Nigeria

N109bn Fraud: EFCC re-arraigns suspended AGF, Ahmed Idris, others

By Uzair Adam Imam

The suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, was reportedly re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged N109.5 billion.

Idris was re-arraigned alongside three others identified as Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

It was reported that Idris and the other accused were dragged before an FCT High Court, Maitama.

Recall that they were first arraigned on July 22 before a vacation judge, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi on a 13-count charge bordering on misappropriation to the tune of N109.5 billion.

The EFCC alleged that, Idris, between February and December 2021, accepted from Akindele, a gratification of N15. 1 billion.

The sum was said to have been a motive for accelerating the payment of 13 per cent derivation to the nine oil-producing states in the Federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

EFCC also explained to the court that N84. 3 billion from the federal government’s account was converted by the first and second defendants between Feb. and Nov. 2021.

The EFCC reiterated that the offence contravenes sections 155 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

However, the suspended Accountant General and the other defendants pleaded not guilty.

BUK revises calendar, gives students 3 weeks for revision

By Uzair Adam Imam

Following its resumption on Monday, the Management of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), revised its academic calendar, giving the students three weeks to revisit their previous lectures before exams.

The decision by the management was a result of a Senate Meeting held today, Monday, October 26, 2022, at the university’s Convocation Arena.

The university was about to start its first-semester examination on February 16 when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a strike.

The industrial action by the union, which lasted for eight consecutive months, started on February 14, 2022.

The university lecturers embarked on the total shutdown of the universities to press their demands home, which they said the Federal Government failed to fulfil.

However, after several disputes between the Federal Government and the ASUU, the union ended its strike just recently. Still, many students, parents and even most lecturers are not enthusiastic about the resumption. This is simply because the lecturers are still left stranded by the FG without payment of their salaries. If the salaries are paid, it will surely and greatly serve as a motivating factor for a vibrant return of the lecturers to their classes.

50 medical doctors leave Nigeria every week – NMA raises alarm 

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) lamented that no fewer than fifty medical doctors leave Nigeria for better jobs abroad every week. 

NMA also decried the wave of brain drain that recently hit Nigeria’s health sector. 

Dr Rowland Ojinmah, the National President of NMA, disclosed this to journalists during the opening ceremony of 2022 Abia Physicians’ Week. 

Lamenting the sad development, Ojinmah urged the government to intervene and end the worrisome trend. 

It was gathered that the poor working conditions of doctors in Nigeria would be unconnected to why the doctors decided to leave the country. 

Ojinmah asked the government to fix the hospitals if they truly wanted to reverse the trend.

He stated,” The Governors are sleeping; They should not be waiting for the Federal Government alone. 

They should fix General Hospitals in their states to take care of the health needs of the citizenry at the local levels”.

Appeal Court: Kanu shouldn’t be released because he’ll run away —FG

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has on Monday postponed a decision on the Federal Government’s request for a stay of execution of the court’s ruling ordering the release of Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu.

When both parties are ready, Justice Haruna Tsanami said they would be informed of the judgement delivery date.

Recall that the Federal Government argued before the Court of Appeal that Kanu is a threat to national security and must be detained in order to keep the peace.

The Daily Reality understands that Kanu had previously shown that he was a flight risk when he left the country after being granted bail on the terrorism charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to the Federal Government’s attorney, David Kaswe, who was arguing the motion for a stay of execution of the October 13 judgement rendered in Kanu’s favour.

He said, “My Lords, our concern, the concern of the Federal Government, is the threat the release of Kanu poses to the security of this country and its political, social, and economic activities. We will not be able to lay hands upon him if he is allowed out of detention and finds his way out of the country.”

He, therefore, prayed to the court to make Kanu remain in custody pending when the Supreme Court would eventually determine the pending appeal.

However, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Kanu’s primary attorney, asserted that the military had wrongfully invaded his client’s ancestral home and that only God’s grace had kept Kanu from dying.

Having disobeyed the October 13 judgement, he informed the court that the government was in contempt of court.

Despite what the Federal Government claims, Ozekhome claimed that only his client’s release could guarantee peace and tranquility throughout the entire nation, not just in the South East.

