Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday ordered the closure of all markets in the state except food markets and those selling essential commodities due to rise in coronavirus cases.

The governor said the closure of the markets would take effect from Thursday and would last for one week.

Happening now!
Live Broadcast #COVID19Lagos updates by @jidesanwoolu @followlasg@ProfAkinAbayomi @gbenga_omo @JokeSanwoolu @segalink @DrJoeAbah @HenshawKate @ogundamisi @aproko_doctor @lagospedia @lagospress @Mr_JAGs @Oreoluwa_Finnih @ogundamisi @OgbeniDipo @WHO pic.twitter.com/jfQbANtOGe

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 24, 2020

COVID19Lagos updates by @jidesanwoolu Part 3 pic.twitter.com/OQwqonBSGI

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 24, 2020

COVID19Lagos updates by @jidesanwoolu Part 4 pic.twitter.com/YxyyBiwZeK

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 24, 2020

Sanwo-Olu, who gave update on Coronavirus at the State House, Marina on Tuesday also reviewed the minimum number of people that could gather at a time to 25 from the initial 50.

He also ordered the closure of all public parks, swimming pools, gyms and others, with effect from Thursday.

THERE is palpable fears at the State House as three staff of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari have tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19).

A presidential source confirmed the development.

Meanwhile all the aides at the Vice President’s wing with the exception of his media aide did not turn up for work.

A source said the VP reported late to work on Monday afternoon unlike him.

Most of his aides had face masks and hand gloves on when they came to work on Monday.

Meanwhile the villa is on a gradual lockdown as none essential staff have been asked to stay away.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/03/breaking-covid-19-3-of-abba-kyaris-staff-test-positive/

Bauchi state’s Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has been confirmed positive to Coronavirus.

His Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, made this announcement through a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

This comes a day after the governor took the test after he had contact with the son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was confirmed to have been infected with the virus.

The statement by Gidado said, “This is to inform the general public that of the six initial tests carried out by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control on His Excellency, his family members and aides that accompanied him to Lagos is out.

“One result was confirmed positive and it happened to be that of His Excellency, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Executive governor of Bauchi.

“The governor is in self-isolation as his doctors and officials of NCDC have taken full charge of his quarantine.”

Ope Saraki, cousin to former senate president was charged today with money laundering at a Federal High Court in Ilorin.

The EFCC accuses Ope Saraki of collecting N11.8million from one Kunle Adimula, an employee of Kwara State Government.

The agency said the money was more than the limit allowed under the Money Laundering Act.

Saraki, docked before Justice Babagana Ashigar of the Federal High Court, was a former Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals.

The offence is punishable under section 16 of the Money Laundering Act.

Prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola, asked the court to fix a date for trial to enable it call its witnesses.

Lead defence counsel, Dr. Joshua Olatoke, SAN, urged the Court to use its discretion to grant bail to Saraki pending the hearing and final determination of the case.

Ruling, Justice Ashigar granted bail to Saraki in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

He ordered that one of the sureties must reside in the jurisdiction of the Court.

He ordered Saraki to submit his travel documents to the Chief Registrar of the Court.

The Judge also ordered the EFCC to detain Saraki until he perfects his bail conditions.

Hearing will continue on 15 May.

The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said he was in support of total shutdown if necessary to halt the spread of Coronavirus.

Nigeria has so far recorded 42 infection of Coronavirus, with Lagos the worst hit with 29 cases.

Tinubu, who spoke after a closed door meeting with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the State House, Marina, urged all residents of Lagos and Nigerians in general to obey government’s directives and measures put in place to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

Today, the former Governor of @followlasg, @AsiwajuTinubu lend his voice to the campaign against #COVID19. Tinubu who addressed press men after a meeting with @jidesanwoolu at the State House Marina commended the efforts of the @followlasg in educating citizens about #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/qoOHWgfQcX

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 24, 2020

Addressing newsmen, Tinubu who said he was in support of any decision taken by the government, including a total shutdown if necessary, to halt the spread of the virus, encouraged Nigerians to do the same.

So far, Lagos has the highest number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the country.

The State Government had earlier implemented some measures, including social distancing and directing a category of its workers to work from home.

Lagos State Ministry of Health is sending out a warning to all participants at the just concluded African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award that they may have come in contact with one of the confirmed cases in Lagos.

I hereby notify you that all participants at the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) held on the 14th of March 2020 at @EkoHotels may have come in contact with one of the confirmed cases in Lagos and are most likely to have been exposed to #COVID19 Infection.

Attendees at the said event are therefor advised to:

• observe strict self- isolation.

• call our #TollFree line 08000corona if they notice any of the #COVID19 related symptoms

• Let's #TakeResponsibility by practicing #SocialDistancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

#COVID19 Lagos Alert🔊!
I hereby notify you that all participants at the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) held on14th March at @EkoHotels may have come in contact with one of the confirmed cases in Lagos and
are most likely to have been exposed to #COVID19 Infection. pic.twitter.com/kL2hswERf8

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 24, 2020

Former Vice president Atiku Abubakar has reacted to news that the Chief of Staff Abba Kyari has tested positive for coronavirus.

