Covid-19: ‘We Have Discovered Its Cure’ [THE NATION]
AS the world grapples with the most recent form of pestilence called Coronavirus or COVID-19, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Professor of Pharmacognosy, Prof. Maurice Iwu has said not only has Nigeria discovered the cure for the Wuhan coronavirus or COVID 19 but the discovery has been since 2015.
He said his research group had identified and patented a possible treatment for coronavirus as far back as 2015 because of the importance of remaining ahead of emergent infections through research.
He said the drug discovery project started at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and continued in America when he was a visiting scholar at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington DC.
Prof. Iwu further said his research had in 2014 also discovered an experimental lead compound that was identified 15 years earlier in 1999. He briefed the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
“It is very important that we must remain ahead of these emergent infections through research. The other aspect of our work targets the so-called orphan diseases that are rare diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people, or disease that has not been adopted by the pharmaceutical industry because it provides little financial incentives for the private sector to make and market new medications to treat or prevent them, and/or diseases that affect mainly the poor.
“The drug discovery project was started at the University of Nigeria Nsukka where I was a Professor of Pharmacognosy and continued in America when I was a visiting Scholar at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington DC USA (1994 -2003).
Buhari Lauds Adeboye’s Consistency As He Turns 78 [THE NATION]
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the General-Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, as a steadfast preacher who has been telling the truth to power for years.
President Buhari, who congratulated the eminent cleric on his 78th birthday anniversary, also saluted the clergyman’s dedication to the service of God.
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, recalled an interaction he had with the pastor of one of the largest Christian congregations in the world.
He eulogised Pastor Adeboye for his kindness, warmth and ability to always see the goodness in others.
“President Muhammadu Buhari joins the Christian community in celebrating General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, at 78, saluting his dedication to God, welfare of the church and consistency in preaching and living the gospel for many years.
INEC Proposes 34 Amendments To Electoral Act [THE NATION]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is proposing 34 amendments to the Electoral Act, it was learnt yesterday.
Its Director of Legal Services, Oluwatoyin Babalola, said there are certain shortcomings in the electoral legal framework that should be addressed through legislation.
Also, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Sam Olumekun said the delimitation of constituencies was long overdue, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution.
He said the last constituency delimitation was done “more than a long time ago,” adding that the population of the country and registered voters have increased exponentially, thereby underscoring an urgent review for proportional and fair representation.
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu said the agency remained committed to the review of the Electoral Act to enhance better conduct of elections.
The INEC chiefs spoke yesterday in Lagos at the opening of a week-long retreat on the review of the electoral legal framework jointly organised by the commission, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
The 37 RECs, national commissioners and directors of INEC were present at the retreat.
Covid 19: 158 Aboard Plane With Italian ‘Can’t Be Traced’[THE NATION]
GLOBAL concern over Coronavirus (COVID-19) heightened on Monday.
The Lagos State Government said it was yet to trace the 158 passengers aboard the Turkish airliner that flew in the Italian who is Nigeria’s index case of the virus.
It restated that while some of the passengers had travelled to other states in Nigeria, others had gone back to Europe.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated this during a meeting with chairmen of Local Government Councils, Local Council Development Areas, Community Development Associations and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts on how to effectively prevent the spread of the virus.
He added that some of the passengers who were contacted on the telephone, gave “false information.”
“There were 25 people who came in contact with him at the factory(in Ogun State); there were two drivers and an ambulance driver. We have quarantined those identified so far at our medical facilities and some of them at home.
“We are calling them twice a day to check if they are okay. If they develop symptoms, we will bring them to our bio-security facility for test.
“We have identified all of these people except some of the people, on the aircraft who have either gone back to Europe or travelled to other states.
“Some of them gave us false information on the telephone. We are still trying to find the remaining passengers on that aircraft every day. Our contact list is over 100 persons and this number is increasing every day.”
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said two more foreign nationals suspected to have been infected in Asia tested negative.
He explained that 34 Nigerians the Italian had contact with in Lagos and Ogun States had been reached with some quarantined and others in close observation.
FG Allays Fears, Says No New Case Of Coronavirus In Nigeria [LEADERSHIP]
Reprieve came for terrified Nigerians yesterday as the minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that no new case of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in the country.
