₦airaland Forum

Beautician and CEO of luxury hair brand Kukushair has released a statement distancing herself from the death of billionaire politician, businessman and pastor, Keniebi Okoko who died on Tuesday, April 14 2020, after a botched liposuction surgery at a cosmetic clinic in Lekki, Lagos.

Pastor Okoko was also a governorship aspirant in the last gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State.

Following Pastor Okoko's death, there were several rumours making the rounds, suggesting that the beautician, Akunna Nwala took him to the cosmetic hospital to carry out the surgery without the consent of his wife.

According to Mrs Nwala, they all have been family friends and now that Pastor Okoko has been laid to rest, she has decided to open up and share her own side of the story.




Read Akunna Nwala's statement below.

''My family and I have been aware of the manifestly contrived falsehood being peddled against me, Akunna Nwala, as playing a key role in the demise of our family friend, Pastor Keniebi Okoko. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ordinarily, I would not join issues with anyone or address any matter of this magnitude on a public domain.

''However,  this concerns human life and also about a great loss to a woman like me.  It is also a disappointing report of my person to the people who look up to me, what I stand for, to all my beautiful Clients and fans.
I had kept silent for the better part of this whole charade, but since our dear family friend has been laid to rest (may his soul continue to rest in peace),  I feel it is high time I speak out.

''I, Akunna, grew up on the campus of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and while we lived there, Mrs Ihuaku Okoko (Nee Eke) wife of Mr. Keniebi Okoko, was our next-door neighbour and we were family friends.

''I was good friends with her younger sister and Sis Ihuaku was a big sister/mother figure to me.
We reconnected again in Lagos, as old friends, business clients and later on our,  husbands went on to build a beautiful friendship that extended to late Pastor Keniebi’s father and mother.

''While I was in the UK spending time with my family just before the lockdown, The late Pastor Kenebi Okoko and his wife had independently decided and agreed to have cosmetic surgery in Nigeria, and in the course of making enquiries regarding cosmetic surgeons in Nigeria, they decided to ask me, Akunna, knowing that I could be a good resource.

''I’ve been made aware of a few of such Physicians in Lagos on the basis of my respectable standing and good influence in the beauty industry in Lagos and in addition, owning a beauty Spa where non-evasive procedures are carried out.

''When Pastor Keniebi and Mrs Ihuaku reached out to me, Mrs Ihuaku expressed the fact that they were dissatisfied with their looks and wanted to perform cosmetic surgery for enhancement, and that most importantly they needed to do the procedure during the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown to enable them to celebrate her 50th birthday in style like any other couple reaching a milestone age.

''Remember that with or without my input the couple would have still gone ahead with their intended surgery bearing the couple being much older than I am my opinion would make little or no difference . Prior to this they had reached out to a few others with regards to possible options in Lagos.

''I then went ahead and mentioned the names of 2 physicians I knew of and was aware of procedures they had successfully done in the past,( there was no part of these conversations or communications that my husband and I were not privy to).

''Again, husband and wife,- Mr and Mrs Okoko, based on their consultations with the physicians, and as adults, saw the conditions of each of their clinics, decided and agreed on which one of the two surgeons they were more comfortable with.

''On the morning of 14th of April 2020, Pastor Keniebi Okoko and Mrs Ihuaku Okoko called my husband and I to inform us that they were already at the hospital together where he was being prepared for the surgery. Continue reading her story here==https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/beautician-akunna-nwala-distances-self-from-death-of-billionaire-politician-and-pastor-keniebi-okoko/

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The Chief of staff to governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa state, Chief Benson Agadaga, has offered to reward the 2019 candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM), Mr. Vijah Opuamah with ‘Special Package’ if he drops the certificate forgery case against the governor.

Agadaga made the offer in a phone conversation, exclusively obtained by The Street Journal.

There have been several moves and appeals by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to make Opuama withdraw the case from the Tribunal.

He has been offered money and juicy appointments but he has declined all the offers.

The case against Diri
The Street Journal had earlier reported that Opuama dragged Gov. Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor to court over the inconsistency in the name on the certificates presented by Ewrujakpor during the elections.

Opuama alleged that Ewrujakpor was not qualified to contest the election and urged the court to declare his candidature null and void, which will automatically lead to the ouster of Gov. Diri as well.
Opuama said that the deputy governor submitted an affidavit containing false information to the electoral umpire, INEC.

He further claimed in his petition that Mr Diri’s deputy, Ewrujakpor, presented a forged university certificate and a forged exemption certificate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to INEC before the conduct of the election.

These documents had since been uploaded by The Street Journal alongside telephone conversations between Mr. Opuama and various PDP faithfuls luring the former with juicy promises in a bid to get him to drop the case at the tribunal.

There are fears in the camps of the PDP and Diri that the Court will remove the governor, the same way the governor-elect of the state, David Lyon and his deputy Degi Eremionyo were removed over the inconsistency in the certificates presented by Eremionyo.

Desperate Moves
In yet another desperate move to bribe Mr. Opuama, the Chief of Staff to Governor Diri of the PDP, told him that a package is available for him.

“I say make I come your house so that we can resolve everything because this forward and backward movement is not making sense. You know we are all one in Bayelsa and we are not supposed to fight each other. I decided to bring down myself on behalf of my people to contact you so that we can resolve everything. I know you're in Abuja and you've spent a lot of money but still try to find a way to come to Yenegoa let's see and talk.

“Don't worry I'll speak to my people, we will arrange something for you. In fact, we have a package for you. When we discuss and agree, we will hand it over to you. Do you understand,” he said on the telephone.

He also told Opuama that Mary Odili, a Justice of the Supreme Court and wife of PDP’s chieftain, Peter Odili, is working for them on the case.

