A former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, says he will not respond to the various allegations leveled against him by the incumbent, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, until the governorship campaigns begin.
Mimiko said this on Sunday in Ondo town when he hosted the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, at his residence.
Ajayi had defected to the Zenith Labour Party in the hope of clinching the party’s gubernatorial ticket for the October 10 election.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akeredolu had decried the abandoned projects by the previous administration in the state, describing them as a disgrace to governance and a disservice to the people.
Akeredolu spoke while inaugurating four projects completed by his administration at the Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa.
Mimiko, however, said the time to compare his government with that of his successor had not come.
He said any party or government that would not meet the needs of the masses at the point of their yearnings was not progressive.
According to Mimiko, ZLP is the only party that loves helping the poor to achieve their dreams.
Mimiko, who described the deputy governor as a seasoned politician, added, “all his good and bad sides we know, we do not expect surprises.”
The former governor thanked Ajayi for joining ZLP, describing him and his followers as true progressives.
Earlier, Ajayi had said he joined ZLP not only to contest the gubernatorial election, but to also help promote good governance in the state.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami
The Civil Society Network Against Corruption has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari about how the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been stalling high-profile corruption cases to protect “crooks’.
The rights group informed the President that Malami takes over the prosecution of high-profile corruption cases in order to protect his allies from facing justice.
The group cited how Malami took over prosecution of the case of a former lawmaker, Dino Melaye, and how the AGF also technically took over the trial of former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.
CSNAC in a petition signed by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, said the taking over of cases by Malami raises foul play and undermines the corruption mantra of the Buhari-administration.
Suraju added that Melaye’s alleged action was in gross contravention of the Code of Conduct for public officers by virtue of the above stated constitutional provision.
The petition reads, “We were surprised at that development and suspected a foul play, considering the power of Attorney-General under Section 174 of the constitution is limited to instituting or taking over cases instituted in court and not “arresting an investigation” as was obvious in the case under reference
“The Code of Conduct Bureau is one of the Federal Executive bodies established by section 153 of the constitution.
“The CCB as an autonomous body is not subject to the control of any public officer or institution. But in violation of the constitution, Mr Abubakar Malami, the AGF technically took over the prosecutorial function of CCB and technically arresting its constitutional duties, sabotaged and frustrated the constitutional functions of the Bureau by converting it into an extension of the Office of Attorney-General who may decide to prosecute or decline prosecution of any case.
“You will recall that the Chairman of the Presidential Panel for Recovery of Public Property was suspended last year by your office on the recommendation of the AGF. Even though the President did not dissolve the panel or remove other members, the AGF has disbanded the panel and seized all the files and assets recovered by the Panel without further prosecution of any of the cases handed over to the ministry by the panel.”
He also stated that contrary to Section 30 of the EFCC Act, which empowers Secretary of the EFCC to sell assets confiscated on the orders of courts without any amendment to this law, the AGF issued special regulations in 2019 which attempted to confer on his office the powers to take over assets confiscated by the EFCC and sell them.
The group also accused Malami of technically taking over the EFCC, saying that based on the recommendation of the AGF, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu has been suspended while a Judicial Commission of Enquiry is currently investigating the allegations of corruption leveled against him by the AGF.
“The AGF has taken advantage of the ongoing probe to technically take over the EFCC. He has placed 12 officers of the EFCC on suspension including the Commission Secretary, without following due process of fair hearing,” CSNAC said.
Suraju said the actions of Malami were an extension of the reckless abuse of the power of nolle prosequi the AGF regularly employs to discontinue corruption cases being pursued by the anti-graft agencies.
“Several civil society and anti-corruption bodies have documented the several corruption cases that have been discontinued by the AGF and forwarded same to your office,” he added.
Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has called for his big players to step up in Sunday’s Europa League semi-final against Sevilla.
United are two games away from winning their first major trophy since the 2016-17 Europa League.
The Red Devils lost in the semi-finals of both the EFL Cup and FA Cup this season.