The minister also disclosed that the four Chinese nationals, who were quarantined after they returned from their country to Plateau State, had tested negative to the virus. Ehanire assured Nigerians that the federal government would do all it takes to ensure that Nigerians are adequately protected through proper screening at the entry ports to prevent the importation of the disease into the country.
While addressing a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, he said that about 14 tests had been done which all turned negative except the first index case in the country.
The minister said that „as of 1st March, there was no new confirmed case in Nigeria.”
He explained that since the confirmation of the Italian carrier of virus in the country, the focus had been on containment, including contact tracing to risk and management of the case.
On the flight that brought the index case, Ehanire said that the Ports Health Services and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had been supporting the Lagos and Ogun State governments to carry out contact tracing and other response activities.
Ehanire said: „Currently the contacts of the index case are identified as 19 in Lagos, 39 in Ogun State. We are in touch with these contacts, who are under supervised self-isolation and the states have provided them with temperature monitoring tools.
“The Multisectoral Emergency Centre is led by the NCDC and was activated on 28th January, 2020 and it continues to coordinate national response activities. At the state levels, both Lagos and Ogun have activated their EOC‘s also.
“We have also deployed national rapid response teams from the NCDC which are working closely with all the states. Over the past few days, the NCDC has updated guidelines for health workers and advisory for the public,“ the minister stated, adding that there was a brand new state of the art emergency unit under construction in Gwagwalada, Abuja, which should be ready by April.
S’ Court To Rule On Imo Gov’ship Review Today [LEADERSHIP]
The Supreme Court will today rule on the request by sacked governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, for a reversal of his removal from office by the apex over a month ago.
The court had fixed yesterday for the hearing of the appeal but shifted it till today as Ihedioha’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) sought for time to study another process served on him inside the court by a respondent in the matter.
This is the second time in a week that the court would adjourn the matter at the behest of the senior lawyer.
Ihedioha in the application he filed on February 6, 2020, asked the apex court to set aside the judgement sacking him as governor of the state on the grounds that the verdict was a nullity because it was procured by fraud.
When the matter was called on February 18, Agabi asked for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the processes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, who are first and second respondents in the case.
Agabi’s request was granted and the seven-member panel of justices of the Supreme Court led by the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, adjourned the hearing till yesterday.
At yesterday’s proceedings, Agabi told the court that he was only served “this morning inside the court with the reply of the respondents and will need to study the documents in order to respond accordingly.”
Although, counsel to the APC and Uzodinma, Mr Damian Dodo (SAN) and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Tanimu Inuwa (SAN), had indicated their readiness to proceed with the hearing, the CJN adjourned the matter to till today as requested by the applicants.
The Supreme Court had on January 14, 2020 ordered the removal of Ihedioha from office on the grounds that he did not win majority of the votes cast in the March 9, 2019, governorship election in Imo State.
INEC had declared Ihedioha as winner of the election on the ground that he won majority of the lawful votes cast in the poll.
The Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in their concurrent decisions in the appeal filed by Uzodinma had upheld Ihedioha’s election and dismissed the petition on grounds that Uzodinma did not prove his allegations against the victory of Ihedioha.
But the apex court in its judgment held otherwise and declared Uzodinma as the winner upon the computation of results in the disputed 388 polling units.
The court in its judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun disagreed with the decisions of the Appeal Court and the tribunal on the grounds that they erred in law when they excluded the votes from 388 polling units from the final result of the poll.
According to the apex court, when the excluded votes totalling over 200,000 were added, Uzodinma and not Ihedioha won majority of the lawful votes cast in the election.
Pray For Nigeria, Senate Tells Religious Leaders [LEADERSHIP]
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has called on religious leaders in the country to pray for Nigeria and its leaders, saying that the country will eventually overcome its tribulations.
Lawan stated this in a speech delivered at the funeral mass held for the Late Senator Ignatius Dantong Longjan at St. Louis Catholic Church, Jos, Plateau State.
The funeral mass was officiated by the Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama.
“We need prayers as a country and a people. We cannot ask for this at a better place. We need to have a very peaceful, secured and safe country.
“Prayers can do a lot of things. Prayers can make leaders to perform. So, Nigerian leaders need prayers so that we remain focused in ensuring that we discharge our obligations and mandates to create the kind of country that all of us desire,” Lawan said.
