Author: The Gazelle News

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council on Friday, led former staff of Champion Newspapers to protest at Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of 2020 Champion Newspapers Excellence Awards, over unpaid 54 month salary arrears. The protest against the management of the  newspapers was led by the  Council Chairman, Dr. Quasim Akinreti as well as the National Trustee of the Union, Mr. Sylva Okereke. It was gathered that as the protest was going on, the management of Champion Newspapers threatened to arrest the  NUJ Chairman and his team of protesters, who were unperturbed over the threats by…

By Olusegun Fafore Fatality rate across the globe since the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Chinese town of Wuhan on December 31, 2019 has signalled that this is not the best of times for humanity.  With about 8, 988 deaths and 220,877 people infected in 176 countries since the first death was recorded in China on January 11, 2020, the pandemic has boisterously announced its immensity. Frighteningly, the virus claims human lives daily while science is still struggles with an absolute response to the scourge.  More than before, humanity has become vulnerable, and at the mercy of government policies.…

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja on Friday, March 20, 2020, threw away the suit filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Common Input Properties Investment Limited owned by the former Chairman, the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina Maina, along his company, is being prosecuted by the EFCC over a fraud of N2billion. The Commission had marked and sealed the company in the course of investigation. But the company approached the court, seeking the leave of the court to restrain the EFCC, its officers, representatives or any affiliate to unseal the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos zonal office, on Thursday, March 19, 2020 arraigned one Unigwe Charles Chidozie before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a six-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $39, 000 (Thirty-Nine Thousand United States Dollars). The defendant was alleged to have been involved in internet fraud activities and has defrauded many foreigners of their monies. One of the charges reads: “That you Unigwe Charles Chidozie (a.k.a. Bryan Matt) sometime in 2019 in Lagos within the…

Keystone Bank Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Olaniran Olayinka as the Bank’s Acting Managing Director/CEO, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). According to the lender, the new appointment is in line with its strategic intent to constantly align its corporate structures and processes to support its sustained push for growth. In a statement by the Company Secretary & General Counsel of the Bank, Dr. Michael Agamah on Friday, Mr. Olayinka will lead the Bank’s Executive Management to drive its strategic business and corporate goals leveraging on the robust banking experience garnered over several years…

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has condoled with Senator Ben Murray-Bruce over the death of his wife, Evelyn Murray-Bruce. Lawan commiserated with the entire family of the Senator who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the Eigth Senate and the people of Bayelsa State over the tragic loss. He said the late Mrs Murray- Bruce was a pillar of support for her husband and their entire family, saying her untimely passage has left a void that will be difficult to fill. Lawan urged Senator Murray-Bruce to take solace from the enviable life that she lived and the fond memories…

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has postponed the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates for 2020 until further notice due to the spread of coronavirus. Patrick Ehidiamen Areghan, WAEC’s head of national office in Nigeria, on Friday, March 20, said that the examination earlier fixed to begin on Monday, April 6, across member nations will no longer be conducted as planned, The Nation reports. In a statement on Friday, Areghan said: “This decision is a demonstration of the organisation’s concern and support for the various protocols being put in place by the federal and state…

As part of measures to contain the spread of dreaded Coronavirus, (CONVID-19) in Ekiti State, the Governor of the State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has directed that all schools in the state be shut down until further notice. He also announced the prohibition of gathering of more than 20 persons in either in places of worship, social clubs, political gathering, joints and night clubs in the State with immediate effect. The Governor gave the directives in a state-wide broadcast on Friday, where he addressed the citizens on the incidence of reported case of Convid-19 in the State and measures being put…

An Abuja-based physician, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed-Danfulani has supported the call by the President of United States, Donald Trump, for American health officials to adopt chloroquine as a potent drug for treating coronavirus patients. Forbes had reported that President Trump, in a press briefing on Thursday (today), said that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, drugs used to treat malaria and severe arthritis, were approved by the Food and Drug Administration to test as a COVID-19 coronavirus treatment, as the number of cases nationwide continues to increase. Trump also disclosed that other antiviral medications will be fast-tracked for FDA approval. Mr. Ahmad, a renown…

Nigeria’s leading financial inclusion services provider, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, has announced proactive measures it has taken to control the spread of the #COVID19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The Bank’s Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said “embedded in our corporate strategy is business continuity management that ensures the delivery of products, services and initiatives to our stakeholders and enabling the economy in the long-term with minimal impact. Therefore, we have employed necessary measures to keep our employees, customers and the general public safe-guarded and sensitised on preventive steps to flatten the curve at the fastest possible rate. These…

