EU threatens to impose tough visa rules on Nigeria over illegal migration

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February 20, 2020

The European Union says it can impose restrictive visa implementation rules on Nigeria if it fails to play its part in the return and readmission of its nationals staying illegally in the EU.

The EU, which comprises Germany, Italy, Spain, France and 23 other countries, further stated that although it would not place a visa ban on Nigeria, it could make its visas more difficult for Nigerian applicants if Nigeria failed to meet its standards.

The EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms Virginie Battu-Henriksson, said this in an email chat with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

Recall that the United States had last month imposed an immigrant visa ban on Nigeria and five other countries.

Under the new policy, citizens of the affected countries would not be allowed to apply for visas to emigrate to the US under the policy aimed at tightening “security for countries that don’t comply with the US minimum security standards or cooperate to prevent illegal immigration.”

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Nigeria presents a high risk, relative to other countries in the world, of terrorist travel to the US.

The US further stated that Nigeria did not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information, which is necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the US.

Following the US action, the Federal Government set up a committee headed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to ensure that Nigeria meets requirements the US said were not in place.

On February 5, the committee met with the US Consular General in Abuja with a view to addressing issues raised in the visa ban.
On Tuesday, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Mary Lenoard, explained that the visa ban was not permanent, adding that it was subject to review if certain conditions were met.

But while Nigeria is struggling with the US visa ban, the EU said it could impose restrictive visa implementation rules on it.

‘Come and carry your son’ lady tells mother inlaw, after cutting off husband’s body in Owerri

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Alex Enemanna

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February 20, 2020

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The fear being generated in marriages in recent times has again been heighten as a doctor with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri is now battling for his dear life after his wife brutally attacked him on Tuesday night after unresolved issues.

According to the victim’s friend who gave his name as Jones, the doctor’s wife cut off his nose, upper teeth, tip of tongue, lower gums and after the assault, she allegedly called his mother inlaw to come and carry his son, apparently thinking he was dead.

“A doctor in my centre (FMC) Owerri was assaulted by his wife last night (Tuesday) after a quarrel. The woman cut off his nose,upper teeth,tip of his tongue and part of his lower gums. She then called the guy’s mom to come and carry her son’s corpse.” said Jones.

“Luckily for the doctor, he was rushed to the hospital last night and we stabilized him.

“He is conscious, but cannot talk since he’s on tracheotomy. Now I’m scared of this marriage thing” he said.

“It is wrong to think National Assembly members are overpaid” – Buhari

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Alex Enemanna

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February 20, 2020

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The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has said it is wrong for Nigerians to perceive the National Assembly as being “highly overpaid” for doing little.

He said the lack of trust in the lawmakers had made their critics not to see the enormous work they were doing for the country.

Buhari said this in Abuja on Wednesday when the House of Representatives launched The Green Chamber Magazine, a publication by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.

At the event were the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who represented the President; Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, representing President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Governor of Katsina State and former Speaker of the House, Bello Masari; Governor of Imo State and former member of the Senate, Hope Uzodinma, among others.

Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, led principal officers and members to the event.

Buhari, speaking through Mohammed, said the parliamentarians did not share money without working.

He said, “Hitherto, the public perception of the National Assembly is that of a bicameral legislature where overly comfortable and highly-overpaid members merely stuff wads of currency notes into their pockets for little work done. This wrong perception has resulted partly from the lack of understanding of the enormous work of lawmakers, especially outside the glare of television cameras.

“But with a magazine that will be the authoritative source of anything that goes on in the House – motions being moved, bills being passed, national issues being discussed and constituency projects – the public will be better informed on the activities of the House, and this will, in turn, reflect in an improved public perception.

“In addition, it will help the House to tell its own story, rather than relying on others to take charge of their narrative. It is said that no one can tell your story better than you.”

A former Director of Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Commission and Director of the Kenya School of Laws, Prof. Plo Lumumba, who was a keynote speaker at the event, asked if the lawmakers were following the footsteps of Nigeria’s founding fathers who, he said, had a clear vision for the country.

