Five male friends have allegedly raped an 18-year-old girl in the Narayi community of Kaduna State.

Our correspondent gathered that while two of the suspects were arrested, the police had allegedly refused to apprehend the others.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the families of the two arrested suspects had been mounting pressure on the victim’s family to drop the case and reportedly offered her mother N15,000 each as damages.

A member of the victim’s family accused the police of aiding the cover-up of the case.

She said, “On April 27, 2020, one of the victim’s male friends called her to come and meet him somewhere. When she got there, she met two other girls and six boys.

“One of the boys had previously asked her for an intimate relationship and when it was time for the other two girls to leave, the victim also stood up to go, but one of the boys asked her not to leave yet that they wanted to talk to her on behalf of the young man asking her out.

“She trusted them and stayed back; they offered her alcohol, which she declined, but they coerced her into taking it after which she lost consciousness. Five of the boys raped her, while the sixth kept threatening his friends to stop or he would report them, but he never did.

“After they had raped her, the boys dropped her around 7pm by the bridge close to the house and called her friends to come and get her, alleging that she had been sleeping since morning. As soon as she got home, she was taken to hospital, because she was unconscious and all necessary tests were conducted and the matter was reported at the Barnawa Police Station that same night.

“The case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department and since then, the police have not arrested the three other boys or invite their parents to the station. The police are making no effort at all to arrest the suspects or question their parents.

“The police have been frustrating the case to the extent that the mother of the victim is already contemplating dropping the case. The parents of the two boys in custody are offering N15,000 each as damages for what their sons have done to the victim and the police have decided to release them on bail.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, who denied the claim that the police were frustrating the matter, said a manhunt had been launched for the other suspects.

He stated, “The case has been transferred to the state CIID for discreet investigation and so far, we have arrested two suspects in connection with the case. We have launched a serious manhunt for the three fleeing suspects. We are on top of it; we are working to ensure that we arrest the three remaining suspects.

“The other two suspects are in custody and investigation is going on; this is a rape case, nobody will compromise it; we are police officers and we know what we are doing.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589271016/friends-gang-rape-teenager-police-accused-cover

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is the current chairman of a group he called the Nigerian Association of Short People.

The diminutive governor said with the equally short Osinbajo holding the position of the Vice President, “we are represented at the highest echelons of governance.”

El-Rufai posted the message on his Twitter handle, @elrufai, while reacting to a video of an interview he granted a comedian popularly called Teju Babyface in 2010.

In the video shared by Babyface via @Tejubabyfacetv, El-Rufai had while admitting his diminutive stature, jokingly claimed that he used to be the Secretary-General of Nigerian Association of Short Men.

Amidst loud laughter from the audience, he recalled how while growing up, pretty ladies he had eyes on were always taller than him.

He, however, concluded that he was at the end lucky to find his wife who he said he is taller than with an inch.

While replying to the video on Monday, the governor wrote, “Yes…..I remember this @Tejubabyfacetv interview in 2010…..how time flies….HE VP Osinbajo is the current chairman of the Nigerian Association of Short People….so we are represented at the highest echelons of governance! Thanks Teju. – @elrufai.”

The message elicited a lot of comments from the governor’s followers on Twitter, most of who commended him for being hilarious.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589274566/rufai-osinbajo-now-chairs-our-group-association

[img]"https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/12033754/El-Rufai.jpg"[/img]

The National Human Rights Commission said on Sunday 11 persons were killed extra-judicially by the men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and others during the second phase of the lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The figure adds to the 18 extra-judicial killings the commission had stated occurred during the first phase of the lockdown to make 29 of such deaths in the five-week period.

The executive summary of the latest report of the NHRC covering the period of the second phase of the lockdown, spanning from April 13 to May 4, 2020, was released by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu.


Ojukwu stated that the commission received 104 human rights violation complaints during the second phase of the lockdown, which was one less than the 105 complaints received by the commission during the first phase of the lockdown from March 30 to April 13.

He said the commission received the 104 complaints from 27 out of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, namely Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Jigawa, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Edo, and Enugu.

Others are Ekiti, Delta, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Borno, Bayelsa, kogi, Benue, Anambra, Kaduna, Gombe, Zamfara and Rivers states.

According to him, forms of rights violation complaints received by the commission included extra-judicial killings, violation of right to freedom of movement, unlawful arrest and detention, seizure/confiscation of properties, sexual and gender-based violence, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and extortion.

He said of the 11 documented incidents of extra-judicial killing, four were recorded in Abia State, two in Delta State, one in each of the five states of Niger, Jigawa, Lagos, Anambra and Rivers.

“The report further shows that out of the 11 deaths, the Nigeria Police Force was responsible for seven deaths, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, non-state actors and the Abia State Task Force on COVID-19 were responsible for one death each.

“Investigation was still ongoing as of the time of the report to unravel the perpetrator of the extra-judicial killing that occurred in Jigawa State.”

The commission commended all law enforcement officers “who have shown restraint and professionalism in the face of provocation by members of the public during the lockdown”.


https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589185594/police-nscdc-others-killed-during-lockdown-says

Former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has advised that Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s measures to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus will prove counterproductive if he fails to give his policies a human face.

Senator Abe said the war against the pandemic was fundamentally about collective humanity and, therefore, must be fought on strictly humane and just terms.

Abe, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his media aide, Parry Benson, said the demolition and auction of private property, the closure of sources of survival for Rivers citizens without due consideration to their means of sustenance in the name of the battle against COVID-19, were measures that would prove counterproductive in the long run.

He stated: “I am constrained to say these few words on the worrisome development in my dear state, Rivers.

“Lockdowns should come with clear provisions for the sustenance of the people, particularly the vulnerable population (the young, the old, the sick and the infirm) and exemptions must be made for emergency and essential services, such as foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, press, medical care, security services, electricity, telecom, fuel supply and others,” Abe noted.

Abe, a chieftain and factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election, asserted that Rivers’ war against COVID-19 at the present rate “runs the risk of dividing the state into two distinct camps; those who support the governor and will justify, glorify and applaud any action taken by the Rivers State Government no matter how callous and ill-advised, and those who oppose the governor and will oppose every action of the state government no matter how well thought out or well-intentioned the action may be”.

He argued that in the face of seeming excesses, everyone will be compelled to choose one side or the other, and the state would suffer.

“This need not be so; there is still time for the Rivers State Government to reconsider its strategy, and understand that this is a scientific war against a virus and all of us will need to be involved.

“At this rate, the government may win the lockdown battle and lose the war. COVID-19 is going to be here for some time and we need the goodwill and cooperation of the majority of our people to win the war against this virus.

“True victory will be when we survive united in utmost solidarity and our economy rebounds as we hope for recovery and prosperity.

“This war is fundamentally about collective humanity, it must, therefore, be fought on strictly humane and just terms,” Abe cautioned.

Meanwhile, Governor Wike has announced a temporary lifting of the total lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The governor said the decision to temporarily relax the total lockdown on the two LGAs was to enable residents in the affected areas to restock their homes with foodstuffs and medicines.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1589204857/abe-calls-wike-humane-and-just-covid

A 27-year-old man, Adeniyi Akinde, on Thursday, appeared before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Ife for allegedly pouring hot water laced with pepper on his wife, Deborah.

PUNCH Metro had reported that the incident happened in Oke-Owu area of Modakeke and left the victim with bodily injuries.

The police prosecutor, Glory Ona, said the defendant committed the offence on April 14, 2020, around 12.30am in Modakeke.

According to him, the offence contravenes Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

Akinde, however, pleaded not guilty to the one count pressed against him.

Magistrate Joseph Owolawi admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned further hearing in the case till June 4, 2020.

Similarly, a teenager, Christopher Emmanuel, was arraigned for the theft of two fowls and a generator.

The 19-year-old allegedly committed the offence when he entered the house of one Rafiu Bakare and stole the items.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588925878/osun-man-court-for-pouring-hot-water

The Peoples Democratic Party has again accused the All Progressives Congress of resorting to deceit, propaganda and concealment of fraud, to divert attention from its complicity in an attempt to re-loot the repatriated $311m Abacha loot.

It said the APC became uncomfortable as soon as the plot by its leaders and a cabal in the Presidency to plunder the recently repatriated Abacha loot was uncovered.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, in Abuja, on Thursday.

The party also challenged the APC to respond to the alarm raised by the First Lady Aisha Buhari that the N500bn Social Investment Programme was a scam, noting that the bulk of the money never got to the poor.

Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP, however, noted that it is not surprising that the APC is again serving as the mouthpiece of corruption and sleaze, given that it holds the medal in deceit, propaganda, concealment of fraud and as a sanctuary of corrupt individuals, international scammers, certificate forgers and looters of repatriated funds.

“Instead of seeking to divert attention, the APC should face the issue and respond to the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who alerted the nation that the APC administration’s N500bn Social Investment Programme is a huge scam and that bulk of the money did not get to the designated poor; a fraud for which the APC remains indicted.

“Our party further challenges the APC to respond to the report of the US Department of State, which exposed the plot by the APC administration to divert $100m of the repatriated fund to the chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

“Moreover, it is on record that the APC has not been able to point to any project executed by its administration despite the stream of repatriated money channelled to it.”

It urged the National Assembly to rise to the occasion by ensuring that the repatriated $311m is appropriated and its use was properly monitored.

The PDP also said it would not be deterred by plans by the APC to engage hack writers to denigrate it for exposing the plot to re-loot the Abacha loot.

“It is even more distressing that officials of the APC administration are already compromising the sovereignty of our nation by attempting to transfer the powers of appropriation of our national resources from our National Assembly to foreign powers, just to conceal the plot to siphon the money,” he added.

In response, the Buhari Media Organisation dismissed PDP’s claims. Chairman of the BMO, Niyi Akinsiju said, “Governance is serious business but the PDP is trying to make it look like a joke. This administration has administered recovered loot with utmost responsibility and it has not wavered.

“On the comments made by the First Lady, Mrs Maryam Uwais, who was in charge of the SIP gave a robust response and she was commended. The model used to reach the poorest of the poor has since been incorporated into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

“Nigerians are still demanding that the PDP give account of the N5bn recovered from the Abacha loot when it was in power for 16 year.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588931498/pdp-accuses-apc-cover-abacha-loot-spending

The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday rejected the decision of the Federal Government to peg the new ex-depot price of fuel to N108 per litre.

The party insisted on a new pricing template which it said must accommodate a pump price of between N60 and N70 per liter.

This, it said, would better reflect the crash in the price of crude oil and petroleum products in the international market.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbodiyan said this in a statement he signed and issued in Abuja.

The PDP described the N108 depot price as fraudulent and a far cry from the appropriate pump price template that should not exceed N70 given the prevailing situation in the international oil market.

He said, “The PDP notes that the N108 ex-depot price with a projected additional N9 per litre Expected Open Market price is therefore completely unacceptable to Nigerians.

“Moreover, the Federal Government has continued to shroud the indices and parameters it is using in determining domestic prices of petroleum products in secrecy. Such parameters obviously cannot be in tandem with the appropriate situation in the global industry.

“The PDP laments that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government has continued to shortchange unsuspecting Nigerians since the beginning of the year by refusing to end its corrupt interference and allow market forces to determine pump price of fuel to reflect current global prices.

“Our party insists that the Federal Government has no reason to continue to fleece Nigerians particularly in the face of worsening economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic which it had also failed to effectively handle.

“The PDP demands that the APC Federal Government should immediately reduce both the ex-depot and pump price as well as surrender the billions of naira accruable as overcharge from the inappropriate fuel pricing since the crash in crude oil price and channel the funds as palliatives to Nigerians.”

A response was still being awaited from the APC media team as the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, had not respond to enquiries as at the time of filing this report.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588927310/pdp-rejects-n108-per-litre-depot-petrol

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Nigerians will pay much higher tariff for power in 2021, going by promises made by the Federal Government to the International Monetary Fund while seeking the $3.4bn emergency financial assistance recently approved for Nigeria.

The Executive Board of the IMF approved the Rapid Financing Instrument, which the Federal Government plans to use to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, on April 28.

A Letter of Intent, jointly signed by the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and addressed to the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, indicated that the Federal Government made a number of promises to the fund in order to secure the financial assistance.

One of the promises, or commitments, which the government made in a bid to assure the executive board of the IMF of its readiness to reposition the Nigerian economy after the pandemic, is that Nigerians would pay full cost-reflective tariff for power in 2021.

The Federal Government also told the IMF it intends to cap electricity tariff shortfalls to N380bn in 2020.

“We are also advancing in our power sector reforms – with technical assistance and financial support from the World Bank – including through capping electricity tariff shortfalls this year to N380bn and moving to full cost-reflective tariffs in 2021,” the Federal Government said in the letter.

On January 4, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved an increase in electricity tariff for the 11 electricity distribution companies in Nigeria.

It, however, could not implement the tariff increase after labour unions, lawmakers and other Nigerians kicked against the move, which would have commenced on April 1, 2020.

Although the NERC-reviewed tariff was not cost-reflective enough as required by power distributors, it showed that Nigerians would definitely pay more for electricity if it had been implemented.

This, therefore, implies that once the government enforces the payment of full cost-reflective tariff, in line with the promise to the IMF, power users might pay far higher than what was projected in NERC’s recent tariff review.

The commission had explained that its directive on the January 2020 tariff regime for different Discos superseded the earlier one issued on the subject matter.

According to details of the review published by the commission in January, for the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, residential customers in R3 category who were paying N27.20 per unit would have been paying N47.09, had the regime started on April 1, 2020.

The customers would have paid N19.89 more per unit.

The NERC review also showed that for Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, customers on the R3 category who were paying N26.50 per unit would have paid N36.92 per unit from April 1.

The new rate amounted to an additional N10.02 per unit.

In the same vein, going by the NERC’s stalled tariff plan, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company residential (R3) customers who were paying N27.11 per unit in 2015 would have paid N48.12 per unit from April 1, 2020.

The new rates were, however, put on hold after customers kicked vehemently against the development.

But going by the Federal Government’s promise to the IMF, an implementation of cost-reflective tariffs in 2021 means that Nigerians would pay even much higher for power than the rates which NERC had planned to charge from April 1.

Also, in the Letter of Intent, which was dated April 21, the Federal Government also hinted at further increment in Value Added Tax as part of plan to increase its revenue to 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

The planned revenue drive also includes hike of excise fees and removal of tax exemptions.

“First and foremost, we will revert to our government’s planned medium-term fiscal consolidation path – which includes increasing revenue to 15 per cent of GDP through further VAT reforms, rise in excises, and removal of tax exemptions – once the crisis passes,” the letter said.

The Federal Government also assured the IMF that it was working to reduce its budget deficit to under three per cent of GDP in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The Federal Government also assured the fund that it was committed to eliminating recourse to central bank financing of budget deficits by 2025.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588669606/promises-imf-nigerians-pay-higher-electricity-tariffs

[img]https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588669606/promises-imf-nigerians-pay-higher-electricity-tariffs[/img]

A northern group, Arewa Liberty and Awareness for Justice and Emancipation (ALAJE), has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to pick a new Chief of Staff from the North-East sub-region.

According to the group, this is to ensure that the sub-region would not shed tears twice: losing the ex-chief of staff, Mallam Abba Kyari and losing the seat.

President of the association, Alhaji Sanusi Ahmad Dahiru stated this while speaking with newsmen on Monday, in Bauchi.

He said even though many people were pushing for the post from different parts of the country including North-East, they want President Buhari to pick a successor to late Abba Kyari from the zone.

“Because of the increasing number of contenders for the office of the chief of staff, from the six geo-political zones of the country, it was reported in the media and speculated that people like ministers, Attorney General and Minister for Justice Malami, Lawal Daura, former National Security Advisor, Baba Gana Kingibe, Buba Marwa, Ministers of Information, FCT Minister, former military administrators, present senators, and some serving governors to mention just a few are being pushed by their supporters for the position,” he said.

He said many of them are allegedly lobbying to see that they are appointed and ‘we feel it is good for Mr President to think of the North East as the most backward region in the country and pick the new CoS from the region.

“We want to advise the president that it would be suicidal for him to appoint anybody sacked by the administration or a person that has put the administration in many squabbles no matter how close he is to the president.”

He said it was sad that stories in social and online media alleged that Buhari had appointed education minister Mallam Adamu Adamu as chief of staff and advised mischief-makers doing so to desist from doing something that didn’t happen in the best interest of the country.

When asked who among the contenders was their best choice for the position, Dahiru said the group wants the president to pick a highly dedicated and committed aide whom he can saddle with official and unofficial assignments.

