Author: The Gazelle News

By Kunle Owolabi The remarks of one Ayeniromo Orun’ogbeke on his facebook wall caught few people’s attention, including Yours Sincerely. Ayeniromo’s comment was to the effect that the Commissioner of Health in Osun ought to be dismissed forthwith by the Governor. The sin of the Commissioner according to this social critic was that the suspected coronavirus carrier detected in the State actually phoned the commissioner before leaving Lagos and confided in him(the commissioner) that he might have the virus. According to Ayeniromo, knowing this, the Commissioner ought not to permit the guy from entering Osun. Ayeniromo claimed he listened…

The Uyo Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 26, 2020 arraigned the trio of Edwin Edet Etim, Joseph Essien Samuel and Moses Asuquo Effiong before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. They were arraigned on two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N6,000,000 (Six Million Naira). The defendants ran into troubled waters on January 3, 2020 when the zone received a petition dated December 20, 2019 from one Dr. Emmanuel Etuk, who alleged that he paid the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Office on Thursday, March 26, 2020, arraigned one Musa Abubakar before Justice M. A. Ikpambese of the Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi, on a 1- count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N10,448,000. The charge reads: “That you, Musa Abubakar between the month of October, 2018 and December, 2018 in Makurdi within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, being entrusted with 4,500 bags of cement valued at N10,448,000 (Ten Million Four Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand Naira) by one Abdulrahim Abubakar, did dishonestly…

By Timothy Alao, Osogbo The Osun State Government says the first and only confirmed case of Coronavirus in the State is in stable condition and responding positively to treatment. The government said the State medical personnel have been handling and managing the case professionally and that no severe symptoms had been traced to the patient. The state Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi, disclosed this on Thursday, 26 March, 2020 shortly after the meeting of the State Government Technical Committee on COVID-19, at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo. He noted that the patient has been helping in easing the…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos As the battle to salvage the country and the people from Coronavirus pandemic continues, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu has been commended for the proactive, determined and diligent way he is prosecuting the war against COVID 19. This commendation was given by the Coalition of Oodua self Determination groups(COSEG) in a press statement issued on Wednesday 25 March, 2020 in Ibadan, Oyo State signed by Dayo Ogunlana and Dele Daramola, Chairman and Publicity Secretary of the of the Coordinating Council respectively, the group gave kudos to the Governor of Lagos State…

By Sofiyyah Abdur Rasak, Lagos The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced a N5 billion or US$ 14 million donation to fight the Coronavirus global pandemic in Africa. The Gazelle News.com reports that this was contained in a press release issued on Thursday, 26 March, 2020. The donation was done through the UBA Foundation and meant to catalyse a comprehensive pan- African response to forget against the corona virus (COVID-19) global pandemic. According to the statement, the donation will provide significant and much needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, by supporting relief materials, critical care…

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi, have made 18 seizures of contraband valued at N197,416,380 between November 2019 and March, 24th, 2020. The Comptroller, FOU, comprising of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue and Nasarawa States, Adesanmi Omiye, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday, 26 March, 2020 at the Zonal headquarters in Bauchi. He said that within the period, five sacks of pangolin shells weighing 150kgs, 799 bags of foreign rice, 218 jerricans of 25kgs of vegetable oil, 628 cartons of foreign soap, 12 vehicles, 8 motorcycles, 117 jerrycans of…

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 22,000 people around the world, including at least 1,046 people in the United States. Worldwide, there are more than 491,000 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, spanning every continent except Antarctica, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. At least 118,000 people around the world have recovered. With more than 69,000 diagnosed cases, the U.S has the third-highest national total behind Italy and China. Today’s biggest developments: A third of the world’s population is on coronavirus lock down while Spain’s death…

By Gbenga Akande, Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has directed that all markets in the state that do not sell essential commodities such as foodstuff, medicine, medical equipment and water be closed down effective 5.00 pm Thursday, March 26th, 2020. This is in a bid to curtail the spread of the dreaded corona virus (Covid-19) in the state by ensuring that citizens observe the social distancing practice, among other measures. The Governor’s directive was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday, 25 March, 2020. The statement…

