[PHOTOS] Meet The Nigerian Surgeon Who Removed Baby From Mother’s Womb, Operated On Her Tumor & Returned Her Back

Dr. Olutoye is  the Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Fetal Center and fetal surgery team member, as well as a general pediatric surgeon. Dr. Olutoye received his medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1988 and his PhD in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, in 1996.
He and his surgeon partner, Dr. Darrell Cass of Texas Children’s Hospital operated on a 23-week-old baby
Little Lynlee Hope suffered from a tumour known as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma and had to be removed from her mother’s womb, operated on and returned back.
She healed and continued to grow until she was born again at 36 weeks.

He completed his residency in general surgery at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Virginia Commonwealth University, and his fellowship in pediatric surgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Olutoye is a member of the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society and is a Fellow of the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Surgeons; he is also a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons.
Dr. Olutoye has specialized clinical expertise in fetal and neonatal surgery, with specific interest in congenital diaphragmatic hernia and complex wounds. Dr. Olutoye’s research interests include understanding the role of the fetal inflammatory response in scarless fetal wound healing, development of animal models of congenital anomalies, in utero correction of severe congenital malformations, and the study of endothelial-leukocyte and endothelial-tumor cell interactions with a goal to better understand the mechanisms of tumor metastasis.
Dr. Olutoye is certified by the American Board of Surgery in Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.

Daura Bursts To Life As Buhari’s Daughter Weds In Katsina

Business boomed in Daura, Katsina State, as the ancient town went agog for President Buhari’s daughter wedding on Friday.
Super markets, shops, soft drink sellers and commercial motorcyclists recorded a boom in their businesses as visitors and well wishers from across the country were sighted purchasing various traditional wares.
The traders at Daura city market also conducted their businesses without hindrance.
The soft drink and bottled water sellers are receiving high patronage due the scorching heat in the city.
It was observed that there was high vehicular traffic as various brands of assorted cars and jeeps belonging to invitees flooded the town.

Several of the invitees drove straight to the Emir of Daura’s palace, Alhaji Umar Farouq, to pay homage before proceeding to the venue of the wedding.
The residents of Daura were also seen in high spirit, receiving and entertaining visitors as well as directing them to various places in appreciation of their presence for the high profile wedding.
The President’s daughter, Fatima, is getting married to her heartthrob, Malam Gimba Yau Kumo.
She will become the fourth wife of Gimba, who is a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

SOURCE: (NAN)

‘How Can Someone With MSc In French Literature Be Agric Minister?’ – Reno Omokri Blasts Ogbeh

Reno Omokri, spokesman of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has again taken a swipe at another Minister in the Buhari government, questioning the educational qualification of Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture.

 Omokri had previously attacked Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, putting her educational qualifications into perspective as he rubbished her alma mater.

 https://twitter.com/renoomokri/status/791692860680568832/photo/1

Omokri, while sharing a thought on his twitter page, noted that Nigeria is experiencing a hike in food prices because of Audu Ogbeh’s educational qualification.

[PHOTOS] First Wife Reacts As President Buhari’s Second Daughter Becomes Her Husband’s 4th Wife

The  wedding of the second daughter of Nigeria’s President, Hajiya Fatima Muhammadu Buhari,to a former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, 57-year-old Malam Gimba Yaukumo, today Friday October 28th is currently ongoing.
One of the wives of President Buhari’s daughter’s husband-to-be, Gimba Aishatu took to social media to post loved up photos of she and her 57-year-old husband as he sets to marry Fatima Buhari as his fourth wife today.

See details:

SOURCE: NIGERIAN MONITOR

PHOTOS: Protest in Ondo over Jegede’s replacement as PDP candidate

Ondo state is becoming more violent over the replacement of Jegede as PDP gubernatorial candidate...Jimoh Ibrahim has found favor in the hand of some party members and even INEC itself.

The remover of Jegede who most people think can not compete with the ACP gubernatorial candidate Oluwaromiti Odunayo Akeredolu has caused a great chaos in Akure and Ondo town...

 SOURCE: OMOTOSO IBUKUNOLUWA / PUNCH

Oyo pupils set classrooms ablaze over failure

There was breach of the peace at the Isale-Oyo Community High School, Oyo town, after some pupils of the college reportedly set ablaze some classrooms over mass failure in their examination.

