Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Alpha Maidawa

As coronavirus chaos spreads globally, Trump declares U.S. emergency
President Donald Trump declared a U.S. national emergency over the quickly spreading coronavirus on Friday, opening the door to more government aid to combat a pathogen that has infected more than 138,000 people worldwide and left over 5,000 dead.
The impact of the coronavirus on everyday life deepened around the world. It was detected for the first time in several countries, with the World Health Organization (WHO) calling Europe the pandemic’s current epicenter. More schools and businesses closed, the global sporting calendar was left in tatters, and people faced greater restrictions on where they could go.
“To unleash the full power of the federal government to this effort today, I am officially declaring a national emergency – two very big words,” Trump said in remarks at the White House Rose Garden, adding that the U.S. situation could worsen and “the next eight weeks are critical.”
Trump, whose action makes available $50 billion in federal aid to states and localities, had faced criticism from some experts for being slow and ineffective in his response to the crisis and playing down the threat.
The latest steps came two days after Trump announced travel restrictions blocking U.S. entry for most people from continental Europe. While Britain was among the countries exempted, Trump said on Friday that might change because infections there had risen “precipitously.”
The president, who was photographed last Saturday at his private Florida club with a Brazilian official who has tested positive for the coronavirus, said he himself likely would be tested “fairly soon,” a reversal of his previous stance. But Trump, 73, said he did not plan to isolate himself, noting he was suffering no symptoms.
Travel bans have hammered airlines and travel companies worldwide, while financial markets have been hit by panic selling this week.
The three major U.S. stock indexes rallied more than 9% on Friday, rebounding from Wall Street’s biggest daily drop since 1987. But the indexes were still about 20% below record highs hit in mid-February.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Europe now had more reported cases and deaths than the rest of world combined, apart from China, where the coronavirus originated but where new cases have slowed to a trickle. The WHO called the death toll reaching 5,000 globally “a tragic milestone.”
The WHO’s top emergency expert, Mike Ryan, said social distancing was a “tried and tested method” to slow the spread of a virus but “not a panacea” that would stop transmission.
“Blanket travel measures in their own right will do nothing to protect an individual state,” Ryan said.
March 14, 2020
132,000 cases of COVID-19 reported in 123 countries – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than than 132,000 cases of Coronavirus ( COVID-19) have now been reported to WHO, from 123 countries and territories.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, gave the update at a news conference on Friday in Geneva.
According to him, 5,000 people have lost their lives to the virus, describing it as “ a tragic milestone.
“Europe has now become the epicenter of the pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China.
“More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic.
“We are encouraged that many countries are now acting on the eight pillars of WHO’s Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
“Most countries now have a national plan; most are taking a multi-sectoral approach and most have laboratory testing capacity.’’
The director general said WHO had evidence-based guidance that every country could use, according to each of the eight pillars.
“And we are continuing to support countries to prepare and respond.
“We have shipped supplies of personal protective/equipment to 56 countries, we are shipping to a further 28 countries, and we have sent almost 1.5 million diagnostic tests to 120 countries.
“Our message to countries continues to be: you must take a comprehensive approach.
“Not testing alone. Not contact tracing alone. Not quarantine alone. Not social distancing alone. Do it all.
“Any country that looks at the experience of other countries with large epidemics and thinks “that won’t happen to us” is making a deadly mistake. It can happen to any country,’’ he said.
Ghebreyesus said the experience of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and others clearly demonstrated that aggressive testing and contact tracing, combined with social distancing measures and community mobilisation could prevent infections and save lives.
He said Japan was also demonstrating that a whole-of-government approach led by Prime Minister Abe himself, supported by in-depth investigation of clusters, was a critical step in reducing transmission.
According to him, WHO has clear advice for governments, businesses and individuals.
“First, prepare and be ready and every person must know the signs and symptoms and how to protect themselves and others.
“Every health worker should be able to recognize this disease, provide care and know what to do with their patients.
“Every health facility should be ready to cope with large numbers of patients, and ensure the safety of staff and patients.
“Second, detect, protect and treat.
“You cannot fight a virus if you do not know where it is. Find, isolate, test and treat every case, to break the chains of transmission.
“Every case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.’’
He gave the third advice as reduction of transmission, saying “Do not just let this fire burn.
“Isolate the sick and quarantine their contacts. In addition, measures that increase social distancing such as cancelling sporting events may help to reduce transmission.
