05/04/18

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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.
Senator Buruji Kashamu

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has vacated the injunction restraining the extradition of the lawmaker representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu.

In two consolidated judgments on Friday, the court set aside the judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court on May 25, 2015, which perpetually restrained the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC) and other agencies of the Federal Government from arresting, restraining, and detaining or otherwise, effecting the abduction of the lawmaker upon the charges based on allegations of drug trafficking levelled against him by the United States government.

The appellate court also set aside the order of Justice Abang which nullified the warrant for the arrest of Senator Kashamu issued by another judge of Federal High Court, to pave way for the commencement of extradition proceedings against the senator at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In unanimous verdicts delivered by Justice Yagarta Nimpar to which the other justices in the panel of three, Justices Joseph Ikyegh and Anthony Ogakwu, concurred, the court upheld the argument of counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Emeka Ngige, that Justice Abang was in error in granting some of the injunctive reliefs sought by Kashamu upon inadmissible evidence.

The court held that the trial judge, having struck out several paragraphs in the affidavit relating to allegations that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was behind the travails of the lawmaker and the alleged plans to forcibly abduct him to the United States to face drug charges, the same court was wrong to have retained other paragraphs of the same affidavit containing hearsay allegations against Mr Dapo Abiodun and Mr Godwin Obla.

The appellate court observed that Justice Abang relied heavily on speculations and conjectures which were not permitted in law, in arriving at his judgment.

It further upbraided Justice Abang for not giving the counsel from the Attorney-General’s chambers the opportunity to file a counter affidavit in opposition to the case file presented by Kashamu, when under the rules, they still had three days to react to the processes, stating that this infraction nullified the entire proceedings.


In conclusion, the court allowed the appeals, set aside the judgment and ruling delivered by Justice Abang on May 27 and June 8, 2015 respectively.

It also set aside the consequential order by Justice Abang in which he nullified the warrant of arrest issued by Justice Saidu of Federal High Court Lagos for the arrest and commencement of extradition proceedings against Senator Kashamu at the Federal High Court Abuja.

Senator Kashamu was represented on the appeal by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria – Lateef Fagbemi, Akin Olujinmi and Hakeem Afolabi.

Meanwhile, the senator has denied any extradition case against him in any court in the country or abroad.

In a statement personally signed by him, the lawmaker noted that the appeal had nothing to do with extradition but was about the purported failed abduction in 2015.

He said, “The illegal move surreptitiously introduced by the powers-that-be after the 2015 abduction plot was exposed has been dismissed. That was in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015. The suit was dismissed on the 1st of July 2015, for being an abuse of court process.

“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice appealed against the judgment of the Federal High Court in the fundamental human rights enforcement matter comprised in Suit No.FHC/L/CS/508/2015 which I had instituted in 2015 upon becoming aware of the surreptitious moves by certain persons to abduct me illegally and transport me to the U.S.A. without recourse to the rule of law.”

“In its judgment in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/508/2015, the Federal High Court restrained the Federal Government, its agents and agencies from abducting and forcibly transporting me to the United States of America over the same allegations that two British courts had adjudicated upon and found that to be a case of mistaken identity. So, clearly what was appealed and decided upon by the Court of Appeal today has nothing to do with extradition. Rather, it was about the failed 2015 abduction,” Kashamu added. LR News
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IGP Ibrahim Idris


The police have clarified the controversy surrounding the salary short payment to personnel for the month of April.

According to them, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) revealed that the challenge was due to a system error.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, however, said the OAGF has assured the personnel that the issue is being promptly resolved.

The statement read, “All other issues relating to payment of salary to police personnel are being addressed. The affected personnel will according to OAGF get the salary differential paid on or before Monday, May 7, 2018.

“Commissioners of Police and their supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of State and Zonal Commands, and Heads of other formations and detachment in the Force have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to lecture and educate their personnel who have any complaint from payment of February, March and April 2018 salary that their complaints are being rectified.”

The police further urged the affected persons not to panic as the Force was doing everything in conjunction with OAGF to ensure that all the identified problems in the payment of salaries of police personnel across the country were resolved permanently. LR News
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.
Senator Dino Melaye in a stretcher


The Kogi State High Court, Lokoja, has given an interim order that the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye be moved to the National Hospital Abuja, for further treatment.

The trial judge Justice Nasir Ajanah, gave the order on Friday after the senator’s legal counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) sought for his bail.

