4 Minneapolis officers now charged in George Floyd’s death; Mugshots released

 

 

   The mugshots of all the officers involved in the death of an African American, George Floyd, have been released.

  Their mugshots were released after Senator Amy Klobuchar disclosed that Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison is increasing charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to second-degree murder. The Star Tribune, citing multiple unnamed law enforcement sources, said Derek Chauvin who had his knee pressed into Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, would face the more serious charge in the death of George Floyd. 

   Sen. Amy also said that the three other officers at the scene Thomas Lane, J. Kueng, and Tou Thao are also going to be charged for their involvement in the incident following calls for their arrest. The Star Tribune reported that the three officers are to be charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. 

   The new charges will be officially announced by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.  Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Floyd’s family, called it “a bittersweet moment” and “a significant step forward on the road to justice.” Crump said Elison had told the family he would continue his investigation into Floyd’s death and upgrade the charge to first-degree murder if warranted.

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. 

List Of Five Airports That Will Be Reopened By June 21

  The Federal Government has announced that only five airports will be reopened when flight operations resume on Saturday, June 21. 

   According to a circular by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), asides the five selected airports, all others are to remain closed for further assessment. The memo further revealed that Nigeria’s airspace remains closed to international flights.

   The domestic airports that will be opened include Omagwa International Airport Port Harcourt, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano. Other airports are expected to be gradually added to the network after review and assessment.

CHANNELS

Nigerian govt to recruit COVID-19 volunteers

 

  The Nigerian government has announced plans to engage community volunteers for COVID-19. They will embark on house-to-house sensitisation on the dangers and spread of coronavirus. Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this on Tuesday at the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) briefing on COVID-19.

  He disclosed that the ministry was working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA) on the modalities. Ehanire explained that the targets were “high burden” Local Government Areas, as 20 LGAs contribute nearly 60 percent of the COVID-19 positive cases.

  He said the COVID-19 burden not evenly distributed within the country and that Kano and Lagos bears the burden. The minister noted that a team from the ministry is in Lagos on an appraisal visit, during which a situation analysis will be conducted.

  The team will also visit the contiguous Ogun State on the same mission. “The visits are in continuation of similar useful initiatives in the past to Kano, Katsina Sokoto, Jigawa, Gombe, and Borno, to share experience and ideas, align strategy and support each other,” Ehanire said.

Kaduna says markets, places of worship yet to reopen

 

   Despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the relaxation of restriction placed on churches and mosques starting from Tuesday Kaduna State Government said worshipping places and markets will remain closed in the state till further notice

  In a statement by Muyiwa Adekeye Special Adviser to the Governor, he said the public spaces, of which comprises of religious places and markets were closed in March 2020 as the state stepped-up Covid-19 prevention efforts and relevant government agencies will engage the business, community, and religious leaders to discuss and agree on the protocols for the safe opening of businesses and market, and resumption of congregational worship.

 He noted that the state government has started engagements with business leaders, and began receiving recommendations from some religious leaders on the subject of safe re-opening of places of worship.

Odion Ighalo vows to take Man Utd ‘higher and higher’

  

    Odion Ighalo has vowed to take Manchester United “higher and higher” after signing up for another six months.

   The Nigerian’s loan from Shanghai Shenhu has been extended until January 2021 after his original agreement was set to end last weekend. Ighalo scored four goals in eight games after joining the Red Devils at the start of the year.

  But he was set to return to China before the resumption of the Premier League later this month. However, United have agreed to pay £10million to keep Ighalo at the club for a while longer. And the forward says he’s ready to help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer bring the good times back to Old Trafford. He said: “I’m really happy. It’s a dream for me to be here. I’m buzzing and ready to go. “Since the first day I arrived, I made it clear that I wanted whatever it takes to continue that work.

  “Like I’ve said, since I was young, I’ve been supporting this club and playing for it is a dream. “Now I’ve extended my loan, it makes it even more clear and I’m committed as I know, in my head, I’m here until January. “I just want to work hard and enjoy it, support the team and do whatever I can to make us go higher and higher.”

Oyo begins community testing as COVID-19 cases rise

 

    Oyo State has recorded 15 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the state to 317.

  

  The latest figures, released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Tuesday night revealed that the 15 cases in Oyo were among the 241 new cases recorded in 14 states.

  The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) of the state COVID-19 Task Force said it would begin the community testing for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The exercise is to determine the behaviour of the virus in the state. The testing, expected to hold in 10 locations, will kick off in three different sites in Ibadan.

Inspector-General of Police orders immediate transfer of Uwaila Omozuwa's rape case from the Edo state command to the Force Headquarters, Abuja

 

  Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, has ordered the immediate transfer of the rape and murder case involving UNIBEN undergraduate, Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, from the Edo state police command to the Force Headquarters, Abuja. This was disclosed in a statement released by the force spokesperson, Frank Mba, today June 2nd. The statement reads

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered the immediate transfer of the ongoing investigations into the inhuman sexual assault and death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omosuwa which occurred recently in Benin, Edo State from the Police State Headquarters, Benin to the Force headquarters, Abuja.

The IGP’s directive is sequel to the preliminary report from the team of investigators and forensic experts earlier deployed to assist the Edo State Police Command in the investigations into the unfortunate incident. The DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), DIG Anthony Ogbizi Michael, fdc will henceforth provide direct supervision and ensure speedy and thorough investigation of the case.''

 

Mba added that the IGP has also ordered the immediate deployment of specialized investigators and additional investigation assets to all gender desk offices and juvenile welfare centers nationwide.

In a similar vein, the IGP has ordered the immediate deployment of specialized investigators and additional investigation assets to all the Gender Desks Offices and the Juvenile Welfare Centres (JWC) across the country. This is to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Units to respond to increasing challenges of sexual assaults and domestic/gender-based violence linked with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and other social ills within the country.

Meanwhile, the IGP has called on members of the public to provide the police useful information that could aid investigations into ongoing cases of sexual assaults and domestic/gender-based violence across the country. He also enjoins parents and guardians to pay closer attention to their children and wards in these trying times.

Court Orders Immediate Release Of Jailed Former Gov Orji Uzor Kalu

 

   A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Nigerian Correctional Services to immediately release a former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

  Kalu was remanded in the Kuje Correctional Service centre following his conviction last December for looting N7.65 billion belonging to Abia state while he was governor. Justice Mohammad Liman granted the lawmaker’s application for release moved by his counsel Lateef Fagbemi.

 The judge made the order after he received no opposition to Kalu’s application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).