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House Republicans pressure Senate GOP to object to Electoral College certification in at least 3 states

Emenike Agu
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House Republicans pressure Senate GOP to object to Electoral College certification in at least 3 states

A group of GOP senators have called for an electoral commission to be established to audit results of the 2020 presidential election.

House Republicans are growing concerned that if Republican senators don’t object to at least three states during the Jan. 6 certification of the presidential election results, that the “entire effort” will be “worthless,” sources told Fox News.

Last month, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., was the first Republican senator to commit to objecting to the election results, specifically in Pennsylvania, while a group of GOP senators led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Saturday said they would object to the certification unless there was an emergency 10-day audit of the results by an electoral commission.

But House Republican sources told Fox News Sunday that there is a growing concern that the Republican senators will not object to enough states to make a difference in the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which has been called in favor of President-elect Joe Biden since November. 

Two House Republican officials told Fox News that more than 100 GOP House members will object to the election results in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.

“If the Republican senators don’t object to enough states, the entire effort on Jan. 6th is worthless,” a House Republican official told Fox News. “To have any chance of impacting the outcome of the 2020 election, the Republican senators must join Republican House members in objecting at least three states and ideally all six states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

“If Republican senators only object to one state, Joe Biden will undoubtedly secure enough electoral votes to become president,” the official continued, adding that “the pressure really is on the Republican senators like Ted Cruz to join House Republicans here.”

“If they don’t, it will be a great disappointment to the president, their constituents, and ensure a Joe Biden victory,” the official said.

Cruz, on Saturday, was joined by Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.; James Lankford of Oklahoma; Steve Daines of Montana; John Kennedy of Louisiana; Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and Mike Braun of Indiana; as well as Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming; Roger Marshall of Kansas; Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. 

The group claims that the Nov. 3 election “featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud and illegal conduct.” So far, those claims of widespread fraud that could affect the results have not been substantiated in the courts or by state and local election officials.Video

“We should follow that precedent,” the group said in a statement. “To wit, Congress should immediately appoint an Electoral Commission, with full investigatory and fact-finding authority, to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states. Once completed, individual states would evaluate the Commission’s findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed.”

If that doesn’t happen, the senators intend to vote against certification.

“Accordingly, we intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not ‘regularly given’ and ‘lawfully certified’ (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed,” they said in the statement.

A source familiar with the effort by the GOP senators told Fox News that it was Cruz who orchestrated the push for the audit just days before the joint session of Congress on Wednesday to officially approve the Electoral College votes electing former Vice President Joe Biden.

The senators and senators-elect are calling for Congress to appoint a commission to conduct a 10-day emergency audit of the election returns in states where the results are disputed. They cite as precedent the 1877 race between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford Hayes, in which there were allegations of fraud in multiple states.

But sources familiar told Fox News that the group of Senate Republicans is still discussing which states, if any, to object to on Jan. 6.

Another source familiar with their discussions told Fox News that “nothing is decided yet.”

And two sources told Fox News that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., separately, may object to at least one state during the joint session, but it is unclear, at this point, which state, if any, that may be.

Paul’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

The issue of electoral college certification, though, is not being whipped by Senate Republican leadership, meaning that leadership is not driving the Republican conference in a certain direction. As previously reported, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has referred to this as a “vote of conscience.”

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators on Sunday said that efforts to object to the Electoral College results this week by Republicans only will “undermine” confidence in the 2020 election.

“The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted,” said a statement by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., Susan Collins, R-Maine; Mark Warner, D-Va.; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Angus King, I-Maine; Mitt Romney, R-Utah; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; and Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

“At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results,” they continued. “The voters have spoken, and Congress must now fulfill its responsibility to certify the election results.”

The group added that in two weeks they “will begin working with our colleagues and the new Administration on bipartisan, common sense solutions to the enormous challenges facing our country.”

They added: “It is time to move forward.”

President Trump’s campaign has launched a number of legal challenges, while Trump himself has urged states with Republican governors and legislatures to overturn Biden’s victories.

While the Trump campaign has challenged the results in dozens of lawsuits, judges in multiple states have shot them down. Attorney General William Barr told The Associated Press last month that “to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.”

What to expect when Congress meets to count Electoral College results

Emenike Agu
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0
What to expect when Congress meets to count Electoral College results

The final stage in the selection of an American president comes at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6

Under the conditions of the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, both the House and Senate meet at 1 p.m. in a joint session of Congress in the House chamber. Vice President Mike Pence, in his capacity as President of the Senate, presides. But, there have been several instances where the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (the most senior member of the majority party) presides in place of the vice president. This would be Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

For instance, President Richard Nixon defeated the Democratic nominee, Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968. Humphrey was still vice president. But he was overseas for the funeral of the first United Nations Secretary General Tryvgie Lie. So, the duties fell to Sen. Richard Russell, D-Ga., the president pro tempore to preside over the session in Humphrey’s absence.

