Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, on Thursday stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is not in charge of Nigeria . Soyinka was reacting to the letter written to Buhari by the former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar(retd), wherein he advised Buhari to change his mode of appointments, noting that his skewed appointments into offices of the Federal Government, favouring some and frustrating others, would bring ruin and destruction to the country. 

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This is not the first time the Nobel Laureate would point out faults in the President's administration. Recall that Soyinka had on April 2, 2020, criticised President Buhari’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the president had been conspicuously absent as the virus gained a foothold across the country. 

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More so, Soyinka, had on March 30, 2020, described movement restriction imposed on two states of the federation by President Muhammadu Buhari as “unconstitutional and a political virus for the future.” Soyinka during an interview on PlusTv Africa, said the answer to the nation’s problem is decentralization. 

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He said, “First of all, I was appalled by the silence that followed this revelation. I think those who are responsible for this criminal lopsidedness should be punished. It is not sufficient just to discuss it. It’s criminal. I have said this before. I don’t believe there is really anybody in charge in Aso Rock. I’m sorry to say this. I’ve been studying the trend over the past year and a half and I believe this president is not in charge of this nation, in so many aspects and directions. I’m convinced he’s not really and totally with it. 

“It’s so serious. It is not the fact alone, we know the history of this. We know what it has caused the nation and we know it isn’t over yet. And you say you are launching an enquiry. That’s not enough. This man is not in charge.” 

Mr. President is not in charge of this nation – Wole Soyinka

A Kaduna State High Court sitting at Dogarawa Sabon Gari Zaria has convicted one Usman Shehu Bashir of Dogarawa area to death by hanging for raping a baby that was 2 years and 9-month-old to death.

While delivering judgement on Wednesday, Justice Kabir Dabo said the judgement passed was under section 221 of the penal code, Kaduna state law 1999 as amended. 

“The convict has confessionally confirmed the occurrence of the offence, as well, his written statements also confirmed. By these two confessional statements, the Court passed the judgement,” the judge said. 

The case began on the 23 March 2015 and lasted for five years, and according to the judge “On that fateful day, the convict took late Fatima to his room and for about 40 minutes, he raped her and this led to her death." 

READ ALSO, Osun Approves Life Imprisonment for Rape

After the establishment of all the evidence of committing the crime, Bashir was sentenced to death by hanging. 

However, after passing the judgement Justice Kabir Dabo said the convict has the right to appeal within 90 days of the judgement. In her reaction, the State Counsel Barrister Jummai Dan Azimi said the Court has done justice to the case. Father of late Fatima, Malam Zakariya Ya’u Dahiru also said that with the judgement passed on Usman, justice had been gotten for Fatima.
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Man to Die by Hanging for Raping Two Year Old to Death in Zaria

Following the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state, Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, has ordered the closure of all government offices for fumigation.

This was prompted by the announcement of 23 fresh confirmed cases within 24 hours in the state on Wednesday by the Nigeria Centre for DiseaseControl (NCDC). 

According to the Commissioner for Information, the governor was disturbed by the way some members of the state executive council contracted the disease, and had subsequently directed government officials in the ministries of finance and budget to undergo COVID-19 test within seven days.

“Whereas we have discharged a total of 26 COVID-19 cases and 49 cases still receiving treatment and in stable conditions, the Governor is disturbed about the way and manner some State Executive Council members were infected, although they are also in stable conditions,” he said.

“In order to ensure effective contact tracing, he has directed that all Government offices be shut down from Thursday, 4th June 2020 and resume on Wednesday, 10th June 2020. The Governor is concerned about the number of Coronavirus cases recorded in the state which has unfortunately risen to 75 out of over 3, 000 samples tested.

“The Governor further directs Dr Richard Nnabo and his team to commence comprehensive decontamination of Government offices including the new and old Government House complex. All Exco members and Government officials, especially of the Ministries of Finance and Budget, are advised to undergo COVID-19 test within this seven days period.

READ ALSO, Bamidele Olumilua, Former Ondo Gov, Dies at 80

“The Governor further advises that during this period of the closedown of Government offices, all workers, especially from the two Ministries aforementioned, should go into self-isolation. All site operations shall, however, remain open, but must be in strict observance of COVID-19- protocols.”

COVID-19 Hits Ebonyi Executive Council, Forces Closure of State's Office

Former Governor of the Old Ondo State and an elder statesman, Bamidele Olomilua has passed on at 80 years of age. 

Olumilua who hailed from Ikere-Ekiti reportedly died after a brief illness at the age of 80.

The deceased served as governor of the state from January 1992 to November 1993 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the botched third republic before the creation of Ekiti state in 1996.
Muyiwa Olumilua, his son who serves as the Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation in Ekiti, confirmed the news of his death.

Muyiwa said his father died in the early hours of Thursday and said his burial arrangements would be announced later.

“Baba died today around 3am,” he said. “We thank God that he lived a good and worthy life and we are proud of his personality and achievements while alive. Burial arrangements will be announced later.”

Bamidele Olumilua, Former Ondo Gov, Dies at 80

The Osun State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed into law the bill that recommends life imprisonment for rape perpetrators and 14 years jail term for attempted rape.

