Breaking News Today Saturday 4 July 2020

Nigeria has recorded 454 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the country to 27,564





1. Governor Ortom’s wife and son test positive for coronavirus




Eunice Ortom says she'll recover soon because coronavirus is not a death sentence.


Eunice Ortom, the wife of the governor of Benue state, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The governor’s wife, who announced this in a statement on Friday night said her son and other staff members also tested positive for the virus.

Eunice said she has advised those who have had contacts with her recently to go on self-isolation and make themselves available for coronavirus test immediately.

While expressing optimism that she would recover soon, the first lady maintained that coronavirus is not a death sentence.

The statement reads, “Few moments ago this evening, I received my result from the tests earlier carried out on me by NCDC personnel on routine screening at Government House, Makurdi which returned that I, my son, and some staff are COVID-19 positive.

“We have from this moment, gone into total isolation as required by the protocol and would immediately begin the management treatment as advised by medical experts.

2. PDP appoints Wike to head Obaseki’s campaign




The party picked Wike to lead its campaign barely 24 hours after the APC appointed Gov Ganduje to head it campaign for Edo election.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to head its campaign council for Edo gubernatorial election.

The party announced Wike as the chairman of the council via its Twitter page on Friday, July 3, 2020.

In the tweet, the party also announced Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa as the deputy chairman of the council.

The tweet reads, “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) NWC has appointed the Governor of Rivers State, H. E. Chief Nyesome Wike as the Chairman of Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council. The deputy chairman is Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri.”

Wike’s appointment by the party came barely 24 hours after the All Progressives Congress picked Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State as chairman of its campaign council for the Edo governorship election.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was a member of the APC until last month is seeking reelection on the platform of the PDP.

The governor decamped to the PDP in June after the APC screening committee disqualified him from participating in the party’s primary election due to discrepancies in his credentials.

Obaseki will contest against APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Saturday, September 19, 2020.

3. Lagos Govt to reopen schools in August for primary 6, JSS3 and SSS3 students




Sanwo-Olu says schools will reopen for transitional classes on Monday, August 3, 2020.

Lagos State Government says schools will reopen for graduating students in primary six, JSS 3 and SSS 3 on Monday, August 3, 2020.

The State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced this press briefing on Friday, June 3,2020.

The governor said the schools would be reopened for the transitional classes on for graduating students in Senior Secondary Schools and Technical schools.

He also said pupils in primary schools and Junior Secondary School three would resume two or three weeks after SSS3 students’ resumption.

He said, “Tertiary institutions will remain closed. We continue to support online teaching during this period. However, students in the transitional classes who have mandatory public examinations ahead of them will be permitted to resume for revision classes and examinations. The commencement date for this will be from Monday, August 3rd.

Sanwo-Olu, however, urged school authorities to ensure adequate preparation ahead of the resumption on August 3.

4. Controversy trails N800 million spent on Covid-19 in Niger State




The Niger state government insists that it has so far spent over N190 million on the purchase of equipment for containment and treatment of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr Muhammad Makusidi stated this while responding to questions from members of the State House of Assembly Ad-Hoc Committee on Covid-19 in Minna, the state capital.

Member Representing Bosso Constituency, Madaki Bosso however expressed concern over the disparity in some of the figures earlier presented by the state taskforce team on Covid-19, Ahmad Matane who last week told the assembly that his committee has spent about N800 million on its activities. This is contrary to the N190 million quoted by the commissioner.

Meanwhile, the commissioner also told the assembly members that 18 frontline health workers have tested positive to coronavirus in the state since the outbreak of the pandemic.

5. Senior police officers Oyebade, Lamorde, 5 others redeployed




Two senior police officers, AIG Adeleye Oyebade and AIG Ibrahim Lamorde have been posted to two new departments created by the IGP Mohammed Adamu as part of the re-organisation of the force.

Oyebade now heads Department of Research and Planning, while Mr Ibrahim Lamorde heads Directorate of Intelligence, Force Headquarters .

Before the posting, Oyebade was a Directing Staff at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos while Lamorde, was the AIG in-charge of Force Intelligence.

In a statement Friday, The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, said the IGP had also ordered the positing of five senior police officers to five newly created zonal commands.

6. Jonathan, Kenyatta discuss Africa’s COVID-19 future




Former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta; Sierra Leonean President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, will tomorrow participate in a virtual conference to offer their perspectives on the effect of the novel coronavirus on Africa.

Along with two panelists, Dr. Catherine Samba-Panza, former leader of CAR and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, former president of Madagascar, the leaders will also propose a roadmap for the continent’s recovery and growth, post-Covid-19.

The conference which is jointly organized by the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP), a body of serving and former African Presidents chaired by Dr.Goodluck Jonathan.

A statement signed by Mrs. Katherine Rigney, Africa Regional Chairman of UPF noted that the theme of the webinar is ‘Rebuilding and Renewing our Nations in the Post-Covid 19 World: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values’, adding that COVID-19 crisis has created widespread disruption throughout the world.

It said: “During this ISCP Summit Webinar we will address and propose solutions and best practices that will lead us forward as one human family, with emphasis on interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values.”

It said further: “The disruption has not only impacted the lives of those individuals who have been infected, and their families and loved ones, as well as health care workers, but it has also impacted children whose schools have closed, workers who have lost their jobs, companies forced into bankruptcy.

“The Covid-19 crisis is having a broad impact on the geopolitical balance of power as well as the global economy. It is affecting all sectors: religion, government, academia and education, business and the economy, the family, women and youth, the media, and the environment.

“Some predict an end to the era of globalization and a continued rise in nationalism. Some worry that we are facing a global economic depression. At the same time, there are many who are asking ‘where do we go from here.’ Many consider this time as a potential turning point or transformative moment for our world.

7. NYSC issues new certificate to Obaseki




The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has issued a new certificate to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The new certificate was issued following an official request by him.

The governor served his father’s land in 1980 but it turned out there was an error on the certificate issued to him.

His surname was written as Obasek instead of Obaseki and this was one of the reasons cited for his disqualification by the All Progressives Congress (APC) panel which screened aspirants for the Edo 2020 primary.

The decision of the APC, however, led to his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The coast is now cleared for him to seek his re-election after other PDP aspirants running against him stepped down.

Kenneth Imasuagbon, one of those who stepped aside for the governor, said he was inspired by Obaseki’s performance as the leader of Edo State.

8. Buhari writes “Letters of Appreciation’’ to Osinbajo, World leaders




President Muhammadu Buhari has written world leaders and partners to appreciate their support towards helping Nigeria attain a Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free status.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Friday Buhari pledged that his administration would sustain the momentum and strengthen the primary health care system.

He also commended Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication, and his team, for making Nigeria proud and saving her children from the scourge of poliomyelitis.

The president’s letter to Osinbajo read in part: ‘‘This is to express our profound appreciation for your leadership of the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization

9. Hushpuppi arraigned in Chicago, faces another charge in Los Angeles




Nigerian international fraudster, Raymond Hushpuppi faces many years in American jail after he was charged in Chicago today with conspiracy to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other scams.

He was also charged with executing schemes targeting a U.S. law firm, a foreign bank and an English Premier League soccer club.

Chicago is Hushpuppi’s first court appearance. Next, he will be charged in Los Angeles California for similar crimes.

Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, 37, a.k.a. “Ray Hushpuppi” and “Hush,” arrived in Chicago Thursday evening after being expelled from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Abbas made his initial U.S. court appearance this morning in Chicago, and he is expected to be transferred to Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

The affidavit alleges that Abbas and others committed a BEC scheme that defrauded a client of a New York-based law firm out of approximately $922,857 in October 2019.