Court rejects herbal treatment for jailed Taraba gov

Kehinde Osasona Abuja Recently convicted former Taraba state Governor, Jolly Nyame, has approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, asking the court to release him on bail pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.
Nyame pleaded that he needed the bail in order to have access to his traditional herbal medicine, which he said he used to treat hypertension and diabetes before his conviction on May 30, 2018.
While arguing the bail application before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who handed the former governor with 14 year-jail sentence, his lawyer, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, said his client had been living with the health conditions for 10 years.
Ojo argued the application, which was opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during yesterday’s proceedings attended by a handful of the convict’s supporters.
The prison officials could not however produce the convict in court.
Ojo, in arguing the application, referred to a June 19, 2018 medical report issued by a Jalingo, Taraba state hospital, suggesting that the convict could die if not released from prison.
He said his client had sought permission from the prison authorities in Kuje, Abuja, to be allowed to be given herbal medicine but the request was turned down.
He said, “These exhibits are medical reports attached Foodstuff sellers waiting for patronage, at Katianga Market, in Sabo Tasha, Kaduna yesterday Photo: Tunde Garba Ladan Kehinde Osasona Abuja Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has advised African leaders to emulate China’s style of leadership and governance in order to turn the fortunes of their countries around.
The former president also urged China to broaden its relationship with Africa “in areas like finance, investment, trade, development assistance, technology transfer and training, tourism and cultural exchange.” Obasanjo gave this advice yesterday in Abuja at a forum cohosted by Gusau Institute and Centre for Nigerian Studies at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, held at the TranscorpHilton Hotel, Abuja where he was a keynote speaker.
According to Obasanjo, efforts of China to win the wars and thereafter establish peace and security over all its territories, was worth commending because it has bred economic stability in the region.
He thus attributed the success to the contributions of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping for the rejuvenation, including revalidation of China status and the making of China the center of the world.
“In the three areas of peace and security, governance and poverty reduction, China has recorded success, which African countries could emulate.
It is the process of making China strong, powerful and a major, if not the major player in the global arena,” he said.
He added that the present President Xi Jinping has also consolidated power internally and “asserted China’s regional and global interest, influence and authority.
He has shown pragmatism, where he needs to show pragmatism and firmness where he needs to show firmness, all pointing in the direction of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.” Obasanjo noted further that with the developments being recorded by China, African countries should tap into the journey of relationship with the country towards mutual ties for the continent’s common interest and mutual benefits.
Other dignitaries at the occasion were former President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, former President of Niger Republic, Mohammed Ousman, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad AbubakarII.
to the affidavit in support of the application and also the request, the letter, written to seek permission to be given traditional herbal preparation that can sustain him.
“The prison authorities did not allow his people to give him the herbal medicine.
Whatever that must have been responsible for the prison authorities’ decision whether right or wrong, the point is that he has not been allowed.” He told the trial judge that ill health and the need to access herbal medicine had been recognised as constituting “special and exceptional circumstances” that could warrant granting bail after conviction.