Forgery: Court docks Udeze, Vernimbe, Ogunmodebe in Osogbo

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Osun State Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo the State capital yesterday arraigned a member of the Action Alliance (AA), Mr Kenneth Udeze over alleged forgery.

Mr Udeze was arraigned alongside Messrs James Vernimbe James and Adeloye

Ogunmodede.

The trio was standing trial for alleged forgery and conspiracy.

The suspects were alleged to have substituted the name of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje who emerged as the governorship candidate of the party in the state in 2018.

The court had earlier ordered the three accused persons to be remanded in Ilesa correctional facility.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police were cross examined.

During cross examination, Mr Gbenga Omosebi, a police inspector told the court that he investigated the matter from the Zone 11 commands of the Nigeria Police Force.

Also, representatives of INEC noted that the governorship primary election of the AA held in 2018 at Fun Field events centre was duly monitored by INEC contrary to claim that the party did not hold a governorship primary election.

The presiding Magistrate adjourned the matter to 21st September, 2023 for further hearing.

FG alerts public over outbreak of Anthrax disease in neighbouring countries

The Federal Government has alerted the public on the outbreak of Anthrax disease in some neighbouring countries within the West African subregion.

Dr Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the affected countries included Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo.

According to Umakhihe, the disease which has claimed some lives is a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man.

He said that Anthrax spores were naturally found in the soil and commonly affected domestic and wild animals.

Umakhihe said that people could get infected with Anthrax spores if they came in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

He said that the disease was not contagious as one could not get it by coming in close contact with an infected person.

“Signs of anthrax are, flu- like symptoms, such as cough, fever and muscle aches,“he said.

He said that if not diagnosed and treated early, it would lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death.

The permanent secretary said that anthrax being a bacterial disease, responds to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy.

“It is primarily a disease of animals but because of man’s closeness to animals, non vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily be transmitted to man through the inhalation of anthrax spores.

“ It could also be through consumption of contaminated or infected animal products, such as hides and skin, meat or milk,” he said.(NAN)