“Another thing I wanted to tell you is that Justice Mary Odili and her people are working for us as you already know but there's no need to involve her in this matter because we are all one. Just find a way to come over let's settle and handover everything once and for all,” he added.

However, The Street Journal has not independently confirmed that the Honourable justice is working for Diri and his camp.

The latest telephone conversation between Mr. Benson and Mr. Vijah Opuamah:

Mr. Benson: Hello, how you dey?

Opuama: I'm fine

Mr. Benson: It's me, Benson Agadaga. I say make I come your house so that we can resolve everything because this forward and backward movement is not making sense. You know we are all one in Bayelsa and we are not supposed to fight each other. I decided to bring down myself on behalf of my people to contact you so that we can resolve everything. I know you're in Abuja and you've spent a lot of money but still try to find a way to come to Yenegoa let's see and talk.

Opuama: Okay Sir.

Mr. Benson: Don't worry I'll speak to my people, we will arrange something for you. In fact, we have a package for you. When we discuss and agree, we will hand it over to you. Do you understand?

Opuama: Yes Sir.

Mr. Benson: So when do we expect you?

Opuama: I'll get back to you

Mr. Benson: Another thing I wanted to tell you is that Justice Mary Odili and her people are working for us as you already know but there's no need to involve her in this matter because we are all one. Just find a way to come over let's settle and handover everything once and for all.

Opuama: No problem, I'll get back to you.

Listen to the audio hear==https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/bayelsa-certificate-scandal-gov-diri-in-panic-mode-as-chief-of-staff-offers-to-settle-opuamah/

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There seems to be a rift going on between Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and the Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami.

Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, in a recent interview with Sahara Reporters, accused Isa Pantami of using armed men to chase members of staff of NIDCOM out of an office space given to them by the Nigeria Communications Commission NCC.

Read excerpts from the video below:

''In one year, we don't even have an office. The office we got which was given to us by NCC, we were actually driven away by the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Isa Pantami.

''Within two days, he drove us out, with guns. What happened? The place was given to us by NCC. You know we all help each other. NCC as an agency of government, said there is a place you can use. We settled in and just as we settled in, I was in Ethiopia when I got a call. I thought it was a joke.

''I came back from Ethiopia on Thursday, this happened on Tuesday.  By Friday when I went to the office, armed men had taken over the place. I thought it was a joke.

''Here is the thing. I am a government employee and so is he. This a government business. Do I go on the street and start fighting? I said no that I will take the higher moral ground and so I decided that I am not going to raise any dust about it. I have written to the appropriate authorities. I have complained officially but we let it be. He wants the place, let him take it. And that place is still there. A whole floor is still vacant.

''As I speak with you, all our items are locked up. I don't have computers, printers. Everything has been locked up. So after COVID19, we are hoping that we can get a space, move in.''

In response, the Minister countered her claim in a tweet on Twitter describing it as a fat lie. The Minister also alleged the story to be false.

He tweeted:

''THIS IS A FAT LIE FROM HER: The owner of the building @NgComCommission has faulted her lies on their social media platforms. The minister has never given that directives to any gunman. We need to be very objective in reporting. I have never sent any gunmen there, & I have no one.

"THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY: We need to balance a story before reporting. The Minister has never sent any gunmen since the building is not directly under him, but @NgComCommission  they have issued a statement, saying her reports are not true. Why no fair-hearing if one is accused.''

Fighting back, Abike Dabiri further accused the Minister of having legendary disrespect for women.

She tweeted:

"An Islamic scholar should not lie Hon. Minister (PhD). You did that to me cos I am a woman. Your disrespect for women is legendary. Left the ugly incident behind since Feb. But pls release all our office equipment. Public office is transient."

Watch the video that degenerated into a fight here===https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/president-buharis-minister-and-ssa-in-dirty-fight-on-twitter-video-photos/


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The Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, have arrested 20-year-old Ibrahim Abdullahi and 22-year-old Hassan Amadu over the murder of Kadade Abdullahi at Amana Maikasuwa Village in Kaduna State.

The 20-year-old cattle rustler and alleged kidnapper was nabbed after operatives of IRT attached to Operation Puff Adder, Kateri Annex, arrested a member of the 5-man gang that killed Kadede.

Upon being arrested and quizzed by the police, Ibrahim admitted belonging to a gang that specialised in robbery, kidnapping and cattle rustling. He also confessed to masterminding the robbery and killing of his elder brother because he is his father's favourite.

Ibrahim said; “My father is married to four wives and has many children. I don’t know what is special about Kadade that our father wouldn’t ever take care of his other children without rubbing it on our faces that Kadade was special.

“I was sent to Arabic school in Kaduna, while only Kadade attended primary and secondary schools. My father said it was not necessary for other of his children to go to school because he wanted every one of us to become farmers. And yet, he was always the first person to insult and call us illiterates, saying we couldn’t speak English Language.

How can I speak English Language when my father did not send me to school? I only learnt how to cultivate corn and rear cows. I had to get married to convince him that I was old enough to handle responsibilities.

“As soon as I got married, my father gave me only 20 cows and two plots of land. The reason I carried out the killing of my blood brother with the help of my gang members was because our father trusted my late brother much more than he trusts me. It is also because of the sum of N1, 700,000, which our father realised from selling his cattle. The money was kept with my brother. My brother sold some cows and made N1.7million and was making noise about it. My father was also very happy about it and asked him to keep the entire money.


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The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Anambra Command, says it has so far released more than 454 inmates from its custodian centres across the state, in a bid to decongest prisons due to dreaded coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Emmanuel Nwakaeze, the state Controller of the Service disclosed in Awka on Sunday, explained that 54 inmates with federal offences received presidential amnesty under prerogative of mercy of the governor.