“You know that when you come to a semi-final, you’re playing against big teams,” Solskjaer said.
“It’s time to step up for big players, big game moments.
“You have to have 100% focus because any little moment can change the game. We’ve learned that it’s very painful to lose a semi-final.”
Solskjaer’s last success was the 2013 Norwegian Cup with Molde.
United have had an extra day to prepare – and have been able to stay in Cologne – having beaten FC Copenhagen in extra time on Monday in the city.
Five-time winners Sevilla needed an 88th-minute goal to beat Wolves in Duisburg, 45 miles away, on Tuesday.
“We’ve had a few good days now, both recovering and preparing,” Solskjaer said.
“It’s not very often we have six days between games, so we’re ready.
“We’ve been already twice now in the semis this season. Of course we’re happy with going as far as we have but we’re not satisfied.
“We want to go one step further.”
The winners face either Shakhtar Donetsk or Inter Milan in the final on Friday, 21 August, also in Cologne.
Solskjaer was asked how they can stop Sevilla, who are unbeaten in 19 games.
“Score more goals than them,” he said. “It’s not easy. They are a very organised team, aggressive in their pressing, with some very good individuals.
“We need to play our best game and keep the ball when we can. Play out of their press, be clever and creative and step up in big moments. The last pass, the finish. These games will be decided so often on a set-piece or individual brilliance.”
Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui said: “I think this United side are the best of the last few years.
“They’ve found their football, they have not lost since January in the Premier League, which is such a competitive league, and they are in the right place.
“They’re a complete team in many respects and we are going to have to play a great game if we are going to be able to compete with them.”
MATCH STAT
Manchester United have progressed to the final from each of their past four European semi-final appearances (2008, 2009 and 2011 Champions League and 2017 Europa League), winning the trophy on two of those four occasions.
United and Sevilla’s only two meetings were in the last 16 of the 2017-18 Champions League, with Sevilla winning 2-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg, after a goalless draw in the first leg.
The Red Devils have been awarded 21 penalties in all competitions this season (four in the Europa League, including Bruno Fernandes’ extra-time winner against FC Copenhagen in the quarter-final) – more than any other side across Europe’s top five leagues.
Sevilla have reached the Europa League semi-final on three previous occasions and gone on to win the tournament each time (2014, 2015, 2016). They have only been eliminated in one of their past 20 knockout ties in the competition, losing 6-5 on aggregate to Slavia Prague in the last 16 in 2018-19.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won 49 of his 89 matches in charge of Manchester United. Victory in this game would see him become the third fastest manager to reach 50 wins in the club’s history, after Ernest Mangnall (78) and Jose Mourinho (81).
Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in more Europa League goals this season than any other player (11 for Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon combined). He has either scored (seven) or assisted (four) in seven of his nine appearances in the competition this campaign.
Some Nigerian airport officials have been discovered to be collecting money in place of carrying out COVID-19 tests to those entering Nigeria from other countries.
Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had in July said that inbound passengers from foreign trips will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival at Nigeria airports.
Mustapha said this was aimed at protecting all stakeholders and preventing further spread of the Coronavirus disease, especially through the airports.
SaharaReporters gathered that airport officials rather than do the right thing, now collect money in place of COVID-19 tests from passengers.
“In this Coronavirus pandemic, they are still putting money above the lives of the common man. Someone very close to me came to Nigeria from Dubai on Wednesday night and they were routed to Abuja.
“Before leaving Dubai, he had already been tested and he was negative. On getting to Nigeria, their passports were seized and they were told they would be on isolation for two weeks.
“Can you believe that they gave them the option of paying to collect their passport and go without any form of tests or follow-up. He paid N50,000 and he was allowed to go, some paid as high as N100,000 to N150,000 depending on if you know someone there. As you are reading this, he has left Abuja and arrived Lagos.”
The Cross River Police Command has arrested 11 persons during an initiation into a cult at Bishop Moynag Avenue, State Housing, Calabar.
The command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, said in a statement in Calabar on Sunday that the suspects were nine men and two women.
