AFRIMA, AU to mark Africa Day with COVID-19 concert

In commemoration of this year’s Africa Day, the Africa Union Commission and the All Africa Music Awards will host a live virtual solidarity concert for the African Union COVID-19 Response Fund.

Themed, ‘Health Security in the Context of COVID-19’ and tagged ‘#StrongerTogether’, the programme will be broadcast on TRACE Television, African Independent Television and social media platforms across Africa on Monday, May 25.

The concert is aimed at inspiring action with key messages on the prevention, protection and response measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The virtual concert will be hosted by the British-Congolese comedian, actor and philanthropist, Eddie Kadi; Nigerian singer and songwriter, Chidinma; and Cameroonian television host and entrepreneur, Pamela Happi.

Performers at the event include 2Baba (Nigeria), Sakordie (Ghana), Aminux (Morocco), Toofan (Togo), Busiswa (South Africa), Becca (Ghana), Betty G(Ethiopia), Salatiel (Cameroun), Hiro (DRC), Rudeboy (Nigeria), Master KG (South Africa), Nikita Kering (Kenya).

The Associate Producer of AFRIMA, Adenrele Niyi, said,

“Africa, just like the rest of the world, has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The emotional and physical well-being and livelihoods of our people are bearing the brunt of the coronavirus. However, even as a new world order emerges, the African Union and member nations are showing leadership which inspires confidence that Africa will come of this stronger than before.”

Cynthia Morgan's former manager drags her, says she owes Jude Okoye a lot

Cynthia Morgan's former manager, Joy Tongo has gone on Twitter and Instagram to slam the dancehall musician after she granted an interview where she blamed Jude Okoye for her career woes.

Joy Tongo accused Cynthia of seeking sympathy with her story. She also claimed Cynthia is owing her $30,000 and owing Jude Okoye "over 40 Million". She added that she was the one who connected Cynthia to Jude Okoye and threatened to reveal more. She tweeted :

"I am in a much better place, so this time, don’t dare me. I am ready for you. Very very ready."

"People will do anything for clout! SMH!"

"Cynthia Morgan this is 2020, we haven’t forgotten all your dirt! Internet does not lie, emails does not lie and much more. I am coming for you! All the dirt you did to I and Jude and others you must pay this time around. It's over 4 years and you are still talking trash!"

"COVID-19 won't disappear completely" - Pastor Adeboye

On Sunday, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye said that COVID-19 would not be completely phased out from the earth.

The clergyman spoke during a sermon titled, ‘Seven ways to deal with a mountain,’ delivered on Dove Television Station.

Adeboye, who urged the people to rest on God in difficult situations, said just like flu and Ebola, the virus would continue to live with mankind while those who fear God would be spared. He said,

“Coronavirus is not going to disappear completely. Just like the flu and Ebola, it would subside. In the mighty name of Jesus, it would subside soon. But that it would leave the world completely, that would take a special miracle of God.

The good thing is that by the special grace of God, those of you listening to me now, by the time we finish, you would come out at the other end of the mountain. When you come out, I hope you will not forget to sing praises to the Lord.”

He added that many people would rejoice in the end because they would take stock and begin to count the gains of the lockdown.

“The mountain may be there but you are not climbing and you are not blasting it out; you are just flying.

There are quite a lot of good things that will come out of this lockdown. Many people at the end of the lockdown would be grateful for it. People who had not had time to spend with their wives and children are now locked down together. Thank God for compulsory holiday,” he said.

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Holy Bible, he said,

“There are certain situations and problems that you must burrow your way through. I am not just talking about coronavirus, I am talking of some situations in your life that you just have to burrow your way through the mountain.

To burrow your way through, you must trust God; remember God’s mercy and faithfulness; believe God and His prophets. You will come out of this problem safe and sound. Of course, you must take a step of faith. You must give your life to Jesus Christ.

You must trust God – the Father, the maker of heaven, and the earth. Trust the one who was before the mountain; remember God’s mercy and his faithfulness; and believe God and His prophets.”

COVID-19 : 34 new cases in Oyo State, 9 patients discharged

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State revealed that while 9 patients who have tested negative for the coronavirus disease have been discharged, 34 new cases have been confirmed. He made this known on his twitter handle on Saturday night.

Makinde said the development had brought the number of discharged cases in the state to 58.

The state, however, recorded 34 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number in the state to 233.

According to the latest figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday night, the 34 cases in Oyo were among the new 265 recorded in 13 states.

Makinde had clarified that 27 out of the new confirmed cases were from iSON Xperiences, a company located in Dugbe area of Ibadan.

The governor urged residents with any symptom of COVID-19 such as cough, fever, tiredness, body ache and shortness of breath to call the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) numbers.

The EOC numbers are 08095394000, 08095863000, 08078288999 and 08078288800.

May D opens up about how he was used by PSquare

In the wake of Cynthia Morgan's tell all about how she lost everything to Jude Okoye's record label as a result of a contract that she signed, May D has also spilled the beans on what he passed through in the hands of the Okoyes.

In series of tweets he shared, the singer slammed those who accused him of being ungrateful. He also claimed that he never got paid for all he did for the music group. May D also revealed that he never had a bank account while with Square Records which was owned by Psquare. He also revealed that he was made to share a room with their driver and cook even though their twin duplex was empty.

See pictures for more details

COVID-19 : Lagos enlists 600 patients for chloroquine clinical trials

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, on Saturday disclosed that the state had enlisted 600 patients for the planned chloroquine clinical trials. The state discharged 45 more patients on Saturday.

