You won’t be annexed to Akwa Ibom – Abia Govt reassures Azumini Ndoki, Akiirika Obu communities

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has evacuated 140 tonnes of expired and unregistered drugs from Aba to its office in Anambra. Mr Omoyeni Babatunji, the Deputy Director in charge of Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC Federal Taskforce, South South and South East states, disclosed this on Saturday. Babatunji, while briefing
NAFDAC evacuates 140 tonnes of expired, unregistered drugs in Aba

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has evacuated 140 tonnes of expired and unregistered drugs from Aba to its office in Anambra.

Mr Omoyeni Babatunji, the Deputy Director in charge of Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC Federal Taskforce, South South and South East states, disclosed this on Saturday.

Babatunji, while briefing newsmen about the agency’s operations in Aba, said more than 178 drug samples drawn from the operation would be subjected to laboratory investigation.

He said the 140 tonnes of expired drugs were evacuated from a warehouse in Umummeje, Umuocheala in Osisioma Local Government Area, which excludes products from the Ariaria International Market drug shops.

Babatunji told newsmen that two warehouses located on No. 269, Sam Mbakwe Road, formerly Faulk’s Road, Aba, filled with expired drugs had also been uncovered.

He said staff of the agency found that the suspects took away some cartons of the expired but re-labelled drugs after they uncovered the place and went to bring in security.

The NAFDAC deputy director who took newsmen round the two freshly uncovered warehouses of expired products, said the evacuation of the drugs in them would start on Saturday evening.

He noted that recent discoveries of expired products being re-labelled and sent to markets has renewed the urgent call for a drug warehouse Wholesale Control Centre, CWC in Aba.

He said “this activity is a drive toward the achievement of Wholesale Control Centres, CWCs, as NAFDAC is now on ML3 or what we call Maturity Level 3 of the World Health Organisation, WHO.

“All these our activities are derived from global benchmarking tools for regulatory activities and coordinated warehouse system is part of it so we can regulate and control those drugs.

“And NAFDAC has been engaging state governors of Abia and Anambra, where those centres are located, pushing for the establishment of the CWC warehouse system.”

NAFDAC evacuates 140 tonnes of expired, unregistered drugs in Aba

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reiterated that no original shop owner in the A-line section of the Ariaria international market and Ekeoha market would lose their shops after the ongoing remodelling exercises. The Governor gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the National Association of Nigeria Traders in his office.
Market Remodeling: You won’t lose your shops, Otti reassures Ariaria, Ekeoha traders

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reiterated that no original shop owner in the A-line section of the Ariaria international market and Ekeoha market would lose their shops after the ongoing remodelling exercises.

The Governor gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the National Association of Nigeria Traders in his office.

According to Governor Otti, every original shop owner should be given the right of first refusal before reallocating their shops to other people.

He warned that whoever is not entitled to a shop that goes ahead to buy the remodelled shops would lose their money, saying that he has given the contractor clear instruction that the original owners of the remodelled shops be considered first.

“On the issue of shops, we have taken note of the revelation you gave us and we are going to look into them. We inherited that reconstruction of A-line. But I have given clear instructions that those who own shops must have first right of refusal.

He assured them that his administration has arranged bank loans for those who may not have money to pay for their remodelled shops, noting that a shop owner can pay half of the stipulated money while the bank provides the remaining part.

The Abia Governor, however, informed the traders that the banks would keep the title documents of such shops until the owner completed the payment to the bank.

On the issue of payments of 18,000 yearly levy in the market, Governor Otti said the State government changed the system so that all payments would go straight to the State government’s bank account.

Otti equally rejected the plans by the traders to honour him with an award, maintaining his decision not to accept any award while in office, as he clearly stated in his inaugural speech.

Market Remodeling: You won’t lose your shops, Otti reassures Ariaria, Ekeoha traders

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), who is facing multiple corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu ruled on Yusuf’s bail application on Thursday morning, following his
Court grants bail to former NHIS Boss, Yusuf amid corruption trial

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), who is facing multiple corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu ruled on Yusuf’s bail application on Thursday morning, following his arraignment on five counts of corruption, including embezzlement, abuse of office, and the unlawful award of contracts.

The EFCC had alleged that Yusuf authorized the purchase of a vehicle at an inflated cost of ₦49.1 million, significantly exceeding the budgeted ₦30 million. He is also accused of awarding a ₦10.1 million training contract to a foundation linked to him, despite only half of the intended beneficiaries participating. Furthermore, the anti-graft agency claims he funneled a ₦17.5 million contract to his nephew’s company for media consultancy services without due process.

Following his arraignment, Yusuf was remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility while awaiting the court’s decision on his bail application, which had been adjourned to February 27.

Despite the charges, Yusuf has maintained that his prosecution is politically motivated. In a statement from detention, he accused the government of using security agencies to silence him due to his outspoken criticism of national issues.

He specifically pointed to a speech he delivered at a youth summit in Bauchi, where he criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and alleged the marginalization of Northern Nigeria. According to Yusuf, his arrest was carried out in a “Gestapo-style operation,” with security operatives trailing him after the summit before whisking him away from his residence without prior notice.

During his time in EFCC custody, he claims he was denied access to legal counsel and his family. He also detailed his experiences in Kuje Prison, where he was placed in the VIP section and interacted with inmates, including those facing terrorism-related charges. He described the prison as overcrowded, highlighting systemic failures in Nigeria’s justice system.

Yusuf further alleged that his detention was part of a broader crackdown on dissenters, accusing the EFCC of trying to dehumanize him and tarnish his reputation.

The EFCC, however, has dismissed Yusuf’s allegations as an attempt to divert attention from the charges against him. The agency insists that the evidence against him is solid, emphasizing that his failure to comply with an earlier administrative bail condition demonstrated his reluctance to cooperate with investigators.

With his bail now granted, the legal battle between Yusuf and the anti-graft agency is set to continue as the case progresses in court.

Court grants bail to former NHIS Boss, Yusuf amid corruption trial