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BREAKING: Wearing Of Face Masks Now Optional, Final Relaxation Of COVID-19 Measures To Be Addressed After Easter —– FG

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The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has said the use of face masks in public places is now optional, while the decision on the final relaxation of measures will be taken after Easter.

The Head of the Technical Secretariat, who also doubles as the Secretary of the PSC on COVID-19, Dr Muktar Muhammed, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja.

Countries across the world have started relaxing COVID-19 measures.

Recently, Ghana, a West African country, announced that the use of face masks was no longer mandatory.

Nigeria has continued to witness a drop in the number of daily COVID-19 cases.

The PSC also announced that it would stop demanding proof of PCR tests from fully vaccinated travelers.

Muhammed stated, “We are easing up restrictions, but it’s important we do so responsibly.

“Last week, we suspended the limit placed on public gatherings, curfews, and other social measures.

“The use of face masks in open spaces is now discretionary.

“We shall not hesitate to remove all mandates once the disease is no longer of public health consequence. We are aware that cases are rising in the Western Pacific and Eastern Europe. The US just mandated the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for adults older than 50. We fear a reversal of the pandemic situation, where largely unvaccinated poor countries will be made to bear the burden because the West has developed very high immunity through large-scale vaccination.

“Our biggest fear now is the upcoming Easter holidays. If we are able to cross and the cases continue to go down with no significant increase in hospitalization and death, then certainly, we will lower our level of alertness and relax most of the measures.

“We are working with data and algorithms to determine our line of action. Everything depends on what happens next. We learn from other countries, but we don’t have to necessarily copy what they are doing. Every country should evaluate its risk and take responsibility.”

Meanwhile, data from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has revealed that a total of 12,139,797 persons have been fully vaccinated in Nigeria, while 18,942,020 persons have been partially vaccinated.

The NPHCDA announced that Moderna, Astrazeneca, Pfizer and the Johnson and Johnson brands of COVID-19 vaccines were available for individuals willing to be vaccinated.

BIG STORY

BREAKING: Court Orders Remand of Ex-AGF Malami, Son, Wife In Kuje Prison

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, also ordered the remand of his co-defendants, his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe.

Justice Nwite made the order after taking arguments from the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution counsel Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).

Malami and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC alleges that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise the proceeds of unlawful activities running into several billions of naira.

According to the charge, the alleged offences span several years and include the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.

The commission further alleges that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

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JUST IN: Malami, Son, Fourth Wife, Associate Pleads Not Guilty To Money Laundering Charges

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A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a 16-count money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Malami’s co-defendants—his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe—also pleaded not guilty to all the counts when the charges were read to them by the court registrar.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities running into several billions of naira.

According to the commission, the alleged offences span several years and involve the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and other locations.

The EFCC further alleged that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

 

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JUST IN: Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami, Son, Employee Appear In Abuja Court Over Alleged N8.7bn Fraud

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Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Tuesday morning brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ahead of his arraignment on a 16-count money laundering charge.

Malami appeared in court shortly before 9 a.m., accompanied by his two co-defendants: his son, Abubakar Malami, and Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a company linked to the former minister.

The EFCC alleges that the trio, among others, laundered approximately N8.7 billion.

Court proceedings are yet to commence.

Details shortly…

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