Atiku Abubakar’s Son Tests Positive For Coronavirus [LEADERSHIP]
A yet-to-be officially named son of former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has tested positive for coronavirus.
But LEADERSHIP gathered that the infected son‘s name is Mohammed, who was said have returned recently from Switzerland with his family.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election, yesterday, confirmed that his son had tested positive to the coronavirus, which is currently ravaging the world.
In his verified twitter handle yesterday, Atiku appealed to Nigerians to pray for his son who has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital, Abuja.
He said: “My son has tested positive for coronavirus.
“The @NCDCGov (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real,” he added.
The former vice president did not give the identity of the affected son and whether the infection occurred in Nigeria or overseas.
Also, Atiku’s media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe, confirmed the incident. He, however, said that he did not know the name of his principal’s son, who is infected by the virus.
Virus Threatens Tax Revenue As Cases Rise To 31
The outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic is posing a major threat to the realisation of revenue targets by both public and private sectors in the country.
At the federal level, the N8.5 trillion tax revenue target given to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) seems to be a wild goose chase owing to the impact of the deadly disease on crude oil prices and other business operations across sectors of the economy.
This is even as Nigeria has confirmed eight new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 30.
Of the eight new cases, six were reported in Lagos, one in Oyo State and one in the federal capital territory (FCT).
„As of 22nd March, there are 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria. Of the 30 confirmed cases, two have been discharged, with no death. The breakdown of cases by states currently; Lagos- 22 FCT- 4 Ogun- 2, Ekiti- 1 and Oyo- 1. We are working closely with the States Ministry of Health to identify and follow up with contacts“, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said yesterday.
Accordingly, the centre urged those who returned from any country in the last 14 days to stay in self-isolation.
Already, businesses are shutting down, just as manufacturing production lines have been weakened because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
For instance, Union Bank Plc on Saturday announced that „Starting from Monday, March 23rd, Union Bank is activating remote work for all its employees except critical functions in our operations and service teams over the health and safety of its employees.“
The global pandemic which started late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, is having a bite in revenues accruing to the federal government coffers, as available data showed that FIRS in January 2020 collected tax revenue of N338.1 billion against a tax target of N620.2 billion.
The Muhammad Nami-led tax agency performance record for the period was abysmal, considering the variance of N282.1 in budgeted and actual collection figures for the month.
Based on the data obtained by LEADERSHIP yesterday, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Cross River States with a total target of N2,175,116,159.19 for January also had a low actual collection of N2,010,374,940.81 in the same month, representing 92.43 per cent.
Lagos Mainland East had January target of N50,272,057,644.57, but its actual collection of N39,177,218,569.19 amounted to 77.93 per cent.
Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba had January target of N1,496,937,795.22 but collected N2,237,217,349.37, representing 149.45 per cent collection.
Jigawa, Kano and Katsina had a collection target of N5,203,823,553.44 but their actual collection was N3,606,224,711.59, representing 77.93 perc ent.
Ogun, Osun and Oyo had a target of N6,268,435,732.91, while their actual collection during the period stood at N4,167,880,594.20, indicating 66.49 per cent collection.
In the same vein, Benue, Kaduna and Niger had tax collection target of N3,848,560,125.77 but made actual collection of N2,003,203,450.93, indicating 52.05 per cent, while Delta, Edo and Rivers collectively had January target of N17,790,368,169.50 but recorded actual collection of N9,251,413, 039.13 indicating 52 percent.
Lagos State usually records the highest volume of tax collection among the states of the federation, but based on available record from the state‘s internal revenue generation, Lagos Mainland West was given a January target of N4,988,901,182.24 but collected N3,033,847,030.11 representing 60.81per cent.
Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu had a target of N2,503,697,840.31 but they were able to collect N1,356,428,894.51 representing 54.18 per cent.
Lagos Island was given a target of N459,548,646,637.50 in January, but it collected the sum of N238,708,658,042.72, translating to 51.94 per cent.
Bauchi, Plateau, Borno and Yobe had a collection target of N2,793,435,123,22, but their actual collection was N1,446,670,932.56, indicating 51.79 per cent.
The FCT, Nasarawa and Kogi had a target sum of N61,680,175,079.81, but collected a total of N30,248,678,333.46, representing 49.04 per cent, while Ekiti, Kwara and Ondo had tax collection target of N1,726,864,502.79, but ended up with actual collection of N757,471,765.95, representing 43.86 per cent.
Whereas Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara have a budgeted N1,457,022,041.29 tax figure for January, their actual collection was N532,837,594.78, indicating 36.57 percent, while Anambra and Imo had target sum of N1,457,022,041.29, but had actual collection sum of N384, 986,673.78, reflecting 26.42 per cent.
The monthly Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for March was not held last week, and one of the reasons attributed for the indefinite adjournment of the meeting was lack of enough revenue to share among the federal, states and local government areas of the federation, a situation that has put the payment of salaries of public workers on hold.
The federal government has also announced the shutting down of all international airports and economic activities in their operations.
There are fears that if the coronovirus pandemic continues unabated, it would have more negative impact on the nation‘s economy.
IGP Directs Enforcement Of Restriction Order
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the Covid-19 global health threat and the subsequent social restriction orders imposed by governments at all levels, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has directed all zonal assistant inspectors-general of Police and commissioners of Police nationwide to ensure that all legitimate orders given in pursuant to the containment efforts are strictly enforced within their areas of jurisdiction.