“My Lord, the action of the Federal Government in respect of Nnamdi Kanu is an insult, a slap in the face to this court. It is also an invitation to anarchy, and I humbly urge this court to dismiss the application for lack of merit,” he said.

MURIC: Muslims blocked from RCCG camp to make transactions, check exams

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) frowned at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) decision to block Muslims from entering its camp to make a bank transaction or any other business in the camp located along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

MURIC also claimed that RCCG thwarts Muslims from entering the camp to check their WAEC, JAMB and other examinations.

Prof. Ishaq Akintola who frowned at the development disclosed this in a statement Monday and also demanded the relocation of examination centres from the RCCG camp.

“Our office has been inundated with complaints from Nigerian Muslims who have been denied access into the Lagos-Ibadan expressway camp of the RCCG.

“Among the complainants are Muslims who registered for the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as well as other examinations.

“Attempts by the candidates to enter the RCCG camp in order to check their examination centres are always rebuffed by RCCG security men who turn them back at the gates with clear messages that Muslims are persona non grata inside the camp.

“The second group of Muslims who are not allowed to enter are those who opened bank accounts in some of the banks located inside the camp like Eco Bank, Unity, Guaranty Trust Bank, FCMB, United Bank for Africa, Zenith and Access Bank. This ugly trend has been on for quite some time but the complaints have increased in number recently.

“It is even more interesting to note that those behind this obnoxious practice are Yoruba Christians while the victims are Yoruba Muslims. Those who talk about religious tolerance being rampant in Yorubaland have therefore missed the point.

“But the difference is the case in matters concerning religion where they operate as Christian or Muslim groups or as corporate entities. The same Christian teacher who lives in the same house with many Muslims without any problem is the same teacher who will snatch the hijab from the head of a female Muslim student in the school.

“Simply put, there is no religious tolerance in Yorubaland. That is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

“The RCCG camp saga cited above is one good example. RCCG has used opportunities at its disposal to build a big camp on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. It has also equipped the camp with necessary infrastructural facilities including a university, schools, clinics, banks, residential houses.

“MURIC acknowledges the right of RCCG to do all these but at the same time members of the public should be given access to them. Failure to allow that access robs RCCG of an important quality and role in social relations, namely, neighbourliness and service to the people. Afterall many other entities have such facilities and keep them open to the public.

“As a way forward, we demand, first and foremost, the relocation of all public examination centres from the RCCG camp. This camp should be delisted by WAEC, JAMB, NECO and other examination bodies for practising religious apartheid.

“Any individual or institution that applies to examination bodies to host examinations must give access to the public, particularly the candidates. Anything to the contrary is arbitrary and alien to the culture of education. A situation whereby candidates of a particular religion are shut out of the premises of the examination venue is unfair, unjust and unacceptable by any standard.

“We advise Muslims to stop going inside the RCCG camp. It is private property where Muslims are not welcome. Muslims residing in the vicinity should patronise banks and other business concerns located outside the camp.

“However, we warn that banks and other business concerns located within RCCG camp may start losing their Muslim customers if they continue within RCCG camp. Our advice to the banks id to engage RCCG authorities in dialogue on this matter,” Akintola said.

The Nigeria of my dreams

By Abdulrazak Muktar

Dreaming big gives one a sense of accomplishment even if the dream didn’t come true. Interestingly, when people dream, they set their sights on something bigger than their imagination, even when it may seem practically impossible. This gives them the motivation and willpower to make changes and take action towards actualizing their dreams. The Nigeria of my dream should be a poverty-free, or poverty-reduced Nigeria, educated Nigeria, peaceful Nigeria, rich infrastructural Nigeria, and should be Nigeria with massive opportunities for its teeming population. A highlight of these in no particular order is given;

1.  Poverty-free or reduced poverty state: Several countries at various levels of development have shown in the last few decades that it is possible to successfully reduce the level of poverty in a country. However, with the pace of reduction slowing in recent years, poverty is becoming increasingly concentrated in tough-to-reach places. This comes amidst uncertainties that the entire world is facing. From high inequality to slow growth, from macroeconomic imbalances to trade tensions, challenges loom on the horizon that can not only make it difficult to reduce extreme poverty but threaten to reverse the gains. While we have a set of policies that can help to effectively reduce poverty, each policy intervention should be tailored to the needs of Nigerians. I want a Nigeria that is not associated with a host of health risks, including high rates of heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, infant mortality, mental illness, malnutrition, lead poisoning, asthma, and dental problems. Obviously, poverty exerts heavy tolls upon those who fall within its traps. For example, one of the most consistent findings in epidemiology is that the quality of an individual’s health is negatively affected by lower socioeconomic status, particularly impoverishment.