It was learnt that the aggrieved pupils stormed the school premises on Thursday morning charting solidarity songs.

They were said to have gone haywire afterwards, set fire to blocks of classrooms and fled the premises.

The PUNCH gathered that the school authorities alerted men of the Oyo State Fire Service, who responded swiftly to put out the fire.

Policemen were deployed in the school to restore peace but none of the pupils had been arrested as of the time of filing this report.

The disturbance, observers noted, marked the worst phase of the unrest that began days ago over mass failure in exams.

The school compound was deserted as teachers and other pupils reportedly fled for fear of being harmed.

Our correspondents learnt that there had been lingering crises since Monday in some secondary schools in the state following mass failure in the last promotion examinations.

The Oyo State Government has set a new promotion policy which states that only pupils with 50 per cent in Mathematics and English language will transit to the next class.

Pupils of Anglican Secondary School in Oyo reportedly unleashed mayhem on their teachers and destroyed billboards bearing Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s picture.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Banji Olowofela, lamented poor performance of pupils in external examinations, saying public schools could no longer continue to breed substandard pupils.

 “What government says is that there is no automatic promotion again. Our external examinations from1999 till date have been abysmally poor. If we push them to the outside world, we are not helping them. We are trying to give them the opportunity to rediscover themselves. The school has been closed indefinitely,” he added.

SOURCE: PUNCH

Ekiti Assembly drags Fayemi, others to EFCC over alleged N40bn fraud

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC), calling for the investigation and prosecution of the immediate past governor of the State and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and others, for allegedly looting the State to the tune of over N40 billion. The petition, dated October 24, 2016 and signed by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Pastor Kolawole Oluwawole, was submitted to the EFCC in Abuja yesterday, by a team of the Deputy Speaker, Hon Segun Adewumi, Chairman House Committee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotoso and Hon Sina Animasaun. However, in a swift reaction, the minister in a statement signed by his media assistant, Mr Yinka Oyebode said he would not be distracted by the childish and ridiculous allegations of fraud levelled against his administration in Ekiti State by the State House of Assembly. The petition by the Assembly was titled; “Complaint of fraudulent practices against former Ekiti State governor and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi & others: Call for investigation & prosecution.” Other people mentioned in the petition are Mr Dapo Kolawole, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, Arc Oyelade and Mr Bayo Kelekun. The Deputy Speaker, who addressed pressmen after the petition was submitted, said; “Since EFCC have claimed that the commission does not have any complaint against those holding power in Abuja, we have decided to submit this petition openly so that Nigerians and indeed, the entire world will be able to follow it up and ask questions from the EFCC as to what has happened to it.” Dr Omotoso, who also corroborated the Deputy Speaker, disclosed that the petition bordered on 10 major issues, namely; Construction of new civic centre, construction of new governor’s office, mismanagement of the N25bn bond and N5bn commercial bank loan, construction of new government house, diversion of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) N852.9 million, fraudulent purchase of 156 units of Ford vehicles from Coscharis Motors, inflation of road contracts, among others. Also, Hon Animasaun said the State House of Assembly could no longer pretend as if nothing was wrong in the face of the monumental looting of the State treasury perpetrated by immediate past APC government of Fayemi, hence the complaint to the EFCC. The petition, which was accompanied with several documents read in part; “Consequent upon the resolution of the House of Assembly, we write to request for the investigation of the following allegations of fraudulent practices against the former Governor of Ekiti State and incumbent Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and others. ‘’These fraudulent practices include, but not limited to contracts inflation, misappropriation of fund, diversion of Local Council and State Universal Basic Education funds, amongst others.

 I can’t be distracted –

Fayemi Dr Kayode Fayemi, in his reaction said he would not be distracted by the childish and ridiculous allegations of fraud levelled against his administration in Ekiti State by the State House of Assembly. Dr Fayemi who reacted to the petition submitted by the state assembly to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging N40 billion under his watch as governor of the state, said the lawmakers’ claims are not only baseless, but a calculated attempt to distract him. The Minister’s Special Assistant on Media , Mr Yinka Oyebode, said in a statement yesterday that the Ekiti Assembly’s petition to EFCC is nothing but a rehash of old tales told by little minds. He added that since the allegations lacked substance, it is bound to fail like the previous ones by the state government and its agents.

