Novak Djokovic is the world’s best tennis player. Indeed, he is probably the best the game has ever seen.
Yet his credibility as the leader of the men’s tour is shot to pieces after the catastrophe of the Adria Tour where as at yesterday, four attendees had tested positive for Coronavirus.
The four people were Djokovic’s personal trainer, a coach and two high profile players, Borna Coric and Grigor Dimitrov.
Despite the outbreak of the virus resulting from the controversial tour, Djokovic returned home without taking a test to confirm his status because he showed no symptoms.
Grigor Dimitrov positive test on Sunday night however led to emergency testing of players who participated in the tour in Croatia. Results released today reveal that Novak Djokovic tested positive for the Coronavirus.
The men’s world number one tennis player confirmed the diagnosis in a statement.
In April, Djokovic had revealed he was an anti-vaxxer – and that it could get in the way of his return to competitive tennis once the sport resumes after the coronavirus pandemic.
Following the increasing cases of coronavirus in the country, the federal government has warned the state governments against the reopening of schools because of pressure from the children and parents.
Nigerian Tribune reports that the minister of state for education, Chukwuemaka Nwajiuba, who spoke on Monday, June 22, while reacting to questions at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, also said the Federal Ministry of Education did not give Oyo state any guidance to reopen schools.
It was gathered that Nwajiuba said he was particularly concerned about the spike in the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oyo state, saying it was Ogun state under lockdown that was actually the concern of the government.
He, however, announced that the final year students preparing for the West African Examination Council (WAEC)’s Senior Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE), National Examination Council (NECO) and National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB) examinations would soon be allowed to resume for revisions.
He appealed to parents and other stakeholders to continue to bear with the government while the situation is being monitored so as to guarantee the safety of children when the schools are eventually reopened.
The minister said: “The ministry of education did not give guidance to Oyo state to reopen schools. We also think that is a little bit of contradictory because if you look next to them is Ogun state that actually had a lockdown.
Lagos governor reveals when schools will likely resume “So, there is no reason why there should be more numbers in Oyo state than there are in Ogun state, where we thought we had the problem. Something is not okay in that respect.
However, Oyo state like all other sub-nationals have Governors and under our Constitution, governors are responsible for their states. “You may have heard from our interactions with you that out of 774 local governments in Nigeria, there are actually few LGs with a lot of this burden.
Therefore, it is very easy to get perception from the edges of the country that some things are not happening, because it is not happening within your immediate locality.”
Nwajiuba, however, said that the primary purpose of government is the security of its citizens, stressing that public health was key and primary in the security delivery.
He said this was why the government has been extremely conscious of making any pronouncement around the reopening of schools.
He insisted that the education sector owns the largest number of infrastructure in the country with 138,000 primary schools around the country.
The minister noted that Nigeria has not even gotten into optimal testing and could not even forecast the hazard the pandemic is most position at, saying the least government could do was to keep the children he described as the most pride and future of Nigeria under lock and key.
He added that when the government was sure to release them, it would gladly do so.
The Lagos state police command has released an official statement on the murder-suicide incident that happened in the state on Sunday, June 21.
Spokesperson of the state police command, Bala Elkana, in the statement released, said the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
Read the press statement below
On 21/06/2020 at about 1600hrs, Ilasan Police Station received an information that, a couple identified as, Olamide Alli ‘f’ 25 years old and Chris Ndukwe ‘m’ 39 years old were found dead in the man’s residence at road 5, House 16a, Victory Point Estate, Ilasan. A team of homicide detectives was deployed to the scene and the crime scene was preserved for forensic analysis.
The woman was found laying in the pool of her blood with deep cuts on her head. The man’s mouth was foaming with whitish substance. It is alleged that the man stabbed the woman to death with kitchen knife and thereafter drank some poisonous substance suspected to be insecticides Two blood stained kitchen knives, two empty bottles of the poisonous substance, three empty cans of red bull energy drink and a pair of pliers were recovered from the scene. The two corpses were removed and deposited in a public mortuary for autopsy.
