Airborne transmission of COVID-19 is possible – NCDC DG Chikwe Ihekwazu

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC, has said that airborne transmission of COVID-19 is possible and has urged citizens to wear face masks and adhere to other non-pharmaceutical protocols like avoiding mass gatherings, practicing social distancing and maintaining hand hygiene by washing of hands.

Speaking during the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja today July 13, Ihekweazu said:

“Over the past few weeks, increasing evidence has emerged that in addition to droplet infection, we cannot rule out that airborne transmission is also possible as a mode of transmission of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its guidelines on this saying exactly the same thing, that we cannot rule out airborne transmission. Therefore, we have to act in a precautionary way assuming that this is also possible given the new evidence that is emerging.

This means that staying together in closed spaces and clusters such as in restaurants and in small rooms with very poor ventilation increases the risk of transmission. Indoor activities are riskier than outdoors activities especially when there are many people in the room when we don’t adhere to distancing them and when we don’t wear masks.” he said

Boko Haram attacks military barracks in Borno

Boko Haram insurgents on Monday July 13, attacked 333 Artillery Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno state.

The barracks said to be a short distance from the Nigerian Air Force base in the ancient city, was attacked by 11:20pm. TheCable reported that the insurgents had attacked some parts of the town before heading to the barracks which they surrounded.

Tajudeen Umar, a Maiduguri resident told the publication that loud explosion roused him from sleep.

He said;

“We are under serious attack in this city. Sounds of gunshot and bombs from different direction. I can’t tell precisely where this is from but the sounds are clear.”

Military sources who reportedly confirmed the attack, said soldiers responded immediately but the insurgents had already surrounded the barracks. The attack happened on a day the service chiefs marked their fifth anniversary in office.

EFCC presents witnesses against Mompha’s alleged accomplices

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented witnesses against Mompha’s alleged accomplices, Kayode Phillips and Hamza Koudeih.

The defendants are alleged to be high-valued targets in Organized Cyber Syndicate Network (OCSN). They were arraigned on November 28, 2019 on 25-count charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

One of the charges read;

“That you, Kayode Phillips (a.k.a Voice of the King) and Hamza Koudeih (a.k.a. HK), sometime in May, 2019 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit conversion of the aggregate sum of $7, 069, 000 (Seven Million, Sixty-nine Thousand United States Dollars), £1, 000, 000 (One Million Pounds) and €80,000 (Eighty Thousand Euro) which sums you reasonably ought to have known form part of the proceeds of fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (a), 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Buhari, a forensic expert with the EFCC who was led in by prosecution consel A.O. Mohammed, gave a detailed account of the findings he made on the computer hard disk and two mobile phones recovered from Philips, the first defendant.

He disclosed that these included the lead document and transfer instructions to some people. Buhari said “My lord, I also found in the phones, chats between the first defendant and some other people, where he was discussing how to market each lead document to them.”

They however pleaded not guilty to the charges, thus setting off their trial. Justice Hassan subsequently adjourned the matter till July 20 and 21, 2020 for ruling and continuation of trial.

A statement released by the anti-graft agency partly read;

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office has presented the first prosecution witness, Nuru Buhari, in the trial of the duo of Kayode Phillips and Hamza Koudeih, both of whom are alleged accomplices of Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha before Justice Muslim S. Hassan of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The defendants, who are high-valued targets in Organized Cyber Syndicate Network, OCSN, were arraigned on November 28, 2019 on 25-count charges, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges, thus setting off their trial.

They were tendered and admitted in evidence by the court after a failed opposition to their admissibility by Olutade Falana, counsel to the first defendant. Justice Hassan adjourned the matter till July 20 and 21, 2020 for ruling and continuation of trial.

FG in need of more oxygen as COVID-19 deaths increase

The federal government said on Monday, July 13, that it is working towards getting more oxygen to attend to emergencies as deaths resulting from coronavirus complications keep increasing.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, said this in Abuja during the briefing of the COVID-19 task force.

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 said the number of patients hospitalized with the deadly virus is on the increase and the major concern of the government is to have enough oxygen nationwide to attend to emergencies.

