Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has suggested that the removal of the customs duties on imported drugs has not reflected in the prices of medical supplies.

Sani said even with the policy, there has not been a drop in prices of drugs at the pharmaceutical shops despite President Bola Tinubu signing an executive order to suspend import duties.

“The removal of the customs duties on imported drugs has not resulted to a drop in prices of drugs at the pharmaceutical shops,” the ex-lawmaker posted on X on Sunday.

DAILY POST reported that Tinubu in June signed an executive order to suspend import duties and value-added tax on essential medical supplies imported into the country.

This was aimed at easing the high cost of locally producing pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and medical devices such as needles and syringes, among others.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, who announced the development said: “The order is pivotal to the success of the Initiative for Unlocking the Health Care Value Chain which was approved in October 2023 by the President.

“The order introduces zero tariffs, excise duties and VAT on specified machinery, equipment and raw materials, aiming to reduce production costs and enhance our local manufacturers’ competitiveness.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Head of the Legal Services Department of the apex bank to appear before it with specific documents on Monday, September 2, the new date fixed for the continuation of the trial in the money laundering case brought against Binance Holdings Limited and its executives.

At the previous court sitting, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, had adjourned the matter to October 11, but the defence counsel had approached the court for a date change, which the court granted by bringing the trial forward a month early.

Binance USA’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigan Gambaryan, and the exchange’s British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, are facing money laundering charges to the tune of $35m 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 moved from ONSA custody to EFCC custody and afterwards to Kuje Correctional Facility, where he is currently detained.

In the document titled Subpoena Duces Tecum, with charge number: FHC/ABCR/138/2024, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Binance Holdings Limited and Tigran Gambaryan, the court asked the apex bank’s heads to appear before it or delegate someone to do so.

It read, “The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.

“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents.

“Certified True Copy of the excel spreadsheet captioned ‘Export Exchange Rate Results’ published on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website for the period from 1 June 2024 to 16 August 2024.”

In a separate document but with similar wording, the court summons, “The Head, Legal Services Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.

“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents,” part of the subpoena read.

Former Premier League defender who played across multiple clubs, Sol Bamba, has died at the age of 39 while in charge of a match for a Turkish club.

His death was confirmed on Saturday.

The former defender, known for his stints with Leeds United, Cardiff City, and Leicester City, had been battling Non-Hodgkin lymphoma since 2020.

Bamba, who also represented the Ivory Coast national team, was serving as the technical director of Turkish side, Adanaspor, at the time of his death.

The club announced the news in a statement on X, stating, “Our Technical Director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the Manisa Football Club match played yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”

The former Cardiff City, Leeds, and Leicester defender had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, on Christmas Eve in 2020.

Although he was believed to be in remission, Turkish outlet Hurriyet reported that he “fell ill before the Manisa FK match due to a relapse of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.”

After retiring from professional football in 2022, Bamba transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant manager for Cardiff City before joining Adanaspor in the summer of 2024.

He had been working as the club’s technical director until his untimely passing.

Tributes have poured in from Bamba’s former clubs and teammates.

Cardiff City, where he spent a significant portion of his career, released a heartfelt statement on X: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of Club legend, Sol Bamba. As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room, and a true gentleman. Our thoughts are with his friends, family, and everyone lucky enough to know and love Sol.”

Middlesbrough, where Bamba played in the 2021-22 season, also paid tribute on X: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Sol Bamba at the age of 39. Our thoughts are with Sol’s family and friends at this time. RIP Sol.”

Leeds United, where Bamba served as captain in 2016, expressed their sorrow: “Everyone at #LUFC is devastated to learn of the news that former #LUFC captain Sol Bamba has passed away. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”

Bamba began his football journey in Paris with Paris Saint-Germain’s youth setup before moving to Scotland, where he played for Dunfermline and Hibernian.

His English football career started in 2011 when he joined Leicester City under Sven-Goran Eriksson, with whom he shared a close bond.

Earlier this week, Bamba paid tribute to his former manager, Eriksson, who also recently passed away.

Bamba later played for Trabzonspor and Palermo before returning to England in 2015 to join Leeds.

His captaincy at Leeds was cut short when he moved to Cardiff City in 2016, where he made 118 appearances.

It was during his time in Cardiff that he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He fought the disease for several months undergoing chemotherapy, and made an emotional return in the final match of the 2020-21 season.

He subsequently signed for Middlesbrough, where he made 28 appearances and famously scored the winning penalty in the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Reflecting on his battle with cancer, Bamba once told Mail Sport, “After the first chemo, I was down for four days. I could not get out of bed. I lost weight. After that, I told my missus, ‘I’m not going for the second round.’ The way I was, in that moment, it was awful.”

Despite the challenges, Bamba made a return to the pitch, inspiring many with his resilience.

As the people of Sokoto State, especially those in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, continue to battle insecurity, a group of professionals within the local government, Gobir Development Association, has revealed that the people of the community paid over N160bn in levies and ransom payments to bandits in the area.