Speaking on the challenges faced by the country in several states, the Senate President added, “We may see things we don’t want to see today, but the power of prayers can change so many things for the better. We shouldn’t despair.
“It is sad we are going through this, but we can overcome it. May Almighty God help us overcome our tribulations.”
Lawan, while paying tribute to the deceased lawmaker who represented Plateau South until his demise, said Longjan’s quest for unity and peace are lasting legacies that will continue to unify Nigerians.
According to the Senate President, the National Assembly will work concertedly at building on those ideals the deceased lived for, so as to attain peace and progress for Nigeria.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant, Press, to President of the Senate, Ezrel Tabiowo, said: “We met him (Ignatius Longjan) only in 2019 when we went to the Senate, but he was already an accomplished human being, not only in terms of what he was able to achieve in public service, but in terms of what he was as a person.
“He was at peace with everybody, and all of us saw a man who wanted to see not only Plateau being peaceful, but our country Nigeria being in peace.
“The task before the rest of us, especially in the Senate and in the National Assembly, is to continue to work on those ideals, those things he believed in, those dreams he had for Nigeria, that we live in trust and have faith in ourselves for a progressive and peaceful Nigeria.
COVID-19: FG Begins Spraying Of Passengers From Volatile Countries [SUN]
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said arrangement were on to spray every passenger coming into Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from high-risk countries.
Director, FCT Public Health Department, Dr. Josephine Okechukwu, who disclosed this in Abuja, said there was also screening of passengers on arrival.
She revealed that it has opened two isolation centres at the National Hospital and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, to cater for suspected cases.
She stated that though there has not been any identified case of the virus in the nation’s capital, the administration was taking all necessary precautions.
Okechukwu disclosed that there was also an ongoing training by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Keffi, Nasarawa State, for health care workers that would manage the virus, in the event that there is an outbreak. She added that the Department trained more than 200 health workers in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Abaji area council on Lassa fever and Coronavirus, while sensitisation of residents was ongoing in all the six area councils of the FCT.
Alleged N700m Laundering: Anenih’s Name Echoes As EFCC Docks Ize-Iyamu, Others [SUN]
The name of late Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anehih, resonated at the Federal High Court in Benin City yesterday when counsel adopted their written briefs in an alleged N700 million money laundering case brought against five persons.
Those arraigned are Pastor Ize-Iyamu, a former Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, a former member representing Esan South East and Esan North East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Tony Azigbemi, Efe Erimuoghae Anthony and Chief Dan Orbih.
They were arraigned on an eight-count charge of conspiracy with themselves to commit money laundering to the tune of N700 million, an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended which is punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the defendants were arraigned for receiving the amount prior to the 2015 general elections from former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
But yesterday, counsel to the defendants, in adopting their written addresses, urged the court to dismiss the EFCC’s reply based on incompetence.
Education Review Policy: Osun Reverses Single Uniform, Mixed Schools, Retains Opon Imo [SUN]
Osun State Government has announced the adoption of new education policies, reversing the extant 4-5-3-4 policy to the 6-3-3-4 system, while also setting aside the single uniform regime.
However, the state retained Opon Imo, otherwise known as tablet of knowledge.
This was made known during a press briefing jointly addressed by the commissioners for Information and Civic Orientation, and Education, Funke Egbemode and Olayinka Oladoyin Folorunsho respectively, after a state executive council meeting, yesterday.
Egbemode said the decision was reached after an exhaustive deliberation on the report of the education panel set up by the governor to review some of the extant education practices and policies.
She said the council unanimously agreed on the 10 issues raised in the report and accepted the recommendations.
“The council approved the recommendations to revert to the 6-3-3-4 structure in keeping with the provision of National Policy on Education as this will entail adequate physical and instructional facilities at all levels; adequate provision in quantity and quality of well-motivated teachers at all levels.
Coronavirus: Govt Faces Difficulties Tracing Italian Co-Passengers [PUNCH]
The Federal Government on Monday vowed to deal with any foreign airline that violated coronavirus screening procedures for passengers arriving in the country.
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, was said to have given the warning in Abuja at the inter-ministerial meeting on coronavirus.
A source at the meeting stated that the minister said airlines that failed to distribute contact tracing forms to their passengers upon arrival at any of the international airports in the country would be sanctioned.
