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Tag: DPP

  • HOR: Majority leader, Doguwa cleared of murder charges

    HOR: Majority leader, Doguwa cleared of murder charges

     

    The Kano State Ministry of Justice, Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, has cleared the House of Representatives Majority Leader Alhassan Ado Doguwa of murder charges.

    According to DPP, there is no substantive evidence found from the police case files to charge him with culpable homicide.

    Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Musa A. Lawan, indicated on Thursday while briefing journalists on the findings and legal recommendations of the government on the criminal charges filed against the lawmaker that available evidence contained in the police case diary indicated no sufficient evidence to link Doguwa with the said offences despite contradictory comments of witnesses against the suspect.

    “Based on the foregoing facts and observations, we are of the opinion that we cannot substantiate charges of criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire and culpable homicide against the Doguwa.

    “This is because we cannot find sufficient evidence to link with the said offences considering the fact that we are faced with so many inculpatory and exculpatory evidence for and against him. And the statements of those that implicated him were full of contradictions,” he said.

    He added that there was no proven medical evidence to prove that the act or omission of Doguwa caused the death of the deceased persons.

    Barr. Lawan added that apart from the contradictory comments, there was no medical evidence to prove that the act or omission of Doguwa caused the death of the deceased persons.

     

  • Chrisland: Students in terminal classes can resume – Lagos Govt

    Chrisland: Students in terminal classes can resume – Lagos Govt

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education has granted permission for students in terminal classes to access Chrisland High School, Opebi, Ikeja, for physical learning ahead of their examinations due to begin soon.

    The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, made this known in a statement on Monday, signed by Mr Ganiu Lawal, Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry.

    Recall that the Lagos State Ministry of Education, on Feb. 12, ordered the temporary closure of Chrisland School, Opebi-Ikeja, following the death of a student of the School, Whitney Adeniran, on Feb. 9.

    Adeniran died during the school’s annual inter-house sports at Agege Stadium, Lagos.

    The closure order, according to the ministry, affected only Chrisland High School, Ikeja, and not all the schools operated by the owners, pending the outcome of a full investigation into the unfortunate incident.

    Adefisayo, in an update on the matter on Monday, explained the reason for the new decision to grant permission to some students to access the school in Ikeja.

    “The temporary permission to allow the terminal classes comprising JSS3 and SS3 students access to the school is to enable them participate in their terminal examinations,” the commissioner is quoted as saying.

    She, however, hinted that the school would remain closed until all necessary judicial processes superintended over by the State’s Ministry of Justice and other ongoing administrative inquests within the purview of the Office of Education Quality Assurance and other agencies were  completed.

    The Commissioner said that the ministry, with support of the Lagos State Joint Task Force in charge of the implementation of the child protection policy and safeguarding, would continue to engage with Whitney Adeniran’s family on the case.

    According to her, the group is made up of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, such as the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Office of Education Quality Assurance and others.

    Adefisayo also disclosed in the statement that arrangements were ongoing for other categories of students to return to school.

    Recall that the Office of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had said that a Post Mortem report issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, in respect of Whitney’s death, revealed the cause to be Asphyxia and electrocution.

    The state ministry of justice has indicated its intention to charge the school, some members of Staff and one of the Vendors with negligence, among others, over the incident, following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

  • Lagos train/bus collision: BRT driver to face 16-count charge

    Lagos train/bus collision: BRT driver to face 16-count charge

    The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has set up plans to prosecute Oluwaseun Osibanjo, the driver of the  BRT bus that collided with a moving train in Lagos with a 16-count charge of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.

    According to a statement signed on Friday by the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, Mrs Grace Alo, the horrific incident which involved Lagos State Government staff heading to work in the staff bus and passengers of the train, resulted in six fatalities.

    “About 96 others are with various degrees of injuries and the injured victims are hospitalized across many government hospitals in the state.

    Recall that on the morning of March 9, a staff bus collided with a train at the PWD railway crossing at Ikeja and the train dragged the bus with its passengers along the tracks until it came to a stop at Sogunle, a suburb of Ikeja.

    “Upon the receipt and review of the case file by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), a prima facie case of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm were disclosed against the driver of the Staff bus.

    “Accordingly, he is to be charged with 6 counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of grievous bodily harm.

    “Both offences are contrary to Sections 224 and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” the statement read.

    The statement added that the Office of the DPP would immediately file charges against the driver.

    However, his arraignment before the Ikeja  High Court would be delayed until he is fully fit to stand trial, having sustained serious injuries during the accident.

