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Striking top doctors jubilate as Tinubu sacks UNIZIK VC

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2 months ago

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The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria has lauded the President Bola Tinunu over the sacking of the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Bernard Udoh, and Registrar, Mrs Rosemary Nwokike.

The association, which had been on strike since Monday over Udoh’s appointment, however, said it would not call off the seven-day warning strike until the National Executive Council meets on Friday.

The National President of MDCAN, Prof Muhammad Muhammad, said the decisions made at the NEC meeting on Friday would determine the association’s next line of action.

He said, “We are excited that one of our demands have been met. This is really impressive, and we are happy about it.

“We just met with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, today (Wednesday), and she appealed to us to consider the public, and promised to meet with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education on all our demands by next week.

“We are also meeting with the Ministry of Labour and Employment tomorrow (Thursday). After the meeting with the Ministry of Labour, the NEC can then schedule a meeting for Friday to know what to do next.”

MDCAN had embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press home its demands, including the sacking of the UNIZIK VC.

The strike, which commenced on Monday, grounded medical activities in 83 health facilities and 64 medical schools across the country.

The association had earlier protested the exclusion of medical lecturers from appointment as UNIZIK VC.

It demanded that the Federal Government should relieve the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University of his appointment as council chairman, for his insubordination and to enforce the Ministry of Education’s directive nullifying any appointments subsequent to their directives; and to develop an all-inclusive prototype of advertisement for the Office of Vice-Chancellor.

Other demands are the harmonisation of the retirement age of Medical Consultants to 70 years; the harmonisation of payment of emoluments of the Consolidated Salary Structure to ensure universal applicability of CONMESS to all Medical and Dental officers; and the payment of 2023 and 2024, Clinical Duty Allowance areas, and 2023 25 per cent/35 per cent CONMESS arrears.

Bowing to pressure on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu dissolved the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, and removed its new VC, Prof Odoh and registrar, Nwokike.

He also approved the removal of Ohieku Salami as the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.

A statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, titled ‘President Tinubu sacks Nnamdi Azikiwe University Council, VC and Registrar’, noted that, “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.

“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 23-year-old institution.

“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process,” said Onanuga.

The NAU council, led by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, included five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, and Amioleran Osahon, and Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin (retd.)

In the same vein, Tinubu also approved the removal of Ohieku Salami as the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.

The Presidency said, “The decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.”

“Despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Salami refused to comply.

“Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary,” the statement read.

Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Education announced the removal of Odoh.

The ministry also announced the dissolution of the institution’s governing council.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folashade Boriowo.

“The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, following grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The decision comes after it was found that the Chairman of the Governing Council unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position. This led to a breakdown of law and order within the university community, causing tension and disharmony.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, emphasised that urgent measures were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilising the institution.

“The Honourable Minister of Education has also announced the removal of Prof Bernard Odoh, the Vice-Chancellor who was illegally appointed by the dissolved Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

 

“In accordance with the university’s founding act, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed, and a new governing council for the university will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law.”

The President also approved the removal of Ohieku Salami as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.

The Presidency said, “The decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the vice-chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.

“Despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Salami refused to comply.

“Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary,” the statement read.

In another statement on Wednesday, Alausa announced Salami’s sack due to actions “unbecoming of his office and violations of established procedures.”

According to a statement by Boriowo, Alausa said the decision followed a series of unprofessional actions by Salami, “including the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.”

The statement noted that despite intervention by the education ministry and formal requests to rescind the unlawful suspension, Salami refused to comply, resorting to “abusive and threatening behaviour towards the ministry’s directors, including the Permanent Secretary.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, noted that such conduct undermines the ministry’s supervisory role over the university and jeopardises the institution’s stability and governance.

“In line with this decision, the minister has requested the appointment of a new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council for the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, to restore proper governance and ensure the university operates in accordance with the principles of law, due process and accountability.”

Tinubu also approved the immediate swap of the pro-chancellors and chairmen of the governing councils for the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and Federal University, Lokoja.

“In this reshuffling, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), currently serving as the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, will take over at Federal University Oye-Ekiti,” Onanuga revealed in a statement Wednesday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu approves leadership changes at Federal Universities in Oye-Ekiti and Lokoja.’

“Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at Oye-Ekiti, will assume the role in Lokoja,” the statement read further.

 

Onanuga said the “strategic change” was part of the President’s initiative to foster diversity and national cohesion in managing the country’s universities.

The Federal Government reiterated that the primary responsibility of university councils was to ensure the smooth operation of university activities following the act establishing each university.

The President, therefore, warned the councils “not to create distractions in their universities as his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards.”

Stating the reason for the swap, a statement from the education ministry noted that, “This change comes after it was noted that the current Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Engr Kayode Ojo, is an indigene of Ekiti State.

“As part of the ministry’s commitment to promoting national integration and ensuring impartial oversight, it is standard practice for Pro-Chancellors to be appointed from outside the state of the university.

“This ensures unbiased governance and supports the core values of diversity and national unity.”

