ECOWAS Appoints Jonathan As Special Envoy To Mali

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as a special envoy to lead its mediation mission in Mali.

The ex-president’s media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said as special envoy, Jonathan was expected to facilitate dialogue with all principal stakeholders in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition leaders, civil society groups and religious organizations in a bid to resolve the worsening socio-political situation in the West African country.

The ex-president’s appointment for the mediation role was communicated to him in a letter signed by the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

He is expected to leave for Bamako on Wednesday.

Jonathan thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the support of the Nigerian government, including providing an aircraft and other logistics needed to make the assignment successful.

He also promised to ensure that the mission achieves the desired result in Mali.

Just In: Ohaneze and IPOB brokered peace as Kanu retracts threat

The apex Igbo socio cultural Organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Nnamdi Kanu led-Indegineous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday agreed to work harmoniously towards the interest of the Igbo.

The two groups which had been at loggerheads especially in the recent times, brokered peace at the instance of First Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi.

Addressing newsmen after the peace meeting at the elderstatesman’s house in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Amechi described as unecessary any form of altercation between Ohaneze Ndigbo and IPOB.

He said both bodies were fighting for the welfare of Ndigbo.

Amechi, the only surviving member of the Zikist Movement, expressed joy over the withdrawal threat by Nnamdi Kanu of stoning Chief Nnia Nwodo as well as agreeing to work harmoniously with Ohaneze Ndigbo for the interest of the South East.

He also revealed part of the resolution from the meeting was the demand for de-proscription of IPOB which he described as illegal.

He urged Governors and State Houses of Assembly in the region to commence action towards lifting the ban.

He said: “I summoned the two bodies of Ohaneze Ndigbo and IPOB to express my displeasure with what I have been reading in the newspapers about Kanu giving orders for the stoning of Chief Nwodo by IPOB.


“I’m happy that even before this my peace meeting, Kanu has retracted the statement. We therefore appeal to Nwodo to accept the retraction and get it off his mind as IPOB has agreed to work with them.

“The two bodies realizing that it is the same battle they are fighting, marginalization, killings and denial of Federal Government to develop South East and Igbo land in general have agreed to work together for the welfare of Ndigbo.”

Representive of the IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor said he was at the meeting with the blessings and instructions of his clients, just as he thanked Amaechi who he said was not a stranger to what he was doing having been once declared a terrorist.

He confirmed the retraction of his client’s threats on the Ohaneze boss, describing it as one spoken at the heat of the moment.

While stressing the urgent need for regional security, he insisted that such would not be achievable without the de-proscription of the pro-Biafran body, saying “it has to participate as the muscle of building the security.”

He said: “There was a synergy between us and the Ohaneze. Nobody is leaving this place with acrimony. There’s peace in Igbo land. Anybody coming in to take advantage of some leadership crises in Igbo land is actually making a mistake.

“The Igbos are united and love themselves, otherwise, they couldn’t have sustained themselves for the 3-year civil war. Whoever saying anything contrary is sowing a seed of discord.

Speaking on behalf of Ohaneze Ndigbo, state President of the body, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said the body endorsed all that were contained in the communique.

He said, “Those who thought our fences are fallen will know that the fences are much stronger than they thought.”

A CALL FOR IMMEDIATE SACK OF MR. TUNDE SABHIU (PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Press Text
14th July, 2020 

 A CALL FOR IMMEDIATE SACK, INVESTIGATION AND PROCECUTION OF MR. TUNDE SABHIU (PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI) FOR QUESTIONABLE WEALTH AND SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES UNDER COVER OF NIGERIA PRESIDENCY

In as much as we wish to categorically establish that this call is born out of our sincere and moral concern for the reputation and integrity of our dear President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, Federal Republic Of Nigeria H. E Muhammadu Buhari whose effort and commitment to get rid of corruption in Nigeria governance and administration is becoming a mockery and charade by the activites of some few elements in his cabinet.


The Nigerian Citizens Action Group (NCAG)  a coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Student Bodies hereby made this important call of national purpose and public interest.

Mr Shabiu Tunde, who is the Personal Assistant to President Buhari have been reported by some section of Online media in most recent as richest young man ever lives in the history Nigeria Power class and political space, an under 30 years old young man with unprecedented cash ballance in local and foreign banks and choice properties within the heart of Abuja, Dubia and other foreign countries.

It was also alleged that Mr Sabhiu uses the opportunity of being in charge of President Buhari personal and official phone lines (phones) to send text messages to heads of Ministries, Agencies and Departments seeking monetary/contract favours for himself, Associates, family and friends in pretence as directive from Mr president, all to perfect is sharp practice to amash wealth.

This among other aledged suspecious fraudulent, corrupt and pretence acts carried out by Mr Tunde Shabiu to accumulate questionable wealth for himself under covarage of Nigeria Presidency.
In a nation where we borrow to fund budget to zero kobo, unemployment are high side and poverty at peak point,
It's therefore important for Mr President to sack Shabiu now, with antigraft agency's immediate arrest, investigation and procecution accordingly, those who known Tunde before emergence of President Buhari in 2015 will not doubt the questionable wealth and life style of Shabiu now under 5 years of President Buhari Reign as Nigeria President with Tunde Shabiu as Personal Assistant hence is investigation is of National interest and effort to rekindle hope of Nigerians in anti-corruption war of President Buhari led administration and Presidency recent declaration of *'No body is Above Scrutiny'*

We are optimistic that our call be answer Honorably on or before 14 working days starting from this day of press release other wise we shall take to the street of Abuja in protest to press home this our noble demand as, concern and concious citizens of Federal Republic of Nigeria .

Mr president's Old age must not be taken as advance to milk Nigeria treasury dry by these greedy, corrupt and unpatriotic elements in the government.