  • Popular Lagos Doctor, Femi Olaleye to be arraigned for child rape on Monday

    Popular Lagos Doctor, Femi Olaleye to be arraigned for child rape on Monday

    Popular Nigerian cancer care advocate, Dr Femi Olaleye, a medical practitioner based in Lagos, is to be arraigned in court on Monday for the rape of his wife’s 15-year-old niece.

    Olaleye, who is the founder of Optimal Care Centre in Surulere, was said to have sexually molested his wife’s 15-year-old niece for one year and nine months.

    Olaleye had been awarded African Medical Doctor by Global Change for Africa.

    The Lagos Directorate of Public Prosecution, (DPP) at the weekend confirmed his arraignment, after leading Nollywood stars called out Olaleye over the alleged crime.

    Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw and another star actress cum comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, had launched the campaign to prosecute Olaleye after the rape case came to light at the end of last year.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Olaleye is also one of the country’s leading lights in the fight against cervical and breast cancer.

    In a letter of notification titled, “State of Lagos vs Dr Olufemi Olaleye,” signed by the Principal State Council of DPP, Mr Oluwagbenga Alagbe, was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos.

    Alagbe stated that the arraignment would be coming before Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja on Monday, Nov. 21.

    “Olaleye will be facing a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration. He must appear before the Honourable Court and also make provision for a legal practitioner of his choice,” Alagbe said.

    The DPP’s Principal State Council also said a copy of the Information Papers and proof of Evidence were attached to the notification of arraignment already sent to the accused.

    Recall that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) had reacted to the recent allegation of sexual molestation of a minor against Olaleye.

    The agency in a press statement shared on its verified Twitter handle @lagosdsva said it “received a complaint bordering on an allegation of sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child and defilement, allegedly perpetrated by the doctor on 19th of March.”

    The agency said the complainant used its toll-free line.

    The statement, which was signed by the agency’s Executive Secretary, Titilola Adeniyi, noted that the case was immediately referred to the Gender Desk Department of the Lagos State police command.

    The agency said the affected minor had already received medical support and was in the process of receiving “psychosocial support.”

    It added; “DSVA has requested the police to forward the duplicate case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions so that legal advice can be issued.

    “Furthermore, we have also shared with the police additional information which we believe would assist with the investigation.”

    Mrs Adeniyi reiterated the agency’s zero tolerance for all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, even as she reassured the public that no case of sexual abuse allegation will be swept under the carpet.

  • Court remands man over alleged murder of opponent

    Court remands man over alleged murder of opponent

    A 22-year-old man, Mohammed Umar, has been remanded in Agodi correctional centre by an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly beating his opponent to death during a fight.

     

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Patricia Adetuyibi, on Monday, did not take the plea of Umar for want in jurisdiction.

     

    She directed the police to return the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

     

    Adjourned the matter until Aug. 15, for mention.

     

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Salewa Hammed, told the court that Umar on May 6, at about 2.30 a.m caused the death of one Dan Mallam , 23,

     

    Hammed said Umar beat up Mallam during a fight at the Akinyele Trailer park in Ibadan.

     

    He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that If an opponent dies during the match with no foul play like hitting after the bell, no one gets arrested.

     

    In 2019, a man died at Princes Georges County Hospital Center this morning, four days after another man beat him so badly he had bleeding on his brain and doctors induced a medical coma.

     

    Netizens, however, reacted to what would happen as the man died during a fight.

     

     

     

    According to Mark: “He was a warrior and knew the risks, he followed his passions and made a career out of it. Died too young.. But doing what he loved.”

    Bundigang wonders: “Why would he be questioned and charged for a death he had no control of boxing is a dangerous sport man ??they shouldve stopped it Rip maxim ?”

     

    Christopher Espinosa stated that, “It’s a sad story .. nobody wants to see a Boxer die.. there is a reason why you have trainers.. they are your safety net. They have to be the ones to step up & call it off. We have seen many trainers do exactly that.. some crying, holding, hugging the fighter as they stand in the ring.”

     

    Diogo Pereira maintained that, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion but here’s the thing we all choose to justify some things over others. In this case this man couldn’t justify a boxers death to his son, would this same man have the same response to his son regarding a soldier dying in war?”

     

  • Chrisland teachers docked for concealing 10-year-old school girl sex video

    Chrisland teachers docked for concealing 10-year-old school girl sex video

    Three male and a female teacher of the Chrisland School Lagos, were on Tuesday docked in a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ court in Lagos for allegedly concealing a sex tape of a student.

