The Department of State Services (DSS) cleared Monica Dongban-Mensem before the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended her as the president of the court of appeal, TheCable can report.
Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, had said in a statement on Sunday that the relevant security agencies are not done with screening her.
This, he said, was why President Muhammadu Buhari has not forwarded her name to the senate for confirmation but instead appointed her in an acting position.
However, an NJC insider told TheCable that before any judicial officer is recommended to the president for appointment, DSS clearance is a requirement in line with the procedural rules of the council.
Rule 4(2)(e) provides that before a candidate can be considered for appointment, there must be a “report by the Department of State Security on the suitability of the candidate for appointment to a judicial office supported by verifiable facts on which the report is based and, in addition, stating clearly whether the Department kept a file on the candidate and, if so, whether the file contains reports adverse to the candidate being appointed as Judicial Officer.”
The insider said Dongban-Mensem was cleared by the secret police before her name was forwarded to the president for appointment.
“Before NJC would interview anybody, they must have got back a report from DSS and their interview will be based on the report of the DSS,” the source said.
“In her case, she was cleared by the DSS and there was no adverse report about her.
“Her name was sent along with those recommended for appointment in the FCT judiciary and the president is supposed to sign all of them together. But they forwarded everything again to the DSS.”
A senior lawyer, who said he should not be quoted for fear of victimisation, told TheCable that the only role the president is expected to play, as stipulated in the law, is to forward the name of the nominee to the senate.
“If the senate clears her, the president will announce the appointment. If the senate does not, then the NJC will nominate someone else. The president is just a conveyor belt in the process,” he said.
“However, if there is an adverse security report, the president can only send the report along with her nomination to the senate, not take the law into his own hands. Let the senate reject her on the basis of the report.
“More so, Dongban-Mensem was screened and nominated over three months ago. What other screening is the DSS doing that it cannot complete in three months? Or is it the FBI or CIA that will do the screening? For someone who has already been screened and cleared before by the DSS, you have to suspect that there is a game going on.”
Shehu had said on Sunday: “The president has a duty to ensure that all such appointments meet the requirements of the constitution and protecting the supreme law of the land in this regard, he has an obligation to allow law enforcement and security agencies to do their work.
“Don’t forget our recent experience with ministers who were signed off upon and turned out as having not undertaken the compulsory National Youth Service, just to give you an example.”
TheCable had reported dirt-digging is being employed by some presidential advisers to get Dongban-Mensem disqualified and pave the way for Mohammed Lawal Garba, the judge who chaired the 2019 presidential election petitions tribunal that ruled in favour of Buhari.
A source said her national youth service record is being scrutinised, but TheCable has confirmed that she served in 1980/81.
A plot to disqualify Governor Godwin Obseki of Edo State ahead of the June 22, 2020, APC governorship primary in the state has been activated, Daily Trust reliably gathered.
The party has fixed the screening of the six aspirants that have purchased, filled and submitted nomination and expression of interest forms for Wednesday and Thursday.
The six aspirants are Gov. Obaseki, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Rt. Hon. Dr. Pius Odubu, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Hon. Osaro Obazee and Hon. Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen.
A member of the NWC of the APC said “dangerous” discrepancies had been uncovered in the forms submitted by Obaseki to the party’s secretariat in Abuja. The party chieftain who did not want to be named, said those who were against the candidature of the governor were going to capitalise on the discrepancies to disqualify him.
He said, “Except for divine intervention, Obaseki will not scale through the screening. This is because even we that have little sympathy for him, may not be able to help. The discrepancies are too glaring to be swept under the carpet.” Asked to disclose some of the discrepancies, he declined, saying “go and check on Monday at our secretariat, look at it, you may see some.”
The spokesperson of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, had on Friday, said the various submissions would be displayed at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja and in Benin City, the Edo State capital, for claims and objections today.
Issa-Onilu said, “We are calling on party members and indeed members of the public to assist the screening committee by scrutinising the information, credentials and documents provided by the governorship aspirants and availing the screening committee of counter and correct information, if applicable.”
Recall that controversies revolving around Obaseki’s certificate first started in 2016 when he contested for the governorship. Last week, three APC members instituted a forgery suit in Abuja against Obaseki. Speaking during a “thank you” tour to principal officers and ward leaders in Oredo Local Government Area of the state at the weekend, Gov. Obaseki punctured the claims on his certificate.
He said, “They say I forged my certificate. How can you forge the certificate of the University of Ibadan (UI)? I am not like those that burn buildings to cover up their certificate issues.” Contacted to speak on the discrepancies, Issa-Onilu said, “ It is only after the screening that one will know who has issues or not.”
NWC divided
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the plot to disqualify Obaseki has created a fresh division in the NWC. While some of the 21-member committee are with the plotters, others are not. The feud between the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Obaseki has also polarised other organs of the ruling party.
Obaseki had last week asked Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the nomination processes of the primary. The party has not acted on it. Some members of the NWC declined comment on the matter. However, one of them who spoke anonymously, said, “Oshiomhole does not have a personal role to play in the Edo primary, neither do the members of the NWC.”
Presidency mum
When asked about what the presidency will do to avoid the Zamfara, Rivers states scenarios in Edo State, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said, “As for what the president will do on APC matter in Edo, I don’t know. If I have anything to tell you, I will let you know. For now, I don’t have any answer.” Obaseki, last week, was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he presented his forms to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Apprehension at Edo Government House
Meanwhile, our correspondent in Edo reports that there is apprehension at the government house in Benin City as some staff are afraid that Obaseki may be denied the APC ticket. But a source at the government house told Daily Trust that although there was apprehension somehow, the governor was leaving no chance in his bid to get a second term.
The source said, “So, I can tell you that the governor is not a push over in the fight for the party’s ticket. He is doing underground movement to ensure that he gets the ticket.” Another source in Gov. Obaseki’s camp who only gave his name as Johnson, expressed optimism that the governor would get the ticket. Johnson said, “Obaseki is exploring all options, including settlement of the House of Assembly crisis, and also judicial option by challenging the waiver given to Ize-Iyamu. “Oshiomhole thought they will just push Obaseki aside, but they have seen that he is not a push over. He is exploring other options which I can’t disclose to you now.”
On Monday 25th, a day after Sallah, some dance videos trended on social media.
It seemed to have started after one Aisha Falke, the owner of Northern Hibiscus, a page on Instagram, saw the video of a woman dancing for her husband.
The challenge, known as #danceforhusbandchallenge, was widely shared with some thrilled by it and others showing stiff reservations, saying it’s not in the culture of northern Nigerian women. Daily Trust gathered that the challenge required participants to record a video of a wife dancing for her husband in a large and beautiful parlour.
