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  • JUST IN: FG releases further COVID-19 guidelines for places of worship

    JUST IN: FG releases further COVID-19 guidelines for places of worship

    The Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus disease (PTFCOVID19) has further provided updated guidelines that all places of worship, including churches and Christians, and mosques and Muslims, are expected to adhere to.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Ministry of Health published the updated guidelines on Sunday using its official Twitter account as the COVID-19 burden in the country hits 24,077.

    The Ministry urged Nigerians to adhere to the guidelines to prevent further spread of the COVID-19, especially advising the elderly and those with underlying health conditions to stay away from places of worship in order not to expose themselves to the dreadful virus.

    COVID-19 prevention guidelines for all churches and Christians
    COVID-19 prevention guidelines for all mosques and Muslims

     

  • Reason why the FBI placed 6 Nigerians on most wanted list

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has declared another six Nigerians wanted in the United States (US) for involvement in business email compromise (BEC) schemes.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the FBI declared the six Nigerians wanted on Saturday, asking the public to provide information about them by submitting tips at a website US intelligence and security agency provided.

    The FBI said the activities of the suspected fraudsters, whose photos were made available on its website have resulted in over $6 ​million in losses.

    The agency gave the names of the six Nigerians as; Richard Izuchuckwu Uzuh, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Felix Osilama Okpoh, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, Nnamdi Orson Benson and Michael Olorunyomi.

    Explaining the crimes of the suspects, the FBI said the six Nigerians are “wanted for their alleged involvement in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 different businesses in the US resulting in combined losses of over $6,000,000 USD.”

    Uzuh and his co-conspirators, Ogunshakin, Okpoh, Kayode, and Benson, allegedly sent spoofed emails to thousands of businesses in the United States requesting fraudulent wire transfers.

    Uzuh allegedly worked with money launderers, romance scammers, and others involved in BEC schemes to launder the proceeds of their crimes through a complex network of witting and unwitting people in the United States and abroad.

    On October 18, 2016, Uzuh was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On October 19, 2016, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

    Ogunshakin allegedly provided bank accounts to Uzuh, and the other co-conspirators, that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers. Ogunshakin allegedly also assisted in these schemes by sending spoofed emails to businesses used to solicit fraudulent wire transfers. Ogunshakin allegedly later conducted his own BEC schemes, learning from Uzuh and others.

    On August 21, 2019, Ogunshakin was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

    Okpoh allegedly provided hundreds of bank accounts to Uzuh and other co-conspirators, that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers. Bank accounts that Okpoh allegedly provided to Uzuh received fraudulent wire transfers from victim businesses totalling over $1,000,000 USD.

    On August 21, 2019, Okpoh was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

    Kayode allegedly provided bank accounts to others that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers. Kayode also allegedly conducted BEC and romance fraud schemes himself. On August 21, 2019, Kayode was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

    Benson allegedly provided bank accounts to Uzuh that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers. Benson also allegedly conducted romance fraud and advanced fee fraud schemes himself. On August 21, 2019, Benson was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

    On his part, Olorunyomi allegedly conducted romance fraud schemes often targeting vulnerable elders or widows. Olorunyomi allegedly defrauded several victims out of more than $1,000,000 USD.

    Additionally, the bank accounts of many of Olorunyomi’s alleged romance scam victims were provided to other co-conspirators to be used to receive fraudulent wire transfers from other fraud schemes.

    On November 13, 2019, Olorunyomi was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Identity Theft, and Access Device Fraud. On November 14, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

    Coincidentally, this is coming barely days after the Dubai Police arrested Ramoni Igbalode better known as Hushpuppi on Instagram and 12 others.

    The police said Hushpuppi and his gang hacked corporate emails and sent fake messages to clients to redirect financial transfers and people’s bank details to their accounts, and thus committed fraud amounting to 1.6 billion dirham, N168 billion.

    All six Nigerians: Uzuh, Ogunshakin, Okpoh, Kayode, Benson, and Olorunyomi are believed to currently reside in Nigeria.

