China sued for $200 billion by Nigerian law firm as compensation for Coronavirus pandemic

CC™ Breaking News

group of Nigerian lawyers is suing China for the adverse effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the country and its citizens. 

Recent reports said that the lawyers demand $200 billion in damages for the “loss of lives, economic strangulation, trauma, hardship, social disorientation, mental torture and disruption of the normal, daily existence of people in Nigeria,” according to a statement by the lead counsel, Professor Epiphany Azinge (SAN), whose firm, Azinge and Azinge, is championing the action.

The lawyers established a two-phase action plan, as they will first go to the federal high court of Nigeria and, second, to persuade the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to institute a state action against the People's Republic of China at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague.

“The legal experts will be claiming damages to the tune of $200 billion and the Chinese government will be served through its Embassy in Nigeria,” Azinge said.

Previously, an Egyptian lawyer has pressed charges against Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling on his country to pay $10 trillion in damages caused by the novel coronavirus in Egypt.

Also, last week, the U.S. state of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government over the coronavirus, alleging that the nation's officials are to blame for the global pandemic.

Barack Obama lambastes Trump administration's lack of direction regarding COVID-19

CC™ Breaking News

Barack Obama bashed Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus crisis this week, claiming there is still no ‘coherent national plan’ to address the outbreak.

‘While we continue to wait for a coherent national plan to navigate this pandemic, states like Massachusetts are beginning to adopt their own public health plans to combat this virus--before it’s too late,’ the former president tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Obama used the tweet to issue an attack on the president, but also praised Massachusetts for its response to the pandemic with a New Yorker article titled: It’s Not Too Late to Go on Offense Against the Coronavirus. As several states continue to lament that they do not have the supplies to administer enough testing, some have taken matters into their own hands.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker launched a plan for full-scale, statewide testing, which will be used to implement effective quarantine and treatment systems. The state was able to increase the number of tests administered from just 41 on March 9 to more than eight thousand by April 17.

While the bill does include $25 billion for coronavirus testing, Democrats wanted there to also be a measure to send more federal money to state and local governments to help with mitigation on a more small-scale level.

Obama also attacked his successor at the end of March as Trump signed the CARES Act to provide $2.2 trillion in economic stimulus and relief for Americans and small businesses.

‘We’ve seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic,’ the two-term Democrat tweeted last month....

‘We can’t afford any more consequences of climate denial. All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall,’ he continued at the time.

Obama’s tweet last month also included a link to a news story, but this one was about the Trump administration’s new rules that rolled back Obama-era vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards that were aimed at slowing global warming.

That tweet came as the Trump administration faced growing criticism for failing to heed early global alarms about the virus outbreak - even as death tolls began to spike in places like China and Italy.

Trump has often praised his administration and task force’s response to the crisis, pointing to the fact that he shut down travel from China early on in the pandemic.

Obama many times remains silent on most issues involving his successor in the Oval Office and has stuck with his practice of not naming the president, especially while issuing veiled attacks on Trump.

Source: Daily Mail

Hundreds of Tyson chicken workers test positive for COVID-19 virus

CC™ Breaking News

There is a major issue arising out of the Tyson Fresh Meats Plant located in Waterloo, Iowa. About 12 elected officials in Iowa have asked the food industry giant to shut down its meat processing plant operations there, because of the number of workers coming down with the Coronavirus disease.

As of last count, over 100 employees at the plant have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. 

Tyson is the largest employer in Waterloo and shutting down would mean a loss of 3000 plus jobs.

In Goodlettsville, Tennessee, hundreds of employees at a Tyson chicken plant there have also tested positive for COVID-19.

Furthermore, the Tyson Foods facility in Columbus Junction, Iowa, where at least 148 employees were infected and two died, has been closed since April 6.

Tyson Foods Senior Vice-President told CNN “We’re extremely grateful for the work our team members are doing and for the role they play in the critical supply chain that extends from farm to fork. Tyson has expanded workspaces and is sanitizing and deep-cleaning plant production areas, as well as employee locker and break rooms.”

Tyson Foods is a major player in the food industry and any hick-up in its operations will cause a major ripple effect in an economy that is already trending towards a recession, with arecord unemployment rate, that has never been seen before in the history of the United States.