Force PRO, Frank Mba, said the IGP, while urging officers to observe personal safety measures, further directed the zonal AIGs and Command CPs to ensure that cases of unnecessary arrests and detention of suspects are not condoned.
The IGP reiterated that the detention of suspects must be reduced to the barest minimum and that only very serious cases such as terrorism, armed robbery, homicide and other non-bailable offences should warrant detention.
“The IGP further directs that adequate measures be emplaced to screen persons to be committed into police custody. The IGP enjoins citizens to avoid social visits to police stations and other police offices and minimize official visits, except where absolutely necessary”, Mba stated.
Meanwhile, the IGP has ordered Command CPs to immediately publicize phone numbers of their Command Control Rooms, area commanders and divisional police officers (DPOs) and other tactical commanders using the conventional and non- conventional media in order to facilitate alternative interacting and reporting options between the public and the police.
Also, in compliance with federal government’s directive that all tertiary institutions be shut, the IGP has ordered the immediate closure of the Nigeria Police Academy as well as all police primary and secondary schools nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Force Medical Services has been empowered and directed to step up sensitization programmes across commands, formations and barracks in the country.
Lagos Govt Asks Workers To Work From Home
Also, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday ordered civil servants from grade level one to twelve to work from home for fourteen days in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state.
The governor, who expressed worry over increasing rate of confirmed cases in the state at a press conference in Lagos House Marina, urged the private sector to bench their non –essential services staff to effectively tackle the pandemic disease.
He said it became necessary for him to address the residents again because of the confirmation of additional six cases within 72 hours he had briefed on the disease, bringing the total cases in Lagos State to 19 confirmed cases.
“First let me say that these confirmations are evidence the system is working, that we are actively and met tracking and testing suspected cases. Let me also reiterate that all confirmed cases have been isolated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba”, he stated.
Sanwo-Olu added that the state government had been working closely with the federal government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the private sector to halt the spread of this disease.
The governor, who hailed Lagosians for obeying his directive that they should stay away from large congregation of people above 50, warned that the state government will arrest anyone or group found to be frustrating government’s efforts.
Sanwo-Olu pointed out that the directive was not meant to deprive anybody of his or her freedom, “saying, many mosques were closed on Friday and many churches shut down today”.
He continued: “In addition to all the previous directives issued so far. I am now hereby directing all public officers in the entire unified public service from Grade Levels 1 to 12 which constitutes 70 percent of the entire public service workforce to stay at home from Monday 23 of March 2020 for 14 days in the first instance.
“We will review this as time goes on. Members of the public are advised to refrain from visiting public offices and to transact as much business as possible through the telephone and online channels.
“This stay at-home order does not affect medical personnel. Fire Service, LASEMA, LAWMA, and other first respondents and essential services. We are working to ramp up our capacity to take on new cases as they‘re confirmed; other Health facilities will. In due time be deployed to support the Mainland Infectious Diseases Hospital”.
The governor added that the state government would set up more facilities in Yaba to contain a likely upsurge in coronavirus cases, adding that more health workers were being trained and retired health personnel were also being put on notice that they may be recalled to serve in these trying times.
CUPP Demands Mandatory Test For All Nigerians
Also, following the growing spread of the coronavirus infection with a total of 30 identified cases, opposition political parties in the country have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to issue an executive order backed by parliament within the next 48 hours for free and mandatory coronavirus testing for all citizens, especially those who recently got into the country.
According to a statement by spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, this is to help ensure early detection and identification of infected people who have not shown any symptoms of the virus.
He further explained that this will also make it a lot easier to track all possible contacts of carriers.
He said, “Let all hospitals be mandated to run free test and let all citizens be encouraged to go for test. An emergency law should be made by parliament backing free testing/funding like most nations have done and also a law making it an offence for citizens who refuse to run test.
“Part of the one trillion naira released by CBN should be used to fund this process. Remember the primary responsibility of government under Section 14 is protection of lives and properties.
“Get your loyalist in the parliament who passed your borrowing plan for $22.7b Foreign loan without debate or seeing the details to pass anti coronavirus virus legislation including free and mandatory testing immediately”.
Kogi Govt Approves Proactive Measures
Following the increasing spread of the coronavirus pandemic in some parts of the country, Kogi State government has implemented sensitisation plans to prevent its spread in the state.
A state by commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon Kingsley Fanwo, noted that the state government has already taken proactive steps to ensure the state is safe from the deadly virus.
He said schools have been shut down and gathering of people in their numbers has been banned, including market places, adding that the state government has also set up a Containment Centre to control the spread of the virus in the State.
The statement noted: „We recognize the fact that we live in a world that is highly integrated today. The news of a case in Ekiti State, our next door neighbor has no doubt heightened our action to ensure we have no case in Kogi State.
“The Ministry of Information and Communication has yielded its information platforms to the sensitization program as we are also meeting with people to let them know what they need to do to support government’s efforts at curbing the dangerous disease.
“We urged religious leaders in the country to pray against the disease, as the pandemic is more dangerous than earlier thought.
„Kogi State government will not hesitate to take more stringent steps to keep the people safe from the disease; as anyone who disobeys the social distancing and gathering order will face the full wrath of the law as they will be treated as enemies of the people of Kogi State and those who want to sabotage our efforts at containing the deadly disease.