Over the last decade or so, online gambling and sports betting have been on the rise. Judging from the popularity of on-site gambling, it would have been impossible to see online gambling becoming this huge, and possibly taking over the entire gambling industry from the traditional trends. There is no doubt, it is only a matter of time before online gambling and betting take over, and on-site gambling become almost extinct. But what can be said to be the reasons behind the rapid rise? Let us take a look. #1. Internet growth Even when the internet was developed, it…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, 26 March, 2020 lifted the suspension of two lawmakers, Moshood Oshun and Raheem Kazeem. The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, made the announcement at the start of plenary activities on the floor of the House. According to Obasa, the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, called a meeting earlier in the week to intervene in the matter. The Speaker said at the meeting, it was agreed that the House should reinstate the suspended lawmakers. Recall…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos State Government is set to discharge six Coronavirus patients who have successfully undergone full treatment, The Gazelle News.com reports. A tweet by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Tunde Ajayi on Thursday, 26 March, 2020 confirmed this. Accordingly the six patients are set to be discharged from the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. Ajayi tweeted thus on his handle: “Six of our #COVID19 inpatients have recovered and will be discharged soon. There is something Lagos is doing right. Lagos takes the lead.” Full details later….. Copyright: The Gazelle News.com

By Timothy Alao, Osogbo The Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, has gone into self isolation. The Gazelle News.com reports that the Senator had to take this precautionary method because he just returned from a trip to the United Kingdom. The Osun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, who confirmed the incident, said the measure is just a precautionary one because the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora is not showing any symptom of the deadly virus hence he has not been tested. The Gazelle News.com also reports that 15 Judges…

In line with its directives to shut down non-essential markets in the State to control the spread of COVID-19, the Lagos State government has released the names of the markets to be closed. According to the State Government, the following markets do not sell essential products like food items and medical supplies and will be shut down from Thursday 26th of March till further notice. They include: 1. GSM village, Airport road, Ikeja. 2. Mandilaz market in Lagos island. 3. Oluwole market in Lagos island. 4. Ogba market. 5. Ladipo Market. 6. Arena market oshodi. 7. Oshodi market. 8.…

By Kunle Owolabi This indeed is a trying time for the whole world. A rampaging plague is travelling from continent to continent, country to country. This made in Wuhan virus, since it first broke out last year, has almost drawn the globe back to ancient times when nations only heard about the existence of another nation and knew themselves from a thousand kilometre distance. This Corona Virus has systematically destroyed the global village posturing a la lockdown. Diplomatic, trade and friendships relationship among countries have almost reached Sub-Zero now. No thanks to this corrosive Coronal. In any case, no one…

By Ademola Akanni, Abuja The Kogi State Governor, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello, has closed all entry points into the state in one of the  precautionary measures to stem the spread of coronavirus in the state, The Gazelle News.com reports. As at the time of writing this report, The Gazelle News.com can confirm that no coronavirus has been reported in any part of Kogi State. A release on Wednesday, 25 March, 2020 by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed that the Kogi Governor had ordered the closure of all entry points into the state. The state…

A joint security patrol team compromising officers and men of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) exchanged heavy gunfire with armed bandits around Galkogo Forest, in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State last weekend. PRNigeria learnt that while the bandits suffered heavy casualties, at least twenty security personnel were killed during the bloody gun duel. The bodies of security operatives and volunteers killed during the encounter were immediately evacuated and conveyed to the Minna General Hospital. Efforts of PRNigeria to get responses from the spokespersons of both the Nigerian Army…

The CEO of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, has announced that the Bank in partnership with government and other stakeholders is extending its attention to immediate needs in the society in the face of the widespread COVID-19 by putting in place complementary efforts in education to support students and minimize the disruption to education resulting from schools’ closure.  This is following the activation of the Bank’s Business Continuity Process and subsequent deployment of safety initiatives and measures implemented across its business outlets nationwide, to help flatten the curve and ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff customers and other stakeholders. Dr…

The Leadership of the National Assembly on Wednesday, 25 March, 2020 held a meeting with some Ministers and Heads of agencies from the Executive arm of Government to brainstorm on the impact of Coronavirus pandemic on the Nigerian economy. The meeting specifically touched on the planned review of the 2020 budget and Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper passed late last year by the National Assembly. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who presided over the meeting, in his opening remarks said that an immediate review of the 2020 budget and Medium Term Expenditure Framework is imperative,…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office arraigned Dr. Moukhtar Ibrahim Maccido, a former Provost, Federal College of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State and one Annas Shehu, a business man and Managing Director, Bilnas Printing Press. He was arraigned before Justice Kabiru Dabo of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Zaria, Kaduna State on five count charge bordering on Conspiracy, Diversion of Funds meant for the college through award of phony contracts and receiving gratification. Their trouble started when the Zonal Office received a petition by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in August, 2018 on the…