Headlines
Muhuyi Magaji risks 14 year jail term over false medical report
Nasiru Yusuf
The suspended chairman of Kano State Public Complaint and Anti Corruption Commission PCACC Muhuyi Magaji may get up to 14 years for presenting false medical report to Kano state House of Assembly.
KANO FOCUS reports that a private legal practitioner in Kano Abdulaziz Adamu Ahmad said the act of Mr Magaji amount to an offence known as ‘forgery’ as stated by section 362 of Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.
Mr Magaji has on July 14 presented a medical report to Kano state House Assembly adhoc committee constituted to investigate a petition against him from office of the Accountant General of the state.
The suspended chairman of PCACC through his counsel Usman Fari said he was undergoing a medical diagnosis at National Hospital, Abuja.
However, the Hospital in a letter dated July 19, 2021 and sent to clerk of Kano state House Assembly said there is no patient named ‘Muhuyi Magaji’ in their hospital record and no folder was opened in that name.
The letter written by the Director Clinical services in the Hospital, Aisha Umar said the name and signature of the doctor (Dr. Bayo) on the medical report do not belong to any staff of National Hospital, Abuja.
It therefore declare the medical report as ‘NOT authentic’.
The letter reads in part:
“Kindly refer to your letter with ref. No KNHA/CON/077 dated 16th July, 2021 on the above subject matter, in which you requested the hospital to verify the authenticity or otherwise of attached medical report/documents.
“Following your request on the above, and subsequent investigations, we wish to state the following findings:
“There is no patient named ‘Muhuyi Magaji’ in their hospital record and no folder was opened in that name.
“That by our records, the name and signature of the doctor (Dr. Bayo) on the medical report do not belong to any staff of National Hospital, Abuja.
“Laboratory investigation in the National Hospital are no longer manually written on paper, but electronically transmitted.
“In the light of the above Sir, the medical report/documents which you attached it’s photocopies are not authentic.
“On behalf of the Chief Medical Director, please accept our warm regards.
“Dr A. A Umar, Director, Clinical Services/CMAC on behalf of the Chief Medical Director.
Muhuyi Magaji risks 14 year jail term
Mr Ahmad argued that the embattled chairman of PCACC risks getting 14 year jail term for committing forgery.
According to Mr Ahmad the ingredients of that offence include presenting false document to public institution with the intention of misleading that institution to believe that said document is genuine and is from lawful authority.
Mr Ahmad added that section 364 of Penal Code stipulated a fourteen year jail term for such offence with imprisonment or both imprisonment and fine.
Barr. Abdulaziz Adamu Ahmad
He described Magaji’s act as “Illegal and embarrassing’ that shall not be sweep under the carpet.
The legal practitioner suggested that the matter should be forwarded to police for thorough investigation.
What law says on forgery
Section 362 (A) of penal code defined forgery as “A person is said to make a false document – who is dishonestly or fraudulently makes, signs, seals, or execute a document or part of a document or mark denoting the execution with the intention of causing it to be believed that such document or part of a document was made, signed, sealed or executed or at a time which he knows that it was not made, signed, sealed or executed.”
Also section 364 of the same penal code said “Whoever committs forgery shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to fourteen years or with fine or with both.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has vowed to appeal the judgement of the governorship election tribunal which nullified his election and declared the APC candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawauna as the winner.
KANO FOCUS reports that Yusuf made the declaration on Wednesday night, while making a broadcast to the people of the state.
He said his legal team had been directed to appeal the judgement at the court of appeal in order to reclaim the mandate given to him by the people of the State.
He, therefore, Called on the good people of the state to remain calm and continue to be law abiding as security agents have been directed to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizens.
“Let me assure you that the this government would continue to work for the development of the people of the state as the judgement will never dampen our spirit or discourage us from the good work we have started.” he said.
The Governor, who thanked the people of the state for their continued support and cooperation, urged them to go about with normal activities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Tuesday, said that Kano State has recorded 5,800 suspected cases of Diphtheria from January to date.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Head, UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Mr Rahama Mohammned-Farah, stated this in Kano during a one-day media orientation on Diphtheria outbreak.