He said that the suspects were arrested on August 14 through “human and tactical intelligence information” deployed by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulkadir Jimoh.
Ugbo said that the suspects were arrested by operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad and officers from the Federal Housing Police Division.
“On Aug. 14, 2020, a team of SARS operatives and men from the Federal Housing Police Division through intelligence from the Commissioner of Police swung into action and arrested 11 suspected cultists during initiation.
“Items recovered from them include talking drum, wooden guns, two kegs of concoction and a bottle of Gordon drink.
“The suspects confessed to the crime. The investigation is still ongoing to unravel other cult members.
“To this, he ends, the Commissioner of Police once again warned all members of any cult groups or anyone having intention to engage in any cult-related activities to desist from such”.
The Police Command said its “Operation Murky Waters” was still ongoing and was determined to neutralize all illegal activities and those behind them.
Ugbo, however, enjoined peace-loving residents of Cross River to go about their normal businesses without fear of any kind.
Wale Babalakin, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka, has explained why Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was removed as the Vice Chancellor of the institution.
Babalakin while addressing journalists at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, said Ogundipe was sacked due to gross misappropriation of funds and reckless looting of resources.
Giving a breakdown of events on the day that the former VC was removed, he said under UNILAG laws, voting can be done in secret or open ballot.
He said, “The votes were counted with each council members’ comments. Everyone voted, they didn’t just vote but they made comments and I read out all the comments.
“Go and read the law, what the law said is that when a Vice Chancellor is removed and you have a complaint, you will write an appeal to the visitor. He cannot on his own declare that he has not been removed as Ogundipe has done. He cannot on his own confront his employers. In law, he has resigned because if you challenge your employer and you are still in his employment, you have actually left.
“The weakness of Ogundipe is that his legal advisers have not done a very thorough job. There is no stalemate and there is no chaos in the university because the law would take its course. It is not in the place of the removed VC to say he has not been removed. He cannot be a judge in his own court. He cannot on his own declare that he has not been removed. He cannot on his own decide to confront his employer.
“Prof Ogundipe has been looting the university and looting it recklessly, that’s the plain truth that we should not hide. There is misappropriation and there is direct looting of the university. All attempts were made to put an end to this.
“The former VC spent N49m renovating his house. Under the process, this has to be done with approval from the council, he sought no approval. To cover up, he gave the bursar N41m to renovate his official residence. The official residence of the bursar can be built for N41m from the scratch, this was what was spent on renovation.
“He cannot on his own declare that he has not been removed. He cannot on his own decide to confront his employer.
“Prof Ogundipe has been looting the university and looting it recklessly, that’s the plain truth that we should not hide.
“There is misappropriation and there is direct looting of the university. All attempts were made to put an end to this.”
Meanwhile a group, Concerned Stakeholders of UNILAG, has hailed the Governing Council over Ogundipe’s removal.
The group said the Council was adequately equiped by the enabling Act and laws of the university as amended, to hire and fire the Vice Chancellor and other principal officers of the university.
“We, the Concerned Stakeholders of the great and highly prestigious University of Lagos, hereby heave a sigh of relief and congratulates all stakeholders of the university as the university Governing Council under the able leadership of Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), finally wakes up to its avowed responsibility by doing the needful to rescue our dear University of first choice from the inglorious impunity of financial and adminstrative recklessness it has been subjected to in the very recent past under the inept, corrupt and disoriented management leadership of the immediate past Vice Chancellor in the person of Prof Ogundipe.
The group said, “We really symphatise with the disgruntled noisemakers in the university community who are unwittingly expressing solidarity with the out-gone Vice Chancellor despite the obvious and glaring allegations of corrupt practices and malfeseance. By their actions, they are giving active credence to lawlessness, impunity, insolence, corruption.
“The university council is adequately equiped by the enabling Act and laws of the university as amended, to hire and fire the Vice Chancellor and other principal officers of the university. And, as to the question of due process and fair hearing, the investigative panels earlier set up by the Council had consisted of the university Senate/Council members who had given the ex Vice Chancellor and others the ample opportunity to defend themselves.
