News & Announcements

Penelope Williams, a nurse in the United Kingdom, has been fired from her job at a hospital in Wrexham, Wales after it was discovered that she had engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient who later died of a heart attack.

The incident occurred in January of last year, during a late-night meeting in the hospital parking lot.
The patient, known as Patient A, was receiving dialysis treatment and suffered a heart attack during the encounter. Williams failed to call for an ambulance when the patient collapsed in the back of his car. Unfortunately, he later died from heart failure and chronic kidney disease triggered by the medical episode.

An investigation and hearing conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found that Williams had ignored advice from colleagues who had urged her to call an ambulance.

Instead, she called a colleague and delayed in seeking emergency medical help. When the colleague eventually called an ambulance, Patient A was found dead upon their arrival.

During the disciplinary hearing, it was revealed that Williams and the patient had engaged in a year-long sexual relationship.

The late-night encounter in the parking lot resulted in the patient experiencing a heart attack with his trousers around his ankles.

Initially, Williams provided misleading information to the police and a paramedic, claiming that she had met the patient after he messaged her on Facebook, feeling unwell. 

She stated that they had spent only a brief time talking in the back of his car before he suddenly died.

However, she later admitted to the ongoing relationship and that the meeting was for a sexual encounter.

Following her admission, Williams was dismissed from her job. The disciplinary board determined that her actions had brought the nursing profession into disrepute.

It is concerning that Williams engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a patient under her care, despite being aware of his dialysis treatment.

Her failure to act promptly and responsibly in seeking medical assistance further contributed to the unfortunate outcome. This case highlights the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to ethical standards in the healthcare profession.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the details of the spending of $5 billion Abacha loot be made public.

In a judgment delivered on July 3, James Omotosho, presiding judge, ordered President Bola Tinubu to “disclose the exact amount of money stolen by General Sani Abacha from Nigeria”, the total amount recovered, and “all agreements signed on same by the governments of former Presidents (Olusegun) Obasanjo, (Umaru) Yar’Adua, (Goodluck) Jonathan and (Muhammadu) Buhari”.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/407/2020 was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The court ordered the federal government through the ministry of finance to furnish SERAP with the full spending details of the Abacha loot within seven days of the judgment.

The court said the ministry of finance’s excuse of being unable to account for the requested details “has no leg to stand in view of section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act”.

The court dismissed all the objections raised by the federal government and upheld SERAP’s arguments.

Consequently, Omotosho ordered the government to “disclose details of the projects executed with the Abacha loot, locations of any such projects and the names of companies and contractors that carried or (is) carrying out the projects since the return of democracy in 1999 till date”.

The court also ordered the disclosure of “details of specific roles played by the World Bank and other partners in the execution of any projects funded with Abacha loot under the governments of former presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari”.

US President Joe Biden has arrived in the UK ahead of a Nato summit, but his visit comes amid controversy surrounding his decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine.

The UK and Canada, among others, have expressed concern about supplying these banned weapons, citing the risk they pose to civilians. While in the UK, Biden is set to meet with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss various issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The visit also marks Biden’s first meeting with King Charles since his coronation.

The decision to provide Ukraine with cluster bombs has faced opposition from several Nato allies.

Countries like New Zealand have warned that these munitions could cause significant harm to innocent people.

Cluster bombs release smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately and pose a long-term threat as unexploded bomblets can remain on the ground.

The US has received assurances from Ukraine that the weapons will not be used in Russia or urban areas, but Russia has dismissed these claims.

President Biden’s visit to the UK holds potential for diplomatic tensions, given recent disagreements within the Nato alliance.

His absence from King Charles’ coronation and the disagreement over the next NATO Secretary General have raised concerns. 

Furthermore, the supply of cluster bombs to Ukraine has put the US at odds with some Nato members who have banned such weapons.

However, despite potential cracks in the alliance, the brief visit is expected to focus on smoothing relations through protocol and diplomatic gestures.