The woman must wear a bubu lace with bangles on her hands. Also, the husband would be seated and the song of Jaruma by Hamisu Breaker will be played. All efforts to reach singer Hamisu Breaker for his comment proved difficult because his line was unreachable.
Reacting, Kannywood actress Saratu Gidado, known as Daso, who shared many of the videos on her Instagram page, said on social media, “This year’s Eid we have seen love on social media.
Do you think I should also share my own video?” she asked and tagged actors like Mansurah Isah, Baballe Hayatu and Abba el-Mustapha. Another actor, El-Mustapha said, “If she is not showing this kind of love to her husband, she can lose him.” In a different video, Mansurah wrote, “This man is used to attending wedding ceremonies.
The way he is spraying money, you will understand.” However, a prominent Facebook user, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, said one of his former bosses divorced his wife after she shared their video. He said, “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihirrajiun.
I just realized that one of my former bosses divorced his wife for releasing to the public, the #Dancingforhusbands challenge last night. “The most unfortunate thing is that it’s a marriage of 19 years with three kids; she has been the only wife in the house.”
The Editor-in-Chief of Daily Nigerian Newspaper, Jafar Jafar wrote, “though I don’t subscribe to this kind of nonsense, but if this is actually the reason, I think it’s undeserved.” The comments continued, with some supporting the husband’s actions while others criticised it.
Reacting to the development, Aisha Falke said on Instagram: “We are giving too much energy to things that don’t affect our lives in any way. “The energy from yesterday was misplaced if you ask me.
Where is this energy when grown men rape babies? “Where is this energy when our young girls are being molested with false hopes of marriage? “Where is this energy when our young teenage girls are being divorced per second?” In a video she posted, Falke said she did not start the challenge, adding that the purported issue of divorce was actually a lie.
Policemen in Nigeria have been advised against repeating the action of United States cop, Derek Chauvin, which led to the death of a black American, George Floyd.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Fiminhan Adeoye, and the Chief Lecturer of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Jide Johnson, stated this on Thursday during a workshop for men and officers of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad at Alausa, Ikeja.
The workshop was themed, ‘PLAN Principle: Proportionality and De-escalation of Crisis’.
Adeoye told the policemen that their actions could affect the entire police population.
He also reminded them that their primary responsibilities were to protect lives and property, including preventing crime.
The police boss warned that inappropriate use of force could violate the right of citizens.
Johnson, who was the guest speaker, said aside from Chauvin’s wife divorcing him and his children bearing the shame of his action, the United States was embroiled in crisis because of the cop’s action.
He said, “You must understand that your action or inaction has the capacity of causing collateral damage. Look at the case of the American policeman (Chauvin). It was just one person and three others that were aiding and abetting. And we have seen the damage it has done all over America in terms of lives and property that have been lost and the spillover effect globally. And in terms of the anger it has raised among the public towards the police.
“It is important for the policeman to know that he is accountable to himself, his family, the institution, and God. The actions I am taking, what consequences will they lead to in terms of whether I am in line with the principles that guide my operations or not? Was it necessary for that police officer to kneel on the man’s neck after he had been arrested? Now, his wife has divorced him, his children will live with the consequences of his action forever, and his name has been written in black gold forever.”
The police in Taraba State have said they have no hands in the episode that led to a soldier attempting to commit suicide.
A soldier, whose name was given as Ali, had climbed the Welcome to Taraba Roadblock Tower -over 24fts high, and threatened to jump down and die.
Speaking in Hausa and pidgin, he was saying: “I want to die, if soldiers do not come to my rescue. Allow me to jump down and die.” But the youth who gathered at the place begged him: “Please do not jump. We don’t want you to die.”
For over an hour, residents of Jalingo struggled to save him from committing suicide.
The army have accused the police of brutalising the suicide attempting soldier.
But police spokesman, David Misal, asked: “If the police had actually brutalized the military man, where did he get the strength to climb the high tower? Why didn’t he report officially?
“If the police manhandled a soldier and he got injured, was he supposed to go into the streets and be threatening to kill himself?,” Misal asked.
Ali was seen on the high altitude Tower, attempting severally to jump down, but the people tried to make sure they saved him if he would jump. But they said they preferred he changed his mind and did not jump.
Witnesses said the soldier’s behaviour attracted their attention when they spotted him on top of the tower pulling and throwing down the items of clothing on him.
“We noticed someone climbing the tower and pulling off his clothes. We got there to discover he was someone we know. He was left with underpants and an inner vest and poised to jump. We went close and began to beg him,” an eyewitness said.
A close look revealed he had an injury on his left kneecap, which he bandaged. ’ A source told The Nation that Ali, fond of riding military motorbikes in town, has mental illness and the army are contemplating relieving him of his job.
After several hours, dozens of soldiers arrived at Roadblock and asked him to come down. He did and was taken in the military truck they brought.
It was gathered the soldiers later confronted the police, accusing them of slapping their colleague. But the police denied the allegation.
Another high-ranking soldier said the army were investigating the incident to find out whether Ali is mentally ill.
The Police Command in Niger has arrested two sexual predators operating in the state: Peter Ayemoba, and Ezekiel Yonana.
Ayemoba of Rafin Sanyi area in Suleja Local Government Area, was arrested for allegedly having carnal knowledge of his two daughters.
Yonana was nabbed for raping an 85-year-old woman.
ASP Wasiu Abiodun, Command Public Relation Officer (PPRO), disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Minna on Thursday.
Abiodun said that Ayemoba sexually assaulted his daughters, now aged 20 and 23, between 2013 and 2019.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect usually threatened to kill them and commit suicide if they denied him carnal knowledge,” the PPRO said.
He also said that police detectives attached to Kagara division in Rafi Local Government Area have arrested one Ezekiel Yonana, 25, for raping an 85-year-old woman in Tukunguna village.
Abiodun said the incident occurred on May 23 at about 23:00 am while the old woman was asleep.
According to the PPRO, the suspect, a resident of Unguwar Ya’u Tunguna village criminally trespassed into her room and threatened to kidnap her for ransom.
“The suspect forcefully had canal knowledge of the 85-year-old before she was rescued by her grandson.”
Abiodun said that the two suspects had confessed to the crimes and would be charged to court.
He appealed to residents to volunteer information about suspected criminal elements in their midst.
The federal government says the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the globe has attacked all its revenue sources.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this Wednesday while reacting to a question on the complaints from ministries, departments and agencies that they had ran out of resources to fund projects. Mohammed said: “We are not just Nigerians, we are all witnessing what is going on in the world today.