“We hereby congratulate the Acting Vice Chancellor, in the very person of Prof Theophilus Omololu Soyombo, even as we wish him a successful tenure to turn things around pending the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor by the Council.”
Donald Trump’s younger brother Robert died on Saturday after being hospitalized for an undisclosed illness, the US President said in a statement mourning his loss.
“It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight,” Trump said in a White House statement.
“He was not just my brother, he was my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again. His memory will live on in my heart forever. Robert, I love you. Rest in peace.”
The 74-year-old president had visited his brother on Friday at a hospital in New York, staying for about 45 minutes. US media reports had said Robert Trump was seriously ill, although there were no details.
Donald Trump, who was stopping in New York on the way to his golf club in nearby Bedminster, New Jersey for the weekend, told reporters Friday that “he’s having a hard time.”
He has previously called his brother Robert “wonderful” and said they have “had a great relationship for a long time, from day one.”
Media reports said Robert was 71.
“Uncle Robert, we love you. You are in our hearts and prayers, always,” Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka said on Twitter.
Her brother Eric said Robert Trump would be “deeply missed by our entire family.”
“Robert Trump was an incredible man — strong, kind and loyal to the core. Anyone who encountered him felt his warmth immediately,” he said on Twitter.
Born in 1948 and the youngest of the five Trump siblings, Robert worked on Wall Street before joining the family real estate business. Quieter and less famous than Donald, Robert nevertheless became an integral part of the Trump Organization and was fiercely loyal to his older brother.
“I support Donald one thousand per cent,” Robert told the New York Post in January 2016 as Donald was making his bid for the White House.
“I think he’s doing a great job. I think he’s got a great message.”
The New York Times, however, said the two had been estranged for years before Donald’s run for President.
GREAT RELATIONSHIP
The brothers were very different, and the brash Donald once described Robert as “soft-spoken and easygoing.”
“I think it must be hard to have me for a brother, but he’s never said anything about it and we’re very close. He is definitely the only guy in my life whom I ever call ‘honey.’,” Donald said in his 1987 bestseller “The Art of the Deal.”
While usually avoiding the limelight, earlier this year, Robert unsuccessfully tried to block publication of a book by his niece Mary Trump, arguing that she was violating a non-disclosure agreement signed in 2001 after the settlement of her grandfather’s estate.
The book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” paints Donald Trump as the product of a “toxic” family.
“Her attempt to sensationalize and mischaracterize our family relationship after all of these years for her own financial gain is both a travesty and injustice to the memory of my late brother, Fred, and our beloved parents,” Robert said in a statement to the New York Times.
“I and the rest of my entire family are so proud of my wonderful brother, the President, and feel that Mary’s actions are truly a disgrace.”
Although a temporary restraining order was applied, a judge lifted it in July, allowing publication.
Mary was the daughter of the eldest Trump brother Fred Trump Jr, who died of alcoholism in 1981.
Robert divorced his long-time wife, Blaine, in 2009 and in March this year married Ann Marie Pallan, a Trump Organization employee, the New York Post reported.
Before Robert’s death, the couple had been living a quiet life at their home in Millbrook, in the Hudson Valley, media reports said.
Paying tribute to Robert, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now the President’s Personal lawyer, said he had “a big heart.”
“As a former Mayor I know how much he did to help New Yorkers in need. We have lost a really good man. My love, prayers and condolences to the Trump family,” he tweeted.
Hormone imbalance occurs when your body has too much, too little or out-of-sync production of a hormone or hormones that are important for regulating bodily processes. The proper balance of hormones is essential for efficient reproductive cycles such as the ovulation process in women and the overall system of conception.
Hormonal imbalances are the leading cause of female infertility. Disorders, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and anovulation, can be the result of a hormone imbalance. Men may also experience hormonal disorders that affect their fertility but is a less common infertility factor in men than it is in women.