  • Revised ATP calendar not safe for players, says Murray

    Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray said on Saturday the ATP’s revised calendar which includes seven tournaments in as many weeks is not safe for players, who will be forced to skip major events, due to the crammed schedule.

    The ATP tour, which was suspended in March, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, is set to restart on Aug. 14 with the Citi Open, followed by the Cincinnati Masters, which will be held at Flushing Meadows before the U.S. Open.

    The men’s claycourt swing will start on Sept. 8 in Kitzbuhel, followed by Masters tournaments in Madrid and Rome on Sept. 13 and Rome Masters on Sept. 20, with the French Open set to begin a week later.

    “It’s not safe for players to go from the semi-finals or final in New York… and then play in Madrid at altitude on clay when they haven’t competed for a long time,” Murray told a news conference during the ‘Battle of the Brits’ charity tournament.

    “You’re going to have the potential where a lot of top players are not competing at many of the biggest events.”

    The 33-year-old said with events coming thick and fast changes would need to be made with respect to players’ ranking points.

    “It might be worth looking at a two-year ranking for the time being maybe so that guys who have done well last year and are sort of not really able to defend their points properly aren’t kind of punished,” the twice Wimbledon champion said.

    Murray suggested he will skip the tournament in Cincinnati to get his preparations for the U.S. Open in order.

    “I would rather play Washington and miss the event the week before at the U.S. Open if they all go ahead,” he added.

    Murray returned to action following a seven-month injury layoff at the charity event organised by his brother Jamie this week, progressing to the semi-finals before losing 1-6 6-3 10-8 to Dan Evans.

  • 558 dead as Nigeria records highest single-day Covid-19 infections

    558 dead as Nigeria records highest single-day Covid-19 infections

    Nigeria posted another record of COVID-19 cases Saturday, with 779 new cases announced.

    It was the highest number ever announced by the NCDC within a 24 hour-cycle.

    The first record was set on 30 May with 673 infections. Then on 18 June, the country reported 745 infections.

    Now it has broken its own national record with 779 cases.

    This takes the national tally to 24,077.

    Lagos recorded 285 cases to lead the surge.

    The nation’s virus epicentre now has a total 10, 026 cases.

    Lagos was followed by Rivers, with 68 cases, FCT Abuja 60 cases, Edo 60 cases.

    Enugu recorded 56 and Delta 47.

    Ebonyi state posted 42 and Oyo 41.

    The breakdown of the cases:

    Lagos-285
    Rivers-68
    FCT-60
    Edo-60
    Enugu-56
    Delta-47
    Ebonyi-42
    Oyo-41
    Kaduna-19
    Ogun-18
    Ondo-16
    Imo-12
    Sokoto-11
    Borno-9
    Nasarawa-8
    Abia-5
    Gombe-5
    Kebbi-5
    Kano-4
    Yobe-3
    Ekiti-3
    Osun-2

    24,077 confirmed
    8,625 discharged
    558 deaths

  • Security Challenge: The new gold in town for fake activists”

    Security Challenge: The new gold in town for fake activists”

    By Kabiru Ibrahim Dallah

    There is no doubt that Africa and indeed West Africa, in particular, has witnessed a massive rise in insecurity challenges post-Gaddafi era in Libya.

    Several reports by reputable media organizations have linked the proliferation of small arms and ammunitions plus the rise in terrorist activities in the Sahel of Africa to the collapse of Libya.

    Most of the arms and fighters used in the fights against Gaddafi and subsequent battles for the control of Libya have found their way into several neighbouring countries.

    This has caused great destabilization in these countries. Mali comes in readily as an example of the effect of the collapse of Libya. Many countries including Nigeria have had to battle the resultant effect of that event in history.

    Nigeria has had its fair share of this international dimension of the insecurity challenge. The hitherto local terrorist organization have been bolstered and supported by former Libya fighters who trooped into the country in droves, alongside and with their arms and ammunitions.

