A team of medical experts in Abuja have stressed the need for government to support sickle cell patients in managing their mental health. The experts said government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should assist sickle cell  patients to prevent them from drug addiction.

They made the call during a seminar on “Managing Mental Health in Sickle Cell Disorder’’ and unveiling of an NGO, StrongCell Foundation, held on Wednesday in Abuja. Dr Ekaette David, a Hematologist Consultant, National Hospital, Abuja, encouraged parents, caregivers, government and other stakeholders to render support, care, love and understanding to sickle cell patients to enable them to cope and have balanced mental state.

David added that a good support system, physical activity, relaxation and regular medical health check-up would reduce the tendency of crisis and other diseases peculiar to sickle cell patients. She said “there is need to have good support system that patients can always reach out to talk to anytime, do things that would make them relax, engage in regular and less strenuous exercise, and regular health check-up to prevent complication.”

Dr Segun Soyombo, a Psychiatrist also at National Hospital, Abuja, decried the rate at which drugs were easily accessible to patients in the country, which he said contribute immensely to addiction. According to him, some patients with chronic health conditions such as sickle cell disorder, cancer, arthritis and others become addicted to drugs in their quest to find relief from pains. He, therefore, stressed the need for government, medical practioners, pharmacists and relevant authorities to ensure that drugs were administered and sold only with prescription.

On her part, Dr Chidinma Obieze, another Haematologist Consultant, advised people to show mental, psychological, emotional, financial and moral support to individuals suffering from sickle cell disease. Obieze explained that support to people suffering from the disease would encourage them to keep healthy lifestyle, reduce the tendency to be depressed, and make them not interested in drug abuse. Co-founders of the foundation, Ogar Uchechi and Hauwa Sani, both living with sickle cell anemia, encouraged similar individuals not to be deterred by their health status, but be challenged to strive hard.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has alleged that his assets declaration form submitted in 2003 when he was the governor of Kwara State has been tampered with.

He submitted through his counsel, Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) that the refusal of the EFCC operatives and the Code of Conduct of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to invite and relate with him on the form was because of the fear that he would challenge on insertions made on the form.
‎

But the EFCC witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas, who was being cross-examined by Saraki's Counsel denied the allegation, saying the form was filled and signed by Saraki before a competent Judge.
When the witness was asked if he was aware that the assets Declaration form submitted by the Defendant in 2003 was tampered with since it contained some entries of properties that were not put on sale by the federal government until 2006, Mr. Wetkas said: "As far as I concerned, exhibit one was signed by the defendant himself on September 16, 2003.
And when asked if he inserted No. 15a and B, MacDonald Street, Ikoyi, he said 'no'. And when asked if he knew who did it, the witness said:‎ "The Code of Conduct Bureau is a responsible organisation and he would not believe it would have done that.

He was also asked why he did not confront the Senate President with it, his answer was that he did not have any interaction with him but the document was one he could believe because it was signed before a competent Judge.

He said exhibit one would not have been written in 2003 because of the content. September 16, 2003. He could not have included properties he bought five years later. He argued that the form has been tampered with. He said the EFCC could not submit documents because he was afraid such would be challenged.

The other team that met the defendant include Imam Usman and Musa Sunday. He also said he was not there when they met the defendant.

The house declared for sale by the Presidential Implementation Committee for the Sales of Government Houses in 2006 paid by Tiny T in 2008 after the first winner of the bid was unable to pay for it.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki had earlier told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that he had no reason to steal or embezzled public money as he was already worth over N4 billion before becoming the governor of Kwara state in 2003.

He made the clarification even as he alleged that his assets declaration form submitted in 2003 when he was the governor of Kwara State has been tampered with.

The Senate President is facing trial on alleged falsification of assets declaration charges.

He further contended that all the evidence of money laundering adduced by the Federal Government against him at the tribunal are totally irrelevant as he was already a wealthy person before becoming the Kwara state governor.

To demonstrate his affluence, Saraki through one of his counsel referred the tribunal to his assets declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau dated September 16, 2003.m

The document which was read out in the tribunal by the prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas revealed that the Senate president had 13 exotic cars valued at N263.400 million before he became governor of Kwara state.

They include Mercedes G.500 bullet proof valued at N45m; Mercedes S500 N30m; Lexus Jeep bullet proof N30m; Mercedes S320 valued at N16 million; Mercedes S500 valued at N20m; Mercedes G500 at the value of N6m; Mercedes V.220 at N2m; Rally 456GT at the value of N25m and Navigator N15m.

Others are Mercedes MM240 valued at N8.5m; Peugeot 406 at N2.9m; Mercedes CLK320 valued at N9m and Mercedes E320 at the value of N11m.

The value of the Senate President in physical cash as at September 16, 2003 is as follows: $22m; 12m; 2.6 Euros and N4b.

In the area of landed property, the document showed that Saraki is worth N2b.

Hard-hitting Senator representing Kogi West, Otunba Dino Melaye, has vowed to stand by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, till the end of his ongoing trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Melaye, who is one of Saraki's strongest allies as well as the emerging godfather of Kogi State politics, on Saturday in Abuja vowed that the Senate President's trial would end in the Supreme Court.Dino Melaye Explodes: We'll Take Saraki's Case To Supreme Court-dino-meleye-2.jpg
According to him, the committees in the National Assembly would keep a close watch on the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government and ensure proper implementation of the 2016 budget which has been signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Melaye, Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), representing Kogi West Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who founded "Like-minded Senators", the group which worked for the emergence of Saraki as Senate President, spoke after the conferment of an award on him by the Rotary Club of Ilorin GRA, led by a former Military Administrator of Bauchi and Osun States, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (retd), for his commitment to nation building.

He said, "Our support for the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is total and undiluted. Our commitment to his getting justice is a battle of no retreat, no surrender. One thing I want to assure Nigerians is that the trial of Saraki will not end in the CCT, but in the Supreme Court and we are with the Senate President until we get to the last bus stop. We are with him up till Supreme Court."

Melaye expressed excitement that after the controversies surrounding the 2016 budget, it has been signed by the President.
He said, "What is more important is not the signing of the budget but its implementation. But we look forward to making sure that the National Assembly with all sincerity of purpose carry out monitoring of the MDAs to make sure that this budget is properly implemented.
"May we never see a situation where only 30 per cent of capital projects is implemented. May we never see what we have seen in the past. May this budget be properly implemented for the benefit of Nigerians and the masses of the country.

I am using this opportunity to plead with my colleagues in the National Assembly to make sure that our committees function properly and do a very holistic oversight and see to the implementation of this budget and pray that the Executive becomes born again by doing the right thing."
While dedicating the award to the over 200 female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State who were abducted by Boko Haram members, Melaye said he was "much concerned and completely pained that after two years of their unceremonious exit and forceful kidnap", they have not been found.

"One will be wondering what their condition would be and what their mental, health and psychological state could be. One is also wondering how traumatised they are. So our prayer is that they join us soon. I am dedicating this award to the Chibok girls to tell Nigerians that there is no other nation to call our own until these girls are back. It is to remind Nigerians that these girls are still there and everything should be done to bring them back", he stated.

Bamigboye said the Rotary Club decided to honour Melaye because of his commitment to nation building.
He said, "We have been following your activities over the years and we have found you to be a fighter and a dependable ally who have the interest of the downtrodden.

I am the President, Rotary Club of Ilorin, GRA. We had a presidential luncheon about a month ago and Dino Melaye was one of the recipients of the award.

"He couldn't come and we are using the opportunity of our conference in Abuja to present it to him. Dino Melaye is a serious human being, we know and he has been doing very well and we appreciate all what he has been doing for this nation."