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Ugandan Court Orders Immediate Release of Omah Lay by Raphael Bichene

Ugandan Court Orders Immediate Release of Omah Lay by Raphael Bichene

A Ugandan court has ordered the release of two fast-rising Nigerian singers, Omah Lay and Tems, from detention.

This is coming three days after they were arrested in Uganda for allegedly flouting COVID-19 guidelines.

Newsmen reports that they were arrested after their performances at The Big Brunch, which held at Speke Resort, Wavamunno Rd, Kampala, Uganda.

Court documents confirming their release were shared by Ugandan celebrities and media organisations on Tuesday.

In the documents, Okumu Jude Muwone, the presiding judge who is the Chief Magistrate of Makindye, said charges against the Nigerian singers have been dropped.

The release order for Omah Lay read, “Whereas the accused persons Stanley Omah Didia and Muyiwa Awoniyi were charged with the offence of neglect act likely to spread of infectious disease Section 171 of Penal Code Act.

“The charges against the accused Stanley Omah Didia and Muyiwa Awoniyi has been withdrawn against them by Vide Withdrawal Form Serial No, 4292 dated December 15, 2020.

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“This is to direct you to release Muyiwa Awoniyi and Stanley Omah Didia the said accused persons from your custody forthwith unless held on other charges.”

Earlier, the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, gave a hint that the arrested singers would return to Nigeria soon.

“I received Marshall and Valentine , working with ⁦@Omah_Lay ⁩ and Tem’s record label. The good news is that they will soon be back,” she tweeted.

Maina Slumps in Court by Raphael Bichene

Maina Slumps in Court by Raphael Bichene

In what is becoming a trend, the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, currently facing money laundering charges, Thursday, collapsed before trial Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja

Maina slumped shortly after the court resumed proceedings in the 12-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited.

Maina had on Wednesday secured permission of the court to enter a no-case-submission to the charges against him after the EFCC closed its case with nine witnesses,

Maina’s lawyer, Mr. Anayo Adibe however, told the court when the case was called on Thursday,that his client would not be able to proceed with his application.

Abide said he was unable to prepare the no-case-submission owing to the fact that he was not availed with records of proceedings of the court in the matter.

The defence lawyer was about to make further submission when his client, Maina, slumped beside the dock where the court permitted him to sit.

Some lawyers and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service quickly rushed to his aid, a development that forced trial Justice Abang to suspend sitting.

Wolves Striker Jimenez Out of Hospital After Surgery by Raphael Bichene

Wolves Striker Jimenez Out of Hospital After Surgery by Raphael Bichene

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has left hospital after suffering a fractured skull in a clash of heads with Arsenal’s David Luiz, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old needed surgery after sustaining the horrific injury in his side’s victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last week.

A statement on Wolves’ Twitter feed said: “Some good news from over the weekend… Raul Jimenez has been discharged from hospital and is now resting at home with his family.”

Speaking about his player last week, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo expressed confidence the Mexico international would be able to resume his career.

“I am positive he’s going to come back,” said Nuno. “He’s going to come back. What the medical team did was amazing — both teams, Arsenal’s and ours. This is why we trust them and we thank them so much.

“This is what the doctor insists to me — first days are crucial. He was really well taken care of on the pitch and during the journey in the ambulance.

“There was not even a moment when he was not being given oxygen so this is what determines the next steps to take.”

Jimenez posted a message on Twitter a day after sustaining the injury, saying: “Thanks for your support messages. I will be under observation and I hope to return to the pitch soon.”

Source :AFP

Ogun State Police Warns Against #EndSARS Protests by Raphael Bichene

Ogun State Police Warns Against #EndSARS Protests by Raphael Bichene

The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police has warned any persons or group of persons planning to stage any form of protest in the state to desist from such action or face the full wrath of the law.

The command spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, gave the warning in a statement he made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the State capital

Oyeyemi said, “It has come to the knowledge of Ogun state Police Command that some misguided individuals are planning to stage a violent protest tagged “ENDSARS Phase II” today, 7th of December 2020 in Ogun State”.

“While the command recognizes that it is the right of citizens to employ protest to express their grievances over issues of governance,  there is however nothing at present that calls for such protest in the gateway state, except for those who see troublemaking as a lucrative business”.

He added that “No reasonable person after the massive destruction of properties and loss of lives occasioned by the recent #EndSARS protest would again be contemplating another violent protest so soon. It is the most callous thing to conceive and do”.

“In Ogun state, we have, since the end of #EndSARS protest been enjoying well-deserved peace. Socio-economic activities have resumed fully”.

“Schools have also resumed,  and the children, in particular, can be seen happily resuming and closing from schools”.

“Only an enemy of the people, therefore, would wish to re-enact the #EndSARS mayhem”, he said.

The Ogun State command Image maker noted that “contemplating the second #EndSARS stand logic on its head as the SARS for which reason the unprecedented violence was perpetrated in the country, has since been banned”.

“SARS is now history! It is mischievous therefore for anybody to protest against a non-existent outfit or any issue”.

Strike: Labour Gives Niger Government Fresh Conditions by Raphael Bichene

Strike: Labour Gives Niger Government Fresh Conditions by Raphael Bichene

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Niger has made three points demand to enable it suspend the ongoing seven-day strike in the state.

Mr Yakubu Garba, the state Chairman, NLC made this known on Sunday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

“We held a meeting with the government team on Saturday night and agreed that the October salaries of Local Government workers be paid.

“Organised labour also demanded that the state government remit corporative deductions to workers and 80 civil servants dismissed from service be re-instated,” he said.

