Anthony Madu NHS doctor accused of fraud got sickness certificates to excuse himself from 'family meeting' in Nigeria

Gynaecologist Anthony Madu told jury the certificates were obtained because he needed proof he was ill to avoid family meeting

Dr Anthony Madu

A doctor accused of fraud has told a jury he obtained sick notes from his GP to excuse his attendance at a family meeting in Nigeria.
Anthony Madu, 45, was suspended from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CVUHB) two months into his post in 2009.
He was suspended two months into his post with CVUHB before going on sick leave.
He denies working while suspended and while on sick leave.

N135m fraud: EFCC declares lawyer, bank manager wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a manhunt for a lawyer and two bank managers (names withheld) for allegedly duping a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig. Gen Mobolaji Johnson, of the sum of N135m.

A source at the EFCC said the lawyer had offered a property belonging to the former Governor for lease without his approval.
The source said the lawyer connived with the two bank managers to clear a cheque issued on a phoney lease agreement by opening a fake fix deposit account in the name of the former governor.
The lawyer was said to have leased a property situated at No. 182 A Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, to Stallion Motors Limited in 2008 in the sum of N270m but later offered N182m by claiming that the landlord instructed him to offer it to the firm in place of the former one.
It was stated that the company paid 50 per cent of the agreed sum of N270m to the lawyer after negotiations which was N135m, with an agreement to pay the balance after taking possession of the property.
The source said the company could not take possession long after making the first payment only to realise that the deal was fraudulent.

85% of Benue youths are jobless -Ortom

Benue State governorship aspirant and the immediate past Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom, has said that 85 per cent of Benue youths are unemployed.

He also said if elected he will implement a five-point agenda aimed at empowering the youths.
The former minister disclosed this during his homecoming and public declaration to contest the governorship election of the state come 2015 in Makurdi the state’s capital.
Ortom who was speaking against the backdrop of adject poverty and idleness existing among the youths in the state, assured the crowd of his determination to curb the menace.

AWC Final Preview: Super Falcons v Cameroon

Falcons, Cameroon Lock Horns In AWC Final

After successfully negotiating their way past Cote D'Ivoire, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa, Super Falcons of Nigeria have now set their sights firmly on their seventh African Women's Championship trophy.

The 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010 champions have hit form just at the right time and for Evelyn Nwabuoku and company, this is a golden opportunity to win the trophy once again.

With 14 goals in four matches, Nigeria have impressed almost everyone at this year's AWC, and many pundits strongly believe they will carry that momentum into match-day on Saturday.

Jonathan to Declare Re-election Bid Nov 11

Chairman of the Presidential Declaration Committee, Dr. Haliru Bello 

 Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan will formally declared his intention to seek re-election in 2015 on November 11.

The venue for the declaration has, however, not been fixed. 

 Chairman of the Presidential Declaration Committee, Dr. Haliru Bello, dropped the hints Friday when he spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the committee's inaugural meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

 The President gave us the task to organise the modality of creating a platform for him to meet Nigerians and announce his response to the various calls for him to come out and declare his interest in the presidential election. 

 The President has not said anything yet but it is like all Nigerians have called on him. It is our honest hope that he will come out and say yes to the demand of multitude of Nigerians.

"We expect he will say yes but we cannot say yes for him. We will wait for him to speak.
See  more here: Thisday

Court Grants Prosecution's Request to Shut Out Public from Ndume's Trial

 Aliyu Ndume

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a federal high court sitting in Abuja on Friday ordered that the  trial of Senator Mohammed Aliyu Ndume, who is standing trial for terrorism related charges, would no longer be conducted in public.

The trial was temporarily halted last Tuesday following an application moved by the Department of State Security Services, DSS, where it sought amongst others, the non disclosure of the identities of its witnesses.

The prosecution had urged  the court to exclude persons other than the accused and his team of lawyers as well as accredited journalists from the proceedings in view of the nature of the charges and the need to protect witnesses who are security operatives as well other individuals.

See More Here: Thisday

Nigeria: Anxious Wait for 2015 Afcon

The final decision to host the 30th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations no longer resides in the domain of CAF, Ghana or South Africa, says the Ghanaian media.

"Ebola is not just a Liberian problem, Ebola is not a Sierra Leonean or a Guinean problem; it is not just a West African problem, Ebola is a problem of the world because it is a disease that knows no boundaries."Those were the words of Ghana President John Mahama when he addressed world leaders at the 69th UN General Assembly in New York a few weeks ago.

The irony that Ghana is now being asked to consider hosting the Afcon in January cannot be lost on President Mahama, who would have cautioned his Sports Minister Hon Ayariga that any decision on the tournament must be taken beyond an African football perspective but ultimately in Africa's wider best interests.