Signed.

Engr. S A Lukman
Spokes Person
Nigerian Citizen Action Group
+2348024482923


Activist Sunday A Asuku
National President
National Association of Polytechnic Students NAPS
www.naps.org.ng
08065498510

20-year-old Girl Commits Suicide In Lagos After Fight With Brother (Photo)

A promising young girl has taken her own life in Lagos after being molested by her step-brother.

A 20-year-old girl, Sherifat Suleiman, has committed suicide in Ikorodu area of Lagos after a series of molestations by her step-brother.

Vanguard reported that the tragic incident occurred at about 4 p.m., on Sunday, in Isawo area.

The deceased and her brother, who lived in a two-room apartment on Road 8, off 2nd Avenue, Olorunsogo, Yewa, Isawo, were said to always be at loggerheads.

Sherifat, who was preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, started living with the brother after the death of their father.

On the day of the incident, it was learned that she bought and ingested a poisonous substance. When she started writing in pains, a little girl raised the alarm.

Neighbours responded, but found Sherifat lying on the floor, with whitish discharges from her mouth. She died on the way to the hospital.

Her step-brother, crying, was said to have wrapped the body up and headed for their home town in Ijebu area of Ogun State for burial.

Residents said the girl decided to commit suicide when she could no longer withstand the physical and psychological assault by her brother.

They said on examining the body, they noticed bruises on her legs and laps. But a senior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, said investigations are on.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Elkanah Bala, did not respond to his call when he was contacted on phone.

Data Price To Drop By 60% by 2025, Says Pantami

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, has disclosed that data price will drop by 60 per cent by 2025.

He said such would be achievable with what the ministry has put in place in terms of infrastructure, and as the government is making ICT infrastructures as national infrastructure.

The minister made this known yesterday in Abuja during the official opening of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) training programme organised for ICT journalists with the theme: ‘Digital Skills in News Reportage For ICT Journalists’.

Pantami said high cost of right of way, provision of security for telecom infrastructure by telecoms provider are responsible for the high cost Nigerians pay for telecoms services, and now, the federal government has taken that burden off them.

“By 2025, Nigerians will pay 40 percent of what data cost them now,” he stated.

Speaking further, he said: “In the ministry, we are working on restructuring all the departments because most of them are obsolete.

We will have many critical departments that will focus on digital innovation, entrepreneurship, digital economy and more to make sure that we are on the right track for a digital Nigeria.”

He hinted on the need for Nigeria to join rest of the countries that have preference of skills over certificate when employing workers, saying what is most important is not the certificate but the skill. Many developed nations are promoting skills rather than certificate.

The minister said the ministry, through its agencies, needs to train journalists who are major players in the country’s efforts to drive home the digital Nigeria economic policy.

“Digital Nigeria cannot be achieved without training people who will play a key role in ensuring that we achieve that digital Nigeria.

Journalists have a role to play, most importantly our ICT journalists or multimedia journalists as the case may be.

“It is because of this reason that we feel on the top of our priority that you (journalists) are the first to start benefiting from this training before others,” he explained.

In his remark, the Director General of NITDA, Dr. Inuwa Abdullahi, was of the opinion that the only way out of the economic woes created by COVID-19 pandemic is digital technology.

According to him, “As we are set to embrace this new normal, we need to reskill ourselves; also, we have seen it that the only thing that worked well in this pandemic is digital technology.

“And we have seen it as the most profound solution of getting out of this pandemic. Therefore, as the minister said, we feel it is important to train you (journalists) and reskill you so that you cannot be left behind in our journey to digital Nigeria.”

Breaking News: US Denies Hushpuppi’s Request For Bail

Nigerian suspected fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi has been denied bail in the United States.

DAILY POST had reported that his lawyer, Gal Pissetzky had said that his client was kidnapped by the FBI from Dubai and taken to the US.

Pissetzky also insisted that his job as an Instagram celebrity paid for the $10,000 monthly rent on his luxury Dubai flat.

His lawyer applied for him to leave jail with an electronic tag and live with the uncle, but US prosecutors opposed the bail application.

According to the UAE’s The National, the prosecutors said he could commit crimes with just a smartphone and an internet connection and that he posed too much of a flight risk.

Reacting to prosecutors’ argument, Pissetzky said his client had too much to lose if he flees from the United States.

Atalanta Star Beats Ronaldo To Serie A Player Of The Month Award

Juventus forward, Cristiano Ronaldo was beaten to the Serie A Player of the Month for June by Atalanta’s Alejandro Gomez.

The 32-year-old Gomez has showed some fantastic form since the restart of football, grabbing four assists in Atalanta’s wins against Sassuolo, Lazio and Udinese last month to help his side leapfrog Inter into third place.

Interestingly, Gomez did not score any goal during that period but his performances were adjudged better than everyone else.

“Atalanta are one of the most beautiful tales in our league and no-one represents the values ​​of this team better than captain Gomez for his quality and quantity, team spirit and self-sacrifice for his teammates,” said Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo.

“Papu’s having an extraordinary season, illuminating our league with his class and acting as the driving force for his teammates on the pitch with goals and assists.”

Gomez has a total of seven goals and 18 assists in 40 appearances for the Atalanta this season.

NNPC Sacked 850 Refinery Workers – NUPENG

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association said on Monday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had sacked 850 contract workers at the nation’s refineries.

The unions disclosed this in a joint statement signed by the National President, NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, and his counterpart in PENGASSAN, Mr Ndukaku Ohaeri, as well as their general secretaries.

The statement was entitled ‘NUPENG and PENGASSAN strongly react to comments by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, on refineries and oil and gas workers’.

