Ekiti State Government has detected five new COVID-19 positive cases in the state.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade,  disclosed this while briefing journalists on the update of the  Covid-19 pandemic in the State.

The Commissioner who expressed displeasure at the five new cases, said two of them were health workers, while the other three were patients who were in the hospital where the woman who came in from Kwara State and eventually died stayed.

She added that, testing of people with the molecular laboratory would begin soon, adding that the earlier two COVID-19 patients in the isolation centre have again been tested, found negative, and have been discharged.

The Coordinator of Taskforce on COVID-19 in the State, Professor Mobolaji Aluko, maintained that security at the Ekiti borders remain tight, noting that those who attempted to gain access from outside the State, were resisted.

Professor Aluko affirmed that the Taskforce on COVID-19 could not unilaterally decide the re-opening of schools and churches, adding that all stakeholders would be have to be consulted.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Honourable Gbenga Agbeyo, who said the State Government has procured more effective fumigation machines with chemicals for effective job delivery, said his team was busy fumigating strategic places which also includes the isolation centre.

Fayemi commiserates with Ajero over fire outbreak

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has commiserated with the Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekitit, Oba  Ajewole Adebayo over the destruction of part of his palace during a fire incident last month.

The governor who was  represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, on Tuesday, made an on the spot assessment of the damaged palace, sympathized with the monarch over the fire incident and assured him of  government's support.

He said; "I hope and believe very soon, some help will come from the government to the palace of Ijero kingdom.

"It is our prayer that such unfortunate incident will never happen again in this palace. We pray that this will be a stepping stone for the transformation of the entire palace."

Responding, Oba Ajewole expressed gratitude to the Governor for the visit and the planned support.

Oba Ajewole said he was  thankful to God that the inferno did not take any life, even as he revealed that six children were evacuated from the building through the window during the fire  outbreak.

"We thank God and pray that God will not allow us witness such a disaster again"  the Monarch said .

#JusticeForBarakat: Teenage student raped to death in Ibadan

An 18 - year - old student of the Federal College of Animal and Production Technology Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan , has been raped and killed in Ibadan .

The teenager, Barakat Bello , who was undertaking the National Diploma programme in Science Laboratory Technology, was reportedly attacked on June 1 , 2020 .

The development comes days after a first- year student of the University of Benin, Uwa Omozuwa , was raped and killed in a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Edo State .

According to reports , the latest attack on 18 - year - old Barakat took place at her home in Akinyele, Ibadan .

Initial reports stated that the corpse was found near the house .

The father of the deceased , Kasimu Elepo, told Sahara Reporters that he was not at home when the incident occurred.

He disclosed 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 blood when she returned from Qur ’anic lessons.

He said, “ I was not at home when the incident happened. The younger sister was not at home too , she went for Qur ’anic lessons but when she returned home , she saw her at the back of the house with deep cuts all over her body . She had been raped and killed.

“ Somebody called me on the telephone 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 .”

Meanwhile , the National Association of Nigerian Students, Zone D, has demanded justice for the victim, saying that the raping of women must stop.

COVID-19: FG advises persons aged 55+ to stay away from churches, mosques

The Federal Government has advised those above the age of 55 to stay away from congregational worships.

This was contained in the guidelines released by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 for religious centres to resume activities .

During a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday , PTF National Coordinator , Sani Aliyu, said, “ In view of the widespread community transmission of COVID- 19, it is important that places of worship operate in a safe manner to ensure the protection of public health , avoid outbreaks and safeguard the health of the vulnerable members of the population.

“ To this end , the guidelines have been developed as a minimum set of standards that have to be complied with for places of worship to safely operate nationwide.

“ They have been developed by the PTF in liaison with the leadership of religious communities in the country and should be used as a baseline for states to allow these activities .

“ It is important to note that due to the nature of religious congregations, places of worship are particularly recognised to have a major potential for spreading COVID- 19 infections amongst worshippers .

“ Volunteers should be limited to exact numbers needed and none of the volunteers should have underlying medical conditions or be above the age of 55 years.

“ No social gatherings before or after worship .

“ Those with underlying conditions or above 55 are strongly advised to stay at home and explore virtual participation .

“ Windows should be left open during services and preferably use open- air facility as much as possible .”

Others include that worshippers must sanitise their hands, use face masks, avoid handshakes, and temperature checks be done before entry at worship centres.

The national coordinator stressed that the responsibility for enforcement of the guidelines rests on religious leaders and state governments. (Punch)

Bauchi deputy governor tests positive to Coronavirus

The deputy governor of Bauchi State, Senator Baba Tela has tested positive to the dreaded Coronavirus disease.

This was contained in a press statement signed and issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Bala Mohammed, Muhktar Gidado, on Tuesday.

The statement revealed that a sample of the deputy governor was taken when there was a noticeable exhibition of the symptoms on him which eventually came out positive, as confirmed by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

The press statement further explained that he contracted the virus in the course of discharging his duty as the State Chairman, Task Force Committee on COVID Response of Bauchi State.

According to the statement, Baba Tela has since gone into Isolation and is being taken care of by professional medical personnel.

“Samples of his primary contacts have been taken for tests too and have been equally advised to self isolate pending the outcome of the tests. Governor Bala Mohammed commiserates with his Deputy and solicits for prayers from all, for the speedy recovery of all those infected by the virus,” the statement reads.

The governor also advised citizens in the statement to adhere strictly to laid down medical protocols against the virus in order to curtail its spread among the public. (Vanguard)

Altered certificate: Tribunal orders Bayelsa deputy governor’s appearance tomorrow

THE Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ordered Deputy Governor Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo to appear before it tomorrow to produce the original copy of his disputed certificate.

The tribunal’s order followed a subpoena earlier issued on Ewhrudjakpo to appear and produce the original of the exemption certificate issued to him in 1998 by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The subpoena was issued on the request of the candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State, Vijah Opuama.

The politician is challenging Ewhrudjakpo’s qualification to contest in an election.

The petitioner alleged that Ewhrudjakpo submitted a forged exemption certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.

Although Ewhrudjakpo, by a motion filed May 17, 2020, challenged the competence of the subpoena and prayed the tribunal to set it aside, his team of lawyers, led by Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN), yesterday applied to withdraw the motion.

The lawyer said his client was no longer challenging the subpoena and was ready to attend the tribunal’s sitting.

Lawyers to the petitioner, Pius Dande Pius, and other parties in the matter did not object to the application to withdraw the motion challenging the subpoena.

Ruling, tribunal’s chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, struck out the motion and ordered Ewhrudjakpo’s appearance tomorrow.

The tribunal rejected his lawyer’s request that Ewhrudjakpo be allowed to appear next week on the grounds that since Bayelsa State does not have an airport, it would be difficult for the deputy governor to travel in view of the lockdown.

Also, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri is set to submit the list of his commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly this week, The Nation has learnt.

Nearly four months after the Diri administration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was inaugurated, following the Supreme Court judgment that upturned the victory of David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 2019 governorship poll, the current administration has been run without members of the state Executive Council.

It was learnt that the governor finally decided to send the names to the lawmakers after he had harmonised the list with some godfathers, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor Seriake Dickson, said to be interested in those to be appointed and those who should not. (The Nation)