While hearing for the bail application was being adjourned until Monday, May 7, 2018, the judge ruled that the senator must remain under the police custody while he is being transferred to the national hospital.

This comes barely 24 hours after Senator Melaye appeared before a Senior Magistrates Court in Kogi state, on a stretcher.

According to the Police, Melaye is being arraigned for an alleged criminal conspiracy, as two suspects had earlier in the year implicated the senator as their financier and supplier of guns to commit various crimes in the state.

He is also being tried for allegedly causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.


As the case commenced on Thursday, the prosecution counsel Alex Izinyon, however, stated that the court did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

But Melaye’s lawyer in his submission argued that the court had the power by virtue of the Constitution to try the case.

Furthermore, he quoted Section 97 of the Penal Code which stated that the offence of conspiracy is bailable according to the Kogi State Administration of Criminal Justice.

Watch the video below;

He also presented two medical reports from the national hospital which stated that Melaye is bedridden owing to a spinal chord injury he sustained after he jumped out of a moving police vehicle on April 24.

After a short recess, however, Chief Magistrate Suleiman Abdulahi denied the bail application and ruled that Melaye would remain in custody for the next 39 days.

The case was then adjourned until June 11, 2018.

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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.
One of the Offa robbers wanted by the police

Kwara state government offers N5m reward for information

The Nigerian police today declared wanted four of the gangsters who participated in the bloody bank robbery incidents in Offa on 4 April, releasing simultaneously their photographs, while in action.
The images provided were the clearest, since the incident exactly a month ago.
The police said the Kwara State Government has also promised a N5 million bounty for information about the suspects, and they listed the hotlines to be contacted as 08062080913, 08126285268,08032365122,07056792065,08088450152.
It was the latest update provided by the police, following the arrest of 20 principal suspects earlier and the recovery of two Beretta Pistols, bullets, phones and SIM cards of some of the victims.
Offa robber walks gingerly during the attack

