Hadiza Bawa Garba: Struck off for honest mistakes (1) By Deborah Cohen

The inside story of the death of a six-year-old boy in UK hospital – and the Nigerian-born doctor who took the blame When a junior doctor was convicted of manslaughter and struck off the medical register for her role in the death of six-year-old Jack Adcock, shockwaves reverberated through the medical profession. Many doctors have argued that Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba was unfairly punished for mistakes she made while working in an overstretched and under-resourced NHS – and on Monday the Court of Appeal ruled she should not have been struck off. With access to full trial transcripts, witness statements and internal hospital inquiries, Panorama talks to Dr Bawa-Garba and to the parents of Jack Adcock in order to tell the story in detail. Jack Adcock wasn’t himself when he returned from school. He later started vomiting and had diarrhoea, which continued through the night. In the morning Jack was taken to the GP by his mother, Nicola, and referred directly to Leicester Royal Infirmary’s children’s assessment unit (CAU). Less than 12 hours later he was dead. “Losing a child is the most horrendous thing ever. But to lose a child in the way we lost Jack – we should never have lost him,” Mrs Adcock says. At 8.30, trainee doctor Hadiza Bawa-Garba arrived at work expecting to be on the general paediatrics ward – the ward she’d been on all week. She had only recently returned to work after having her first baby. Before her 13 months’ maternity leave, she had been working in community paediatrics, treating children with chronic illnesses and behavioural problems. But when medical staff gathered to discuss the day’s work, they were told someone was needed to cover the CAU – the doctor supposed to be doing it was on a course. And Dr Bawa-Garba volunteered to step in. She also carried the bleep – which alerts the doctor that a patient needs seeing urgently on the wards or in the Accident and Emergency unit, across four floors of the busy Leicester Royal Infirmary – and was required to respond to calls from midwives, other doctors or parents. Soon after Dr Bawa-Garba took over, the bleep went off – a child down in the accident and emergency unit, several floors below, needed urgent attention and she missed the rest of the morning handover. Back in the CAU at 10.30, Dr Bawa-Garba was asked to see Jack Adcock by the nurse in charge, Sister Theresa Taylor, who was worried he had looked very sick when he had been admitted. She was the only staff nurse that day. Because of staff shortages, two of the three CAU nurses were from an agency and not allowed to perform many nursing procedures. “Jack was really lethargic, very sleepy. He wasn’t really very with it,” says Mrs Adcock. She told medical staff he had been up all night with diarrhoea and sickness. The boy’s hands and feet were cold and had a blue-grey tinge. He also had a cough. I knew that I had to get a line in him quickly to get some bloods and also give him some fluids to rehydrate him,” says Dr Bawa-Garba. He didn’t flinch when she put his cannula in.