“When the budget was passed in December last year, we all celebrated that the budget was passed for the first time in a good time to allow for us to plan.
“We were very hopeful that this year we will be able to achieve a lot.”
The Ekiti State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the killing of a 78-year-old grandmother and widow by persons suspected to be ritual killers in Ikere Ekiti, Ikere Local Government Area.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, described it as “unfortunate and mysterious.”
Abutu said investigation had begun into the case and that the Criminal Investigation Department had been directed to take over the matter.
He added that the corpse of the woman had been recovered and deposited in the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital in Ikere Ekiti.
Sources in the locality had earlier told newsmen that the woman, Mrs Sabianah Aranilewa, was not only killed, her blood was drained and vital organs removed by the ritual killers.
Also confirming the reports, the deceased’s son, Mr Eyitope Aranilewa, said his mother had earlier gone missing on Friday, May 29, around 6: 45 a.m while washing clothes at her residence along Moshood road, Odo-Oja area of Ikere-Ekiti.
He said his mother’s friend referred to as Mrs Ojolo first raised the alarm and organised a search party, but efforts to find her proved abortive until 4.00 p.m. when her corpse was found inside a stream with her throat slit and other vital organs removed.
“On that fateful day, I got a distress call that my mother was missing. It was my mother’s friend, Mrs Ojolo who resides within a short distance from her shop that raised the alarm when she did not see her in the shop
“The matter was immediately reported at the police station, but it was not long that information came that her body had been located at a place not far from the home.
“She was slaughtered like a goat and the corpse dumped in a shallow stream, flowing through the back of her home,” he said.
The lawmaker’s position followed accusations that she was undermining Mustapha, Mrs Buhari, former governor, Jibrilla Bindo, Nuhu Ribadu, and other top party members in a bid to control the APC in the state.
Senator Aisha Binani representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly has told Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and wife of Nigeria’s President, Aisha Buhari, that she controls the All Progressives Congress in the state.
Binani, the only female senator from Nigeria's Northern region, also told other party stalwarts in Adamawa that she was leader of the APC in the state.
The lawmaker’s position followed accusations that she was undermining Mustapha, Mrs Buhari, former governor, Jibrilla Bindo, Nuhu Ribadu, and other top party members in a bid to control the APC in the state.
Speaking on her behalf, one of Binani’s aides, Mauludu Usman Ibrahim, said, "She is second to none in the hierarchy of our party given her current status as the only APC senator in the state.
"Therefore, to attempt to subjugate her to someone else is simply laughable; meaning she is naturally the leader of the party."
Reacting on the issue, Mohammed Bappare, speaking on behalf of the Mustapha/Bindo group said, "Binani wants to be governor in 2023, that is why she is fuelling the leadership crisis."
Lanre Mojola, the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, has disclosed that the Commission is set to begin the Register-To-Open initiative of the state government.
Mojola, while speaking recently at a press conference organised to inform the general public about the state government’s plan towards gradual reopening of the economy, declared that in line with the directives of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the guidelines towards reopening of the economy, especially, religious and docial centres have been developed and consultations are ongoing with all stakeholders in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
He noted that upon registration, a verification process will be carried out to ensure adequate space management is put in place across the various centres to guarantee that social distancing, hygiene and safety measures are observed across all religious and social centres.
According to him, the governor has set up a committee, comprising of the representatives of the Ministries of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Home Affairs; Physical Planning and Urban Renewal; and Economic Planning and Budget, headed by the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, to ensure that the process is seamless.
He stated that the Commission has also met with various stakeholders in the Hospitality and Tourism sectors and will be engaging more stakeholders in the coming weeks on the best approach to the gradual reopening of the economy and registration of entities within the various sectors.
Mojola assured that the process is not tedious and time-consuming and will consider all religious organisations, event centres, gyms, night clubs, bars, lounges, spars, cinemas and restaurants, among others.
The Director-General, however, reminded that the only way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is through collective efforts, urging all stakeholders to cooperate with the Government by adhering to all safety guidelines issued by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the State Ministry of Health.
The family of Chief Imam of Kabba, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Ejibunu, has confirmed he died of coronavirus.
Kogi State Government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have been at loggerheads over COVID-19 cases in Kogi.
While NCDC insisted two cases were confirmed, the Government insisted the state is coronavirus-free.
But the family of Ejibunu told Kogi Government “to stop denying the obvious.”
Chief Tai Ejibunu, Obatebise of Oweland, in a statement by the family, said the Chief Imam exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 because he eventually tested positive after referral from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja.
In the statement titled, “The COVID-19 Case Infection: Matters Arising, the family said,: “Our attention has been drawn to the series of discussions going on concerning Covid-19 index case in Kabba and the identity of the index case.
“I wish to affirm, on behalf of Ejibunu family, that the Chief Imam of Kabba, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Ejibunu, was down with flu some few days back and he had to be hospitalised at the Specialist Hospital in Kabba.
“Further medical attention was sought at the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja, as the flu did not abate after some days.
“At the FMC, he was referred to the National Hospital in Abuja and the test conducted on him by the NCDC showed that he was Covid-19 positive.
“The test conducted on one of his sons who had been with him since came out negative.”
It added: “The family would have come out to speak on the matter but we were not comfortable with the ding dong game going on between the NCDC and the Kogi State government.
“The family is concerned about the wellbeing of other and we wish to confirm that Covid-19 has found its way sadly into our community and the state.
“Therefore, no need for Kogi State government to deny the obvious.
“We would like to stress that the Chief Imam, of recent, had never ventured outside Kogi State by way of travelling outside the state. So, the ‘virus’ could have been contacted within.
We wish to advise our people to please abide by the protocols emplaced by the NCDC and play safe.
“The family is cooperating with the Kogi State government and the NCDC to stem the spread.
“This evening, contact tracing and testing of family members of the Chief Imam had begun.
“What we need from our people is empathy and no need for the acrimonious exchange of views and counter views.
“May God save Oweland and her people in particular and the state in general.”
The founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Ejigbo, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned that President Muhammadu Buhari might lose another “special aide” if he does not pray.
In a series of prophecies, Ayodele urged the president to be active in governance and pray against losing another aide. Buhari, in April, lost his chief of staff, Abba Kyari, to complications arising from the coronavirus disease.
The cleric said the new chief of staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, would step on toes, forcing politicians to plot his removal. He said: “Buhari should wake up, he doesn’t have a grip on his government.