A woman with 800 tattoos says she’s struggling to find gainful employment because bosses cast judgment on her inked-up appearance.

Melissa Sloan, 46, who hails from Wales in the United Kingdom, previously had a job cleaning toilets but says she hasn’t been able to find a similar gig because of the art that adorns her face and body.

“I can’t get a job,” Sloan bluntly told the Daily Star. “I applied for a job cleaning toilets where I live, and they won’t have me because of my tattoos.

“People have said I have never had a job in my life, but I have had one once and it didn’t last long,” the mother-of-two added. “If someone offered me a job tomorrow, I would go and work – I would take that offer.”

Sloan first started getting tattoos at the age of 20 and quickly became hooked.

Despite her struggles with employment, the Welshwoman told The Mirror that she still gets as many as three new inkings each week, describing herself as “addicted.”

Sloan first started getting tattoos at the age of 20 and quickly became hooked. She has a particular love of facial tattoos.

“If I make it to 70 I’ll still be getting them,” she declared. “Every bit of skin will be covered even if I’m turning blue, my face is already turning blue — I look like a Smurf.”

Sloan has a particular penchant for facial tattoos and has no bare skin left on her visage. She’s inked over old tattoos three times, creating a multi-layered collage across her face.

“I’ve got three layers on my face. I probably have the most tattoos in the world, and if not then at the rate I’m going on I probably will have in the end — I keep going over and over them,” she enthused.

Sloan believes it’s her facial tattoos that cause people to make snap judgments about her.

She told The Mirror that a lack of employment isn’t the only hardship she’s faced.

The mom has also been banned from her local pub and from her children’s school because of her ink.

Still, the defiant tattoo lover isn’t backing down and is determined to ink one record — employment be damned.

“I’d like to be a record holder, it’s just something different,” she declared. “I’m trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records.”

In a distressing incident, a small fishing boat carrying at least 200 African migrants from Senegal has disappeared off the coast of the Canary Islands. The vessel departed from Kafountine, a town in southern Senegal, and was en route to the Canary Islands, located approximately 1,700 kilometers (1,057 miles) away. 

The aid group, Walking Borders has reported that numerous children were among the passengers.

Spanish rescuers, including a search plane, are tirelessly combing the waters in search of the missing boat.

Alongside the vessel carrying 200 people, two other similar boats carrying dozens of individuals are also unaccounted for, bringing the total number of missing migrants to more than 300.

While limited details are available about these two boats, Helena Maleno from Walking Borders stated that one boat carried around 65 people, and the other held up to 60. This alarming incident follows closely after one of the worst Mediterranean migrant shipwrecks in Europe, where an overcrowded trawler sank off the Greek coast, resulting in numerous casualties.

The journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands is regarded as one of the most perilous migration routes. Migrants often embark on this treacherous voyage in simple dugout fishing boats, which are highly vulnerable to the powerful Atlantic currents.

Tragically, last year alone, at least 559 individuals lost their lives attempting to reach the Spanish islands, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM warns that despite a decrease in irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands compared to previous years, the flow of migrants along this dangerous route remains high since 2020.

The search and rescue operation off the Canary Islands serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by the Europe migrant crisis.

Urgent international cooperation is needed to address the plight of migrants who risk their lives in search of better opportunities. As authorities intensify their efforts to locate the missing boats, the incident underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of migrants, while addressing the root causes that compel individuals to embark on such perilous journeys.

Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, has refuted assertions that she shut down the AsoRock Chapel.

Contrary to rumors, the church is open and has weekly fellowship, according to Mrs. Tinubu, a former senator.

According to a tweeter going by the handle @VeronicaaNaomi, the First Lady gave the order to close the chapel.

She asserted that the reason she ordered the closure was because some unnamed individuals did not back her husband, President Bola Tinubu, in the February 2023 election.

The First Lady confirmed that the allegations were incorrect in a statement that was published under the name of her recently appointed Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a story making the rounds on social media about the purported closure of the AsoRock Chapel by the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen Olurermi Tinubu OON, CON.

