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Otedola Fulfills Promise, Donates N18m for Christian Chukwu’s Treatment
The Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc., Femi Otedola, has donated N18m for the overseas medical trip of ailing former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu.
Otedola, who was represented by the Chairman of Otedola Foundation, Phillip Akinola, made the donation on Wednesday during a visit to the Enugu residence of Chukwu.
He said his foundation would do everything possible to ensure that the ex-captain of the Green Eagles regained his health.
He added that the medical trip of the former coach and current Technical Director of Enugu Rangers would be under the supervision of the Nigeria Football Federation.
Earlier, the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, described Chukwu as a living legend, adding that the federation would not allow him to die.
He said it was such situation that made the NFF, under his administration, set up a foundation to cater for ex-footballers.
“Without players there will not be NFF. The foundation will take care of him. We believe it is not just the responsibility of the state government alone,” he said.
Pinnick said the NFF was making plans to fly Chukwu to London for surgery.
“This cheque is to take care of his medical surgery. We are in touch with the British Consular to arrange the trip,” Amaju said.
NAN reports that the delegation comprising Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and members of the State Executive Council, after the visit proceeded to Nikea Specialist Hospital, Enugu to access the medical records of Chukwu for onward transmission to a London hospital.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ugwuanyi has directed the immediate employment of Emeka Chukwu, the first son of the ailing Chukwu.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Josef Udedi, made the announcement after a closed door meeting between the delegation and the family of Chukwu.
Udedi said the engineering graduate would be given automatic employment by the state government.
Also, Pinnick announced the appointment of Chukwu as Life Ambassador of the NFF, adding that the football house would work out a stipend that would be paid to him.
The Punch
President Bola Tinubu has dismissed five ministers from his cabinet and appointed seven new ones as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
The President re-assigned 10 ministers to new portfolios and nominated seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.
He dismissed Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs, Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism, Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education, Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.
Among the nominees, Tinubu selected Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, marking the official end of suspended Betta Edu’s tenure.
Other nominees include Maigari Dingyadi for Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole for Minister of Industry, Idi Maiha for the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata for Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Ahmad for Minister of State for Education.
“The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
“The appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation working from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation,” the President said.
The President appreciated the outgoing members of the Federal Executive Council for their service to the nation while wishing them the best in their future endeavours.
He then charged the newly appointed ministers and their reassigned colleagues to see their appointment as a call to serve the nation.
Source: Nairametrics
The Federal Government on Wednesday withdrew the money laundering charges preferred against Binance Holdings Limited executive, Tigran Gambaryan.
Binance, its U.S. head of financial crime compliance, Gambaryan, and the exchange British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were facing money laundering charges to the tune of $35 million brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were initially both detained in the custody of the office of the National Security Adviser.
Anjarwalla, however, fled lawful custody on March 22, 2024, while his counterpart, Gambaryan, was arraigned in April.
Following his arraignment, the court ordered his remand to Kuje Correctional Facility.
The Senate, on Tuesday, set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate allegations of drug trafficking against Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, who represents Kwara South Senatorial District.
The setting up of the investigative committee came after Ashiru raised Order 42 of Senate Rules, which borders on personal explanation, noting that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) accused him of involvement in drug trafficking, which led to the arrest of some of his aides.
Ashiru argued that the allegation against him by NDLEA is baseless and unfounded, stressing that the agency is angry because he contributed to a proposed bill on the establishment of a drug-related agency on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
He urged the Senate to take action on the matter, saying that the allegation was an infringement on his person and his privilege as a sitting senator.
He explained: “Mr. Senate President, I come under Order 42 – personal explanation. My personal explanation is NDLEA’s malicious reaction to my debate on a bill seeking to establish an institute on drug awareness and rehabilitation.
“I expressed my concern on this bill for so many reasons. For the reason that there are a lot of information from my constituency on the negative effect of drug consumption and trafficking to the extent that one of my constituents has ascertained that in the last two years, he can count up to 50 people who have lost their sanity due to consumption of drugs.
“Equally, they are visible examples of drug barons who are making money through distribution of drugs in my constituency and other constituencies too.
“We have observed that there are increase in drug related crime. Because of these and many other reasons, I strongly contributed on the floor of the Senate that the Senate should look into the operation of NDLEA and advise that issue of corruption among operatives should be looked into to the extent that after debate, I supported the establishment of another agency that will take care of rehaibilitation.
“Mr President, I come under Order 42 to clear insinuation published especially by Daily Trust that Senator Ashiru is involved in distribution of drugs. In my life, I am 68 years now, I assert that I cannot even identify cannabis or any drug. Beyond taking water, I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink caffeine, I don’t even take carbonated drinks,” the senator submitted.