Because of a pre-existing heart condition, Jack had been taking enalapril – a drug to control his blood pressure and help pump blood around his body – twice a day. But Dr Bawa-Garba says she didn’t want him to have the enalapril, because he was dehydrated and it might have made his blood pressure drop too much. Because of this, she says, she left it off his drug chart. She then asked for an X-ray to check Jack’s chest. Blood was taken – some was sent down to the labs, while a quicker test was done to measure his blood acidity and lactate levels – the latter being a measure of how much oxygen is reaching the tissues. The tests revealed his blood was too acidic. “A normal pH is 7.34 – but Jack’s was seven and his lactate was also very high. A normal is about two and his was 11, so I knew then he was very unwell,” Dr Bawa-Garba says. She gave him a large boost of fluid – a bolus – to resuscitate him. Her working diagnosis was gastroenteritis and dehydration. But she didn’t consider that Jack might have had a more serious condition. It was a mistake she regrets to this day. Jack had been admitted under the care of Dr Stephen O’Riordan, the consultant who was supposed to be in charge that day – but he hadn’t realised he was on call and had double-booked himself with teaching commitments in Warwick and hadn’t arrived at work. Another consultant based elsewhere in the hospital had said she was available to help and cover him if needed – although she had her own duties. After an hour of being on fluids to rehydrate him, Jack seemed to be responding well. “He was a little more alert and we thought he was getting better,” Mrs Adcock says. Dr Bawa-Garba thought that too. One of the less experienced doctors in the unit had been unable to do Jack’s next blood tests. They had tried but couldn’t get blood, so Dr Bawa-Garba went to do it herself. This time, when Dr Bawa-Garba went to take blood from his finger, Jack resisted, pulling away. “That kind of response, to me, said that he was responding to the bolus,” she says. “Also, the result I got showed that the pH had gone from seven to 7.24. In my mind I’m thinking this is going the right way.” However, not enough blood had been taken to get another lactate measurement. Dr Bawa-Garba looked for Jack’s blood results from the lab. She had fast-tracked them an hour-and-a-half earlier. But when she went to view them on the computer system, it had gone down. The whole hospital was affected. This meant not only that blood test results were delayed, but also that the alert system designed to flag up abnormal results on computer screens was out of action. She asked one of the doctors in her team to chase up the results for her patients, and took on some of that doctor’s tasks. Those tests would have indicated that Jack may have had kidney failure and that he needed antibiotics. By this point, Jack was sitting up in the bed drinking juice. “I automatically thought he was perking up,” says Victor, Jack’s father. Because he had stopped vomiting, Dr Bawa-Garba prescribed some Dioralyte – rehydrating salts. But the fluid he was losing from having diarrhoea had not been documented by his nurse. Dr Bawa-Garba also reviewed Jack’s X-ray, which had been ready for a few hours. Dr Bawa-Garba says no-one had flagged it was available. She says she had been busy with other patients – including a baby with sepsis that needed a lumbar puncture – and this was the first opportunity she had had to review it. The X-ray showed that Jack had a chest infection so she prescribed antibiotics. But Dr Bawa-Garba says she wishes she had given him antibiotics sooner. This was the last time Dr Bawa-Garba treated Jack, who was also being cared for by an agency nurse. The nurse was doing his observations – including his temperature, heart rate and blood pressure – but did not record them regularly. Consultant Dr Stephen O’Riordan arrived at the hospital. “I hadn’t worked with him before, so I introduced myself,” Dr Bawa-Garba says. She then went to chase up Jack’s blood results, which still hadn’t come through – the doctor she had assigned to do it hadn’t managed to get them. Dr Bawa-Garba tried a number of extensions before managing to speak to someone. They read out Jack’s results and she noted them down. She says she was looking out for one particular test result called CRP, which would confirm whether Jack’s illness had been caused by bacteria or a virus. She noted it was 97, far higher than it should have been, so she circled it. But she says she was concentrating so much on the CRP that she failed to register that his creatinine and urea were also high – signalling possible kidney failure. During the afternoon handover, Dr Bawa-Garba told Dr O’Riordan about Jack – his diarrhoea and vomiting, heart condition, and enalapril medication. She says she told him Jack’s lactate level was 11, and mentioned some of the other blood test results. She said she had started him on antibiotics for a chest infection, and asked his advice about the fluids Jack was being given. She says Dr O’Riordan noted down what she said and ordered repeat blood tests. Dr Bawa-Garba says she had assumed he would go to see Jack – based on the description she had given and the fact he had asked for further tests – but he didn’t. By this time, Jack had been moved to ward 28 under the care of a different team. On his way up there, he had been sick again. It was at this point that another failing in Jack’s care occurred. Mrs Adcock says she asked a nurse looking after Jack on that ward if she could give him his enalapril – the medication to regulate his blood pressure. He was due his second dose of the day. She recalls the nurse telling her she’d checked with another doctor on duty. Mrs Adcock says she was told the nurse wouldn’t be able to give the medication to Jack, as it had not been prescribed, but his mother could. So Mrs Adcock gave it to him. The nurse later said she had also asked for a doctor to come to see Jack. “We’d got Toy Story on but he was still knocking his oxygen mask off,” Mrs Adcock says. “I was just saying, ‘Come on sweetheart go to sleep,’ and I was rubbing his face. I’ll never forget – he closed his eyes and I thought something’s not quite right. His tongue, or his lips, looked blue. I ran out of the room, saying, ‘Can someone come and look at Jack?’” Dr Bawa-Garba had been on call for more than 12 hours when an emergency call went out for a patient who had suffered a cardiac arrest on ward 28 and doctors and nurses rushed to help. In the morning, Dr Bawa-Garba had had to intervene to stop doctors from trying to resuscitate a terminally ill boy who had a “do not resuscitate” order. She assumed it was the same boy. What she didn’t know was that Jack had subsequently been moved to the same ward as the boy who had crashed in the morning – ward 28. A terrible confusion was about to follow. “While we’re running up the stairs, all I was thinking is, ‘It’s the child with the do-not-resuscitate again – that someone is trying to resuscitate. This is a mistake,’” she says. When she reached the fourth floor, at least 11 people were already in the side room, she says. Meanwhile, Nicola Adcock was waiting outside the room. In that moment, Dr Bawa-Garba didn’t recognise her. She says: I walk in and say, ‘He’s not for resuscitation,’ because I thought it was the child with the ‘do not resuscitate’ order.” Dr Bawa-Garba says she was then told by another doctor that the patient was not the same boy as earlier – but was Jack Adcock. “I was shocked and I was like, ‘Why is Jack crashing?’” she says. She told the team to continue the resuscitation. “I remember going hysterical and just thinking, you know, ‘Please look after my little boy,’” says Mrs Adcock. “And then I remember somebody taking me back into the room and telling me, ‘Jack needs his mummy.’” At 21:21 the decision was made to stop resuscitation. Jack had died of sepsis. Experts later said the interruption to the resuscitation had not contributed to his death – but he shouldn’t have been given enalapril and he should have been given antibiotics much earlier. At the Adcocks’ home in Glen Parva, a suburb of Leicester, Jack’s sister Ruby has moved into his old room. His has been recreated in the room she vacated. Stars featuring handwritten messages from Jack’s schoolmates, saying how much they will miss him and his cheeky laugh, adorn the navy blue walls of the replica bedroom. “It’s my way of coping,” says Mrs Adcock. She says she has yet to grieve. The investigations, court proceedings, and appeals have taken a toll on the family. “I blame Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba for my son’s death and I will never, ever, ever, ever forgive her.” She describes Jack as a “joyful little boy” and says he and his younger sister, Ruby, adored each other. Jack used to love dancing, swimming and going to watch Leicester City football team, says his father, even though he had been in and out of hospital during his short life. “We were season ticket holders but since that happened [Jack’s death] I haven’t been able to go,” he says. “I can’t face it.” The night Jack died, Mr and Mrs Adcock were taken into a room off the ward, where they were met by doctors they’d never seen before. “We were told, ‘I’m really sorry but your son’s passed away,” says Mrs Adcock. “It just didn’t sink in.” She remembers them saying he had had pneumonia and an internal bleed. She asked to see her son. The last time she had seen him, he had been asleep and had looked peaceful. “He had no tubes, he had nothing,” she says. This time, “there was blood – I just couldn’t believe it was him, my baby, gone”. Everyone on the ward was crying, she says, including Dr Bawa-Garba, who was sobbing. “Nobody expected Jack would die.” The doctor came over to express her condolences and Mrs Adcock thanked her for looking after Jack. “I wish I could take those words away. I never knew then what I know now,” she says. The following day, Saturday, the family was invited back to the hospital to meet a group of doctors, nurses and managers from the trust to discuss what had happened. Minutes taken by one of Mrs Adcock’s friends from university, whom the family had invited to the meeting, give an indication of what was discussed. The hospital representatives apologised for the boy’s death and said they would investigate. “They said he just wasn’t looked after; he didn’t have the right support; he wasn’t given the right care,” Mrs Adcock says. She wanted to know about the interrupted resuscitation and so they talked about that too. The family was also told that a junior doctor had failed to recognise the severity of Jack’s condition, according to the minutes. The police then arrived – there was to be an investigation after the unexpected death of the child. “I remember being absolutely terrified, thinking, ‘I haven’t done anything, why are the police here?’” Mrs Adcock says. After Jack’s post-mortem examination, two days later, the family was told that he had died of a streptococcal infection and had developed sepsis and they could make plans for his funeral. “Everything was in place. There was an article going in the paper on the Friday to say when his funeral was going to be,” Mrs Adcock says. But then they were asked to cancel their plans and meet the police at the coroner’s office to discuss an inquest. “As you can imagine at that point, we felt physically sick – the anger raged. We just could not believe what we were hearing, so automatically we said, ‘So you’re telling us someone’s responsible for our son’s death?’” Mrs Adcock says. There was then a second post-mortem examination in case criminal proceedings were opened. “It took three months to get my little boy back, to be able to lay him to rest,” Mrs Adcock says. Not a day goes past, Dr Bawa-Garba says, when she doesn’t think about the day Jack died. “I am sorry for not recognising sepsis and I am sorry for my role in what happened to Jack.” The 41-year-old mother of three says the impact on her and her family has been huge. She has had to move house and unpleasant material was posted on social media.