    The entire essence of the above narration is to acknowledge that the pervasive security challenge being experienced is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, definitely not!

    The only difference, however, is that from Maiduguri to Otuoke, from Badagry to Kaura Namoda security is a big deal to politicians for several reasons. For some, it is the genuine desire to see lives and properties secured. Others, meanwhile, it is a tool for propaganda against opponents. Whereas some are just after the big financial war chest expenditure available in the battle against insecurity.

    Insecurity in this part of the world has now been considered big business. That is why I took the time to explain earlier some of the real intrigues and international dimensions to this serious challenge of insecurity. Despite how real and serious the task of securing lives is, many people here still see it as a means of making money and enriching their cronies.

    The many calls by some so-called activist for the sack of the service chiefs have now become big business to them. Many of these characters are cashing out daily from this call.

    This brings to mind a Sahara Reports report on the 15th of March 2013 where one Samuel Chinedu accused Ikenga Ugochinyere of being behind the registration of a pseudo All Progressive Congress APC then. The plan was was to thwart the registration process of the APC. Ikenga was accused than to have collected a lot of money from some big shots in the PDP for that mission.

    Such is the life of some of these “activists”. They predate on critical life issues to make some quick cash. Characters like these are the ones leading the daily call for the removal of service chiefs. Those of us who know Nigeria understands how things work here. Once you see people of such shady character feeling uncomfortable with some process or certain people, it is imperative to take a deeper look and you will find that their reasons for discomfort is most likely not what they complain about but their desire to milk the system to their advantage.

    Today we have service chiefs who will not attend political meetings in the night. We have men who are professionals to the core, whose only ambition is to secure the nation. We have service chiefs who would not play ball backed by a president with impeccable character and integrity. This cannot be palatable for the business as usual guys.

    They have to now seek their source from those I call the enemy of the state. People that consider the well being of their pocket as more important than the wellbeing of the country.

    Some see this insecurity as the new oil. An all-comers affair. They can’t let go quickly of the days where a government official will dole out $2.1billion USD without necessarily following any due process, they probably miss the days when everybody was an arms contractor.

    The campaign to remove the non-conformist service chiefs has seen all shades of people with questionable characters being engaged to do the battle. Men with shady characters leading calls for the removal of professionals who have proven their mettle in the discharge of their duties.

    Men who have sacrificed all to make sure that we can sleep with both eyes closed. Yet at any slight incidence this “remove service chiefs “ gang will hit the airwaves with their usual rants.

    The president who is a matured man understands clearly that everyone is needed at this critical time, he also understands that you don’t change your winning team during the battle. These men have helped stabilize the nation at different critical times. Some of us will not forget in a hurry what the situation was before the appointment of these current set of service chiefs. We won’t forget quickly how terrorist were hoisting flags indiscriminately on our soil, how whole local governments were completely overrun by terrorists.

    Those with a better memory will appreciate why Mr president is a bit more cautious and not yielding to the campaigners. Mr President more than many of us and infact more than many of these so-called campaigners is very much abreast with the real facts of the matter. So he takes far more informed decisions than many of us will imagine because he has got the real facts of the matter.

    It is time for these shady characters to consider finding another hustle as it appears this may not yield any results. It is important for us to support the service chiefs as they continue to make giant strides in our quest to have every inch of this nation secured.

    Dallah is a pro-good governance activist and development expert based in Lafia.

  • Real Madrid hero Guti sacked by Almeria

    Guti has been sacked as coach of Segunda Division Almeria.

    The Real Madrid hero Guti was informed on Thursday by club owner Turki Al-Sheikhle of the decision after a dismal restart to the season, reports AS.

    Almeria has shifted their morning training session to the afternoon, where Guti’s replacement could be installed in time to take charge. Mario Silva is regarded as favourite.

    Defeat to Alcorcón and remaining six points from direct promotion, has forced the decision.

    Guti was only appointed by Almeria in November – his first job as a senior coach.