He said, “I read your great founding leaders. I read the works of Nnamdi Azikiwe and I listened to him in those early days. He was as eloquent as he was passionate about telling Nigerians and Africans – because he was called the Zik of Africa – that leadership is about service. This magazine is an occasion for you to demonstrate to Africa that you are servant-leaders.

Court orders release of Dasuki’s passport

By

Alex Enemanna

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February 20, 2020

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The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday ordered the release of the passport of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf at Maitama made the order to enable the ex-NSA to renew the expired passport and secure a visa to travel abroad for medical consultation.

Dasuki had deposited the passport in the registry of the court as part of the conditions of the bail granted him by the court in December 2015.

He and others are being prosecuted before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in respect of two sets of charges in which he and his co-defendants were accused of diverting funds meant for procurement of arms to be used to fight insurgency in the North-East.

Dasuki’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), argued the application seeking the release of the passport, on Wednesday.

The prayer for the release of the passport as contained in the application filed on February 11 was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe.

Atolagbe, however, opposed the second prayer seeking an order permitting the defendant to travel abroad.

The second prayer opposed by the prosecution was then withdrawn by the defence lawyer.

Ruling, Justice Baba-Yusuf granted an order for the release of the passport, which was not opposed by the prosecution.

The judge noted that it would be premature to grant Dasuki’s request to travel abroad when he had yet to renew his passport.

The EFCC also withdrew two applications seeking an order of the court directing the two pending cases to continue regardless of whether Dasuki was present in court or not.

The commission had filed the application after he wrote a letter to inform the court that he would no longer attend court until he was released from the illegal custody of the Department of State Services which detained him for about four years in disregard of the bail granted him by different courts.

The judge struck out the applications which were said to have been overtaken by the event of Dasuki’s release from custody on the 2019 Christmas Eve.

The court fixed March 13 for trial.

Civil Servant arrested for not reporting salary overpayments

By

Alex Enemanna

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February 20, 2020

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested and arraigned a former staff of the Ondo state command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (formerly Nigerian Prison Service), Mrs Opadule Caroline Abimbola on a seven-count charge bordering on dishonesty and corruption.

Abimbola was accused of concealing the receipt of salary overpayments at various times in 2012 while still a staff of the prison service.

The public office holder was reportedly paid more than her monthly remuneration through her First Bank Salary account No. 2004992044, totalling N1.2m. The lady who allegedly refused to report the anomaly, was also accused of making a false statement to ICPC officials during the investigation.

She reportedly pleaded not guilty to all charges and she wasn’t opposed when her counsel, A. O. Oluwole made an oral application for bail.

Abimbola was granted bail of N1.5m and is expected to provide two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be in the employment of the state government and must be on Grade Level 10 or above.

Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug confirmed effective on coronavirus – Study

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ABN TV EDITOR

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February 20, 2020

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Chinese experts, based on the result of clinical trials, have confirmed that chloroquine phosphate, an antimalarial drug, has a certain curative effect on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a Chinese official said here Monday.

According to reports in Xinhua, a Chinese news organisation, experts have “unanimously” suggested the drug be included in the next version of the treatment guidelines and applied in wider clinical trials as soon as possible.

This was said by, Sun Yanrong, deputy head of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology, at a press conference.

Meanwhile, China reported a total of 2,048 new cases on Monday.

Of those new cases, 1,933 were from Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak.

More than 70,500 people across China have been infected by the virus. In Hubei alone, the official number of cases stands at 58,182, with 1,692 deaths. Most new cases and deaths have been reported in Wuhan, Hubei’s largest city.

According to official figures for 16 February, 100 people died from the virus in Hubei, down from 139 on Saturday.

The Chinese authorities are tightening curbs on movement to combat the outbreak. People in Hubei province, which has 60 million people, have been ordered to stay at home, though they will be allowed to leave in an emergency.

In addition, a single person from each household will be allowed to leave the building or compound they live in every three days to buy food and essential items.

On housing estates, one entrance will be kept open. It will be guarded to ensure that only residents can enter or leave.

All businesses will stay closed, except chemists, hotels, food shops, and medical services.

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