NDDC: New board to implement outcome of forensic audit – Akpabio By Chris Ochayi

The recommendations and outcome of the ongoing forensic audit of the activities of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, would be implemented by the new board to be inaugurated soon, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has said. Senator Akpabio said the report of the audit exercise upon conclusion, would be handed over to President zMuhammadu Buhari. The Minister, who spoke while appearing on a live Radio Nigeria Audience participatory programme organized as part of the activities marking the second term of the Buhari Administration at the Radio House in Abuja., assured that implementation of the outcome of the forensic audit would reposition the NDDC for effective service delivery in the region. According to him, ”People are commending Mr. President for the efforts, the delay notwithstanding, when the exercise is completed, NDDC cannot be the same again. We have solid Forensic Auditors, one of them in the Head office is international, Ernest & Young,. ”We have also mandated them to come up with an organogram that could make the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) a bankable institution, for example, they could go to any international institution and get money and be able to do major projects to change the lives of the people of the region”. The Minister recalled that the Forensic Auditors were inaugurated to scrutinize the activities of the NDDC that was mired in allegation of mind boggling corruption in order to change the narrative of the region. “This is in line with the presidential directive for a holistic examination and review of the operations of the NDDC from inception in 2009 to 2019 to ascertain the exact status of all contracts for projects and services as classified into completed, uncompleted, abandoned, ongoing and facilities that can be managed to be salvaged and whether appropriations made to the Commission is commiserate with developments on ground’ he stated. He noted that due to lack of budgetary provision, Mr. President, in July 2020, opted that the Forensic Audit should be funded through the budget of the Presidency and presently the exercise is on course and it is expected that the Forensic Audit would be concluded and submitted to the President by July 2021. In pursuance of the mandate and commitment of the Federal Government to the development of the Niger Delta Region, the supervision of the Commission was assigned to the Ministry for administrative efficiency which brought about the commissioning of the completed NDDC Headquarters after being abandoned for over 19 years. For the first time a Minister visited the NDDC Headquarters that was started in 1996 by OMPADEC and abandoned over the years, today it is completed and commissioned”, the Minister said. In the area of peace presently enjoyed in the region, Akpabio stated that the Federal Government has constantly and consistently engaged stakeholders to ensure relative peace in the region. “Buhari’s Administration has done a lot not just for Niger Delta alone but for the whole Country, in the perspective of the Niger Delta Region to keep the Ministry afloat within these years, we’ve had major engagements with stakeholders in the region, we meet with traditional rulers, youths and others to ensure that peace is sustained in the region”. The immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State noted that, ”Buhari’s government has undertaken major projects abandoned by the previous administration which include the East- West Road that starts from the central part of Warri and transverses at least five states of the Niger Delta region in order to alleviate the sufferings of the people and enhance economic activities within and outside the region. He stressed that “Mr. President in his wisdom redirected that the project be handed over to my Ministry to continue and as l speak, work is going on at a consistent pace and l believe strongly that the projection of 1st and 2nd quarter of next year for the commissioning of the first phase of Section 1-4 that is from Warri to Oron should be ready to be used by the people of Niger Delta Region would be achieved”. Continuing, he said “l know we also have challenges at the Eleme junction where one of the bridges not originally contemplated collapsed but we are trying to see what we can do to intervene in that area”. He reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to addressing the infrastructure deficiency, social economic challenges, poverty, environmental degradation and pollution that characterized the region for years to assuage the living condition of the people of Niger Delta region. Vanguard News Nigeria