  • NBA in dire need of better leadership, says Ayanruoh

    As the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) sets for a change of leadership of its national executive, Mr Felix Ayanruoh, a foremost attorney has said the umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria is in dire need of better leadership.

    Mr Ayanruoh, the Managing Partner of Ruskat Partners, an international law/consulting firm based in New York City, USA, who made this known in a statement on Friday, stressed that this is even as “the legal profession is in a consequential moment in the history of our jurisprudence”.

    While lending his support for the candidacy of Mr Olumide Anthony Akpata for the position of president of the NBA, Ayanruoh stated that the ‘consequential moment’ requires a person of impeccable character to fill that vacuum and rescue the profession from its myriad of problems.

    “The legal profession is in a consequential moment in the history of our jurisprudence. These are extraordinary and dangerous times that demand urgent and good leadership. It is axiomatic that if we don’t step up our legalistic will, things will get worse.

    “Wherever there is a vacuum in law, society suffers. This is the summary of the legal profession in recent times: judicial rascality aided by members of the profession, lack of leadership in the legal profession, among others. Olu is widely known. He is the only candidate in the race that can fill that vacuum and rescue the profession from its myriad of problems at this time,” the foremost attorney said.

    Recall that further to the call for nomination of candidates for election into the national offices of the NBA in the 2020 national elections, the Electoral Committee received nominations from 43 aspirants for various offices.

    At the close of the screening of nominations by a sub-committee of electoral officers of the ECNBA in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the NBA 2015 (as amended) and the Guidelines for the elections made pursuant thereto, 24 aspirants were granted provisional clearance to contest the elections, while nineteen 19 aspirants were disqualified for various reasons. Mr Akpata passed screening to contest the post of president.

    Ayanruoh, describing Mr Akpata as a bold and courageous leader, and as one who knows the legal profession, said, “Olu cares about the profession. He is widely known for his selfless service to the profession and society at large. He understands all views, both new and experienced members of the profession”.

    The Ruskat Partners’ Managing Partner said he had known Mr Akpata for like forever, stressing that it is a known fact that Akpata’s contribution in the NBA, more particularly at the section of business law, is impeccable, and has lifted the profile of the profession.

    “I have known Olu from our days before law school to law school and after. We did our court attachment together before the late Justice A.O.M Bazunu where I happened to be the group’s leader. He showed his people-oriented skill at this time. Thereafter, we did our law office attachment with the great legal icon, Dr Mudiaga Odje (SAN), and subsequently worked with the great one for 2 years before I relocated to the U.S. I noticed Olu’s leadership skill during my work at Dr Mudiaga Odje SAN and Co.

    “Finally, Olu’s contribution at Templar’s is exemplary and has made the firm a sought after place by both prospective clients for legal work and for employment by young attorneys. If consistent fighting for the development and improvement of the profession is equated to leadership, then, I am bold to say that Olu will wear that toga as a badge of honour,” Ayanruoh stated, ahead of the July 24 and 25 elections of the NBA.

  • Serie A: Ronaldo scores in Juve rout

    Serie A: Ronaldo scores in Juve rout

    Paulo Dybala, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain helped Juventus move seven points clear at the top of Serie A with a resounding 4-0 win over 10-man Lecce at the Allianz Stadium.

    Fabio Lucioni’s first-half dismissal left lowly Lecce, who had started brightly, facing a daunting task yet it needed a moment of brilliance from Dybala to open the scoring after 53 minutes.

    Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi were guilty of woeful misses in the opening period but the former lashed home his 23rd Serie A goal of the campaign from the penalty spot before excellently setting up Higuain.

    Matthijs de Ligt added a fourth that was harsh on Lecce as Maurizio Sarri’s men stretched their lead on Lazio, beaten 3-2 by Atalanta last time out, albeit their rivals have a game in hand.

    Goal

  • EPL: Liverpool’s history not burden anymore, says Klopp

    Liverpool are no longer burdened by their painful 30-year title drought and have written a new chapter in the club’s history after they were confirmed Premier League champions, Manager Jurgen Klopp said on Friday.