He added that while about 400 others were released on bail by the State’s Chief Judge from the four custodian centres in Nnewi, Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Awka.

Nwakaeze said the service presently has a total of 1720 inmates, adding “apart from the number already released, we are compiling list of awaiting trial inmates that have stayed more than five years so as to release them in furtherance to decongest the four centres.

“While this is done, my office has stepped up sensitisation campaign in all the centres with the aim to making the inmates being release to understand that it was God that gave them the opportunity courtesy of the coronavius pandemic.

“I drum it into their ears that any of them who so benefit from the gesture must be of good behaviour because coronavius pandemic does not occur every now and then,’’ he said.

Nwakaeze, who gave reasons for the stoppage of visitors to Nigeria Correctional Service and Custodian Centres, explained that the action was in line with the directive of the Controller General of the Service, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed to avoid the spread of coronavirus to its facilities.

“Since the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus in our country, the management lined out measures to ensure the safety of inmates and very prompt among the measures was the stoppage of people from visiting the inmates in our custodies.

“Rather than allow people whose status cannot be readily ascertained, we now advise people to bring cash or raw food items for such to prepare and give to the inmates ourselves because that for us is better than to expose them to COVID-19 risk,’’ he said.

He said, so far a number of personalities including Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Diocese, and Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, wife of Anambra State Governor etc. have donated food items to the inmates.

Nwakaeze did not dispel nor accept the report that the organisation now rejects fresh persons sent to their custodies, but simply said, “we are abiding by health protocols to protect those already in our centres.’’

He further said that the NCS authorities across the nation have beefed up its intelligence gathering department as well as fortified security around all the custodian centres with a view to preventing any attack or jailbreak.
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/covid-19-anambra-releases-over-454-inmates/


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Oba Afolabi, the oldest king in Oyo State, the Onilua of Ilua, passes away at the age of 141.

He died in the early hours of Saturday, May 24, after a brief illness.

The monarch was born in 1879 and became king in 1982 at a tender age of 102.
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/oldest-king-in-oyo-state-dies-at-141/


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The big exposure...
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/the-big-cover-up-why-halliburton-bribe-takers-could-not-be-prosecuted-2/

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https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/meet-bolaji-agboola-gambari-president-buharis-chief-of-staff-son/

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Before now, I had remained silent to all the irrational comments of FFK on many prominent Nigerians. But now, he has jumped into a river whose depths, he knows nothing about i.e. History of Ilorin and the Appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari.

First, there wasn’t any Oba in Ilorin before the establishment of the Emirate in 1823/24.

Although, Aare Afonja was the Generalissimo of the Oyo Empire and fourth of his generation in Ilorin after Laderin, Pasin and Alugbin.

It is a fact that the Oyo annexed Ilorin in the 17th century by Alaafin Ojigi to protect the Igbominas from the Nupes incursion.

However, Ilorin had been in existence centuries before Oyo’s authority.

Femi, your lack of historical facts made you say Aare Afonja rebelled against Oyo.

Now let me lecture you. The animosity started when Alaafin Aole became the King of the Oyo Empire.

As it is the tradition to execute all Alaafin’s perceived enemies for his peaceful reign, King Aole was asked by his Chiefs the names of his enemies.

The first mentioned king was *Baale Apomu* and the man was quickly killed. The Alaafin was asked further of the last person and he replied thus: “my last enemy is more formidable than me.”

Surprised, the chiefs asked again, and the king said “Afonja in Ilorin.” All of them were alarmed and scared; because Afonja was the most powerful man in the entire oyo empire that time.

Aole and his chiefs later came up with a grand plan to execute Afonja; but the generalissimo’s spy quickly ran to Ilorin and briefed him. This was the beginning of the crisis that later frustrated the king and made him to commit suicide. But before his death, he cursed the entire Yoruba race and Afonja.

The Oyo Mesi and other generals declared war against Afonja and he sought the help of his friend, *Salih Ibn Janta a.k.a. Alimi;* and together they embarked on a defensive war against Oyo.

FFK also demonstrated his historical naivety by saying Alimi killed Afonja and all his children.

The death of Afonja was not between him and his friend, Alimi, but between Afonja and the slave soldiers who were rampaging the city after the wars. After the death of Alimi, there was a confrontation between Afonja and the slave soldiers which led to the death of the generalissimo.

There are two points to be noted here. One, Alimi was no longer alive when the fight occurred between Afonja and the soldiers.

Two, all Afonja’s children were not killed; and that is why there is a noble family of Magaji Aare in Ilorin till date.

On the issue of *Masu Jamba,* The name was given to Ilorin by the Ibadans who closed the only root to the coast against Ilorin during the Ilorin-Ibadan wars as economic blockage to force Ilorin to surrender.

But, instead, Ilorin formed an alliance with Ijaye to navigate Abeokuta and down to Eko (the coast). When the Ibadans discovered this high intellectualism displayed by Ilorin, they said “Masu Jamba mani awon Ilorin yi.”

The name was as a result of Ilorin’s high thinking capacity and diplomacy to have access to economic valuables, and not as a result of betrayal.

Now to the appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari. Femi Fani-Kayode, you were talking about Islamisation and Fulanisation of Nigeria.

Are you talking about the handwork of your election-rigging and selfish father who was a slave of the North during his lifetime?

So, you are not insulting the global citizen, Prof. Gambari, but your late father. The demise of late CoS, Abba Kyari, left a vacuum in the government and the President exercised his power and appointed a trustworthy, competent and resourceful man in Prof. Gambari and you, once again, ignited your sense of madness to talk evil about an international public servant and lecturer of high dignity, who your father is not qualified to clean his shoes.

