Crime
FRAUD: Staff threatens to ground activities in LUTH over wrong narrative in Pay Slip
FRAUD: Staff threatens to ground activities in LUTH over wrong narrative in Pay Slip
By: James Bwala
TROUBLE brewing at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH as staff are threatening to shut down the hospital in protest over what they described as fraudulent deductions in their monthly pay by Professor Chris Bode led management in the name of ‘Hospital Bills’ as narrated in their pay slips.
It could be recalled that, Staff of LUTH had last month alleged fraud in the hospital pointing at the Chief Medical Director, Professor Chris Bode as partaking in the ongoing duplicitous in collaboration with some staff of the Accountant General office, where money said to have been paid wrongly to staff accounts were being deducted and instead of the amount to go back to its original source, the money is being diverted into LUTH accounts and subsequently being retrieved from the account through dubious means for self-help.
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A staff of the institution informed NEWSng that the CMD and some of his cronies in the hospital are now securing the money to themselves through unnecessary purchases. “LUTH has started spending the money. The CMD just bought Toyota Hilux at the sum of 40 million naira without budget for it. He is spending money on Hilux that will be piloting him to his home town in Ejigbo, Osun state on a weekly basis at the expense of the hospital fund.
“We are majorly concerned before we the union members ground the hospital activities. We are appealing to the higher authority to direct LUTH to pay the money back to the IPPIS TSA Account so that ASUU will have access to more funds in order for students to resume back to their schools.” He said.
According to LUTH staff, they would have understood if the management told them that they are reconciling the figures and thereafter, will transfer it to the consolidated revenue account. “But the CMD will not do that because he is always in the habit of grandstanding and he likes money laundry a lot.”
The staff said they were paid double salary in December 2014 and IPPIS deducted the money from the source directly in January and February 2015 salary. “Our problem is that, why is the management doing this? Why pay it into a LUTH account? We want all the funds to be paid back to the IPPIS TSA account, not the LUTH TSA account. The money presently in the LUTH account should be refunded back to the IPPIS account.
“They are now using the narratives “Hospital Bills” in the pay slip and going back to withdraw money from the LUTH account. If that money is in the IPPIS TSA account, they cannot remove it for whatever reason. We know what is happening in the hospital that is why we want the anti-graft agencies to also come in.
“If they are saying “Hospital Bills” the question I want to ask is that am I a patient in the ward? Or, do I have a patient on the ward? Why LUTH hospital bill instead of fund wrongly paid into my account and deducted” The staff asked.
NEWSng however, spoke with some of the top management including the Board Chairman and member at LUTH, who described claims by staff as unfortunate, adding that they were however not privy to what is happening at LUTH concerning recent agitations by staff.
Speaking to LUTH PRO Ms Lola Fakeye told NEWSng on phone that they have not received complaints either verbally or in writing suggesting any shortchange or what the staff are claiming to have been happening with their payment advice letter.
“All I know is that there was no official complaint to the management regarding this. However, I know that there was a circular to that effect.” She said,
Speaking to Director of Administration, Mr. Babajide Grillo; his advice is that staff should write to the management to express their concerns as according to him he has not received a complaint over the deduction, which suggests any action the staff might want to take against the narration in their pay slip.
“They should see the Head of Finance and account to discuss such an issue, I think it is better. I spoke with the Head of Finance about this and he told me they can approach him for further explanation if they are not satisfied with the narration and the soaring point of argument which is about the ‘Hospital bill’ as claimed. They should also write to me”. He added.
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Also speaking, a member of the board at LUTH told NEWSng that he was only hearing reports filtering about three days ago. According to him, the Board was at LUTH about ten days ago for promotion interviews but nobody approached them to complain about happenings in the hospital.
While reacting, Chairman of the Board Alhaji Isa Bello Sali told NEWSng that these are issues relating to the management of the hospital. Adding that as Board their roles are policy making and supervisory. He however noted that he was hearing the complaints for the first time.
“I advise that if there are such issues, the staff can write to us through the management and indeed state their worries. If you have not called I probably would not have heard that there are issues at LUTH. “The Chairman said.
Speaking to staff complainants, they told NEWSng that it is not natural as it seems to approach the management to air their complaint for fear of witch-hunt, but that when they decided to go on strike over these issues they will do that through their union.
“We feel secure to approach the media. They can victimize us if we write to them especially under the Chris Bode administration. All these people you have talked to know that it is not possible to approach the management or write to them as individuals but we will meet with our union and we will see how to approach the management as the Chairman said.”
FRAUD: Staff threatens to ground activities in LUTH over wrong narrative in Pay Slip
Crime
UK, Italy, Turkey, Qatar-bound cocaine, meth consignments intercepted in Lagos, Abuja
UK, Italy, Turkey, Qatar-bound cocaine, meth consignments intercepted in Lagos, Abuja
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said this was achieved in series of intelligence led operations, who led to the recovery of the illicit drugs and the arrest of the masterminds of the crimes.
He said a total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.4 kilogrammes cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November 2024 while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo, was tracked and arrested on 8th November.
He also said the bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama) to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport last Monday when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. The suspect claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business.
Babafemi said also arrested is another businessman, Anoke Kingsley with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport last Friday.