Information gathered from some family members revealed that the couples were in relationship for over seven years, though not married, have two boys, ages 7 and 3. The relationship is described as complicated, as the couples were on and off over the years. While the man lives in Victory Point Estate Ilasan, the woman lives in Ogba. The woman is said to have visited the man alongside her 22 years old sister, a night before the incident, on his invitation. Her sister was the first to have noticed that the couples were dead and raised alarm.
In her statement, she was woken up by a loud music from the room where the corpses were found, as herself and the kids slept in a different room. It is not yet clear what might her triggered the murder.
The Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu psc has ordered a thorough investigation into the case.
The Federal Government has summoned the Chargè d’ Affaires of the High Commission of Ghana to Nigeria, Ms Iva Denoo, over the demolition of parts of the Nigerian embassy in Ghana.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known on Monday.
The minister noted that Nigeria had asked the envoy to give an “urgent explanation” on the recent attacks on apartments in the country’s High Commission in Accra.
He tweeted, “Summoned the Chargè d’ Affaires of the High Commission of #Ghana to Nigeria, Ms Iva Denoo to demand urgent explanation on the recent attacks on a residential building in our diplomatic premises and reinforcement of security around diplomatic premises and staff.”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that some unidentified armed men attacked the building in Accra, the capital city on Friday, demolishing some apartments under construction.
The building was being constructed to house staff and visiting diplomats to the High Commission.
Both the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments had condemned the attack.
In its reaction, the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement said unidentified individuals allegedly breached the premises of the Nigerian High Commission and demolished the property under construction at about 10.30 p.m.
“The Ministry views with concern this development which is a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“Investigations are ongoing to unravel the facts of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.
“Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government has beefed-up security at the said facility and the situation is under control.
“Whilst expressing regrets over the incident the Ministry wishes to reassure the Diplomatic community in Ghana and the Nigerian High Commission in particular that Ghana remains a law-abiding country.
“Ghana upholds the principle of the rule of law, where due process is followed at all times.
“The government will, therefore, not relent on its primary obligation to guarantee the safety of members of Diplomatic Corps in Ghana,” the statement said.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has shot dead a kidnapper as abductors killed their three victims, while armed robbers killed one person in Abuja at the weekend.
Also gunmen have also killed at least 10 people when they attacked Ruwan-Tofa community in Dansadau district of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The FCT police command said it has launched a manhunt for the fleeing killers of the four residents of the FCT.
Three of the victims were kidnapped by unknown gunmen from Yambabu community in Kwali Area Council on June 20, 2020 at about 2130 hrs while a robbery gang shot one Sunday Ike on the head and robbed him of his light blue Toyota Camry car with registration number BS 286 KWL in the Gwarinpa District of Abuja.
Giving an update on the killings, the FCT Police spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, said the victims abducted in Kwali Area Council were later killed by the kidnappers while one of the abductors was shot dead during a fierce exchange of fire.
“It is unfortunate that the three victims were killed by their abductors. However, one of the abductors was killed during an exchange of gun fire. The command is still on the trail of the assailants”, he said.
The FCT Police Command has also launched a massive manhunt to arrest the unidentified gunmen who shot one Sunday Ike on the head and robbed him of his light blue Toyota Camry car with registration number BS 286 KWL in Gwarinpa.
The incident occurred on June 19, 2020 at about 2300 hrs at the victim’s shop located at 3rd avenue in Gwarinpa.
Police operatives who responded to a distress call on the incident rushed the victim to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where he was later certified dead by medical doctors.
While commiserating with the family and friends of the deceased, the Commissioner of Police FCT, Bala Ciroma, assured FCT residents that the perpetrators of the heinous act will be arrested and brought to justice.
He also encouraged members of the public to support the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the assailants, who are presently on the run.
