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MULTI BILLION NAIRA IBOM SPECIALIST HOSPITAL TURNS BURIAL GROUND AS RODENTS AND REPTILES TURNS DOCTORS TO GRASSES

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The Ibom Specialist Hospital is not as luxurious as it was painted to be. And its current state is an eyesore, one that sets you churning The hospital was constructed and commissioned by the immediate past administration amidst much fanfare and optimism, and was seen as an end to the many medical issues plaguing the country where citizens in need of medical attention had to be flown outside the country. But what seemed like a beacon of hope for the citizens has turned out to be a nightmare as it’s almost inoperative at the moment. A visit by the House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation and Finance (necessitated following a recent melee between the former governor and the incumbent governor) revealed that the structure is now an eyesore. A source who was in on the visit disclosed that a lot is still wrong with the much touted hospital and the edifice is in rapid decline owing to negligence caused by inactivity in the hospital.

Our sources maintained that the walls of the right wing of the hospital are completely dilapidated and louvers in the windows are broken and in some Windows, there are simply no louvres. Construction equipment like scaffold, wooden planks, empty cement bags, heavy duty machines etc were also found in the back of the hospital while lighting in the building is non-existent. The interiors of the hospital held the most terrible sight. The ceiling was opened in some places with the bulbs missing, presumably vandalized by hoodlums. The windows had missing louvers and blinds, the ones that managed to still have a pane of glass had it cracked and shattered, with the sharp jagged pieces lying on the floor. Some of the walls were not plastered, the cement blocks visible with streaks of dripping rainwater on it. A turn into the other rooms of the hospital was filled with debris; heavy dust shaped like beards covering the furniture and equipment; rust filled metals; broken doors, hanging loosely from their hinges; toilets clogged with caked faeces and filling the air with stench. Despite boasting of world class facilities in the hospital, it’s non-functional and this can be blamed on the Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and Cardio-care, the outfit charged with running the hospital. It’s widely believed the MoU, which has been shrouded in secrecy is fraudulent and explains the failure of the hospital to live up to its billing and discharge of its primary functions. Certainly, the hospital which has gulped billions of Naira already deserves to have its usefulness utilized by the citizens for which this edifice was constructed for. Following the inspection visit by the Committee, one can only hope that the fortune of the hospital will change and it will surely live up to its expectations.

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IBEDC records 1,459 energy theft cases in January, February

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The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company said it has recorded 1,459 cases of energy theft by its subscribers between January and February 2024.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the firm’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, on Tuesday.

IBEDC added that it is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in the theft in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences.

Identifying the cases, IBEDC said they included various offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which resulted in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.

The statement read, “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.

“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.”

Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment stressing, “In the Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections. Their cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution.”

IBEDC further urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.

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Copyright Breach: NCC Drags MTN, Others To Court Over Musician’s Works

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged copyright infringement.

The charge with number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was obtained by journalists on Monday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the four other defendants in the case include the chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd.; and Yahaya Maibe.

In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business’’, infringed the musical works of an artiste, Maleke Idowu Moye, without his consent and authorisation.

The commission alleged that the defendants used musical works and sound recordings of Mr Maleke with subsisting copyright as caller ringback tunes without the authorisation of the artiste.

The musician’s musical works and sound recordings allegedly infringed upon included 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.

The defendants were also alleged to have distributed the musical works to their subscribers without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.

In the third count, the defendants were alleged to have in their possession, other than for their private or domestic use, the artiste’s musical works and sound recordings.

According to NCC, the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The case has yet to be assigned to any judge, and no date has been fixed for the mention.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released by any of the defendants as at the time of filing this report, while all efforts to get reactions from MTN by New Telegraph proved abortive.

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LASG, LCC ANNOUNCE REOPENING OF LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTRE AFTER REPAIRS

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Following the completion of extensive routine maintenance works on the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), the Lagos State Government and the Management of the Centre have announced that the Walkway will be reopened for public use with effect from Friday, 29th March 2024.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe confirmed this on Friday during a visit to the Centre in Lekki alongside some officials of the Ministry.

Aregbe said that he was happy to see that all repairs and renovations on the facility, including the Walkway, have been completed and would be accessible for tourism during the Easter celebration.

The Special Adviser appreciated Lagosians and tourists across the world for their patience during the thorough maintenance works carried out at the Centre in Lekki.

The Director-General of the Centre, Prof Mathew Onoja also appreciated the State Government for its intervention following the viral video, which first circulated in December as well as the swift response and efforts towards making the repairs and renovations seamless.

He noted that the Centre being a major tourism asset in Lagos State has played host to tourists from all over the world as it offers a serene environment for nature tourism and also boasts of the longest canopy walkway in Africa.

Recall that the facility has been undergoing routine maintenance since January following apprehensions arising from the damaged section of the Canopy Walkway, which had been repaired before the viral video was posted on social media platforms.

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