„It is important to stay a metre away from people with the following symptoms: sneezing, cough and other respiratory disorders. It is advised that we cover our faces with disposable tissue paper while coughing or sneezing and where such is not available, please ensure you pose no danger to the public by sneezing or coughing into flexed elbow. Call the dedicated phone numbers from NCDC or KgSMOH.
“The global reaction to COVID-19 is novel. From China to the United States, Italy and Nigeria; the world has shown a strong drive to stamp the disease out.
We urge our people to avoid staying in a crowd and to also wash their hands with soap. Hand sanitizers should also be used to boost our resistance to the survival of the virus. Our children should stay at home now that they are not in school as Government would frown at any attempt at congregating pupils and students under any academic guise. We also urge our people to shun fake news and any form of panic as government will constantly brief the people of development on COVID-19 in our commitment to ensure the safety of all Kogites.“
Union Bank Shuts Down, Asks Workers To Operate From Home
Amid the scare of Coronavirus, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has shut down its daily operations and directed its staff to work from home.
In a statement issued yesterday, the bank directed its workers to comply with the directive starting from today, Monday 23rd March, 2020.
The bank also gave safety procedures which its staff members should abide by while they are working at home.
The statement reads: “Starting from Monday, March 23rd, Union Bank is activating remote work for all its employees except critical functions in our operations and service teams. Stay safe during this period”.
Emirates Airlines Suspends Passengers’ Flights
Emirates Airlines, one of the world’s largest aviation businesses, yesterday announced the suspension of all passenger flights from Wednesday, March 25.
The airline said its cargo operations would continue to provide critical logistics as the world battles to stymie the fury of COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by coronavirus.
Emirates CEO, Ahmed Al Maktoum, said in the statement: “As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries reopen their borders, and travel confidence returns.
“By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended all its passenger operations”.
The airline said it would “continue to watch the situation closely” and be ready to resume operations once the situation returns to normal across the world. The long-haul carrier, which operates more than 1,800 flights out of its main hub in Dubai every week, flies to more than 140 destinations in over 80 countries.
The announcement appeared to be the biggest blow to air travel since coronavirus forced dozens of countries to shut borders or impose far-reaching travel restrictions in a race to slow down the spread.
Merkel In Self-isolation, US Senator Tests Positive, Singapore Closes Borders
Meanwhile, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, will quarantine herself at home after being treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a government spokesman hinted yesterday.
“The Chancellor has decided to quarantine herself at home. She will be tested regularly in the coming days (and) fulfil her official business from home,” Steffen Seibert said in a statement. Also, Kentucky Republican Rand Paul is the first US senator to test positive for coronavirus, according to a statement on Twitter.
„He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person,“ the post said.
Sergio Gor, Paul‘s deputy chief of staff, expanded on the tweet saying in a statement that „he (Paul) expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time.
“Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Paul“, he added.
Paul is the third member of Congress to be diagnosed with Covid-19 as cases spread across the country.
Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican, was the first member of Congress to test positive for coronavirus on March 18, while Democratic Rep, Ben McAdams of Utah also announced he tested positive for the virus.
Several lawmakers have self-quarantined after coming into contact with an individual who tested positive with coronavirus at the Conservative Political Action Conference, including President Donald Trump‘s incoming chief of staff, Rep Mark Meadows of North Carolina.
Paul‘s announcement comes as Congress is in the midst of working to reach a negotiation on a coronavirus economic stimulus bill.
On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met with the top four Congressional leaders about the bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there is no deal yet and that the House will introduce its own bill — something that could significantly draw out the process to finalize legislation.
Meanwhile, a day after Singapore confirmed its first two coronavirus-related deaths the country said it would close its borders to short-term visitors and some foreign labourers from 11:59pm (15:59 GMT) on Monday to help limit the spread of the disease.
The new rules mean short-term visitors will no longer be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore, while semi-skilled workers on „work passes“ will not be allowed to return to the island unless their job is in sectors that provide essential services such as healthcare and transport, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement.
National Development minister, Lawrence Wong, said at a briefing yesterday that the measures to „significantly tighten“ Singapore‘s borders had been prompted by the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world.
„In Singapore, almost 80 percent of our new COVID-19 cases over the past three days were imported, most of them Singapore residents and Long Term Pass holders returning home from abroad. These imported cases had travel histories to 22 different countries“, the MOH statement said. Widely praised for its aggressive efforts to contain the virus without resorting to a total lockdown of the city, Singapore reported the country‘s first deaths from the disease on Saturday.
Changi Airport is a major hub and Singapore Airlines is one of the world‘s leading carriers.
The first was a 75-year-old Singaporean woman with a history of chronic heart disease and hypertension who had been in intensive care for 26 days since being admitted with pneumonia.
The other was a 64-year-old Indonesian man who was admitted to ICU on March 13, the day he arrived in Singapore from Indonesia and was confirmed to have COVID-19.
Before he arrived in Singapore, he had been hospitalised in Indonesia for pneumonia and had a history of heart disease.
„I know Singaporeans will be worried and anxious. We must take courage and not give in to our fears“, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong told reporters on Saturday.