“These measures, of course, should be based on local context and risk assessment, and should be time-limited.
“Even if you cannot stop transmission, you can slow it down and save lives,’’ he said
In addition, he advised countries to be innovative and to learn.
“This is a new virus and a new situation. We are all learning, and we must all find new ways to prevent infections, save lives, and minimise impact. All countries have lessons to share.
“There are simple, effective things we can all do to reduce the risk of infection for ourselves and those around us.’’
Meanwhile, the director general acknowledged that COVID-19 had captured the world’s attention, saying“ there are still many other health issues people continue to face every single day, and that WHO is continuing to work on.
“Babies are still being born. Essential surgery is continuing. People still need emergency care after road traffic crashes. People still need treatment for cancer, diabetes, HIV, malaria and many other diseases.
“And for all of these, we need health workers. Today, I want to send a personal and sincere thank you to every health worker around the world.
“Health workers – especially nurses and midwives, who we are celebrating this year through the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
“You do a heroic job. We know that this crisis is putting a huge burden on you and your families. We know you are stretched to the limit.
“You have our admiration, our respect, and our commitment to doing everything we can to keep you safe and enable you to do your job,’’ he said. (NAN)
March 14, 2020
Champions League, Premier League, Bundesliga halted by coronavirus
All major European football leagues have now been suspended after the German Bundesliga joined the Premier League in calling off their league programmes in the worsening coronavirus crisis.
European football governing body UEFA also effectively suspended its Champions League and Europa League competitions indefinitely on Friday by postponing all last 16 second leg ties scheduled for next week.
“In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed,” a statement said.
Quarter-final draws for both competitions have also been postponed. UEFA said “decisions on when these matches take place will be communicated in due course.”
UEFA had already invited member associations and stakeholders to a video conference on Tuesday to discuss ramifications of the virus on football, including Euro 2020.
“It may be necessary that the Euros be postponed for health reasons,” said Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The Euros are scheduled to be held in 12 countries across the continent with the June 12 opener in Rome. Italy is particularly heavily impacted by the virus.
Another reason for delay is the practicality of finishing the current domestic and European campaigns.
“If games are postponed now, then we have to push them back and then play them,” said Rummenigge. “But we don’t know how long this topic will keep us occupied.”
England’s Premier League followed suit after an emergency meeting took place in light of several clubs reporting infections or symptoms in their squad. And the Bundesliga weekend matches – initially to be played behind closed doors – were all postponed. Italy, Spain and France were top leagues to have already suspended fixtures.
A statement by the German Football League (DFL) said the course of the day made the change of plan, from playing closed door games, necessary. The background is suspected coronavirus cases at various clubs which has left second division Hanover and Nuremberg in quarantine.
A two-week break of German football is expected to be confirmed at a meeting on Monday.
The Premier League meanwhile said: “In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, Government, The FA (Football Association) and EFL (English Football League) and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority,” the Premier League said.
England’s upcoming friendly internationals against Denmark and Italy this month were also postponed.
Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi revealed he had the coronavirus but reassured fans about his health. Several others clubs have confirmed or suspected cases.
Scotland became one of the last countries to respond on Friday by postponing all football “until further notice,” including Sunday’s Old Firm derby between Glasgow rivals Rangers and Celtic.
Poland’s top-tier football competition is also suspended following the country’s basketball and volleyball leagues. The ice hockey league cancelled the remainder of the playoffs and end the season.
Elsewhere Formula One faces a chaotic season start after the postponement of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday was followed by similar decisions on Bahrain and Vietnam.
Mercedes’ six-time champion Lewis Hamilton tweeted support for the postponement having previously saying he found it “shocking” that the race was going ahead.
With the Chinese Grand Prix in April already postponed, F1 and the governing FIA “expect to begin the Championship in Europe on 1st May (with practice for the Netherlands Grand Prix) but given the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Europe in recent days, this will be regularly reviewed.”
Formula E, the electric race series, has stopped until at least May.
Golf’s first major of the season, the Masters tournament, has also been postponed according to Augusta National Golf Club.
“Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision,” club chairman Fred Ridley said.
“We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date.”
The Masters was scheduled to take place April 9-12. The PGA Tour had already abandoned the Players Championship after Thursday’s first round and suspended events until April 5.