“On the purported threat of the Group Managing Director of NNPC to sack workers, we wish to state here that it was actually no more a threat but that it had already been carried out with the sack of 850 support staff in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, throwing almost a thousand workers into hard financial situation without an iota of empathy or consultation with the union,” it said.

The unions said they never threatened to go on strike, but that they only demanded to be engaged for a proper discussion on the commensurate terminal benefits of the workers who had worked for 10 to 15 years.

They said, “We found it rather highly inhuman and unfair on the part of NNPC management to sack these workers with only their last paycheques after 15 good years of their lives in NNPC.

“If a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Group Managing Director of NNPC can dismiss contract workers that have served for more than 10 years continuously as if they are rodents, what more can we expect from lOCs. The monthly salaries of 25 of these contract staff put together cannot equal a typical management staff salary of the same organisation.”

602 Repentant Boko Haram Swears Oath Of Allegiance To Nigeria (Photo)

No fewer than 602 repentant Boko Haram members, on Monday, denounced their membership of the group and swore an oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The ex-insurgents who have completed a de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration program, denounced their membership of the insurgent group at the Malam Sidi Camp in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they denounced their membership of Boko Haram before an 11-man Quasi-Judicial Panel headed by Justice Nehizena Afolabi, of the Federal High Court, Gombe.

Speaking during the exercise, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, said the appearance of the repentant insurgents before the judicial panel was a major requirement, before their reintegration into the society.

[Goals Highlight] Man United 2 – 2 Southampton (Watch Here)

Southampton substitute Michael Obafemi’s 96th-minute equaliser prevented Manchester United from jumping up to third place and leaves their Champions League qualification still in the balance.

United led 2-1 for 73 minutes after Marcus Rashford had slotted home an equaliser and Anthony Martial fired a superb second three minutes later.

They were on course to leapfrog top-four rivals Chelsea and Leicester but Obafemi bundled in a set-piece at the back post deep in stoppage time after it had been flicked on by Jan Bednarek.

Watch the Highlight below:

FGN Releases New Guidelines For Reopening Of Schools

The Federal Government has released guidelines ahead of the planned resumption of schools at every level in the country, even as it failed to disclose dates.

According to Punch, the guidelines outlined actions, measures and requirements needed for the safe reopening of schools after the COVID – 19 pandemic.

According to the guidelines released by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Monday, the safe distancing measures in the new guidelines required that in schools and other learning facilities, learners should be supported to stay two meters apart.

The guidelines which was signed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and Minister of State (Education), Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba was developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Health and health safety experts in the country.

The document reads, “However, there are exceptions where the two-meter rule cannot be reasonably applied and other risk mitigation strategies may be adopted. Examples include early years, younger primary school children, and those with additional needs.

“In these circumstances, risk assessments must be undertaken with the best interests of the learners, teachers, and other education personnel in mind. The scenarios require organizing learners and children into small groups with consistent membership and compliance with the risk mitigation strategies. The membership of these groups should not change unless the NCDC public health guideline suggests otherwise.”

With the release of the document, the government would conduct a rapid assessment and determine funding requirement for upgrading infrastructure and facilities (such as classrooms, furniture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene-WASH and ICT facilities) to meet and sustain prescribed safe school reopening requirements.

The government said it was time for it to plan and address the eventual safe reopening of schools and learning facilities.

Recall that schools and all learning facilities were closed due to Coronavirus pandemic in order to safeguard the health and general wellbeing of children, youths, teachers and educational personnel.

The guidelines included a review of existing policies, practices, and risk mitigation strategies in the use of schools for other purposes, such as distance learn-ing centres, temporary shelters, isolation, quarantine and treatment centres, markets, voting centres, among others.

“COVID – 19 pandemic poses an enormous risk to the health and safety of learners, teachers, parents, school administrators, education practitioners, and the wider community…More than 1.5 billion children and young people globally have been affected by school and university closures.

“As a responsible government, it is also our duty to provide comprehensive guidelines for a safe and hitch-free reopening of schools and learning facilities. We do so knowing that the health, safety, and security of learners, teachers, education personnel, and families are priorities”, it stressed.

The guidelines dealt extensively on equitable plans for school reopening and operations, focusing on attendance, social distancing, hygiene, cleaning, and non-pharmaceutical interventions for safe and healthy school activities and programmes.

Adamu explained that the need to develop the guidelines became imperative, “given that COVID – 19 may be with us for a while.”

He said the guidelines also highlight the urgent need to maintain and improve upon distance-learning programs.

The Minister said, “Our aim is to identify and strengthen programmes that will guarantee the recovery of learning gaps resulting from the pandemic.

“The guidelines were drafted in close coordination with health, environmental, education, and school safety experts who were tasked with the responsibility of charting a pathway for safely reopening our schools and learning facilities for quality teaching and learning.”

The approach, according to him, ensured that stakeholders provided regular feedback throughout the process.

Adamu expressed gratitude to the Presidential Taskforce on COVID – 19, FMoH, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Education in Emergencies Working Group in Nigeria for their support and contribution in the development of the guidelines.

Abuja pastor reacts to report he bought N573m property on Magu’s behalf in Dubai

The cleric accused of complicity in the alleged fraud perpetrated by the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Monday distanced himself from the allegation levelled against him by the presidential panel probing the anti-graft czar.

The cleric, Prophet Emmanuel Omale, in a letter signed by his lawyer, Chief Gordy Uche and addressed to journalists, rejected the allegation that he bought a property worth N573million in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Magu’s behalf.

Omale, who is also the General Overseer of Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International, Abuja, said he indeed met Magu in Dubai earlier this year but it was not for the purpose of purchasing a property.

According to him, the suspended EFCC chairman had travelled to Dubai for medical reasons and he only prayed with him.