NNPC Generates N2.639trn From Sales Of Petrol In One Year [LEADERSHIP]
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has generated the sum of N2.639 trillion from the sales of 21.514billion litres of petrol from December 2018 to December 2019.
This is contrary to reports that the corporation incurred huge deficit from the sales price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol.
In the December 2019 edition of NNPC’s Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) released in Abuja, yesterday, the corporation said that its downstream subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), said that the sales of white products for the period December 2018 to December 2019 stood at 21.861billion litres, with PMS accounting for 21.514billion litres or 98.41 per cent.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the NNPC has been the sole importer of petrol throughout last year due to the federal government’s non-deregulation of the market for products coupled with the rise in the global price of crude oil during the period under review.
In value terms, the report said that revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period under review stood at N2.705 trillion, with PMS contributing about 97.56 per cent of the sales with a value of N2.639 trillion.
But in terms of its activities for the month under review, the NNPC’s downstream entity in charge of bulk supply and distribution of petroleum products, said that it distributed and sold 2.775billion litres of white products in December 2019 compared to 0.841billion litres in November of the same year.
This comprised 2.762billion litres of PMS (petrol), 0.013billion litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel, and 0.000billion litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) as well as sale of special product of 0.003billion litres of Low Pure Fuel Oil (LPFO) in the month under review.
In terms of revenue, the corporation said that N337.63billion was made from the sale of white products by PPMC in December 2019 compared to N105.62billion in November 2019.
While giving further details on the MFOR, NNPC’s group general manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said that the corporation recorded an increased trading surplus of ₦5.28billion in its December 2019 operations compared to the N3.95billion surplus posted in November last year.
Obateru listed NNPC’s subsidiaries with notable improved positions as Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), Nigeria Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC), and Duke Oil Incorporated.
He explained that in general terms, the performance was impacted positively by the reduced deficit posted by NNPC corporate headquarters during the period under review; adjustments to previously understated revenues by IDSL and Duke Oil, and reduction in the costs of pipeline repairs/right-of-way maintenance and gas purchases by NPSC and NGMC respectively.
According to him, further analysis of the report showed that in the gas sector, out of the 239.29billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas supplied in December 2019, a total of 148.32BCF of gas was commercialised, consisting of 34.78BCF and 113.54bcf for the domestic and export market, respectively.
This translated to a supply of 1,121.77 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas to the domestic market and 3,662.70mmscfd of gas supplied to the export market for the month.
The MFOR stated that 62.22 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialised, while the balance of 37.78 per cent was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared, adding that gas flare rate was 7.78 per cent for the month under review i.e. 598.03 mmscfd, compared with the average gas flare rate of 8.56 per cent i.e. 678.02 mmscfd for the period December 2018 to December 2019.
The report further revealed that gas supply for the period December 2018 to December 2019 stood at 3,105.48bcf out of which 466.00BCF and 1,369.90BCF were commercialized for the domestic and export market respectively, explaining that gas re–injected, Fuel gas and Gas flared, stood at 1,269.59BCF.
The December 2019 edition which is the 53rd in the series of the MFOR reported 40 vandalised pipeline points, representing about 41 per cent decrease from the 68 points in November 2019.
The report added that of the vandalised points, 10 failed to be welded, while none was ruptured.
Atlas Cove-Mosimi and Mosimi-Ibadan axis accounted for 35 per cent and 30 per cent of the breaks, respectively, while other routes accounted for the remaining 35 per cent, the corporation said.
NNPC explained that it had stepped up collaboration with the local communities and other stakeholders to stem pipeline vandalism in the country.
N3bn Fraud: EFCC To Arraign Oyo-Ita, 8 Others [LEADERSHIP]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today arraign the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Winifred Oyo-Ita and eight other for alleged N3billion fraud.
EFCC spokesperson, Tony Orilade, said that she will be arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Others to be arraigned along with her are Frontline Ace Global Services Limited; Asanaya Projects Limited, Garba Umar, and his companies: Slopes International Limited, Gooddeal Investments Limited, Ubong Okon Effiok and his own company, U & U Global Services Limited and Prince Mega Logistics Limited.
They will be arraigned for fraud in relation to Duty Tour Allowances (DTA), estacodes; conference fee fraud and receiving kickbacks on contracts.
Orilade said that during investigation, it was discovered that Oyo-Ita, in her roles in the civil service as director, Permanent Secretary and Head of Service, used her companies as well as Effiok’s and Umar’s firms as fronts to receive kickbacks from contractors of various ministries and parastatals where she worked.
The former head of service in collusion with Effiok, who was her special assistant, along with one Titus Okunriboye Tomsin, the EFCC said made bogus claims of fictitious DTA, estacodes, and conference fees which were paid by the government to the accounts of the suspects.
Meanwhile, operatives of the EFCC have arrested Isaac Onyesom, the former aide-d-camp (ADC) to the ex-governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili.
EFCC sources, which confirmed Onyesom’s arrest, said that he was picked up last Friday by the operatives over alleged N4billion fraudulent lodgements in his account.
The EFCC had placed all the accounts of Onyesom, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), under Post No Debit (PND).
EFCC’s investigation had showed that details of the Rivers State Government House account domiciled in Zenith Bank, Maitama branch, Abuja, revealed that about N4 billion was withdrawn by Onyesom between 2004 and 2006 for undisclosed reasons.
