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Sowore Condemns Appointment Of Gambari As Buhari’s New Chief Of Staff

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The convener of the Coalition for Revolution (CORE), Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the appointment of Professor Ibrahim Gambari as the new Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

ABN TV reported that President Buhari has appointed a former Minister of External Affairs as his new CoS, following the death of Abba Kyari, who lost his life to the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

This newspaper learned that Gambari will be announced as the new CoS to the President during a virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.

Reacting to the appointment in a statement on Tuesday, Sowore alleged that Gambari’s major role during General Sani Abacha’s military regime makes him unfit for the new role.

The former presidential candidate added that Gambari also served almost all the dictators that have ruled the country.

Sowore added that Gambari, who some people claim is an intelligent man, used his ‘intelligence’ to defend the draconian policies of the Abacha regime while he was Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations.

He said, “Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who some people claim is an intelligent man, used his ‘intelligence’ to defend the draconian policies of the Abacha regime while he was Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations.

Read Also: EFCC Arrests Two Chinese For Offering N100m Bribe To Top Official

“He was one of Abacha’s equivalents of the “Goebel” representing the infamous dictator with vigour and a propensity that could only be found in fascist Italy of old.

“As more pressure mounted on the Abacha regime from all corners of the world, Professor Gambari became more notorious and ruthless in defending and deflecting attacks against the Abacha dictatorship.

“I remember his many appearances on cable news channels, especially after Abacha murdered environmentalist and author, Ken Saro-Wiwa following what can be described as a kangaroo trial.

Professor Gambari stoically denied that the Abacha regime had committed a crime; he labelled Saro-Wiwa a “common criminal” who had engaged in the murder of some Ogoni elders.

“After the demise of Abacha, his other co-dictators and collaborators were put in their place: Call it the Nigerian Hall of Shame.

“Professor Ibrahim Gambari has not been touched; he has not been called to account. Unlike the Usenis, Mustapha, and Gwarzo, he did not appear before the hapless “Oputa Panel” to explain his ignominious role.

Instead, he was elevated by Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, to the position of Under-Secretary and Special Adviser on Africa at the UN.

EFCC Arrests Two Chinese For Offering N100m Bribe To Top Official

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested two Chinese for offering the sum of N100m as a bribe to the Zonal Head of the anti-graft agency in Sokoto State, Mr Abdullahi Lawal.

The agency disclosed this in a series of tweets on Tuesday, noting that the arrest was made on Monday in Sokoto.

According to the EFCC, the sum was allegedly offered in a desperate bid to compromise ongoing investigations of a construction company, China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd, which was handling contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government in the sum of N50,000,000,000.00 (fifty billion naira) between 2012 to 2019.

 

“The zonal office of the Commission is investigating the construction company, in connection with the execution of contracts for the construction of township roads in Gummi, Bukkuyun, Anka and Nassarawa towns of Zamfara state; and also the construction of one hundred and sixty-eight (168) solar-powered boreholes in the 14 local government areas of the state.

Read Also: Why I Sold My One-Month-Old Baby For N130,000 — Orphan

“Alarmed by the consistency and professionalism of investigation being conducted, the company reached out to  Lawal with an offer of  N100,000,000(One Hundred Million Naira), N100m as a bribe to “bury” the matter,” the statement read.

It, however, noted that in a grand design to trap the corrupt officials, Lawal played along.

“On Monday, two representatives of the company Meng Wei Kun and Xu Kuoi offered him cash totalling fifty million naira in their office along airport road, Sokoto. The cash was offered as a first installment”.

But the suspects were promptly arrested with the cash as evidence.

 

 

The anti-graft agency further explained that the investigation of the construction company was informed by intelligence on alleged conspiracy;  misappropriation of public funds; embezzlement; official corruption; abuse of office, stealing and money laundering obtained against the Zamfara State government through inflated and uncompleted contracts awarded to the company.