“The person must be a trusted aide, that never makes any attempt to bring shame to the president – a candidate that never hides his love and loyalty for Mr President within or outside,” he said.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588707613/arewa-group-begs-buhari-pick-new-chief

[img]https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588707613/arewa-group-begs-buhari-pick-new-chief[/img]

A video director, Clarence Peters, on Monday, took to his verified Instagram page to give an account of the circumstances surrounding the alleged electrocution of a dancer, Love Divine, aka Picturekodak, in his studio in the Omole area of Lagos State.

Peters is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the state police command for the video vixen’s death.

Peters’ girlfriend, Jenifer Alegieuno, aka jbeautifull, and other concerned persons, including a rapper, Illbliss, had protested the decision of the police to detain the director and some of his crew members as part of investigation into Picturekodak’s death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, had said that Peters was being detained and questioned as a suspect in relation to the ongoing investigation.

Speaking on the incident, Peters said in a statement on his Instagram page that he and his crew members willingly made themselves available to the police, adding that a full-scale investigation into the events preceding Picturekodak’s death was ongoing.

He stated that after he was notified of Picturekodak’s condition, he directed that the dancer should be rushed to two different hospitals for treatment, but the doctors on duty allegedly refused to admit her on the suspicion that she was a COVID-19 patient.

Peters wrote on his verified Instagram handle, @clarenceshotit, “On the 29th of April 2020, Love Divine Ike (Picture Kodak) was in the dance studio, on the premises of Capital Dreams Pictures, with 5 other team members and myself – 7 people in total. At about 7.30pm on the same day, while in another office – a building beside the dance studio, on the same premises, some people who were said to be with Love Divine at the time, rushed in and called my attention to the fact that Love Divine had collapsed.

“We immediately rushed her to the nearest hospital, which refused to let us into their premises, let alone admit her. They assumed she was a COVID-19 patient. We tried, but we were not able to gain entry into a second hospital. We eventually got her to a third hospital where she was pronounced dead 30 minutes after arrival.

“I was not physically in the same room as her when the incident occurred, and when I inquired, I was told by those present at the scene that Love Divine, while taking a break from the dance session, was sitting on one of the metal sliding door rails, charging and using her phone plugged to an extension box.

“The witnesses didn’t realize anything was wrong, until they saw she had laid down, and they noticed smoke coming from her chest area. She was said to be electrocuted, her phone was found on her chest…

“The police are currently carrying out a full-scale investigation into the events that occurred, and an autopsy will be carried out, with the full permission and consent of her family. Please note that no one has been charged or arrested, by the police. The witnesses and I willingly made ourselves available to the police.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588674684/covid-hospitals-rejected-electrocuted-video-vixen-peters

A security man in a market in Onitsha, Anambra State, Ibuchi Nwoju, has allegedly killed a resident over face mask.

The 22-year-old victim, Cletus Chisom, was said to have been stabbed in the chest with a knife by his assailant.

Our correspondent gathered that the deceased’s sister was at the market with her mother to purchase some items when the suspect confronted her for not putting on a face mask.

The mother was said to have bought the face mask for her daughter after the suspect insisted that she would only be allowed into the market wearing a face mask.

Trouble began after the lady reportedly rushed home and mobilised her brother, who came to attack the suspect.

“It was during the brawl that the suspect drew a knife and stabbed the deceased in the chest, leading to his death,” a source told our correspondent.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said the Commissioner of Police, John Abang, had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for discreet investigation.

Mohammed added, “Today (Monday), around 8.45am, police operatives from the Okpoko Division in Onitsha arrested a private security guard attached to the Coca-Cola Market, Onitsha, one Ibuchi Nwoju, 26, of Asa village, Abia State, who resides in Onitsha, Anambra State.

“The suspect allegedly had an altercation with one Cletus Chisom, 22, of Ekekwe Street, Awada, and stabbed him in the chest with a knife.

“Consequently, the victim became unconscious and was rushed to the Goodnews Hospital, Onitsha, where he was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor.

“The corpse was deposited in the Toronto Hospital’s mortuary for autopsy.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588674847/security-guard-kills-man-over-face-mask

[img]https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588674847/security-guard-kills-man-over-face-mask[/img]

The Federal Government, on Monday, decried the nationwide non-compliance with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19’s guidelines for gradual reopening of the economy.

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who stated this during the task force press briefing in Abuja, warned that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), could restore the lockdown if the guidelines were not observed and there was a surge in coronavirus cases.

The President had, on March 30, imposed a two-week lockdown on the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states, but at the expiration of the first lockdown on April 13, he extended it by another 14 days.

In his broadcast to the nation on April 27, Buhari said phased and gradual easing of the lockdown would begin on May 4 (yesterday). He also imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the nation.

Besides banning interstate movements, the President imposed a total lockdown on Kano State, which had witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Guidelines on gradual reopening of the economy issued by the PTF a few days after the presidential address mandate anyone in public spaces to use non-medical face masks.

They also prohibit interstate travels, apart from for essential services. The guidelines ban gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace.

Commercial vehicles are only allowed to operate outside the curfew hours and should practise social distancing in the number of their passengers.

But our correspondents, who monitored activities in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states on Monday observed that people did not observe the PTF guidelines, including social distancing.

Although banks limited the number of people that entered their premises, customers ignored social distancing as they crowded at bank gates.

Pedestrians and motorists from Ogun State crossed over to Lagos in violation of the ban on interstate movements.

‘Easing lockdown: There will be new infections’

The NCDC boss, at the PTF’s press briefing on Monday, reviewed compliance with the guidelines across the country and concluded that it was not satisfactory.

He said the President could restore the lockdown if the task force guidelines were not observed.

Ihekweazu stated, “Today (Monday), some of the measures are being eased. Initial reports are not too pleasing across the country. Now that we have seen the sunlight again, the challenge for us as a society is, how do we organise ourselves to mitigate these risks and limit transmissions from each other?

“Though we might have a few extra infections today and tomorrow, what we don’t want is an explosion of new infections? If we do have that explosion, there will be almost no choice left for the leadership of the country but to ask all of us to go back to our homes.”

NCDC boss faults banks, fears new infections

Ihekweazu noted that banks were among business groups that were allowed to open on Monday.

He, however, lamented that many banks limited the number of their branches that opened, adding that there would be a spike in infections due to the way people mingled.

The NCDC boss said, “When we say take responsibility this time, yes, we are addressing individuals, but we really need to address corporate Nigeria. There is benefit of the doubt, but when you limit the number of branches opened, everyone goes to the one branch that is opened and that becomes counterproductive.

“Today, we might forgive a little bit because it was the first day. We will have infections because of what happened today, no doubt about that. Everybody here (on the PTF) knew today would be a problem because, for the first time, people were let out of their homes.

“We can produce all the guidelines in the world. We can preach and do press conferences, but how can we learn from the mistakes of today, tomorrow and the day after, so that, by Friday, hopefully, we have normalised some of these things?”

He stated that organisations must support the implementation of the preventive measures, help manage the risk and focus on a risk-based approach.

Why markets are opened, places of worship shut —PTF

Ihekweazu, while fielding questions from journalists, noted that the decision to open markets and close places of worship was because “food is an existential issue.”

He added, “We are not even saying we are happy with the markets across the country. But we are really still appealing to everyone in those markets to help us make it (curb in transmission) work.

“We know that many of our markets were not built for an era of COVID-19. We’re sure about that. Our markets are historically very congested places with many ports of entry, very difficult to control access; in fact, a perfect place for transmission.

“So, by no means are we saying the marketplaces are the examples of perfect locations for managing transmission. We have to allow markets to continue because people have to eat.”

Speaking on the efforts of the PTF’s in Kano State, Ihekweazu said experts deployed by the Federal Government were working to guide the ministry of health in the state.

‘Kano testing is slow’

According to him, the NCDC team and the Kano State officials are working to improve the laboratories in the state.

He said, “The speed of testing (in Kano) is a little bit slower than you would expect. But that is the price we have to pay in order to get this up and running. I’m confident that we will leave that lab better.”

The NCDC boss also said the task force supported the delivery of a new lab funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, delivered by a Nigerian company, 54 Gene.

Continued interstate movements of almajiris violating protocols —PTF

The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in his remarks, said there had been “very noticeable” relocation of almajiris from one state to another.

