Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 14th March 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 14/03/20
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EXPOSED: Despite Being Among Top Football Leagues In Africa, Nigerian Premier Division Venues Lack Hand Sanitisers, Others To Protect Players, Fans From Coronavirus
The last few days have been tough periods for sports around the world. Since the global pandemic – Coronavirus – took an even deadlier dimension, ravaging households and entire communities across dozens of countries around the world, a growing number of sporting events have been cancelled while scores more have been allowed to go ahead in completely empty venues. This is in an attempt to reduce the spread of the ruthless virus that has killed more than 4,000 persons in over 70 countries.
For instance, on Thursday the National Basketball Association in the United States announced that all matches will be suspended until further notice, after Utah Jazz player, Rudy Gobert, tested positive to the virus.
Shortly afterwards, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer both in the United States, announced the stoppage of their respective seasons due to the outbreak and spread of Coronavirus.
In Europe where football is almost like a tradition and in fact a religion, the virus has caused unprecedented damage, forcing major matches to be staged in empty venues and in some occasions completely suspended.
On Friday, the Union of European Football Association suspended all Champions League and Europa League matches billed for next week over the Coronavirus outbreak.
On the same day, the English Premier League suspended all fixtures until April 4 after Arsenal Football Club manager, Mikel Arteta, and Chelsea winger, Callum Hudson-Odoi, both tested positive to Coronavirus.
Despite the attendant loss in revenue for sports federations and professional clubs in places where games had been played behind closed doors and or suspended, authorities had placed public safety ahead of every other consideration.
In Nigeria, the deadly virus was detected after an Italian imported it into the country on February 24, 2020.
The man, who arrived the country aboard a Turkish Airlines flight, visited Ogun and Lagos and had contact with several persons, increasing the possibility of a further spread of the virus in the country.
Though health authorities have been working to ensure Coronavirus does not spread further in Nigeria, the fears remain valid.
During visits to some Nigerian Premier Leagues match venues last weekend by SaharaReporters correspondents to ascertain the level of precautionary measures being put in place to protect players, coaching staff and fans against the virus and other transmittable diseases, it was observed that basic protective items like hand sanitisers, hand wash, nose masks were all missing, exposing everyone at such venues to danger of being infected with all kinds of diseases.
For example, during a visit to the Agege Stadium in Lagos where the fixture between MFM FC and Enugu Rangers was played on Sunday evening, it was observed that there was no preventive measure in place at the stadium to protect players, officials and fans of both clubs.
This laxity can be observed right from the main gate of the stadium as visitors to the sports arena walked into the place without sanitising their hands or protecting themselves in any way.
Officials searched fans trooping into the stadium with bare hands, exposing themselves and even visitors to all kinds of germs and transmittable diseases.
At the ticket section stationed outside the stadium, it was also observed that sale attendants lacked protective gears and went about their assignments as usual without recourse to the deadly virus currently ravaging many parts of the world especially places where people gathered in large numbers.
Speaking with SaharaReporters shortly after the match between MFM FC and Enugu Rangers, Akinola Oriyomi, Manager of Agege Stadium, said that the absence of hand sanitisers at the venue was because the government was yet to provide it.
“My work is to make the stadium clean and I am doing that.
“About hand sanitisers, I don’t think it’s my work to provide them to the stadium for spectators.
“I’m a civil servant, I can’t use my money to buy hand sanitisers for people coming into the stadium.
“The government has to provide it, when they do, it would be made available for spectators to use.”
It was the same situation in Akure, Ondo State, when SaharaReporters visited the stadium in the city to observe the match between Sunshine stars of Akure and Abia Warriors last Sunday evening.
Management of the Akure Stadium failed to put precautionary measures in place to protect both players and spectators against Coronavirus during the encounter as observed by our correspondent.
At the front of the two gates leading into the stadium, it was observed that no hand sanitiser was put place while other safety measures to prevent spectators from contracting the disease were also absent.
A military personnel stationed at the gate of the stadium was seen checking pockets and bags of fans entering the stadium to watch the match with bare hands.
At the ticketing office of the stadium, it was also observed that the attendants were not protected nor guided by any safety kits as some of them even shook hands freely with fans going in to watch the match – thus increasing the chances of the spread of the deadly virus.
Our correspondent also noticed that no ambulance or other medical equipment where in place to attend to emergency cases inside the stadium in case any such situation.
The situation was not also different at the swimming pool section of the stadium where children were seen swimming and playing around without any precautionary measure in place.
Like in other sections of the facility visited, there are no hand sanitisers, hand wash and nose masks in place at this area.
The rot at the Akure Stadium was further confirmed when our correspondent visited the toilets and bathrooms inside the facility.
Apart from the offensive odour permeating that section of the sports arena, the presence of maggots and other crawling creatures spoke volumes of how unhygienic the facility was – the perfect ground for transmittable diseases like Coronavirus.
An official in the stadium, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said although the authorities of the facility were aware of the spread of the virus, they were not ready at ensuring it does not find its way into the state.
“The stadium is really crowded and we hardly know who is who but there is no protective measures in place.
“God forbid that Coronavirus comes to this place, only God knows how many people would be infected because there is nothing to protect them here,” the official said.