I am not surprised because, this your show of shame shows that you are not a bastard but a true son of your father.

It was your father that taught you how not to be responsible and the trick of stilling from public treasury.

Baba iya to bi omo buruku. When President Obasanjo thought he should future young people in his Administration and appointed you as the Minister of Aviation, what did you do? You stole the country dry plus the money laundry of 2015.

I can’t wait to see justice been served on your corruption case in court.

The country needs those monies that you stole to build hospitals and roads in your village.

If you need help, I can introduce you to a Counselor friend of mine and I will pay the bill. If you need psychiatric medical attention in an hospital, there is famous one in Lagos where you can be treated. I have decided to be taking you and others like you to cleaners anytime you show any sign of madness.

Least I forget, let me remind you of the song of betrayal that the Yoruba people sang for your father declaring him as a black sheep *“Fani-Kayode jegbese ote!, Fani-kayode Jegbese ote…..” If you are not careful your own song is under composition; Omo osan tinko pompo ba iya e.

A Feature by Adam Abdullahi (PhD)
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/enough-of-femi-fani-kayodes-madness-tackling-the-emergence-of-prof-gambari-as-new-cos/

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The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says the country imported 20.89 billion littres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol in 2019.

The NBS made this known in its latest report on petroleum products importations statistics for 2019 released on Wednesday.

It said that the country also imported 5.15 billion litres of Automotive Gas (AGO), and 128.11 million litres of Household Kerosene (HHK) in the period under review.

The NBS said 1.07 billion littres of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) were imported as well as 45.98 million litres of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO).

It said 526.06 million litres of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) were imported into the country in the year under review.

The bureau noted that zonal distribution of truck-out volume for 2019 showed that 20.58 billion littres of PMS, 5.16 litres of AGO and 270.22 million litres of HHK, 1.05 billion litres of ATK and 84.53 million litres of LPFO were distributed nationwide.

Source:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/nnpc-imported-20-89bn-litres-of-pms-in-2019-nbs/

Contrary to earlier predictions by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations (UN), and Bill & Melinda Gates that African countries may soon be the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus, the continent, even with its notorious poor health infrastructure, has recorded an absence of mass deaths or hospitalizations in comparison to foreign countries which seem to suggest something is ticking favorably for the continent.

UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) had in April predicted: “anywhere between 300,000 and 3.3 million African people could lose their lives as a direct result of COVID-19”

Meanwhile, Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in a CNN interview, said: “It’s going to be horrible in the developing world. And part of the reason you’re seeing that case numbers don’t look very bad is because they don’t have access to very many tests…Look at Ecuador. Look at what’s going on in Ecuador. They’re putting bodies out on the street. You’re going to see that in countries in Africa.”

All the projections pointed to a calamity of immense proportion that would hit Africa, leaving the continent worse off than other regions of the world.

But months since Covid-19 struck, Africa has recorded the least number of deaths. Latest WHO figures show Africa has the least number of cases (58,663) and deaths with (1,710) compared to the Americas with the highest numbers of cases (1,966,932) and deaths (118,799).

This is closely followed by Europe with 1,874 075 cases and 166,121 deaths; Eastern Mediterranean with 326,568 cases 9,841 deaths; Western Pacific with 167,546 cases and 6,730 deaths; and South-East Asia with 134,531 cases and 4,351 deaths.

The most impacted countries worldwide as of May 17, 2020 showed the USA topping the chart with 1,486,757 cases and over 90,000 deaths; Russia, 281,752 cases and 2,631 deaths; UK, 244,995 cases and 34,716 deaths; Brazil, 241,080 cases and 16,122 deaths; Spain, 230,698 cases and 27,563 deaths; Italy, 225,435 cases and 31,908; France, 179,693 and 28,111 deaths; Germany, 176,369 cases and 7,962 deaths; Turkey, 149,435 cases and 4,140 deaths; and Iran, 120,198cases and 6,988 deaths.

In contrast, in Africa, South Africa is worst hit with 14,355 cases and 261 deaths. It is distantly followed by Algeria with 6,821 and 542 deaths. Others include: Ghana, 5,735 cases and 29 deaths; Nigeria, 5,621 cases and 176 deaths; Cameroon, 3,047 cases and 139 deaths; and Guinea with 2,658 cases and 16 deaths.

While the argument that low testing indicates many African countries are yet to encounter the monster, former INEC chairman and President, Bioresources Development Group, Prof. Maurice Iwu, agreed that Africans might have some form of protection from the coronavirus.

“An issue is high humidity in most African countries, not just hot temperatures. Because of the density of the virus in tropical Africa, it cannot travel far. That means the recommendation of two meters of social distancing does not apply here because the virus cannot go far.”

Iwu also raised the diet factor. “Our food has more antioxidants. We take a lot of phytomedicines. A lot of our diets contain zinc, vitamin C and other antioxidants. People take all these on a daily basis without even thinking about it,” he said.

"There’s also the social exclusion of Sub-Saharan Africa. He explained: “We are excluded from so many socio-economic activities going on in the West. The number of people who travel from just Milan to New York on a daily basis far outnumbers the air travels in most parts of Africa. So, the socio-economic exclusion from the global picture has protected us from the quick spread of the virus through frequent business travels and inter-continental movements.”

Iwu further cited the issue of seasonal flu vaccines common in most European and American countries. “Most of these countries use flu vaccine. Once you take the flu vaccine and a new strain comes in, it will cause all the defence mechanisms to relax. This scenario makes most countries that use the flu vaccine more vulnerable to COVID-19,” he said.

