Derek Chauvin moved to one of the most secure prisons in the US

Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis cop charged with murdering George Floyd has been moved to one of the most secure prisons in the US that accepts most hated and high-risk inmates.

We confirmed in a report that Chauvin was transferred late Sunday to Oak Park Heights Prison, Minnesota's only Level Five maximum security facility. 

The 407-inmate prison boasts of never having had an escape and is also regarded as one of the country’s safest, having only had one homicide in its history.

The prison is located on the border with Wisconsin, between the cities of Bayport and Stillwater. Chauvin was due to appear in court on Monday but his appearance has been pushed back until June 8, due to the ongoing protests over George Floyd's death.

According to recent data released by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the Oak Park Heights Prison currently houses 297 murderers, 69 sexual predators, and eight kidnappers. Some 46 percent of the prison population is black.

Majek Fashek passes away

Music legend, Majek Fashek gave up the ghost early in the morning of yesterday. May his soul find rest.

Italy: Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 3 months

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy has reopened for the first time in more than three months.

To celebrate, doctors and nurses from local hospitals led a flashmob at the iconic sloping building!

They danced while wearing face masks and keeping social distance.

They wanted to commemorate those who had lost their lives to coronavirus and encourage visitors to the attraction once again.

Queen Elizabeth makes her first appearance since lockdown began

The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth has made her first public appearance since lockdown in the UK began, on horseback.

The 94-year-old took Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old fell pony, for a ride in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where she and the Duke of Edinburgh have been isolating.

She hasn’t stopped with official duties and delivered her message to the nation on VE Day last month, encouraging the country to “never give up, never despair”.

Curfew time changes as FG further eases restrictions

The federal government has further eased coronavirus induced restrictions which first kicked off on March 31.

Churches and mosques are now allowed to open their doors for worship in accordance with guidelines or protocols handed by state governments.

According to the president's new media aide, Tolu Ogunlesi, the following will now apply:

"Nationwide curfew remains in place, timing now 10pm—4am. (No longer 8pm to 6am).

Full opening of financial sector. That is, banks and the likes will now open all through normal working hours.

Restricted opening of places of worship, (regular church and mosque services ONLY), to be based on state govt protocols.

Interstate travel remains prohibited except for goods and essential travel.

Gathering of more than 20 persons remains prohibited; outside of workplaces and religious services.

The aviation industry has been requested to start developing protocols for domestic flights to possibly resume from June 21.

Schools are still shut."

During the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing of Monday, Boss Mustapha, who is Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the PTF, announced that President 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.

Domestic flights to resume operations on June 21

Nigeria’s domestic airspace, shut in March in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is now set for a re-opening.

The federal government has asked the aviation sector to begin developing protocols that will lead to the resumption of domestic flights from June 21.

National coordinator of the presidential task force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, said during a briefing on Monday, June 1, that “the aviation industry is requested to start developing protocols to allow for domestic flights to resume anytime from the 21st of June onwards.

“Airlines must ensure physical distancing by reducing passenger capacity and ensure the provision of sanitisers and personal protective equipment as well as carrying out temperature checks at the point of entry and departure and ensuring that airports are not congested by either travelers or airports staff.”

Rights activist submits bank documents

Rights activist, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, has submitted bank documents to expose the involvement of the Delta State Judiciary and Ministry of Women Affairs in child trafficking and illegal adoption.

The evidence was submitted at the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission where the matter is being investigated.

It can be recalled that we reported how some officials of the ministry and Delta State Judiciary were accused in a petition of trafficking thousands of children from the state without following the adoption procedure.

The two government establishments were said to have connived in running a cartel in the sale and illegal adoption of children in the state in gross violation of the Child’s Right Act 2003 vis-a-vis the Delta State Child Right law 2008 and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.

The documents obtained include the account details belonging to and currently being operated by the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs for the alleged illegal adoption of children in the state.

The bank accounts said to be used for the transaction in the child adoption process include ECO Bank 2152023855, Zenith Bank 1011047631.

Other evidence sighted include an ECO Bank deposit slip dated 20/3/2020, transaction number A57CHDP200802006 with same ECO Bank account details 2152023855 used in transactions for the adoption.

When we contacted officer in charge of the investigation of the case for reaction, he asked our correspondent to come down to the office because he was not permitted to speak on phone on official matter.

When we reached out to the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Oghenekevwe Agas for reaction on the evidence, she admitted that the ministry always issued application forms to prospective adopters after obtaining a court order.

She also admitted that money was paid into the ministry's accounts to process adoption but said she cannot authenticate the teller and bank account numbers, that only the Director of Finance and Account was in best position to do that.

Head of Protocol, High court of Justice, Asaba, Agbaragu Timothy, could not be reached for comments on the issue.

Petrol pump price is going even lower

That’s right, petrol at your closest filling station should be cheaper, as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has announced a new retail price.

The new pump price was announced in a circular on Sunday, May 31, lower than the ₦125 announced back in March.

The circular read:

"Please recall the recently approved pricing regime which became effective March 19, 2020, and the provision for the establishment of a monthly price band within which petroleum marketers are expected to sell PMS at the retail stations,” the circular read.

After a review of prevailing market fundamentals in the month of May and considering marketers realistic operating costs as much as practicable, we wish to advise of a new PMS guiding pump price with corresponding ex-depot price for the month of June 2020, as follows; price band N121.50 – N123.50 per litre.

Ex-Depot price N102.13 – N104.13 per litre. Ex-Depot for collection N109.78 – N111.78 per litre. All marketers are advised to operate within the indicative prices as advised by the PPPRA."

Dangote wins world travel market award

Barely a week after emerging the most admired brand in Africa, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has won another award through its television commercial on the Cable Network News (CNN) detailing its business processes.

The company said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos that Dangote Industries won “Most Compelling Agency Story” award by the World Travel Market (WTM) with its ‘Farm to Table’ commercial.

The commercial, which is part of the ‘Touching Lives’ documentary aired weekly on CNN, detailed the process of food metamorphosis from the farm as raw material to final process as food on the tables at home.

According to CNN International Commercial Account Executive, Varshmi Arasalingam, the award recognises powerful storytelling capabilities.

He affirmed that the Touching Lives Farm To Table campaign holds a prominent socio-economic impact for which Dangote Industries continues to empower and improve the lives of people in Africa.

“We are extremely pleased to announce that Dangote Industries and CNN International Commercial are the winners of the WTM Africa Awards for the ‘Most Compelling Agency Story.

Dangote Industries is one the most diversified business conglomerates in Africa, with multiple entities impacting the daily lives of most of the continent’s population.

The company provides the population with employment opportunities that are also self-sustaining through basic needs, such as food, cement, construction, agriculture, and technology.

Through a branded content production, CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) wanted to showcase Dangote Industries empowering Africans through employment and self-sufficient opportunities.

Filmed and produced by CNNIC’s award-winning branded content studio Create, the campaign promotes Nigeria and the wider continent through the stories of real people, and focuses on the connections people have with each other, be it in their work and daily lives.

The character-driven story helps to change perceptions and encourage global audiences to visit Nigeria (and the African continent more generally) so they can experience and understand its culture and hospitality.

It also shows that we should not look at the travel and tourism as a narrow sector, but instead view it as part of a larger socio-economic project.

In this way, travel and tourism can empower and improve the lives of people in Africa – and all over the world – a goal Dangote is dedicated to realizing,” he said.

In his comment on the award, DIL Group Chief Branding and Corporate Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said the management was delighted at the award and it only showed that the company was living up to its billing as the most diversified conglomerate in Africa.

He said the Commercial shot by the CNN which has won the award depicted the businesses of the company and gave vent to how we arrive at our mission statement of meeting the expectation of the people by providing for their basic needs.

“It simply demonstrates how it starts from the farm through which our people are engaged in every process before it gets to table at home.” he said.

FG begins 2020 systematic maintenance in Lagos State

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Kayode Popoola, on Sunday said the government had begun “systematic maintenance of all bridges in Lagos’’ to ensure smooth rides and safety.

Popoola told journalists on the telephone that government had a schedule to fix all bridges in Lagos State in batches this year as funds were made available.

“We have plans for maintenance of all bridges in Lagos state this year, our prayer is that the COVID-19 pandemic should come to an end so that we can swing into action.

There is going to be systematic maintenance, we will change the rubbers of the expansion joints and anyone that the metal is bad.

We are going to replace bearings on expansion joints that are worn out, that is the systematic programme that we have this year.

We say systematic because we cannot take all the bridges at once; for instance, we are to maintain Third Mainland Bridge, Marine Beach Bridge, Eko Bridge, Ijora 7Up Bridge, so, we are taking them one after another,’’ he said.

He explained that funding and traffic congestion were some of the reasons why the bridges could not be shut for repairs at the same time.

“We want to schedule the maintenance,’’ he said.

He explained that contracts for repairs of the Third Mainland, Ijora 7Up and Marine Beach Bridges had been awarded while that of Eko Bridge was undergoing procurement for the award.

Speaking on the Marine Beach Bridge in Apapa which was supposed to be closed for repairs, Popoola said that the closure for rehabilitation was still being delayed because of rainfall.

He explained that the rains was slowing down ongoing patching of all adjoining roads to the bridge to avert gridlock, adding that, repair works were being washed off by the flood.

“We will complete the repairs and close the bridge anytime this week to begin work on it, I cannot tell you if it is Monday or Tuesday but I am sure it will be this week.

We have to ensure the adjoining roads are in good condition to take traffic before we close any part of the bridge,’’ he said.

Popoola explained that drains on highways and bridges were also being cleaned to avert flooding.

“The cleaning of weep holes on Long Bridge (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway) is ongoing. Desilting of weep holes is a regular thing, that is, we open them up and clean if not, they will have all been silted up by now, silted up means that they will have been blocked by sand.

We are also removing garbage from manholes so that all our drainages will function very well.

We are currently cleaning manholes on Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki Road, Globatek (contractor) is working on it to address major problems of flooding on that road,’’ he said.

The controller appealed to Lagos residents to stop indiscriminate disposal of refuse in drains and open manholes to avert flooding.

“Lagosians should please stop dropping garbage inside the manholes. When you go there you will see used tyres, planks and all manners of rubbish. It will be difficult for floodwaters to pass through to go into the canals.

Manhole is not meant to collect garbage, people should not drop refuse in gutters and all drainage paths to allow free flow of water,’’ he said.

He lamented that vandals were stealing manhole covers but that plans were on to replace the covers with concrete that could not be easily removed.