Fayose asks Ooni, others to defend Tinubu, Falae

 

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has appealed to all the monarchs in Yoruba land to promote unity and defend political leaders against external aggressors.

He also urged the Federal Government to review its policies because of massive hunger in the land.

The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday while receiving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

Fayose specifically appealed to Yoruba kings to ensure that no harm should befall a former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, and other leaders of the Yoruba race.

Tinubu is believed to have fallen out of favour with President Muhammad Buhari while Falae is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly receiving part of the missing security funds from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Fayose said, “You (Ooni) are in a good position to unite us. We want to appeal to you to remember that we all belong to you, irrespective of political parties.

“That was why I said without apologies that an action against Ahmed Tinubu is an action against the Yoruba nation.

“We must defend the Yoruba nation. They are encroaching. They are harassing; they are depriving us of our legitimate rights. Those who toiled day and night are now victims of circumstances.

“Nothing must happen to Tinubu, Falae and others. This is the way they started with (Obafemi) Awolowo and (Pa Michael) Ajasin,” he cautioned.

Fayose said the effort of the Ooni to unite the Yoruba had started yielding results, urging him to sustain it.

He advised Yoruba leaders to avoid a situation that led to the rivalry between Awolowo and the late Samuel Akintola in the western region.

The governor lamented that there was hunger in the land and he appealed to the Federal Government to evolve policies that would change things for the better.

He also condemned the activities of herdsmen that were destroying farm produce across the country.

“They asked us to go back to farming and they released their cows to be eating our farms. Any cattle that destroy farmlands will be seized by the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ogunwusi has called for tact in the handling of the threat posed by herdsmen across the country, especially in the South-West region of the country.

Speaking with journalists, Ooni, who said Ekiti had the power to enact laws, called for a careful handling of the threat posed by herdsmen.

He said he was impressed by the thousands of people that trooped out to receive him and he called for prayers for the governor.

Adejugbe expressed joy at the visit even as he recalled that two departed Oonis, Oba Adesoji Aderemi and Oba Okunade Sijuwade, visited the Ewi in 1937 and 1980 respectively.

He charged the Ooni to continue to unite Yoruba monarchs and sustain the growing unity among Yoruba people.

$2.1bn arms cash: Ex-leaders, top monarchs, clerics among beneficiaries

                             Immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)

There were indications on Thursday that former Nigerian leaders, traditional and religious leaders from across the country were listed as beneficiaries of the $2.1bn arms funds in the final report of the Presidential panel which probed military contracts from 2007 to 2015.

It was gathered that the report, which had been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari, recommended the retrieval of undisclosed sums of money from some indicted persons, while in some cases, it recommended their prosecution.

A highly-placed security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said some former Heads of State, were listed as having received various sums of money from the Office of the National Security Adviser under  Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

The source added that a prominent northern traditional ruler was provided funds from the NSA’s office for the monarch’s coronation.

Giving further insights into what some of the funds were used for, the source explained that some were spent to pay the medical bills as well as travel expenses of some of the ex-leaders, who had to travel abroad to seek medical help for undisclosed aliments.

In one of the most notable cases, the report stated that the ONSA shouldered the cost of the medical trips of one of the ex-Heads of State to Germany.

The source added, “The list of beneficiaries from the ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki is very long.

“The list comprises very prominent Nigerians, including former Heads of State, many traditional rulers from the North and the South.

“Several religious leaders from the two dominant religions in the country also got funds from the ONSA.

“A former President of the country, who was sick, was flown out of the country to Germany for medical treatment. In fact, the former ONSA paid for the three trips the former leader made to Germany.”

It was learnt that the prosecution team was opposed to an open trial of Dasuki as this could result in disturbing revelations on how the $2.1bn under probe was disbursed.

The arms panel also established that the procurement processes adopted for the purchase of military hardware were arbitrarily and generally characterised by irregularities and fraud.

The highly-placed security official said the panel had interrogated some of the indicted officials, serving and retired officers, and some contractors.

The PUNCH learnt that the Federal Government would soon make public the final report just like it did with the interim report.

Barely three months after he assumed office in 2015, Buhari inaugurated a 13-man panel to probe procurement of arms and related military contracts between 2007 and 2015.

The panel had submitted two interim reports, where several serving and retired military officers were indicted.