 

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Alleged Forgery: EFCC Set To Arraign Oba Otudeko, Ex-First Bank MD Bisi Onasanya For N12.3Bn Fraud

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4 days ago

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January 16, 2025

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Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Monday, January 20, 2025, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko and a former First Bank Managing Director Stephen Olabisi Onasanya for allegedly looting N12.3billion naira from First Bank.
Otudeko – former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, FBN Holdings – and Onasanya are to be arraigned alongside a former board member of Honeywell Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited connected to Otudeko.
According to the EFCC, the four committed the fraud in tranches of N5.2billion, N6.2billion, N6.150billion, N1.5billion and N500million, N6.2bbillion and N2.09 Billion between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos.
The 13-count charge, filed by EFCC counsel Bilikisu Buhari on January 16, 2025, further claimed that the defendants made and uttered forged documents to deceive the bank.
Otudeko, Onasanya, Akintayo and Anchorage will be brought before Justice Aneke, to whom the case, registered as FHC/L/20C/2025, has been assigned.
Specifically, count 1 accused the defendants of conspiring “to obtain the sum of N12.3Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V-TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED and Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”
In Count 2, it was alleged that the defendants, on or about the 26th day of November 2013 in Lagos, “obtained the sum of N5.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED which representation you know to be false.”
The 3rd count claimed that the defendants, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos, obtained N6.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for and disbursed to Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”
In the 4th count, they were accused of conspiring to spend the N6,15 Billion, out of the monies.
According to the Commission, the offences contravened Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Counts 5 and 6 read: “That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about 11th day of December 2013 in Lagos, procured Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to retain the sum of N1,5 Billion, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO, AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 17th day of December 2013 in Lagos, converted to the use of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc the sum of N500 Million Naira Only which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2 (b)) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Other charges are as follows:
“Count 7. That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: uttering a forged document – titled “Letter of Application” with the intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.
“COUNT 8: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court uttered a forged document titled “Letter of Application” with intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.
“COUNT 9 That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: making false document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with intent that it may be used by First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.
“COUNT 10: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September 2013, in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court made a forged document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with Intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.
“COUNT 11: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about the 31st day of October 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N6,200,000,000 (Six Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira Only), to STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“COUNT 12: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about 11th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N2, 090, 000,000 (Two Billion, Ninety Million Naira Only), from STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First bank, to Emmerado Logistics Limited’s account number “0688985010” domiciled with First City Monument Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“COUNT 13: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO on or about the 3rd day of September 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst being the Chairman of First Bank Plc indirectly had a personal interest in a loan facility sought for by V Tech Dynamics Links Limited in the sum of N6,150,000,000.00 (Six Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only), which interest was not declared to the Bank and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(1) BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT 2004 and punishable under Section 18(2) of same Act.”

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Certificate Scandal: We don’t have your record as a lawyer. – Supreme Court To Ex Speaker Obasa….

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6 days ago

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January 15, 2025

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More trouble may be brewing for the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as the Supreme Court of Nigeria has revealed that there was no record of him as a lawyer in their registry.

 

 

The apex court keeps records of all certified lawyers allowed to handle cases in any Nigerian court.

 

Obasa’s profile on Wikipedia and the Lagos Assembly’s website describes him as a lawyer and solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even though there is no mention of where he practiced or a case he handled.

 

He is also described on the Assembly’s website as graduating from the Nigerian Law School in 2007, a year after he obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the Lagos State University.

 

But in a response to an enquiry on the subject matter on July 24, 2020, the Supreme Court categorically stated that Obasa’s name was not found on the numerous rolls of legal practitioners kept with it.

 

 

The letter signed by one Gertrude B. Karenton-Mordi on behalf of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and seen on Monday, said, “This is to inform you that we have checked our records and cannot find the name: MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA on the nemerous Rolls of Legal Practitioners kept in this honourable court.

 

 

MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA is at liberty to come to the honourable court with his call to bar and qualifying certificates for enrollment.”

 

Interestingly, this is not the first time that the 47-year-old Lagos Assembly Speaker will be linked to a scandal — this merely adds to a long list of alleged wrongdoing Obasa had been discovered to be involved in.

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National Sports Festival: FG, Enugu govt sign host state agreement

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6 days ago

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January 14, 2025

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The Federal and the Enugu State Government have signed the host state agreement in respect of the 2026 National Sports Festival billed to hold in the South East State.

The agreement, which was signed by the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade for the FG and Governor Peter Mbah for Enugu State, on Tuesday, now awards Enugu State the full hosting rights for the 2026 edition of the National Sports Festival.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah thanked the Commission and other sports stakeholders for the confidence reposed in the state and his administration to stage the event, assuring that it would discharge its hosting responsibilities in a way that would leave a lifelong memory and experience on the athletes and all lovers of sports in Nigeria and beyond.

“We also appreciate the value and significance of this award. I want to commend the commission for finding Enugu worthy of being the next host of the 23rd National Sports Festival. We are going to discharge ourselves creditably.

“As you know, we like to be a role model as a state that gained preeminence over 115 years ago. We will not want to let our forebears down. We will live up to that standard.

“We have already set forth at dawn. Immediately that announcement was made, we mobilised our team. We are already working on revamping the Awgu Games Village and a whole lot. We have decided to deliver a brand new Games Village. We are also completely renovating the stadium to brand new.

“We are making sure that by the time you come here by the end of this year, you are going to be highly impressed. It is not revamping, rebranding or re-equipping, but we are also going to build additional facilities to the existing one.

“We are looking forward to having a word-class experience befitting the sports men and women, making our hosting a lifelong memory and experience,” he stated.

Earlier in his address, Hon. Olopade said the commission was encouraged by Enugu’s bid, available facilities, improved security in the state, and Governor Mbah’s determination to turn around the sports and social infrastructure to grant Enugu the right to host the event after the 22nd edition to be hosted by Ogun State.

The National Sports Commission boss added that the hosting would boost investment and tourism in the state before, during and after the event.

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