The 12th Amendment says that the vice president shall “open the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;- The person having the greatest number of votes shall be President.”

There is some debate as to the role of the vice president at this stage. Some believe it is ceremonial. The lawsuit filed by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas — tossed out of court by a federal judge appointed by President Trump — pushed for the vice president to have more power over the session and the adjudication of electoral votes sent in from the states.

All 50 states certified their election returns last month. The Electoral College convened. Each state sent an electoral slate to Washington.

Fox is told it’s not unheard of for a “rogue” slate of electors to be sent to the vice president’s office or the Archivist of the United States as a practical joke, or, perhaps someone attempting to cause mischief. Fox has learned that when a surrogate slate of electors was sent in, the powers that be would simply ignore it. Don’t forget that White House adviser Stephen Miller suggested sending in alternative slates of electors from competitive states.

This is in fact where Pence could flex some muscle. It depends on which electoral certificates the vice president elects to “open” under the 12th Amendment.

This brings us to the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Congress approved the Electoral Count Act after an epic battle from the disputed election of 1876 between President Rutherford B. Hayes (the ultimate winner) and his vanquished opponent Samuel Tilden. More on that later. But the Electoral Count Act — alongside the 12th Amendment — sets the ground rules for how Congress operates during the Joint Session of Congress to certify the winner of the Electoral College.

One footnote before we begin:

It’s common for the House and Senate to prepare what’s called a “concurrent” resolution which could establish certain parameters for handling Electoral College disputes this time around. Such a resolution is often non-controversial. But, that resolution could carry extra weight or have the potential to upend or truncate this year’s Electoral College certification. But both the House and Senate must first agree to that resolution.

So …

Under the Electoral Count Act, the vice president and Congress are supposed to only pay attention to the certificate which is signed by the governor of a state. But there is the potential for deference by the vice president as to which slate of electors he should recognize if there are multiple certificates from an individual state.

Hawaii wasn’t a determinative state in the 1960 presidential election between President John F. Kennedy and future President Richard Nixon. Kennedy was going to win the White House, regardless of Hawaii. There were allegations of vote fraud elsewhere, notably Illinois and Texas. Initial results from Hawaii showed that Nixon captured the Aloha State. But a recount shifted the win to Kennedy. Hawaii sent two slates of electoral votes to Washington: one for Nixon and one for Kennedy, both signed by the governor. By the book, Hawaii’s electoral votes should have gone to Nixon. But when the Joint Session of Congress convened in January, 1961 Congress handed Hawaii’s then three electoral votes to Kennedy. Nixon, then Vice President, presided. Nixon could have recognized the other slate of votes from Hawaii – for himself.

The electoral votes are brought into the House chamber in mahogany boxes. The vice president reads aloud the votes from each state, in alphabetical order. We don’t anticipate any issues with Alabama and Alaska. But hold on when we get to Arizona, third in line. The same is likely true for Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Under the Electoral Count Act, a petitioner from both the House and Senate are required to challenge a state’s slate of electoral votes and the provocation must be in writing.

House members contested Electoral College results in 2001 and 2017 without a Senate sponsor. In 1969, Rep. James O’Hara, D-Mich., and Sen. Edmund Muskie, D-Maine, challenged North Carolina’s slate over a “faithless elector.” This is an elector who cast his ballot for George Wallace when he was pledged to Nixon. The 1969 incident marked the first time a state’s electoral slate was challenged under the Electoral Count Act of 1887.

In 2005, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, joined forces with Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., to challenge Ohio’s electoral slate.

What happens if at least one House member and one senator get together to oppose a state’s electoral votes?

Let’s start with Arizona.

Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., and dozens of House members are expected to raise issues with Arizona’s slate of electors. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has already said he would join various House challenges. A coalition of other GOP senators, led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, did not say they would object to a state’s electors on the floor as Hawley did. But instead, these Republicans declared they “intend to vote on January 6 to reject electors from disputed states.”

These senators argue that in 1877, there were disputed electors from Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and Oregon. Congress then created an “Electoral Commission” to determine how to parse out the electoral votes from these states. Congress would ultimately vote on those results. In those days, the Electoral College was smaller. The Electoral Commission awarded all contested electoral votes to Hayes, making him president, 185 electoral votes to 184 electoral votes for Tilden.