While restating its commitment to the protection of lives and property in the FCT, “the Command wants to state that its goal in the ongoing operation is to rescue the victims and arrest the persons behind the criminal act.
“Those with useful information about the assailants can contact any of the following FCT Police Command Control Room numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, or 08028940883”
In another development, gunmen have also killed at least 10 people when they attacked Ruwan-Tofa community in Dansadau district of Maru LGA of Zamfara State.
The police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Shehu, said 10 people were killed in the attack.
He also said security agencies are working with the state government to maintain peace in the state.
The attackers numbering about 200 stormed the community on over 100 motorcycles shooting sporadically and killing people at will.
They also stole hundreds of livestock, the residents said asking not to be named for security reasons.
The attack at the weekend occurred around 6 p.m.
Shehu in a statement after the attack, said in an effort to stem the tide of criminal activities especially unrepentant bandits who refused to embrace the culture of peace in the state, the state government in concert with state police command led by Usman Nagogo and the Commanding Officer of 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Gusau, Brigadier General O M Bello have constituted and deployed a joint operational squad compromising the police, Army and civil defence to Bindin district of Maru LGA.
He added that the deployment of the operational team was aimed at complementing the existing security emplacement in the area.
The police spokesman added that the 80-man joint squad was unveiled by the Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander respectively.
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party will have a hurdle to overcome ahead of their primaries as three aspirants on the party’s platform have refused to step down for him.
Newsmen report that Gideon Ikhine, Ogbeide-Ihama and Kenneth Imasuagbon are the three men that were screened and cleared by the party for the primary.
However, Obaseki’s decision to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for PDP, has changed the complexion of the game.
Obaseki defected to the opposition party along with his deputy, Hon. Philip Shuaibu.
The PDP primary was initially scheduled to hold last weekend, but has now been postponed until tomorrow, because of the new developments.
Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, Obaseki has met with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state; Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to strategise on how to get him the ticket.
It is understood that a meeting that held Saturday night between key PDP leaders and the three governorship aspirants ended in a deadlock.
Imasuagbo, Ogbeide-Ihama and Ikhine have so far refused to be yield to pressure from every quarter.
“Yes, there is pressure from them. But it is not about pressure, but about doing the right thing in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, due process and the Electoral Act.
“It is disappointing and a big shame in Edo State and the entire nation and it portends danger for the country and the party. Nigerians should rise up against what is happening. We are not in the jungle; it is not a do-or-die affair, but about the process. It is totally unacceptable,” Imasuagbon said.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday barring many categories of foreign workers and curbing immigration visas through the end of the year, moves the administration characterized as necessary to help U.S. workers after steep job losses amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to administration officials.
The freeze will apply to work visas that many companies use, especially in the technology sector, landscaping services and the forestry industry. It excludes agricultural laborers and some health-care workers and includes an exemption for the approximately 20,000 child-care providers who come to the United States as au pairs.
Trump officials described the measures in a call with reporters on Monday, but the White House would not allow the officials to be quoted by name. The new restrictions, which Trump is expected to sign Monday afternoon, will prevent foreign workers from filling 525,000 jobs, according to White House estimates.
Critics of the moves say the president is using the pandemic to carry out the kind of border closures and immigration overhaul he has long extolled, allowing him to tout the measures on the campaign trail.
The freeze will apply to H1-B, H4, and L visas, as well as most J and H2-B visas, the officials said. The administration also said it would issue new regulations denying work authorization to asylum seekers with pending claims for one year, arguing that the humanitarian program is being exploited by economic migrants who file meritless claims.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 says the interstate road lockdown and the airport closure will reopen after meeting the necessary guidelines.
Dr Sani Aliyu, Coordinator, PTF, said this at the PTF daily news conference on Monday in Abuja.
He said that there was still restriction on inter state movement, adding that there was no way the flight would be opened while the roads were closed.
“We cannot operate the flight and keep the road closed,” he said.
He disclosed that the Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Siriki had given the PTF strict guidelines that would be adopted in reopening the airways.
