N7.1bn fraud: Supreme Court nullifies Kalu’s conviction, orders fresh retrial

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The trial and conviction of former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, and others for N7.1bn fraud has been nullified by Supreme Court on Friday. Kalu and his co-accused were on December 5, 2019 convicted and sentenced to jail terms by Justice Mohammed Idris, who was already a Justice of the Court of Appeal, but returned to Federal High Court in Lagos, to conclude the case. But in a unanimous judgment of a seven-man panel led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, the apex court nullified the entire trial, including the conviction…

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Minister apologises over delay of UK returnees at Lagos airport

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has apologised to Nigerians that returned from the United Kingdom for spending three hours in a plane at the Lagos airport on Friday. He said the delay was caused by the refusal of the British Airways crew to fly them to Abuja because the British nationals they were billed to fly back to Heathrow Airport were in Lagos. About 255 Nigerians, who were flown into Lagos from London on account of the COVID-19, were reportedly kept inside the plane for a long time,…

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Exclusive! “We are stranded at Lagos Airport” -UK returnees cry out

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Nigerians that relocated into the country at about 1:43pm have been abandoned at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, alleging that they are stranded. According to one of the passengers that spoke exclusively to Top News Magazines, she accused the officials of the Nigerian airport of neglect, and the disease control unit NCDC, a failure as all passengers were scattered around the tarmac with no one to attend to them. “We came in with a British Airways flight at exactly 1:43 pm and till now 4:48pm(over 3hours), we are…

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COVID-19: We’re under pressure to announce nonexistent case – Kogi Commissioner

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Dr Saka Haruna, the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, has said the state is under pressure to declare that it has COVID-19 cases where there is none. The commissioner made the claims in a statement on Thursday. He, however, said the state would not succumb to the pressure. The statement followed a report, which claimed that four persons suspected to be COVID-19 patients had died at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja in the last one week. He said that as the state commissioner for health, a member of the Governing…

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Covid-19: Shutting churches doesn’t affect true worship –Pastor Poju

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Pastor ‘Poju Oyemade, the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, has said shutting church buildings does not affect the true worship of God. According to Oyemade, Christians do not need to gather in a physical building to serve God, adding that in Biblical days, people received divine healing in public places. The host of popular annual event, The Platform, stated this on his Instagram page. The decision of government not to open religious places of worship due to the COVID-19 pandemic had been criticised by some prominent pastors,…

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190,000 Africans may die from coronavirus in 2020 – WHO

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The World Health Organisation has warned that up to 190,000 people in Africa could die of coronavirus in the first year of the pandemic if containment measures fail. The UN health agency cited a new study by its regional office in Brazzaville which found that between 83,000 and 190,000 could die and 29 to 44 million be infected during the period. The research is based on prediction modelling and covers 47 countries with a total population of one billion, the WHO said in a statement. Experts have consistently warned that…

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COVID-19: Oyedepo condemns churches closure while markets open

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‌Bishop David Oyedepo, the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel International, has questioned the continuous closure of churches over the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he suspects ulterior motives. Oyedepo, who spoke during the Covenant Hour of Prayer Programme on Wednesday, said if markets could be opened for six hours, there was no reason churches should not be opened for two hours. The cleric said he believed there was a gang up against the growth of the church in the country. He said, “There is something wrong. For…

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Lockdown relaxation depends on Lagos – Ogun Govt

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Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan,has revealed that the government has given conditions to relax its lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. Hazzan said the state was monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the neighbouring states, particularly  Lagos to decide whether to relax the lockdown or not. Lagos has recorded more cases of the killer virus in the country. Hazzan said the state government would announce its decision on Friday. When asked whether the state government would continue the lockdown following  COVID-19  cases rise in the…

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Italian researchers claim to have ‘first vaccine in the world’ that kills coronavirus

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After claiming their jab is the ‘first in the world’, Italian researchers have revealed plans to test a vaccine on humans to neutralise the virus. According to reports, scientists gave mice the jab – which is being developed by Rome-based Takis Biotech – and took the antibodies they made in response. Antibodies are substances produced by the immune system to remember how to fight off a specific infection, and are vital for immunity. Preliminary results from lab tests showed the antibodies created in test mice were able to stop human…

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FirstBank digital channels valued at N8.18 trillion, assures customers of safety

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A leading financial institution in the country, FirstBank Plc has expressed its appreciation to its customers for their continued patronage of its services during the COVID 19 lockdown, whilst assuring the public that stringent measures have been implemented to ensure its branches and locations across the country operate in line with the health and safety guidelines issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Expressing the bank’s delight while welcoming customers to its branches and locations, the bank’s CEO, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, said the…

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