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COVID-19: No More Crowd Restriction At Public Gatherings, Midnight Curfew, Others – FG

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Nigeria’s response to Covid-19 has been reviewed by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) as a result of the declining number of cases.

In a statement dated April 2, the committee explained that the decision followed the reduced risk of importation of new variants, as well as the availability of vaccines and the increasing number of people vaccinated in Nigeria and globally.

The government said the social restriction recommendations were revised in line with the three established thematic areas – movement, industry, and labor, as well as community activities.

It stated that the safety protocols provide a baseline from which state governments could further build to strengthen their responses based on their local circumstances.

“States should continue to consider them as the minimum guidelines required to ensure an acceptable level of epidemic control nationwide,” the statement said.

The PSC said there are no more formal restrictions on movement within the country as the nationwide curfew imposed from 12 midnight to 4 am has been lifted.

It added that the advisory limiting Nigerians to essential travels only has been lifted, although citizens need to refrain from non-essential movement and comply with non-pharmaceutical interventions guidelines such as the mandatory use of facemask/facial coverings in public, given the risks involved.

“Use of face mask to be mandatory for indoor activities but at individual’s discretion during outdoor activities; those aged 60 and above or with co-morbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are advised to uphold the use of universal precaution which includes the use of face mask, avoid crowd, and frequent use of hand sanitizers,” the statement said.

“No limitation on air travels – both domestic and international flights; both international and domestic travelers must abide by all existing protocols, including the use of face mask while onboard and taking personal precaution measures; and all arriving international passengers must register with the Nigeria International Travel Portal and abide by the travel guidelines.

“No limitations on inter or intra-state travel; all vendors and service providers must abide by stated stipulations from the Federal Ministry of Transportation; all passengers and commuters must wear face masks once on board, as well as continue to observe personal precautionary measures.”

In the area of industry and labor, the government recommended virtual meetings by offices for the private sector and advised against large meetings. It asked operators to decongest offices and ensure they were well-ventilated.

According to it, normal work by all staff should resume in all offices while encouraging measures to reduce congestion such as working from home or on-and-off days.

The PSC also suggested mandatory use of face masks in closed offices and recommended safety protocol for all persons and discretionary use of appropriate measures.

It asked operators to encourage the use of approved Ag-Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) as recommended in the Guidance for the Use of Approved COVID-19 Ag-RDTs in Nigeria.

See the full recommendations by the government below:

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FG Rescues Daughter Of Actress Jumoke George, Arrives From Mali Today

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Adeola, the daughter of the well-known actress Jumoke George, is expected to arrive in Nigeria from Mali on Monday (today). This marks the end of a long period of separation.

The Federal Government’s rescue of Adeola George from Mali was initiated after actress Biola Adebayo brought her situation to light through her podcast. Adebayo’s platform played a crucial role in uncovering Adeola’s plight.

During an episode of her podcast, titled “Talk to B,” Adebayo featured Jumoke George, who shared her difficult circumstances. The podcast served as a platform for the actress to voice her concerns.

The prominent Nollywood actress revealed that she had been residing in a church for over six years and had been ill since January 2025. Additionally, her daughter Adeola had been “missing for over four years,” leaving her to care for her two other children alone.

In a further development, Adebayo, who is also a Nollywood actress, made contact with Adeola. Adeola disclosed that she had been in Mali for the past four years. This contact provided crucial information about Adeola’s whereabouts.

Adeola expressed her desire to return home but explained that she was unable to because she no longer possessed valid travel documents. This lack of proper documentation was a significant barrier to her return.

In a subsequent action, Adebayo reached out to the Nigerian Embassy in Mali and the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission, which is headed by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer. This intervention involved official channels to facilitate Adeola’s return.

As of Friday, all necessary arrangements had been finalized for Adeola to return to Nigeria. This indicates that the efforts to bring her back were successful.

She was initially expected to arrive on Sunday (yesterday). However, due to the fact that the journey from Mali to Nigeria is being undertaken by road, her arrival in Nigeria is now expected later. The mode of transportation affected the initial arrival timeline.

According sources within NiDCOM informed The Eagle Online that Adeola would be received at the Lagos Office of NiDCOM by Dabiri-Erewa. This highlights the official reception planned for her arrival.

Recall that NiDCOM has previously facilitated the return of numerous stranded Nigerians from various parts of the world. This underscores the commission’s ongoing efforts to assist Nigerians abroad.

The most recent instance was the return of 13 women from Ghana and Mali last week Thursday. This recent repatriation effort highlights NiDCOM’s continued work in this area.

Adebayo has received praise and commendation for her role and intervention in the case of Adeola, who had been away in Mali for four years. Her actions were instrumental in bringing about Adeola’s return.

