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Tag: Buhari

  • Buhari’s bodyguard dies

    Buhari’s bodyguard dies

    Source: Pulse News NG

    Lawal Mato, one of president Muhammadu Buhari’s personal bodyguards, has died on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

    The president’s media aide, Bashir Ahmad, announced on Tuesday that Mato, a warrant officer, struggled with diabetes.

    The deceased had served the president for a long time before his death, Ahmad said.

    “Mr. Mato had been working with the President for many years before he won the 2015 elections,” the presidential aide tweeted.

    Buhari described the deceased as “very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duty with diligence and focus”.

    Mato’s death comes days after the president also lost his long-time friend and chief of staff, Abba Kyari, to the coronavirus disease.

    Kyari died in Lagos last week, almost a month after he was diagnosed with the disease that has infected over 2.5 million people across the world.

  • COVID-19: Buhari releases 2,600 prisoners to contain coronavirus outbreak

    COVID-19: Buhari releases 2,600 prisoners to contain coronavirus outbreak

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of 2,600 prison inmates across Nigeria.

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced at a press conference on Thursday, April 9, 2020, that the amnesty is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to decongest the custodial centres and discourage the spread of coronavirus (COVID19) in the country.

    The minister said that the affected inmates are state offenders in custodial centres across the country.

    He noted that the amnesty only applies to inmates who are 60 years old and above; those suffering from ill health that could be terminal; inmates serving three years and above and have less than six months left to serve; inmates with mental issues; and inmates with options of fine not exceeding N50,000.

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced the amnesty during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday (Daily Trust)

    Aregbesola said the amnesty will not apply to inmates sentenced for violent offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, and culpable homicide.

    “The president has graciously approved this request and others,” the minister said during a press conference.

    He said governors of all 36 states in the country will complete the amnesty exercise in line with the federal principle.

    41 federal inmates and 29 inmates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja who met the pardon criteria will be released today from the Kuje Custodial Centre, the minister said.

    As of April 8, Nigeria has recorded a total of 276 coronavirus cases in 16 states and the FCT.

    44 people have recovered and been discharged, but six people have died.