Germany send Coronavirus bill to China as pressure mounts on the communist enclave

CC™ Global News

GERMANY has called out Beijing’s responsibility for the global Coronavirus pandemic and even issued a £130bn invoice.

On Saturday, U.S. President, Donald Trump also warned that China would face consequences if it was “knowingly responsible” for unleashing the coronavirus pandemic. 

President Trump told reporters: “It could have been stopped in China before it started and it wasn’t, and the whole world is suffering because of it.

This week the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started, revised its number of fatalities by with a sudden 50% jump in the figure.

The UK has joined US intelligence officials in investigating claims that the virus originated in a Wuhan virus lab and not a wet market.

A bombshell op-ed this week in Germany’s largest tabloid newspaper, Bild, joined this outrage by drawing up an itemised invoice for €149bn (£130b).

The list includes a €27 billion charge for lost tourism revenue, up to €7.2 billion for the German film industry, a million euros an hour for German airline Lufthansa and €50 billion for German small businesses.

Bild calculated that this amounts to €1,784 (£1,550) per person if Germany’s GDP falls by 4.2 percent, under the title “What China owes us.”

China responded by claiming the invoice “stirs up xenophobia and nationalism."

Police arrest Funke Olakunrin’s (nee Fasoranti) killers, 4 other suspects still on the run

Funke Olakunrin (below) and her killers (above)

CC™ Breaking News

The Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, Mohammed Adamu has announced the arrests of the four suspects on Thursday. But he said four other suspects, including the ringleader named Tambaya are on the run. Adamu has declared Tambaya a wanted man. Those arrested are: Lawal Mazaje,40, from Felele, Kogi and Adamu adamu, 50, from Jada in Adamawa. The other two are Mohammed Shehu Usman, 26, from Illela Sokoto and Auwal Abubakar, 25, from Shinkafi, Zamfara state. 

Funke Olakunrin was killed at Kajola on Ondo-Ore Road on 12 July 2019. The murder, suspected to be by Fulani marauders triggered national uproar. The police in a statement explained how the suspects were nabbed by a police crack team led by CP Fimihan Adeoye. “After months of relentless efforts to apprehend the killers, the Police Team, on 4th March, 2020 during a follow-up action on a case of a high-profile armed robbery and kidnap for ransom that occurred in Ogun State, arrested one Auwal Abubakar ‘m’ 25yrs, an accessory after the fact of the crime, along Sagamu-Ore expressway in Ondo State.

“The arrest of Auwal Abubakar led to the arrest of two other members of the gang, Mohammed Shehu Usman and Lawal Mazaje in Benin, Edo State from whom cache of ammunition was recovered and one other Adamu Adamu in Akure, Ondo State. Having established sufficient physical and forensic evidence linking the suspects to the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, the investigators, determined to clear all doubts relating to their findings.

On 8th April, 2020, they conducted an Identification Parade at the Federal SARS Headquarters, Lagos which led to the positive and physical identification of three (3) suspects, Adamu Adamu, Lawal Mazaje and Mohammed Shehu Usman by a survivor of the earlier crime."

“The survivor gave a clear description of the roles each of the identified suspects played in the killing. “At this point, the suspects capitulated and voluntarily offered a no-holds-barred confession on how Mrs Funke Olakunrin was killed. “Investigations so far reveal that the operation that led to the killing was carried out by eight fully armed kidnap/robbery suspects led by one Tambaya (other name unknown) who is currently at large. While four of the suspects are in custody, effort is being intensified to arrest the four others still on the run. The 8-man gang has its operational base and membership spread in the south-western part of the country and Edo State."

“Investigations have also revealed that they are responsible for series of high-profile armed robbery and kidnap operations in the region. They also attack, vandalize and steal components of critical national infrastructures such as electrical and telecommunications installations. Consequently, the Inspector General of Police hereby declares the principal suspect, Tambaya (other names unknown) wanted for his involvement in the death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin."

“Tambaya, a Nigerian, speaks Hausa, Fulfulde and Pidgin English. He is fair in complexion and in his late 20s – between the age of 27 and 30. His last known address is Isanlu, Kogi State. He has visible scar from stitches on his forehead down to his nose and mouth."

Source: PM NEWS

Popular Nigerian musician Douglas Jack Agu aka Runtown, gets US stimulus payment, despite 2-year entry ban

CC™ News - By Taiwo Okanlawon 

Popular Nigerian music artiste, Douglas Jack Agu aka Runtown has disclosed that he received COVID-19 stimulus payment from the United States.