Seven in race for APC national chairman

Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairmanship race and chances of the aspirants at the convention. Seven are in the race for now. More may still join. Few may also withdraw along the line. But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention itself has remained elusive. Although the unelected National Caretaker Committee, led by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, has unfolded plans for ward, local government and state congresses, the fate of the national congress is hanging in the balance. What actually is delaying the convention? Reminiscent of how Military President Ibrahim Babangida was postponing the handover date, tinkering with the transition programme and changing the goal post amid the game,the tenure of the Buni Committee had been extended thrice. The latest extention of the tenure of the interim committee is worrisome as it is indefinite. This has fuelled speculations about an inexplicable hidden agenda. The chairmanship aspirants, nevertheless, rely on hope, the elixir of life. The seven are from the North. This may give a vague idea of imminent rotation or zoning, both of the chairmanship and the presidency. Former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Almakura has not publicly declared his intention. But, party sources said the chieftain of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is a strong contender. A source said:”The president is always a fan of his old allies.” It could not be ascertained whether he will also emerge as the candidate of the APC Governors’ Forum. Fifty five year old Senator Sani Musa, who hails from Paikoro in Niger State, has embarked on extensive consultation and mobilisation. A loyal party man, Musa has been described as a man of integrity. He is a one-time governorship contender in Niger State, a delegate to the National Convention, and a member of the APC Presidential Election Campaign Committee for 2019.

The senator had canvassed the revolution of the electoral system through the use of the card reader and Permanent Voter’s Card. Many have described him as a bridge builder who possess high inter-personal skills. In the Senate, he had served on some committees, including Appropriation, Petroleum Resources, Foreign and Local Debts and Water Resources. In the APC, he had served as member of NEC, Contact and Strategic Committee, and Constitution Review Panel. In 2015, he was arrested, but refused to divulge any confidential information on the card reader. The Business Administration graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he was the President of Zodiac, served as Special Adviser on Investment and Infrastructure in Niger State; director of Niger State Development Company Limited, Chairman, Task Force on Environmental Management and Managing Director, First Pacific Nigeria Limited. He also obtained a Certificate in Conflict Analysis from the United States Institute of Peace. Musa is held in esteem in the senate as an organised, dedicated, passionate and hardworking politician. He is said to be goal oriented, focussed and patriotic. Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu is a party elder endowed with experience. He is a no-nonsense politician. He knows his onions. After serving as governor for eight years, he was elected senator. In 2007, he was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Another aspirant is the eminent politician from Gombe State, former Governor Danjuma Goje, former Minister of State for Steel Development and now, senator. He is also a former PDP chieftain; bold and fearless. Former Borno State Governor Modu Sheriff served as a senator before becoming governor in 2003. He served for two terms. He defected from the APC to PDP, where he was briefly the national chairman. There were allegations that he wanted to use the position as a stepping stone to the realisation of his presidential ambition. When he was shoved aside as chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi became the PDP caretaker chairman. Some months ago, Sheriff retraced his steps to the APC. Mohammed Mustapha hails from Gambari District in the Ilorin East local government area of Kwara State. He is 48 years old. He has distinguished himself in business, politics and humanitarian services. He founded the Saliu Mustapha Foundation to serve as a platform for human empowerment and community development. Mustapha is a former deputy national chairman of CPC. He played a role in the merger of the CPC with other tendencies that gave birth to the APC. He was a signatory to the merger agreement on behalf of the CPC in the coalition. Before he became the deputy chairman of the CPC, he had served as an Ex-Officio and a foundation NEC member of the party. He was the National Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Liberation Party (PLP) between 2001 and 2002 under the leadership of Dr. Ezekiel Ezeogwu. In 2003, Mustapha and other like-minds formed the Progressive Action Congress (PAC). He was the National Publicity Secretary of the party. He was a member of The Buhari Organisation (TBO) and the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO). APC is in a dilemma. Consensus building appears difficult. There are internal contradictions. There are divisions. Can these pave the way for a peaceful convention?