Omotoso said an independent board, which would be inaugurated, would monitor the process and give necessary advice to the state government on the progress of the trial. Omotoso said,

“In summary, we will be looking at about 600 patients. The trial will go on till we recruit the required number. There will be an independent Data and Safety Board. The board can advise that study be discontinued if the statistical evidence of the usefulness of a drug is overwhelming and in which case it becomes unethical to withhold it from other groups.”

Also, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the state was better able to handle COVID-19 given the experience it had with Ebola six years ago.

“That was also epic in Lagos and it gave Lagos some understanding about how serious infectious disease could be managed. We have an Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba and even after the Ebola case, we had some international grants and over the last two to three years, we have built what we call a biosecurity lab level four, which can match any of its kind in the world,” he said.

"Soldiers have killed over 1000 Boko Haram terrorists since April" - Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai has revealed that troops have killed 1,015 Boko Haram insurgents since April 4 till date.

The COAS disclosed this while hosting troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at an Eid-El-Fitr luncheon at Military Control and Command Centre in Maiduguri.

Buratai who revealed that artillery airstrike and blockage operations conducted by troops at the Tumbuktu Triangles around Sambisa has been greatly successful, further disclosed that some notable encounters since the commencement of the operation include that of Buni Gari, Gaidam, Minok, Dapchi, Baga, Dikwa, Awulari, Ajiri, Pulka, Ngoshe, Alafa and different parts of Sambisa Forest as well as Gajiganna.

He also said that a total of 84 high ranking members of Boko Haram logistics and informants were arrested within the period.

"Manager of demolished hotel among new COVID-19 patients" - Rivers State

The Rivers state government has announced that the manager of a hotel which was demolished by Governor Nyesom Wike for violating the lockdown order he issued, has tested positive for Coronavirus. .

In an announcement made on Sunday May 24, the Rivers government said the Manager of Prodest Hotel, Bariledum Azoroh is among the 27 new cases of coronavirus recorded in the State.

The state's commissioner for information, Paul Nsirim also recalled how some COVID-19 Taskforce members who went to enforce the Executive Order at same hotel, were allegedly ''brutalized and dehumanised leading to the death of one of them.''

The statement reads ;

"Rivers State has recorded 27 new positive coronavirus cases. The Manager of Prodest Hotel, Eleme is among the new positive cases. This latest development validates the State Government's proactive approach towards the fight against COVID-19. Recall that Prodest Hotel was demolished two weeks ago because the owners violated Executive Order 7 which banned the operation of hotels.

The COVID-19 Taskforce members from the Local Government who went to enforce the Executive Order were brutalized and dehumanised leading to the death of one of them."

Man sets pregnant sister ablaze for slapping mother

The Lagos State Police Command has  apprehended a young man who allegedly set his pregnant elder sister ablaze. The young man simply identified as Chima reportedly set his 20-year-old elder sister, Victoria ablaze at their residence around CAC Bus Stop in Okokomaiko, Ojo, on May 14.

It was reported that on the day of the tragic incident, Chima and a two months pregnant Victoria were in the kitchen of the restaurant which is the family business when trouble started. 

We gathered an argument ensued between Victoria and her mother, who chastised her about a bad habit of leaving their home to cohabit with men. In the heat of the quarrel, Victoria allegedly slapped her mother.

All hell was let loose as Chima who was infuriated by the action grabbed a keg filled with petrol and hit Victoria with it. The gallon spilled most of its contents on Victoria and a fire started shortly afterwards. 

She suffered severe burns as a result of the fire and was rushed immediately to a nearby hospital on Kemberi road, Okokomaiko. However, the doctors on duty rejected her and she was referred to the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando where she was confirmed dead by the doctors.

Her brother, Chima was said to have attempted escaping from the scene after he discovered the havoc he brought upon his family. He was held down by youths in the community who later handed him over to the police.

We also gathered that their mother sustained burn injuries on her legs as she tried to put out the fire on Victoria.

Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the state police command, Bala Elkana, said Chima has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Yaba for further investigation.

FG threatens to dismiss workers leaking official documents

The Federal Government of Nigeria has threatened to dismiss who are caught leaking official documents on social media. It said recent “unfortunate unauthorised disclosure of official documents on social media” was embarrassing and therefore unacceptable.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, issued the threat in a circular marked HCSF/109/S.1/120 with the title, ‘Unauthorised circulation of official documents/information on social media.’

Yemi-Esan issued the threat barely a week after a query she issued the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello Umar, for allegedly buying what she described as “uncompleted carcass” building for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the sum of N7bn became a public knowledge.

The HCSF had claimed that Umar superintended over the transaction for the purchase when he was still the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

She also accused the permanent secretary of giving out seven deep drilling rigs for borehole procured at N1.3bn to some unnamed individuals under “fraudulent arrangements.”

Umar’s six-page response to the query dated May 14, 2020, in which he denied all the allegations levelled against him and described them as mere concoction based on malice also found its way into the media.

The text of the April 28 nationwide broadcast of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on measures being taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19 was also leaked on social media platforms some hours ahead of the 8pm broadcast time.

Yemi-Esan, in the May 22 circular, however, described leaking of official documents as “an act of serious misconduct” which attracts dismissal as contained in the Public Service Rules. The circular read,

“The attention of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been drawn to the recent unfortunate unauthorised disclosure of official documents on the social media.

In some cases, official documents that have been minuted on are also leaked. This irresponsible and reckless action is an act of serious misconduct with a penalty of dismissal from service as provided for in Public Service Rules Nos. 030401 and 030402.

The ugly development is embarrassing to government and therefore not acceptable. Any public officer caught engaging in this act of serious misconduct will be severely dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rules."