The Speaker, RT. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, in his submission, asserted that with the passage of the bill will assist to curtail the case of rape that has become more rampant in the state.

The bill, having passed through thorough evaluation at a public hearing was later considered by Committee of the whole before passing third reading.

Owoeye noted that the law would also permit active participation of youth in sanitized government activities in the state.

READ ALSO, Army Arrests 24 Kidnappers in Ondo Forest

He observed that the bill would charge the law enforcement agents to prosecute rape cases logically and implored the youth to desist from the ugly practice.

In their separate remarks, the lawmakers urged youths to desist from ungodly acts against women.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has disclosed that soldiers have arrested no fewer than 24 suspected kidnappers within two weeks of operation in the Owo and Akoko areas of Ondo State. Buratai made this known during  a visit to the palace of the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye.

In the last three weeks, two senior military officers were kidnapped in the Akoko area on their way from Abuja but were later rescued. 

During the visit to the Olowo of Owo, Buratai, who was represented by the Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade of the army, Akure, Brig. Gen. Zakan Abubakar said, “Based on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff,  Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, troops have been deployed in some strategic areas in the state; precisely Arimogija, Owo to Oba Akoko areas, and 24 suspects have been arrested so far within two weeks of operation around Owo and Akoko general areas.”

READ ALSO, Orji Uzor Kalu Released from Prison

Welcoming the visitors, Oba Ogunoye said the community would support the army in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery/banditry and other contemporary security challenges in the country.

“The performance of the Nigerian Army in curtailing security challenges in the country under the present Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, is highly commendable,” the monarch said.

Army Arrests 24 Kidnappers in Ondo Forest

Former governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Kalu has been released from prison. 

A Federal High Court in Lagos had on Tuesday granted a motion seeking his release from the Kuje Prison custody. Justice Mohammed Liman before whom the applicant’s motion was pending, granted the prayer of the applicant and ordered the release of Kalu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Kalu and Ude Jones Udeogu, a former director of finance and account of Abia state on 36 counts of money laundering to the tune of N7.1 billion and they were jailed in December 2019.

In the verdict handed down by Justice Mohammed Idris on December 5, 2019, Kalu was sentenced to 12 years while his co-defendant, Jones Udeogu bagged a 10-year jail term.

However, on May 8, the Supreme Court nullified the trial of Kalu’s co-convict.

The apex court held that Mohammed Idris, the trial judge who had been elevated to the court of appeal at the time of the case, ought not to have presided over the matter while he was an appeal court judge.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has disclosed that the Nigerian government has approved the resumption of COVID-19 drug trial.

The minister disclosed this on Tuesday at the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) briefing on COVID-19, in Abuja.

Despite the directive from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that declared hydroxychloroquine ineffective against COVID-19, Nigeria insisted that it would continue the trial with the drug.

In his remarks, Ehanire explained why the government approved continuation of the trial. 

The minister recalled that he had announced that Nigeria will “participate in COVID-19 drug trial, which the WHO was leading but partly suspended”.

Ehanire said after consultation with top Nigerian scientists of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee, he was “advised that Nigeria has something to add to the body of knowledge around these trials”.

“I have therefore approved the continuation of the trial, as recommended, under strong precautionary conditions to be built into it,” he said.

He said the ministry had the first briefing with the Ministerial Advisory Panel of Experts on Monday and received a series of very useful advisories that will be discussed and shared with government organs.

Subsequently, the Nigerian government has announced plans to engage community volunteers for COVID-19. It revealed its plans to embark on house-to-house sensitisation on the dangers and spread of coronavirus.

Ehanire disclosed that the ministry was working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA) on the modalities. He explained that the targets were “high burden” Local Government Areas, as 20 LGAs contribute nearly 60 percent of the COVID-19 positive cases.

He said the COVID-19 burden not evenly distributed within the country and that Kano and Lagos bear the highest burden.

READ ALSO, 18 Year Old Raped, Murdered in Ibadan

The minister noted that a team from the ministry is in Lagos on an appraisal visit, during which a situation analysis will be conducted.

The team will also visit the contiguous Ogun State on the same mission.

“The visits are in continuation of similar useful initiatives in the past to Kano, Katsina Sokoto, Jigawa, Gombe, and Borno, to share experience and ideas, align strategy and support each other,” Ehanire said.

Nigerian Govt Resumes COVID-19 Drug Trial; Seeks Volunteers

Nigerians decry rising spate of rape across the country.

As the world still tries to grapple with the reality of the rape and gruesome murder of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a student of University of Benin, Edo State, another young female student named Barakat Bello has been raped and stabbed to death in Ibadan, Oyo State, by yet to be identified persons.

Bello Barakat, aged 18, was a year one student of Federal College of Animal Health and Production in Ibadan. 

It was gathered that the 19-year-old student of Institute of Agriculture, Research and Training, Ibadan, was attacked and killed while in her parents’ house in the Akinyele area of Ibadan on Monday evening.

Father of the deceased, Kasimu Elepo, said that he was not at home when the incident occurred. He stated that the deceased's sister was also out of the house at the time the tragic incident occurred.