The cleric said the report of his alleged involvement in corruption “reeks of calumny, denigration, actuated by malice, and calculated to ridicule, disparage and cast a stain on his reputation.”

The presidential panel had on Saturday revealed how Magu allegedly used the cleric to launder funds abroad.

In a report made available to journalists in Abuja, the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel alleged that Omale was used by the EFCC chief to launder funds.

Omale’s name, according to the report, was uncovered through an investigative report on EFCC’s activities by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and mentioned in the final report of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA).

The cleric’s letter read: “We, however, wish to make the following clarifications to put the public records straight: That our client is the General Overseer of an Inter-denominational/Multi-religious Prayer Ministry.

“That our client, only visited Mr. Ibrahim Magu in a hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, sometime in March 2020.

“That our client never laundered any funds whatsoever for Mr. Ibrahim Magu or for anybody whatsoever. Our client does not own any foreign bank account anywhere in the world.

“That there are no funds whatsoever traceable from Mr. Ibrahim Magu to our client’s bank accounts whatsoever neither has our client received any funds whatsoever from Mr. Ibrahim Magu. Our client has never received any funds whatsoever from anybody on behalf of Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

“That our client does not own any property in Dubai. His name was never used to purchase any property whatsoever in Dubai, United Arab Emirates or anywhere else in any part of the world, neither has he purchased any property nor properties for Mr. Ibrahim Magu in any part of the world whatsoever.”

Breaking News: Mandela’s Daughter, Zindzi Is Dead

Zindzi Mandela, the youngest daughter of South Africa’s ex-president, Nelson Mandela is dead.

She died at 59 on Monday morning.

Before her death, she was the South African ambassador to Denmark.

“59-year-old daughter of former president Nelson Mandela and struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, died at a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of this morning,”

SABC reported.

However, the cause of her death has not been revealed yet.

Ondo APC Expels Success Torukerijoh For Anti-Party Activities

The All Progressives Congress in the Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State has reportedly expelled the lawmaker from the area, Mr Success Torukerijoh.

Torukerijoh is a member of the state House of Assembly and one of the nine lawmakers opposed to the impeachment of the state deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

The development was confirmed by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, who is also a chieftain of the party in the local government.

When contacted on the matter, Ojogo simply said the information is “correct.”

Torukerijoh was said to have been expelled for being involved in anti-party activities and the action was taken during the meeting of the leaders of the party held at Igbekebo, the headquarters of the local government, on Sunday.

According to a source, the motion for the expulsion of the embattled lawmaker was moved and duly seconded at the meeting.

Efforts to reach the lawmaker on the telephone were unsuccessfully as his telephone line indicated that it was switched off as of the time of filing this report.

Aside the lawmaker’s expulsion, the APC leaders at the meeting also insisted that the deputy governor must resign his position since he had dumped the party.

Meanwhile, Torhukerhijoh has described his expulsion from the APC in his local government as illegal and embarrassing.

He said the news of his expulsion showed clearly that the leadership of the party had run out of any iota of decency.

The lawmaker stated, “My refusal to sign the impeachment process of the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, represents the popular wishes of the greatest number of my constituents.
Diri canvasses improved primary healthcare

“This harassment and intimidation by the Speaker, David Oloyeogun, to force me to sign against my conscience and conviction shows the desperation and agony of a ‘Fortunate Fool’.

“I’m not oblivious of the backing of Mr Governor in all of these clandestine moves to conscript my humble self to sign at all cost and by all means. Let me reiterate my commitment to holding on to this noble cause. I remain focused.”

President Buhari Congratulates Kamaru Usman For Retaining UFC Title

President Muhammadu Buhari heartily congratulates Kamarudeen Usman on the successful defence of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight title with an emphatic win over Jorge Masvidal.

As the first African-born and Nigerian UFC Champion, President Buhari commends the courageous fighter for finishing strong inside the octagon, proudly flying the green and white colours in distant lands, and reminding the world that good things and great people still come out of Nigeria.

While the global COVID-19 pandemic may have brought gloom to many families and nations, the President is delighted and gratified that our welterweight champion has lifted our spirits with another professional performance proving that things will surely get better at the fullness of time when we remain committed to our vision.

The President wishes Usman the very best and more victories in his career and prays that like fine wine, he improves with age.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 12, 2020

Covid-19: Kwara Deputy Governor’s Aides Test Positive

Kwara State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr Kayode Alabi, on Sunday announced that some of his aides have tested positive to COVID-19 virus and therefore warned residents to strictly adhere to the safety protocols.

This is contained in a press statement issued by his Chief press secretary, Modupe Joel.

The deputy governor was earlier announced to have tested negative to COVID-19 virus after he surrendered himself for the test. His aides however tested positive and they are currently receiving treatment in the state Isolation Centre at Sobi Specialist Hospital in Ilorin.

The Deputy governor warned in the statement that the disease is a real and dangerous and therefore requires serious caution. He explained that the government is determined to flatten the curve of coronavirus and curb community transmission.

Mr Alabi confirmed that his COVID-19 positive aides have been admitted to COVID-19/ Infectious centre, Sobi Specialist Hospital Ilorin.

The Deputy Governor called on Kwarans to take responsibility in the fight against the disease, saying that,” the only antidote against COVID-19 is to obey all the government’s and health officials precautionary measures such as wearing of nose masks, avoidance of large gathering, adherence to physical distancing, washing of hands with soap and running water or sanitiser, among others.”

He also advised all ministries, departments and agencies to emulate his action by testing their staff.

[Goals Highlight] Tottenham 2 – 1 Arsenal (Watch Here)

Toby Alderweireld scored a late headed winner to secure Tottenham a 2-1 north London derby victory over Arsenal, boosting Spurs’ European hopes at the expense of their visitors.