According to a press statement signed by the chairman of the group, Idris Alhassan Gatawa, and its secretary, Professor Aliyu Gobir, and made available to newsmen in the state on Saturday, it was said that more than two billion naira was also lost to armed bandits.

The group, while reacting to the recent killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, who was killed by bandits following his abduction along Sabon Birni – Sokoto Road after his official engagement in the state capital, condemned the rising case of insecurity in the area.

The group said, “Over sixty billion naira has been paid as ransom, over a hundred billion naira paid as imposed levies by the bandits, and more than two billion naira lost to armed bandits.

“Likewise, about six hundred thousand heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years.

“About two-thirds of the arable farmlands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances.”

They, however, appealed to the government at all levels to act swiftly to stop the killings, kidnappings, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to restore peace and stability in all areas affected by banditry.

Napoli boss, Antonio Conte has expressed regret over the club’s failure to sell Victor Osimhen this summer.

The Italian also appeared to confirm he has no plans to reintegrate the Nigeria international in the squad.

Conte spoke about the Osimhen situation after he led his side to a 2-1 win over Parma with Osimhen’s replacement, Romelu Lukaku coming off the bench to score one of the goals. 

Osimhen failed to complete his transfer to Chelsea on transfer deadline day on Friday over the Blues failure to meet his salary demand.

With the coming of Lukaku, it means it would be difficult for the Super Eagles striker to find minutes under Conte.

“I’m happy with the work the club did on the market,” Conte said via Fabrizio Romano.

“If there had been the sale of Victor Osimhen, we would have completed the situation… but I’m happy”.

Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, has approved the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to civil servants under the employ of the state.

Nwifuru, who made the announcement on Saturday at the grand finale of the Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival 2024, said he has directed relevant government authorities to draft out modalities for the payment of the new minimum wage commencing in September.

The governor, however, frowned at the lackadaisical manner by which government projects awarded as contract to prominent leaders of the state were handled, especially the housing estates at Izo Autonomous Community in Ishielu Local Government Area.

He gave a marching order to the Commissioner for Housing to ensure the painting of the houses immediately.

He further called on the people of Ebonyi State not to hesitate to report government projects being delayed by contractors.

Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has called on the Federal Government to save Nigeria, expressing concern over what it described as the near collapse of the nation since the administration of President Bola Tinubu took over.

In a communique by its Deputy Leader, Oladipo Olaitan and the Deputy Secretary General, Alade Rotimi-John after a regular quarterly meeting held in Ogun State, Afenifere maintained that the state of the nation has left the people perplexed.

According to the group, the Nigerian people are sorely troubled by the pervasive hardship, crippling hunger, unremitting insecurity in the land, runaway inflation, and massive unemployment all of which have left the people worse off than they were at the beginning.

It also observed the reckless, obstinate and indifferent attitude of the government to the long-term effects of the lack of forethought or purpose regarding the handling of the public revenue.

Afenifere, therefore, rued some of the Tinubu administration’s profligate predilection or inclination to waste resources, stating that $100m or N 240 billion as the purchase price for an Airbus A330 jet for the President and a further $50m to retrofit it was uncalled for.

In addition, Afenifere noted that N950m each as purchase price of a new set of armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUVs as befitting vehicles for the President, N21 billion for renovating a new mansion for the Vice President, N90 billion as subsidy for religious pilgrimage and N10 billion to renovate the Presidential Lodge at Ribadu Road, Lagos, among others, gave an insight of a wasteful nature of the administration.

“Afenifere is scandalised or shamed by the odium and poor international or global image which have attended these profligate or prodigal expenditures.

“We are puzzled that a government can be so masterful at diversionary tactics just to lull the people to sleep and confuse them as they wake amid grave national circumstances and of a strident or sustained debate of its desultory or unmethodical handling of governance,” the group stated.

Declan Rice was controversially sent off for the first time in the Premier League as Arsenal were held to a contentious 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side were leading through Kai Havertz’s first-half strike when Rice saw red after the interval at the Emirates Stadium.

In a bizarre incident, the Arsenal midfielder earned a second booking for gently kicking the ball away and failing to retreat after fouling Brighton’s Joel Veltman.

Rice looked bewildered by the decision, while Arteta sought an explanation from the fourth official as Arsenal fans chanted “you’re not fit to referee” at Chris Kavanagh.

The Premier League said Rice was sent off for “delaying the restart”. VAR was unable to intervene because it was a yellow card and not a straight red.

Brighton took advantage of Rice’s dismissal to equalise through Joao Pedro, ending Arsenal’s 100 percent start to their bid to win the title for the first time since 2004.

The Gunners had won their opening two games of the season against Wolves and Aston Villa, but this was the first blow to their hopes of dethroning champions Manchester City.

Arsenal will be without the suspended Rice when they return to action after the international break with a north London derby trip to Tottenham on September 15.

“If it happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine but it didn’t. It is the inconsistency,” Arteta said of Rice’s red card.

“We started the game really well. We scored the goal, 1-0. We started the second half really good but then there is the decision that changes the game completely.”

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler inevitably saw it differently to Arteta, saying: “First of all he shoots the ball away so it is a clear yellow card, it changes the momentum of the game.”