So far, according to the EFCC, investigations have revealed that China Zounghao Ltd has received payments of over N41,000,000,000.00 (forty-one billion naira) from the Zamfara state government out of which about N16,000,000,000.00 (sixteen billion naira) equivalent to over $53,000,000.00 (fifty-three million US Dollars) was allegedly diverted and traced to some bureau de change operators.

It says the suspects would be charged to court soon.

Why I Sold My One-Month-Old Baby For N130,000 — Orphan

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….I bought the baby for N130,000 because I’ve been barren for 15 yrs —40-yr-old woman

A 20-year-old lady, Miracle Kalu, who was arrested for selling her one-month-old baby for N130,000, to an unknown couple in Lagos, has blamed her action on hardship.

She was traced to her residence in Orlu, Imo State, after the one-month-old baby, who was being conveyed to his new parents in Lagos, was intercepted by policemen, who were enforcing the lockdown directive at Anthony Oke on April 26, 2020.

Two passengers, who initially identified themselves as a couple: Patrick Mbama, 41,and Ogechi Chinonso Ekwebele, 30, were arrested alongside five other passengers in the Toyota Sienna bus, when they failed to give a reasonable explanation on the baby they were found with.

They, however, revealed during interrogation that the baby was being taken to a childless couple, who were subsequently arrested.

The biological mother of the baby, who was paraded, yesterday, at the command headquarters, Ikeja, admitted having sold her one-month-old baby on her own volition.

Why I sold my baby —Orphan

Asked why, she responded: “I knew I could not take care of the one-month-old baby because I am not working. I am an orphan. I was forced out of school when I was in Junior Secondary School 2 because there was no money to continue.

Read Also: FG To Review Lockdown Relaxation This Week

“I was impregnated by a trader in Orlu. But when I formed him, he said I should terminate it, that he was not ready to face such responsibilities. He abandoned me.

“On the day I was going to terminate the pregnancy, the tricyclist that conveyed me advised me against such action. He told me he could get someone that would help me cater to the baby.

“After delivery, I gave the baby to this lady (pointing to the lady earlier arrested).

“You will not understand why I took the decision. I could barely feed myself let alone an additional mouth. Besides, my sister, who accommodated me also does not have a job.

“The baby would have died of hunger if I didn’t do what I did. The money I collected was used to buy medicine and for upkeep.“

I’ve been barren for 15yrs—40-yr-old buyer

On her part, Mrs Cecelia Okafor said she gave N130,000 to the intermediary for the baby.

Explaining, she said: “I have been barren for 15 years. I paid the amount because I was in dire need of a baby to call my own. I saw this as an opportunity to experience how it feels like being a mother and I also wanted to take care of the baby.”

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who paraded the suspects alongside others arrested in the state, said the baby had been taken to a home, adding that all suspects would be charged to court.

FG To Review Lockdown Relaxation This Week

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The Federal Government of Nigeria, FG has confirmed that the relaxation of the lockdown will be reviewed this week.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, disclosed it during the daily briefing on Tuesday.

Aliyu said the task force would not hesitate to change strategy if the current directive is not working.

“You are probably aware that by the end of this week, we will be coming to the end of the second week of the relaxation of lockdown and we will be taking further decisions based on the review of the performance of the restrictions that we have in place.

“And we will not hesitate to change our strategy if it looks like it is not working.”

Nigeria currently has 4,641 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Read Also: E-Money Leaves Police Custody After Six Hours Of Interrogation

E-Money Leaves Police Custody After Six Hours Of Interrogation

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The Chairman, Five Star Group, Emeka Okonkwo aka E-Money, has left police custody after six hours of interrogation, ABN TV has learnt.

E-Money, it was learnt, arrived at the Police Headquarters Annex, Kam Salem, Obalende, Ikoyi, around 1pm in a wine-coloured suit.

He was subsequently grilled for about six hours in police custody by the Inspector-General of Police, Monitoring Department.