    The police charged Oladotun Sotunde, 56; Elesho Tajudeen;32, Rhoda Olanipekun; 45, and Ajigboye Hammed, 41 with two counts of conspiracy and attempt to pervert justice.

    They however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Police officer in charge of the Legal department at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Mrs Yetunde Cardoso appeared with Mr Augustine Nwabuisi for the prosecution.

    Cardoso said that the defendants committed the offence on April 25, at Chrisland School, in Victoria Garden City, Idimu, Lagos.

    She said that the defendants were asked to chaperone the students to Dubai for a world school games.

    According to her, the students engaged in indecent sexual acts while on the trip and a 10-year-old student made a sex tape which the teachers conspired to conceal.

    She stated that the teachers allegedly obstructed the course of justice by hiding the indecent acts of the students’ sex video before it later went viral.

    The offence, she said, contravene the provisions of 411 and 97 (1) (3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    Section 97 provides seven years imprisonment for the offence of attempting to pervert justice while Section 411 provides two years for conspiracy.

    Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N300,000 each with three responsible sureties each in like sum.

    She held that the sureties must submit copies of their National Identification Number (NIN), and their Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) card.

    She further directed that one of the sureties must be a land owner, but all of them must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    Adebayo ruled that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    She adjourned the case until June 13 for mention.

  • Sylvester Oromoni’s death: Police affirm DPP indicted Dowen College

    Sylvester Oromoni’s death: Police affirm DPP indicted Dowen College

    A policeman, CSP Bamidele Olusegun has said Dowen College was initially indicted in the first legal advice issued by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the death of 12-year-old student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.

    Olusegun, who is serving with the Homicide Section of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, stated this on Monday while testifying before an Ikeja Coroner’s Court.

    While under cross-examination by counsel to the Oromoni family, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), the policeman said he had received interim legal advice from the DPP dated Dec. 30, 2021, which recommended that the school and its staff should be prosecuted for alleged negligence.

    Falana showed the witness a copy of the interim report and requested that he should read the last paragraph of the document.

    Reading it aloud, he said: “There are sufficient facts to establish this offence against Mrs Celina Uduak, Valentine Igboekweze, Hammed Ayomo Bariyu, Adesanya Olusegun and Mr Adeyemi and Dowen College.”

    The witness also noted he received another legal advice dated Jan 4., which had exonerated Dowen College of involvement in the death of the deceased.

    The witness affirmed that he conducted a thorough investigation on the matter and he was aware that the police had protested that they were not allowed to conclude their investigations on the case due to the issuance of the Jan. 4 DPP advice.

    Olusegun identified a copy of the protest letter written to the Chief Judge of Lagos State by the police shown to him by Falana.

    A portion of the letter, read aloud by the witness in the court, stated that: “It came as a rude shock that the investigation was not allowed to be carried out.”

    He also said the suspects were not brought back to the police station for the conclusion of the investigation.

    “During investigation, one of the suspects informed me that the deceased was bullied.

    “Another one also told me that he was taken to the third floor to be tortured,” he said.

    When asked if any of the suspects had informed him that the deceased was injured on Nov. 14, 2021, Olusegun said he did not have any recollection.

    The policeman told the inquest that the sister of the deceased told him that her late brother was also bullied sometime in October 2021 and that the boy who allegedly bullied him was not punished for the act.

    “She also confirmed to me that they bullied her brother because they wanted him to described her private parts.

    “I wouldn’t know the deceased was taken to the sick bay in October when he was bullied,” he said.

    Olusegun confirmed during the cross-examination that a female parent had also reported that her son was bullied by some Dowen College students at the Maroko Police Station.

    Earlier, the witness narrated to the Coroner’s Court how he investigated the case.

    He said: “On Dec. 3, 2021, a petition forwarded to my office was assigned to me; Dowen College was already closed down then.

    “On Dec. 6, 2021, we were at Maroko Police Station, where we met the school principal, and the suspects.

    “We took them down to Panti and obtained statements from the accused and the other management staff.

    “We then proceeded to a Yaba Magistrates’ Court to get a Remand Order. The House Masters were detained with us while the children were remanded at the Oregun Correctional Home.”

    Olusegun said the statement of Mr Sylvester Oromoni Snr, the father of the deceased student, was taken on Dec. 9, 2021.

    He noted that the Lagos State Attorney-General and the Lagos State Commissioner for Education were put on the phone when the parties were interrogated.

    “I recollect that I went to Warri to bring the corpse to Lagos and I had an interaction with the doctor and the Consultant Pathologists.