“We wish to state categorically that this is a fabrication and totally false representation of the true situation, as the First Lady at no time gave such directive that the Chapel be shut and the keys handed over to Her Excellency. Presently there are weekly fellowships going on at the Chapel.

“However, Mr President is yet to appoint a Chaplain for the chapel after the exit of the last Chaplain, as he only reserves the right to appoint a Chaplain for the Chapel.”

The freshly replaced airfield lighting systems at the domestic runway 18/36L of Murtala Muhammad Airport are purportedly gone.

The PUNCH learned that the security situation at Nigeria’s largest airports has deteriorated due to the removal of the approach lighting systems.

A source who requested anonymity said those who removed the lighting systems profited from the runway being closed for more than three months.

According to the report, several FAAN employees colluded with outsiders to steal the airport lighting equipment.

“The criminal took advantage of the closure to commit the crime. I cannot give the actual worth of the theft, but almost all the lighting was removed. The permanent secretary came around to see for himself the huge damage done. A lot of FAAN officials have been suspended,” the source confirmed.

According to information obtained by Newsmen, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, ordered the suspension of some FAAN department heads due to missing lighting equipment.

The insider also said that inquiries had started in order to identify people in charge of the missing safety equipment.

The insider claims that a syndicate made up of some agency employees with access to the restricted areas and collaborators from the outside often breaches airport security and steals safety components.

A senior FAAN employee who did not want his name published claimed that Mr. Kabir Yusuf, the agency’s managing director, was unhappy with the development.

He stated that FAAN MD had also ordered the suspension of security personnel who were in charge of guarding critical airport facilities.

Reacting to the latest development, a former Military Commandant at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (retd.), said, “This is not new at MMA. I wish the FAAN management could go back to 1990 when similar things happened in the airport. I was convinced that it was an ‘insiders threats’. What did I do? I positioned soldiers on the runways and ensured that no FAAN maintenance staff went near the runways for anything without my approval; otherwise, it was shoot at first sight. It stopped completely. Runway lightings were being stolen and my conclusion then was that runway lightings can only be useful for runways and not roads or houses.

“Those stolen were being sold to FAAN by the same workers. That is why I am not in support of the unions carrying the picketing of their employers to the airport’s security controlled areas.”

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Mr Yakubu Funtua, told The PUNCH stated that investigations had been launched and that the agency would do all within its powers to avoid a reoccurrence.

He said, “FAAN is doing all it can to get to the bottom of this. You are very aware that there are many agencies within the airport, including the different ones that are supposed to be taking care of security there. So, it would be unfair to put this (the theft) on our (members of) staff and I don’t think there is any FAAN (member of) staff that wants the agency to crash.

“Note that most of our revenue comes from Lagos. So, what kind of staff will ‘kill the goose that lays the egg?’ However, we can’t say exactly who did it, but we are doing all that we can to recover what is lost. We are going to recover it because we are going to find out those people who did it and then block all those loopholes.”

Due to a lack of airfield illumination, the domestic runway 18L at Lagos Airport was closed to night operations for 15 years.

Domestic aircraft were compelled to use runway 19 at the international airport, a longer route that uses more fuel.

The apparatus was built on the 2.7-kilometer runway in November and helps aircraft take off and land at the domestic airport during the night.

President Bola Tinubu has been encouraged by human rights attorney Femi Falana (SAN) to take the initiative in the battle against corruption by not conveying the incorrect message regarding corruption cases.

Falana mentioned that several individuals entering and leaving the Aso Rock Villa are actually defendants in corruption cases.

The human rights attorney bemoaned that the amount of corruption in the nation “has assumed a very dangerous dimension” while speaking as a guest at the 60th anniversary of Aare Afe Babalola’s call to the bar in Ekiti State on Monday.

The legal practitioner said, “I’m urging the president to lead an anti-corruption crusade so that the country – the largest concentration of black people on earth, can take its rightful place in the committee of nations.