Spurs were second best for much of the encounter and conceded first, but after equalising and then holding firm against a dominant Arsenal, Alderweireld glanced home late on to move Jose Mourinho’s men above the Gunners in the table.

While the game perhaps lacked some of the derby’s usual ferocity, the first half certainly provided thrills and spills, with Alexandre Lacazette’s spectacular opener and Son Heung-min’s well-taken leveller both consequences of defensive mishaps.

Watch the Highlight below:

185 Coronavirus Deaths Have Been Recorded In Lagos

The State’s Commissioner For Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Made The Disclosure Through His Twitter Account On Sunday While Giving The State’s COVID-19 Update For July 10.

He, however, did not give additional information on the sex, age, nationality or medical conditions of the deceased.

Abayomi added that out of the 1,147 COVID-19 tests conducted in the state on July 10, 165 were confirmed positive.

“The new cases had brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state to 12,056,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that 47,684 COVID-19 tests had been conducted so far in the state since the outbreak of the epidemic.

“A total of 1,841 of the confirmed cases have since been discharged from COVID-19 care centres following their full recovery.

“We still have 332 of the patients currently under isolation in public and private care centres,” he said.

Abayomi said that 7,634 of the confirmed cases monitored in communities by COVID-19 state response team have either fully recovered or positively responding to treatments.

He, however, said that 2,064 active cases in communities were yet to turn up for admission in COVID-19 care centres.

Abayomi stressed that COVID-19 was real, thus advised residents on wearing of facemasks, regular hand washing and ensuring physical distancing to reduce the risk of infection.

He advised residents to call the state’s 0800CORONA hotline for any COVID-19 related issues

2023: Our Plan Is To Launch APC In Igboland ― Igbo Leaders

Igbo leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said that they have been united to launch APC.

in the five states of the Southeast through Imo state, and that they would reach out to other governors in the region so as to collectively grab their share in the Nigeria project.

The Igbo APC, leaders who were hosted by Governor Hope Uzodinma, took the decision among other issues at the Government House in Owerri, weekend.

The Igbo leaders were led by Senator Ken Nnamani (South East Representative of APC, National caretaker committee)

Senator Chris Ngige (Minister for Labour and Productivity) Emeka Nwajiuba (Minister for state education) Uche Ogah (Minister of state, Mines and Steels) Joeffrey Onyema (Minister for Foreign affairs) and Ogbonnaya Onu (Minister for science and technology).

For Governor Hope Uzodinma, they would leverage on their individual goodwill to strength APC, in Southeast in order to jointly participate in the federal government projects to alleviate poverty in Igboland.

While Senator Ken Nnamani, said that they have seen signs in Imo state, that Uzodinma, would make APC, proud and give the party hope in Igbo region, adding that Imo has become a base for APC, to launch out to other states.

Just as the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, said that they would be meeting with other governors of the Southeast states to discuss further on how they can come together for Igbo interest.

Girl Arrested For Calling Ex-boyfriend More Than 27,000 Times After Break Up

Breakups can be hard, painful and ugly but one thing is for sure, when a person came from a bad breakup, they should move on and accept the fact that the chapter of your life with your partner is over.

Kelly Murphy, 28, of Alberta was arrested for obsessing over her ex-boyfriend, Randy Williams. Aside from calling him about 27,639 times in one week, she also sent him 937 emails, 11,229 text messages, 117 sung messages, and 47 letters in the same period. This is insane!

Randy almost got into depression because of her. Though they have been together for only two weeks, it’s obvious Kelly couldn’t accept the breakup.
She used almost eight phones at once to call him on his cell phone, home phone, workplace phone. I wonder how hard it is to work and do these things every day.

If you’re wondering how can Kelly manage to wake up for 24 hours calling him nonstop, she’s consuming large quantities of energy drinks and amphetamines.

According to Randy’s lawyer, J.D. James Kilroy, Randy’s relieved to know that Kelly is finally behind bars. He could finally rest and have a good night sleep, enjoy his life.

Nigeria Police Recruitment 2020: How To Apply

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Saturday announced that it has commenced its 2020 recruitment exercise for new officers.

Police spokesman Frank Mba in a statement said the security agency is recruiting qualified persons as constables from July to mid-August.

Interested applicants, according to Mba, must be aged between 17 to 25 years and must possess “a minimum of five credits, including English and Mathematics, in WASSCE/NECO/GCE/NABTEB.

“Applicants must be medical, physical, and psychologically fit and must not be less than 1.67m tall for male and 1.64m tall for female,” Mba said.

The police spokesman stated that female applicants must not be pregnant at the time of the recruitment.

He said all recruitment processes are done online and urged applicants to visit www.policerecruitment.gov.ng to complete the online registration form.

Mba noted that applicants that meet the requirements from the online registration would be invited for physical screening at all state commands, including FCT Command, from 24th August 2020 to 30th August 2020.

The police spokesman said the names of successful candidates will be published in national newspapers on 14th September 2020 and other platforms.

Mba advised persons with certain disabilities not to apply. They include “impediment in speech gross malformation of teeth or jaw preventing proper mastication of food, knocked knees, bowlegs, bent knees (knees which cannot be straightened when standing at attention),”

Persons with “deformed hands which cannot perform the full functions of the hand, defective eyesight or squints eyes and amputation of any part of the body” are also advised not to apply for the recruitment exercise.

[Goals Highlight] Sheffield United 3 – 0 Chelsea (Watch Here)

Chelsea’s Champions League ambitions suffered a setback as they slumped to a 3-0 Premier League defeat at top-six hopefuls Sheffield United.