This is a perfect OPPORTUNITY for Ghana to lead the clarion call for more support, logistics and more urgency in dealing with the Ebola menace.

From all indications, the World Health Organisation's next updated REPORT on Ebola will determine which direction football in Africa will go for at least the next three months.

See full Story: Vanguard

Nigeria: Pinnick's Sacks - - NFA Board Asks Jos Court for Stay of Execution

Abuja - The Nigeria Football ASSOCIATION (NFA) on Thursday in Abuja said it had filed a stay of execution on the ruling earlier in the day by a Federal High Court in Jos.

In a statement by its Assistant Director of COMMUNICATIONS, Ademola Olajire, the NFA said it has also appealed the ruling which annulled its Sept. 30 Elective Congress held in Warri.

The congress had seen the election of the Amaju Pinnick-led NFA board, thus appearing to have restored calm to the Nigerian football family.

The election had however failed to do that, with a faction of the football family heading back to the court in Jos where the whole crisis had sparked off in July.

"The NFA board has swiftly filed for appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court, Jos Judicial Division of Thursday, which annulled the NFA Elective Congress of Sept. 30, 2014.

"The presiding judge had given the order annulling the elections in spite of a Preliminary Objection filed by the NFA challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case," the ASSOCIATION had said in the statement.

It had also quoted NFA First Vice-Chairman Seyi Akinwunmi as saying "our lawyers have gone TO WORK immediately the order was made. We are appealing the ruling and also filing for a stay of execution of the order".(NAN)

Full story: Vanguard

Nigeria: Rape Victims Besiege N'assembly, Seek Passage of Sexual Offences Bill

By Omololu Ogunmade

Abuja — It was a grievous moment for female senators and their counterparts in the House of Representatives on Thursday when traumatised rape victims besieged the National Assembly to narrate their agonising experiences in the hands of rapists.

The victims, most of whom were young girls, cried out for government help and implored the female lawmakers to pass Sexual Offences Bill that is currently before them with a view to sparing them the trauma and agony they were going through.

The victims, led to the National Assembly by Advocacy Coalition for Violence in Nigeria, were assembled before Women Affairs Committee of the National Assembly to participate in the mock tribunal/court on sexual and gender based violence.

In emotion laden voices, they narrated how they were sexually abused by older men and how their hopes of securing justice had been stalled by non-availability of strong and effective laws which could give them a redress.

Nigeria: U-23 Job Very Difficult - Siasia

Samson Siasia has admitted that MANAGING the under 23 national team will be a difficult task.

The former Flying Eagles and Super Eagles MANAGER, was last week reappointed to take charge of the under 23 team to prepare them for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Siasia said that it will be challenging to build a formidable team, but was optimistic that he will get the JOB done.

"There are a lot of challenges when it comes to trying to get things down especially, screenings. It's a long process and from what I have been told, the first GAME is in February and that isn't too far, we even haven't started anything," Siasia said.

"It's a very difficult job but with hard WORK I think we could get it done. What we have now is like a rush-rush thing, trying to get the players that we believe can help us play the first few matches."

Siasia during his last time in charge of the under 23 team, led Nigeria to winning the silver medal at the 2008 Olympic GAMES in Beijing, China.

See full story: Vanguard

West Africa: As Air Travellers Shun West Africa

Although Nigeria has been pronounced Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation, the fear of contracting the disease will linger awhile as air passengers are still disinclined to travel to West Africa, writes Chinedu Eze.

Nigeria was declared free of the Ebola virus on Monday by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after it painstakingly contained the deadly disease that has killed more than 4, 500 people in West Africa.

It was cheering to hear the good news that the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation has been finally defeated.

Nigerians, including those in the aviation industry have described the certification as a huge success, noting that it has showed the whole world that in deed, the deadly Ebola virus can be contained.

Aviation industry operators were particularly happy and full expectation that the clean bill of health given to Nigeria, will without a doubt, stimulate improved air travels and help airlines recoup the losses they suffered due to low passenger movement in West Africa, occasioned by outbreak of the Ebola virus disease.

Mark warns politicians against crises in 2015

Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday in Jos, warned those contesting for elective POSITIONS in 2015 not to turn Nigeria into a battle front if they happen to lose in the election, urging them to be ready to accept the peoples’ verdict at the polls.

Mark, who was in Jos to COMMISSION Senator Gyang Pwajok’s constituency empowerment and development programme held at Jos Polo ground, noted that he was confident that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan is going to create enabling ground that will guarantee free and fair elections.

The Senate President, who urged those who would lose the election “not to make Nigeria a battle ground,” stressed  that  he is fully  aware  that: ‘we have challenges in the country,” but  added  that  we are gradually overcoming them  at the moment.