It was the same scenario at the other match venues of the Nigerian Premier League visited by SaharaReporters correspondent on Sunday.
At some venues, basic items like first aid boxes were non-existed while ambulances to ferry players, officials and fans to hospital for treatment in case of medical emergencies were missing.
Interestingly, Nigeria’s Premier League is ranked 57th strongest national league in the world as at 2019 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
It is the seventh strongest league in Africa behind those of Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Angola, South Africa and Zambia.
The Nigeria Football Federation appears helpless about the situation, sadly, raising fears of a disaster in case of further spread of the virus in the country.
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BREAKING: Sanusi On Way Out Of Nasarawa Community Where He Was Banished To
Sanusi’s Luggage
Following an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordering the release from house arrest of deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the ex-monarch is now on his way out of the Awe tow in Nasarawa State where he had been held up.
His exit from the community comes shortly after a visit by Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Friday.
Kano State Executive Council approved Sanusi’s dethronement at a special sitting held on Monday.
Sanusi’s Luggage
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Since coming on the throne, Sanusi, who rose to become governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank as a professional, has always spoken out against harmful traditions and practices in the North, often times drawing the ire of elites in the region.
It is not clear yet where the former Emir of Kano is headed.
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Alleged $2.1m Fraud: Court Dismisses Ex-NIHS Boss, Femi Thomas, No Case Application
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday dismissed the no-case submission filed by a former Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Femi Thomas, in response to the $2.2m fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court, in a ruling by Justice Ayokunle Faji, said the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Thomas, warranting him to offer an explanation.
The judge held, “The testimonies of the first prosecution witness suggests that the first defendant gave the sum of $2.198m to him to change into naira through his wife, as the evidence shows that the transactions in counts four and five of the charge sheet did not pass through a financial institution. More so, the amount involved is beyond N5m obtainable by law and I therefore hold that the defendant has a case to answer.”
The judge fixed March 30 for Thomas to open his defence.
Thomas, a two-term Commissioner for Health in Ekiti State, is standing trial alongside one Kabiru Sidi, a bureau de change operator.
The EFCC alleged that Thomas conspired with his wife, Funmi, to make cash payment of $2.2m to one Mr Ibitoye John Bamidele, at their House 20, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
Sidi was alleged to have lied to an EFCC investigator, Afeez Mustapha, that he was owner of the $2.2m that Thomas and his wife transacted with.
EFCC prosecutor, Ekene Iheanacho, said the two defendants acted contrary to sections 18(2)(b), 1(a) and 39(2)(b) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004.
Iheanacho said they were liable to be punished under sections 16(2)(b) and 39 (2)(c) of the same Act.
But the defendants pleaded not guilty.
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JUST IN: Kaduna Governor On Way To Visit Sanusi In Nasarawa
Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, is currently on his way to visit dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, in Awe, Nasarawa State.
Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage, and Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa both paid homage to Sanusi on Thursday in Awe where he had been staying since being banished from Kano following his dethronement.
In a new twist of events on Friday, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted an interim order releasing Sanusi from house arrest.
Justice Anwuli Chikere granted the order in line with the prayers of the ex-parte motion filed on behalf of Sanusi by his lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Fagbemi and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria filed a lawsuit to challenge Sanusi’s banishment to Nasarawa State at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kano State Executive Council approved Sanusi’s dethronement at a special sitting held on Monday.
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JUST IN: Nigerian Tests Negative To Coronavirus After Contact With Italian
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has said that the test result of a person, who had contact with the Italian that imported Coronavirus into Nigeria had returned negative.
Ehanire made the disclosure while giving a live update on the situation of Coronavirus in Nigeria on Friday.
He said the patient, who was Nigeria’s second case, will soon be allowed to go home.
Nigeria announced its first Coronavirus case in February after the Italian came into the country through a Turkish Airlines flight and had contact with several persons in Lagos and Ogun states.
He remains in a Lagos hospital undergoing treatment for the virus.
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JUST IN: Court Grants Interim Order Releasing Dethroned Emir Of Kano, Sanusi
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an interim order releasing the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, from house arrest.
Justice Anwuli Chikere granted the order in line with the prayers of the ex-parte motion filed on behalf of Sanusi by his lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Fagbemi and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria filed a lawsuit to challenge Sanusi’s banishment to Nasarawa State at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kano State Executive Council approved Sanusi’s dethronement at a special sitting held on Monday.
Since coming on the throne, Sanusi, who rose to become governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank as a professional, has always spoken out against harmful traditions and practices in the North, often times drawing the ire of elites in the region.
He has been banished to a town named Awe in Nasarawa State where he is expected to live quietly with his family.
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Kenya Bans All Public Events, Gatherings After Recording First Coronavirus Case
Kenya has banned all major public events after confirming its first case of Coronavirus in a woman, who came into the country from the United States, the Health Minister said on Friday.
Mutahi Kagwe told a news conference that the government had suspended all public gatherings, sporting events, open-air religious meetings and “all events that are of a huge public nature”, Reutersreports.
He said schools would remain open but all inter-school events would be suspended.