The Blues had responded to their 3-2 defeat to West Ham on July 1 with back-to-back wins over Watford and Crystal Palace but were easily second best in south Yorkshire.

David McGoldrick’s first Premier League goal and a header from Oli McBurnie saw the Blades take command in the first half.

Watch the Highlight below:

Ten Prominent Politicians Who Died Of COVID-19 In Nigeria

A number of prominent politicians are among 689 Nigerians who lost their lives to COVID-19, Daily Trust Saturday report shows.

Almost five months after the country confirmed its first case of the pandemic on February 27, 2020, a total of 30,748 cases have been recorded while 12,546 persons who had contracted the virus have been discharged and 689 deaths recorded, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCNC) daily update.

Confirmed cases have been on the increase despite the war waged against the pandemic by both federal and state governments. The country’s index, an Italian who returned from Milan, Italy, through the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos survived the virus.

In line with medical ethics, the identities of persons who had contracted the virus and those who lost their lives to it are not made public by the NCDC.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that of the deaths recorded as a result of the pandemic, there are many politicians and influential personalities. However, only the statuses of few of them were made known to the public.

Since March 23 when the first death, involving a prominent person, a 67-year-old Suleiman Achimugu, an engineer and former managing director of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), was recorded, prominent politicians including a former governor, ministers, lawmakers, party chieftains, among others, have lost their lives.

Top among them was the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Abba Kyari.

Abba Kyari
It all started from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the country’s seat of power, when Kyari who was appointed Chief of Staff in August, 2015 by President Buhari tested positive for COVID-19 on March 24.
The 67-year-old presidential aide battled with the pandemic until April 17 when he succumbed to complications arising from it at the First Cardiology Consultants, a private hospital in Ikoyi area of Lagos State. He was buried at the Gudu cemetery, Abuja, on April 18.

The late influential presidential aide was said to have contracted the virus in Germany, where he visited for talks with top officials of Siemens, a German energy firm, on issues around the power sector.

Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo
Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo (APC, Lagos East) reportedly died of coronavirus at the First Cardiology Consultants, the same hospital where Kyari died.

Osinowo who was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly for 16 years, died on June 15 at the age of 64. On Wednesday, the Senate held a valedictory session in his honour, where his colleagues extolled his heroic contribution to the development of the country’s democracy.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the late Osinowo left a very deep impression that he was a friendly, jovial and unassuming person, even though he accomplished so much.

Abiola Ajimobi
The immediate past governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, died on June 25 following complications arising from the pandemic at 70.

While battling with the virus, Ajimobi was declared as the acting chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), after the Court of Appeal upheld the suspension of its estranged former chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

Between 2003 and 2007, Ajimobi under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy, served as Senator representing Oyo South. In 2011, he won the Oyo State governorship election under the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and was re-elected for a second term in 2015, making him the first governor in the history of Oyo State to complete a two-term in office.

Suleiman Adamu
On April 30, a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Suleiman Adamu died after a brief illness. It was days after his death that the sample taken from him returned positive for COVID-19.

The state governor, Abdullahi Sule, confirmed that the deceased died from COVID-19 complications.

Governor Sule said: “The deceased was admitted at Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Keffi. He had symptoms of coronavirus, his sample was taken, but before it was out, he died and was buried. His result came out positive on Saturday (May 3).”

Two Borno lawmakers
Two members of the Borno State House of Assembly; Umar Audi Jauro and Wakil Bukar, were also said to have died of coronavirus pandemic in May. Reports from the state quoted sources as confirming that the deceased lawmakers died due to the pandemic.

Shuaibu Danlami
A staff of Gombe Government House, Shuaibu Danlami, a director for special services and politics at the office of the SSG and a member of the state taskforce on COVID-19 died of the virus on May 31.

His death forced the state government to shut down the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the Government House Clinic for disinfection. The chairman of the COVID-19 taskforce in Gombe, Professor Idris Mohammed confirmed that the deceased died of coronavirus.

Wahab Adegbenro
Ondo State Commissioner of Health, Wahab Adegbenro has died of COVID- 19 complications.

A family source told The Cable, an online news platform that Adegbenro died at the state’s infectious diseases hospital on July 2 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. The late Adegbenro is a native of Ilara-Mokin, in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

Aminu Adisa Logun
Aminu Adisa Logun, was the Chief of staff to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State until Tuesday, July 7, when he died of COVID-19 complications.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, “Logun, an industrialist, a public intellectual, and an elder statesman, died Tuesday evening of complications from COVID-19. He died only a few hours after the test of his result returned positive.”

Daily Trust Saturday reports that a seven-day mourning declared in honour of the late Chief of Staff would end on Monday. Logun was a pioneer industrialist in Ilorin and an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. He hailed from Ilorin, the state capital.

Tunde Buraimoh
The latest COVID-19 casualty in the political scene was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Buraimoh who died early hours of yesterday (Friday).

The cause of his death was yet to be formally announced as at the time this report was filed but one of his colleagues said he died of COVID-19.

Buraimoh, a one-time Chairman of Kosofe Local Government was serving his second term in the legislative house and was the chairman, Committee on Information, Security and Strategy.

Sources close to him said he might have contracted it from late the Senator Osinowo as he was one of his confidants. They were both political leaders in Lagos East Senatorial District especially Kosofe.

“We have been battling it for a while now before his sudden demise. It is so sad we eventually lost him. It is assumed he might have contracted the virus from the late Pepperito with whom you are much aware he was a close confidant, it is confirmed he died of COVID-19,” a lawmaker confirmed.

The development, it was learnt, created fears and panic in the 40-member house

2022 Will Be Hard For Super Eagles – Gernot Rohr

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has predicted a difficult year for the Super Eagles if they qualify for the Fifa World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations, both in 2022.