The Boston Marathon, one of the world’s leading marathon events, has been postponed from April 20 to September 14.
Basketball, baseball, ice hockey and football have also been put on hold in the US, as has the men’s ATP tennis tour which had upcoming tournaments in Miami and Houston following the cancellation of this week’s Indian Wells event.
The Corona Open Gold Coast – a surfing competition in Australia sponsored by the beer brand – was cancelled along with all World Surf League’s events for the month of March.
Australia’s one-day cricket international series against New Zealand started without fans in Sydney on Friday while England cancelled their test tour of Sri Lanka.
Scotland’s Six Nations trip to Wales on Saturday was postponed along with the other fixtures in the final round of the championship.
The Indian Premier League confirmed it would delay its start to April 15 after authorities in Delhi announced that they will not allow any sporting activity in the national capital due to the health crisis.
In cycling, the classic Giro d’Italia start date is uncertain after the May 9 grand depart from Budapest was postponed. A new start will not be decided until April 3.
And the Paris-Nice race will end early with the concluding stage now Saturday.
The Olympic torch relay in Greece was abandoned after hundreds of spectators turned out at the town of Sparta, ignoring advice to stay at home because of the coronavirus.
The Greek Olympic Committee said the torch will still be handed over to the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee in Athens on Thursday.
Despite the global sporting chaos, Japan remains insistent that preparations for the Olympic Games in Tokyo for July continue to be on track. (dpa)
March 14, 2020
I did not attack Buhari, I apologise for breach of Protocol – Gundarre
Mohamed Gundarre, the man reported to have attacked President Muhammadu Buhari in Argungu, Kebbi on Thursday has denied the media report.
Addressing the media on Friday in Birnin Kebbi,Gundarre a graduate of Public Administration from Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto said he was emotionally attached to the President’s outstanding virtues of honesty and attempted to shake him when he was prevented by the security.
He apologised for the breach of protocol and also denied the media report that he was shot and tortured by the security operatives.
“My name is Mohammed Jamilu Gunddare from Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi state.
“Yesterday was a different day for me because as a graduate of Public Administration who graduated with 2nd Class Lower, It took me a lot of courage and dreams to attempt to get to Mr President despite the fact that there was tight security achitecture within the venue.
“I am sorry for the disturbances I caused it was emotional love I have for Mr President the person whom I know is nurtured with integrity and honesty and he is incorruptible and right driven.
“No Nigerian and even beyond has never questioned the consistency and integrity honesty and righteous disposition of the President on either national issue or even his own personal life.
“He has worked as Military Administrator, Minister, Military Head of State and civilian President by all accounts no case of corruption had been attributable to him.
“From the time he became the President no one has ever questioned whether the national resources was squandered by the President,’ he said.
Gundarre stressed that he had no ulterior motive when he attempted to move close to the President and shake him during a photo session at the agriculture show, one of the events for the 2020 Argungu fishing festival.
He said he was simply overwhelmed by the President’s virtues and raved to shake hi..
‘Even if I was dead yesterday I would have been contented that I have achieved my mission to move close to Mr President and touch him one on one.
“You know that emotional love can divert and taint your total faculty of reasoning and that was what really happened yesterday, “
he said in an emotion laden tone.
Gundarre clarified: “I was told about the misinterpretation of my action in the media although I was not opportuned to view the clip.
“Please, I am alive, the DSS did not torture me nobody has tortured me apart from what happened at the venue when I was forced to the car”.
He said he had met the Kebbi state Governor Atiku Bagudu in 2010 when he was a Senator and it has not been easy for him to have access to the Governor.
30 year-old Gundarre also claimed that he was not a beggar, though currently unemployed.
He said he was comfortabke and believed in working hard to fend for himself and the family.
“When the DSS got to my house, thwy even asked me who built the house for me.
“I have always believe that by struggle I can achieve anything,’ he said.
He appealed to the President not to derail in his good work at repositioning the country for the better.
Also speaking at the event, Bagudu said it was a good thing that Gundarre came out to clarified on what happened Argungu.
“I am glad that you have all heard from him and we are honoured to meet him.
“I want to assure him that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and I will inform the President about him.
“We will also beg the Presidenr to grant an audience forr him, so that he can visit him and shake hands with him as one of his loyal supporters,’ he said.
The Governor presented a book written in honour of the President to Gundarre.
Speaking in the same vein the Minister said that Gundarre is a young man who is passionate about the President.