One of the robbers holding a pump action rifle

Another robber appears cocking his gun

Another of the Offa robbery suspects

Two of the Offa robbers inside a banking hall

“All the suspects are cooperating with the Police in the investigation into the incident. Currently, some of the other gang leaders and principal suspects at large are being identified and their pictures obtained for further investigation”, Assistant Commissioner of police, Moshood Jimoh said.
Police asked for public help to apprehend the gangsters still at large and said they have also been placed on INTERPOL Watch list and Red Alert.
“Other sister security and safety agencies are equally implored to arrest them and hand over to the nearest Police Station or Formation across the country or avail the Police with any information they may have or come across about these suspects”, Moshood said.
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NLC President Ayuba Wabba want living wage for workers not minimum wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has allayed fears that the upward review of the national minimum wage will have negative consequences on the country’s economy.
Mr James Eustace, the Assistant General Secretary of NLC, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Eustace said the suggestion in some quarters that the increase in the wages of workers would cause inflation, was wrong.
“When you boost the capacity of the average Nigerian worker, in terms of salary you have boosted its purchasing capacity.
“And when the purchasing capacity is boosted, the entire economic circle of the Nigeria economy will be boosted.
“An average Nigerian worker has not less than four to five dependants, who live on his or her income.
“So, increasing their take home pay will definitely increase his purchasing power and, will definitely increase their ability to cater for members of his family.
“When purchasing power increases, aggregate demand increases and when aggregate demand increases in economies, ordinarily, supply will increase.
“If there is more demand than the available products, production will be increased, in order to meet the demands.
“In that case, supply will increase and what it means is that especially, in terms of consumer goods, there will be more production to meet the demand.
“By so doing, more money is coming into the economy and when more money is coming, through increased production, in terms of manufacturing product, you find out that more employment will be created.”
According to him, if economic consequences in terms of increment of the national minimum wage are considered, it will be more positive than negative.
The NLC scribe further explained that the upward review of the national minimum wage would help to meet basic needs of the average Nigerian worker and that inflation could be kept at a single digit.
He commended the Federal Government over its 2018 May Day pledge to prioritise workers’ welfare and stop the delay in payment of salaries and pensions.
He described the pledge as a step in the right direction.
He, however, urged government to ensure prompt payment of the new minimum wage of N66, 500 as demanded by NLC to achieve set targets in the third quarter of the year.
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As Nigerian workers seek ways of owning their individual houses, the National Pension Commission (PenCom), says it is in the process of developing a workable guideline to allow Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders access part of their pension contribution for mortgage financing.
Mr Peter Aghahowa, the Head, Corporate Communications of PenCom said this in an interview with the NAN in Uyo on Friday.
Aghahowa said the commission was already making contacts with relevant stakeholders with a view to getting inputs before rolling out the guideline for the initiative.
“Talking about the first one which is using pensions for mortgage, a guideline has been developed and in implementing the initiative, there are stakeholders that will be involved in the process.
“A draft guideline has been developed and we have also engaged stakeholders that will be involved in the process.
“Now, we are taking our time because we want to get it right, the process is ongoing, we intend to expose the guideline once the draft is ready, so that all stakeholders can have a look at it again and give us their feedback.
“So that we can go back, fine-tune it and come up with a final guideline that will be implemented,’’ he said.
Aghahowa said the commission had also produced guidelines for the take-off of micro pension scheme aimed at integrating informal sector operators into the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
“For the micro pension, it is also the same process, the guideline has been in the works and I am also happy to say that just last week, we released the draft guideline, which is on our website.
“Now that it is out, it has been exposed and we are engaging stakeholders, we expect feedback from relevant stakeholders including the press so that we can come back to fine-tune it and have it ready for implementation,” he said.
Aghahowa said that planned integration of informal sector operators into the CPS remained an initiative the commission holds so passionately, saying its successful implementation would result in further expansion of the nation’s pension system.
“You are aware that this is what the commission has been very passionate about because it is going to expand our coverage because most members of the society, especially those in informal sector who are engaged in business activities will be captured,’’ he said.
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Photo shows Digital medical illustration for colorectal cancer: scientists in US say a cure is ready for human trials
A treatment type that uses patients’ own immune cells to attack cancer looks ready for testing in human clinical trials of advanced colorectal cancer, according to researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania United States.
In a study paper published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research, the researchers report how they tested the treatment, which is a type of immunotherapy known as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, in mice that were implanted with human colorectal cancer tumours.
The treatment killed colorectal cancer tumours and prevented them spreading.
Successful completion of this last preclinical stage means that the next step would be a phase I clinical trial in human patients.
The progress is significant because there are few treatment options for colorectal cancer once it has advanced.
“The concept of moving [CAR T-cell] therapy to colorectal cancer is a major breakthrough,” said Dr. Karen Knudsen, who is director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Centre at Thomas Jefferson University, “and could address a major unmet clinical need.”
Although colorectal cancer is the “third most common” cancer to affect both men and women in the United States, it is the second main cause of cancer deaths.
Estimates suggest that there were 139,992 new cases of colorectal cancer and 51,651 deaths to the disease in the U.S. in 2014, the latest year for official figures.
As with most cancers, most deaths in colorectal cancer occur in patients with advanced disease, which begins when the primary tumor starts to spread.
The tumour can spread either locally into the neighbouring tissue, or through metastasis, a process in which cells escape the primary tumour and migrate to other parts of the body where they can set up new, secondary tumours.
Not all cancer cells that escape a primary tumour succeed in forming secondary tumours. The process is complex and has many steps — from breaking away to migrating, evading the immune system, and setting up camp — and it can fail at any step.
The cells that eventually succeed may no longer resemble the cells of the primary tumour. This is one of the reasons that metastatic cancer is harder to treat.
CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy in which clinicians reprogramme genes in “patients’ own immune cells to attack cancer cells.”
To do this, immune system T cells are taken from the patient, genetically reprogrammed in the laboratory, multiplied to vastly increase their number, and then infused back into the patient.
The reprogramming of T cells restores their ability to find and attack cancer cells that had previously been very successful at suppressing the attacks.
However, in order for the T cells to find and kill only the target cancer cells, there has to be a way to identify them uniquely to the T cells. This is where the genetic reprogramming comes in — it makes the T cell seek out a unique marker, called a tumour antigen, on the cells.
In the case of the new study, the tumour antigen that they used was GUCY2C, whose potential had previously been identified by senior author Adam E. Snook, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Thomas Jefferson University.
Initially, the scientists tested the therapy on laboratory-cultured cancer cells. They showed that it targeted and killed only those cancer cells that expressed the GUCY2C marker; cancer cells without GUCY2C were spared.
Prof. Snook and colleagues then showed that the CAR T-cell therapy using the GUCY2C tumour antigen successfully treated mice implanted with human colorectal cancer tumours.
All the treated mice survived for the whole of the study’s observation time, which amounted to 75 days. Mice treated with a control therapy survived for an average of 30 days.
In another set of experiments, the researchers used mice that had developed their own “murine” colorectal cancer tumors but that had been genetically altered to “express human GUCY2C.”
When they treated those mice with T cells programmed to find GUCY2C-tagged cancer cells, the researchers found that they “provided long-term protection against lung metastases.”
The lung is a common site for secondary tumours in colorectal cancer in humans.
The mice that received CAR T-cell therapy lived for another 100 days with no secondary tumours, whereas the mice that received a control treatment only lived an average of 20 days after treatment.
Although this study did not test for any side effects that may have arisen from the engineered T cells going “off-target,” the researchers had previously shown, using a mouse version of the therapy, that there were “no off-target effects.”
Prof. Snook acknowledged the “major concern” about safety with using CAR T-cell therapy. “In other cancers,” he notes, “the field has observed lethal auto-immune responses.”
He said that there are ongoing efforts to create fast-acting antidotes to these off-target responses, but he and his colleagues believe that their study shows that GUCY2C CAR T-cell therapy “may be very effective and safe in cancer patients.”
They also saw wider applications of the therapy in other hard-to-treat cancers that also express the GUCY2C tumour antigen.
“The antigen we target for colorectal cancer,” explained Prof. Snook, “is one that is shared across several high-mortality cancers including esophageal and pancreatic cancer.”
“Taken together, 25 percent of people who die from cancer could potentially be treated with this therapy.”
*This article was first published in Medical News Today/LR News
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Workers remove Trump’s name from New York building