Those indicted in the first two reports included Dasuki; a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.); two former Chiefs of Army Staff – Lt. Gen. Azubike Ihejirika (retd.), and Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd.) – and ex-Chiefs of Air Staff, Air Marshal M. D. Umar (retd.), and Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.).

Others indicted were Maj. Gen. E. R. Chioba (retd.), AVM I. A. Balogun (retd.), AVM A. G. Tsakr (retd.), AVM A. G. Idowu (retd.), AVM A. M. Mamu, AVM O. T. Oguntoyinbo,  AVM T. Omenyi, AVM J. B. Adigun and AVM R. A. Ojuawo.

Among those also indicted were AVM J. A. Kayode-Beckley, Air Cdre S. A. Yushau (retd.), Air Cdre A. O. Ogunjobi, Air Cdre G. M. Gwani, Air Cdre S. O. Makinde, Air Cdre A. Y. Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze.

Several contractors, former ministers and government officials are currently being prosecuted for the roles they played in the disbursement of the funds.

In one of the interim reports, the panel said, “The procurement processes were arbitrarily carried out and generally characterised by irregularities and fraud.

“In many cases, the procured items failed to meet the purposes they were procured for, especially for the counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East.

“A major procurement activity undertaken by ONSA for NAF was that concerning the contracts awarded to Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux Nig. Limited between January 2014 and February 2015. NAF awarded 10 contracts totalling $930,500,690 to SEI Nig. Ltd.

“Letters of award and End User Certificates for all the contracts issued by NAF and ONSA respectively did not reflect the contract sums.

“Rather, these were only found in the vendor’s invoices, all dated March 19, 2015.”

A statement credited to the presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, had said the Ode-led panel “comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects of troops’ morale.”

He added, “The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.”

It was not clear on Thursday if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had received a copy of the report or not, which was said to contain a list of those for further investigation and prosecution.

The spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he did not have information on the subject.

When asked if the commission had received the report, he simply said, “I don’t know.”

SOURCE: PUNCH

Again, Appeal Court asks Saraki to face CCT trial

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to challenge his ongoing trial on charges bordering on asset declaration breaches.

The Justice Abdul Aboki-led panel ruled that, contrary to Saraki’s contention, the CCT had jurisdiction to entertain the charges instituted against him by the Federal Government.

The judgment of the Court of the Appeal on Thursday cleared any possible legal hurdle capable of preventing the Senate President’s trial from continuing on November 7, as already scheduled by the CCT.

It was the second time the appeal court would be delivering judgment on the same subject matter of jurisdiction of the CCT to try the Senate President.

The Court of Appeal had October 30, 2015, ruled against Saraki on the jurisdiction of the CCT and asked him to proceed to face the 16 counts preferred against him.

The judgment of the appeal court was affirmed by the Supreme Court in a judgment it delivered on February 5, 2016.

On Thursday, all the five members of the appeal court panel unanimously agreed with the lead judgment delivered by Justice Aboki, who resolved all the eight issues formulated for determination against Saraki.

In affirming the earlier ruling of the Danladi Umar-led CCT affirming the tribunal’s jurisdiction, the appeal court upheld all the grounds of objection to the appeal filed by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

Justice Aboki held among others that contrary to Saraki’s contention, the Attorney General of the Federation had the power to institute charges against him before the CCT.

 He also held that under the constitution, the Code of Conduct Bureau was not under any obligation to invite the appellant to enable him to make a written admission of breaches in his asset declaration forms before charges could be initiated against him.

Justice Aboki ruled, “It held that failure to invite him by the CCB before the charges were filed did not amount to a breach of his constitutional rights to fair hearing and to be tried within reasonable time as provided for under section 35 and 36 of the constitution.

The appeal court held that the tribunal had rightly departed from its earlier decision exonerating a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, on account that he was not invited by the CCB to confront him with the allegations levelled against him.

It also strike down the provisions of the CCB/T Act relied upon by Saraki’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), to make the submission.

Justice Aboki ruled, “The provision relied upon by the appellant is a slippery ground; it cannot stand side by side with the provisions of paragraphs 3(d) and (e) of the 1st Schedule to the constitution.

Justice Aboki also rejected that the submission by Saraki that the charges were politically motivated because they were initiated 13 years after the offences were allegedly committed.