“From what you can see this is a gentleman who has followed the President’s political career a long time and passionate about him.
‘He breached protocol yesterday, there is no doubt about that.
‘However, all the story about him trying to attack the President is false, even the story that he was shot by the security is false,” the Minister said.
Gundarre was reported said to have beaten the president’s security during a photo session on Thursday after the President declared opned the 2020 Argungu international fishing and cultural festival as well as an Agricultural show which forms part of the festival.
An eight second video clip which had gone viral was erroneously interpreted that the man charged at the President thereby raising questions about the safety of Nigeria’s number one citizen.
In a Swift response to the claim, the Pesident’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, dismissed the incident as a storm in a teacup;.
He said the man was an admirer and fan of the president and that the scenario was far from a heckling.(NAN)
March 14, 2020
French coy, FCMB partner to grow MSMEs in Nigeria
Proparco and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) have signed a N2 billion risk-sharing facility agreement to promote the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
According to statement by Claude Abily, Political Counsellor of the French Embassy in Nigeria, MSMEs represent 96 per cent of all businesses in Nigeria and attest to their strategic role in the development of the Nigerian economy.
“The agreement covers up to N2 billion worth of loans granted by FCMB to MSMEs, representing 96 per cent of all businesses in Nigeria and testifying to their critical role for the economy.
“However, most SMEs still lack access to appropriate sources of financing needed to develop their activity.
“FCMB was created in 1982 and currently ranks among Nigeria’s top ten banks and has its growth strategy of supporting SMEs through tailored products and services to entrepreneurs.
“Proparco’s support will help FCMB extend its financing to a greater number of SMEs in Nigeria.
“It is estimated that this risk-sharing facility agreement could support close to 245 MSMEs in the country and contribute to creating or maintaining more than 440 jobs,” Abily said.
According to Abily, the agreement between Proparco and FCMB is the second since 2012, when it granted a loan of 25 million dollars to the Nigerian bank, to support lending activity to the infrastructure sector.
“This project contributes to the French initiative `Choose Africa’, which was launched by AFD Group in 2019, with ambitions to dedicate €2.5 billion and accelerate growth of MSMEs in Africa by 2022,” he said.
The political counsellor said that Proparco, a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), was into projects development with focus on renewable energies, agribusiness, financial institutions, healthcare, and education with a view to strengthening the contribution of the private sector to achieving the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Toward that end also, Proparco is focused on funding and provision of support to both businesses and financial institutions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle-East. (NAN)
March 14, 2020
FIFA recommends March, April internationals be postponed
FIFA has recommended that all international matches scheduled to be played in March and April be postponed because of the coronavirus.
The global football body also said, in a statement on Friday, that clubs would not be obliged to release players for any matches which were played.
“The general football rules which normally oblige clubs to release players for national team matches will not apply for the upcoming international windows in March and April,” it said.(Reuters/NAN)
March 14, 2020
Coronavirus hits politicians, sports and showbiz stars as it spreads across globe
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Australia’s minister for home affairs and a Chelsea soccer player are among new cases of the coronavirus that has infected almost 135,000 people and killed more than 4,900 worldwide.
Governments and central banks readied more emergency measures to tackle the economic impact of the coronavirus on Friday, helping financial markets pare some of their steep losses, while more major events were canceled or postponed.
U.S. lawmakers and the White House neared agreement on a coronavirus economic aid package, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying she hoped to announce a deal on Friday.
Experts warn that due to a lack of testing and unreported cases, many more people may be affected by the outbreak that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.
Health authorities around the world face the prospect of services being overwhelmed.
“We’re anticipating 20% of the population in the first wave to be affected,” Kerry Chant, the chief medical officer for the New South Wales (NSW) state government.
Home to more than 7 million people, NSW is Australia’s most populous state, and Chant said models suggested 5% of the state’s population – some 350,000 people – would need hospital treatment as a result of coronavirus.
Australia has recorded nearly 160 infections and three deaths from the flu-like disease. Among the infected is one of its highest-profile government ministers, Peter Dutton, who is in charge of home affairs. He said he was feeling fine.
Movie star Tom Hanks announced in Australia on Thursday that he and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, had both tested positive.
Trudeau said he would be in isolation for two weeks after his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, tested positive for coronavirus. She said she was “experiencing uncomfortable symptoms” adding that she would “be back on my feet soon”.