The UN Agency said the cases were recorded in 39 local government areas of the state.
According to him, Kano State has the highest number of recorded cases in the country, adding that Diphtheria was a highly contagious and infectious disease that could cause death.
Mohammned-Farah stressed that proactive measures were necessary to stem the outbreak.
“Recently, we have seen a surge in the number of reported Diphtheria cases in Nigeria, and Nigeria is currently facing an outbreak that needs to be stopped and prevented.
“As of July, Diphtheria cases have been on the rise. As of last week, over 400 suspected cases with 11 deaths have been reported in Kano.
“Out of the 39 LGAs affected, eight are the most affected, including Ungogo with 2,651 cases; Dala 989, Fagge 943, Gwale 714, Kumbotso 713, Nasarawa 538, Kano Municipal 506 and Tarauni 269,” he said.
He said that 60.8 per cent of the suspected cases had been reported in children not vaccinated, which reinforced the critical need to address the issue of zero doses, especially in Kano State.
“UNICEF delivered 1.2 million vaccines to the Kano State Government in our continuing support to the government response to Diphtheria outbreak.
“Diphtheria outbreak is a threat to child survival, health and the wellbeing of children. UNICEF is collaborating with government and partners to respond to the emergency to save the lives of children affected.
“In Kano state, UNICEF supported Tetanus-Diphtheria reactive vaccination campaigns in February, April and August, vaccinating 23,200 children in round one.
“While 277,796 children vaccinated in round two and 29,500 others in round-3 of the exercise.
“We engaged 150 traditional leaders on Diphtheria outbreak and distribution of Diphtheria IEC materials, and deployed 1,500 VCMs to the worst affected LGAs to conduct house-to-house sensitisations and referral of suspected cases to health facilities.
“Media has a key role to play particularly in infection prevention, and risk communication and community engagement,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Muhammad Nasir-Mahmoud, the Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, said the state government had adopted drastic measures to curtail spread of the disease.
“We are committed towards educating the public about what is happening and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has promised that Kano will be accorded priority in terms of vaccine distribution,” he said.
While describing the media as partners in the fight against Diphtheria, Nasir-Mahmoud urged them to support the campaign against the disease.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Interparty Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) has urged the judges of the Kano election petition tribunal court to discharge its duties with utmost integrity and impartiality.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a statement issued by the organization secretary Kano chapter Nuhu Idris on Tuesday.
IPAC also called upon the tribunal to consider each case diligently and ensure that all the parties involved are given equal opportunities to present their argument and evidence.
It could be recalled that the election tribunal has fixed Wednesday 20th September 2023 to deliver judgment on APC’s petition against Abba Kabir Yusuf.
A hearing notice issued by the Secretary of the election petition tribunal on Monday said the judgment would be delivered at 9.00 a.m., at the High Court of Miller Road in Kano.
Mr Idris said the organization has acknowledged the importance of the electoral process in a democratic society, where the voice and choice of the people are paramount.
He said the ongoing legal proceedings before the tribunal are a testament to the vibrancy of democracy and the resolve of citizens to seek redress through legal means.
“IPAC firmly believes that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
“We, Therefore, implore the tribunal to maintain transparency in its proceedings allowing the public and all concerned parties to have confidence in the outcome of the legal process, the statement said.
He added that it is essential that the tribunal’s decisions are guided by the rule of law and the facts presented, rather than any external influence.
Gov Yusuf rejects tribunal judgement, heads to appeal court
Kano records 5,800 cases of Diphtheria – UNICEF
IPAC appeals to Kano governorship tribunal to be impartial
ACF donates N100,000 to tricycle rider who returned N15m to Chadian owner
CJN Pronounces NCC Worthy Telecom Regulator
Kano govt refutes rumour alleging grabbing land at Rijiyar Zaki motor park
Abba Kabir Yusuf appoints 14 Special Advisers, 44 Social Media Reporters
Dangote Cement graduates 50 ‘Special’ Truck Drivers
Kwankwasiyya movement holds special prayers in Kano