We Killed two, arrested 13 aides in Igboho's house raid - DSS

Residence of the Yoruba Nation agitator, Mr Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho), after an attack on the house by the Department of State Services in Ibadan and suspects arrested in the house during their parade in Abuja…on Thursday. Photos: Olufemi Olaniyi and Olatunji Obasa Eniola Akinkuotu, Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe, Segun Adewole, Olufemi Olaniyi and Solomon Odeniyi 2 July 2021 The Department of State Services, on Thursday, paraded 12 of Sunday Igboho’s followers, saying one other was being profiled. The DSS said a joint team of security operatives had raided Igboho’s residence early on Thursday based on an intelligence report. Parading the suspects at the national headquarters of the secret police, its spokesman, Peter Afunaya, said the security team was engaged in a gun duel by nine men suspected to be Igboho’s guards. Afunaya stated, “A team of joint security operatives raided the residence of Sunday Adeyemo at Soka in Ibadan. This was based on intelligence that he had stockpiled arms in the place. “On approach to his residence, the team came under heavy gun attack by nine men suspected to be Igboho’s guards. Six were armed with AK-47 guns and three others with pump action rifles. “In the course of the exchange, two of the armed men were gunned down, while the rest were subdued and arrested. Only one operative, who was shot by the assailants in his right hand, sustained injury. He has, however, received medical attention and is very stable. “The gun duel, which lasted an hour, offered Igboho the chance to escape. Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, is now on the run.” Those arrested are: Abdulateef Ofeyagbe; Amoda Babatunde, aka Lady ‘K’, Tajudeen Erinoyen, Diakola Ademola, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah, Ayobami Donald, Adelabe Usman, Oluwapelumi Kunle, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Opeyemi and Bamidele Sunday. Afunaya added that the team searched the house and subsequently recovered seven AK-47 assault rifles, three pump action guns, 30 fully charged AK-47 magazines, 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five cutlasses, one Jack knife, one pen knife, two pistol holsters, a pair of binoculars, a wallet containing $5, local and international driving licences in his name, ATM cards, a German residence permit No. YO2N6K1NY bearing his name; two whistles, 50 cartridges and 18 walkie-talkies. Others are three charm jackets/traditional body armour, two laptops, one Toshiba and one Compaq laptops and his passport and those of many others. Afunaya added that five of the AK-47 assault rifles recovered from his residence were snatched from Nigeria Customs and Immigration personnel at Idi Iroko, Ogun State. Afunaya explained that Igboho and his group, in the guise of campaign for self-determination, had become well-armed and determined to undermine public order. He added the arrests and seizures were a confirmation of a grand plan by Igboho and his cohorts to wage a violent insurrection against the Nigerian state. Some of his aides had said the invasion, which they alleged claimed the lives of five occupants of the house, was carried out by soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services. The Nigerian Army, however, said it had no hand in the attack. One of our correspondents, who visited Igboho’s house, observed blood stain on the floor in front of the main building. Windows of some vehicles and buildings on the premises were shattered. There was thick blood clot in one of the chalets, an indication that someone might have been killed or badly injured, and one of Igboho’s aides said the victim, who he identified simply as Alfa, was praying inside the building when he was shot in the head and died on the spot. A resident of the building said although government agencies had been monitoring Igboho’s movements before now, the attack might not be unconnected to the Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold in Lagos on Saturday. The Convener of the Igangan Development Advocates, Mr Oladiran Oladokun, who visited the scene of the attack, told one of our correspondents that the invasion of Igboho’s residence was an attack on the entire Yoruba people. One of Igboho’s aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Chief surprised every one of us, because the attackers were everywhere, but he escaped. The assailants came around 1.30am, scaled the fence and opened fire. “I think the instruction they were given was to kill every living thing sighted on the premises. A lady was the one directing them. She was calling occupants of the house by their names. That is to show that an insider gave them the information they relied on. “They took away about N3m from his (Igboho’s) room as well as his jewellery.” Another occupant of the house, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The assailants killed five persons and took away their corpses. Some ladies, who are wives of chief’s aides, were also taken away. They took away the CCTV box so that we won’t play bac Meanwhile, the Yoruba Council of Elders and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, slammed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for the attack on the home of the Yoruba Nation agitator. The YCE expressed concern about the invasion of Igboho’s home. The Secretary-General of the YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide, who spoke with one of our correspondents in Ibadan, said the group was concerned about the incident. He urged the Federal Government to investigate the attack and bring those behind it to justice very quickly. Olajide stated, “It is unimaginable that Sunday Igboho’s home was so viciously attacked. Sunday Igboho is not violating any law of the land. There is freedom of movement and freedom of association in a democracy. “The Yoruba Council of Elders is very disturbed by this. Much as we are not backing any secessionist and self-determination agenda for now, because we believe this country can still be salvaged, but reactions from authorities continue to show us that the government is insensitive to what the people are saying.” Adebanjo slams Buhari On his part, Adebanjo said from all indications, the assault on Igboho’s home was sponsored by the government and described it as an attack on the Yoruba. The 93-year-old stated, “It is a government sponsored attack from all indications. It is unfortunate, particularly for the Yoruba. “Mr President has taken us back to the Abacha regime. It was the same they did to Alfred Rewane, Gen Alani Akinrinade, Chief Abraham Adesanya and many others, including members of NADECO. I have said before that this government is a tyrannical government.” When asked if Igboho did not deserve to be arrested due to his opposition to Fulani herders, Adebanjo said if that was the reason why he was being attacked, then it showed that the government was partial. Police warn against Lagos rally Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has said it will not allow any rally in the state under any guise. The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, warned organisers of the planned Yoruba Nation rally and their followers to stay off the streets of Lagos, adding that anyone caught would be dealt with according to the law. Odumosu said intelligence reports available to the police indicated that some people had perfected plans to infiltrate the protesters and cause more mayhem in the state. “Lagos State cannot afford to experience any security lapse, breakdown of law and order, and threat to public peace at the moment, considering the negative effects and reoccurring agonies of the October 2020 violent #EndSARS crisis that led to massive destruction of public and private facilities, while some police personnel paid the supreme price,” he said. Igboho suspends rally Meanwhile, Igboho has suspended the Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold in Lagos on Saturday. Igboho, who spoke to the BBC News Pidgin, stated that the rally had been suspended. His words come after a statement by the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, declared that the rally would hold as scheduled. The statement was signed by its leader, Emeritus Professor, Banji Akintoye, and made available to journalists by his Communications Manager, Mr Maxwell Adeleye. “We want to confirm again that the Pro-Yoruba Nation rally scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 3, in Lagos will proceed as scheduled,” the statement read in part. PUNCH.