There have been several attempts to quantify the cost of poverty in terms of monetary amount. However, the ability to estimate the magnitude of the costs surrounding an issue like that of poverty is exceedingly complex. Poverty affects every Nigerian, whether rich or poor. Again, issues such as crime, access to and affordability of health care, religious fanaticism, ethnic bigotry and job productivity, to name but a few, are the major concerns of all Nigerians. All these as a result of the monster – poverty. The general public winds up paying a heavy price for allowing poverty to walk naked in the streets of Nigeria.

2. Educated Nigeria: A Nigeria without lingering ASUU strike will be truly interesting. If this is achieved, there will be a greater chance of producing more capable graduates. There is also a greater chance that degree holders will have full-time jobs that will ultimately provide health insurance and retirement benefits. With an educated Nigeria, there is going to be more employment opportunities for our teeming population, especially the youth. At present, you often need to compete with hundreds of other equally qualified candidates for a single job position.

In addition to this, the lower the education level, the greater the number of people applying for the same low-paying entry-level post. However, with the right qualifications and educational background, you are likely going to increase your chances of landing a fulfilling job. Would you like to stand out from a pool of applicants? Educate yourself, graduate, get as many qualifications, and learn valuable skills as much as possible.

Also, an educated Nigeria will help in securing a higher income; people with higher education and varied experience are more likely to get high-paying jobs. Dedicate your time and effort to acquire contemporary knowledge and high-level competencies if you would like to lead a comfortable lifestyle. Your credentials are what will motivate a potential employer to choose you instead of others. Studying hard throughout your schooling shows you can handle workloads and you are able to fulfil your goals. Employers see this as a huge advantage as they prefer a responsible and knowledgeable workforce. Once you graduate, you can start searching for jobs that will give you the opportunity to practice what you have learned and, at the same time, secure sufficient pay for your needs.

An Educated Nigeria will provide problem-solving skills. One of the benefits of education is that the educational system teaches us how to develop critical thinking skills so we can be able to make independent decisions. When children become adults, they are faced with lots of challenging issues – paying off their student loans, getting a job, buying a car and a house, catering for their family, etc.

However, if one has spent years educating himself. They should be able to make sound decisions on these various quandaries. Not only are people able to form their own opinions, but also good at finding solid and reliable arguments and evidence to back up and confirm their decisions.

Literate Nigeria will help in improving the economy. People with good academic and educational backgrounds tend to get well-paid jobs. The higher their education and accomplishments, the better employment chances they get. People who grew up poor but educated themselves have a high chance to transform their lives, thus decreasing society’s poverty rates. Education helps countries grow economically since it is about getting knowledge and being able to apply it wisely in our lives and, at the same time, improving other people’s lives.

Truly, education helps in providing a prosperous and happy life. Education has always secured respect from society. In order to ensure a comfortable lifestyle, people should educate themselves to be successful and satisfied. It helps gain a better reputation and increases the chances of climbing the career ladder more easily and faster. It provides financial resources for stable lives people can afford to buy their own house or apartment, thus securing their children’s happiness and success. Furthermore, being able to own a house provides stability and increases self-confidence. It also leads to creating a positive environment for families and communities. “Children of homeowners are 116% more likely to graduate from college than children of renters of the same age, race, and income. According to research at the University of Tennessee, they are also 25% more likely to graduate from high school and have higher math and reading scores, with fewer behavioural problems.

Education contributes immensely to society. How does education benefits society? Educated people understand how valuable living in a stable and secure community is. They are more prone to taking part in projects that help improve not only their neighbourhood but also their society. In addition, when people are able to afford their own house, they are more likely to take part not only in improving their homes but in solving local problems, as well. After all, it is quite important to get involved and give a hand to the less fortunate ones in order to build a better place for all of us to live.

