The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office has sealed off the Orchid Shopping Centre in the Eti-Osa area of the state, over threat to public health.

This was disclosed in a statement shared on X.com by the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Friday.

According to the statement, the shopping centre was shut down for discharging wastewater on the road and public drains, thereby creating environmental nuisance and endangering public health.

The statement read, “The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) today, Friday, September 27, 2024 sealed off Orchid Shopping Centre’s premises located along Orchid Road, Eti-Osa, for discharging wastewater unto the road and public drains thereby creating environmental nuisance and endangering public health.”

The statement further revealed that the agency threatened heavy sanctions on other businesses across the state who are in the habit that pose a threat to public health.

“The agency advices all persons or organisations in the habit of discharging untreated wastewater and sewage into the environment to desist or face sanctions. The necessary sanctions will be served to the property, the owner(s), and occupiers in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.

“The Lagos State Government reiterates that the State has zero tolerance for environmental pollution and degradation,” the statement added.

The statement further revealed that the agency threatened heavy sanctions on other businesses across the state who are in the habit that pose a threat to public health.

“The agency advices all persons or organisations in the habit of discharging untreated wastewater and sewage into the environment to desist or face sanctions. The necessary sanctions will be served to the property, the owner(s), and occupiers in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.

“The Lagos State Government reiterates that the State has zero tolerance for environmental pollution and degradation,” the statement added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of seven directors for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, made this known in a statement on Friday.

Tinubu reappointed Ayo Adewuyi as director in charge of news, while Ibrahim Aliyu will serve a director of special duties.

Muhammed Mustapha will head administration and training, Tari Taylaur will step in as director of programmes, while Sadique Omeiza will serve as director of engineering.

The president also appointed Apinke Effiong as the director of finance. Effiok is an expert in financial marketing with treasury, management accounting and reporting skills.

Oluwakemi Fashina, an integrated marketing communications professional and chartered marketer, was appointed by the president as director of marketing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Darius Ishaku, former governor of Taraba state, over an alleged N9.3 billion fraud.

Sources told to TheCable that Ishaku is presently in custody of the commission in Abuja.

Although, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson confirmed the information, he did not give further details.

The EFCC has also filed a 15-count charge against the former governor before a federal high court in Abuja on Thursday.

He will be arraigned alongside Bello Yero, former permanent secretary of bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs.

Ishaku is accused of criminal breach of trust and misappropriating state funds to the tune of N9.3 billion contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007.

In counts one and two, Ishaku and Yero are alleged to have misappropriated an aggregate of N1.10 billion “which formed part of the 2.5% contingency funds belonging to bureau of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Taraba state between August 25, 2015 and March 21, 2016”.

In counts three and four, the defendants were alleged to have “dishonestly diverted” state funds worth N1.1 billion for their personal use.

Count five involves N193 million allegedly diverted by the defendants between January 2019 and April 2021.

In count six, N650 million was allegedly diverted between January 6, 2019. and April 29, 2021.

In count seven, the defendants were said to have between January 6, 2019 and April 29, 2021, diverted N170 million for their personal use.

The were also alleged to have diverted N201.9 million between January 2019 and April 2021. Another N132.1 million was said to have been diverted by the defendants during the same time frame.

In counts 10 and 11, the accused persons allegedly diverted N3.3 billion and another N639.4 million between July 19, 2019 and February 5, 2021.

Between September 30, 2016 and February 23, 2021, the former governor and Yero allegedly diverted N993 million in count 12.

Between May and December 2015, count 13 alleged that the defendants allegedly diverted N90 million.

Ishaku is the only defendant answering counts 14 and 15 in which he is alleged to have diverted N23 million and N761.3 million between October 2016 and January 2018.

Ishaku was governor of Taraba state between 2015 and 2023.