COVID-19: Kano’s mysterious deaths: FG gets ultimatum to publish report

Nigerian government has been given an ultimatum to tell Nigerians what happened in Kano in relations to the alleged mysterious deaths that occurred especially in that last 24 hours.

Lagos Lawyer Mr. Femi Falana, (SAN), has given Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, seven days to publish the full report of the investigation into the mysterious deaths in Kano State.

Falana, in a letter on Sunday asked the Nigerian Government to take over the situation in Kano, adding that the state government is overwhelmed.

The letter reads in part: “During a press briefing held at Abuja a week ago, you announced that the Federal Ministry of Health, the Kano State Chief Epidemiologist, Officials of the Kano Public Health Department and those of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had commenced investigation into the strange deaths and mass burials currently going on in Kano State.

“We are disturbed by the burials which have since continued without any official information on the cause of the strange deaths.

“The people of Kano State and Nigerians, in general, are worried over the worsening health crisis as it may spread to other parts of Kano State not yet affected as well as other parts of the country if not urgently addressed. But since the Kano State Government is completely overwhelmed, we hereby, call on the Federal Government to take over the management of the crisis without any further delay.

He further requested for the certified true copy of the report of the joint investigation by the Federal and Kano State Ministries of Health into the strange deaths in teh state.

Falana mentioned that the request was made pursuant to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, and Ehanire is required to publish the report, “within seven days of the receipt of this letter”.

“The report should include the nature and cause of the deaths, the number of casualties and patients currently undergoing treatment in hospitals as well as an outline of the measures being put in place by the Federal Government to stop the strange deaths involving mass burials.

“If you fail to accede to our request, we shall not hesitate to invoke the relevant provisions of the law to compel official disclosure of the findings of the joint team constituted to investigate the cause of the strange deaths and mass burials in Kano State,” the statement added.