    “We arrived in Lagos on Jan.13 with the corpse while the autopsy was performed the next day but before then, letters were dispatched to the parties asking them to be in attendance or send representatives during the autopsy.

    “I later proceeded to Abuja to speak with one of the witnesses. I also recollect that we visited the school on a fact-finding mission and it was opened to us.

    “I remember that the doctor at the school hospital; Dr Moji confirmed that she attended to the deceased between Nov. 21 and 22 2021.

    “She confirmed to me that she asked the nurse to massage the deceased’s legs and that paracetamol was also administered on him,” he said.

    When asked if the school had CCTV cameras, he said: “Absolutely no, there were no CCTV cameras in the school.”

    The Director of the Lagos State DPP, Dr Babajide Martins, and counsel to Dowen College, Mr Anthony Kpokpo, representing Dowen School, informed the inquest that they were not previously served copies of the legal advice with which Falana had cross-examined the witness.

    Kpokpo said: “It has become a part of the deceased family to present documents that have not been front-loaded.

    “We will not be able to continue with the cross-examination as a result of the surprises being pulled on us. This is regrettable.”

    It was alleged by the Oromoni family that 12-year-old student had died on Nov. 30, 2021 from injuries sustained in an attack by five senior students of Dowen College for allegedly refusing to join a cult.

    It was also alleged that he was forced to drink a substance by his attackers.

    The Lagos State DPP’s advice released on Jan. 4 disputed the allegation stating that an autopsy had revealed the cause of Oromoni’s death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis.

    The Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, adjourned proceedings until Feb. 22 for the continuation of cross-examination.

  • Why we took videos of Sylvester Oromoni during sickness – Father

    Why we took videos of Sylvester Oromoni during sickness – Father

    Mr Sylvester Oromoni Snr. on Tuesday told an Ikeja Coroner’s Court that viral videos showing his late son, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., in a critical health condition, were meant for church testimony.

    Oromoni Snr. made the disclosure during cross-examination at an inquest to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the 12-year-old Dowen College student.

    “Those videos were made to give testimony in court. If God had made him survive, we would have used them to give thanksgiving and testimonies of what the boy went through,” he said.

    Oromoni Snr. was responding to a question from Mr Godwin Omoaka (SAN), counsel to one of the accused Dowen College students.

    The witness said that the late student was taken to the family church, God’s Grace Ministry International, Warri, Delta, on Nov. 29, 2021, for a one-hour deliverance session.

    He told the inquest that he accepted the interim report of an autopsy conducted by Dr Clement Vhriterhire of the Central Hospital Warri, Delta, which stated that his son was assaulted and poisoned.

    “Since the boy said so before he died, and there is evidence supporting it, I accept it if that is the content of the report,” he said.

    The witness testified that he was aware that one of his daughters, Annabel Oromoni, was behind the leaking of the interim autopsy report to the press.

    Oromoni Snr., however, disputed an allegation that his son was brought in DOA (Dead on Arrival) to Vicar Clinic, Warri, Delta, on Nov. 30, 2021.

    He added that his son never had scalded lips in the past. He also disputed an allegation made by Omoaka that his son’s leg was massaged at the family home in Warri, Delta.

    “I only called someone who knows about massages to examine the leg and not massage it,” he said.

    While being cross-examined by counsel to Dowen College, Mr Anthony Kpokpo, Oromoni Snr. said that the family doctor, Aghogho Owhojede, never informed him on Nov. 26, 2021, that his son had an enlarged liver.

    “A nurse called from school on Monday evening that my son needed medical attention. It was the first time the school ever called me for that.

    “It is a lie that the school had called me in the past to come and pick up my son for having a twisted tongue and a scalded mouth,” he said.

    It was alleged that the 12-year-old student died on Nov. 30, 2021, from injuries sustained in an attack by five senior students of Dowen College for refusing to join a cult.

    It was also alleged that he was forced to drink an obnoxious substance by his attackers

    Advice by Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions released on Jan. 4, however, disputed the allegations.

    It stated that an autopsy revealed the cause of the student’s death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis

    The Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, adjourned proceedings until Feb. 21 for continuation of cross-examination.

  • Oromoni Snr. alleges cover-up by govt, police

    Oromoni Snr. alleges cover-up by govt, police

    Mr Sylvester Oromoni Snr., father of the late Dowen College student, has made allegations of a cover-up between the Nigerian Police Force and Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the circumstances surrounding his son’s death.