One of the EFCC sources alleged that a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was one of the people that benefited from the Rivers State “bonanza” as he allegedly received a manager’s cheque of N100 million on November 28, 2005.
”Investigations into the financial transactions were on when the ADC to the former governor suddenly retired from the police and disappeared into thin air,” it was learnt.
In his statement to the EFCC last Friday, the former ADC allegedly admitted that the N4 billion he received in cash between 2004 and 2006 was handed over to his principal, Odili.
He allegedly claimed that even though the money came from Rivers State Hovernment House account, he never knew what it was meant for.
Onyesom purportedly claimed that he executed contracts in 2005 and 2011 but failed to provide details of the contract and evidence of the jobs done, except that there were movements of funds to his company’s account and allegedly transferred to Odili’s companies’ accounts. The two companies belonging to the ADC that allegedly laundered the funds for Odili from the state government’s account were Numac Project and Numac Global.
Some of Odili’s friends and close relations were alleged to have benefitted from the funds.
The Odili’s alleged companies include Pamo Group of Companies, Pamo Clinic and Hospitals, Orage and Orange and Pamo Educational Foundation.
The former ADC’s statement further showed that he confirmed receiving N4 billion from Rivers State account. Of the amount, he said that he transferred N1.6 billion between 2015 and 2017 to his principal’s company on the instruction of his boss.
He also said that N1.4 billion was paid to his companies for contracts he executed in 2005.
Asked if he was aware of the source of the funds paid to him, the former ADC said that he was made to believe that it was his principal’s pension.
But he could also not explain why the ex-governor would want his pension paid through proxy.
Onyesom, who was interrogated from 9am to 8pm on Friday before being released on bail, could also not explain why payments for contracts executed in 2005 were made 10 years after.
He could also not explain what qualified him to be awarded and be executing contracts, being a police office, (an ASP) and an ADC to the then governor.
When the EFCC spokesperson, Tony Orilade, was contacted, he confirmed that investigation was ongoing into the case.
COVID-19 Cases Hit 31, Lagos, Kwara Declare Workers’ Holiday [PUNCH]
- Ogun fumes as Oyedepo ignores mass gathering restriction, holds service
- Atiku’s son tests positive
The coronavirus cases in the country increased from 22 on Saturday to 31 on Sunday.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, in its twitter handle on Sunday, said the cases included 22 in Lagos State, four in the Federal Capital Territory, one in Oyo State and one in Ekiti State.
The centre said the two in Ogun State, including the Italian index case, had tested negative and had been discharged.
At 11:32pm on Sunday, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, tweeted that one of his sons had tested positive for the disease.
The NCDC stated, “Three new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Lagos, Nigeria. Two cases are returning travellers and one is a contact of a confirmed case. As of 05:28 pm on the 22nd of March, there are 30 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. Two have been discharged with no deaths.”
Nigeria recorded its first coronavirus case on February 27 when an Italian was diagnosed with the disease.
On March 19, the cases rose to 12 with most of the affected people being returnees from Europe and the United States. On Saturday, the cases increased to 22 with Abuja recording its first cases.
As of 11am on Sunday, the NCDC said the cases were 27 in the country. It stated that the cases included 19 in Lagos; four in the FCT; one in Ekiti; one in Oyo and two in Ogun.
But on Sunday evening, the number increased to 31 with three new cases in Lagos State and Atiku’s son who tested positive.
Atiku’s son tests positive
On Sunday night former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said one of his sons had tested positive for Covid19.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last election, said this in a tweet on Sunday night.
The former Vice-President said his son had been moved to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
He tweeted, “My son has tested positive to coronavirus. @NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management.
“I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real.”
The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, had last week tweeted that her daughter, who recently returned from the United Kingdom, was in self-isolation
Stay at home, Lagos tells civil servants
The Lagos State Government, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease, on Sunday directed civil servants from grade level one to 12 to work from home starting from today (Monday).
The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at a press conference, said the stay-at-home order would last for an initial period of 14 days.
He commended Lagosians, who abided by the state government’s directive that banned a gathering of over 50 people, but warned those who flouted the order.
He stated, “In addition to this directive, I am now also directing all public officers in the entire unified public service from grade level 1 to 12, which constitute about 70 per cent of our workforce, to stay at home from Monday, March 23 for 14 days at the first instance.”
Sanwo-Olu said the directive did not affect medical personnel, members of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority and other essential services.
We will shut down clubs, religious groups violating our directive –Lagos gov
Warning residents against violating directive on mass gatherings, the governor said, “If it is a facility – be it an event centre, be it a cinema, a restaurant, a club house or a religious gathering – that does not obverse it, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has the power to shut down such a facility.”
Lagos dedicates Mainland Hospital to COVID-19 patients alone
The governor also said other health facilities would be upgraded to support the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba. “We have evacuated other patients out of that hospital (Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba) and so the hospital will be locked down only for the COVID-19 cases alone,” he stated.
Lagos to recall retired doctors, nurses
He also indicated that the state would recall retired medical workers to strengthen the number of personnel needed for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
The governor stated, “As part of our strategies to strengthen our efforts, more health workers are also being trained and we have put some of our retired nurses and doctors on notice. They will come to support health personnel who are working tirelessly at this time.”