Jupiter and Saturn Head for Closest Visible Alignment in 800 Years by Raphael Bichene

Jupiter and Saturn Head for Closest Visible Alignment in 800 Years by Raphael Bichene

On Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will appear to be no more than a dime’s width apart in the night sky. The last time that could be seen was in 1226.

For months, Saturn and Jupiter have appeared to be courting, as the giant celestial bodies have gradually drawn nearer in the night sky.

Over the next two weeks, as their orbits align more closely, the planets will pull closer until they appear to be just a tenth of a degree apart — about the thickness of a dime held at arm’s length, according to NASA.

The encounter, known as a great conjunction, happens about every 20 years. But this one — arriving on Dec. 21, the winter solstice — is special, astronomers said.

It will be the closest alignment of Saturn and Jupiter, the largest planets in our solar system, since 1623. But that conjunction, just 14 years after Galileo built his first telescope, was 13 degrees away from the sun, making it almost impossible to view from Earth, said Amy C. Oliver, a spokeswoman for the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian.

This one will be the closest visible encounter between the two giants since the Middle Ages, in 1226, Ms. Oliver said. The next time the planets will be this close is 2080, she said, making the event a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle for most adults.

Across the United States, the best view of the two planets coming into near-alignment will be just after sunset, in the southwestern portion of the sky.

Source: New York Times

Insecurity: President Buhari to Appear Before House of Reps December 10 by Raphael Bichene

Insecurity: President Buhari to Appear Before House of Reps December 10 by Raphael Bichene

President, Muhammadu Buhari , may appear before the House of Representatives on December 10, following the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance.

Benjamin Kalu, the Spokesperson for the House of Reps, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

The President was invited on December 2 by the lawmakers in a rowdy session over the recent killing of 43 farmers in Zambarmari community in Borno.

Accorsing to Kalu ,the leadership of the House had engaged the President and asked when it would be convenient for him to appear sequel to his many engagements.

48 NBA Players Test Positive for Coronavirus by Raphael Bichene

48 NBA Players Test Positive for Coronavirus by Raphael Bichene

The NBA announced on Wednesday that 48 players have tested positive for the coronavirus, a dramatic increase over the zero positive tests reported during last season’s quarantine bubble in Florida.

The league said the positive tests are the result of 546 tests carried out between November 24-30 as the NBA gets set to begin preseason games in nine days.

The zero positive tests were from the beginning of last season’s quarantine bubble to the end of the season in mid-October.

One team, the Golden State Warriors, has already delayed the beginning of their individual workouts by a day this week because of players testing positive.

This was the initial round of tests for players as they returned to their teams ahead of the start of individual workouts on Tuesday. The NBA says it will be testing all of its players daily throughout the season.

The infection rate number is also higher than the 46 players that tested positive for Covid-19 in the weeks ahead of the start of the pandemic-disrupted season. The new results show the league has a positivity rate of 8.8 percent, which is high.

Under the league’s new COVID-19 protocols, a player who tests positive has to refrain from workouts for at least 10 days and more if he is showing symptoms.

The NBA’s first preseason games are December 11 with the regular season scheduled to begin less than two weeks later.

Source: AFP

UK Covid Infections Drop by 30 Percent Over Lockdown-React Study….

UK Covid Infections Drop by 30 Percent Over Lockdown-React Study….

Coronavirus infections in England have fallen by about a third over lockdown, according to a major study.Some of the worst-hit areas saw the biggest improvements – but, despite this progress, cases remained relatively high across England.Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the data showed the country could not “take our foot off the pedal just yet”.The findings by Imperial College London were based on swabbing more than 100,000 people between 13-24 November.The React-1 study is highly respected and gives us the most up-to-date picture of Covid-19 in the country.Its researchers estimated the virus’s reproduction (R) rate had fallen to 0.88. That means on average every infection translated to less than one other new infection, so the epidemic is shrinking.Run alongside pollster Ipsos MORI, the Imperial study involved testing a random sample of people for coronavirus, whether or not they had symptoms.The results of these tests suggested a 30% fall in infections between the last study and the period of 13-24 November.Before that, cases were accelerating – doubling every nine days when the study last reported at the end of October.Now cases are coming down, but more slowly than they shot up – halving roughly every 37 days.In the North West and North East, though – regions with some of the highest numbers of cases – infections fell by more than half.The findings suggest cases are now highest in the East Midlands and West Midlands.Lockdown came into force across England on 5 November but national data, based on people with symptoms, suggests there was a spike in cases in the week after.This was put down to pre-lockdown socialising, since it takes five days on average after catching the infection for it to be detectable by a test.Source: BBC

Total Blackout in Nigeria as National Grid Collapses by Raphael Bichene

Total Blackout in Nigeria as National Grid Collapses by Raphael Bichene

Nigeria’s national power grid collapsed again on Sunday afternoon plunging the country into a total blackout.

A message from Kaduna Electric to its customers via its Twitter handle, says “We regret to inform you that the loss of power supply in our franchise – Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states – is as a result of the collapse of the national grid. The collapse occurred at about 11:26 am this morning.

Supply shall be restored as soon as the grid is back up. We regret all inconveniences.”

Similarly, EKEDC, in a text message sent to its customers, said, “Dear customer, there is a system collapse on the national grid. Supply will be restored as soon as the issue is resolved. Apologies for the inconvenience.”

The grid, which is being managed by government-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria, has suffer system collapse several times over the years due to a lack of spinning reserve that is meant to forestall such occurrences.