Indeed, a recent study published by Chinese researchers from Beihang University (BUAA) and Institute of Economics, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, demonstrated how high temperature and high humidity reduce the transmission of COVID-19. The study was published in the journal SSRN.

The researchers explained: “The paper investigated the influence of air temperature and relative humidity on the transmission of COVID-19. After estimating the serial interval of COVID-19 from 105 hand-collected pairs of the virus carrier and the infected, we calculate the daily effective reproductive number, R, for each of all 100 Chinese cities with more than 40 cases.

Using the daily R-values from January 21 to 23, 2020 as proxies of non-intervened transmission intensity, we find, under a linear regression framework, high temperature and high humidity significantly reduce the transmission of COVID-19, respectively.

One-degree Celsius increase in temperature and one per cent increase in relative humidity lower R by 0.0225 and 0.0158, respectively.

“This result is consistent with the fact that the high temperature and high humidity reduce the transmission of influenza and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

It indicates that the arrival of summer and rainy season in the northern hemisphere can effectively reduce the transmission of COVID-19.” Also, investigation revealed that most countries in malaria endemic regions/Sub-Saharan African nations have lower cases and deaths from COVID-19.

According the WHO Malaria Map and COVID-19 Map, most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are endemic to malaria and are equally least affected by the coronavirus. In 2018, six countries accounted for more than half of all malaria cases worldwide: Nigeria (25%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), and Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Niger (4% each).

The WHO Malaria Map shows that more than 90% of countries worst hit by COVID-19 are not endemic to malaria including France, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Italy, and Iran among others.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that no sickle cell anaemia patient has died of COVID-19 because they are invulnerable to malaria. Africa is endemic to sickle cell anaemia.

In fact, more than 90% of all sickle cell anaemia cases exist on the continent. Another argument is that the BCG vaccination, which most Africans have, may be offering some protection.

On Wednesday, May 20, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres said that the developed world could learn lessons from the preventative measures taken by many African countries to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

“COVID-19 has made much slower progress (in Africa) than the predictions that were made at the beginning” of the crisis, Guterres said in an interview with RFL radio in France."

This has been largely thanks to the fact that “most African governments and organisations took in time very brave prevention measures which provide a lesson for some developed nations that did not,” he added.

There have been fewer than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths from 88,000 cases of the disease registered throughout the African continent, relatively low numbers compared to over 320,000 deaths worldwide. He said this while calling for a more regularised easing of debt repayments for the poorest countries.

Last month, G20 and Paris Club creditor nations agreed to waive most debt payments for the world’s poorest countries in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus crisis, but Guterres called this move “insufficient”.

“We need to prepare targeted debt relief and a more comprehensive, more structural approach to avoid at all costs in the future a series of bankruptcies that could lead to depression” on the global level, he said.

On Tuesday Mali became the first of the 41 African nations involved, to secure a moratorium in debt payments from the Paris Club of creditor nations.

https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/revealed-the-secret-behind-low-covid-19-infections-in-africa/

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Femi Falana (SAN), a Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist celebrates his 62nd birthday today.

A native of Ilawe, Ekiti state, Nigeria, born on 20th May 1958.

He attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Ilawe, between 1963 and 1968 and Sacred Heart Catholic Seminary between 1971 and 1975. He studied Law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) between 1977 and 1981. He was called to the bar a year after.

He contested and lost the governorship election of Ekiti State in 2007 on the platform of the National Conscience Party, a party he served as National Chairman in 2011.

Femi Falana (SAN) worked with the Oyo State Public Complaints Commission between 1982 and 1983. He proceeded to the Firm of Alao Aka –Bashorun & CO where he worked between 1983 and 1991. In 1991 he set up Falana and Falana Chambers (Formerly Femi Falana) and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2012.

Falana is renowned for providing free legal services to the poor and disadvantaged and had suffered long spells in detention under Nigeria’s past military dictators. His activism began during his days as a student leader in the university. He stood his ground against oppression from successive military governments. Barely a year after his call to bar; during his National Youth Service, he succeeded in securing the bail of 7 University of Ibadan students who were arrested and unlawfully remanded in prison custody for protesting for their rights.

The above incident led to his not being issued a discharge certificate by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) after his one year mandatory national service. It was in July 2001, 18 years after, that Falana petitioned the Justice Oputa-led Human Rights Panel (set up by the then Obasanjo administration) over the withheld certificate that same was subsequently released to him on live television at the commission’s sitting.

Falana (SAN) is a husband to Funmi Falana, a women's rights activist and father to Falz, a popular Nigerian rapper, singer, online comedian, actor. He is a member of the West African Bar Association; Nigerian Bar Association, Pan African Lawyers Union and International Bar Association.
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/femi-falana-turns-62/


THE STREET JOURNAL
Visit www.thestreetjournal.org for more news

Even with the recent unrest in various parts of the country, heightened level of insecurity, armed robbery, kidnapping and other menaces ravaging the country, not leaving out the novel Coronavirus, certain Police officers still make bribe collection a priority to themselves.

The Street Journal brings to limelight, the travails of the average Nigerian through the eyes of a road traveller who narrates his recent road trip experience:

“So I sneaked into Lagos last week or let's say I was close to Lagos.”

“Since I know the rule that only foodstuff vehicles should be allowed free pass, I opted to go along with one of the food stuff delivery driver.”

“The vehicle was loaded with food stuff; Yam flour, Cassava flour, Tapioca, Garri and nothing else. Saki to Alaga going towards Ado Awaye was what I will call a smooth ride.”

”The police as usual collects their regular N100 at every stop and then the real journey starts and the price increases as we pass Ado Awaye. N200 for the "regular police" or your vehicle will be towed to the station.”