There will be crisis in Buhari’s government and he must be prayerful so as not to lose another special aide.” “Chief of Staff will step on toes because he wants to change so many things. The politicians will also frame him up.
Prayers need to be made so as not to see another death in the villa.” On security, Ayodele said the service chiefs needed to be changed “because they are one of the reasons we still have security threats by insurgents. Once they are replaced, insurgency will stop.”
He stated that Nigeria’s economy is in shambles because the country is in big debt and that the government is only lying to the citizens.
Major airports in the country will in the “next few days” roar into life after weeks of inactivity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
The airports are the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja; Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja; Aminu Kano Arport, Kano and the Port Harcourt Airport, Choba, Rivers State.
The Federal Government on March 16 placed a travel ban on 13 countries, including China, United States and Italy that had recorded over 1,000 cases of Coronavirus.
On March 13 it shut all airports for one month and later extended it by two weeks. On May 6, the government further extended the airports’ closure by four weeks until June 7.
The decision to commence flights at the airports, according to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is to avoid chocking the “system.”
NCAA Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu stated this at a virtual event organised by the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ART) titled COVID-19: The Challenges and Opportunity for Nigeria’s Aviation Value Chain, During and Post.
Nuhu said the NCAA worked with representatives of airlines and ground handling companies before forwarding a proposal to the Minister of Aviation for approval.
The NCAA boss said: “We may resume domestic operations with four or five airports and we hope to expand as we get better. We don’t want to rush everything at the same time and get it choked up….
“Every money is important and we cannot achieve the two-meter physical distance. We are hopeful in the next few days we can resolve those issues and allow the airlines to commence operations.
“We have made our suggestion and recommendations and we are awaiting feedback from the Ministry of Aviation.”
Nuhu said air transport must be safe and not become part of the ways of spreading Coronavirus. He stated that physical distancing was an issue as discussions were still on on leaving the middle seats in an aircraft vacant.
Chairman, Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, urged the government to provide intervention for local carriers.
He said such intervention should be specific in order to enable the airlines retain their workers.
Onyema however disagreed with plans to leave the middle seats of aircraft free as that could further affect the revenue of the airlines.
He said: “The world is on break and nothing is happening. The authorities have reeled out things and these things come with a huge cost. How will airlines manage them and still be able to pay about 37 charges.
“I do not want free money that I cannot account for. This is not an opportunity to ask for money to buy new planes. In fact, intervention should be for the work force. I have over 3, 000 staff members at Air Peace. These people’s livelihood are endangered and we must do everything possible to keep their jobs.
“We should be asking the government for specific things that would help retain jobs. Job retention should be first and foremost.”
NCAA has however released COVID-19 protocols as approved by the Federal Ministry of Health for the aviation industry.
The protocols are for Nigeria-based crew operating international flights.
The crew members are now required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and observe Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures for the duration of their flights.
Nuhu, who announced the approval of the new protocols in a letter to airline operators, airports and other service providers, added that the crew members would not be quarantined but would undergo mandatory testing for COVID-19 every 14 days at the expense of their employers.
According to the letter, the new protocols replace the current practice where Nigeria- based international flight crew members are quarantined for 14 days upon their return to Nigeria.
Nuhu added that in the new protocols the airliners must ensure among others, orientation and sensitization of their crew on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures.
The protocols also state that airlines must have adequate stock of PPE, minimum 70 per cent alcohol-based hand sanitizers and Universal Precaution Kits (UPK) on board every aircraft.
The letter reads in part: “Onboard the flight crew will request passengers wash their hands after using the lavatory, apply disinfectant spray in lavatory every 60 minutes during the flight and maintain a safe distance between passengers and themselves; avoid direct physical contact and serve only pre-packed meals to passengers.
“Flight deck crew must wear non-medical face masks and gloves but can remove face masks when the cockpit door is closed.
“They must also ensure safe removal of gloves after performing specific tasks and avoid touching their face and eyes with unclean hands.”
Members of the ad hoc committee set up by the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians over coronavirus pandemic in China clashed over an interim report by the panel which blamed citizens in the country.
The members had especially become divided over the report as some of them protested being excluded from the process until the report emerged at the meeting on Wednesday.
At the plenary on April 28, 2020, the House had set up the panel made up of the committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Affairs, Human Rights and Inter-Parliamentary Relations following the consideration and adoption of a motion entitled, ‘Maltreatment and institutional racial discrimination against Nigerians living in China by the government of China.’
Chairman of the joint committee, Mr Buba Yakub, in his welcome address, had said the meeting by the panel on Wednesday was to consider the interim report from the virtual interactions by members.
It was entitled, ‘Draft report of the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Inter-Parliamentary, Human Rights and Diaspora on the investigation into alleged maltreatment and institutional racial discrimination against Nigerians living in China by the Government of China.’
It was jointly signed by Yakub as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Zakariyau Galadima, Chairman, Inter-Parliamentary; Tolulope Akande-Sodipe, Chairman, Diaspora Affairs; and John Dyegh, Chairman, Human Rights.
Yakub said, “After a series of meetings through virtual conferencing, we are physically meeting today to deliberate on the interim report prepared by the secretariat of the joint committee, which constitutes the various clerks of our collaborating committees and their staff.
“By this meeting, we have the opportunity to tinker with the interim report, enhance it and own it for our onward presentation to the honourable House when we resume plenary next week.”
According to the chairman, Nigeria and China have enjoyed diplomatic and other relations that predate Nigeria’s independence and span various spheres of life.
He said, “It is, therefore, disturbing that very negative news materials, especially on social media, in the very recent past have continued to emanate from a country with which we enjoy all of what I have mentioned above.
“This is not, however, an attempt to validate or accord the status of truth to all that we saw or continue to see on the social media in relation to the treatment meted out on Nigerians visiting or living in China, but to use these materials as a basis to evaluate the tension that has resulted in the agitation for governmental action on the issue. This is what we are here to discuss today. And as expected, the interim report before us has presented us with some form of direction on the issues at hand.”
Members of the panel, who were given copies of the report, studied the content and raised concerns.
For instance, Mr Henry Achibong argued that Nigerians should not always be blamed when maltreated abroad. He said Nigeria had always been lenient with the Chinese in the country and there had never been a report of their maltreatment.
Achibong made reference to the 15 Chinese ‘doctors’ who were said to have come to Nigeria to support the fight against COVID-19 but were nowhere to be found while “nobody is talking.”
Another member, Princess Onuoha, corroborated Achibong, while some members also criticised the report, saying that more work had to be done on it.
