Nigeria Records 575 New Coronavirus Cases

Nigeria record 575 new cases of the novel COVID-19 which took the total infection case to 29,286, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Monday.

According to the health agency, Lagos state recorded the highest number with 123 as it reduced from yesterday's 199 cases. FCT followed with 100 as Delta recorded 58 new cases.

Check out the breakdown of the number of new cases of COVID-19 recorded today as stated by NCDC on their official Twitter page.

575 new cases of COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-123 FCT-100 Delta-58 Edo-52 Ogun-42 Katsina-24 Bayelsa-23 Rivers-22 Borno-19 Plateau-18 Ondo-18 Oyo-17 Kwara-15 Osun-13 Enugu-9 Nasarawa-7 Abia-6 Cross River-5 Kaduna-3 Ekiti-1 29,286 confirmed 11,828 discharged 654 deaths.

TROOPS OF OPERATION HADARIN DAJI NEUTRALIZE BANDITS IN KATSINA AND ZAMFARA STATES, RECOVER ARMS AND AMMUNITION- AS REPENTANT BANDITS EMBRACE PEACE, SURRENDER WEAPONS

In continuation of the recently launched Operation ACCORD aimed at reinvigorated and aggressive kinetic operations to decisively curtail the activities of armed bandits in the North-West region, the Armed Forces of Nigeria troops have continued to conduct intensive clearance operations to identified bandits enclaves in the North- West, with attendant successes against the criminal elements.

On 3 July 2020, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI stormed a bandits' camp at Sanu village in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State sequel to actionable Human and technical intelligence on the heavy bandits’ presence in the vicinity.  Adopting aggressive tactical maneuvers, troops stormed the hideout and engaged the cowardly bandits who fled in disarray, scores with gunshot wounds. Troops pursued the bandits and made further contact with them, overwhelming them with heavy volume of fire. Exploitation of the general area led to the recovery of one AK47 rifle and one SMG rifle. It was also revealed that several bandits suffered heavy injuries and most likely died, as evident in the vast pools of blood along their withdrawal route. 

In a related development, troops made contact with bandits at Bawan Daji village and neutralized one bandit while many others were fatally wounded. Troops further raided bandits’ enclave at Gidan Zamfarawa about 10km from Mashanyin Zaki. The bandits fled on sighting troops from afar but were pursued by the determined troops who engaged them with aggressive firing. Troops exploited the general area and destroyed 7 major bandit camps while one AK47 rifle, and 2 Motorcycles, amongst others were equally recovered.

 Similarly, on 5 July 2020, troops stormed an identified bandits camp at Salihawa village in Batsari LGA of Katsina state following credible intelligence on their activities in the village. Troops overwhelmed the bandits with superior firepower and neutralized one of the criminals while several others escaped with fatal gunshot wounds. Troops also apprehended a suspected bandits’ logistics supplier, Mohammed Illela at Illela village on 4 July 2020 following a tip-off.  The suspect was arrested while attempting to convey 13 jerrycans and 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit concealed in an ash-coloured Volkswagen wagon car, to suspected bandits.

Still on 5 July 2020, troops conducted a Cordon and Search operation within Bawar-Daji village. During the operation, troops neutralized one bandit and recovered one AK 47 rifle, 5 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and one magazine, amongst others.

Furthermore, owing to intensified operations, projected by aggressive presence and posture of troops in the theatre, 3 notable bandits have surrendered to troops along with their weapons. The repentant bandits submitted one Light Machine Gun and 2 X AK 47 rifles.

Ojudu defies Buhari, insists Presidential Directive on withdrawal of political court cases not applicable to him

The Special Assistant to President Muhammed Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has said that he would pursue the case he had instituted against his state chapter of the All Progressives Congress to it's logical conclusion.

This was revealed in the Federal High Court, Abuja today when the matter of Ojudud & ors V APC, Ekiti State came up for hearing. 

Senator Ojudu's insistence is in defiance of the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari that APC party members who had instituted cases against individuals or party structures across the country withdraw same in the interest of enabling peace and reconsolidation within APC. In his speech at the recently concluded APC NEC meeting President Buhari had proposed that this directive be enforced  including providing for punitive measures against erring members.

The Presidential aide had taken the Ekiti chapter of the party to court, challenging the composition of the state exco of the party, up to the ward level, arguing that the structure was imposed in contravention with the constitution of the APC.

At the resumption of the hearing today, the presiding judge, Honourable Justice Ekwo  adjourned the matter until 30th July 2020 to enable all parties file necessary papers.

BREAKING: WAEC Examination To Commence On August 4 – Education Minister

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, on Monday said the West Africa Examination Council has fixed August 4, 2020 as commencement for this year’s examination.

Nwajiuba made this known at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Monday.

The minister said the examination will end on September 5.

Details later...

UPDATE: Journalists barred as panel grills Magu in Aso Rock

ACTING Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, is being grilled by a panel set up to investigate alleged infractions against him.

The panel is sitting at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa (Old Banquet Hall) Abuja.

Recall that the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had recently written to President Muhammadu Buhari on why the EFCC boss should be replaced having been rejected many times for confirmation by the National Assembly.

The former Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura had also written what was said to be damaging report against Magu to the senate.

However, journalists who went to cover the event at about 3.20 pm, were turned back by security personnel.

Even when the journalists who cover the State House decided to go to the press center at the Old Banquet Hall, they were politely told to excuse the place for a while.

“They said you people should excuse the use of this place for today,” a security official detailed to the venue, politely told reporters.

Magu was said to have been arrested by the DSS in Abuja on Monday, following allegations that he owns four properties and was allegedly transferring funds abroad through a third party.

He was said to have been stopped in traffic while moving out of the Wuse II Annex of the EFCC in Abuja and the invitation was extended to him.

(Vanguard)

Breaking: DSS arrests EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu

Following allegations that he owns four properties and transfers funds abroad through a third party, the Department of the State Service, DSS, Monday, arrested the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

In a seven paragraphs statement disclosed by DSS, obtained by SaharaReporters stated that the anti-graft agency chairman was said to have been found guilty of prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer.

Read the full statement below:

“In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of action prejudicial to state security – withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal of EFCC files and acts unbecoming of a police officer, and awarded him severe reprimand as punishment.

“Magu is currently occupying a residence rented for N40m at N20m per annum. This accommodation was not paid [for] from the commission’s finances, but by one Umar Mohammed, air commodore retired, a questionable businessman who has subsequently been arrested by the secret service.

“For the furnishing of the residence, Magu enlisted the Federal Capital Development Authority to award a contract to Africa Energy, a company owned by the same Mohammed, to furnish the residence at the cost of N43m.

“Investigations show that the acting EFCC chairman regularly embarked on official and private trips through a private jet owned by Mohammed.

“In one of such trips, Magu flew to Maiduguri alongside Mohammed with a bank MD who was being investigated by the EFCC over complicity in funds allegedly stolen by the immediate past petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

“Furthermore, the EFCC boss has so far maintained a high-profile lifestyle. This is exemplified by his preference for first-class air travels. On 24 June, 2016, he flew Emirate airlines first-class to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj at the cost of N2.9m. This is in spite of Mr President’s directive to all public servants to fly economy class.

“Magu has fostered a beneficial relationship with Mohammed who by his confession approaches clients for possible exploitation, favours and associated returns”.

Recall that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), had on the 19th of June recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari the sacking of Magu.

Malami, in a memorandum to the president, anchored his recommendation on several grounds “raging from diversion of recovered loot to insubordination and misconduct”.

Weeks after his letter, DSS arrested Magu.