 The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it will pay more attention to legacy projects with enduring quality for the people of the Niger Delta region. The Acting Executive Director of Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who spoke during an inspection of projects in Delta State, stated that the Interim Management Committee, IMC, would take steps to re-focus the Commission to its core mandate of transforming Nigeria’s oil-rich region. Ojougboh said that the NDDC project monitoring team had introduced of a road inspection machine known as, Asphalt/Concrete Coring Machine to fully assess the level of work done on the Commission’s roads…

 Zenith General Insurance Company Limited (commonly known as Zenith Insurance) has, in a trailblazing move, partnered with Telecommunications giant – MTN Nigeria to provide the first ever mobile insurance service in Nigeria. Using the USSD code *5966#, customers can now buy Third Party Motor Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance on the go, on their mobile phones, whether or not they have access to the internet. It is the dawn of a new era in the Nigerian insurance industry, and Zenith Insurance is at the forefront. Speaking at the launch of the product at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on…

Prudential Zenith Life Insurance has launched a payment service which allows mobile phone customers in Nigeria to buy protection policies wherever they are. Customers who dial *5966#  on their mobile phones will be able to purchase a life insurance or hospital cash plan policy in a matter of minutes. Speaking at the launch of the product at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Chairman of Prudential Zenith Life, Mr. Jim Ovia (CON), said “We are pleased to announce this exciting and innovative initiative that will democratize access to insurance for all Nigerians. We are strongly committed…

In line with the State Government directive to shut down all public and private schools in the state from Monday, March 23, 2020 and, as a precautionary step in stemming the spread of COVID-19, it is imperative to inform all our head teachers and teachers to give enough home work/assignment to the pupils during the period of school closure. Parents are to ensure that all proper preventive measures are adhered to as pupils stay at home and also create time for them to study and do their assignments to keep them abreast of their studies. Thank you for your cooperation…

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has postponed the annual colloquium to mark his birthday as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). The former Lagos state governor will clock 68 on March 29. In a letter to his associates organising the event seen by TheCable, Tinubu said the decision to postpone the event is due to overriding public health concerns. He said there is a need to lead by example and help educate and lift public awareness on all issues, including the coronavirus. “The spirit of the colloquium has always been one of public service and social…

Traveller and health officials at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport. According to NCAA, the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos would still be opened to flight operations except for the high-risk countries. The Federal Government has added two more countries to the list of high-risk countries following the outbreak of coronavirus. The countries include Austria and Sweden. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire made the announcement at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja. “We have identified two more high risks countries – Austria and Sweden which were added in the past 24…

Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s leading financial institution, has donated N100 million to the Emergency Relief Fund set up by the Lagos State Government for the victims of the Abulo-Edo explosion. The Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu made the pledge on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, when the Management of the Bank visited the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House, Marina, Lagos to condone with him and the good people of Lagos State on the unfortunate incident of March 15, 2020 which led to the loss of lives and properties at…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos The Lagos State House of Assembly has reshuffled its standing committees chairmen apparently in line with recent and ongoing events in the Assembly, The Gazelle News.com can exclusively reports. An internal memo issued by the Clerk of the House, Azeez Sanni, dated Friday, 20 March, 2020, revealed that the ‘demoted’ Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Olumuyiwa Jimoh has been assigned to chair the Committee on Central Business District (CBD) while his counterpart who was removed as Chief Whip, Honourable Rotimi Abiru is now the Chairman of Inter-Parliamentary Committee. The suspended Hon Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun was removed from…

By Timothy Alao, Osogbo The Government of the State of Osun has placed a ban on all  gatherings that would bring together 50 or more persons in the same place. This measure takes immediate effect and will be in place  until further notice. The ban will affect all schools in Osun, churches, mosques, night clubs and sports arenas among others. The government, which advised the citizenry not to panic, especially because no case has been recorded in the state so far, noted that it arrived at the decision it took after wide consultations with health professionals and stakeholders in the…

By Dare Ojelade, Lagos There will be no Friday prayer at the Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque on Friday, 20 March, 2020, The Gazelle News.com can report. A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State House of Assembly Muslim Community, Alhaji Ahmed Oyasipe on Thursday, 19 March, 2020, said the decision was taken in line with the efforts of the state government in curtailing the effects and spread of the deadly Coronavirus popularly called CONVID-19. The statement reads: “In line with the efforts of the Lagos State Government at curtailing the effects and spread of…