act on behalf of the public to obtain the information from state authorities. He also quashed the N10,000 fine imposed by the lower court.

“In a democratic dispensation, such as the Nigeria’s, the citizens have been proclaimed the owners of sovereignty and mandates that place leaders in the saddle,” Mr Ogbuinya said in his concurring opinion.

The citizens have a right to know details of “expenditure of public funds generated from their taxes,” Ogbuinya added.

It would be recalled that states, including Lagos, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom and Ondo, have been rejecting FoI requests relating to their activities since the law was signed in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The states argued that the FoI is a federal law and its provisions are simply not binding on their respective jurisdictions, frustrating accountability efforts by media outlets and transparency advocates.

Speaking on the development, a rights activist , Inibehe Effiong said, “The decision of the Court of Appeal is consistent with well-established principles of legislation.”

Effiong said, “By virtue of paragraph four and five in part two of the second schedule of the Constitution, the states should know that the National Assembly can make laws with respect to the archives and pubic records,” he said. “The FoI Act is a law that stipulates how the public should have access to public record.”

“Even if a State House of Assembly makes a law about how the public should have access to public record, such law would only be subservient to a similar one passed by the National Assembly.

‘I am not surprised by the judgement. The states too know this but they’re just wasting public funds in challenging the matter, he added.

“Only international treaties and instruments could be domesticated, you don’t need to domesticate a federal law,” the lawyer added.

“Anyone who is aggrieved should proceed to the Supreme Court, but I am confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the ruling of the Court of Appeal.”