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the global football calendar with the Confederation of African Football (Caf) postponing several competitions, including the 2021 Afcon for health and safety reasons.

The continental tournament, initially scheduled to hold between June and July in 2021, has been moved to January 2022 with Cameroon still the host country.

The Super Eagles have commenced their qualification campaign for the tournament, and they currently are at the top of Group L ahead of Sierra Leone, Benin and Lesotho with six points after two matches.

With the next World Cup tournament in Qatar set to take place in the winter of 2022, the German coach said the hectic qualifying schedule in 2021 might affect the team the following year.

Police Withdraw Magu’s Security As Family Raises Alarm Over Safety

Security officials around the embattled acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, have been withdrawn.

All vehicles in the official house in Maitama have also driven away, this newspaper understands.

Mr Magu was arrested on Monday and has since been facing a presidential investigative panel over alleged corruption and insubordination. He has been detained since his arrest on Monday, at the police facility in Abuja.

On Friday, the ministry of justice announced the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend Mr Magu from his position to enable “unhindered investigation”.

A source in the family who asked not to be named confirmed the withdrawal of the police officers from the two houses.

“We are seriously concerned about the personal security of his (Mr Magu’s) immediate family. They have literally being thrown to the hyenas, knowing fully well the dangers,” the source said.

The source said the family is worried that in view of the “enemies” garnered by Mr Magu on account of his work, his life and that of his family members are in danger without adequate security cover.

Ibrahim Magu Asks IGP For Bail

Mr Ibrahim Magu, the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who is being investigated over corruption allegations by a special presidential panel, has applied to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to be released on bail, The PUNCH reports.

Magu, who has been in detention since his arrest on Monday, requested to be granted bail through a letter sent on his behalf by one of his lawyers, Mr Oluwatosin Ojaomo, on Friday.

He has been appearing before the panel from the detention of police facilities in Abuja since his arrest.
His lawyer’s letter dated July 10 with the IGP office’s acknowledgement stamp bearing the same date, and obtained by The PUNCH on Friday, requested that Magu be granted bail “on self-recognisance”.

NCC Lists The Benefits Of 5G Network

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has listed the benefits which they say Nigeria will enjoy if 5G Network is allowed in the country.

A statement issued reveals that 5G is an improvement from the previous network e.g 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G.

Features of 5G:

· Faster response time

· Very high capacity

· More software options to upgrade

· Ubiquitous connectivity

· Wide range of applications

· Speed up to 10Gbit/s

· Virtually ‘0’ latency

· 100 times more devices.

Benefits of 5G to Internet of Things:

· Deep coverage – to reach challenging locations.

· Ultra low energy- 10+ years of battery life.

· Ultra-low complexity- 10s bits per second.

· Ultra-low high density -1 million nodes per km2.”

[New Music] Wizkid – Body

As we await the advent of Wizkid’s “Made In Lagos” Album, he gave us the 2 minutes long tune titled “Body” to wet our music appetite

As we get closer to the release of his forthcoming studio album Made In Lagos, fans have been patiently waiting for the release of a single from the project.

Today, an unreleased track Body surfaced online, and we are quite unsure if it will make the final cut of the project.

DOWNLOAD 

BREAKING: APC Chairman Resigns In Ondo, Joins PDP

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ese- Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Friday resigned his membership of the party.

The Chairman, Samuel Olorunwa Ajayi, who tendered his resignation letter at the party’s secretariat revealed that he has already decamped to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

According to Ajayi who confirmed his resignation via telephone, he resigned his position as chairman as well as being a member of APC from Friday, 10th July, 2020.

Ajayi is a close ally of the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who recently dumped APC for PDP.

Ajayi was the one who received the resignation letter of the Deputy Governor when he dumped the APC last month.

Access Bank To Acquire Cavmont Bank, A Zambian Bank

Access Bank Plc has notified shareholders of moves by its Zambian subsidiary to acquire Cavmont Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Capmont Capital.

In a notice published on the Nigeria Stock Exchange website, Access Bank said there is no certainty that a transaction would be agreed on yet.
“There can be no certainty that a transaction will be agreed, nor as to the terms of any such agreement. The completion of a transaction would be subject to formal regulatory approvals,” the notice signed by Sunday Ekwochi, Access Bank company secretary, read.
“Access Bank will update the market as appropriate and in accordance with its’ disclosure obligations.
“Accordingly, shareholders are advised to exercise caution when dealing in Access Bank’s securities until a full announcement is made.”
On April 1, 2019, Access Bank acquired Diamond Bank Plc; a move that made it the largest bank by customer base in Nigeria.
Access Bank, on April 1, 2019, had acquired Diamond Bank Plc.
On January 17, 2020, the bank also announced that it had received approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant authorities to acquire majority equity share in Transnational Bank Plc, a Kenyan-based bank.
Access Bank currently has six subsidiaries across Africa, namely DR Congo; Gambia; Ghana; Rwanda; Sierra Leone; and Zambia, including the UK.

Naira Marley Signs New Artiste “Emo Grae” To His Record Label (Photos)

Famous Nigerian musician, Afeez Fashola better known as Naira Marley, has signed a new artiste, Emo Grae to his record label, Marlian Music.

Naira Marley made the announcement via his official Instagram page yesterday July 9, 2020.

Sharing a photo of himself and his new artiste together, he asked his fans, the Marlians to help him welcome the new talent to his record label.

He also went ahead to reveal that the new signee, Emo Grae would drop a new song, his very first song under the label by 12 midnight yesterday.