Kagwe said the woman with the virus had been diagnosed on the night of March 12 after travelling home via London, United Kingdom on March 5.
Kenya, which is dependent on imports from China and other Asian countries, has already started to feel the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic with disruptions to its supply chain.
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E2%80%98anti-cultism%E2%80%99-unit Justice For Sale: After Investigation Exposing Illegality Of Lagos Police ‘Anti-Cultism’ Unit, Commissioner Announces Department’s Suspension
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has suspended the operation of the Lagos State Anti-Cultism Unit “until further notice”.
This was following an investigation into the conduct of the operatives in the unit by our correspondent.
The first part of the investigation revealed how hapless Nigerians, who are sometimes illegally arrested, are perpetually detained and their family members extorted by the notorious policemen at the unit.
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In response to the investigation that was published across platforms on March 5, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana, added that the indicted officers have also been posted out of the unit while being investigated.
Three policemen were captured extorting huge sums as bail fee from detainees’ relatives during the undercover investigation.
A senior police officer indicted in the investigation, Supro Jimoh also known as Babalawo, kept one Nurudeen Usman, a victim of illegal raiding, in detention for nine days until his family members were able to raise N70,000 as bail fee.
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In another instance, two other policemen, Saudi and Abdul, were captured collecting N10,000 as balance of an illegal bail fee extorted from another family.
Elkana said the indicted officers are being investigated.
When asked if the outcome of the investigation would be made public, Elkana said the public will be updated on the findings of the inquiry.
Speaking on the dedication of the police to rid the law enforcement agency of unprofessional officers, Elkana said more than 10 policemen were investigated for various misconducts last year and are currently serving punishment in various prisons in the country.
He added that some more are having their time in court to be tried according to the law for their offences.
“Last year alone, about 54 officers got various degrees of punishment. The only difference is that we don’t go public with those things. The officers know that if they are caught they will be dealt with.”
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Justice for Sale (II) – Extortion, Injustice Prevails In Lagos State Courts
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12 SANs Represent Sanusi As Deposed Kano Emir Fights Banishment
Dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has filed a lawsuit to challenge his banishment to Nasarawa State at the Federal High Court in Abuja
According to the PUNCH, the legal battle is being led by 12 Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
The SANs have filed ex parte application seeking an interim order for his release had been assigned to Justice Anwuli Chikere.
On Monday, the dethroned monarch was banished to Loko, a remote location in Nasarawa State.
On Tuesday, he was relocated to Awe, where he is currently being detained at a house.
These all happened within 24 hours after he was dethroned.
The respondents to the application are the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; Attorney-General of Kano State, Ibrahim Muktar, and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN).
In the application, which is a prelude to the main suit, the deposed monarch specifically prayed for an interim order for the restoration of his rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association, and movement around Nigeria, apart from Kano State, pending the hearing and determination of his main suit.
“An interim order of this honourable court releasing the applicant from the detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons,” the prayer read in part.
Alleging a breach of their client’s rights provided under sections 34,35, 40, 41 and 46 of the Nigerian constitution, Sanusi’s legal team contended, “the applicant’s fundamental right to life, human dignity, personal liberty and movement are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the respondents.”
In addition to the interim order, the lawyers sought an order granting leave to the applicant to serve the order to be issued by the court and the main suit on the four respondents through substituted means.
He prayed for an order permitting him to deliver the processes meant for the IGP to any officer in his office at the police headquarters at Louis Edet House, Garki, Abuja, the ones for the DG DSS to any officer at the DSS headquarters at Aso Drive in Abuja, the ones for the AG of Kano State to any officer at state’s Ministry of Justice, Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano, and the ones for the AGF to any officer at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.
His grounds for the application are, “The applicant’s originating motion and all other processes were filed on March 12, 2020.
“Considering the status of the respondents, it would be difficult to effect personal service on the first second and third respondents (IGP, DG of DSS), unless this application is granted.
“First, second and third respondents will have knowledge of the originating motion for the enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental right, if they are served by substituted means as stated on the motion paper.
“There is an urgent need to grant this application so that service can be promptly effected on the first, second and third respondents.
“Applicant’s fundamental rights to life, human dignity, personal liberty and movement are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the respondents.”
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BREAKING: Wife Of Canadian Prime Minister Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Wife of the Canadian Prime Minister, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, has tested positive for Coronavirus.
According to Reuters, this was disclosed by a spokesman for the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
The Prime Minister had earlier shared via his Twitter handle that his wife had developed cold and she was in isolation until her test result was out.
He said, “I have some personal news to share today. Sophie recently returned from a speaking event in the United Kingdom and last night she was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms. She‘s feeling better, but following the advice of our doctor, she is self-isolating as we wait on COVID-19 test results.
“Out of an abundance of caution, I too will be self-isolating and self-monitoring until we get Sophie‘s results back.
“But I‘ll be busy working from home. I‘ll be speaking with some world leaders and joining ministers for a cabinet committee discussion on COVID-19.
“I was looking forward to sitting down with premiers and indigenous leaders but given the circumstances, we‘ll be postponing our meeting. In the meantime, we‘ll speak on the phone about how we can mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19 and keep Canadians safe.”
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