News
Our N100million empowerment scheme passed integrity test – Kosofe LG boss
From the office of Moyosore Ogunlewe, Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, came a definite declaration on Friday, affirming the integrity of the N100 million empowerment scheme the council recently embarked on.
Against the backdrop of allegations questioning the process, Olúwọlé Òbísànyà, spokesman of the council boss, said in a statement that the issues of impropriety being raised against the programme, were a calculated and shameless campaign of calumny designed to distract a performing administration.
The statement read: “We unequivocally dismiss a mischievous blog publication, discreetly circulated by Mr Salami Oluwaseun, a known political adversary of our Executive Chairman, Barr. Moyosore Ogunlewe, as a calculated and shameless campaign of calumny designed to distract a performing administration.
“The publication falsely alleged that Mr. Gbenga Samuel David (Councillor of Anthony Ward) was being witch-hunted over a sexual assault case for purportedly exposing our N100 million empowerment scheme. Both claims are entirely without merit.
“Our empowerment scheme was transparently executed. Residents were invited (over a period of one week) to register at the council secretariat, after which beneficiaries were randomly selected from a compiled pool of applicants – a process that was thoroughly documented and publicly verifiable.
“For the avoidance of all doubt, we hold detailed records of every beneficiary, including full names, phone numbers, Bank Verification Numbers, home addresses, and valid means of identification. Our books are open and our integrity is beyond question.
“Regarding the court injunction being paraded by Mr. Gbenga David and his associates, we wish to state clearly that it has absolutely nothing to do with whistleblowing or the exposure of any alleged fraud within this administration.
“The injunction is solely for him not to be suspended by the Legislative Council – of which he is a member, arising from his failure to attend sittings for approximately two months.
“His prolonged absence from the council secretariat commenced precisely when he was invited before the panel constituted to hear the sexual assault case levelled against him.
“The injunction is therefore a transparent attempt to evade accountability, and we shall not be distracted by such manoeuvres.
“Regarding the sexual assault allegation, records confirm the matter predates this administration. It arose during Mr. Gbenga Samuel’s tenure as Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, was tabled before the then-Legislative Council, and was resolved amicably.
“The petitioner, Miss Idowu Charity, subsequently approached the current Legislative Council, whereupon Mr. Gbenga Samuel was invited for a fair hearing – an invitation he conspicuously declined.
“Our Executive Chairman, Barr. Ogunlewe, a thoroughbred Omoluwabi, seasoned politician, and Barrister-at-Law with over four years of exemplary stewardship, has consistently demonstrated that governance, not grandstanding, is his calling.
“From our landmark N100 million Kosofe Cares Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment to visible infrastructure transformation across the Local Government Area, his scorecard speaks eloquently for itself.
“We urge all political opponents to channel their energies into constructive engagement rather than the peddling of dangerous falsehoods. Our Executive Chairman remains undistracted and resolute, empathetically leading Kosofe forward.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, announced the approval of the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and ordered the immediate release of ₦10 billion as emergency intervention funding.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, who conveyed the development to the public, said the fund would strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
To be chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, the committee with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and state representatives is also expected to get briefings on their plans to contain the disease.
Onanuga, stated that Tinubu also specifically directed all states hosting international airports and international border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for consideration and coordinated implementation.
Stating that the President’s move followed a stakeholder meeting convened under the CoS to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against the possible importation of Ebola into the country., the statement informed that the Task Force would also intensify passenger screening at all international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols.
Other measures would also include enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines; and the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the Lagos and Abuja international airports, with other airports to follow.
Other measures include the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers originating from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of departure halls, cargoes, baggage areas and airport facilities as precautionary environmental measures.
The President also directed the advisory group to consult with security, diplomatic and aviation bodies on regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries and mandated the task force to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures, and to consider adjusting flight schedules to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
Justice Akintoye Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of Paul Jibrin Oweleke in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime offences linked to social media broadcasts that allegedly called for overthrow of President Bola Tinubu.
Specifically, Oweleke, in a two-count charge was accused of publishing posts on his online platform known as “Oweleke TV”, urging the Nigerian military to remove the President from office in a manner similar to takeovers in some West African countries, an act the agency said bordered on incitement and the use of a computer system to disseminate content considered prejudicial to national security and constitutional governance.
Oweleke’s broadcasts, the agency stressed, were capable of inciting public disorder and promoting disaffection against the government, which will undermine the country’s democracy.
Legal argument had ensued immediately after Oweleke, pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his lawyer kicking vehemently against the prayer of the agency that the court should order his remand pending the commencement of trial, on the ground that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution.
But Aluko, who was persuaded to grant the prayer, went with the DSS, while adjourning the matter to June 16 for the hearing of the bail application, stating that Oweleke, would remain in the facility of the agency pending the outcome.
By June 29 all medical doctors in public hospitals in Nigeria will drop their stethoscopes and other instruments of healthcare, unless the Federal Government settles all unpaid allowances, salary arrears, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare concerns of its members across the country’s health sector.
This was the notice served to the government on Monday, through The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the umbrella under which the doctors operate, after rising from Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held in Kano.
In the 21-day ultimatum to the government, the doctors warned that it would not be able to guarantee industrial harmony if the issues remain unresolved within the 21-day period.
In the resolution conveying their position, signed by Mohammad Suleiman, President, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General, and Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, on Friday, the body regretted that government had failed to fulfil several commitments to doctors despite repeated assurances and engagements.
“The association hereby declares an industrial dispute with the federal government of Nigeria on the outlined matters above and cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the 21-day window period given to address all the demands,” the communique reads.
The association said it is giving the federal government the 21-day window to commence concrete actions towards the development and implementation of a national healthcare workers assault prevention and response protocol
and the initiation of the necessary legislative process to address the menace.
NARD also demanded the release and payment of the 2026 medical residency training fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors nationwide within the next 21 days.
The association questioned the unpaid salary and promotion arrears in several federal and state health institutions, as well as discrepancies in professional allowances reflected in members’ May 2026 salaries.
It highlighted the welfare issues affecting house officers, including salary delays, unpaid arrears, and difficulties with internship placement and onboarding processes that remain unresolved.
It also accused Motunrayo Omidiran, executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), of delaying the issuance of letters of compliance to federal health institutions, noting that the delay has hampered recruitment efforts, manpower shortages, and brain drain in the sector.
NARD expressed worries about the increasing assaults, harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks against doctors while on duty, demanding the arrests, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators.
It called for the establishment of a national healthcare workers’ assault prevention and response protocol within 21 days by the federal government and security agencies.
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