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BREAKING: Lagos Government Shuts Down Cubana Chief Priest’s Restaurant Over Environmental Violations

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The Lagos State Government has closed DONALD Restaurant, which is owned by the well-known celebrity barman Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest. The shutdown is due to significant “environmental infractions.”

The restaurant, situated in the affluent Lekki area, was closed after two employees were caught improperly disposing of waste along the roadside. This incident happened on Durosimi-Etti Street in Lekki Phase 1 and was reported early on Saturday, May 18, 2025, by the Chairman of the Lekki Estate Residents Association.

Following the report, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) quickly sent its Monitoring and Compliance team to the location. The team apprehended the individuals responsible and “sealed off the restaurant” for violating the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.

Confirming the event via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, LAWMA Managing Director/CEO, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, stated that “the culprits will be prosecuted accordingly.” This indicates that legal action will be taken against those involved.

“This action underscores our zero-tolerance stance on environmental violations. No one is above the law,” Gbadegesin noted. This quote emphasizes the strict approach the state is taking regarding environmental offenses.

The shutdown serves as a clear warning as the state increases its efforts to take action against “environmental offenders” to maintain cleanliness and order in Lagos. This highlights the broader implications of the government’s action.

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JUST IN: FG Drags Roosevelt Ogbonna’s Access Bank To Court Over Alleged Fraudulent Diversion Of N825 Million State Funds

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Access Bank Plc and one of its employees are facing legal action. A four-count charge has been filed against them at the Federal High Court. The charges relate to the alleged diversion of N825.9 million in state funds into what is described as a “fraudulent account.”

The charges were brought by the federal government. They are the result of an investigation conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This information is based on “court documents seen by this newspaper.”

The charges, filed at the Sokoto Judicial Division, name Abdulmalik Abubakar, a relationship manager at Access Bank’s Sokoto branch, and the bank itself as defendants. They are accused of conspiracy, money laundering, and “concealment of stolen funds.”

The state counsel in the first count alleges that the defendants created a fake “Internal Revenue Service Account” with the account number 1873016763. It is claimed that they received N825.9 million through this account between May 2024 and January 2025. This is alleged to be in violation of Nigeria’s Money Laundering Act of 2022 and the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000.

The second count accuses them of allegedly concealing the same funds. This concealment is said to have occurred through the same “fraudulent account,” which was reportedly created at Access Bank’s Sokoto branch.

According to the court, the bank and Mr. Abubakar allegedly committed an offense that is contrary to section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under sections 18(3), 18 (4), 22(1), and 22(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. This specifies the legal statutes that were purportedly violated.

In Count Three, prosecutors assert that the money was fraudulently received through the fake account. This action, they say, constitutes “an offence contrary to section 13 and punishable under section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.” This outlines another specific legal violation.

Count Four alleges that Mr. Abubakar and the bank directly concealed the laundered funds. This is claimed to be “an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.” This presents the final count in the charges against the defendants.

The state contends that the money was diverted without authorization and concealed in violation of anti-corruption and money laundering laws. This summarizes the federal government’s case against Access Bank and its employee.

According to a “hearing notice signed on 2 May,” the case has been moved from the General Cause List to a hearing scheduled for 19 May. The hearing will proceed on that date if the court’s schedule permits; otherwise, it will be postponed without further notification. The hearing is estimated to last up to two days.

The notice specifies that any party wishing to postpone the hearing must apply to the court promptly and provide proof if the reason involves factual matters. This sets out the procedure for seeking a postponement.

The notice also states that both parties must present all evidence at the hearing, including witnesses and documents. Evidence must be submitted during the hearing, and failure to do so may result in exclusion or the imposition of costs. This emphasizes the importance of presenting all relevant information at the scheduled time.

It further indicates that parties wanting witnesses to attend should immediately request the court to issue summons, allowing sufficient time for notification. If witnesses are required to bring documents, these must be clearly specified. This outlines the process for ensuring witness attendance and document production.

The notice clarifies that the party requesting witnesses must pay reasonable fees to cover their expenses and loss of time, as determined by the court. Attendance may be denied if these fees are not deposited. This addresses the financial responsibilities associated with witness testimony.

The notice also states that if either party intends to use documents held by the other, they must provide written notification ahead of the hearing. Failure to do so will prevent them from presenting secondary evidence related to those documents. This establishes rules regarding the presentation of documentary evidence.

The notice was officially issued by order of the court. This confirms the legal authority behind the instructions provided in the hearing notice.

When contacted for a response, the Access Bank spokesperson, Kunle Aderinokun, stated that the bank would issue an official statement regarding the matter. This indicates that the bank is aware of the charges and intends to address them publicly.

The information in this report is attributed to “Source Premium Times,” indicating the original source of this news.

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