    The Anfield club, which dominated English soccer in the 1970s and 1980s, last won the old First Division title in 1990, but have finished as runners-up five times since.

    Seven different managers have tried and failed to recapture Liverpool’s long-lost domestic glory before Klopp arrived at Anfield in 2015 to — in his own words — turn the Merseyside club from “doubters into believers”.

    “Without knowing it at the time, that was probably the most important thing I said to my players, that we have to create our own stories and history,” Klopp told Sky Sports.

    “Meanwhile, the history is no burden anymore. The history is now our wonderful background, it is the basis for what we are doing.

    “When I came in, we had to say, ‘Don’t compare us anymore with the fantastic people who played for this club and won everything in the past’. We needed to get the opportunity from our supporters to find our own way.”

    Klopp, who also delivered Liverpool’s sixth Champions League crown last season, dismissed the idea of having a statue made in his honour, like former managers Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, who have been cast in bronze outside Anfield.

    “I don’t want a statue, that is not my motivation,” the German manager said.

    “It’s clear the team are in a good moment, we are young enough to still go for something.

    “It’s a moment like last year’s Champions League final, you carry on. It’s good to be in this club at the moment.”

    Liverpool’s next match is a trip to Manchester City next week, and Klopp laughed at the idea of receiving a guard of honour from last year’s champions as well as any other opponent they play in their remaining games.

    “We’ll see, I don’t think we can influence that. “We are champions, and on the pitch, we will behave as though we have never won it,” he added.

  • Ikeja Electric conforms to AEDC, announces new electricity tariff regime

    Ikeja Electric conforms to AEDC, announces new electricity tariff regime

    Ikeja Electric Plc (IE) has conformed to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and announced the introduction of a new tariff regime known as service reflective tariff.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) understands there will be a marginal increase in the cost of electricity per kWh with the new tariff regime, and IE on Friday, as with AEDC, said it would begin implementation from July 1st.

    The electricity distribution company made the announcement in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Felix Ofulue, but the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was yet to respond to enquiry.

    Ofulue said the new tariffs, which are service reflective, are end-user rates to be paid for electricity based on the level of service (including availability and reliability) provided to a cluster of customers.

    He said: “This is in line with our Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) across the entire network in the coming months and years.

    “The different service levels to all categories of electricity consumers will also be accompanied by a change in tariff which has taken into cognisance changes in macroeconomic indices in the country.

    “This will enable all the market players (Generation, Transmission, Distribution and gas suppliers) in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry cover cost of their operations and ensure improved service delivery.”

    According to him, the plan is for the sector to gradually make a transition to a full cost-recovery market where the cost of services provided will be fully recovered.

    Ofulue said services were also expected to improve within a very short time in customer service delivery, infrastructural upgrade, metering and technological solutions.

    He, however, said that this would be based on the level of investments that will be attracted, going forward.

    “For the purpose of customer classification, customers will now be categorised into maximum demand customers (MD) and non-maximum demand (Non-MD) customers, and will no longer be the usual residential, commercial and industrial customer classes.

    “All customers have now been clustered into different bands depending on the level of service currently being enjoyed.

    “Customers who are in the higher band currently being provided with good electricity supply will be expected to pay the true costs of the services being enjoyed.

    “Customers who are within the lower band and are not receiving optimal services will be expected to pay a much lower tariff pending improvements in services and the movement to a higher tariff band reflecting improved service delivery, ” he said.

    Ofulue said that IE remained committed to bridging the metering gap and reducing the incidence of estimated bills.

    “In recent times, we have doubled our efforts to realise our objective of metering our unmetered customers within the shortest possible time.

    “We also note that complaints resolution by customers have been a concern in the past but this is set to improve as we move forward with this new tariff regime

    “Lastly, this tariff implementation is subject to the approval of the regulator but it is necessary for performance improvement expected by customers,” the IE spokesman said.