“You know what that means; N10,000 or more for the sharing network will be more. SARS team officers illegal road fee start from N500 per spot.”

“The miitary men are not left out.
The driver needs to park the vehicle then go and settle the officers under the tree where they collecting fresh air.”

“At some point we met a team of policemen by the road side with a stand-by generator set to power the collection point by night.”

“The dedicated illegal collectors, I learnt they stay...

Continue reading:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/nigeria-today-passengers-diary/

As the first phase of the gradual easing of the lockdown comes to an end, President Buhari is expected to address the nation in a broadcast on Monday May 18,

This was disclosed on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on May 17 by the national coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Aliyu Sani.

The President is expected to announce to Nigerians whether or not the nation would go ahead with the second phase of the ease of the lockdown.

Source:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/buhari-to-address-nigerians-on-monday-may-18/

Bubu Galadima has said that the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha didn’t loot the country’s funds, but stashed them in foreign banks to avoid US sanctions.

According to TheNation newspaper, Galadima said, Abacha saved the monies abroad to save the country from an impending US sanction during his administration.

According to him: “I have a completely different idea about what you called Abacha loot. I know as a fact that at that time, Abacha with knowledge of key members of his government, who knew about this money being stacked out, he was rightly advised by some of his colleague presidents around the world.

Saddam Hussein was one of them. Muammar Gaddafi was one of them. They advised him that there was the likelihood that the US could sanction Nigeria and as such he should save money outside that could...

Continue reading:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/abacha-didnt-loot-the-countrys-funds-galadima/

Derrick Amponsah, a 27-year-old man, has been sentenced to seven years in jail for defiling and biting the clitoris of a 15-year-old student in Ghana.

According to myjoyonline, the incident, which took place on April 15, 2020, at the Manso Yawkrom, left the victim bleeding profusely.

The suspect pleaded guilty of two counts of assault and defilement after being arraigned...

Source: https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/man-bags-7-years-in-jail-for-biting-the-clitoris-of-an-underage-girl/

President Muhammadu Buhari has given the anti-corruption agencies the order to immediately commence full investigation into the activities of three of the ministers serving under him after receiving petitions from civil society and members of public.

According to an impeccable source who is privy to the matter, the letter to this effect was issued penultimate week ago.

The agency concerned have swung into action and commenced investigations of the ministers.
Barring any last-minute change in the investigation, the affected persons are to be invited this week for interrogation, according to the impeccable source.

The agencies involved- the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, confirmed to The Street Journal that they have received directives from the president to conduct a thorough investigation on the activities of the ministers.

However, they added that it’s not a new thing.
“It’s not a new thing for us to be directed by Mr President to investigate petitions from members of the public. Investigation does not mean they are guilty. You are aware of the Position of Mr President on the ongoing war against corruption. There is no sacred cow in the record of President Buhari on the fight against corruption and that is the Position of our chairman,” the source said.

When The Street Journal pressed our source further, he said, “we have gone far and you will hear from us soon, that’s the only thing that I can tell you for now”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has submitted the list of food vendors engaged in the school feeding programme to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the State Security Service, self-styled as the Department of State Services, DSS.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouk, said the government is spending N4,200 per household as a monthly COVID-19 intervention for 3,131,971 households, totaling N13,154,278,200.

The People Democratic Party, PDP has described “the use of innocent school children as cover to steal and funnel not less than N679 million daily to private purses as sacrilegious, wicked and completely unpardonable”,

“it is now clear that the APC-led administration’s school feeding programme has always been a scam, the claims to feed school children even when schools are closed are colossal racketeering taken too far.”

However, the Spokesperson of the ruling Party, All Progressives Congress, APC in his response, accused the opposition party of suffering from post-colossal defeat trauma handed to them by the APC.

“They always feel that the way they squandered Nigeria’s resources during the sixteen years they ruled Nigeria will still be the order of the day.

“They missed it big time. President Muhammadu Buhari has been in public service for almost 37 years without being accused of stealing one kobo from the public office, a record that makes him unique in this country and Africa in general,” he said.

Source: https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/breaking-buhari-orders-immediate-investigation-of-three-ministers/

General Edet Akpan, Former Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has passed away...

Source: https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/breaking-former-nysc-dg-gen-edet-akpanis-dead/

On Friday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, revealed that the sum of 792.1 million naira has been paid into the Eradication Support Account to curb the spread of the pandemic in the country.

He made the disclosure during the daily briefing by members of the PTF.

“I am pleased to report that the Office of the Accountant General has published details of...

Continue reading:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/n792-1m-has-been-paid-into-the-eradication-support-account-boss-mustapha/

Justice Tanko Muhammad, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, in a statement signed by him on Friday, has ordered the heads of various courts to immediately speed up the trial of cases and decongestion of custodial centres in the country.
He said there was a need to take the urgent measures in view of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Justice Muhammad, who is also the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, explained that the United Nations had called for the reduction of the population of prison inmates to aid physical distancing in such facilities.

According to him, records show that Nigeria has about 74,127 inmates at various custodial centres and 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs).

The CJN was worried that most of the centres were housing inmates beyond their capacities and the...

Continue reading: https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/chief-justice-orders-speedy-decongestion-of-prisons/

Fresh crisis is brewing in one of the glamorous and popular residential estates in Nigeria, Lekki over the performance of the Chairman of the Residents’ Association.

The Chairman of Lekki Residents Association (LERA), Mr. Kayode Otitoju has come under attacks over his alleged poor performance and nonchalant attitudes to the security and development of the estate.

The Street Journal reports that a group known as Lekki Stakeholders Forum, led by Chief Wole Akala, Mr. Paul Kogolo, and Mr. Kanny Awe, had berated Otitoju for mismanagement of the estate, especially during the lockdown period.