Hurzeler has made an impressive start with Brighton, who are unbeaten in three games after building on last weekend’s win over Manchester United.

Arsenal new-boy Raheem Sterling watched from the stands following his deadline day loan move from Chelsea.

Sterling, who was frozen out by new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, wasn’t registered in time to feature but his name was cheered by Arsenal fans when he was welcomed to the club in a stadium announcement.

 Rice sees red

Bukayo Saka tormented Brighton defender Jack Hinshelwood with his pace and movement in the early stages, easing into space for a pair of shots that Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen repelled.

Arteta’s belief that the inconsistent Havertz can be an adequate striker for a team with title ambitions looked well placed in the 38th minute as the German broke the deadlock.

Havertz came in for criticism after scoring just 13 times last season following his move from Chelsea.

But he showed composure and quality to deftly chip over the on-rushing Verbruggen from the edge of the area after Saka punished Lewis Dunk’s hesitancy with a clever flicked pass.

Rice escaped with only a yellow card after the Arsenal midfielder crunched into Veltman, a decision that saw Hurzeler booked for protesting.

But Rice wasn’t so fortunate in the 49th minute when he was dismissed after kicking the ball away and failing to retreat before a Brighton free-kick.

Rice had just conceded a foul with a challenge on Veltman, whose kick out at the midfielder in the aftermath looked the more significant offence.

Pedro rubbed salt into Arsenal’s wounds with his 58th minute equaliser.

Dunk’s superb pass split the Gunners defence and Yankuba Minteh sprinted clear for a shot that was pushed out by David Raya to Pedro, who fired home from close-range.

It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded this season, but they should have regained the lead when Havertz broke free for a low shot that was too close to Verbruggen, who saved Saka’s sliding effort seconds later.

In a frantic finale, Raya saved Yasin Ayari’s close-range effort and Carlos Baleba smashed over the bar as 10-man Arsenal held on.

Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a second consecutive hat-trick in a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.

The Norwegian put Ipswich to the sword last weekend and followed up with another treble to take his tally to 70 goals in 69 Premier League games since joining City from Borussia Dortmund.

City have started the defence of their title in ominous fashion for those looking to depose Pep Guardiola’s men after winning the league for four consecutive seasons.

The English champions are the only side so far to win all three of their opening fixtures before an upcoming international break, helped in no small part by Haaland’s electric start.

Guardiola could again afford the luxury of leaving Rodri, John Stones and Kyle Walker on the bench after their exertions in reaching the final of Euro 2024, while Phil Foden missed out for the second successive game through illness.

In contrast to most of his team-mates who were in action at the Euros and Copa America, Haaland had the summer off from international duty and looks as refreshed as he has been ruthless.

After scoring in the opening weekend win at Chelsea and hitting his 10th City hat-trick against Ipswich, Haaland is now up to a Premier League record seven goals in the first three games of a season.

West Ham only had themselves to blame for the opener as they coughed up possession deep inside their own half and Bernardo Silva picked out Haaland to coolly slot beyond Alphonse Areola.

City looked set to put the game to bed in the opening stages as Areola denied Kevin De Bruyne before the Belgian smashed a shot off the crossbar.

But with West Ham’s first purposeful attack they were level thanks to a helping hand from the visitors.

Julen Lopetegui has promised a more attractive style of football after the Hammers fans grew tired of David Moyes’ reign despite impressive results.

At the end of an impressive move from one end to the other, Jarrod Bowen drove into the City box and his low cross was turned into his own net by Ruben Dias.

City quickly restored their grip on proceedings and restored their lead with an intricate move of their own that ended with a resounding finish.

Rico Lewis’ pass found Haaland, who then picked his spot and smashed the ball high past Areola.

Haaland should also have had an assist before the break as Lewis fired over from his deft lay-off.

City left the door open in the second half as they failed to find the killer third goal and could have been punished.

A lightning counter-attack saw Bowen play in Mohammed Kudus, who cannoned a powerful effort back off the post.

Haaland, though, fittingly had the final say to seal the three points.

The 24-year-old was played in by Matheus Nunes and confidently scooped the ball over substitute ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

And the veteran Polish stopper was called into action to deny Haaland a fourth in stoppage time.

A second defeat in three games for West Ham leaves Lopetegui’s men down in 14th.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to suspend the recent policy by the federal ministry of education to peg the minimum age requirement for enrollment for senior secondary school examination at 18 years.

The association described the policy as limiting, backward and said it is capable of short-changing students and their parents.

Addressing journalists at the end of a meeting of principal officers of the association in Abuja, the SSANU President Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, urged federal government to step the decision down and make further consultations on the matter in order to avoid a crisis in the education sector.

The condemnation of the policy by SSANU adds to the concerns earlier raised by some stakeholders since the policy was made public by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, last week.

The Minister, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, had said that individuals under 18 years would no longer be allowed to take part in National Examinations Council and West African Examinations Council exams.

According to Mamman, the Federal Government has directed WAEC and NECO to enforce the 18-year age requirements for candidates seeking to take their exams.