He made the announcement on Thursday morning on his social media, although he did not disclose how much the payment was.

Runtown, however, disclosed that the stimulus payment came in spite of him being banned from entering the US in the last two years.

The Mad Over You crooner further said he would be donating the package to his followers on Twitter.

Runtown

✔@iRuntown

Got Stimulus Payment from the US lol ,will share to my friends here

18.6K

12:20 AM - Apr 16, 2020

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In a series of tweets, he said, “Got Stimulus Payment from the US lol, will share to my friends here.

“Plot Twist: Been banned from the US for 2 years now.”

Runtown attended St. Augustine’s seminary Ezzamgbo for a short while before proceeding to New York City, United States to study Fashion Management at a fashion school.

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said on Twitter that it had weekend begun the disbursement of the “Economic Impact Payments” approved by Congress to help Americans cope with the impact of COVID-19.

Reports say the stimulus payments could be as much as $1,200 for an individual and $2,400 for a couple.

This newspaper could not immediately confirm if Runtown holds American citizenship or permanent residency to have qualified for the US Government stimulus payment.

Source: PM NEWS

The fruit from the tree as Nasir El-Rufai's son threatens to gangrape mother of Twitter user

Governor Nasir El-Rufai

CC™ Politico

During an argument on Twitter, Bello, one of the sons of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, threatened to gang rape the mother of a Twitter user.  

A Twitter user by the handle name @Thanos_zer had blasted the present government, describing President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged ineptitude as mind blowing.

He had also described Bello as "Daddy's Boy", saying, “I don’t shield anyone who’s inept. I can’t say the same about you. You’re Daddy’s boy and of course, nobody attacks the finger that feeds them. Buhari’s ineptitude is mind blowing. Yes I said and you’re not going to make me disappear.”

The comment might have angered the Governor’s son who responded to the surprise of other Twitter users, including a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

Bello, whose father is currently undergoing treatment for Coronavirus, responded, “This Daddy’s boy has heard your mother ability to take d**k is mind blowing. Especially one dipped in Kerosene from Abia land.

“Sounds about fair. Despite the ineptitude, he is completing a bridge your Ebele couldn’t. You are stuck with PMB and can’t do shit. How’s failed Daddy? Oh and tell your mother that I’m passing her to my friends tonight. No Igbo sounds please! Tueh.” 

The threat drew the attention of Mrs. Ezekwesili and other Twitter users, who condemned Bello’s comment, demanding that the Governor’s son retract the comment and apologize.

Ezekwesili wrote, “@B_ELRUFAI Did I just see horrific tweets from your handle threatening gang-rape? What was that? hy the ethnic vitriol toward Igbos? What's that, Bello? Too tragic!

“You need to not just immediately apologize for those vile tweets but get into an Anger Management program quickly.

“I have maintained that we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can object without being objectionable.

Healthy debates and divergences that arise are important for democratic development of societies.”

However, Bello refused to tender any form of apology but rather accused the former Minister of being one sided in her judgement. “Finally, no apologies until he retracts his insult. If you won't train them, we will do it gladly if they enter our mentions.

If they don't, that's their business. Until then, I'd recommend you all watch Black Mirror! Happy Easter once again. Peace and love!

 “I guess I made my point. Since Aunty Oby called out one person. Progress I guess. As I told her, if you don't do that, they enter our mentions, we will do that for them. In all sincerity, this was needed. Be careful who you choose to insult. You might not like the reply,” Bello further warned.

Visionary Leadership: Turns out President Obama warned the world about being prepared for a pandemic outbreak

CC™ Politico

Former U.S. President Barack Obama talked about the need for a global preparedness for an impending (potential) pandemic at a speech in Bethesda, Maryland in 2014. Unfortunately, this was at the height of the Ebola devastation in West Africa that claimed thousands of lives, and the Republican controlled Congress was naturally uninterested, since they did not see this as an American problem. That same lack of vision steeped in bigotry and debilitating ignorance is what led the Trump administration to dismantle the Pandemic Response Unit that had been put in place by the Obama administration. Here is the Obama video, courtesy of NowThis News:

Hand in the cookie jar: Nigeria's former finance minister caught in fake news drama on social media

CC™ News

Nigeria's former finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was recently caught spreading fake news on social media. In a post on Twitter, Ngozi underscored a point about observing social distancing in food aid distribution in the COVID-19 era. 