Mustapha said, “With the ban on interstate movement, the continuation of this exercise will not be in alignment with the guidelines issued. The PTF shall engage with state governments on how to achieve their objectives.”

Don’t neglect treatment of other ailments, minister tells hospitals

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in his address, urged all health care facilities not to reject persons seeking medical help, especially in emergencies.

He said it was unethical not to attend to persons in distress.

“I also urge citizens to go to hospitals when not feeling well and to cooperate by giving accurate information especially with regard to travel history,” he said.

Nigeria to take part in COVID-19 medicine trials, says FG

Ehanire also noted that the country had informed the World Health Organisation that it would take part in trials of medicines to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, efforts are ongoing to also conduct research in Nigeria.

He said, “Other drugs can be added based on emerging evidence. We shall ensure the maintenance of ethical standards and safety of our people.”

The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, in his remarks, decried non-compliance with the task force protocols, saying the easing of the lockdown was in, no way, a licence to relax self-protection against the infection.

He restated the PTF guidelines, saying, “No interstate travel is allowed except for transportation of essential commodities and services. No passenger flights. Churches, mosques and schools remain closed.

“Clubs, bars, parks, sporting and gaming centres will also remain closed. It is absolutely necessary to continue to maintain those measures that will continue to protect us.

“We must wear our masks to protect ourselves and one another at all times. We must keep washing our hands. We must maintain the safe physical distance of two metres and comply with the eases lockdown measures.”

89 COVID-19 vaccines being developed —WHO

The WHO Country Representative, Fiona Braka, while fielding questions, stated that research was going on globally for a COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Braka, no fewer than 89 products are undergoing development.

He stated, “Research is going on globally to study the genetics of the virus. This helps us to develop a vaccine. Thanks to rapid sharing of genetics data from countries, we are able to advance the production of vaccines.

“We do acknowledge the contributions of countries in sharing their genetic sequencing data, including Nigeria. So, the first vaccine trial started as early as 60 days just after the genetic sequencing information of the virus was shared by China.

“We have about 89 products that are currently under vaccine development. The numbers keep getting updated because there is an accelerated process going on globally to try and find a vaccine.”

Nigerians shun social distancing, storm banks, bus stops

Meanwhile, on Monday, Nigerians, who trooped to banks, bus stops and other public places, disregarded measures introduced by the Federal Government.

Our correspondents, who monitored activities in Lagos and Ogun states, as well as the Federal Capital, observed that motorists failed to observe social distancing.

The PUNCH correspondent, who went round Sokoto, the Sokoto State capital, observed that social distancing was not adhered to by most people in the city.

Customers, who thronged most of the banks, located on Kano Road, were struggling to enter their premises

Lagos bank customers, transporters violate social distancing

In the Berger and Ikorodu areas of Lagos State, it was observed that commercial transport workers and passengers were partially complying with the use of face masks, but ignored social distancing as most buses were filled with the regular number of passengers.

Also, the influx of people into various banks and to board the Bus Rapid Transit attested to the lack of compliance with the social distancing directives.

An eyewitness in Ikorodu, Shukurat Adebayo, said she aborted the transaction she wanted to do in a bank because of the large crowd, adding that bank customers and commuters were not observing social distancing.

She said, “Currently, I am at the Ikorodu Garage, I wanted to do a transaction at the GT Bank but the branch at Ayangburen road did not open. We were directed to another branch at Agric, but I did not go. I left for Polaris Bank to do another transaction, but on getting there, it was crowded. There was nothing like social distancing because I saw a lot of people trying to gain access into the bank. They were not orderly and efforts by the bank officials to talk to people didn’t work.

“Also, the situation is the same at BRT Park. Although, I can confirm to you that the drivers conveyed only 20 passengers because I boarded a bus this morning from Lagos Island to Ikorodu. The queue was crowded as usual and commuters were not observing social distancing.”

Motorists plying Sango/Tollgate to Oshodi were seen carrying passengers, while the bus stops at Meiran, Ijaiye, U-turn and Abule Egba were overcrowded.

The majority of the passengers were seen wearing face masks but disregarded the social distancing order of the federal and state governments.

At Agege, a driver, Abbas Ramon, told The PUNCH that it was not possible for commercial vehicles to load 60 per cent of their capacity because the National Union of Road Transport Workers was still collecting normal levy from them.

Rivers commercial vehicle operators flout social distancing order

In Rivers State, commercial bus operators still loaded their vehicles with passengers without observing social distancing.

While the state government had insisted that only two passengers should be on a row, the commercial bus drivers still allowed four passengers.

Recall that the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, had threatened to ban the operation of commercial vehicles in some parts of the state should commercial drivers continue to flout the order on social distancing.

A commercial bus driver, who identified himself as Godswill, said he would not be able to make profit if he adhered to the order of having only two passengers per row.

“How can I have only two passengers where I am supposed to be carrying four passengers? If I try that, I will not make profit,” Godswill, who plies Ikwerre to Choba, said.

FCT residents besiege banks

In the FCT, hundreds of people on Monday besieged commercial banks.

The banks in Garki Area One, Adetokunbo Ademola Wuse 2, Central Business District, and other parts of the city were thronged by customers, many of whom wore no face masks.

At the Ecobank branch beside AP Plaza, Wuse 2, scores of customers were locked outside the bank and only a few were allowed to enter in line with the social distancing guidelines.

The same situation was observed at a GTB branch located beside a popular eatery where tens of customers waited impatiently outside the bank.

A customer, Stanley Wosu, said he had an urgent transaction to make in the bank hence his visit, adding that he would not have come to the bank on account of the pandemic.

14 more Lagos patients discharged

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government on Monday announced the discharge of 14 more COVID-19 patients who had recovered from the virus.

The state Ministry of Health, via its twitter handle, @LSMOH, said 261 patients had been discharged in Lagos.

It tweeted, “14 more COVID-19 Lagos patients; six females and eight males, all Nigerians were today (Monday) discharged from our isolation facilities at Yaba, Onikan, LUTH and Eti-Osa (Landmark) to reunite with the society.

“The patients; seven from Onikan, two from IDH, Yaba, four from @LUTHofficial and one from the Eti-Osa (LandMark) isolation centres have fully recovered and tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19.

“With this, the number of patients successfully managed and discharged in Lagos is now 261.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588669504/covid-prepare-for-fresh-total-lockdown-cases

[img]https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588669504/covid-prepare-for-fresh-total-lockdown-cases[/img]

The Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned the decision of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to relax the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory over the coronavirus disease outbreak.

Leader of the PDP members in the House, Mr Kingsley Chinda, in a statement on Sunday, said the caucus was particularly worried by the spread of the virus, stating that life is sacrosanct, “hence the need to preserve same becomes most paramount to any responsible individual, organisation or government.”

Chinda said, “In the circumstances, the PDP caucus of the House of Representatives demands as follows: that President Buhari rescinds his decision to relax the lockdown and allow the lockdown remain for another 14 days, from Monday, 4th May to 18th May, 2020.

“Within the extended period, come up with clear public policies – covering markets, offices, factories, public transport, etc – to be adopted for containment of the spread of the virus. Set up functional testing centers in all the states of the federation and the FCT. Distribute very equitably, all necessary kits to all the states and the FCT. Make available the promised palliatives and distribute same equitably to all the states and the FCT.

“That the Federal Government shows genuine interest and commitment in getting universities and research institutes more involved in the search for a solution.”

Buhari had, on March 30, ordered lockdown for an initial period of 14 days in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states, followed by a two-week extension, which ended last Monday. Several other states introduced similar restrictions.

The President had last Monday, however, in a televised address on Monday, extended the lockdown by one week, after which a nationwide curfew would take effect, from Monday.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1588538114/withdraw-your-order-relaxing-lockdown-pdp-reps

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The first lady of Kaduna State, Hadiza El-Rufai has chastised her son, Bello, for allegedly, in his tweets, threatening to rape the mother of a twitter user.

Mrs El-Rufai, who was earlier attacked for taking side with her son on Sunday, apologised, saying that having gone through her son’s tweets chronologically, she had had a conversation with him.

She said she would never condone sexual abuse in any shape or form.

Daily Trust reports that what started as a political debate when Bello El-Rufai described US President Donald Trump as incompetent over his handling of COVID-19 pandemic later degenerated into personal attacks that included ethnic slurs between Bello and some Twitter handles.

