10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers, Monday morning, March 23, 2020

These 10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers will interest you this Monday morning.

1. Atiku’s son tests positive for coronavirus

A son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has tested positive to the deadly coronavirus. The former number two citizen revealed this himself via his verified Twitter handle on Sunday, and noted that the relevant authorities have been informed.

2. Confirmed! COVID-19 cases in Nigeria now 30

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Sunday said 30 cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed in the country. In the update posted on its website, the centre said Abuja, which had one case in the morning of Sunday, now has four cases.

3. COVID-19: Stay away from police stations, IGP tells Nigerians

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Sunday counselled Nigerians to avoid social visits to police stations and other police offices as confirmed cases of coronavirus rise to 30 in the country. Adamu in a statement issued by the Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, also urged citizens to minimise official visits to police stations, except where absolutely necessary.

4. Adeboye says fear stopped him from revealing what God told him about coronavirus

The General Overseer (GO) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye has said God told him about the compulsory holidays across the world due to Covid-19 pandemic. The cleric however explained how due to fear he did not talk about it in his New Year prophecy.

5. COVID-19: MTN orders staff to start working from home

MTN Nigeria Sunday said its team would start working from home as part of the precautionary measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. The company’s Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, said in a statement that from Monday workers were expected to perform their duties from home.

6. Nnamdi Kanu advises Ndigbo on what to do over coronavirus pandemic

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has advised the people of South East on what to do over the coronavirus pandemic. He asked the people to desist from attending religious activities and to also ensure they withdrew their children from schools.

7. Popular Eko Hotel and Suites shuts over coronavirus scare

Eko Hotel & Suites on Sunday announced a partial suspension of its services over the coronavirus pandemic. The Nigerian government has confirmed 27 coronavirus cases in the country. The hotel said in a statement it would temporarily close down at least seven of its services.

8. EFCC to arraign Oyo-Ita, eight others for alleged N3bn graft

The former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, will be arraigned on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged N3 billion graft. A statement issued by the acting Head of Media and Publicity for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tayo Orilade, said Oyo-Ita would be arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo for fraud in relation to Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), estacodes, conference fees fraud and receiving kick-backs on contracts.

9. INVESTIGATION…How endless oil spills leave Niger Delta severely polluted, livelihoods ruined and citizens poisoned

Eric Dooh, 60, had just returned from Goi, a community in Ogoniland, within Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. He had visited his family’s property in the community he left a few years back due to air pollution. Near the property is a large river where men fish, but it has been contaminated as a result of oil spills, causing unending pollution that pervades the air.

He was exhausted. He sat on a red couch in his sitting room wearing a red traditional shirt and cap. His eyes were red like fire due to the poor quality of air containing harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide he was exposed to.

Dooh had hung a plain trouser he wore to the community the previous day on a wall. He stood up, went to the place the trouser was hung and dipped his right hand inside one of the pockets. He searched for a sachet of franol — a medication that relieves breathing difficulties — he usually took after returning from the oil spill site but could not find it. Goi is one of the affected communities ravaged by oil spills.

10. REVEALED: How Abacha fought desperately to keep Abiola in detention

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice James Ogebe, said at the weekend that the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, tried to force the judiciary to deny bail to the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, late Chief Moshood Abiola. Justice Ogebe, who disclosed this at the launch of a book he wrote to mark his 80th birthday, said after Abiola was arrested and detained for declaring himself president-elect, the late dictator asked the Court of Appeal to dismiss the late business mogul’s bail application.