As the lawmakers engaged themselves in arguments and counter-arguments, Yakub ruled that the meeting be held behind closed doors.
In the report, a copy of which our correspondent obtained, the lawmakers said information was obtained from the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, the Consulates in Guangzhou and Shanghai, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Chinese Government through the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria.
The report read, “The committee, having received reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Chairman of Africans Living in China and other neutral groups, summarised its findings as follows:
“That the genesis of the entire crisis was as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China. Faced with COVID-19, all countries, including China, took containment measure to prevent further spreading. The measures adopted by China suddenly exposes some groups of Nigerians who were staying in China without valid documents.
“Majority of Nigerians involved in the crisis with the Chinese authorities are ‘over stayers’ who resisted mandatory testing because they did not want to be identified as illegal immigrants. They were further denied the right to rent accommodation or hotel accommodation after the 14 days’ quarantine.
“It was further gathered that majority of those causing the problem were long-time ‘over-stayers’ who used the opportunity to foment trouble and distract ongoing health procedures, which applied to both Chinese and other nationals.”
The report further added that while illegal immigrants were provided hotel accommodation at their own expense until after the quarantine/evacuation period, Nigerians with genuine resident permits were allowed to return to their previous accommodations subject to landlords’ agreements after the 14 days’ quarantine.
The committee, therefore, “urges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to further engage the Chinese authorities on the possibility of regularising the papers of undocumented Nigerians living in China, which will enable them continue their legitimate businesses.”
Yakub later briefed journalists to say that the committee had yet to present any report, stating that the final document to be laid before the House should be considered as such.
Ondo State Government has lifted the ban on religious gatherings, in churches and mosques.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made the announcement at a press briefing on Wednesday.
He said churches will only operate on Sundays, while mosques will open for worship only on Fridays.
Akeredolu however emphasised that all the precautionary measures against the spread of COVID-19 such as the use of face-maks and social distancing should be strictly observed.
In the same vein, the state has recorded its second death from the virus in Ifedore LGA.
The deceased was said to have died at home.
There are now 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ondo State, with two deaths, 19 discharged and three still on admission.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is expected to step back as the president of African Development Bank after the board supported an independent probe as requested by the U.S.
The U.S. treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin rejected an internal investigation that cleared Adesina of allegations of favouritism.
Bloomberg, quoting two persons familiar with deliberations on the matter reported that Africa’s largest multilateral lender decided on the inquiry after several governments backed Mnuchin.
Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland are among countries that wrote to the AfDB to back Mnuchin’s demands for professional outsiders to look into the allegations, sources told Bloomberg.
Adesina has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, even before the internal probe, now rejected.
But as things are, he may have to step back as the bank’s helmsman until the probe is completed.
Unidentified whistleblowers accused Adesina, 60, of handing contracts to acquaintances and appointing relatives to strategic positions.
The proposed investigation comes three months before the bank’s annual meeting, at which Adesina is the sole candidate to extend his five-year term.
The AAA-rated lender’s 80 shareholders in October pledged to provide funding that will help to more than double its capital base to $208 billion.
Mnuchin last week wrote to the AfDB to express “deep reservations” about the integrity of the lender’s ethics committee, after it exonerated Adesina.
The scope and detail of the allegations are serious enough for a further inquiry to ensure the AfDB’s shareholders have confidence in the bank’s leadership, Mnuchin said in the May 22 letter addressed to Niale Kaba, the chairwoman of the bank’s board of governors.
The U.S. is the AfDB’s biggest shareholder after Nigeria.
The demands for an independent probe are aimed at ensuring that if the allegations are baseless, the process of reaching that conclusion is public and transparent, one of the people said.
Shareholders of the AfDB include 54 nations on the continent and 27 countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia.
It has an AAA rating from Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings.
Prior to Mnuchin’s letter to the board, African leaders including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, expressed support for Adesina and commended him for his efforts to help secure funds for Africa to deal with the fallout from the disease.
U.S. criticism of the bank’s internal processes follows comments by World Bank President David Malpass in February that multilateral lenders including the AfDB tend to provide loans too quickly, and, in the process, add to African nations’ debt problems.
The bank rebutted the statement, saying it undermines its governance systems, impugns its integrity and that there is no risk of “systemic debt distress” on the continent.
In March, the lender issued a $3 billion social bond to help African countries deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The bank also launched a $10 billion crisis-response facility for African nations.
School Feeding Programme: Why FG Is Sending Raw Food To Parents At Home — Ngige
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has explained that the reason the Federal Government decided to feed the pupils under the government’s school feeding programme while they are still at home as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic is because the food items were perishing.
Ngige, who spoke with reporters at Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State argued that even while the pupils are at home on the forced holiday, they still need to be fed, coupled with the fact that the food had already been budgeted for.
He said: “The school feeding homegrown programme is necessary as it makes it possible to feed a child with one quality meal daily for the development of his or her mental health.
“Second, those producing these food items would be enjoying a boost in their business. The cooks are also generating employment as they hire many hands to assist them.
“Besides, the food suppliers had been mobilised when the schools were in session and they bought the food, most of which are perishable. The cooks are also being paid whether they cook or not.
“So, in the wisdom of Mr President, he felt that these foods should be sent to the parents at home so that the continuity of its benefits will not be derailed.”
According to him, the distribution of the food items was being done through the state governments, adding that even the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was not directly involved in the distribution.
He added that although he is from Anambra State, he does not even know how it is being distributed in the state.
“The way it was designed was such that the state government should appoint a focal person who directs the affairs. This is because it is the state governments that run the schools and they know the number of pupils in their schools.
“They also have the data and addresses of the parents,” the minister said.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has forfeited her May 2020 salary to secure the immediate release of five inmates who could not pay for their fines at the Kuje Correctional Service.
She made the donation while felicitating with the inmates as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Eid al-Fitr.
Aliyu in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Austine Elemue, on Tuesday in Abuja said the donation would further go a long way to decongest the Correctional Service already overcrowded with inmates in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
She assured the inmates that the FCT administration would take further legal steps to see to the decongestion of the Kuje correctional service.
Aliyu described the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, as a God-fearing man and a man with the heart of gold who believed in good governance.
“I will not only support the reduction, but I will also lend my voice in the reduction of prison inmates by picking up some bills.
” I will carry out the campaign and speak to well-meaning Nigerians because you cannot leave the burden of good governance to the government alone.
“We know that some of you are awaiting trial, we know that some have not been tried at all, but provided there is a law, we will not be lawless.
” We will go by the law and get in well-meaning Nigerians and pay up the fines. This will also go a long way to reduce the number, besides government pronouncements.