    Oromoni Snr. made the allegations on Tuesday at an Ikeja Coroner’s Court, while being cross-examined by Mr Akin George, Counsel to Lagos State Government.

    Oromomi Snr. raised questions about why the five senior students of Dowen College, who allegedly bullied his son, were exonerated and released by the DPP’s advice 14 days into the 21-day remand order given by a Yaba Magistrates’ Court.

    He noted that the Magistrate Court had given the 21-day remand order to give the police time to carry out investigations into the matter.

    The witness, who was very emotional and often breaking down in tears during his testimony, questioned the timing of the release of the five students by the DPP.

    Oromomi Snr. said: “There is a massive cover-up and it is clearly here (in the police report).

    ”A Magistrates’ Court in Yaba requested 21days and after the 14 day, the boys were granted bail when the police were not done with their investigations.

    “When I saw the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (Hakeem Odumosu) and told him about it, he told me that, that was not true that they were not done with their investigations.

    “He even said that on the day it was said that they had released those boys, the courts were not sitting.

    ”I then called the Deputy Commissioner of Police, he told me the same thing and told me to give him sometime.

    “After about two to four minutes, he called me back and he confirmed it, that they were given 21days for their investigations and the boys had just spent 14 days in detention.

    “They (police) said they were going to write a protest letter. They were already interrogating two of the students and revelations were coming out so they were taken by surprise.

    “The same Commissioner of Police, after some days now publicly declared that at the instance of Mr Governor, the Attorney-General and the DPP, said there was nothing wrong with the boys therefore they’ve released them.”

    Oromoni Snr said that Odumosu had addressed the public during the 2021 Christmas public holidays and that there were only three working days (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) that week.

    “At what point did they complete their investigation, give all the case files to the DPP to go through and the DPP to come up with their report?

    “This is why I am saying there is a very massive conspiracy going on,” he said.

    Earlier during proceedings, George said that, according to the Police reports, the eyewitnesses at the school denied that Oromoni Jnr was beaten in his room.

    Reading an excerpt of the report, he said: “Furthermore, the allegation of putting off the light, bullying and beating him could not be proven as eyewitnesses denied that such incident ever happened.”

    The five students of Dowen College were remanded in a juvenile home after they were charged with conspiracy and homicide over the death of their 12-year-old schoolmate by Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun Adeola, on Dec. 9, 2021.

    On Dec. 21, 2021, Adeola granted the Dowen College students bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

    The Lagos State DPP advice released on Jan. 4, disputed the allegations that Oromoni’s death was caused by injuries resulting from bullying.

    The DPP advice noted that an autopsy revealed Oromoni’s cause of death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis.

    Coroner to subpoena more witnesses

    Meanwhile, the Ikeja Coroner’s Court has said it will subpoena more witnesses in the quest to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.

    The Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, made the disclosure at the conclusion of proceedings on Tuesday, noting that the inquest is a fact-finding exercise and a lot of questions would need to be answered.

    The witnesses to be summoned by the coroner include roommates of the late student at Dowen College, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) of the case in Warri, Delta, and a Dowen College nurse that attended to the late student.

    Other witnesses to be subpoenaed include a family friend of the Oromonis, Chief Opudu Boro, two independent pathologists which will include a Forensic Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa.

    The coroner will also invite the medical doctor who performed the first autopsy on the late student in Warri, Dr Clement Vhriterhire, and students who allegedly played football with the deceased in school during which he sustained an ankle injury.

    It was alleged that the student died on Nov. 30, 2021, from injuries he sustained in an attack by five senior students of Dowen College for refusing to join a cult.

    It was also alleged that he was forced to drink an obnoxious substance by his attackers.

    Advice by Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, which was released on Jan. 4, however, disputed the allegations.

    It stated that an autopsy revealed Oromoni’s cause of death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis.

    Kadiri adjourned proceedings until Feb. 21 for the continuation of hearing.

  • [Video] Sylvester Oromoni: Ijaw Youth demand justice, stage protest in front of Dowen college

    [Video] Sylvester Oromoni: Ijaw Youth demand justice, stage protest in front of Dowen college

    Members of the Ijaw Youth Council are currently staging a protest in front of Dowen College, Lagos, demanding justice for late Sylvester Oromoni.

    Sylvester is from the Ijaw-speaking tribe in Delta state. The protest comes after the Lagos state government exonerated five students and staff of the school arrested over the death of late Sylvester.

    Recall that Oromoni died on Nov. 30, 2021. He was alleged to have been beaten by fellow students.

    See video below:

     

     

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