Nigeria Update–The Ekweremadus & more –11th May 2023

th of May: 2023

We begin with the Ike Ekweremadu saga….

ter their arrest in the UK in: 2022

On Friday the 5th, in the UK, Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months for organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu’s wife, Beatrice, was sentenced to four years and six months in jail because she wasn't so involved . The doctor who acted as a middleman since he singled out the donor and was the one that made all the medical arrangements in Lagos and London was sentenced to ten years in jail and had his license suspended.

Sonia did not face trial after presenting a medical report to the court claiming she was unfit for legal proceedings. She was acquitted. Between the conviction and sentencing, notable personalities around the world including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the senate, house of representatives, International Human Rights Commission, as well as the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, appealed to the UK government to be merciful with the Ekweremadus.

Meanwhile, the market trader said that he is unwilling to return to Nigeria over fears of his safety. He told the court that he agreed to medical tests in Lagos and meetings with doctors in London because he believed they were required for his UK work or study visa during the Covid pandemic. The twenty-one-year-old said that he only realized the gravity of the situation when he met doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London who began discussing a kidney transplant, adding that if he knew what was going on, he would not have agreed to it. He also refused to apply for financial compensation from the Ekweremadu family because he “did not need or want anything from the bad people”.

In other news, the presidential election petition tribunal has resumed. Recall that Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the People's Democratic Party (best known as PDP), and Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (or LP) filed petitions challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (best known as APC), in the presidential election. They also adjourned the PDP’s petition pre-hearing to Tuesday the 9th while the LP’s pre-hearing was held on Wednesday the 10th.

Atiku asked the presidential election petition tribunal to televise its proceedings saying that it would enhance public confidence and trust in the judiciary.

In another update, the supreme court in Abuja has also fixed Tuesday the 9th to deliver judgment on the disputed 16th of July gubernatorial poll in Osun state.

The Osun gubernatorial election tribunal, in January, held that Gboyega Oyetola was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units. Consequently, the majority of the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ademola Adeleke and issue a fresh one to Oyetola as the duly elected governor of Osun. Dissatisfied with the ruling Adeleke appealed the judgment and on the 24th of March, a court of appeal in Abuja reinstated Adeleke as the duly elected governor of the state.

Moving on, the eighth batch of Nigerians evacuated from Sudan arrived in Abuja on Monday the 8th. On Sunday the 7th, 424 Nigerians were evacuated from Egypt and arrived in the country via Azman and Tarco Airlines. The evacuees were the sixth and seventh batches that arrived in the country since the evacuation exercise started on Wednesday the 3rd. So far, a total of 1,600 evacuees have returned home. More evacuees are expected, but it is unclear when the process will come to an end. The federal government had earlier assured that about 1,700 remaining Nigerians in Sudan would be evacuated “in a matter of days”.

Let’s have a look at the business scene.

Tony Elumelu, Nigeria’s renowned economist and billionaire businessman, has acquired Ughelli power plant in Delta state. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo handed over the power plant’s discharge certificate on Monday the 8th to Elumelu who is also the chairman of Transcorp Power Plc. This means that Transcorp Power Limited is the core investor in the Ughelli power plant, which now doesn’t need routine monitoring. Elumelu said that he would prioritize the industrialization of Nigeria

Here’s a health update!

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (best known as NAFDAC) has warned the public against one batch of falsified ozempic (or Semaglutide) injection pen. The Ozempic injection is a once-weekly jab for adults with type two diabetes used to improve blood sugar. Healthcare professionals and consumers should report any suspicion of adverse drug reactions, or substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office.

On Sunday the 7th, a Max Air aircraft crash-landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The aircraft was said to be arriving from Yola, Adamawa state when the incident occurred. The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service at the airport put out the fire while the passengers were safely disembarked from the plane. The airline said that there were 143 passengers and one infant on board, adding that the aircraft experienced two tire bursts on landing

On Monday the 8th, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said that they would conduct a thorough investigation of the Max Air aircraft incident.

As part of efforts to protect the earth, the Jigawa state government has banned cutting down trees for charcoal and firewood in order to safeguard the forest and environmental resources. On Monday the 8th, Lawan Ahmed, managing director of the Jigawa state environmental protection agency (best known as JISEPA), said that the activities of charcoal makers have weakened several shrubs and herbs, adding that trees play a vital role in regulating climate. He also said that many trees, shrubs, herbs and habitats for some animals have been depleted, while some are endangered and, he called on residents to report the activities of loggers to JISEPA, forestry offices, and other law enforcement agents in the state.

Moving on to some lighter news, Drake, the Grammy-winning Canadian singer, has sparked reactions on the Nigerian Twitter-sphere after he shared the results of his dad’s ancestry. On Monday the 8th, the rapper took to his Instagram story to share a screenshot of the results of his dad’s DNA ancestry test insinuating he might at some point be a Nigerian. He said the result showed that he is “30% Nigerian” and asked if he could finally call himself a “Naija man.” Many Nigerians have already offered to teach him languages and the Nigerian accent. It's been hilarious!

Meanwhile, on Sunday the 7th, Davido, the Afrobeats singer, took to social media to celebrate his 12th year in the music industry. The multiple award-winning singer said that it has been twelve years since he released his debut single and described himself as God’s child. Congratulations to him.

Aaaand that's it for this week! Have you checked our website? Over there you can find more about us, how to contact us, and support us. Link to it in the show notes!

Sai gobe