A top source said, “E-Money visited the Force HQ annex today and met with police detectives and was grilled for about six hours.

“He came along with two others and responded to many questions. Somebody took his bail and he was allowed to leave and return on Wednesday for more questioning.”

The IG, Mohammed Adamu, had placed E-Money under investigation over his flamboyant lifestyle and alleged flagrant abuse of police escorts.

Okonkwo, who is the brother to musician, Kingsley Okonkwo aka K-Cee, was said to have drawn the ire of the police boss for allegedly using policemen like domestic servants.

An order, it was learnt, was immediately handed to the Lagos State Police Command to withdraw the six policemen attached to E-Money.

A top police officer said, “We received a signal from the Force headquarters on Monday that the police detail of music executive, E-Money, be immediately withdrawn and an investigation into the man be launched.

READ ALSO: NASS No More Safe, Benjamin Kalu Cries Out As Hoodlums Break Into His Office

“The IG was surprised that policemen were attached to him in the first place and were being used like domestic servants, carrying umbrellas, opening doors and doing menial jobs for him.

“The policemen were discovered to be attached to B Operations at the command headquarters and not MOPOL which is the usual practice.

“So, we have withdrawn his policemen and we are inviting him for questioning. The policemen will also be interrogated.”

NASS No More Safe, Benjamin Kalu Cries Out As Hoodlums Break Into His Office

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The member representing Bende Federal Constituency and the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, has lamented the spate of insecurity in and around the National Assembly Complex as burglars broke into his office during the lockdown.

Kalu, while lamenting the incident at his office on Tuesday, said members of the National Assembly were no longer safe to carry out their legislative duties.

The lawmaker, who is representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, said he was shocked when he found out on Tuesday morning that his office had been burgled.

Also Read: Abia LG Election: APC will win in Bende, others, says Benjamin Kalu

Kalu said he had asked his aides to report the incident to the Sergeant-At-Arms and other security bodies at the National Assembly, while he would interface with the House Committees on Police Affairs and Internal Security.

He said, “It is actually surprising to see that somebody broke into my office. We are still trying to assess (the situation) to know what the intention of breaking into my office was. Was it to take an important document out or to check if we are leaving money or any valuables in the office, or to plant any security or spying device? Honestly, I don’t know but I have asked my aides to register it with the Sergeant-At-Arms.

“I am sure the police here will do their investigation and find out what actually happened. It is scary to come into your office and find this. This is one of the consequences of COVID-19 when we are not sitting every day. The time we were sitting every day, we never experienced this. So, hoodlums are beginning to see this also as an opportunity to break into people’s offices.

“We can’t pin it down, whether it was just breaking in for stealing or breaking in to spy on what the National Assembly is doing through my office. But whatever it is, I am sure the security agencies will get to the root of it. The National Assembly is no longer safe.

Also Read: HON BENJAMIN KALU AND THE NEED FOR A FAIR PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL, BY VICTOR UKAOGO

“For my office to be broken into, as the spokesperson for the House, I need to speak out so that people will know. The committee in charge of security needs to step up their game.

“I am going to immediately get in touch with those who are in charge of that committee to see what they are doing about situations of this nature. It is actually shocking. It means that we are not safe to do our job.

“My aide arrived this morning after dropping me at the chamber and I walked in here now to see this. The door to my personal office cannot close. It is open. It is unsafe and we need to secure it today to avoid anything happening after this time.”

BREAKING: Nigeria Records 146 New Cases Of COVID-19, Total Now 4787

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 146 new cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,787.

The centre disclosed this on Tuesday night via its verified Twitter handle.

It tweeted: “146 new cases of #COVID19; 57-Lagos 27-Kano 10-Kwara 9-Edo 8-Bauchi 7-Yobe 4-Kebbi 4-Oyo 3-Katsina 3-Niger 2-Plateau 2-Borno 2-Sokoto 2-Benue 1-Gombe 1-Enugu 1-Ebonyi 1-Ogun 1-FCT 1-Rivers.”