The minister stated this just as there were indications on Monday that the government was facing obstacles in tracing some of the people, who had contacts with the first coronavirus index case.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, while briefing journalists in Abuja, said some passengers, who were on the same Turkish Airlines flight with the first index case, an Italian businessman, gave telephone numbers that were not working.
Also, investigations by The PUNCH showed that ministries and departments within the Federal Capital Territory on Monday ignored safety tips by failing to deploy hand sanitisers to prevent the spread of the disease.
Sacked Bayelsa Dep Gov-Elect Wants To Commit Suicide – Sylva [PUNCH]
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, says the Deputy Governor-elect whose certificate scandal cost the All Progressives Congress the Bayelsa State governorship seat, is on the verge of committing suicide.
Sylva said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday.
The governor-elect, David Lyon; and the deputy governor-elect, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, were sacked by the Supreme Court on the eve of their inauguration while the Peoples Democratic Party took over the leadership of the state.
The minister described the Supreme Court’s judgment as unfair, saying the matter was not a criminal one and should not have been treated in such a manner.
He said, “I’m dealing with a former deputy governor that is on the verge of committing suicide. Every day I had to call to find out that he hasn’t done anything to himself.
“If someone said you forged your certificate and you have built your life and integrity and someone all of a sudden brings everything down, that can lead to suicide.
Hoodlums Vandalise Cars, Steal Parts In Lagos Community [PUNCH]
Residents of Kosofe in the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have lamented the incessant attacks by hoodlums, who invade their community to vandalise and steal vehicle parts.
Some of the residents told PUNCH Metro that the hoodlums usually disguise as security agents on patrol to deceive the neighbourhood security guards and gain access to the various streets to perpetrate crime.
Some of the affected streets are Adedoyin, Iyanse and Onagoruwa, as well as dangerous spots like Kosofe and Iyana School bus stops, where the hoodlums threaten the lives and properties of residents.
A panel beater, Fatai Kolawole, said during one of the hoodlums’ operations, no fewer than 13 vehicles belonging to residents and some of his customers were vandalised and their parts stolen.
The 42-year-old stated, “I was at home when I got a text message from one Mr Mudashiru that thieves were vandalising vehicles on the close, where my workshop is located. Some people, who came back from late-night clubbing and slept in their cars, woke up and saw the armed robbers as they drove into the close and started vandalising vehicles and stealing their parts.
“They broke the windshields and opened cars parked on the close and started removing some of the parts, including the Engine Control Module (popularly called brainbox in Nigeria) of my customers’ vehicles. When I got there in the morning, I realised that 13 vehicles had been vandalised on Adedoyin and Iyanse streets as well as Onagoruwa Close. Some of the vandalised vehicles are owned by my customers. I had to inform all of them of what happened and they came to the workshop to see for themselves.
Why We Haven’t Arrested Suspects Who Laundered N35b Arms Funds, By EFCC [THE GUARDIAN]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why top politicians and civil servants allegedly involved in the alleged laundering of N35 billion meant for arms procurement in the last administration have not been arrested.
A source in the anti-graft agency exclusively informed The Guardian yesterday that the commission had deployed some of its best investigators to wrap up the interrogation of the suspects before taking them in for arraignment in court.
The source, who declined to be named, revealed that a chief of staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe, and a former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Musa Kwakwanso, are among other top government officials who have been indicted in the case of conspiracy and diversion of public funds.
The suspects, who are already being questioned, were indicted in a case against Donald Peterson and his company, Richfield Technologies Limited, during investigations into the recommendations of the CADEP report by the EFCC.
‘Government Will Not Postpone Edo 2020 Over Coronavirus’ [THE GUARDIAN]
The Federal Government has no plan to postpone the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival, which is expected to begin this month, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has said.
Debunking the rumour that the Edo 2020 would be postponed due to the fear of the spread of Coronavirous, Dare, who spoke through the ministry’s Director of Planning and a member of the Main Organizing Committee, Peter Nelson, yesterday said, “the Games will go on as scheduled. There is nothing to be worried about.
“The Ministry has directed the setting up of an isolation centre to take care of any case of the virus. The Director of Sports Medicine is working closely with the Edo State Government to ensure a hitch free Festival. We have no doubt that everything will work well.”