DSS has granted us access to Kanu, says laywer By Nicholas Kalu

The Department of State Services (DSS) has granted detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) access to his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor. Ejiofor made this known in a statement on Friday. He said: “Thankfully our effort is yielding the desired result. We have just received a communication approving our visit to our Client- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Shall keep the world posted on the outcome, immediately after the meeting, later in the Day. God is with us.” Ejiofor had on Thursday protested an application for audience with his client had not been approved. In another tweet late Thursday, Ejiofor said he had met with the IPOB leader. The tweet reads:” Update on meeting with MNK today, 2nd July 2021: “My Client – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was actually abducted by the accursed Kenya’s Special Police Force on the 18th of June 2021 at their International Airport and consequently taken to an undisclosed residence under dehumanizing conditions. “He was tortured and subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment which worsened his health condition. He was illegally detained for eight (8) good DAYS in Kenya before being transfered to their Nigerian counterpart. “He was purportedly investigated on a bogus charge while in their custody, ostensibly, awaiting to be handed over after their findings proved him innocent of all the spurious allegations. They later beckoned on their Nigerian counterparts to take over. “Kenyan Government was deeply involved in the abduction, detention and ill-treatment of my Client before the illegal handover to their Nigerian counterpart. “A scan of his heart showed that the heart has enlarged by 13% due to the dehumanising treatment meted to him. There will be need for immediate proper medical examination and attention for him. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu conveyed his goodwill message to all IPOB family members worldwide, and craved for your unrelentless prayers. “We are going back to the Court for the needful. Other details cannot be entertained here. “His fortified legal team will address these infractions at the proper forum as we progress. Other details on our legal strategy, may not be made public. “With Chukwuokike Abiama on our side, Victory is assured. For if God Almighty be for us, who can be against us? #freeMaziNnamdiKanu#” Kanu has been in the custody of the DSS since he was arrested and repatriated to Nigeria on Sunday to face trial after jumping bail in 2017 for charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and illegal possession of arms among others. His trial will continue from the 26th and 27th of July 2021 at the Abuja Federal High Court.