“Government pronouncement as we all know do not come easily in every nation.
” If government pronouncement comes very easily, then definitely, the name correctional centre will be misplaced. We know Mr President recently spoke our minds when he spoke about the need to decongest our prisons.
“And I know my minister, a God-fearing man, and a man with a heart of gold, he will certainly send the message across. God willing, FCT administration will make moves to decongest our prison-based on merit.
” I in my own capacity, I stand here personally on this Sallah day, I want to donate my salary for the release of 5 inmates,” she said.
Aliyu affirmed that the correctional service had been positioned to refine the inmates in the rebuilding of a better society, noting that they could make the best out of the experiences gained at the service.
“There are times in our life that we erred, but to err is human, and to forgive is divine.
” There are times in our life that we are put to test, sometimes, we pass the test, sometimes we fail.
” For various reasons, we may have found ourselves at the correctional centre. But you know what, you can make the best out of it.
“As we appreciate you, we pray for you to come out to be better citizens that will give us a Nigeria of our dreams.
” Somebody else cannot give us Nigeria of our dreams and you cannot give us Nigeria of our dreams from outside, you can only give us Nigeria of our dream from within and I know you are already at the preparatory stage.
” When you leave here either by amnesty or whatever pronouncements, you can only become better citizens,” Aliyu stated.
Earlier, The Comptroller, Correctional Service, FCT Command, Mustapha Atta, who commended the minister for her visit, expressed displeasure over the number of inmates awaiting trial.
Attah revealed that 70 per cent of the inmates are on awaiting trial list, adding that Kuje correctional service with a capacity of 560 inmates, now accommodates no fewer than 866 inmates.
He appealed to relevant authorities to work toward the decongestion of the correctional service.
The minister donated 250 packs of cooked jollof rice, 500 bottles of soft drinks, 500 bottles of table water, 1000 face masks, 50 bags of rice, 50 cartons of spaghetti and 100 cartons of indomie noodles to the inmates.
Brent, the oil against which Nigeria’s crude is priced, has hovered around $35 per barrel for about one week, raising concerns of a possible hike in petrol price in Nigeria any time soon.
An analysis of global oil trading rates on Monday showed that Brent crude traded at $35.61 per barrel as of 9.32am Central Standard Time.
Further findings showed that the commodity appreciated by $0.48 when compared to the previous day’s rate, although crude oil in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries basket maintained a flat rate of $28.43 per barrel on Monday.
However, global oil figures showed that Brent Weighted Average in the past four days was higher than the commodity’s rate on Monday, as the BWA was put at $36.32 per barrel.
This represented a 2.34 per cent rise in price, indicating a positive movement in the commodity’s cost as more countries begin a gradual relaxing of the COVID-19 lockdown across the globe.
Operators in Nigeria’s downstream sector told our correspondent in Abuja that the increase in oil price was good for the country in terms of foreign exchange earnings.
They were, however, quick to state that this would cause an upward movement in petrol price at fillings stations.
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency had crashed the pump price of petrol from N145 per litre to N125 per litre on March 19, 2020, as it declared the commencement of a market-based pricing regime.
PPPRA further reduced the price to N123.5 per litre in April 2020 due to the crash of crude oil price, as the commodity had traded below $30 per barrel for several weeks.
“But considering the recent rise in crude oil price, it is highly possible to see an upward movement in the price of petrol soon,” an impeccable source with the products pricing agency stated.
The official, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, noted that the agency’s boss had earlier explained that henceforth, the cost of petrol would be determined by the international market price of crude.
“Price will naturally be adjusted to reflect a true picture of market fundamentals at any particular period, high or low,” the PPPRA’s Executive Secretary, Abdulkadir Saidu, had stated while answering questions on the new petrol price regime in Nigeria.
On April 28, 2020, The PUNCH reported Saidu as saying that Nigerians should be ready to pay higher or lower prices for petrol following the liberalisation scheme currently in place.
The PPPRA boss, however, noted that efforts were being made to develop alternative fuels to petrol by deepening the utilisation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Compressed Natural Gas as auto gas to help cushion the effect of petrol price increase.
The National President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said market forces would determine petrol price and this could result in an increase in the petrol cost.
Responding to whether there would be an increase in petrol price going by the upward swing in the cost of Brent, he replied, “Well, the reality is that market forces will determine petrol price.”
Operatives of the Imo State Police Command are on the trail of three brothers, Patrick Obieshieke, Chinonso Obieshieke and John Erieka for allegedly killing their blood brother, Remigius Obieshieke, over money realised from the burial of their late mother.
Remigius was brutally murdered after a disagreement erupted on how the money realised from the burial of their 75- year-old mother, Angelina Obieshieke would be shared.
According to the state police spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, the incident happened last Friday at their father’s house in Umuolowoshe in Umuoshochie Autonomous Community in Obowo council area of Imo State.
Ikeokwu said: “On the 22/05/2020 at about 0600 hrs, upon credible information, operatives of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Obowo, moved to Umuolowoshe, Umuoshochie Autonomous community, Obowo and it was discovered that the above named persons killed one Remigius Obieshieke during a disagreement arising from money realised for the burial of their mother late Angelina Obieshieke, 75 years old.
“Meanwhile effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, while investigation has commenced in ernest”.
......says mines, minerals still on Exclusive List
The Federal Government and its agencies, over the weekend, mounted fresh pressure on the government of Osun State to hand over 27 persons caught in illegal mining of gold and have been in the custody of the state in the last three weeks.
The pressure is coming on the premise that the Osun State Government has no power to detain any illegal miner, as no law in Nigeria donates such power to them under the 1999 Constitution.
The illegal miners, which included 17 Chinese nationals were apprehended in the gold fields of Osun State on May 3, 2020 and detained by the authorities of that state. However, the Federal Government has insisted that it was illegal for Osun State to handle the investigation of the suspects or their prosecution.
Director General, Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Dr Abdulrazaq Garba, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, observed that incidents of illegal mining, especially by foreign nationals has been condoned for too long in Nigeria and there was the need for the operators in the mining sector to play by game by the rule.
Garba lamented that lot of revenue has been lost by government through these illegal activities which has also resulted in a high level of environmental devastation and health hazards in the mining communities.
He said while the arrest of the illegal miners was a step in the right direction, Osun State government ought to hand them over to the Federal Government for prosecution as prescribed by the laws of Nigeria.
“If these foreign nationals are found to have contravened our laws, they must face the full wrath of law. Don’t forget illegal mining and export of our minerals is an offence; so also is entry and staying in the country illegally. The laws of the land must be allowed to take its course.”