Canada has reported 145 cases of the virus, a three-fold gain from a week ago. There has been one death.
A host of major sporting events were affected, with the Players Championship golf halted and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix scrapped. Nepal closed Mount Everest to climbers.
Calls grew in Britain for the Premier League season to be stopped with the news that Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi has tested positive. All of Chelsea’s first-team players and coaching staff would self-isolate, the club said.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has also tested positive.
The Premier League is due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday.
Several of Europe’s soccer leagues are already on hold, the top men’s tennis circuit was suspended for six weeks, the National Hockey League shut down and cricket matches have been ordered to be played without fans. (Reuters)
March 13, 2020
British PM, Johnson under fire for refusal to shut British schools
A senior scientist defended the British government’s policies for fighting the spread of coronavirus amid growing criticism on Friday of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s refusal to close schools and cancel large events.
Johnson announced new measures on Thursday designed to move Britain from “containing” to “delaying” the spread of Covid-19.
The measures encourage social distancing and require people with symptoms of the virus to self-isolate, without any testing unless they develop severe complications requiring hospital treatment.
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the decision was “surprising” not to follow other nations in closing schools, cancelling all large events and imposing severe restrictions at borders.
“I think it is surprising and concerning that we’re not doing any of it at all when we have just four weeks before we get to the stage that Italy is at,” Hunt told broadcaster Channel 4.
“You would have thought that every single thing we do in that four weeks would be designed to slow the spread of people catching the virus,” Hunt aaded., adding the Britain was in a “national emergency.”
Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance told BBC Radio 4 on Friday that he expects Covid-19 to become an “annual virus.”
Vallance said the government wants to build a “herd immunity” to the virus in Britain but protect the most vulnerable people.
Britain has confirmed about 600 Covid-19 infections through testing, but Vallance on Thursday estimated the total infected with the virus at between 5,000 and 10,000. (dpa/NAN)
March 13, 2020
Mixed reactions trail bill to ban importation of generators
Some energy stakeholders on Friday expressed divergent views on a bill seeking to ban the importation of generators in Nigeria introduced by Sen. Bima Enagi, representing Niger South Senatorial District.
The bill, which passed first reading at a plenary session of the senate on Wednesday, proposes to ban the importation and use of generators in a bid to curb the menace of environmental pollution.
According to the bill, anybody who imports generating sets, or knowingly sells generating sets shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than 10 years.
The bill also seeks to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities in the country.
The ban will, however, not include generating sets used for essential services which include — medical purposes, Airports, Railway stations/services, Elevators, Escalators, Research Institutions, and other facilities that require 24 hours electric power supply.
According to the bill, approval for exclusion shall only be obtained from the Minister in charge of Power, who shall brief the Federal Executive Council (FEC) quarterly on approvals granted.
Mr Osayu Ogboghodo, Senior Consultant, Nextier Power, told NAN that appropriate research must be conducted before implementing the ban on generators while power supply from the grid should show considerable improvement.
Ogboghodo said: “They need to ensure that we have reliable electricity supply and quality of service to a level that is acceptable to the people who are using these generators as an alternative source of energy.
“Basically, we have 13, 000MW installed capacity and only about 4, 000 gets to the consumers; so, there is a supply gap which is why the consumers are using power generating alternatives.
“So if you are planning to ban generators, what measures are you putting in place to close the supply gaps or improve quality of service?”
The energy expert noted that solar components which were a renewable source of energy had become cheaper in Nigeria but were still unaffordable to majority of Nigerians.
“There is no concrete plan in place to even encourage and promote solar energy. Renewable energy is a good thing, but we don’t have the capacity right now.
“To be honest, even the mini grids still use diesel generators as backup, which is a cheaper option than getting batteries which are expensive.
“So, these diesel generators that they are thinking of banning are used for renewables as backups,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Sural Fadairo, National President, Energy Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Initiative, said the ban was not the solution to Nigeria’s energy crisis.
Fadairo said: “It does not make sense for them to ban importation and usage of generators for now.
“Let us have at least between 10, 000MW to 15, 000MW first then we can start thinking of banning it because of environmental issues.”
He said the claim that the power sector was being held hostage by generator cabals was laughable, stressing that what the sector needed was the right investments, policies and legislation.
According to him, such a ban will only make Nigerians to suffer.