Nigerian Arrested for Jumping White House Fence

Dominic Adesanya, of Bel Air, Maryland

Zacheaus Somorin with agency REPORT

A man jumped the White House fence on Wednesday evening and was attacked by Secret Service dogs before being arrested, a Secret Service spokesman said.

“Dogs got him,” spokesman Edwin Donovan said, referring to the intruder. He identified the intruder as Dominic Adesanya, 23, of Bel Air, Maryland, and said he was unarmed at the time of his arrest, reported the ASSOCIATED Press (AP).

First Lady Resigns as Permanent Secretary

First Lady Patience Jonathan

Segun James in Yenagoa

The First Lady Patience Jonathan has resigned her appointment as a permanent secretary in the Bayelsa State civil service.

Her resignation, THISDAY learnt, may have been as a result of a political fallout with the state governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, over the sharing of political offices in the state.

It was gathered that Mrs. Jonathan verbally resigned over a month ago, but the decision was finally COMMUNICATED to the state’s Head of Service through a letter on Tuesday.

Jonathan Inaugurates Team to Prepare Presidential Re-election

President Goodluck Jonathan

Chuks Okocha and Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

After months of prevaricating on his candidacy, President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday signified his intention to seek re-election in 2015 by INFORMING leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he would pick up the party’s nomination form before the October 30 deadline and set up a committee for his declaration.

The party had given him an ultimatum on Wednesday to meet the deadline.

Three major nations absent as China launches World Bank rival in Asia

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Australia, Indonesia and South Korea skipped the launch of a China-backed Asian infrastructure bank on Friday as the United States said it had concerns about the new rival to Western-dominated multilateral lenders.

China's proposed $50 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is seen as a challenge to the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, both multilateral lenders that count Washington and its allies as their biggest financial backers.

China, which is keen to extend its influence in the region, has limited voting power over these existing banks despite being the world's second-largest economy.

The AIIB, launched in Beijing at a ceremony attended by Chinese finance minister Lou Jiwei and delegates from 21 countries including India, Thailand and Malaysia, aims to give project loans to developing nations. China is set to be its largest shareholder with a stake of up to 50 percent.

Indonesia, where President Xi Jinping first spoke of the AIIB during an October visit last year, was not present and neither were South Korea and Australia, according to a pool REPORT.

Media REPORTS said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry put pressure on Australia to stay out of the bank.

However, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "Secretary Kerry has made clear directly to the Chinese as well as to other partners that we ‎welcome the idea of an infrastructure bank for Asia but we strongly urge that it meet international standards of governance and transparency.

"We have concerns about the ambiguous nature of the AIIB proposal as it currently stands, that we have also expressed publicly."

The Australian Financial Review said on Friday that Kerry had personally asked Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to keep Australia out of the AIIB.

"Australia has been under pressure from the U.S. for some time to not become a founding member of the bank and it is understood Mr Kerry put the case directly to the prime minister when the pair met in Jakarta on Monday ­following the inauguration of Indonesian President Joko Widodo," the paper said.

South Korea, one of Washington's strongest diplomatic allies in Asia, has yet to say it will formally participate in the bank.

"We have continued to demand rationality in areas such as governance and safeguard issues, and there's no reason (for Korea) not to join it," South Korean Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan said in Beijing on Thursday.

STRATEGIC CHOICES

Earlier this month, commenting on REPORTS that was pressure from Washington to stay out of the AIIB, the South Korean finance ministry said: "South Korea has not delayed its participation but has been negotiating with China because it thinks more consideration is necessary on details of the planned bank such as the AIIB's governance and operational principles."

The Seoul-based JoongAng Daily quoted a South Korean diplomatic source as saying: "While Korea has been dropped from the list of founding members of the AIIB this time around, it is still in a deep dilemma on what sort of strategic choices it has to make as China challenges the U.S.-led international order."

The AIIB is expected to begin operations in 2015 with senior Chinese banker Jin Liqun, ex-chairman of investment bank China International Capital Corp, expected to take a leading role.

Last month, China's finance ministry said Australia and South Korea had expressed interest in the AIIB.

On Thursday, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) chief said he doesn't welcome a China-backed rival bank that will have a virtually identical aim.

"I understand it, but I don't welcome it," said bank president Takehiko Nakao. "I'm not so concerned."

The ADB, created in 1966, offers grants and below-market interest rates on loans to lower to middle-income countries. At the end of 2013, its financing operations amounted to $21.02 billion.

China has a 6 percent stake in the ADB, and the major shareholdings are held by the United States and Japan.

(REPORTING by Brenda Goh; Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed, Sonali Paul, Jake Spring, Choonsik Yoo and Rosemarie Francisco; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

See More Post: Yahoo