“Ordinarily, if an illegal miner is arrested by the state government, such a miner ought to be handed over to the Federal Government for prosecution in line with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 (Chapter 5 – Offences and Penalties) and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations (Section 20 – Sanctions).
“Mining can only take place with Federal Permit and permits are obtained after fulfilling the necessary terms.”
Director General, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, Engr Obadiah Nkom, who also corroborated the position of the NGSA, argued that the 1999 Nigeria Constitution, placed Mines and Minerals under the Exclusive legislative list while the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and its Regulations spells out its operation.
Crisis appears to be brewing in the National Assembly over the alleged tenure elongation for the Clerk and other senior staff by the immediate-past National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), it was learnt yesterday.
The Nation gathered that the condition of service for the National Assembly staff was amended close to the end of the 8th National Assembly, following the passage of a Bill titled: “Retirement age and conditions of service.”
The Bill as passed shows that the years of service for civil servants in the National Assembly was moved from 35 to 40 years while the mandatory retirement age upped from 60 to 65 years.
It was learnt that the content of the Bill as passed by both chambers during the 8th National Assembly was being implemented without having been signed into law by the President as required by law.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, and other senior officers of the National Assembly are expected to remain in office for another four to five years, despite attaining the legal age for retirement, according to the details of the Bill.
It was claimed that the Clerk was born in June of 1961 and allegedly got into the Civil Service in February 1985, but he is now expected to stay for additional five years based on the amended service rules of the National Assembly and despite already attaining the compulsory 35 years in service.
The Clerk according to one of the documents, was alleged to have been the Legal Officer of the Ajaokuta Steel Company in 1985, before he transferred his services to the National Electric Power Authority in 1989.
He was said to again allegedly moved his services to the National Assembly in February, 1991 as a Principal Legal Officer on Level 12.
A source argued that the Clerk ought to have proceeded on retirement leave last year, but has remained in office despite the fact that those who joined the Civil Service in February 1985 had already retired.
“You were all part of the 8th National Assembly and we are sure you witnessed how this amendment was secretly effected increasing the retirement age of National Assembly staff from 60 to 65 years and years of pensionable service from 35 to 40 years, contrary to civil service rules,” the source added.
It was further learnt that the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who are allegedly not comfortable with the situation have requested the chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Ahmed Kadi Amshi, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the amendment of the service rules. The Commission would meet after the Sallah festivities over the request of the Presiding Officers.
The Director of Information, National Assembly, Emmanuel Agada, in his reaction, said the amendment of the service rule is not a Bill and does not require a presidential assent to be effective.
He noted that the rules applicable to civil servants don’t apply to National Assembly staff. He said the staff are regarded as public servants, adding that the Parliament is an independent arm of Government.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, on Saturday disclosed that the state had enlisted 600 patients for the planned chloroquine clinical trials.
The state discharged 45 more patients on Saturday.
Omotoso said an independent board, which would be inaugurated, would monitor the process and give necessary advice to the state government on the progress of the trial.
Omotoso said, “In summary, we will be looking at about 600 patients. The trial will go on till we recruit the required number. There will be an independent Data and Safety Board. The board can advise that study be discontinued if the statistical evidence of the usefulness of a drug is overwhelming and in which case it becomes unethical to withhold it from other groups.”
Also, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the state was better able to handle COVID-19 given the experience it had with Ebola six years ago.
“That was also epic in Lagos and it gave Lagos some understanding about how serious infectious disease could be managed. We have an Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba and even after the Ebola case, we had some international grants and over the last two to three years, we have built what we call a biosecurity lab level four, which can match any of its kind in the world,” he said.
Saudi Arabia will quarantine banknotes and coins it receives from local and foreign sources for a period of 14 to 20 days as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority.
In a promotional video explaining the procedures, SAMA said: “We have taken precautionary measures to isolate and sterilise both paper and metal currencies, whether coming from inside or outside the Kingdom, by isolating them for a period of 14 days and up to 20 days, depending on where it has come from.
“Banknotes and coins will undergo a special treatment mechanism to ensure they are safe to use,” according to SAMA.
“Then they will be sorted by machines automatically in accordance with the authority’s stringent quality standards, with dirty or unfit notes destroyed immediately.”
SAMA said that the currencies would be placed in specific cages where sterilisation could be applied, in addition to sorting all banknotes to ensure their quality and cleanliness.
SAMA said it has directed financial institutions to take the necessary precautionary measures to ensure currencies are sanitary.
Lagos- The Federal Government has finally bowed to international pressures by taking over the right to evacuate stranded Nigerians in Canada from Air Peace.
The government also promised the stranded Nigerians that it would make necessary refunds to the affected Nigerians based on the agreement clause between it and the Nigerians who had wanted to return to the country with Air Peace.
The evacuation was in the continuation of evacuation exercise, which has been ongoing since the outbreak of Covid-19 virus pandemic.
A letter from the Nigeria High Commission in Nigeria, dated May 20, 2020 with the reference number: NHC/OTT/ADM.56/I with the head: Update on the Flight Postponement,’ and made available to our correspondent, said that the government opted out of the Air Peace arrangement because the Canadian Government expressed reservations concerning the granting of the necessary clearance/landing permit for Air Peace to fly into Canada, due to safety concerns.
The government in the letter agreed that Air Peace airfare was the most convenient and cost effective of all the airlines contacted for the airlift of Nigerians back to the country, but the concern of Canadian Government compelled it to cancel the agreement with the airline.
The letter read in part: “The mission therefore engaged a number of airlines and eventually came up with an arrangement and pricing structure with Air Peace, which no other airline was able to match. You will recall that in our Public Notice of 12th May, 2020, the High Commission announced that the Canadian government had expressed reservations concerning the granting of the necessary clearance/landing permit to Air Peace to fly into Canada, due to safety concerns.”
“Kindly be informed that after protracted engagement, the Canadian Government, has unfortunately reverted with what appears to be a final refusal. As a result, the Air Peace Limited arrangement is hereby cancelled.”
“During the negotiations with Air Peace Limited, the issue of refunds was addressed in the event that the flight did not hold die to unforeseen circumstances and as such, everyone will get refunds for their tickets, from Air Peace Limited as agreed.”
“In the meantime, the Nigeria High Commission is working assiduously to secure an alternative arrangement to get you home as soon as possible, safely and at the least cost, further updates would be communicated in due course.”
Independent had reported last week how the Canada High Commission in Nigeria was responsible for the delay in evacuation of Nigerians from the North American country back to the country.