The spokesman said following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the agency last Friday raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna, 36, and Anene Chigozie, 34. He said recovered from them was 1.8 kilogrammes methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.
He said another suspect, Akande Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8 kilogrammes methamphetamine by operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the NDLEA at his 9 Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance, adding that in another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos. The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect. The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway while coming from Ghana.
In Edo state, not less than 997 kilogrammes cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state. While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan local government area, 180.5 kilogrammes of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West local government area and 136.5 kilogrammes evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East local government area last Thursday.
He said a suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was last Wednesday nabbed with 88.3 kilogrammes cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the agency last Friday arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.
In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8 kilogrammes cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West local government area, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75 kilogrammes cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West local government area, Imo state last Thursday. A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
UK, Italy, Turkey, Qatar-bound cocaine, meth consignments intercepted in Lagos, Abuja
Crime
NIDCOM Says 163 Trafficked Victims Rescued from Ghana in Five Months
NIDCOM Says 163 Trafficked Victims Rescued from Ghana in Five Months
By: Michael Mike
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) alongside other stakeholders have rescued another set of 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana, thus bringing the total number of those repatriated from the same country to the nation within the last five months to 163.
According to a statement on Friday signed by the spokesman of NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the rescued operation was as a result of the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police , The Rescue live foundation International, and NIDO Ghana working in collaboration with NIDCOM.
Speaking on the latest efforts, Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed her gratitude to the First Lady , Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru for their support in facilitating the safe return of the girls back to the country.
She also commended the vital roles played by the BOT Chairman (Rescue live foundation International/NIDO Ghana),
Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit in bringing the traffickers to justice.
She reiterated NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which gave priority to combating human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of Nigerian citizens at home and in the Diaspora.
The statement revealed that the rescued young girls, ages 19 to 30 years, are from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states.
According to the statement, they were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment but were instead forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy, while the traffickers are making money off the dastardly act.
NiDCOM representative, Mr Akinboye Akinsola, who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration said these set of ladies surrendered themselves willingly , having heard of the ealier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.
Elozieuwa said with Rescue live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana’s assistance, the ladies were provided shelter for some days after they all willingly indicated their interest to come back home.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Valentine Okike Uzo, thanked the Governor for his willingness to bring the ladies back home which in line with his efforts to care for all Ebonyi indigenes both home and in the Diaspora.
He assured that all efforts are in place to ensure a proper rehabilitation for the victims from Ebonyi state.
NIDCOM Says 163 Trafficked Victims Rescued from Ghana in Five Months
Crime
Nigerian Military Intensifies Crackdown on Criminal Elements in Plateau State, Neutralizes Bandits, and Recovers Arms
Nigerian Military Intensifies Crackdown on Criminal Elements in Plateau State, Neutralizes Bandits, and Recovers Arms
By; Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army’s 3 Division, in collaboration with Operation SAFE HAVEN, has achieved significant breakthroughs in countering criminal activities in an ongoing security operation aimed at restoring safety in Plateau State,
The intensified operations, conducted over several weeks, have led to arrests, the recovery of firearms, and the neutralization of several notorious criminal figures.
On October 23, security forces arrested two suspects believed to be masterminds of a foiled attack in Kazok Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau State. Authorities recovered an AK-47 rifle, 96 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and 46 cartridges from the suspects. The next day, on October 24, security agencies thwarted an armed robbery on Bot-Foreiyinte Road in Bokkos LGA, rescuing two victims and confiscating a fabricated rifle and ammunition.
In a further operation on October 26 in Garkawa, Mikang LGA, security forces dismantled a criminal syndicate, arresting four suspects and seizing a Beretta pistol, an AK-47 magazine, and 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Additionally, on October 31, security operatives acting on intelligence apprehended a female suspect in Bassa LGA who had been impersonating a soldier to intimidate residents. Authorities confiscated an automatic rifle, military uniforms, and other equipment from her.
On November 2, troops launched an intelligence-based raid in Luwaran Village, Jos North LGA, where the wife of a known bandit led them to an AK-47 rifle buried on the village outskirts.
The bandit narrowly escaped capture, but efforts are ongoing to apprehend him. In a dawn raid on November 3 in Kwatas District, Bokkos LGA, security forces arrested two suspected bandits linked to local security breaches, recovering a fabricated rifle capable of firing 7.62mm ammunition and additional rounds.
A major success was recorded on November 4 in Wase LGA, where security forces neutralized Kachalla Saleh, a notorious bandit kingpin known as “Mai Rasha,” during an operation in Kinishi Forest. Officials recovered 500,000 Naira believed to be part of a ransom collected by Saleh. On November 5, security forces foiled an armed robbery in Sanga LGA, Kaduna State, apprehending two suspects and recovering 130,000 Naira taken from victims.
In Zangon Kataf LGA on November 6, security agencies disrupted a kidnapping attempt, forcing the criminals to flee and abandoning a Magnum pump-action gun, an AK-47 magazine, and other fabricated weapons. Most recently, on November 11, security forces responded to kidnappers’ activity in Anguwan Kwata, Bokkos LGA, neutralizing one armed suspect after a confrontation.
Nigerian Military Intensifies Crackdown on Criminal Elements in Plateau State, Neutralizes Bandits, and Recovers Arms
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