Another Woman With Coronavirus Delivers Baby Boy At LUTH

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A team of doctors, anesthetists, and nurses, at LUTH, Idi-Araba, delivered another woman, 37, with Coronavirus (COVID-19), of a baby boy weighing (2.6kg).

A team of doctors, anesthetists, and nurses, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, delivered another woman, 37, with Coronavirus (COVID-19), of a baby boy weighing (2.6kg).

Also Read: COVID-19: Lagos Govt Orders Scavengers To Vacate Refuse Dumpsites

Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), of LUTH, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

“The baby was delivered via a cesaerian section on Saturday, May 9.

“The mother and baby are doing well, we celebrate our committed frontline staff for this achievement,” he said.

Also Read: COVID-19 Patient Delivers Baby At LUTH

NAN reports that the medical team had also on April 20, delivered a 40 -year-old woman with COVID-19 of a baby girl, weighing 3.3kg.

(NAN)

WHO Meets African Traditional Medicine Experts Over COVID-19 Cure

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The World Health Organisation, WHO says it met with 70 traditional medicine experts in a bid to find a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO African Region made this known via its Twitter handle on Tuesday.

The health organisation said an agreement was reached with the herbal medicine experts on clinical trials of their remedies.

The PUNCH reports that the meeting is coming days after Madagascar said it found a herbal remedy capable of curing the disease.

Read Also: Emefiele Challenges Nigerian Scientists To Develop Coronavirus Vaccine

@WHOAFRO tweeted, “70 traditional medicine experts from countries across #Africa held a virtual meeting with @WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the #COVID19 response.

“They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception.”

Earlier, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina criticised WHO and other international organisations for allegedly scorning local “remedy” for COVID-19.

“If it wasn’t Madagascar, and if it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don’t think so,” he told French media in an interview.

Before the meeting, WHO had repeatedly warned that the COVID-Organics infusion, which Rajoelina has touted as a remedy against the deadly coronavirus, has not been clinically tested.

But Madagascar claimed the drink is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.

Already Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Tanzania have taken delivery of consignments of the potion, which was launched last month.

Also, Nigeria’s president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the importation of the remedy.

Emefiele Challenges Nigerian Scientists To Develop Coronavirus Vaccine

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Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has challenged Nigerian scientists to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus.

Speaking on Tuesday at the unveiling of the THISDAY Dome Testing, Tracing & Treatment Centre in Abuja, Emefiele said the apex bank will step in with funding once the vaccine is validated by health authorities.

“In order to encourage greater research and development in Nigeria of drugs and vaccines that would help prevent the spread of the virus, the CBN is developing a framework under which grants and long term facilities will be provided to researchers, science institutions and biotechnology firms to develop the Nigerian vaccine.

“Needless to state that if we are to wait for foreign countries to develop their own vaccines, we will be the last in the queue to receive curative remedies for our teeming population.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria today challenges Nigerian scientists at home and in the diaspora to go back to their laboratories and develop a Nigerian vaccine.

Read Also: Senate Condemns Breach Of Interstate Travel Ban, Asks IGP To Investigate Complicity Of Officers

“Once validated by the health authorities, the CBN will step in and do the needful for the sake of over 200 million Nigerians now confronted by COVID-19.”

According to the governor, the restoration of economic growth is dependent on how the public health crisis brought on by the coronavirus is addressed.

This is why, he said, the CBN launched an N100bn healthcare intervention fund which pharmaceutical and healthcare practitioners can access at a single-digit interest rate.

Listing other initiatives by the CBN, Emefiele said there is an N50 billion intervention facility for small and medium scale enterprises affected by COVID-19; in addition to an N1 trillion facility for firms operating in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

The CBN has also approved a moratorium and restructuring of loans under its intervention funds.

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