George Floyd tested positive for coronavirus- Full autopsy report

 

   A full autopsy of George Floyd, was released on Wednesday and provides several clinical details, including that Floyd had previously tested positive for Covid-19.

  The 20-page report released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office came with the family’s permission and after the coroner’s office released summary findings Monday that Floyd had a heart attack while being restrained by officers, and classified his May 25 death as a homicide.

  Bystander video showing Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s “I can’t breathe” cries until he eventually stopped moving, has sparked nationwide protests, some violent. The report by Chief Medical Examiner Andrew Baker spelled out clinical details, including that Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 3 but appeared asymptomatic.

  The report also noted Floyd’s lungs appeared healthy but he had some narrowing of arteries in the heart. The county’s earlier summary report had listed fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use under “other significant conditions” but not under “cause of death.”

   The full report’s footnotes noted that signs of fentanyl toxicity can include “severe respiratory depression” and seizures. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday upgraded charges against Chauvin to 2nd-degree murder, and also charged the three other officers on the scene with aiding and abetting.

   Floyd family attorney, Ben Crump, earlier decried the official autopsy as described in the original complaint against Chauvin — for ruling out asphyxia. An autopsy commissioned by the Floyd family concluded that he died of asphyxiation due to neck and back compression.

US BANS Chinese airlines from operating flights to US

 

 

  The United States announced Wednesday that Chinese airlines will be suspended from operating passenger flights to and from the US. The move is reportedly a tit-for-tat retaliation for China’s inaction to approve American airlines from conducting passenger service to China amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

  The US Department of Transportation said Chinese authorities have “failed to permit” US air carriers to operate routes previously flown.

“The Department will continue to engage our Chinese counterparts so both U.S. and Chinese carriers can fully exercise their bilateral rights,” the agency said in a statement. “In the meantime, we will allow Chinese carriers to operate the same number of scheduled passenger flights as the Chinese government allows ours.”

Ebonyi shuts government offices as cabinet members test positive

 

    Ebonyi Governor David Umahi has directed the shutting down of all government offices in the state with immediate effect to pave way for decontermination.

   He said the order became imperative followed the contraction of COVID-19 by some Executive Council members. Umahi gave the directive in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Orji Uchenna Orji. He expressed concerns over the increasing cases of coronavirus in the state, which stands at 75 out of the over 3,000 sample tests conducted.

  Although he did not give the names of the cabinet members who tested positive to the virus , the Governor described the situation as disturbing. He noted the positive cabinet members are receiving treatment and all in stable conditions. The government offices, he directed, will be shut from Thursday June 4- Wednesday June 10 to allow for decontamination.

  “All civil servants shall work from their respective homes within this period but shall leave their phones open to respond to official imperatives. “All Exco members and Government officials especially of the Ministries of Finance and Budget are advised to undergo COVID-19 test within this seven days period.

  “The Governor further advises that during this period of close down of Government offices, all workers especially from the two Ministries aforementioned should go into self isolation. “All site operations shall however remain open, but must be in strict observance of COVID-19 protocol.”

Pope Francis condemns death of Floyd, calls for end to racism

 

 

 Pope Francis called the death of George Floyd at the hands of US police officers “tragic” and said he is praying for him and “all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism.” He also called for an end to racism, stressing it should not be allowed in any society.

  “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form. At the same time, we have to recognize that violence is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost. Let us pray for reconciliation and peace,” the pope tweeted on Wednesday.

   Pope Francis also called for intercession “for reconciliation and peace across nations.” Marches against police brutality in solidarity with the unfolding situation in the US have taken place in other European countries, including the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

TVC

Alleged N1.1b fraud: Court dismisses charge against former Customs Comptroller General, Abdullahi Inde Dikko

 

   A charge of fraud brought against former Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Inde Dikko and two others by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), has been dismissed by a  Federal High Court in Abuja. This came after ICPC lawyer, E. A. Sogunle's oral application for withdrawal of the charge under Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

   Dikko, a former Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services Garba Makarfi and Umar Hussaini, a lawyer and owner of Capital Law firm, had been dragged to court by ICPC after being accused of inducing the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, to pay N1.1 billion (N1,100, 952,380.96) into the account of Capital Law Office as a refundable “completion security deposit” for the purchase of 120 units of duplexes as residential accommodation for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    Hussaini was accused of receiving $3 million as reward for distributing the money into various other bank accounts.