According to him, the victim’s sister found Barakat’s body at the back of the house in a pool of her blood, with deep cuts all over her body, when she returned from Quranic lessons that fateful day.

He said, “She had been raped and killed."

“Somebody called me on the phone that I should come home but he refused to tell me what happened. When I got home, I saw that my daughter had been raped and stabbed to death.” 

Elepo, who could not contain his emotions, revealed that the police in the area had begun an investigation into the matter.

READ ALSO, Nigeria Bans Hugging And Kissing

It was gathered that she has been buried according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest, zone D has demanded justice for the deceased who was assaulted and murdered.

Her death has continued to attract outrage nationwide as Nigerians have taken to social media to express their displeasure over the rising cases of rape in Nigeria with the hashtag #JusticeforBarakat.

PTF releases guidelines for places of worship

The Federal government, through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has warned congregants against activities such as kissing, hugging, shaking or touching at worship centres.

The guidelines to be applied on churches and mosques were released by the PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, at the briefing on Tuesday.

The task force said that churches/mosques facilities must be structured in a way that physical distancing can be observed.

In addition, persons above 55 are advised not to go to worship centres but observe their worship services at home. The PTF also advised worshippers with Coronavirus symptoms not to go to places of worship.

 Dr Aliyu said, “Worshippers are advised not to touch each other in a manner such as hugging, shaking, kissing etc.

“Families are advised to stay together during the worship services.

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“Church/mosque volunteers (ushers, choir, security etc.) that have underlying illnesses should not be allowed to serve.”

The PTF also advised that Churches/mosques with a high number of worshippers can divide their services into two or three.

“Such churches/mosques should have a break of at least 30mins between the services to allow worshippers wash their hands or to disinfect the centers.

 READ ALSO, Nigeria Lifts Ban on Religious Gatherings

“Worship centers should have different entry and exit points. Windows should be left open during services, as it’s more dangerous to hold services in enclosed places. Open-air services are preferable. Also, business outlets at worship centers should remain closed.

“Worshippers with COVID19 symptoms should not go to places of worship. Persons identified with high temperature after a temperature check should be turned back.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate relaxation of the restriction placed on worship centres as part of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The government had imposed the ban two months ago to check the spread of coronavirus.

But at the briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation and chairman of the PTF, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the relaxation of the ban for four weeks.

“The PTF submitted its recommendations and the President has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June, 2020, subject to review-:

“Cautious advance into the Second Phase of the national response to COVID-19; application of science and data to guide the targeting of areas of on-going high transmission of COVID-19 in the country;

“Mobilisation of all resources at State and Local Government levels to create public awareness on COVID 19 and improve compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions within communities; sustenance of key non-pharmaceutical interventions that would apply nationwide and include: ban of gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace;

“Relaxation of restriction on places of Worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments.”

READ ALSO, Develop Mining Sector, World Bank Urges Nigeria

Mustapha also announced that from June 2, banks would operate within the normal working hours.

He appealed to Nigerians to abide by the safety protocols of health authorities, adding that Nigeria is still far from the end of the pandemic.

Nigeria Lifts Ban on Religious Gatherings

The World Bank has advised Nigeria to develop its mining sector to help mitigate post-COVID-19 economic shocks, rather than wait for a rebound of oil prices in the global market.

The Task Team Leader on the Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) Project at the World Bank, Mr. Mike Stanley, said Nigeria should not wait for oil prices to rebound as doing so might not yield the expected result because of the possibility of an oversupply of the commodity in the market from other oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia.

Stanley, at a Virtual Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the MinDiver Project under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development recalled that oil prices indicated a decline since 2014.
 He added that it has become imperative for Nigeria to have a rethink by focusing on developing the money-spinning and revenue-generating solid minerals sector.

He identified some of the minerals to include iron ore, limestone, lithium, cobalt, and generally thinking out of the box, to attract investment.

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 In a statement issued yesterday, the World Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences (NIMG), urged the federal government to galvanise the nation’s mining sector in mitigating post-COVID-19 economic shocks.
 The statement was issued by the Media Officer, MinDiver Project, Ishaku Kigbu, after a crucial session of the Virtual Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the MinDiver Project under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

The review was designed to assess the role of mining in minimising the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic and the global oil crisis.

READ ALSO, Group Places N500,000 Bounty on Killers of Female UNIBEN Student
The organisations urged the government to tap the economic potential of mining with the continued declining oil prices in the global market.

The World Bank, PwC and NIMG noted that some solid minerals, including battery minerals, cobalt, lithium, gemstone, jewelry, barite, and phosphate, among others, have high demand at the international market
 According to the statement, barites are needed and used in the oil industry; phosphate for the fertiliser industry and limestone to manufacture cement for the construction industry.

It added that the overall objective of the MTR is to review the progress of the MinDiver project with the World Bank, stakeholders of the ministry and other key actors, as well as look at new ways of integrating mining into the mainstream economy with a view to building Nigeria’s resilience to shocks.

Develop Mining Sector, World Bank Urges Nigeria

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