“Highly-placed public officers steal money meant for building hospitals, and people are dying on our roads.

“Some of those who are going in and out of the villa are standing trial for looting the treasury of this country. So, wrong signals must not be sent to our people and the international community.”

Speaking further about the need to prevent corrupt public officials from holding elected office, he cited the anti-corruption efforts of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), the former president of Nigeria and the chairman of the anniversary lecture.

Falana said, “There’s somebody here who was our president. If you were accused of corruption and your case was before the EFCC or the ICPC, you’ll not be appointed to a position of authority. We must go back to that era.”

At the governorship election petition tribunal meeting in Abeokuta on Monday, a witness for the Peoples Democratic Party named Kehinde Soboyejo who was invited to testify against the win of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, chose a cutlass as the subject of his oath.

Like the other three witnesses who testified before the tribunal last week, Soboyejo stated that he would prefer to take his oath in the customary manner in front of the panel using the god of iron.

Soboyejo asserted that Abiodun was elected with irregularities in the election.

Ladi Adebutu, the PDP’s candidate for governor in the state, is taking the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Abiodun, to court over alleged irregularities in the election.

Last Thursday, the tribunal accepted the PDP’s uncontested documents, and then its lawyer informed the panel that the PDP was prepared to begin calling witnesses as scheduled.

Ibuowo Ogunbowale, Adeleye Ayomide, Adijat Ayodele, Faisal Yusuf, and Soboyejo were the five extra witnesses that the party called.

They all spoke out in opposition to Abiodun and the APC winning the state’s governorship on March 18, 2023.

Ogunbowale, a Sagamu resident, was however accused of interfering with the election after realizing that his party was trailing at his polling place.

He denied being involved in the crisis that shook his voting unit while being cross-examined by Mrs. Folake Akinlawon, one of the respondents’ attorneys.

In cross-examination by INEC and APC attorneys, respectively, Ayomide from Sagamu argued that there were anomalies at the election.

Soboyejo maintained there were anomalies in the election that put Abiodun in power while being cross-examined by an INEC attorney.

Contrary to what he said, his voter’s card with the marking BT 591 stated that he was a public worker, according to Ayodele and Yusuf from Ijoko, Ifo, who testified in favor of PDP.

According to Arabian Business, the United Arab Emirates has ordered the arrest of a guy who was seen at a luxury dealership telling an auto salesperson that he wanted to buy the most costly vehicles in the garage.

The film mocks and criticizes Emirati society, and it stirs up negative public sentiment among the populace, claims a report by the state-run news agency WAM.

In the viral video, an Asian man dressed as an Emirati is seen attempting to purchase several vehicles, including one valued at $545,000, while being flanked by individuals holding significant sums of cash.

He said, “What is the most expensive car here? Okay. I want the Mercedez, rolls royce and the Red Bull sports car.

The individual has been detained pending investigations by the Federal Prosecution for Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes in the UAE after being suspected of abusing the internet to broadcast exciting propaganda that inflames public opinion and jeopardizes the public interest.

Additionally, he was accused of distributing material that degraded Emirati society and broke media content guidelines.

The defendant was seen in a luxury auto showroom while wearing an Emirati clothing, followed by two others carrying what appeared to be substantial amounts of money, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the UAE Attorney General’s Office.

The man was seen on camera speaking with the store owner and “arrogantly” offering to pay $545,000 for a car that was worth more than AED2 million.

According to the UAE’s FBI, “He was shown distributing financial packages to the showroom employees in a way that reveals imprudence and lack of appreciation of the value of money.

“The video promotes a wrong and offensive mental image of Emirati citizens and ridicules them, and then incites and provokes public opinion, which harms the public interest.

“The Public Prosecution ordered the summoning of the owner of the car showroom in which the aforementioned video clip was filmed.”

The Public Prosecution urged social media users in the UAE to adhere to legal and ethical standards when publishing media content, as well as to take into account societal norms and deeply ingrained values that demand moral commitment in all facets of behavior, in order to avoid breaking the law.