A source close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had, confided in our correspondent last Friday that the commission in Abuja attempted to defer the Nigerians from Air Peace to Ethiopian Airlines, even at over 100 per cent high airfare, compared to the Nigerian airline’s airfare for the same exercise.
Air Peace was to evacuate Canadians who are stranded in Nigeria to Canada, while it was also positioned to fly into the country the Nigerian citizens in Canada on its return leg.
This arrangement, it was gathered did not go down well with the commission, which had already engaged Ethiopian Airlines to evacuate its citizens from Nigeria, while Nigerians in Canada would be brought back into the country on the return leg by the East African carrier.
Ethiopian Airlines has been responsible for the evacuation of Canadian citizens from different parts of Africa to the North American country since the exercise began over two months ago.
A document obtained from the Canada High Commission directed that passengers should pay $2, 500 to Ethiopian Airlines; while Air Peace charged $1, 134 for the same exercise.
THE Federal Government has accused governors of wilfully breaching the protocols designed to guide the country out of Coronavirus spread.
Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 control Chairman Boss Mustapha warned on Thursday of the danger in allowing large gatherings.
He reiterated that the ban on gatherings of more than 20 people remained banned.
Mustapha, who spoke at the daily briefing by the PTF in Abuja, emphasised the “need for states to diligently implement and enforce compliance. Particularly, I underscore the need for the governors to provide personal and strong leadership, carry the policy of community ownership to the grass-roots and create deeper awareness.
“Governors are also advised on the decision taken by some of their colleagues to permit large gatherings as such decisions could inadvertently endanger the elderly, the sick and those with underlying factors during such gatherings. The strong advisory from the PTF is that large gatherings beyond 20 persons remain prohibited and should be adhered to”.
The SGF also announced that the PTF would work with the National Assembly. The House of Representatives has inaugurated an Ad-Hoc Committee on COVID-19.
“The PTF on COVID-19 is pleased to inform you that in order to underscore the seriousness attached to this COVID-19 pandemic, the House of Representatives has set up an Ad-Hoc COVID-19 Committee.
“In deepening the existing collaborative spirit, we shall work together with the legislature to be more productive and add value to the overall delivery of service to Nigerians on behalf of whom we hold our responsibility in trust”.
Many governors have opened up their states for religious gatherings. These include Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Borno, Zamfara and Bauchi, among others.
But, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has advised Muslims to observe the Edi-el-Fitr prayers at home in accordance with the PTF-issued guidelines.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mohammed Bello has resisted pressure to open worship centres in Abuja.
Apart from Cross River State which has no virus case yet. The active cases in some of the states reopening the worship centres are: Ebonyi (12), Borno (122) and 24 deaths, Zamfara (, Kano (690) with 36 deaths and Gombe (41) and three deaths.
Defending the governors’ position, Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar, told State House reporters at the end of the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa that “the issue has been resolved because, at our last meeting with Mr President, the President was clear that the Governors’ Forum and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 should meet and agree on steps to be taken, and it has been discussed today and commitment has been taken by today’s NEC that the Governors’ Forum, the Presidential Task Force would work hand -in -hand to see to the end of COVID-19.
“A committee was formed today that will look up to the eventual opening up of the economy. Sometimes you will see a different approach by different states, that doesn’t mean that there is loggerhead between the states and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
“Some peculiar situations require some peculiar solutions and that is why at times you see such and it will always be discussed with the Presidential Task Force so that we will always be on the same page”.
The PTF has also raised the alarm that Nigerians have started stockpiling chloroquine in large quantities.
Mustapha said: “Through the surveillance system set up by the PTF, we have received reports that Nigerians have been purchasing Hydrxoychloroquine in large quantities. We wish to reiterate that this drug has not being certified for use in treating COVID-19 in Nigeria by the relevant health and pharmaceutical authorities.
“Self-medication of any kind, is fraught with the danger of increasing risks of avoidable casualties. We, therefore strongly warn against self-medication. If you are sick, please seek medical advice and if you are confirmed positive, kindly self-isolate in an approved facility. The COVID-19 is highly infectious and dangerous”, he said.
He noted that the PTF had consistently answered questions and provided explanations on the categories of persons and services exempted from some aspects of these guidelines particularly as it relates to restrictions on inter- state movement and curfew.
According to him, for the avoidance of doubt, essential workers including medical personnel, journalists, fire service personnel, telecommunications workers, are all exempted.
He said the Inspector General of Police has further clarified the categories of essential workers in alignment with the guidelines and has issued instructions to security agents to work on the approved exemptions.
“With this clarification, we sincerely hope that the persistent complaints of harassment by these categories of essential workers, especially medical personnel and journalists would be put to rest so that we can harmoniously work in battling this pandemic.
“The PTF COVID-19 urges all essential workers to go about their legitimate businesses carrying with them valid means of identification and to exercise courtesy in approaching security personnel. I sincerely apologise for the inconveniences”, he said.
Youths in Ibi-Ade in Ogun Waterside council area on Thursday took to the streets in protest against police officers they said were responsible for the death on Wednesday night of a pregnant woman whom officers enforcing Covid-19 lockdown delayed from giving birth.
The youths threatened to burn down the divisional police headquarters in the town. The woman, yet unidentified, was due for childbirth but police officers enforcing lockdown at a checkpoint stopped the motorcycle conveying her to hospital.
A witness said the woman was already bleeding but her ride was delayed for hours before the officers allowed the motorcyclist to continue.
She died shortly after arriving hospital from suspected blood loss, sparking outrage among the community’s youths. The traditional ruler, Alarege of Ibi-Ade, Oba Kola Rahimi and some eminent personalities in the community helped pacify the youths.
A youth in the community, Festus Ogun, said, “The true situation is that, the woman was in labour and she was already bleeding profusely and being taken to the hospital.
“On the way to the hospital, the motorcycle carrying her was stopped by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, she was delayed for hours and it was that delay that led to her death.”
The spokesman of the Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident, but absolved police officers of culpability in the woman’s death.
“The officers stopped them and asked questions; they said that the woman is bleeding, so the officers asked them to go to the hospital. About 10 or 15 minutes later, the woman died during labour.
Maybe she had lost a lot of blood before they decide to take her to the hospital. ” She hasn’t even given birth before she died.
So, those people came back and said that the policemen that stopped them at the checkpoint delayed them from getting to the hospital earlier, saying that they killed her. How is that possible?”
Politics › Abubakar Tsav Dies At 81 by ijustdey(op): 3:55pm On Jun 08, 2020
, Kano (690) with 36 deaths and Gombe (41) and three deaths.