Briton, American among Lagos new cases
While confirming the new cases recorded in Lagos on Sunday, the Lagos State Ministry of Health on its Twitter handle @LSMOH, tweeted that, “One of the three new patients is a 51-year-old Briton, who arrived Nigeria March 8 via BA75 flight, while the second is a Nigerian on connecting flight KL0582 London Amsterdam/KL0587 Amsterdam — Lagos March 14. The third is a 65-year-old citizen of the United States of America who arrived in Lagos about six weeks ago.”
The state Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, urged public and private schools in the state to adhere strictly to the directives of the state government on the closure of schools.
Seriki-Ayeni, in a statement on Sunday, said evaluators ha been strictly mandated to monitor compliance to the directives of the state government to stop the spread of the COVID-19.
Oyo records first case, UK returnee kept isolation
As early as 5am on Sunday, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the state. He said the patient, who was in isolation, was confirmed positive when his test result was released.
Makinde also stated, “A follow-up on the Ekiti COVID-19 case revealed that the deceased was picked up directly from Lagos Airport to a private apartment in Ona Ara Local Government Area.
“The health authorities have contacted the family concerned and the community has been alerted for intensified contact tracing and self-isolation of identified close contacts.”
Last week, a driver, who conveyed an American and his Nigerian companion, from Murtala Mohammed Airport, was diagnosed with the disease in Ekiti State.
The American died in Ekiti State, while his companion tested negative. The three of them were said to have stayed in Ibadan for 10 days.
Makinde on Sunday said a returnee from Texas, USA, had been identified at Oluyole Local Government Area of the state. “She has been kept in self-isolation with close monitoring by the state epidemiological team,” he said.
Ekiti case in stable condition –Health commissioner
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, said on Sunday that the person who tested positive to coronavirus in the state was in a stable condition.
Yaya-Kolade said the patient’s condition “is very stable, temperature normal and all vital signs okay.
The commissioner said the contacts with the American, who had been isolated, were in stable condition.
Ogun lauds doctor who suspected COVID-19 in Italian
The Ogun State Government on Sunday appreciated a young female doctor, Dr Karen Allison, who suspected COVID-19 in the index case.
The state government, in a statement by the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said, “A heightened index of suspicion, amongst frontline health workers such as Dr. Amarachukwu Allison who suspected COVID-19 in the Italian; private health care providers are of keen note in this because they were the first port of contact for sixty per cent of the populace.”
Adeboye, Kumuyi, Olukoya comply with directive on gathering
Meanwhile, senior clerics including the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre; the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi and Dr Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fires and Miracles Ministries complied with the orders of Ogun and Lagos state governments banning gathering of more than 50 persons.
But the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Ota, Ogun State held physical services despite the orders.
Adeboye during the online service said coronavirus would subside after God had proved His point.
The 78-year-old cleric said, during his sermon from the studio of Dove TV, which was broadcast live to all members of the church via Social Media channels, that the world was on a compulsory holiday.
Daystar Christian Centre also complied with the Lagos State Government’s directive. Its services were streamed online via its website and Facebook page and shown on television channels.
Also, Olukoya’s church broadcast a previous sermon via its social media channels to its members worldwide.
The church, later in a video showed an empty auditorium of the church’s headquarters in Yaba area of Lagos. It stressed that no ‘physical’ service was held at the auditorium on Sunday, adding that the church would not flout the directives of its host – Lagos State Government.
Our correspondents gathered that the Deeper Christian Life Ministry divided its branches, which had more than 50 members to worship at different venues, while branches with less than 50 members held services as usual but maintained high hygiene practices.
Obaseki, Oshiomhole Working To End Rift – Gov’s Aide [PUNCH]
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his estranged political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, have commenced consultations to end the political rift between them.
Obaseki’s Chief of Staff, Mr Taiwo Akerele, revealed this while responding to questions from reporters during an event to mark his 44th birthday in Benin, on Sunday.
He said it was too early to reveal how far deliberations had gone but expressed confidence that appreciable progress had been made.
Akerele said, “When the time comes, we will invite you just like this and address you.”
He said this in response to a question from The PUNCH as to whether the duo had reached out to each other since Oshiomhole announced a truce last week.
The governor’s aide added, “(For) the Governor, getting the ticket is not in contention but we will go into primaries and the party has a formula for it. It can be either consensus or none consensus, whichever it is, Obaseki and Philip are ready. Ordinarily he should be given the right of first refusal.
“Oshiomhole and Obaseki are very close; nobody should be deceived even as we speak. But of course, the issue they have is political and it is resolvable.
“The difference they have is political disagreement and it is resolvable; some factors came in and heightened the tension, otherwise this is a very minor thing. Remember, we were in Iyamoh during the Sallah celebration, that was in the middle of the crisis, we were there and we even blamed the media for the whole thing.”
He expressed gratitude to Obaseki for giving him the opportunity to serve in his government especially because he had no political godfather.
According to him, his appointment marked the very first time a person from Akoko-Edo was given such an important position in government.
Address Rumours Surrounding Osinbajo, Bakare Tells Presidency [PUNCH]
Lagos-based preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has asked the Presidency to address the rumours surrounding Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Bakare, who is the Serving Overseer, Dominion Hall, Citadel Global Community Church (formerly Latter Rain Assembly) said this while delivering a sermon on Sunday.
There have been reports in the last couple of months about a strained relationship between Osinbajo and the cabal at the Presidency which culminated in the sacking and redeployment of some of the Vice-President’s aides.