A New York judge on Thursday ruled that residents in a luxury Manhattan apartment building can remove the Trump name from their facade, ruling against the US president’s family real-estate firm.
The complex at 200 Riverside Boulevard on the Upper West Side is one of a series of buildings in the US financial capital that Donald Trump helped develop decades ago and called “Trump Place,” although he does not own them.
When the board considered removing the signage over fears it might reduce their property values in largely Democratic New York, lawyers from the Trump Organization — his umbrella company — threatened legal action.
The firm argued that the terms of their licensing agreement require the 46-floor building to display the Trump name, but New York Judge Eileen Bransten sided with the condo’s board.
Reading her decision from the bench in Manhattan, Bransten ruled that the license agreement does not obligate the building to display Trump signage.
The Trump Organization said the decision was “limited to a narrow technical issue of law” and that it was “confident” the appeals court would conclude otherwise.
“To be clear, this was not a ruling concerning changing the name of the building at 200 Riverside Boulevard, but rather an interpretation of the license agreement and the process that the condominium must adhere to in order to consider future changes,” said the Trump Organization.
Residents at the building launched a petition in 2016, even before Trump was elected president, demanding that his name be removed from the premises to protest his treatment of women, attacks on immigrants and “history of racism.”
Since the Republican billionaire’s election in 2016, three other buildings in New York have removed the Trump name, The Washington Post reported. LR News
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Nothing less than 133,324 had been shortlisted for 6, 000 jobs. The recruitment of 6000 Nigerians into the Nigeria Police Force as Constables will commence on Monday, May 7th in the 36 State Police Command Headquarters and the Federal Capital Territory.

The exercise will start with screening of the applicant’s physical attributes and their credentials. Already invitations have been sent to the applicants who are expected to report at the screening venues on days indicated in their invitations.

A total of 133, 324 applicants are expected to be screened during the exercise. Kaduna State has the highest number of applicants with a total of 6,962 while Lagos has the least with a total of 1,013. Katsina with a total of 6,676 has the second highest applicants followed by Benue and Niger with 6,474 and 6,409 respectively. Bayelsa has the second least of 1,097 applicants followed by Anambra that has 1,117 and Ebonyi with 1,303.

The Police Service Commission has deployed its Staff to the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT with Dr. Mike Okiro, Chairman of the Commission as the National Coordinator.

Addressing the Staff yesterday in Abuja, Mr. Musa Istifanus, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Commission, warned that the Commission will sanction any staff found to be compromising this national assignment. “ All staff must resist all forms of undue influences as their activities would be closely monitored”, he said.

He also warned the applicants to conduct themselves properly, adding that anybody that has nothing to do with the exercise should not be found within the vicinity of the screening.

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