She cited a purported example from Rwanda and attached a photo to underscore her point. 

“Responsible food distribution with social distancing to assist lower income households in the #COVID-19 era!"

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

✔@NOIweala

Responsible food distribution with social distancing to assist lower income households in the #COVID19 era! A great example from #Rwanda where community workers also distribute food and other necessities door-to-door @PaulKagame

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4:51 AM - Apr 8, 2020

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But as it turned out, the photo was not on point. The reference to Rwanda was also false. The event and photo she cited happened in The Gambia in 2019 during the Ramadan. ”But unfortunately, the picture attached to your tweet is fake, didn’t happen in Rwanda, but Gambia, it happened in May, last year, during Ramadan”, wrote Bashir Ahmad, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide.

Bashir Ahmad

✔@BashirAhmaad

Good afternoon Ma’am @NOIweala, it is very true that Rwanda, Nigeria and other African countries are really trying. But unfortunately, the picture attached to your tweet is fake, didn’t happen in Rwanda, but Gambia, it happened in May, last year, during Ramadan. #StaySafe! https://twitter.com/noiweala/status/1247854465702559745 …

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

✔@NOIweala

Responsible food distribution with social distancing to assist lower income households in the #COVID19 era! A great example from #Rwanda where community workers also distribute food and other necessities door-to-door @PaulKagame

375

8:12 AM - Apr 8, 2020 · Abuja, Nigeria

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Caught out and with eggs plastered on her face, Ngozi later apologised. She blamed a friend for making her commit the error. “Thanks to those who have drawn my attention to the food distribution picture I tweeted earlier today. 

A friend sent it to me that it’s from Rwanda. Whether Gambia or Rwanda, the point I want us to focus on is that it is a safe way of handling food distribution”, she wrote. Bashir later tweeted another photograph of a better food distribution by Governor Umara Zulum of Borno State. This happened in February this year. Then, Zulum gave out cash and food to Nigerian refugees in Rann.

Bashir Ahmad

✔@BashirAhmaad

Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. https://twitter.com/noiweala/status/1247953910146519042 …

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

✔@NOIweala

Thanks to those who have drawn my attention to the food distribution picture I tweeted earlier today. A friend sent it to me that it’s from Rwanda. Whether Gambia or Rwanda, the point I want us to focus on is that it is a safe way of handling food distribution.

594

12:56 PM - Apr 8, 2020 · Abuja, Nigeria

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Game Changer: Australian scientists may have discovered drug that kills COVID-19 in 48 hours

CC™ HealthScope

Researchers at Monash University in Australia have stumbled on an already existing drug, Ivermectin, that kills COVID-19 within 48 hours in the laboratory and is available all over the world.

According to the researchers, a single dose of Ivermectin, which is used to treat head lice, stops the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell culture. 

But the research is in its early stages and Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, has not yet been tested on persons infected with COVID-19.

According to the Daily Mail, the next step is for scientists to determine the correct human dosage, to make sure the level used in vitro is safe for humans.

The scientists warned that it could take at least a month before human trials start.

‘We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA (effectively removed all genetic material of the virus) by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it,’ Daily Mail quotes Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s Dr. Kylie Wagstaff as saying last Friday.

He added: “In times when we’re having a global pandemic and there isn’t an approved treatment, if we had a compound that was already available around the world then that might help people sooner.

“Realistically it’s going to be a while before a vaccine is broadly available.’

The study is the work of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity.

Ivermectin was discovered in 1975 and came into medical use in 1981.

It is on the World Health Organization (WHO’s) List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.

The wholesale cost in the developing world for the tablets is about US$0.12 for a course of treatment.
Ivermectin is available around the world in its trade names Stromectol and Soolantra cream.

It has been used since the 1980s to treat and prevent diseases related to parasites in humans, pets and livestock, and works by paralysing invertebrate parasites.

Ivermectin is also a second-line treatment for scabies.

The pharmaceutical company that makes Ivermectin, MSD, has also been donating the drug to developing countries to treat the parasitic diseases river blindness and elephantiasis for the past 30 years.

When used at the recommended dose, Ivermectin is generally well tolerated. Some of the common side effects include diarrhoea, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness.