BIGDREAM

…. Killed several others By Victor Arjiromanus & Kehinde Oladimeji Two smells serenade the vicinity when he approached; death and regret.  He had seen lives varnished into atoms, and with his locally made pistol, he cuts the life expectancy age of his victims to at most Twenty five years, as he relocates them from life to the grave yard. His story is such that sends shivers down your spine, and his bravado at unleashing mayhem could best be described in ‘kill Romeo’ movies. Perhaps, he could have caused worse disaster, if he had not been hampered by the iron hands of the Anti-cultism unit of the Lagos state police command that has continued to record great strides in the fight against cultism in the whole of Lagos state. Kabiru Ahmed, from Kano state, a Thirty two year-old self-confessed hit man of the infamous Aye confraternity, is a killer of high degree. His story is not like the usual, but, a show of desperation. He was initiated to the group in 2010, and was the butcher...

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri – Abuja A constitutional lawyer, Mr. Jideobi Johnmary, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek for a mandatory order to compel the Federal Government to immediately cease giving clearance for all flights coming into Nigeria from China, Iran, and Italy, pending the containment of the deadly Coronavirus disease. Specifically, the plaintiff, in the Originating Motion he filed before the court pursuant to section 33 (2), 46 (1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Order 2 Rules 1-5 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement) Procedure Rules 2009, prayed the court for the following reliefs: “A declaration of this Honourable Court that the continuous issuance of Nigerian visa [of any category] by the Federal Government of Nigeria [through her Diplomatic Missions abroad] to citizens of China, Iran and Italy to enable them gain entrance into Nigeria despite the massive spread of the dangerous Coronavirus Disease 2019 [COVID-19] const...

Late Governor of Kano State, Abubakar Rimi in an interview with veteran journalist, Lekan Alabi, in 1982 said the Emir is a public office holder, paid with public funds, appointed for the pleasure of the state governor and can be removed anytime. Rimi, apparently reacting to the feud between himself and the then Emir. ALSO READ: How stretcher denied Rimi chance to live, Driver recounts He said: “As far as I am concerned, the Emir of Kano, is nothing, nothing, nothing, but a public officer. He is a public officer holding a public office, who is being paid by public funds and whose appointment is at the pleasure of the state governor and who can be dismissed, removed, suspended, if he commits an offence and there is nothing absolutely you think about Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano. “If he commits any offence, we will remove him and we will sleep soundly. Watch here

Police officers and soldiers check passengers leaving from Milan main train station [Antonio Calanni/AP] Total number of deaths in locked down Italy hits 463 with confirmed cases surpassing 9,000 The head of the World Health Organization warned the threat of a global coronavirus pandemic was "very real" as the contagion continued its rapid spread around the world.  In Italy - where some 16 million people are now under quarantine - there were 97 deaths reported, bringing its total on Monday to 463. Iran temporarily released about 70,000 prisoners because of the coronavirus epidemic, as the death toll rose by 43 new fatalities to 237. More than 3,800 people have died worldwide from coronavirus and over 110,000 infections have been recorded, according to WHO

The  detection of Covid-19 coronavirus in Nigeria  raised early concerns about the country’s capacity to handle a major epidemic but so far local public health officials have been commended for handling the outbreak with aplomb. But the coronavirus is not the only viral outbreak in Africa’s most populous country. Nigeria is currently dealing with what is turning out to be the world’s largest epidemic of Lassa fever, a viral disease deadlier than coronavirus. Lassa fever is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) like Ebola and Marburg that occurs throughout the year in Nigeria and was declared an “ active outbreak ” by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) five weeks into 2020. The epidemic which occurs during the annual dry season (roughly November through March) has spread across half the country. The Lassa fever virus is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with urine and feces of a rat. It’s also known to spr...

France’s culture minister has become the latest politician to contract the coronavirus, a government colleague said on Monday after several lawmakers came down with the COVID-19 illness. Franck Riester is doing well and resting at home, health minister Olivier Veran said on BFM Television. Five French parliamentarians have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, according to media reports on Monday, along with a worker in the National Assembly cafeteria where some or all of the lawmakers may have picked it up. Riester may have caught the virus from one of the five parliamentarians, culture ministry sources said. The stricken minister last met President Emmanuel Macron several days ago, they added. The chief executive of state-controlled Paris airport operator ADP (ADP.PA), Augustin de Romanet, has also tested positive for the virus and is working from home, a spokesman said earlier. No other government officials are known to have caught the coronavirus, health minister Veran ...

Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has survived an assassination attempt targeting his convoy in the capital Khartoum, state television and a cabinet source said on Monday. Hamdok, who was appointed to head a transitional government after the overthrow of longtime President Omar al-Bashir last year, has been moved to a safe location, state TV said. Images broadcast on regional TV channels and social media showed a convoy including several damaged white SUVs and a badly damaged car. Three witnesses told Reuters the attack happened near the northern entrance to Kober bridge, which connects Khartoum North with the city centre, where Hamdok’s office is. The convoy appeared to have been targeted from above, they said. (Reuters)

way of marking the 2020 International Women’s Day,  OXFAM Nigeria  distributed dozens of female hygiene kits to girl students of selected schools in Bauchi State. While speaking at the occasion held at the Government Junior Secondary School, Udubo, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, the Gender and Nutrition Focal Person, OXFAM Bauchi State office, Mrs Zulai Abdulmalik said that the distribution of the kits was to encourage the female students to be going to school even during their monthly period. Zulai Abdulmalik further said that currently, Oxfam is focusing on girl child education by investing in their education as an investment for the future saying that to achieve this, the organisation is working in synergy with the Bauchi State Ministry of Education and that of Women Affairs with a view to ensuring the protection of girls in schools. The Gender and Nutrition Focal Person also explained that the theme for this Year’s celebration ‘I am Generation Equa...

Shouting down to reporters from his first-floor balcony, Portugal's president declared that he would remain in voluntary quarantine for two weeks despite testing negative for coronavirus, as an "example" to Portuguese people. "The test was negative. I'm going to keep working from home, even though it was negative, until the fifteen days are up," broadcaster SIC showed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as hollering. "I want to be an example." The head of state, who is known for rarely missing a social gathering where he eagerly poses with people for selfies, was tested earlier on Monday after his office announced the previous day that he had suspended all engagements and trips abroad for a fortnight and would work from home. The 'Wuhan Shake' 19:25 GMT - Iraq orders closure of holy city of Najaf: state news agency  Iraqi authorities have ordered the closure of Najaf province, home to holy Muslim Shia sites, for non-residents st...