Consigliere had alleged that Trump was more competent than President Muhammadu Buhari and Bello’s father, the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

Bello fired back at Consigliere, saying, “Tell your mother I’m passing her to my friends tonight. No Igbo sounds please! Tueh”.

Mrs El-Rufai, who was tagged in some of the tweets, stated, “All you people talking about @B_ELRUFAI, Don’t @ me. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. All is fair in love and war. My belief: Respect everyone, but take no … from anyone. I didn’t see any threats of rape. I would never condone that.”

The First Lady later, “When I posted the tweet below, I assumed it was just the usual Twitter gbas-gbos. Having read the tweets chronologically, I have had conversations with Bello. Never ever should sexual abuse be employed as ammunition in public/ private exchanges, no matter the provocation.

“I can see how my tweet may have come across, and I apologise to those who were offended by it. I say once again, that I’d never condone sexual abuse in any shape or form.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586870646/rufai-wife-blasts-son-for-threatening-rape

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has cautioned members of the public against emerging online fraudulent tactics being perpetrated by internet fraudsters taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, stated that his office had been inundated with complaints from victims of internet fraudsters.

According to a statement in Abuja on Monday by the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, the EFCC boss said the fraudulent schemes were in form of links that offer free data or request for the Bank Verification Number and account details of their victims.

Magu stated, “In the last couple of days, home-bound internet users have complained of receiving several e-mails, SMS, WhatsApp messages offering free services such as “Do-It-Yourself” Covid-19 tests; subscription to either Netflix, Hulu, DSTV, Government Intervention/Grant of N30, 000 and other tricky offers.”

The EFCC chair advised the public against opening unsolicited emails or links and attachment with emails from an unknown source.

The statement read in part, “The messages are embedded with malware and other malicious codes which when clicked, trigger a programme that steals and compromises mails, banking logins passwords, credit-related information and other critical data contained on the recipient’s devices.

“Victims stand the risk of losing both confidential information and monies, since unauthorised access may have been granted to cybercriminals.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586250281/covid-efcc-cautions-against-cyber-scammers

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the frontline secessionist group in the South East, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has blasted those that helped President Muhammadu Buhari into power in 2015, saying they should cover their faces in shame.

According to Kanu, those that gave power to the current administration did so in a misplaced hope that the administration would fight corruption and subdue Boko Haram but should now be ashamed of themselves because it was a shattered dream.

Kanu wondered why former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu and former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Spokesman, Olisa Metuh would be incarcerated while Abba Kyari, and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo are walking freely and not indicted for stealing over N13bn meant for the State House Clinic.

He lambasted world leaders such as Barack Obama, David Cameron, Tony Blair, Yoruba media, Yoruba intelligentsia and some politicians from the East for installing the present administration.

Nnandi Kanu was reacting to a newspaper headline, “Despite gulping N13bn in 5 years: State House Clinic ‘unfit’ to treat Abba Kyari.

“The masses are dying of hunger and no hospitals for the sick, their leaders have stolen all the money,” Kanu wrote on Facebook.

“Those that entrusted power to the current bunch of wild ravenous Fulani beasts, in the misplaced hope that they would fight corruption and subdue Boko Haram should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves, especially Barack Obama, David Cameron, Tony Blair, Yoruba media, Yoruba intelligentsia and Efulefus from the East.”

According to the IPOB leader, rather than make things better as they claimed, they would worsen things and as most good students of history knew, they are incapable.

“The reason for pointing this [the article] out now is because millions of people are without any income are literally starving to death.

“Another reason being the need to nail the truth to the mast that Fulani elite-assuming you call owning a herd of cattle and obtaining a worthless certificate from ABU Zaria via a rigged quota system as elitism; are the most corrupt rulers the British abomination called Nigeria has ever seen. But they go about with the help of a compromised press sanctimoniously trumpeting their non-existent anti-corruption agenda.

“My question tonight to all those that hailed the incarceration of Christian politicians and imprisonment of Orji Uzor Kalu and Olisa Metuh is, why is it that Abba Kyari, Yemi Osinbajo and the man with the Buhari face mask, Jubril Al-Sudani not indicted for stealing over N13bn in broad daylight? Why is it that Fulani runs EFCC is yet to issue a summons for Abba Kyari to appear before them?

“We all know the reason why don’t we, because just like their Boko Haram counterparts, their impunity is for the advancement of a virulent Fulani hegemonic agenda.

“This is the height of unbridled hypocrisy, double standards and a skewed justice system designed to protect the kleptomania terror-sponsoring and roundly incompetent Fulani cabals. This is the Nigeria no conscientious or right-thinking person would ever wish to be called a citizen of.

“Have you noticed how their journalists in Nigeria never demanded an EFCC investigation or enquiry into these missing billions stolen by Abba Kyari?

“Instead, they eulogize, praise and pray for the same thieving politician(s) that are responsible for their daily misery, starvation and lack of access to good healthcare at a critical time like this.

“Rather than hang these people in public for their crimes against the masses and humanity, these impoverished suffering masses are being encouraged to fast and pray for those who are killing them. The same oppressors that sent their army to kill those begging for food.

“Isn’t it ironic the same Abba Kyari that stole all the money meant for a local clinic that could have treated the sick, chartered a private plane for himself, took his pet and flew abroad for treatment, while the poor are left to die? This is the type of politician some people are praying for to recover quickly. Nigerians are truly sick in the brain.

“And some people still foolishly ask, ‘why are you looking for Biafra?’ Now you know why.

“Biafra will never know corruption,” Kanu declared.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586267754/nnamdi-kanu-questions-why-osinbajo-abba-kyari

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered distribution of 150 trucks of rice seized by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to the 36 states of the federation.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at a news conference in Abuja yesterday.

The news conference was on the fiscal stimulus measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic and oil prices fiscal shock.

Ahmed said the seized trucks of rice had been handed over to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management for onward distributions to Nigerians.

She added that in addition to this, the president had also approved distribution of grains from strategic grain reserves across the country.

The minister stated that as part of the effort to support the farmers, the president also approved reduction of the price of fertiliser from N5,500 to N5,000 per bag.

She added that this was another measure to give subsidy to farmers in view with the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

According to her, more measures will be taken to provide broader benefits to the citizens.

“We don’t want to rush and announce measures that will end up benefitting only a few of the segments. Our interest is to make sure that as much as possible a lot of Nigerians are productive and have liquidity in their hands.

“This will help to increase the consumption thereby assist to improve the economy.

“This is not something we will announce in a hurry without consulting with the central ministry and also without consulting with the key participants in the sector,” she added.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586263949/covid-buhari-approves-distribution-seized-150-trucks

The National Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, has said the killers of the daughter of the leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Mrs Funke Olakunrin, have been arrested.

Olakunrin was allegedly killed by bandits on Ore-Sagamu Expressway in July last year.

In a statement by Odumakin on Monday, the alleged killers were said to have been arrested by the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Ondo State Police Command.

Odumakin, who said the suspects were arrested in Ondo State, also disclosed that the driver of the deceased had also been arrested.

According to him, the suspects were four and three of them were from the northern part of the country.

He said, “We commend the dedicated officers who made the arrest just as we wait for a thorough investigation to follow.

“We have resolved to encourage the police to do their job properly.

“We appreciate all Nigerians who have encouraged our 94-year-old leader in this troubling season. It is our prayer that criminals will not go unpunished again in our country.”

However, when contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, said he had not been briefed.

“I have not received the signal on that,” the PPRO said.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586244262/police-have-arrested-killers-fasoranti-daughter-says

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the social intervention programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government as a hoax.

The PDP in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, said leaders of the ruling party have allegedly been fleecing the country through the social incentives programme rather than deploying it to benefit the people.

The opposition party noted that the alleged failure of the COVID-19 social palliatives to reach Nigerians, contrary to claims by the government, validates allegations that the APC has allegedly been using ghost beneficiaries to siphon government resources.

It added that it is alarming that not even a handful of Nigerians have acknowledged receipt of COVID 19 palliatives despite claims by government officials of having paid out billions of naira as palliatives to individuals and households.

“The PDP invites Nigerians to note how officials of the APC-led administration fraudulently sidestepped extant financial regulations and illegally resorted to cash disbursements, directly by a cabinet minister, instead of using Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cash disbursement facility.

“Such was part of the design to use few unsuspecting Nigerians to circumvent the system, muddle up financial documentation and accountability processes and facilitate the siphoning of huge chunk of the palliative fund.