He added that the Minister of State for Transportation, Sen Gbemisola Saraki was also currently engaging the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) toward reopening of inter state roads.
Aliyu said that the engagement bothered on the guidelines to be adopted in reopening the road across the country, saying, as soon as the PTF was sure of people’s safety, the road would be reopened.
He blamed the surge in the number of cases over COVID-19 on lack of effective compliance in the last three months, adding that the PTF would continue to sensitise the public.
He beamoned lack in behavioural change among the citizenry, stressing that the PTF would continue to push for more testing and also engaged traditional rulers.
Aliyu said the PTF would continue to beam its searchlight on the 20 Local Governments Areas mostly affected by COVID-19, adding that the PTF would redouble its testing capacity and isolation centres.
According to him, every option is on the table, we will continue to increase case management and also put effort at increasing oxygen’s availability at our hospitals.
He said that for the country to get out of COVID-19, there was need to abide by the rules despite the inconveniences and also adopt behavioural change.
A Nigerian man simply identified as Femi, stabbed his wife to death, and thereafter committed suicide in their home in Victory Park estate in Lagos state on Sunday, June 21.
The victim who has been identified as Olamide Omajuwa was the founder of Pearl Academy Nigeria, an organization that mentors young females who have not had an easy life.
According to residents of the estate, the couple moved into the estate three weeks ago with their two young children. Not much was known about the couple but just a day before the murder-suicide, they were spotted jogging together on Saturday night June 20.
However, on Sunday, the man who is said to have always questioned the paternity of their second child, stabbed his wife to death, and then took his own life.
A neighbor who spoke on condition of anonymity to LIB, said
On Sunday afternoon, neighbors close to the couple’s apartment heard loud music emanating from their home and this lasted for many hours.
The neighbors went to the estate office to complain about the loud music and insisted the estate officials go there and caution the couple.
The estate authorities went to the couple’s compound to appeal to them to turn down the volume of the music coming from their apartment.
They however met with the wife’s sister who was downstairs with the couple’s children. The sister immediately went upstairs so she can inform her sister and the husband about the complaint laid by the estate authorities. She knocked several times but got no response.
After waiting for so long, the sister and the estate officials decided to pull the door down. They were greeted by a horrific sight.
Apparently, the man had killed his wife. It is believed it was pre-meditated because when they got into the room, they saw different kinds of knives there. The woman’s legs and hands were bound and her mouth shut with a cellotape. The husband used a clipper to shave her hair, stabbed her head, her eyes, stabbed her multiple times with different knives.
The scene was nothing short of a horror movie.
After stabbing his wife to death, the man committed suicide by drinking sniper”
Spokesperson of the state police command, Bala Elkana who confirmed the incident to LIB, said
It is true. Homicide detectives have sealed up the place. They have commenced investigation. The corpse of the man and the woman have been moved to the hospital for an autopsy.
Two kitchen knives were found there and two bottles of Sniper. The woman had injuries from stabbing while foams were coming out of the man’s mouth who is suspected to have taken those Snipers.
55-year-old Legendary Wrestler, Mark William Calaway, popularly known as The Undertaker, on Monday announced his retirement from the WWE.
The Undertaker made this announcement in the last episode of his documentary series ‘The Last Ride.’
According to Mirror.co.uk, The WWE star claims that he has “nothing left to accomplish” in the ring and It’s time for new guys to come up.
“I’m at a point, it’s time this cowboy really rides away. There’s nothing left for me to conquer or accomplish. The game has changed. It’s time for new guys to come up. The time just seems right.
“This documentary has helped me discover that and opened my eyes to the bigger picture and not judge myself as harshly these last few years.
“I can do more good outside the ring than I can inside. I’m finally at a place where I can accept that.”
With 30 years in the ring, The Undertaker made his wrestling debut in 1990 and has gone on to win every championship and event possible.
He also had an incredible winning streak at Wrestlemania that only recently came to an end.