Hormonal imbalance is an incorrect quantity of one or more hormones in the bloodstream. The timing of the hormone(s) release, interactions with other hormones and ability to respond through cell receptors are also important for hormonal balance.
An irregular balance of the hormones associated with reproductive health in one or both partners can make conception and pregnancy difficult. Hormonal imbalances are the leading cause of infertility in women, but are often treatable with lifestyle changes and medications.
It helps to understand how hormones affect fertility. Your hormones play a pivotal role in your reproduction, particularly those hormones that control your menstrual cycle. In order for a pregnancy to occur, hormones in your body must signal and regulate the growth of an egg within your ovaries, the release of the newly formed egg into the fallopian tube and the thickening of the uterine lining for implantation. If the newly released egg is fertilised by sperm, the resulting embryo will then travel to the uterus for implantation.
The development of sperm is also regulated by hormones within the male body. If one or more hormones are absent or irregular in quantity, it can delay or prevent any of these processes from occurring, making pregnancy difficult to achieve.
For you as a woman, we pointed out that some of the most commonly diagnosed conditions and hormonal imbalances that could lead to hormonal imbalance are anovulation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hyperprolactinemia.
These conditions often result in infrequent or absent ovulation, which complicates an individual’s or couple’s ability to become pregnant.
Often times, hormonal imbalance is not diagnosed until you experience infertility. You may experience symptoms ranging from absent or irregular periods, spotting between periods, heavy or painful periods and unexplained weight gain among others.
A man is less likely to have a hormonal imbalance that contributes to infertility than a woman, but men may experience symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, reduced body hair growth, thinning hair or male pattern hair loss. If you manifest any of these symptoms, it’s important to discuss with a reproductive endocrinologist if infertility is suspected.
Did you know that the hormones surging through your body influence or even control many of the most important bodily processes—including the ability to get pregnant? This is what happens and because you can’t see or consciously adjust the levels of these critical compounds, it can be profoundly frustrating when you find yourself struggling to conceive if you suspect that a hormone irregularity may be at play.
This may be stressful and upsetting, but it’s important to remember that one in four Nigerian couples of reproductive age will experience difficulty conceiving. In many of these cases, hormonal imbalances are part of the problem.
Hormones are varied, invisible, and interactive. So getting a firm grasp on a hormonal imbalance and its potential impact on fertility can be challenging, if not downright frustrating , so along the journey towards conception, knowing how your hormones impact on your fertility and, what you can do to minimise or eliminate issues, is a wise step.
The number of different hormones that impact on your fertility is one of the things that can make addressing hormone-related infertility particularly challenging. The good news is that in many cases, taking the right measures will balance the hormones, which will ultimately lead to easier conception.
The two most common causes of fertility-related hormonal imbalance are thyroid dysfunction and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Either condition can make getting and staying pregnant without medical intervention more difficult.
Hormones that will most significantly impact on your ability to become pregnant apart from your thyroid hormones is prolactin, which is critical to the production of breast milk.
But it also plays an essential role in becoming pregnant in the first place. If your prolactin levels are abnormal, you will likely experience cycle irregularity, which in turn can cause issues with ovulation and, ultimately, with conception.
What you need to know is that every woman is different. While some who have a hormonal imbalance will not show any outward signs, the majority do have one or more symptoms. It’s important to never use the presence or absence of one or more these signs to self-diagnose.
How can hormonal imbalance impact on your fertility? With so many different hormones impacting on your ability to conceive and maintain a pregnancy, it becomes easier to understand that a hormonal imbalance can cause an equal array of fertility challenges.
Two of the most common fertility issues linked to hormonal imbalance are ovulatory dysfunction and short luteal phases.
If you have a luteal phase shorter than 10 days, a fertilised embryo may not be able to implant, preventing pregnancy, and we recommend you come in for a simple fertility evaluation.
The best thing you can do if you think you may have a hormonal imbalance, is to begin tracking your cycles and schedule a simple fertility evaluation with a specialist.
