DNA testing of crash victims, relatives begins

The Lagos State Government on Thursday commenced deoxyribo nucleic acid (DNA) testing on family members and victims of Sunday’s crash involving Dana Airline’s flight 992 in Lagos.

Already, samples have been taken from eight families for the test.

The Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Wale Oke, said the test was needed to justify that all scientific processes of identifying bodies had been concluded.

The DNA testing will also be conducted on the victims’ family members to establish the authenticity of their relationships.

Four to six weeks

The testing on all the bodies would take at least four to six weeks. This is bound to exacerbate the worries of the victims’ family members who had been eager to bury their dead.

All the 153 persons on board the plane, a Boeing MD-83, died while the figure for the on-the-ground victims’ crash in densely populated Iju-Ishaga suburb was yet to be determined.

Lagos said DNA testing must be conducted on all the 153 bodies already recovered from the crash site, including the 97 said to be burnt beyond recognition, in order to ensure that the right persons receive the bodies of the victims.

DNA is the fundamental building block for an individual’s entire genetic makeup. In identifying the real relations of the dead as in the present case, the testing team will take a sample from the body to test for its DNA and see if it is close to that of the family members.

The DNA testing will be conducted by the state pathological team headed by Prof. John Obafunwa.

Source 

Police strategise to end terrorism, attacks on officers

Police have been devising strategies to end terrorism, kidnapping, communal clashes and attacks on officers, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, said on Thursday.

Speaking to senior officers at Force Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, Abubakar said emphasis was being placed on combat readiness and intelligence-gathering in checking growing insecurity in the country.

The IG, who decried constant attacks on policemen in parts of the country, expressed his shock on the killing of a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Saleh, and his orderlies in Kano by gunmen on Tuesday.

He directed senior officers to strengthen the force’s community policing strategies to ensure the success of all security measures being put in place.

Birthday cake of couple killed in crash remains uneaten

For the Awanis, birthday celebrations were one event that every member of the family looked forward to. And so it was only normal that preparations had begun for the 55th birthday of their dad, Daniel Awani, which ought to be on Tuesday, June 5.

Plans were already in full swing by his doting wife, Mrs. Georgina Awani, who aimed at staging a surprise party for her husband.

Sadly, these plans never materialised as the couple died in the ill-fated Dana Air MD-83 plane that crashed in Lagos on Sunday.

Daniel Awani died two days before his 55th birthday.

On Thursday when our correspondents visited the GRA Ikeja, Lagos home of the couple, the cake the children had ordered for their father’s birthday was still on the dining table.

It read, “Happy 55th Birthday, Dad.”

“The children only wanted to surprise their father on his birthday, they do that every year,” the family’s househelp told our correspondents.

Also, birthday cards addressed to their late father were also placed alongside one of the cakes, an indication that the birthday ritual was observed somehow.

Daniel was said to have lost his sister three days before his death in the Dana air crash.

Described by friends and family as a very generous and peace loving couple, they were on their way from Abuja where they attended a wedding.

At CTC Schools, GRA, where the children of the deceased attend, it was a solemn atmosphere as most of the kids present were said to be aware of the incident.

Narrating her last encounter with Mrs. Awani, the Relationship Manager, CTC Schools, Mrs Gloria Nwabani, who has known the family for eight years, says she saw the deceased briefly two days before the crash.

According to Nwabani, since the event happened, their children only resumed school on Thursday.

Nwabani added the couple were always in high spirit and very involved in their children’s education.

She explained, “During open days, – when we open our doors to parents – they were always together. After checking the children’s school work, the wife would pass it on to her husband. They were that close.

“During my 50th birthday celebration on March 25 this year, she was there and she bought ‘aso ebi’ (uniform celebration dress). She was full of life and she was telling me that on her own day, she would not use the hall I used (LTV 8). Gina said she would look for a place much bigger, so that people could celebrate and rejoice with her. She was full of life, this is very unfortunate.”

The principal of the school, Mrs. Bimbo Fisayo, also described the couple as very loving.

PUNCH

Alumni, students urge N’Assembly to disregard UNILAG bill

National President, University of Lagos Alumni Association, Prof. Olaide Abbas, says President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to send a bill to the National Assembly seeking legal backing for renaming UNILAG after his pronouncement is “an admittance of error.”

In his May 29 nationwide breadcast, Jonathan said the government had decided to change UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University in honour of the late MKO Abiola for his contribution to democracy in the country.

Abbas called on the members of the National Assembly to throw out the bill, saying the President’s action was tantamount to putting the cart before the horse.

The don,in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, said the National Assembly should not be a rubber-stamp of the Presidency.

DKB apologises to Africa for slapping Zainab

An unedited letter the former BBA Starmate sent to producers of Big Brother Africa this afternoon

Lovely people of Africa, there are many things I wish I could do to revert this unfortunate incident but as we all know, one cannot go back in time.

I had the opportunity of a lifetime to entertain Africa on the most coveted platform but I messed it up due to my act of indiscipline.

Kemi Adetiba, TV Presenter, Set To Launch 'Kemi Adetiba’s TV Diaries + Exclusive Photo shoot.

In anticipation of the launch of Kemi Adetiba's TV Diaries, Kemi is giving her audience a glimpse into her personality through a series of online editorials shot in various locations around Lagos. On the subject of the editorials and their significance, Kemi had the following to say:

    "As a director and television presenter, my aim has always been to shine a light on the stories of others.
    But as I embark on this new chapter in my career, I wanted to let you all in on who I am. Silly, sassy, spiritual, and yes, far more girly than anyone who’s worked with me on set has ever seen.
    Hope you like..."

 Also, Kemi Adetiba will be giving away an iPad 3. you have to keep your eyes and ears on "Kemi Adetiba's Tv Diaries" if you want to win it!!!! Keep up with her on TWITTER & FACEBOOK

Covenant University Expelled Final Year Student On Grounds Of Lesbianism

A 22-year old final year student of Covenant University, Canaanland Ota in Ogun state was expelled on grounds of lesbianism by the University authorities.

University Administration officer who spoke with Hope For Nigeria said that the student's activities and unquenchable desire for other ladies was disturbing and embarrassing to the University. He regrets the decision but said that sexual orientation and exploits does not give a Faith based University like Covenant, a good name.