Kanu’s arrest: Lawyers write UK, protest extradition, FG guns for collabor atorsBy Samson Folarin, Solomon Odeniyi, Lesi Nwisagbo, Edward Nnachi, Dennis Naku, John Charles and Raphael Ede

The Federal Government on Thursday said it would go after highly-placed Nigerians and other collaborators of the Independent People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who stated this at a press briefing in Abuja, said irrespective of the collaborators’ standing in country, they would all face the full wrath of the law for challenging the nation’s sovereignty. Mohammed said this as the lead counsel to the IPOB leader, Aloy Ejimakor, in an interview with one of our correspondents, disclosed that he had written the British High Commission, complaining about Kanu’s arrest and extradition. He also lamented that despite writing the Department of State Services, he had not been allowed access to the IPOB leader. Kanu, who is facing trial for treasonable felony, jumped bail in 2017 and fled the country for the UK when soldiers stormed his parents’ residence at Afaraukwu, Abia State. The Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, however, announced on Tuesday, that he had been rearrested through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services. The Abia State indigene, who is also a British citizen, was thereafter taken before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where an application for his remand in DSS custody was granted. The Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed, on Thursday, said, “None of Kanu’s collaborators, irrespective of their standing in society will be spared. “They will all face the full wrath of the law for their activities that challenge our nation’s sovereignty and threaten its unity. No one, no matter how highly placed, is bigger than the country.” The minister also faulted those calling for fair trial for the IPOB leader, saying he jumped bail when he was granted one. The minister added, “It is interesting that many are suddenly calling for a fair trial for Kanu as if he didn’t get one before he decided to jump bail and flee. “However, I can assure you that the fair deal that Kanu denied many of the victims of the violence which he instigated through his broadcasts and tweets will not be denied him.” Mohammed claimed that Kanu lived a flamboyant lifestyle before he was arrested. Kanu lived five-star life – Lai Mohammed “It will interest Nigerians to know that for over two years, our security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of the proscribed IPOB leader as he lived a five-star life across several countries, travelling on chartered private jets, living in luxury apartments and turning out in designing clothes and shoes. “Of course, as we all saw, he was wearing clothes made by Fendi, a luxury Italian fashion brand, when he was arrested,” the minister said. He refused to give details of how and where Kanu was re-arrested. He however admitted that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of security and intelligence agencies in collaboration with undisclosed countries. He described Kanu’s re-arrest as one of the most classic operations in the world. He added, “There have been speculations on how this re-arrest was pulled off and in which country the hitherto fugitive leader of the proscribed IPOB was nabbed. “What we can tell you, once again, is that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, in collaboration with countries with which we have obligations. We continue to respect and honour the obligations.” IPOB fumes over Uhuru Kenyetta’s role But IPOB expressed displeasure over the role allegedly played by the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyetta, in what it described as the unlawful arrest of Kanu. The group, which said its investigations showed that Kenyetta was instrumental to the unlawful arrest of Kanu, observed, “The treacherous action of Uhuru kenyatta against Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans at large is a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, and United Nations Code.” The secessionist group stated this in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH, on Thursday. It stated, “Based on our preliminary findings, President Uhuru Kenyetta was very instrumental to the abduction of our leader in Kenya. The treacherous action of Uhuru Kenyatta against Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans at large is a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, and United Nations Code. “As we continue with our investigations into this crime with a view to unmasking all the collaborators, we announce the following interim actions until further notice: “We call on all Biafrans both home and in the Diaspora to boycott travels with Kenya Air Lines; to immediately stop patronising any product made in Kenya; and to boycott any business dealings with Kenyans. We cannot be relating friendly with anyone collaborating with our oppressors to keep us in perpetual slavery!” On his part, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, advised the Federal Government to ensure that rule of law and due process was followed in the prosecution of Kanu. Governor Wike, who made this assertion during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, explained that irrespective of the differences the arrested IPOB leader had with Rivers State Government, he suggested that due process must be followed in his prosecution. Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, stated Wike’s position in a statement in Port Harcourt titled, ‘Trial of Nnamdi Kanu must follow due process—Wike’ with a sub-title ‘demands arrest of bandits, Miyetti Allah militias’. Also on Thursday, there was palpable tension in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state. Recall that the military has been in Oyigbo for over eight months since hoodlums burnt down police stations there. Our correspondent, who monitored the area, reported said the military base and police stations in Oyigbo lpare were heavily guarded. It was observed that the number of checkpoints along the Oyigbo road had increased, while sandbags had been placed at the border between Rivers and Abia states to serve as barricades. Insecurity: Apply same zeal to apprehend killer herders, Ortom advises FG The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, also spoke on Kau’s arrest and appealed to the Presidency to apply the same zeal and strategy it used to apprehend him to also arrest sponsors of armed herdsmen as well as leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. Ortom said that the Presidency would not need to dissipate much energy in the arrest of armed herders since, according to him, the leaders of the Miyetti Allah live in the country. He stated, “It is regrettable that Kanu who is fighting a just cause could be arrested while leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are walking about freely. “Let there be justice and the only way to do this is to arrest the leaders of the herdsmen who have caused so much pain and suffering to our people. “Let me say that if Federal Government could deploy so much zeal to arrest Nnamdi Kanu they should also be able to apply same in arresting the herdsmen, especially, the leadership of Miyeiti Alla Kauta Hore who live with us in the country.” 