The crisis rocking the association hit a new low this week as Awe accused Otitoju of lies and living a double life.
The new crisis started when a resident, Ademola Folarin requested for a thorough appraisal of the stewardship of the LERA Chairman.
Mr. Otitoju used the opportunity to address issues which Lekki residents have continuously expressed concern over.
These include the abandoned Pavillion, the influx of beggars, street trading, loitering, kidnapping, robbery, phone and bag snatching among many other issues.
Awe criticised the report of the LERA Chairman, accusing him of presenting a false account of his stewardship as the estate prepares for another election.
The Chairman assumed office in June 2018 and his tenure is expected to end this month.
Awe said Otitoju ‘lacks leadership qualities and does not understand what his portfolio should be,’ stressing that someone with bad leadership qualities cannot and should not be re-elected into office.
“It is when we succeed in the choice of a good chairman to lead us, that we can have a good estate devoid of miscreants, beggars, hoodlums and all sorts of negative unsolicited tenants.”
“The report presented by Lera current chairman was full of lies. And by these lies he has shown us again how living a double life gets him...

Read more:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/were-no-longer-safe-in-lekki-otitoju-has-failed-lera-stakeholders-forum/

Nigel Seymour, 59, and his now-wife Rachel, 30, tied the knot without any clothes on in front of 40 naked guests and a naked officiator.

The unique couple met on a nudist holiday three years ago and enjoyed a whirlwind romance before getting engaged after six months of dating.

Nigel, a car restorer, proposed to Rachel in front of 400 naked strangers while on a trip. The holiday was organised by British Naturism; a society for people who prefer living naked.

Rachel, a care assistant, and her husband Nigel, decided they would be married while...

Read more:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/naked-couple-weds-infront-of-40-naked-guests-and-officiator/

Chinedu Nwedu, a 27-year-old man, was crushed to death on Sunday by a vehicle conveying two policemen who allegedly went to vandalize and steal petrol from a pipeline in Eziorsu, Imo State.

It was gathered that the two officers, led by one Sergeant Ikiira Sunday, came from Mopol 29, Awka, Anambra State and were hurriedly fleeing the scene of a breached pipeline, when their vehicle ran over Nwedu.

After a successful operation at the pipeline, the officers were accosted by military men at Egbema as...

Read more:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/policemen-crush-man-to-death-while-fleeing-after-vandalizing-a-pipeline/

A 200 level student of Physics department, University of Port Harcourt, Ifeanyi Dike and one Ugochukwu Nwamiro, has been sentenced to death by hanging over the murder of an 8-year-old girl, Victory Chikamso Nmezuwuba.

One is to be hung on his neck until he dies while the other is to be hung on the leg till he dies as well.

Dike, who was 23 years old when the incident happened in 2017, was apprehended with a sack containing Chikamso’s remains following a tip-off.

He was later handed over to the police for further investigations and prosecution. Dike reportedly removed the victim’s eyes, vagina, finger and tongue, after defiling and murdering her with the assistance of his cousin, Ugochukwu.

Few days after he was handed over to the police, Dike escaped from the...

Read full story:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/200-level-uniport-student-sentenced-to-death-for-raping-and-killing-and-cutting-off-vital-parts-of-an-8-year-old-girl/

Dr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari resumes as the new chief of staff to President Buhari.

He is currently being screened at the villa entrance.

Click to see video:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/breaking-ibrahim-gambari-resumes-office-as-new-chief-of-staff-to-buhari/

Ibrahim Agboola Gambari CFR, was appointed as the new chief of Staff on Tuesday, May 12, following the demise of Late Abba Kyari.

Mr. Gambari who was born in Ilorin, Kwara State on November 24, 1944 is a Nigerian scholar and diplomat. He attended King’s College in Lagos and subsequently attended the London School of Economics where he obtained his B.Sc. Economics degree in 1968 with specialisation in International Relations.

Gambari later obtained his M.A. (1970) and Ph. D. (1974) degrees from Columbia University, New York, USA in Political Science /International Relations.

Gambari began his teaching career in 1969 at City University of New York before working at University of Albany and later taught at Ahmadu Bello University, in Zaria, Kaduna State, the second largest university in Africa.

From 1986 to 1989, he was a visiting Professor at three universities in Washington, D.C.: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University and Howard University.

He has also been a research fellow at the Brookings Institution also in Washington D.C. and a Resident Scholar at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center, the Rockefeller Foundation-run center in Italy. He was accorded, honoris causa, the title of Doctor of Humane Letters (D.Hum.Litt.) from the University of Bridgeport.

He is a member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Society of Scholars. He was decorated with the title of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Government of Nigeria.

The new chief of staff was Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985. He later assumed the position of the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations and Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations from 1990 -1999.

In 1999, Prof. Gambari became the President of the Executive Board of UNICEF until year 2000 when he was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Special Adviser on Africa till 2005.

He later became the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Department of Political Affairs from 2005 to 2007.

Gambari was also appointed by the secretary-general of United Nations Ban Ki-moon and the chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur.

He was appointed the Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

On March 4, 2013, Ibrahim Gambari was named by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulFatah Ahmad, as the pioneer chancellor of the Kwara State University, making him the ceremonial head of...

Read more:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/background-and-accomplishments-of-the-new-chief-of-staff/

In a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, all schools were ordered by the federal government to go on an indefinite break, pending when it would be convenient for puplis/students to resume school.

However, some schools have resorted to other measures in order to carry on with educating their students amidst laid down regulations.

Some of these measures have been frowned at by parents of the students.

