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Court Orders Arrest of Kuje Prison Medical Doctor Over Binance Executive Medical Report

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Abraham Ehizojie, the Medical Doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre.

The warrant was issued over alleged refusal to produce the medical report of Tigran Gambaryan, the detained executive of Binance Holdings Ltd.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN.

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Recall that Gambaryan was whisked into the Court 9 of the high-rise building housing the court in wheelchair earlier in the morning.

Gambaryan, alongside the cryptocurrency firm, is facing a money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Nwite had, on July 5, ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16 (today).
The judge gave the order following an application by Mordi.

Mordi had prayed the court to summon Ehizojie to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite the earlier court order.

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Gambaryan had, on May 23, collapsed in the open court due to alleged ill-health.

The defence law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, had also, on May 27, raised alarm that the cryptocurrency firm’s executive might die in the Kuje Correctional Centre due to his alleged deteriorating health.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mordi said in open court that the judge’s order had not been complied with.

The judge then asked a prison official who brought Gambaryan to court about the development.

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The prison official said he got the court order and delivered the order to the doctor on July 9 (Tuesday).

“He is not here and I expected him to be here,” he added.

The EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, told the judge that he thought that the medical officer would be in court.

Mordi then prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the medical officer of the correctional centre, to ensure that he is produced in court on the next adjourned date.

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The lawyer also asked the court to make an order for his client to be given hospital remand immediately so that thorough medical examination could be carried out ob him, to know his true state of health.

“My client came in here on a wheelchair. He has been complaining of a back pain

Iheanacho, who did not dispute the fact that the defendant should be given adequate treatment, disagreed that Gambaryan should be placed in hospital remand.

After listening to counsels’ submissions, Justice Nwite said it was unfortunate that a government institution would be treating a court order with levity.

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“I hereby make an order of bench arrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, to appear before this court,” he said.

He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for medicare for 24 hours, at any time of his choice but under full security surveillance.

The judge adjourned the matter until Oct. 11 and Oct. 18 for continuation of trial.

Earlier, Dr Olubukola Akinwunmi, Head, Payment Policy and Regulation Division at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave evidence and was cross-examined by Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, counsel for Binance, the 1st defendant in the criminal charge.

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Rupture In PDP Governors’ Forum deepens

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By Ojomah Austin.

 

The evolving fall-out, which comes barely days to the contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP, followed a back and forth between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Governors forum, who declared support for Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to be made leader of the party in the state.

After a meeting with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Bauchi on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed, said “According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated,” stressing that Damagum would be replaced soon considering that he hails from North East and not the North Central.

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Same day, Makinde, during the groundbreaking of the upgrading of Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport, which was attended by another set of NWC members, led by Damagum, said he would support whatever decision the Damagum-led NWC would take to reposition the party.

Damagum, who is considered a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was appointed acting national chairman after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP led by Senator Adolph Wabara, met with members of the National Assembly caucus in Abuja.

The close door meeting comes barely hours after the BoT met with Wike in Abuja.

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While Wabara refused to comment on the essence of the meeting with the lawmakers, it was noticed that most of the lawmakers didn’t honour the invitation.

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Tears As Man Takes Own Life Over Tinubu’s Govt Hardship

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By Mario Deepromoter

Sad development in Marika village, Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa, where a 40-year-old man, Jibrin Adamu, committed suicide by hanging himself.

According to eyewitnesses, Adamu’s lifeless body was discovered in a classroom at Miftahul Khairat Islamiyya and Primary School Gurdiba on Thursday.

Police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed Adamu had struggled with mental health issues.

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“Police received a report on Thursday that at about 1830hrs, a tragic incident was reported at the Command headquarters that one Jibrin Adamu ‘m’ age 40yrs of Jigawar Maroka village, Kiyawa LGA has committed suicide by hanging himself over the ceiling at Islamiyya school,” the Police spokesperson told Daily Post.

The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

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Just in: Dangote Petrol Now Available at N765.99 Per Litre

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By Mario Deepromoter

11plc, Total Energies, AA Rano, and other marketers have begun lifting Dangote Petrol through Nigerian National Company (NNPC) Trading Limited for N765.99 to retail outlets nationwide.

Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment process on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.

Tunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc confirmed to BusinessDay on Thursday evening that some marketers have started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC who remain the sole off-taker of product.

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“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.

It was gathered that NNPC Retail, 11plc, Total Energies, A.A Rano are among the marketers that have picked up products from the refinery.

He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol”.

Efforts to get the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to confirm if its members have picked up products at the Dangote Refinery proved abortive at the time of writing this report.

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See also Nigeria’s Petrol Landing Cost Revealed
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC said marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product is still sold at a subsidised rate.

“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.

According to Segun, “The market value of PMS is still higher than what N766 or N765 or N799 that NNPC is selling.

“The situation has not changed there. So, NNPC’s off-taking is only because the others would not buy at the price Dangote will be willing to sell, which is reasonable.

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“As soon as the price allows for it, you will see the marketers go to Dangote and buy.”

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