“An enhanced risk communication strategy becomes inevitable when we realise that within the last 24 hours, the world witnessed the largest single day cases of 230,370 while in Nigeria, last week recorded the highest weekly fatality of 70 deaths,” the SGF said.

He said there were plans to establish one sample collection centre in each of the 774 local government areas in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

Tanks of oxygen are used to treat people with breathing problems, a common problem faced by some COVID-19 patients. When the case is severe, a ventilator is deployed

602 repentant Boko Haram members denounce their membership of the terrorist group

602 repentant Boko Haram members have denounced their membership of the terrorist group and swore an oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, July 13.

The former insurgents, who have completed a de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration program organized by Operation Safe Corridor, denounced their membership of the insurgent group at the Malam Sidi Camp in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State. They denounced their membership of the terrorist group before an 11-man Quasi-Judicial Panel headed by Justice Nehizena Afolabi, of the Federal High Court, Gombe.

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

“The panel is for the clients to appear before it to confess their pasts and denounce their membership of Boko Haram, Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) as the case maybe and swear Oath of Allegiance to be loyal, discipline and obedient citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and then make commitment.

The commitment is that at the end of the programme, where they commit any offence, they stand to forfeit all privileges that they have acquired today and will be liable of offence against the State.” Shafa said

The Borno State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, said the state government already has a structure on ground that continues the process of reintegration for the repentant sect members.

“We will provide them with psycho-social supports; continue with religious admonition in order to make them good citizens of the country. We will also give them starter packs to help them practice the skills that had been acquired in the camp here,” Gambo said

According to her, all the reintegrated members of the sect are doing well. She disclosed that one of them makes N250, 000 from barbing on a monthly basis and has employed several youths into his barbing salon.

Banks to seize defaulter’s funds in other banks

Guidelines on the Global Standing Instruction (GSI) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, has granted banks the right to seize loan defaulters’ money in other banks.

According to the apex bank, the GIS guideline was issued to enhance loan recovery in the banking sector and to facilitate an improved credit repayment culture; reduce Non-Performing Loans in the banking industry; and watch-list consistent loan defaulters.

Accounts eligible for such seizure include individual savings accounts, current accounts, domiciliary accounts, investment /deposit accounts in both Naira, foreign currencies; as well as electronic wallets and joint accounts.

The statement read in parts;

“The GIS shall serve as the last resort by a creditor bank without recourse to the borrower to recover past due obligations principal and accrued interest only, excluding any penal charges from a defaulting borrower through a direct set-off from deposit/investments held in the borrower’s qualifying bank accounts with participating bank accounts.”

While the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and the apex bank would be expected to work together for successful implementation of the guidelines, it is expected that all banks must execute the GSI Mandate Agreement with the NIBSS and ensure that all qualifying accounts remain visible to NIBSS on the Industry Customer Accounts datab

Accounts of borrowers must be linked to their Bank’s Verification Number (BVN), as failure to do so would attract such accounts being watch-listed when discovered. It is also expected that all banks will honour all balance inquiry and debit advice received from NIBSS for GSI Trigger in accordance with master agreement including GSI recall instructions.

Chief Executive Officers of banks have been directed to routinely update the Board of directors on the GSI process as it relates to frequency of use and amounts recovered or released, and banks have also been ordered to report regularly to the CBN on recoveries made through the GSI as well as releases made to other banks.

Any creditor that violates the guidelines would be made to take full liability and pay a flat fine of N500m per incident.

Osinbajo denies receiving N4billion from suspended EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu

Vice President Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reacted to allegation of receiving N4bn from suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

The Vice President’s media aide Laolu Akande who rubbished the claim, described it as lies “calculated to confuse and concocted to smear Prof. Osinbajo’s image.”

He added that Osinbajo hasn’t and will never be involved in any shady activity. The tweet read;

“Inundated by wide circulation of Fake News about VP’s purported involvement in some EFCC recovery billions, please rest assured they’re all LIES: calculated to confuse and concocted to smear Prof. Osinbajo’s image.

“The VP hasn’t and will never be involved in any such shady activities.”