Education is the key to modern Nigeria. Education is the key essence of modern society. One needs to learn about culture, history and other important aspects so that they would be able to contribute to modern society. Education moulds people into leaders not only with knowledge about (college) subjects, but it also shows them how to lead with emotions and true values. Educated people can easily differentiate between right and wrong. Thus, education helps reduce the crime rate. Bad events are happening around the world only competent leaders can help guide us on the good and right path.

Digital Nigeria is possible if we become a literate society. Digital education helps connect with people and organizations around the world. Borders are no longer there. Communicating and sharing opinions with people from other countries and cultures widens horizons and helps us understand and appreciate each other.

Education creates equal opportunities. The importance of education in society has always been great as it is irrespective of caste, race, gender, or religion. Educated people are treated as equals on the basis of their knowledge and competence. In addition to this, educated people are open-minded and are able to listen and accept other people’s views regardless of the fact of how different they are. Education offers the possibility to live independently and thus be free. It is our shelter against financial storms and wrong decisions.

Education helps in initiating empowerment projects; in introducing empowerment, education is the key to turning a weakness into a strength. It offers different tools and ways to understand problems that lay ahead of us and help resolve them. More importantly, education provides us with the considerable mental agility to make the right decisions and spring into action when needed. Many types of research show that educated women can more easily stand up against gender bias and marital violence as they have improved their decision-making capabilities. Whether it is about respect, a higher position in society and a professional environment, financial security, family stability, education provides all of these and much more. Home stability provided by owning a home helps children who grew up in their own houses or apartments become more successful. They are more likely to graduate high school (25%) and finish college (116%). As Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Education helps people become better citizens, get better-paid jobs, and shows the difference between good and bad. Education shows us the importance of hard work and, at the same time, helps us grow and develop. Thus, we are able to shape a better society to live in by knowing and respecting rights, laws, and regulations. Learning languages through educational processes helps interact with different people in order to exchange ideas, knowledge, and good practices. It teaches us to live in harmony.

4. A peaceful Nigeria: I want a united working Nigeria where I can relate with my friends and brothers from six geopolitical zones, the North Central (NC), North East (NE), North West (NW), South West (SW), South East (SE) and South-South (SS) freely as One.

A banditry-free Nigeria

A Nigeria free from ISIS, Boko Haram, kidnapping, sara-suka, phone snatchers, IPOB and any terror group that is threatening peaceful coexistence.

A Nigeria that guarantees the safety of travelling by road and by rail as well, a Nigeria where one can hold an iPhone by the street making calls or chatting without fear of losing it to phone snatchers.

I want a Nigeria that’s free from sexual abuse, a Nigeria that’s free from domestic violence and disturbances.

5. Rich infrastructural Nigeria: I pray one day I’ll wake up to a Nigeria that has become like China economically, as it’s now the wealthiest nation in the world according to McKinsey & Co report.

I want Nigeria to be as beautiful as Italy because Italy is truly the most beautiful country. It flaunts the most inspiring cultural treasures and magnificent scenery, which you cannot find anywhere in the world, e.g., Venice, Florence and Rome; with their diverse Architecture, Tuscany, with its rolling hills, will surely mesmerize its visitors.

I have a dream that one day Nigeria will possess technological expertise like that of Japan, not even South Korea or China, the United States, or Germany, talk less of Russia, the United Kingdom (UK) or Singapore; it was ranked eighth in the list of world countries with amazing technological expertise.

6. A Nigeria with many opportunities for the youth without connection: Nigeria’s popular saying says, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’’ On several accounts, many people were denied job opportunities not because they were not qualified but because they knew nobody. Even the lecturing job was denied to many finest brains and given to those with connections; it got to the extent that grades can be manipulated for some reasons; a friend of mine was almost denied first class if not because of the connection he has with school management. Such a problem is all over the country and is beyond any denial. Many people are buying offers of appointment in several ministries, and those who sell the offers do not care whether you can deliver or not, so far as the price is good.

I also hope Nigeria will one day be one of those countries that look for expertise, not only connections, as is the case today.

Finally, the Nigeria of my dreams is possible when we deliberately choose not to repeat the mistakes we made in choosing leaders for our country.

Abdurrazak Muktar wrote via prof4true1@gmail.com.