1,000 arrests won’t stop agitations – Mbaka The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, said arrest of 1,000 people would not stop agitations. Mbaka spoke on Wednesday during his weekly ministration ‘E No Dey Again’, told the worshippers that some state governors had lured the IPOB leader into the hands of his traducers. While blessing inmates and correctional centres across the country, Mbaka’s countenance suddenly changed and he said, “Don’t sell your sons and daughters because of a political promise that you are not even sure will materialise tomorrow. “Don’t sell your son because you are governors today! Live and let live. “Let the leaders listen. The solution is not in arrest and handcuff, the solution is in job creation! Leaders beware! Their stubbornness will collapse this country one day! If care is not taken, will happen like an earthquake! “Even if you arrest 100 people, it will not stop the agitation. If anything, it will worsen the situation,” he warned. It was not clear which governor or governors that the priest was referring to, but it appeared that South-East governors were not unconnected with Mbaka’s vituperations. Mbaka stated, “Many people are clapping for them (the Federal Government) now, but when the heat becomes unbearable; when the sun riots, when heavens shake you will understand. “When they killed Jesus Christ and put him in the prison-grave – Jesus’ prison was in the grave – they thought it was all over for Him, that the end had come. “Whoever that you have in heart now that is in the prison, may the Lord be with that person. May the Lord show such a person mercy. May the Lord show him favour, even from the prison warders that would be protecting him,” he noted. Mbaka also took a swipe at the Federal Government over what he called, worsening poverty, hunger and insecurity in the country, and charged the present regime and leaders at all levels to act fast and address the country’s challenges before it was too late. Meanwhile, a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, H Stella Odife has called on the Federal Government to stop using force in resolving national issues, noting that re-arresting the leader of IPOB would not solve the problems in Nigeria. Odife, who spoke during the inauguration of South-East Peace Counsellors by the Advocates for Global Peace Forum International, said that there could not be peace in Nigeria without first dealing with underlining issues. While calling on the Federal Government to listen to the agitation of youths, Odife disclosed that the agitation was as a result of poor governance, militarisation and marginalisation of the zone by the regime led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). “We cannot talk of peace in the South-East without thinking of Nigeria as a whole because the major problem we have down here is as a result of activities at the national level.” Ejiofor, lead counsel to the detained IPOB leader, on Thursday, said two days after he wrote the DSS, he had yet to be allowed access to Kanu. Ejiofor accused the DSS of having an agenda as it had not responded to the letter he wrote to the DSS to enable him to see his client. He also said that he had copied the letter to the court. In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, he said, “They are working in collaboration with the court. That was why they took him to the court without my knowledge. Otherwise, what stopped them from calling me and letting me know the matter coming up on Tuesday. “Now I had to write application to the DSS to allow me to see him and up till now they have not responded. So there is a conspiracy between the Federal Government and the court to kill him.” I’ve been denied access to Kanu since arrest, says lawyer The lawyer, however, said the British High Commission was already looking into the case after he wrote a letter on the matter. Kanu’s lawyer said he filed a formal request with the DSS for counsel visitation, adding that he did not get any response. “And that’s not fair. It’s even straining on being unlawful as a detainee has a constitutional right to have prompt access to his counsel. “Yesterday (Wednesday), I wrote a formal letter to the British High Commission on this matter and I am happy to say that it is receiving prompt and favourable consideration. “In my view, the manner of his interdiction and forcible deportation to Nigeria is profoundly extra-legal and does not conform to international laws and treaties to which Nigeria is signatory. Kanu is not a common criminal, but a political prisoner or a prisoner of conscience. As such, the next engagements will not only be legal but political and diplomatic, especially given the fact he is a British citizen who was unlawfully renditioned and brought to Nigeria against his will and the will of the British authorities,” he added. By Samson Folarin, Solomon Odeniyi, Lesi Nwisagbo, Edward Nnachi, Dennis Naku, John Charles and Raphael Ede PUNCH.

Buhari to launch Kano-Kaduna rail project in few weeks, says Amaechi. Agency Report

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) will launch the construction of Kano -Kaduna rail project in the next few weeks. Amaechi disclosed this on Friday while speaking at the weekly Presidential Media briefing organised by the State House Media Unit in Abuja. He said that all contracts for the projects had been awarded as the loan for the project was not forthcoming from China as earlier planned. He said, “In the next two weeks, we should be launching and commencing immediately the construction of Kano-Kaduna rail project. “The president will be launching it and then we will commence construction immediately. “The reason why we are commencing construction immediately is that all the necessary contracts have been awarded. FG’ll fund one-third of Kano-Kaduna rail project – Amaechi “We have been waiting for the loan for too long from China and the money has not come. “So, we decided to fund it from the budget. We already paid 218million dollars to them and we are about to pay another 100million dollars to make it about 318million dollars. “Kano-Kaduna is about 1.2billion dollars – the moment you pay about 318million dollars, you must have paid one-third of the project. “So, we believe that by the time we get the loan we must have funded up to 600million dollars. “So, that should be able to take the project nearly halfway before the fund will come because if we continue to wait for the loan whether, from China or Europe, we may likely not complete it before we go.” (NAN)