Osinbajo was also relieved of some duties such as overseeing the Social Investment Programme and the economic advisory team.
Bakare, however, said there was a need for the Presidency to speak up.
He said, “It is my considered opinion that all the rumour mills and things going around the Vice-President in this nation, the government must address this country and tell the plain truth about what is going on instead of letting people to continue to make guesses that are unprofitable for our nation or anybody.
“And if they don’t want to say anything, then let them not say but stop this nonsense that is going on. You have a moral responsibility to account for the mess that is going on if you don’t stop it.”
Bakare, who was running mate to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in 2011, said he never begged to be Buhari’s running mate.
He said no one could relegate him having “gained access” to the mountain.
The cleric added, “I didn’t apply to be running mate. I was minding my business when I was called. They gave me access into the mountain and you can’t check me out of the place. No.”
Bakare said the Bible “is replete with examples of persons who were nowhere but God elevated them.”
He said characters like Joseph and David received accelerated promotion and ensured that they utilised the opportunity to the full.
The cleric compared that to the case of Osinbajo.
Bakare stated, “I am not sure Osinbajo was a party man. I am not sure he was there when the APC was being formed. I moved the motion for the merger of the CPC and the ACN at the Eagle Square. He was not anywhere around there that day. In fact, I can tell you that he went to the Supreme Court to argue a case on that day when they were looking for him… one day I will tell you the story of what transpired that night.
“Until the kings of the mountain give you access, you cannot do anything on that mountain. But when they give you access, you must know how to carry yourself upon the mountain.”
EFCC Grills Odili’s Ex-ADC Over Alleged Fraud [THE NATION]
A FORMER Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to one-time Rivers State Governor Peter Odili has been arrested and grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N4, 000,000,000 fraudulent lodgments in his account.
The EFCC had placed all accounts linked to Onyesom, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) under Post No Debit (PND).
Odili is being investigated for alleged N100 billion fraud during his tenure between 1999 and 2007.
In a fact-sheet released on Sunday by the anti-graft agency, the former ADC was arrested and quizzed on Friday
EFCC’s investigation revealed the details of the Government House account domiciled in the Maitama branch, Abuja of a bank, which showed that about N4 billion was withdrawn by Onyesom between 2004 and 2006 for undisclosed reasons.
A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was also one of the people that benefited from the Rivers State ‘bonanza’.
Ali allegedly received a manager’s cheque of N100 million on November 28, 2005.
The fact-sheet reads in part: “Investigations into the financial transactions were on when the ADC to the former governor suddenly retired from the Police and disappeared into thin air.
“In his statement to the EFCC last Friday, the former ADC said the N4 billion he received in cash between 2004 and 2006 was handed over to his principal, Dr. Odili. He claimed that although the money came from Rivers State Government House account, he never knew what it was meant for.
“He also claimed that he executed contracts in 2005 and 2011, but failed to provide details of the contract and evidence of job done, except that there were movements of funds to his company’s account and transferred to Dr. Peter Odili’s companies’ accounts.
“The two companies belonging to the ADC that allegedly laundered funds for Odili from the Rivers State government’s account were Numac Project and Numac Global.
“Some of Odili’s friends and close relations were beneficiaries of the funds for which details will be made available soon.
“The Odili’s companies include: Pamo Group of Companies; Pamo Clinic and Hospitals; Orange and Orange and Pamo Educational Foundation.
“The former ADC’s statement further showed that he confirmed receiving N4billion from Rivers State account.
“Of the amount, he said he transferred N1.6 billion between 2015 and 2017 to his principal, ex-governor Odili’s company on the instruction of his boss.
“He also explained that N1.4 billion was payment to his companies for contracts he executed in 2005.”
The document gave insights into the interaction between EFCC investigators and Onyesom.
EFCC added: “Asked if he was aware of the source of the funds paid to him, the former ADC said he was made to believe that it was his principal, ex-governor Odili’s pension.
“But, he could also not explain why an ex-governor would want his pension paid through proxy.
“Onyesom, who was interrogated from 9am to 8pm on Friday, before being released on bail, could also not explain why payments for contracts executed in 2005 were made 10 years after.
“He could also not explain what qualified him to be awarded and be executing contracts, being a Police Officer, (an ASP) and an ADC to the then River State governor.”
When contacted, the Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade, said: “It is true that the ADC was interrogated by our investigators.”
Alleged N570m Fraud: Ex-Head Of Service Oyo-Ita Arrested [THE NATION]
FORMER Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita was on Sunday arrested.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) picked Mrs Oyo-Ita ahead of her arraignment today over an alleged N570 million fraud.
The former top civil servant will be arraigned along with her former Special Assistant Ubong Okon Effiok and seven others.
Also to be arraigned is another former aide, Titus Okunrinboye Tosin, who was allegedly managing an account where N600 million was frozen and forfeited to the federal government.
She will is likely to be arraigned for alleged bribery from contractors, bogus claims of fictitious Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), estacodes and conference fees.
According to a source in the anti-graft agency, who spoke in confidence, the allegations against Oyo-Ita covered her tenure as a director in the civil service.
The source said: “We have completed the investigation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and we have filed charges against her and eight other suspects.
“Our team is ready for the trial over allegations against her and others amounting to about N570 million.