HUP: Beneficiaries stranded as officials abandon posts

By Uzair Adam Imam

The beneficiaries of the Household Upliftment Programme in Nassarawa Local Government of Kano State are stranded as officials abandon posts without explanations.

The Federal Government had in May 2022 commenced the distribution of debit cards to the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Household Upliftment Programme aims to provide access to targeted cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households as captured from the National Social Register (NSR) based on standard eligibility criteria.

However, some of the beneficiaries expressed worries over how they spent three days going to the distribution centre located at Jigirya in the local government without being attended to.

Our reporter, who visited the Kano State Hisbah Office, Gigirya, where the beneficiaries trooped in hundreds to collect their automated debit cards to withdraw their cash, observed how disappointed they looked.

However, despite arriving at the place early in the morning, the beneficiaries bitterly complained that the officials did not come until around 1 pm.

The Daily Realityreporter gathered that the slowdown in attending to the beneficiaries was due to the failure of the officials to deploy enough staff to handle the issue smoothly.

Zenith Bank, which was in charge of distributing the debit cards to the verified beneficiaries, deployed only six of its staff to handle the people of the local government.

Tension as infant suffocates, paints

An elderly woman at the venue narrated to The Daily Reality how a newly born baby almost died because of the heat and congestion.

She said, “yesterday, we witnessed how a newly born baby of one of us that has been coming here for three days suffocated because of heat and painted.

“We all gathered to see for our eyes the fate of that baby. But at long last, God saved,” she said.

‘Our agent abandons us’

A household, Malam Ibrahim (not real name), who said he was from Tudun Murtala, said today (Friday) was his fourth time at the place, saying he was not attended to.

He said, “It is almost one o’clock, but the agent assigned to our ward has not arrived. Therefore, I think none of us will complete their verification and collect their ATM.”

The Daily Reality learned that a man, identified as Malam Aminu, was said to have caused the delay in attending to the people of Tudun Murtala as he was their agent.

Another household said, “We would have collected our ATM if our agent was around, but he has not arrived yet.”

However, when contacted, Malam Aminu said he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

Discrepancies in benefits noticeable

Efforts by The Daily Reality to know the exact amount of money from one household to another were unsuccessful as the officials refused to speak on the matter.

The officials have kept it a secret to themselves that even the beneficiaries are confused, as they don’t know how much they will get until they pay them.

Some of the beneficiaries have received N70,000, N57,000 and some others N40,000.

One of the households told our reporter, “My sister received N70,000 naira yesterday. What you get depends on the information you give them during registration.”

Another woman said her friend received a sum of N57,000 Friday.

However, when our reporter contacted the woman in charge of the program to comment on the matter, she said she was not allowed to speak on it as they were busy making arrangements to fast-track the distribution.  

An official, who does not want his name in print, said the discrepancies were a result of what he called “old and new systems.”

He said those on the old system were paid a sum in the past. Therefore they will not receive the same amount as those on the new system.

Engausa Global Technology Hub launches library to enhance reading culture

By Uzair Adam Imam

Engausa Global Tech Hub (EGTH) has launched a library to enhance lifetime reading culture among youths at its school premises in Kano State, Nigeria.

The founder and chairman of the technology hub, Engineer Habu Ringim, disclosed this in a statement he made available to journalists on Saturday. 

Ringim said the library is named Maisuga Ringim Library and has both hard and soft copies of reading materials for the apprentice of the technology hub. 

He also stated that the Maisuga Ringim Library project aimed at bridging the wide gap between academic and vocational education in society.

He further explained that the effort was to break the barriers of language impeding the cognitive aspect of learning in almost all African education systems. 

The statement read, “Launching Maisuga Ringim Library is a big step towards cultivating a rational lifetime reading habit among our youths by making the scarce library resources available to our apprentices at both entry and professional levels of learning hard and soft skills.

“The main objectives of EngausaHub.com, as our motto reads, ‘breaking barriers and bridging gaps’, is to entrench an inclusive technical skills acquisition and entrepreneurial skills among our teaming youths, against all language barriers and technical gaps bedevilling the human capital development at the grassroots.

Engausa was founded in 2019 and has recorded numerous successes in teaching people various scientific and technological skills to depend on themselves and become employers of labour.