Court declines Okorocha’s request to stop probe by EFCC and Imo panel

Senator Rochas Okorocha’s request for an order to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the state probe panel from investigating him on alleged financial infractions, has been struck out by a federal high court sitting in Abuja.

Okorocha had requested for a court order ending or suspending EFCC’s investigation against him, including all the petitions submitted to it by the Imo government until the panel on contract set up by the same state government had concluded its probe on his government between 2011 and 2019.

While counsel to the former Imo State governor, Oba Maduabuchi (SAN) informed the court that the defence counsel asked for an adjournment to respond to processes served on them and also asked the court to stop those involved in the suit from going ahead with the probe pending the determination of the matter, the counsel to 2nd to 48th defendants, J.M. Madu quickly interjected that the probe panel had not commenced sitting. Madu also promised to inform the Attorney-General of Imo about the development.

The request was however rejected by Justice Ahmed Mohammed who held that it would be of no use to grant a restraining order since Madu had undertaken to tell the parties not to go ahead with the probe pending when the matter would be determined. He added that since the EFCC was not represented in court, it would be unfair to grant the request in the interest of justice.

Security agents ransack suspended EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu’s home

EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Magu

Operatives of the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force this on Tuesday July 7, stormed the Abuja home of suspended EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, and ransacked it.

The security agents this evening arrived at Magu’s home located on Abduljalil Street, Karu Site, on the outskirts of Abuja, and carried out a thorough search of the apartment. They reportedly went away with vital documents found in the apartment.

Magu is currently being investigated over allegations of corruption leveled against him by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. He was suspended by the presidency today to allow him to face the probe panel investigating the allegations of corruption.

Seven oil workers killed in an expolosion at the Benin River Basin

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has confirmed the death of seven oil workers killed in an explosion that occurred at Gbetiokun, OML 40, operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), on behalf of the NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture.

A statement from the corporation said the incident occurred on Wednesday, July 8 during the installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production.

The statement said that a detailed investigation into the cause of the explosion has commenced.

”The bodies of casualties have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele, while families of the personnel involved are being contacted by their employers: Weld Affairs and Flow Impact, which are consultants to NPDC.” the statement adds

$9.7m seized by EFCC was part of the gift I collected after my tenure, Ex-NNPC MD tells court

The former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu, has told a federal high court in Abuja that the monies seized from him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), were gifts he received after he left public service.

The EFCC had in February 2017 recovered $9.7 million and £74,000 from Yakubu’s Kaduna residence.

He was subsequently charged to court and arraigned on six counts of money laundering.

He was alleged to have, as “group managing director of NNPC, between 2012 and 2014, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to avoid lawful transaction, transported to Kaduna $9.7million and €74,000.’’

Yakubu was also accused of failing to disclose the monies to the EFCC in his asset declaration form, a crime which contravened Section 27 (3) of the EFCC Act.

However, giving evidence as the first defence witness, the former GMD said 97 percent to 98 percent of the sum were gifts he received during celebrations which he hosted.

“The money was not received in bulk but in tranches of not more than $10,000 and not more than £5,000. And a substantial part of the money was given to me after I left office,” he said.

“And it was given to me on the occasions of birthdays, thanksgiving services, weddings of my daughters and other celebrations that I hosted after leaving office.”

He said he kept the money in a safe at home because he was yet to figure out what business to venture into.

“Because the money came unplanned, the plan was to think about the business venture I’ll embark on after retirement,” he said.

“I kept the money in the safe pending when there is a specific business venture I’ll embark on and as soon as that decision is crystalised, the business would be funded through a financial institution.”

Yakubu explained that the remaining two percent of the money was savings he got from estacodes.

“For over 25 years, I had reasons by virtue of my schedule, to travel to many parts of the world. So, I was entitled to estacodes in USD,” Yakubu explained.

“And any savings made during a trip, I came back with whatever I had and saved it. The savings estimated time of start was around 2010 to 2014.”

Currently, Yakubu is standing trial on only two out of the initial six counts preferred against him.

The trial court had struck out two counts while the court of appeal struck out another two.

He was then ordered to come back to the trial court to defend himself on the remaining two counts.

The case has been adjourned till July 22 for cross-examination of Yakubu.