“Such practice directly points to fraudulent diversion of funds by APC leaders, who have been using the same template of the discredited social investment programmes, which had been exposed by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, as a fraud, when she, last year, revealed that the N500bn Social Investment Programme of the Buhari administration was not getting to the target beneficiaries.

“More embarrassing is the duplicitous inclusion of the scandalous school feeding programme as an expenditure line even when schools are closed following the social distancing directives; an alarming development that points to the level of corruption in the APC administration.

“The public can now see how the APC-led administration has been using the names of poor Nigerians to loot our national treasury and fritter away billions of naira to finance their wasteful lifestyle while majority of our citizens wallow in hardship and abject poverty.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586259307/pdp-covid-has-exposed-social-intervention-hoax

Personnel of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested one Christian Chikezie for allegedly having sexual intercourse with his neighbour’s nine-year-old daughter in the Ikorodu area of the state

PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim’s mother was ill and left her daughter in the care of one Mercy and went to hospital for treatment, but on her return, she saw her daughter coming out of Chikezie’s room.

Upon interrogation, the little girl told her mother that Chikezie had carnal knowledge of her in his room, adding that she reported the case at the Ikorodu Police Station, where policemen were detailed to arrest Chikezie.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that the victim had been taken to hospital for examination, adding that the suspect was arrested and taken to the Gender Unit of the command for further investigation.

Elkana stated, “On March 30, 2020, around 1.50am, a woman (name withheld) reported at the Ikorodu Police Station that on March 29, 2020, around 7.10pm, she left her nine-year-old daughter in the care of one Mercy and went to hospital.

“On getting back from the hospital, she discovered that the girl was no longer there. On searching for her, she saw her coming out from the room of one Christian Chikezie. On enquiry, her daughter told her that the said Christian Chikeze had sexual intercourse with her.

“The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and forensic examination. The suspect has been arrested by detectives from the Juvenile Welfare Centre, Ikorodu Police Station, and transferred to the Gender Unit, Command Headquarters, Ikeja, for discreet investigation and prosecution. An investigation is ongoing.”

In a related development, policemen from the Okokomaiko Police Division have arrested a security guard, Dako Aaron, for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl on Olanrewaju Street in the Okokomaiko area of the state.

Elkana said Aaron allegedly dragged the victim into his security post, where he had carnal knowledge of her on two separate occasions, adding that the suspect was a habitual paedophile.

He stated, “Operatives from the Okokomaiko Police Station arrested one Dako Aaron, 52, of Olanrewaju Street, Okokomaiko, for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. The suspect works as a security guard with a private company in Okokomaiko. He was alleged to have dragged the victim to his security post on two different occasions, first on February 2, 2020, and on March 12, 2020.

“The victim was taken to hospital for medical treatment and forensic examination. The suspect was arrested and transferred to the Gender Unit for discreet investigation and prosecution. From available record, the suspect is a habitual paedophile. He was charged on February 22, 2017, for defiling a minor. The suspect will be charged.

“The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, uses this medium to advice parents to beware of paedophiles preying on their children during the lockdown period.”

Meanwhile, a caregiver, identified simply as Mrs Omotayo, has been arrested by detectives from the Gender Unit of the command for allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old girl, Ajara, in the Igando area of the state.

The PPRO said footage of Omotayo assaulting Ajara had surfaced online recently, adding that the detectives, in conjunction with other agencies in the state, arrested Omotayo and rescued Ajara, who had been taken to hospital and kept in a safe home provided by the government.

Elkana said, “On April 3, 2020, a case of child abuse was reported online by a mandatory reporter through instablog9ja. Detectives from the Gender Unit, Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in collaboration with the DSVRT, Office of the Public Defender and social workers from the state Ministry of Youth and Social Development rescued the victim, Ajara, 10, from No. 10 Omotoso Street, Igando. The abuser, Mrs Omotayo, 45, was also arrested.

“The victim has been taken to hospital for treatment and kept in a safe home provided by the Lagos State Government. The suspect, who is a caregiver to the victim, was said to have pushed Ajara and she sustained injuries all over her face. The suspect was seen in the viral video hitting the victim on the floor. The suspect will be charged. The command will continue to protect and defend the rights of the vulnerable members of the society, especially children.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586158876/security-guard-neighbour-arrested-for-defiling-minors

Before 1975, the name ‘Gabber’ meant nothing to me. It was just any other nice-sounding moniker. But after I watched Sholay, India’s most successful movie in the last 50 years, at Rainbow Cinema, Mushin, Lagos, in the mid 70s, I began to hold the name in suspicion.

Gabber’s initials are GS. He’s the supervillain in the 1975 superhit movie which broke all records and ran for more than five years in Mumbai theatre. His surname is Singh. Gabber Singh is the ultimate, archetypal villain of the multi-billion dollar Indian film industry.

I was taken to the cinema by one of my uncles, boda Jide. Wow! I love the electronic darkness of the cinema. With its colourful, larger-than-life pictures, booming sound effects and fluorescent-white screen, the cinema holds a spellbound charm at all times.

Sholay’s storyline is simple but arresting. The bandit, Gabber Singh, kills the family of a retired police chief, Thakur Singh, who employs the services of two small-time thieves, Veeru and Jai, to help capture the criminal.

Clearly, I still can hear the bewitching Hemma Malini, (cast as Basanti), the commercial horse cart rider, singing and wriggling her beaded waist. I can see the tall and handsome Dharmendra (Veeru) and the sexy Amitabh Bachchan (Jai), riding their joint scooter in daredevilry, shooting their way out of harm. I can see the young Amjad Khan (Gabber Singh) smiling as he supervises the torture of Dharmendra, and the armless Sanjeev Kumar (Thakur), riding on the wave of vengeance. I can’t forget the song of avowed friendship between Dharmendra and Amitabh, Hum Nahi Todenge. Literature, good music, soap operas and movies were the hallmarks of my childhood.

In today’s Nigeria, literature is coughing up blood, music is writhing in viral vulgarity; porn, violence and materialism reside in soap operas and movies while science and technology is the leper in a god-forsaken colony called ignorance.

It’s not only Bollywood that has a cult figure with the GS initials. Nigeria’s political theatre, Aso Rock, also does. Aso Rock’s GS is the inimitable dramatis persona called Garba Shehu, who, years ago, rode hopefully towards Abuja in the convoy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s aspiring presidency, but changed seats after the BAT shrieked at midnight and swung the pendulum of power to Katsina.

While the supervillain Indian Gabber is a master who gives orders, the superhero Nigerian Garba is an obedient servant who takes orders from seen and unseen masters, and carries them out with the swiftness of a conscienceless sword.

When you’re spokesperson for a President without a school certificate, insult becomes a weapon against reason, coercion displaces the rule of law, sycophancy swallows merit and victimisation becomes a state art – all in the defence of presidential ineptitude, corruption, nepotism and ethnicity.

Like Gabber, Garba is fearless. He’s no respecter of age, intellect, dignity and civility whenever a voice of reason rises against his master in Aso Rock. Garba threw decorum and honour out through the window last week when Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, called attention to the weak ex-soldier’s everlasting lethargy and unconstitutional action by single-handedly locking down Abuja, Lagos and Ogun over the coronavirus outbreak without the consent of the National Assembly.

Like Soyinka, several lawyers, including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Femi Falana and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, faulted Buhari’s overbearance, stressing that the husband of Aisha possesses no such powers to unilaterally close any state’s boundaries. But Garba chose not to contend the illegality of Buhari’s action with the lawyers because, unlike Soyinka, they didn’t beam a torch on the darkling failure that has enveloped Buhari from Nigerians. The poet-essayist-novelist wondered how Buhari, who had been on ‘AWOL’ (Absent Without Leave), suddenly woke up after a long siesta to start issuing orders, closing Abuja, Lagos and Ogun to movement for 14 days.

If Soyinka had only criticised Buhari for the lockdown, Garba wouldn’t have been unleashed. Soyinka became Buhari’s object of attack because he (Soyinka) highlighted the pounding absenteeism that has become the cornerstone of the Buhari regime.

However, Garba neither deployed wisdom nor common sense in his attack on Soyinka, leaving discernible members of the public wondering how many certificates are missing in Aso Rock.