However, Mr Adeola Samuel-Ilori, National Coordinator, All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum, backed the bill, describing it as a welcome development.
“The totality of our advocacy toward the electricity or power sector betterment is nothing but to see that all the saboteurs of the sector are clinically dealt with.
“One of the reasons why the sector has not witnessed growth is because of generator importers who do all that are necessary to see efforts at improving the service are futile.
“This proposed ban will not only help to checkmate their activities at sabotaging government’s efforts but will help in reducing capital flight,” he said.
According to him, the ban will also enable Nigeria to explore renewable energy which will create job opportunities for people.
He called for the modification of the bill, especially the part relating to punishing people for using their generators already acquired before its introduction. (NAN)
March 13, 2020
Court orders immediate release of deposed Emir Sanusi from confinement
Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered immediate release of deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, who is currently confined to Awe town, Nasarawa State, after his banishment.
Justice Chikere, who gave the order in an ex-parte motion brought by the team of Sanusi’s lawyers, also granted the prayers to serve all the respondents through substituted means should it become impossible to personally effect the service.
The deposed emir had, on Thursday, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mohammed Adamu and Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, over what he called “unlawful detention/confinement.”
Also joined in the motion with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020 are the Attorney General of Kano State, Ibrahim Mukhtar and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami as 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.

Sanusi brought the application pursuant to Sections 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Articles 5, 6. 10 and 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, CAP A9 LFN 2004, among others.
At the hearing of the application on Friday, Counsel to the dethroned emir, Fagbemi, thanked the court for accommodating their motion despite busy schedule.
“However, I want to apologise because by 5 O’Clock yesterday (Thursday), this suit had been taken to public domain. We don’t how it happened,” he said.
The judge, who was quite unruffled about the media report, said: “I am sure they are hear today.”
“If you are a media person, please publish what transpired in court so that you will not be sued for libel,” Chikere added.
Fagbemi, then, informed the court that they had a motion -ex-parte dated March 12 and filed same day.
“It is asking for two orders,” he said.
“An interim order of this honourable court releasing the applicant from the detention and/or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s right to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating motion.
“The second leg of the application has to do with order to serve the respondents in the manner listed in (a) to (e) of the application (that is through substituted means should it become impossible to effect personal service)..
“And for such further order(s) as it pleases your lordship,” he prayed.
According to him, it is in the interest of justice to grant this application.
Fagbemi, further said the application was predicated on eight grounds and an affidavit of 22 paragraphs and one exhibit.
“There is also a written address in support.
“We also have an originating motion and we crave your indulgence to also rely on that one with affidavit.
“We rely on all these processes,” he said.
Fagbemi, who pleaded with the court to allow him made few remarks, said it was disheartening that prior to the service of the dethronement letter (Exhibit A) on Sanusi on Monday, there was an unusual presence of large number of officers of police and DSS who condoned off the palace, causing a serious restriction on his movement in and out of the palace.
He also said Sanusi’s health in Awe where he was presently was a source of worry.
“As we speak, there is no criminal proceeding pending against the applicant,” he said.
“We urge you to grant the sister’s leg and the second leg my lord,” he said.
Justice Chikere, in the ruling, said: “An interim order of this honourable court releasing the applicant from the detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons is hereby granted.”
The judge also granted the applicant’s leave to serve a copy of the released order and the processes in relation to the substantive suit on the respondents through substituted means.
Justice Chikere allowed Sanusi to serve the defendants in the following manner: On the IGP, through any officer in his office at the police headquarters at Louis Edet House, Garki, Abuja; on the the the DG DSS, through any officer at the DSS headquarters at Aso Drive in Abuja; on the AG of Kano State, through any officer at the state’s Ministry of Justice, Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano, and on the AGF, through any officer at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.
She ordered that the original summon should be served within three days from today, Friday.
The judge then adjourned the matter until March 26 to hear the substantive suit.
The deposed emir’s younger sister, Zainab Sanusi, who led other family members to the court, commended the judge for granting their requests in am interview with NAN.
“We are very happy with the ruling, Alhamdulillahi,” she said.
However, NAN observes that despite the wide publicity of the matter in the media, none of the respondents was represented in court.
The Kano State Government had, on Monday, announced the dethronement of the emir, banishing him to Loko in Nasarawa state before being taken to Awe town in the same state. (NAN)
March 13, 2020