One of such is a parent who complained bitterly about the activities of her ward’s institution; Peace Ville School formerly known as Redeemers University.

The complainant who pleaded anonymity, when granted an interview by The Street Journal said:

“Good morning sir, please I want to confide in you about my kids school and I want you to be the parents voice to ogun government. My kids attend Peace Ville school in Redeem camp and the school was founded by Mummy GO, Pastor (MRS) Foluke Adenike Adeboye.”

“The school was formerly RUN (Redeemers university) but was later converted to a private school.”

“The school was founded 5 years ago. The issue we parents have with the school and the board is that they impose information and their plans on us and we parents don’t have a voice at all because the board has failed us.”

“The previous Head of School was sacked in Feb 2018 and another new Head of school we got late July 2018 is nothing to write home about.”

“Her name is Mrs Elizabeth Adebayo. She doesn’t care about the parents and how we get money for whatever they impose on us and within two weeks of her resumption, she blocked parents from writing on the Peace Ville school parents and teachers WhatsApp group. All she does is give us information and she doesn’t care about our reply even to the extent of stopping physical parents meeting in school last term.”

“The issue now is that she sent a notice to the WhatsApp group about two weeks ago to inform us parents to open zoom and do 2nd term revision for our kids. She also asked us to come down to school to get our children’s books mentioning that the exam will be done on zoom too.”

“The issue that brought me to speak out is that she sent messages to us that 3rd term resumes online today without consulting the parents and getting our own opinion.”

However, when embittered parents raised complains through their wards’ teachers about network fluctuations not being favourable for zoom and google virtual classes, this was the HOS’s reply:

“Good evening dear valued parents. This particular mini WhatsApp group was set up for the sake of teaching and learning not for parents complaints and concerns.

As no member of board is on this platform, if you have issues concerning your child’s learning, the teachers on this platform can address it.

However, if it has to do with management please speak to the HOS or any member of the board, Thank you.”

“The minster of Education, said no school/parents should do online school but the Peaceville school asked us to resume, and told us to pay school fees within two weeks without considering the parents that lost their jobs due to COVID-19 or parents that got half salary in march and were not paid a penny in April or parents who are Entrepreneurs.”

“Please be our aid and our voice to the minister.” She said.

Click to view Peaceville Newsletter: https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/parents-condemn-illegal-tuition-fee-introduced-by-redeemed-church-primary-school/

On Thursday, May 8, the judgment that convicted the former governor of Abia state, Oriji Uzor Kalu was nullified by a seven-man panel of the Justices of the Supreme Court.

Following the nullification, the apex court ordered the chief Judge of the Federal high Court to reassign the case for a fresh trial.

The Supreme Court set aside the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal high court, Lagos which sentenced Ude Udeogu and Senator Oriji Uzor kalu to 10 and 12 years imprisonment respectively.

The lead judgment was read by Justice Ejembi Ekwo who held that justice Mohammed Idris having been elevated to a Justice of the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to continue with the trial.

He further stated that the President of the Court of Appeal has no powers to issue a fait, asking Justice Idris to go back to trial court to conclude the trial.

“There is no provisions in the constitution that allows for a hybrid Judge.

“Section 396 of the ACJA is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution,” Justice Ejembi Ekwo ruled.

Read more:
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/breaking-apex-court-nullifies-orji-uzor-kalus-conviction/

On Thursday, May 7, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported that there are 381 new cases of #COVID19;

This was reported via the agency’s official social media accounts.

The Street Journal reports that it is the highest number of cases ever reported in a day since the breakout of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Also, for the first time since it’s spread into Nigeria, no new cases were reported in the Federal Capital Territory.

A breakdown of the cases:

183-Lagos
55-Kano
44-Jigawa
19-Zamfara
19-Bauchi
11-Katsinaj
9-Borno
8-Kwara
7-Kaduna
6-Gombe
5-Ogun
4-Sokoto
3-Oyo
3-Rivers
2-Niger
1-Akwa Ibom
1-Enugu
1-Plateau

3526 cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria
Discharged: 601
Deaths: 107

On Thursday, May 7, Akin Abayomi, commissioner for health, reported that at least 10 persons at the Lagos state government house in Marina have tested positive for COVID-19.

Abayomi who mentioned this in a tweet on Thursday afternoon said that the development made Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor, and Joke, his wife, to undergo another test for the disease.

He however said that the results came back negative.

The sample of Sanwo-Olu and his wife had been tested after governors were advised to go for test following their exposure to COVID-19 patients.

“I am glad to announce that #COVID19 Incident Commander Governor of Lagos State @jidesanwoolu and the First Lady of Lagos
@jokesanwoolu have consistently tested negative to #COVID19 following three consecutive tests conducted on them recently,” the tweet read.

“However, 10 persons associated with Lagos State House in Marina have...

Read more: https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/05/breaking-atleast-10-persons-test-positive-to-covid-19-at-lagos-govt-house/

The former Kano State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructures Development, Hon. Muazu Magaji, who was recently sacked by Governor Ganduje for celebrating the death of Mallam Abba Kyari who succumbed to Coronavirus has tested positive for Coronavirus.

Magaji announced the outcome of his Coronavirus test to his followers on Facebook, disclosing that he has been moved to one of the isolation centres Kano.

He wrote;

“This morning my NCDC test is out… I have been confirmed Covid-19 Positive… And have been moved to one of the state facilities…pray for us!

“Going through a historical moment of our time… A time we will either live to remember or we will be remembered having lived in! Whichever applies Alhamdulillah!

Thank you all!
It’s our collective fight!
Those you know and many that you don’t know are in this…. But together we will come out stronger.. Insha Allah!”

Source: www.thestreetjournal.org