In a language decipherable to a primary school pupil, Soyinka, who didn’t criticise the global medical recommendation of lockdown, revealed that he himself was in self-isolation but he stressed that Buhari should simply have got the National Assembly to approve his lockdown wish, lest the country descends into illegality. The laureate even called on legal luminaries to help shed light on the legality or otherwise of Buhari’s action, warning that if left unchallenged, Buhari could wake up some other time, and declare a vindictive lockdown on any state – long after the COVID-19 pandemic had ended.

In his profoundly empty and unwise response, Garba steered the argument away from Buhari’s idleness and cow-in-a-china-shop meddlesomeness, which Soyinka raised, saying the playwright should write a fiction about coronavirus. In an infantile attempt to ridicule Soyinka and diminish his literary genius, Garba belched, “Professor Soyinka is not a medical professor… Across the world, mandated lockdowns are in place…Perhaps, Wole Soyinka may write a play on the coronavirus pandemic after this emergency is over.” It’s obvious that Garba is oblivious that all democratic countries, which effected lockdowns during the ongoing pandemic, first got the approval of their legislatures.

By trying to trivialise literature, Garba opened himself up to ridicule as a shallow image-maker, who is shockingly unaware that a captivating novelist, Dean Koontz, foretold the outbreak and deadliness of coronavirus more than 30 years ago. Medicine as an offshoot of science and technology is critical to human wellness just as literature as an offshoot of arts is the adhesive that prevents the world from falling off the map of human dignity – teaching language, culture and tradition. Unlike the misleading gospel of Garba, neither of science and technology, nor arts is superior to the other. Probably, Garba is the type of parent that would force their child to study medicine when such a child has the talent to outwit Messi to the Ballon d’Or or outsing Cobhams Asuquo to the gong or beat Sanyeri to crowd applause.

A few days after Garba’s defence, Buhari, uncharacteristically saw sense in Soyinka’s wise counsel as he later sought and got the approval of the Senate for the closure of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun, putting a needle to the balloon of shame inflated by Garba. A report by Vanguard newspaper of April 4, 2020, confirms Buhari’s compliance with the rule of law. Hitherto Buhari’s capitulation, Garba and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had insisted that Buhari was right in his usurpation of the National Assembly’s powers. If the President was right, why get the approval of the NASS in the long run?

After Buhari trampled upon Nigeria’s constitution by sacking the democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari on December31, 1983, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha wouldn’t have had the guts to seize power in 1985 and 1993 respectively if Nigerians had resisted the criminality perpetrated by Buhari and his gang in 1983.

Expectedly, the impotence of the commander-in-chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces to check the growing dehumanisation and killing of innocent Nigerians, especially in the South, by Buhari’s zombie-soldiers failed to stir the milk of human kindness in Garba. Or has Garba not seen viral vdeos of bestial soldiers, mostly of northern extraction, ordering people to swim in sewage? If Nigerians had resisted soldier-police oppression since the 1970s – as advised by the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti – the incessant killings we see today won’t occur.

This is the essence of Soyinka’s homily to Buhari. Political aides should help their principals see issues in true perspectives. This is a better way to earn a living rather than bark at imaginary shadows.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1586162719/soyinka-wisdom-cures-buhari-impotence

A middle aged woman, who was simply identified as Chinenye Okoro, allegedly killed her lover, Ifeanyi Okoro, by pulling his penis till he died.

The incident, The PUNCH gathered, took place in Akaeze community in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Tuesday.

It was gathered that though the deceased and the suspect were lovers, they were always at loggerheads and often threatened each other’s life.

It was learnt that the deceased’s lifeless body was found on the floor in front of his door post by a villager, after the suspect allegedly killed him, by pulling his genitals, which led to his instant death.

The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Thursday.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Loveth Odah, said, “On 31/03/2020, at about 11am, one Rose John ‘f’ in company with one Sunday Ngwoke ‘m’ reported at Ivo Police Division that while she was frying garri in her kitchen, she saw one Chinenye Okoro run across her compound and jumped the fence, which got her attention.

“That she decided to find out what happened in the neighbouring compound, only to see the lifeless body of one Ifeanyi Okoro (aka Nwaogbi), lying on the ground in front of his door post.

“Following the report, police detectives quickly mobilised to the scene, rushed the victim to Marthama Hospital, Akaeze, Ivo LGA for medical treatment and he was confirmed dead by a medical practitioner on duty. The body was deposited at Izunna Mortuary Services Ltd, for preservation and autopsy.

“Investigations revealed that the deceased was a boyfriend to Chinenye Okoro and that the two lovers had misunderstanding and as a result, the girlfriend (Chinenye) pulled the deceased’s penis, which allegedly led to his death.”

She said the suspect fled the scene after committing the crime.

“However, effort is on to arrest the principal suspect and the case is under investigation after which suspect(s) would be charged to court for prosecution,” she added.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585901878/woman-kills-lover-pulling-his-genitals-ebonyi

The Nigerian Communications Commission has warned Nigerians, especially telecoms consumers, not to fall prey to a fraudulent message being spread on the Internet by a fraudulent website.

The commission, in a statement on Thursday, identified the fake website as https://covid-19-fg-grant..com/?=1, saying it was asking Nigerians to apply for a free Internet bundle, claiming it was being given by the Nigerian government in collaboration with NCC.

The website asked Nigerians to apply for free Internet by clicking a web link, which automatically led to a webpage with a dialogue box where they were expected to fill in their bio data and other demographics.

The commission said, “NCC wishes to state categorically that neither the Nigerian government nor the commission has issued such a message to Nigerian citizens.

In a related development, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has denied circulating a letter calling for donations to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministry said the letter titled, ‘Donations so far for the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria’ with reference number FMF/HMF/S-EFFE-REC/2020/1 and dated March 28, 2020 was fake and an attempt to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The ministry said this in a statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Yunusa Abdullahi.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585900903/covid-disowns-free-internet-promises-donations

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has refused to disclose the location of the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, who has been infected by COVID-19.

Kyari had said in a statement on Sunday that he had been infected by the disease and that he would be seeking treatment in Lagos State but would not be using taxpayers’ funds to treat himself.

However, the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had said on Tuesday that he did not know Kyari’s location thereby sparking reports that the President’s aide was not in any isolation centre.

Responding to a question during the Presidential task force briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the health minister said Kyari’s location was not important, adding that the President’s chief of staff had a right to privacy.

Ehanire said, “I want to repeat that every person, including each of you here, has a right to privacy. Each of you has the right to tell anyone whether you have been screened or whether you have tested negative or positive and that right is also granted to those who are in public office or VIPs.

“Some VIPs have chosen to disclose by themselves; some have authorised that their own result can be announced and I announced mine, the SGF gave me the permission to announce his, the Vice-President also gave us permission.

“For those who didn’t give us the permission, we don’t announce their results and we don’t tell you who is positive or negative and we don’t go into the fact of whether they are in treatment or not because it is not part of what the public needs to know.

“But let me tell you that all those who are screened and found positive, whether VIP or common man, are all in good care and in custody and are being properly taken care of.”

The minister admitted that some VIPs had refused to be screened at the airports before the outbreak of the virus in Nigeria.

He, however, said since the appropriate authorities had been informed there had been cooperation from the VIPs.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585817364/covid-osagie-denies-knowledge-abba-kyari-whereabouts

Zamfara State Government has arrested an Islamic cleric for chaining 56 persons in an illegal rehabilitation centre in Gusau town, the state capital for spiritual healings.

The cleric, Mallam Iliyasu Maimamari, was arrested on Tuesday by a team of policemen and all the 56 victims were also evacuated and taken to The Government Rehabilitation Centre in the state, while those with minor problems were taken to their homes.

The evacuated persons who included men and women ranging from 13 to 50 years of age were brought to the centre by their relatives from different parts of the state with psychiatric and other antisocial problems.

Most of the affected persons had been in chains in the centre for several years without proper feeding and in an unhealthy environment, while many of them were not in good health.

Addressing journalists during the evacuation of the victims, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Mohammed Maiturare, said the cleric had been operating the rehabilitation centre illegally without the knowledge of the state government.

The commissioner, who maintained that the cleric would be taken to court for violation of human rights, advised the people to always take their wards to legal rehabilitation centres.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585749417/cleric-chains-persons-illegal-centre-arrested-zamfara

The Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said there is a legal backing for the lockdown order by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states.

The lockdown came into effect by 11pm on Monday after Buhari pronounced it in a broadcast to the nation on Sunday.

Osinbajo’s position differs sharply with the views of Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, who have both described Buhari’s action as illegal.