“Don’t forget that Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa in September 2019 granted an order for the permanent forfeiture of about N600million in two slush accounts being managed for the ex-Head of Service.
“In the two accounts traced to Oyo-Ita’s former aide, Titus Okunrinboye Tosin, our operatives uncovered N548million in one and N51.9million in another. The accounts were used to launder funds when Oyo-Ita was a director in the Ministry of Special Duties.
“When the EFCC filed and argued its application before the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, none of the parties came up to claim the cash.”
A statement by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, confirmed the trial of Winnifred Oyo-Ita.
The statement said: “The EFCC, will on Monday arraign the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HoCSF, Winnifred Oyo-Ita.
“She will be arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.
Others to be arraigned along with Oyo-Ita are: Frontline Ace Global Services Limited; Asanaya Projects Limited; Garba Umar and his companies: Slopes International Limited; Gooddeal Investments Limited; Ubong Okon Effiok and his own company, U & U Global Services Limited and Prince Mega Logistics Limited.
“They will be arraigned for fraud in relation to Duty Tour Allowances, DTA; Estacodes; conference fees fraud and receiving kick-backs on contracts.
“During investigation, it was discovered that Oyo-Ita, in her roles in the civil service as Director, Permanent Secretary and Head of Service, used her companies as well as Effiok’s and Umar’s companies as fronts to receive kickbacks from contractors of various ministries and parastatals where she worked.
“The former head of service, in collusion with Effiok who was her Special Assistant, along with one Titus Okunriboye Tosin, made bogus claims of fictitious DTA, Estacodes, conference fees, which were paid by the government to the accounts of the suspects.”
CBN Stops Dollar Sales To NNPC [THE NATION]
CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stopped local and international oil companies from selling dollars to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The apex bank said the move is in line with the its determination to improve foreign exchange supply to the economy as the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic bites harder on the economy. The country’s foreign exchange earnings have been depleted.
CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said the new dollar remittance policy will boost local dollar collections.
Breaking the news during an emergency meeting with bank chief executive officers in Lagos at the weekend, Emefiele spoke of the urgent need to improve dollar supply to the apex bank, which has vowed to meet all dollar obligations to correspondent banks from importers.
CBN’s commitment to naira stability is accompanied with new policies and bottlenecks meant to reduce dollar spending and meet critical obligations, including those to correspondent banks on Letters of Credit and other trade obligations.
The dollar is expected to be sold to the CBN at N377 to the dollar; same rate banks are to auction dollars to the regulator.
The CBN will also be granting naira and forex funding to key local pharmaceutical companies for procurement of raw materials and equipment required to increase local drug production in the country.
They are Emzor, Fidson, GSK, May & Baker, Unique Pharma, Swiss Pharma, Neimeth, Sagar, Orange Drugs, Dana Pharma, among others, hence the need to effectively harness Nigeria’s dollar earnings in the interest of the economy.
Emefiele explained that the primary focus of the bank at this time is preserving confidence, financial stability and support for the economy.
He said: “We are committed to improving forex supply to the CBN, by directing all oil companies -international, and domestic, whether you are in the service industry, or producing, upstream, mid-stream, downstream, or related companies, to sell their foreign exchange to the CBN and no longer to NNPC, for purposes of funding even import of petroleum products, and also new policy on price modulation.”
The CBN had on Friday officially devalued the naira to N380 to a dollar. The devaluation came after over three years of push from financial market managers, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for the local currency to be devalued.
Aside devaluing the naira, the CBN also adopted a unified exchange rate, and pushed the official rate of the naira to N376 to dollar for International Money Transfer Operators rate to banks; N377 to dollar for banks’ dollar sale to CBN and pegged CBN’s dollar sales to banks at N378 and limited dollar sales to Bureaux de Change (BDCs) to $20,000 per week.
Emefiele also advised Nigerians to begin prioritising their import needs, and focus more on sourcing raw materials and inputs locally.
Emefiele said: “In deed, there is no choice than to source raw materials locally. From the information available to us, the various lockdowns in different parts of the world, all counties are locking their borders, and making it difficult for even raw materials and inputs to leave their borders.
“So, it means we have no other choice than to look inwards, especially now we can say that those inputs and raw materials can be sourced locally.”
The CBN, in February, introduced new domiciliary account rules in which it directed that customers can deposit dollar into their domiciliary accounts but are not allowed to transfer it to another party.
Also, only electronic fund transfers into domiciliary accounts can be transferred from such accounts to third parties while cash deposits into such accounts can only be withdrawn in cash.
Another policy encourages foreign portfolio investors to invest in high yielding Open Market Operation (OMO) bills at 14 per cent while local investors are restricted. Foreign holdings of OMO bills (CBN’s investment instrument to control liquidity) account for over $5 billion of the $37.3 billion foreign reserves.
Besides, it restricted importers of milk from accessing foreign exchange from official market. It limited the importation of milk and other dairy products to six firms- FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria; Chi Limited; TG Arla Dairy Products Limited; Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Nestle Nigeria PLC (MSK only), and Integrated Dairies Limited.
According to the policy guideline, all Forms ‘M’ for the importation of milk and its derivatives will only be allowed for the aforementioned companies.
Analysts, insist that these, with the new policy on dollar collections, will help the apex bank harmonise Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and meet local and international obligations.