Some women elect to chart their basal body temperature, which generally rises in accordance with ovulation. While you can use this method, we don’t generally recommend it. It’s tedious and yet, for all of the effort, often doesn’t provide much useful information.
As you age, many fertility-related hormone levels change substantially. FSH, in particular, commonly increases as women start to have decreased ovarian function with age. Because fertility potential is impacted most by a woman’s age, early intervention is needed to increase your chances of pregnancy.
Note that hormones impact much more than your reproductive system. Even if you’re not currently pursuing parenthood, it’s important to see a doctor if you suspect a hormonal imbalance.
There are various ways we can treat a hormonal imbalance and increase the likelihood of conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy. Treatments for hormonal imbalances are highly customised, as each hormonal imbalance is different. Medication is commonly used to restore thyroid function, normalise prolactin levels, induce ovulation and trigger the release of a mature egg
Hormone levels can also be impacted by weight, so a weight-loss treatment plan may help naturally to normalise your fertility.
The bottom line is that hormonal imbalances in men and women can be determined through simple blood or urine analysis. Hormonal imbalance is usually treatable and should be treated whether or not you are looking to become pregnant. Treatments may include medications to restore normal thyroid function, normalise hormone levels, induce ovulation or trigger a fully mature egg.
Dr. Abayomi Ajayi is a Nigerian obstetrician/gynecologist.
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba, has been invited by the Department of State Services over the interview he granted Channels Television on Thursday regarding the agenda of the National Consultative Front to bring about a new Nigeria that works for all.
Spokesperson for the group, Dr Tanko Yunusa, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
He said the former Speaker had decided to honour the DSS invitation on Monday by 12:00pm.
Recall that Na’abba had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of turning Nigeria into a failed state, describing him as an irresponsive and incompetent leader in the history of the country.
The statement reads, “Please be notified that the DSS on Friday sent an invitation to NCFront Co-Chair and former Speaker of Nigeria, Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’abba, after his very profound interview on Channels Television on Thursday in regard to the NCFront agenda to bring about a new Nigeria that works for all.
“However, our leader, Ghali Umar Na’abba, has decided to honour the DSS invitation and therefore shall be visiting the DSS Headquarters in Abuja on Monday at 12noon.
“All NCFront organs, structures and allies nationwide are by this notice put on the alert as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
The Nigerian Army has transferred Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini to Sokoto in a bid to secretly arraign him before a martial court.
Tope Akinyode, Idakpini’s lawyer, made the disclosure on Saturday.
Akinyode said, “Information reaching me right now indicates that Lance Corporal Martins has been surreptitiously moved from Abuja to Sokoto to be tried before a martial court on Monday.
“I’m also informed that the army is forcing a lawyer from within the Force on Lance Corporal Martins in a desperate attempt to jeopardise the case and wrongly convict the detained soldier.
“Lance Corporal Martins has been brutalised and subjected to a great deal of dehumanising treatment. He was also denied food and has therefore developed ulcer.”
Idakpini was arrested in June 2020 shortly after he made a viral video castigating Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai, for the failings of the army to combat and destroy Boko Haram.
Since his arrest, he has remained in detention, incomunicado.
On July 22, 2020, an Abuja Federal High Court ordered the army to grant the detained soldier immediate access to his lawyer and family after Akinyode argued an ex parte.
Justice AI Chikere held that it was a continuous breach of the detained soldier’s fundamental human rights to be denied access to his lawyer and family.
However, Akinyode who is also the National President of Revolutionary Lawyers’ Forum, said the army refused to grant him access to his client despite being served copies of the court processes.
Akinyode said, “We wrote the AGF and Chief of Army Staff to notify them of the court order. I also called the AGF on phone and he assured me the court order would be obeyed. But myself and Lance Corporal Martins’ wife visited the Army headquarters thrice to see my client, but we were blocked.”
Akinyode, who vowed to resist the move by the army, said refusal of the Nigerian Government to obey court orders ridicules the country in the global community.