Atiku sent prayers and greetings on Twitter, he wrote; ”My thoughts and prayers are with Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. Allah ya kre mu gabaki daya, kuma ya bashi lafiya – AA”.

My thoughts and prayers are with Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. Allah ya kare mu gabaki daya, kuma ya bashi lafiya. -AA https://t.co/6iNB4D4uUx

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 24, 2020

ThisDay reported, quoting presidential sources, that Kyari had tested positive for the virus.

The newspaper said Kyari had travelled to Germany on Saturday, March 7th to meet with officials of Siemens in Munich on the Nigerian electricity expansion programme.

He returned exactly one week later on Saturday, March 14th, but did not show any symptoms.

Earlier, Kyari wrote to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday seeking due adherence to coronavirus screening at airports.

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to reports that his son refused to isolate himself upon return.

Atiku had on Sunday revealed that his son tested positive for the deadly disease.

He said he has been moved to Gwagwalada specialist hospital.

But reports on Monday emerged that Atiku’s son attended a popular club in Abuja, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s rally that was held in Ibadan.

But reacting Atiku in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe debunked the reports.

Describing the reports as a ‘false narrative,’ Atiku said his son returned to the country on 17th March via Switzerland from some business engagements in France and Switzerland and isolated himself when he returned to Abuja.

He urged Nigerians to disregard the ‘perfidious information that his son accessed open location.

The statement reads, “The clinical case attended a private meeting of six (6) persons same day in Lagos, stayed in his private house for the night and took an Aero 5.20pm flight to Abuja on the 18th.

“The case did not travel with his family or any other but travelled alone by Emirates Airline.
The case wore face mask as a precautionary measure since his arrival in Nigeria.

“The case did not show symptoms of infection and voluntarily placed a call to NCDC on arrival in Abuja late on the 18th to inform them he had returned from COVID-19 prone country and desired to be tested.

“On the 19th, NCDC took his blood sample which result came positive on the 20th. He subsequently went into self-isolation to protect his family within his own house.

“Meantime his son has since tested negative while his wife’s result is being awaited. The two persons are currently in self-isolation.

“We urge members of the public to disregard the perfidious information that the case accessed open location. He was not at Play Lounge nor any other club in Abuja as being mischievously bandied about.

“The case neither attended the Friday Jumu’a prayers nor any social gathering until his evacuation to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital on the 20th where he is being treated and managed.

“We thank Nigerians for their prayers and support through this difficult time. Once again, it needs to be restated that the risk and danger of #COVID19 is real.”

The Federal Government has ordered civil servants to stay at home from Tuesday, 24 March, as the battle against Coronavirus was ramped up.

Head of Service, Folasade Yemi-Esan, in a memo said all civil servants from grade level one to 12 should work from home. Lagos gave the same order on Sunday.

For the senior civil servants coming to work, she ordered them to limit visitors

The head of service said government is concerned about the welfare and safety of all public servants just as it was about other Nigerians.

“All public servants are, therefore, strongly advised to follow the measures being put in place by government to curtail the spread of the pandemic,” she said.

“As a further step to check the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), all non-essential public servants on grade level 12 and below are to work from home with effect from Tuesday 24th March, 2020 until further notice.”

Earlier on Monday, the Federal Government ordered the total closure of all its land borders to halt the spread of the pandemic.

A 23-year-old secondary school teacher, Azunyere Chima, has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of his 14-year-old pupil.

The suspect, an Arts teacher, reportedly deceived the pupil on the pretext of assisting her with the practical work.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Oyeyemi explained that the suspect allegedly dragged the victim to his room and forcefully had sex with her.

The PPRO added that the action of the suspect caused the victim to bleed heavily.

He said, “On March 22, 2020, Azunyere Chima was arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command for forcefully having carnal knowledge of his 14-year-old pupil.

“The 23-year-old randy teacher was apprehended following a report by the father of the victim, who reported at the Ibafo Divisional Police Headquarters that his daughter was lured to the house of the suspect, who happened to be her Arts teacher, under the pretext that he wanted to help her with the practical work.

“But on getting to his house, the suspect dragged her into his room, overpowered her and forcefully had sex with her as a result of which the victim bled heavily from her private parts.

“Upon the report, the DPO, Ibafo, SP Abiodun Ayinde, detailed his detectives to the residence of the suspect at No. 2 Unity Close, Aseese, where he was promptly arrested.

“He has since made a confessional statement to the police, while the victim has been taken to hospital for treatment.”

Oyeyemi explained that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Kenneth Ebrimson, had directed that the suspect be transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for proper investigation and prosecution.