The Daily Reality recalls that over two thousand people, including university lecturers and students who have never had formal education, such as Almajirai, graduated from the Engausa Global Technology Hub just recently. 

The graduates were trained in various skills to become self-reliant and job providers.

ECWA Hospital, CMB Global offer free eye surgeries in Kano, Jigawa

By Muhammad Aminu

The ECWA Eye Hospital (EEH) Kano and Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM) Global will offer a comprehensive and inclusive eye health (CIEH) programme targeting residents of Kano and Jigawa States.

Thousands of individuals are billed to benefit from the programme that will run for four consecutive years in the selected states.

The Chief Medical Director, EEH, Dr Atima Mayor, who disclosed this at the launch of the project in Kano, said that the project was born out of efforts to tackle visual impairment and break the circle of poverty in the states.

According to Dr Mayor, the project, which is supported by CMB UK and Australia, has over 80000 other beneficiaries who will benefit from different tests and services within the timeframe for the project.

He further explained that issues of disability, especially visual impairment and poverty among persons with disabilities, have been affecting the quality of life.

“North West has the highest number of blindness. As population increases, it’s expected that the number of blindness will also shoot up hence the need to act,” he said.

He called on the two states to collaborate with ECWA to continue with the project even after this 4-year intervention project to ensure the efforts is sustained to tackle the challenge in the States.

The CMD further explained that Kaduna and Katsina States, which were initially part of the project, were temporarily put on hold until the security situation improves before the project can be expanded to the states.

In his address, EEH Administrator STEPHEN NUBOBGA who was represented by CMB Project Coordinator Phillip Ode noted that between September 1, 2022, to August 2026, the project targets over 90,000 beneficiaries in the project in the selected states.

“500 children will be operated on for cataracts, 1000 adults, 250 children with glaucoma and other major surgeries, 400 adults with glaucoma, 250 other children with minor surgeries and 50 retinoblastomas.

“2000 individuals for spectacles, 5000 for refraction, and  80, 000 others for free eye screening,” he disclosed.

In her earlier opening remark, CBM Global Country Director, Ms Ekaete Umoh, said that the historic project launched is aimed at targeting individuals in hard-to-reach areas in the selected states to help persons with visual challenges and break the cycle of poverty in their ranks.

She said that CMB Global is concerned with the rising cases of visual impairment in Nigeria, specifically North West Nigeria, where there is a high concentration of visually impaired persons.

“As the prevalence of blindness in Nigeria is 4.2%, it is estimated that 4.25 million adults aged 40 years and above have moderate to severe visual impairment or blindness.

” Available statistics show that 28.6% (14 million of all adults living in the North West Nigeria have a visual impairment. As a result, the majority are unable to work, are excluded from many community activities and require additional support, which impacts on their families and trapped them in the cycle of poverty,” he stressed.

According to Nububga, 100 persons living with disabilities (PWDs) will be empowered with means of livelihood as a component of the project.

Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, Kano and Jigawa States, as well as the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), commended the donors and partners for working together to address the issue.

Also speaking, the royal father of the day, Alh Mohammed Bashir Mahe, commended the EEH and CMB for helping the needy in society, adding that traditional institutions are always ready to support such a noble cause.

David Mark loses son to cancer

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Senator David Mark, former President of the Nigerian Senate, has lost his first son to cancer. 

Special Adviser to David Mark, Paul Mumeh, announced the demise of David Mark’s son on Friday in a statement

According to Mr Mumeh, Tunde Jonathan Mark died in a London hospital on Friday while surrounded by loved ones and family members. 

The statement reads : 

“Tunde Jonathan Mark, son of former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has died in a London hospital on Friday morning.

Tunde, who died after a long battle with cancer, was the first son of the former President of the Senate.

Born on the 13th of October, 1971, Tunde attended Yaba Military School, located in Yaba, Lagos, where he obtained his first school leaving certificate.

He later proceeded to Bradfield College, Berkshire, UK, where he attended Secondary school.

Tunde is a Biochemist who obtained a B.Sc degree from Kings College, London. He studied immunology alongside biochemistry and later Biological Sciences at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was married with a daughter.

He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family members and loved ones.

Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”