The VP’s office said on Tuesday that Osinbajo spoke at the Google Hangout programme organised by HACK COVID-19 Call Centre, a private sector initiative supporting Nigeria’s battle against the deadly virus.

The event was held on Monday, but the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice-President), Mr Laolu Akande, issued a statement on discussions at the programme in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Incidentally, it was also on Monday that Soyinka and Falana kicked against Buhari’s decision, insisting that it had no basis in law.

Quoting Osinbajo, the Presidency stated, “Regarding the legality of the shutdown announced by the President yesterday (Sunday), I think it is entirely legal. These steps are proactive, very relevant, important and backed by law.

“I am not so sure some of the people who have commented on the issue have come across the Quarantine Act.

“There is a Quarantine Act of 1926. It has been published in all of the Laws of Nigeria; every edition of the Laws of Nigeria, it is there.”

The VP, who is a professor of law, further stated, “What the Act does is that it allows the President to designate any local area, any part of the country, as a place that may be infected or under the threat of a communicable disease, and he can then make regulations of any kind.

“For instance, he can say, people should not go out; no public gatherings, etc. So, it is a regulation that gives the President powers and these powers come from the National Assembly because, of course, it is an act of the National Assembly.”

The VP explained that by virtue of constitutional rules, the 1926 Act was deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly.

“So, the President has extensive powers under the Quarantine Act of 1926. Also, governors have extensive powers under the same Quarantine Act”, he added.

“It is barely a one-page legislation; so, it is not particularly difficult to find the relevant provisions and it is not particularly difficult to read, very straightforward. So, the President has all the powers,” Osinbajo added.

He also recalled the influenza pandemic that claimed millions of lives globally in 1918, forcing many governments to place a ban on public gatherings, movements and pronounced other forms of restrictions.

But, in their views, Soyinka and Falana had rejected Buhari’s lockdown order.

Soyinka had said, “Constitutional lawyers and our elected representatives should kindly step into this and educate us, mere lay minds.

“The worst development I can conceive is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the corona pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis. This is a time for unity of purpose, not nitpicking dissensions.

“So, before this becomes a habit, a question: ‘does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders?’ We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency.

“Appropriately focused on measures for the saving lives and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers.

“We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.”

On his part, Falana stated, “No doubt, the President is empowered to adopt any measures deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease but such measures have to be spelt out in a regulation made pursuant to section 305 of the Constitution or under the Quarantine Act.

“Otherwise the presidential order on restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police.

“Even though civil rule was restored in the country 21 years ago, the psyche of the political class has not been demilitarised. Hence, decisions taken by rulers are required to be obeyed ‘with immediate effect’ without any legal backing.”

He added that there were precedents that made enforcing the lockdown difficult.

Falana said, “But in Okafor v Governor of Lagos State (2016) LPELR-41066 (CA) the Court of Appeal called on all authorities to appreciate the need to govern the country under the rule of law.”

“Thus, the directive of the governor of Lagos state restricting the movement of citizens and residents during the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise was struck down because of its unconstitutionality.

“It was the unanimous view of their Lordships that the arrest of the appellant for flouting the order or directive of the governor was completely illegal; according to Georgewill, J.C.A.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585753131/lockdown-constitutional-osinbajo-replies-soyinka-falana-others

An aviation expert, Mrs Victoria Adegbe, has said the Federal Government can curb the spread of coronavirus without shutting down the nation’s airports.

Adegbe, who is a United States Federal Aviation Administration licensed flight dispatcher, said the Federal Government should review the closure of airports and other economic activities as a way of curbing the spread of COVID – 19, adding that a continuous shutdown would spell doom for the industry.

She said there was a need for the destruction of screening tray at airport terminals, which she said could provide fluid contact from one passenger to another.

Adegbe proposed a ban on the use of such trays and the use of disposable trash bags to be placed at screening points and trashed after use.

Adegbe said, “The solution may not be a total lockdown; where airlines are grounded and the passengers are stranded all over the world. There is a need to look at some things around the airport including automatic terminal doors, which opens on its own accord without passengers touching any handles.

“Then you get to the screening point. Here you put your carry-on in a tray for screening while you pass the screening machine empty handed. Then you pick the tray containing your personal effects, take possession of your items and the tray is picked by the officials to be used by someone else.

“You check in, board, not touching a single person, not assisting anyone to carry any bags for security reasons; no hugs or kisses. So, tell me, how come this COVID-19 spread so fast when airline passengers never touched each other? Simple, it’s the trays.”

She said the solution should be to throw away the trays or burn them, adding that Nigeria could be the first country to implement it, if the government considered the option.

“Use disposable trash bags placed at screening points where you put all your items inside and trash them yourself when done. I believe that’s just what we need to do,” Adegbe said.

She stated that a report published by the New York Times in 2018 found that the plastic trays used at airport checkpoints around the world and touched by millions of passengers as they dropped their carry-on and other items for X-ray scanning harboured a variety of germs.

She also stated that a Forbes publication corroborated the germ spreading capacity of airport trays.

“The trays were described as disgusting and from facts gathered from the Helsinki airport in Finland, research indicated that they carry various viruses such as rhino virus which causes common cold, coronavirus, adenovirus and influenza,” Adegbe said.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585728876/govt-can-curb-covid-spread-without-shutting

The Kaduna State Government said on Tuesday that it had withdrawn the licence of the Liberation College, Tirkania, Kaduna, over the defilement of a nine-year-old pupil allegedly by the proprietor, Mr Samuel Ejikeme.

The state Commissioner for Education, Dr Shehu Makarfi, said in a statement that the school had also been shut as directed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Makarfi said the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Mrs Hafsat Baba, who reported the incident, stated that Ejikeme confessed on tape to defiling the victim.

The News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying, “This compelled the Ministry of Education to act immediately by withdrawing the licence and shutting down the school.

“The withdrawal of the licence is in line with the power vested in the Kaduna State Quality Assurance Authority Board in Part IV, Section 17(1) of the law establishing the authority.

“The Kaduna State Government is, therefore, calling on all parents and guardians to withdraw their children and wards from the school.”

The commissioner said the state government would continue its investigation to ascertain the veracity of the allegation, while the suspect would remain in detention.

He added that El-Rufa’i had also directed the state Urban Planning Development Agency to look into the school’s development permit and take further action within two weeks.

NAN reports that Baba, who reported the incident on her Twitter handle, @HafsatMohBaba, expressed sadness over the incident.

She lamented that school administrators, who were supposed to be pillars of support and protection for children, were turning to be sexual predators.

“Please parents should speak more to their daughters and sons to ease exposure of these beasts in human skin,” she tweeted.

El-Rufai had earlier on his twitter handle, @el-rufai, directed the Kaduna Quality Assurance Authority to immediately withdraw the school’s licence and close down the facility.

He had tweeted, “KASUPDA should look into its development permit and take further action within two weeks.

“Mr Ejikeme must be detained and vigorously prosecuted.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585726564/kaduna-school-shut-over-nine-year-old

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, has said Governor Seyi Makinde, did not contract COVID-19 at a zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Ibadan, on March 18,

There were insinuations that the governor contracted the at the party’s unification rally.

But Adisa, during a programme on Silverbird Television, on Tuesday, warned the opposition party members against politicising the issue.

He said, “The governor being said to have contracted COVID-19 at the March 18 PDP South-West zonal unification rally doesn’t come to play, because there was no known incident of the virus in Oyo State at that time. Also, the governor didn’t have any symptom as of that time.

“At the time that the rally was held, there was no known case of the COVID-19 and after the rally, Governor Makinde actually put out a message to indicate that if he had got a hint of the existence of coronavirus in the state an hour to the rally, he would have cancelled the event. He took responsibility for holding the rally.

“So, we can’t afford to politicise the issue of COVID-19. It is beyond politics.”

Adisa noted that the only plausible case of exposure that Makinde had to coronavirus was when he attended the National Economic Council meeting on March 19, a day after the Ibadan rally.

He said, “All governors, who attended that meeting, were advised to self-isolate and undergo test after one of the attendees tested positive to the virus.

“The Nigerian Governors’ Forum had a meeting on March 18 and Governor Makinde joined his colleagues on March 19 for the National Economic Council meeting.

“He had contacts with people that have now tested positive to the virus. So, we should not politicise an issue like this.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1585728452/makinde-didn-contract-covid-ibadan-pdp-rally