In his words,

" Marlians Help me welcome my broski @emo_grae to #MarlianMusic. #Signed. He is dropping a fire jam 12midnight. He is your fav[ourite] artist and you don’t even know that yet..save his name in [yo]ur note”

President Buhari To Present 2021 Budget To NASS In September – FG

The Federal Government told the Senate yesterday that President Muhammadu will present before the joint National Assembly, the 2021 Appropriation Bill.

Disclosing this year in Abuja while briefing principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives led by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed said that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Ministry to expedite action on next year’s budget estimates to enable him to present the 2021 budget proposal

The Minister met with the leadership of the National Assembly on plans to submit the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) later this month.

Ahmed further disclosed that in keeping strictly with the January – December budget cycle, the President will today sign into law, the revised N10.8 trillion budget for the year 2020 passed by the National Assembly in June.

[Goals Highlight] Aston Villa 0 – 3 Man United (Watch Here)

Bruno Fernandes inspired Manchester United to another impressive Premier League victory and deepened Aston Villa’s relegation worries.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side continued their impressive recent run, extending their unbeaten streak to 17 games in all competitions, and closed to within a point of fourth-placed Leicester.

They had to repel a sharp start from the hosts at Villa Park as Mahmoud Trezeguet’s low strike cannoned off the foot of the post.

Watch the Highlight below:

Ondo 2020: Given waiver to Agboola Ajayi cannot Stand

Through:
The National Chairman,
Peoples Democratic Party

To:
The National Working Committee,
Peoples Democratic Party
WADATA PLAZA,
Abuja:

   
Re: Application for Waiver :
The waiver purportedly granted Alfred Agboola Ajayi to contest as candidate in the governorship election scheduled for 10th October 2020 is an exercise in illegality and futility.

1. Our attention has been drawn to a letter dated 26th July 2020, signed by Your Excellency    and the National Secretary on behalf  of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

2. The letter which was addressed to "H.E Alfred Agboola Ajayi Deputy  Governor, office of the Deputy Governor, Government House Akure", informed the said Alfred Agboola Ajayi of the purported approval of his application seeking the granting of waiver to participate in the party's gubernatorial primary election scheduled  for the 22nd July 2020.

3. The said letter (copy  of which is herewith attached) was sequel to the decision  of the NWC at its meeting of 25th June 2020 and based on the "relevant provisions of the Party's constitution particularly Section 50 (5) (b) as amended in 2017"

4. For the avoidance of any doubt, Section 50 (5) (b) of the party constitution provides:
"In considering waiver...the following shall apply:
(b) for members aspiring for party position or nomination for posts of Governor, the deciding authority shall be the National Working Committee, provided that the process of clearance of the waiver starts from the Ward level"

5. By the Time-Table and Schedule of Activities issued by the Directorate of Organization and Mobilization for the Ondo  State 2020 Gubernatorial election/nomination, the following information are germaine.

(a) Sales of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms----Monday June 8- Monday June 22, 2020.
(b) Last day for submission of Forms (EOI & NOI)----  Friday June 26, 2020.
(c)Screening of Aspirants---- Thursday July 02, 2020.

6. In a public statement dated 3rd July 2020, signed by Comrade Allen Sowore, the letter dated 26th June 2020 conveying the approval of the waiver purportedly granted Mr. Alfred Agboola Ajayi was received by him on 2nd July 2020.

7. Contrary to the provision of the party's constitution aforesaid, the alleged waiver process was not initiated by  the Executive Committee of Apoi Ward 1, nor by the Ese-Odo Local Government Chapter of the party.

8. It is a notorious fact that there is no subsisting Ondo State Executive Committee of the party with the legal capacity to effect a waiver process. The Caretaker Committee, which is a contraption of 7 members of the defunct Executive Committee and 6 other members illegally injected there-unto purportedly representing the interest of each of the two contestants for the office of the State Chairman, was designed only to midwife the process of electing a new State Executive Committee of the party.

9. The Congress having been suspended indefinitely, the Caretaker Committee has been technically dissolved and now replaced by a newly constituted one by the National Working Committee of the party.

10. By Section 2 of the party's constitution, and "subject to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and any other law in force, the constitution of the party shall be supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all members and organs of the party"

11. PRAYERS.
In the light of the foregoing, we observe, submit as follows:

(a) It is clear that, by the 25th of June when the NWC met considering the approval of Alfred Agboola Ajayi for waiver, the sale of nomination form for aspirants has closed by the time-table issued by the NWC.

(b) The said letter of the NWC dated 26th June 2020 the last day for submission of nomination form and conveying the approval of the waiver is of no moment.

(c) 2nd July 2020, the day Mr. Alfred Agboola Ajayi just received the letter of approval, according to his media aide, was the day screening of aspirants, who legitimately purchased the nomination form.

(d) The waiver procedure is a nullity having not been initiated nor effected in accordance with the relevant provisions of the party's constitution.

(e) Mr. Alfred Agboola Ajayi, having not been granted waiver before the expiration of the time so scheduled by the time-table for the primary election, is not qualified to purchase the nomination form nor participate in the screening exercise, rendering his participation therein a nullity and ineffectual.

(f) The process  of the alleged waiver, having failed to comply With the relevant provisions of the party's constitution is of no effect.
(g) The NWC is thus respectfully enjoined to reverse the purported waiver granted Mr. Alfred Agboola Ajayi to contest in the Ondo State governorship primary.

TAKE NOTICE: That in the event of the refusal of the NWC to act and timely in the above regards, we shall, in conjunction with other critical stakeholders, set necessary legal processes in motion to enforce and protect the sanctity of the party's constitution.

Dated this day 8th of July, 2020


Comr. Tomiwa Matthews 
National Coordinator PDP Youths Integrity Network
07032979415
Pdpyouthsintegritynetwork@gmail.com