The coalition of GOP senators is calling for the creation of a similar committee today.

Such a prospect remains doubtful. But here’s what happens when House and Senate members join together to challenge a state’s electoral slate:

The joint session is suspended. The House then meets – just as the House. Senators then head back across the Capitol Rotunda to the Senate chamber. And, for up to two hours, the House and Senate separately consider and debate whatever grievances lawmakers have with Arizona’s electoral slate. Members may speak for up to five minutes during the two-hour window. The House and Senate then both take separate votes. It takes both the House and Senate to reject a state’s electoral votes. If that happens, the electoral slate just disappears. It’s as though Arizona never happened. The House and Senate then reconvene in the joint session and continue with Arkansas, California and Colorado. There probably isn’t another issue until they get to Georgia.

But, as we always say, it’s about the math, it’s about the math, it’s about the math.

The House begins with 432 members. 222 Democrats, 210 Republicans and three vacancies. The Senate starts with 51 Republicans and 48 senators who caucus with the Democrats and one vacancy. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., continues as a senator because she is fulfilling an unexpired term. Former Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., does not. His term ceased. Remember, the Senate calculus could change midstream – in the middle of all of this – if we get election results in the two Georgia Senate runoffs.

It is believed that Democrats would certainly vote to reject any electoral challenges from Republicans. And, there are certainly enough Republicans to join Democrats to do the same in the Senate.

But remember, we are doing this in the age of COVID-19. The House and Senate are both at the margins for both parties right now. Absences imposed due to positive tests or quarantine matter. A lot. You never know exactly who is going to be there. Moreover, the House of Representatives will reinstitute its “remote voting” regime for the 117th Congress. The Senate has never had a remote voting option. But the House is barred from using remote voting during the certification of the Electoral College.

So, contesting each state probably takes a few hours. This is why the final certification of the electoral vote probably bleeds well into the wee hours of Jan. 7 if not deep in the day on Jan. 7 – or beyond.

Consider that there is a two-hour debate for each state. That is to say nothing of how long it takes to conduct the roll call votes in a pandemic (the House averages about an hour per roll call vote these days). That also doesn’t address all of the ceremonial time, speeches and minutes devoted to roll through states with uncontested electoral slates.

You see easily how this process could chew up a couple of days.

The Electoral Count Act does permit recesses. But the House and Senate aren’t allowed to dissolve the joint session of Congress until the Electoral College is finalized. And, Congress must wrap this up within a five-day window.

We are into some new turf here as to what happens when multiple states electoral slates are in play. In 2005, the Senate rejected the objection to Ohio’s slate 74-1. The House turned down the appeal 267-31.

This entire exercise is set against the backdrop of loyalists to President Trump claiming election fraud and Trump summoning protesters to demonstrate in Washington. This process also has the potential to splinter the Republican party and set a rocky precedent for years to come. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., counseled Republicans against challenging electoral votes. But those calls fell on deaf ears. Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Ben Sasse, R-Neb., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark., have all spoken out against the maneuver to challenge the electoral votes.

Moreover, each state of contested votes triggers a roll call vote documenting how lawmakers in both the House and Senate stand on say Pennsylvania’s electors or Michigan’s electors. This is undoubtedly a helpful vote for some right-wing Republicans or those close to President Trump. It may help them avoid a primary challenge or ingratiates them with the GOP base. But these votes could come back to haunt others. And, there will certainly be some Republicans who represent states or districts where their vote – one way or the other on each electoral slate – could help or hurt them. Choose the wrong direction and it could be dangerous politically

This is precisely why McConnell and other GOPers hoped to avoid such an electoral imbroglio. It’s divisive for Republicans and will echo throughout American politics for decades to come.

But by the end of the day on Jan. 6, 7 or 8, there is going to be a decision. And everyone in Congress is going to be on the record as either upholding the Electoral College Results – or rejecting them.

Former Unilag VC, Oyewusi Obe dies at 71.

faith Jegede
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Former Unilag VC, Oyewusi Obe dies at 71.

Former vice- chancellor of the university of Lagos, Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe has passed away at the age of 71.

Obe was a Nigerian professor of Systems Engineering, educational administrator and former Vice chancellor of the University of Lagos. He died on the 3rd of January 2021.

He attended Ilesa Grammar School and Igbobi College from 1962 – 1968 and then proceeded to the University of Lagos from 1968 – 1971.

He was awarded a Bachelor of Science [B.Sc.(Hons)] degree in Mathematics in the First Class Division by the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1971; a Master of Mathematics [M. Maths] degree in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science in 1973 and a Doctor of Philosophy {PhD} in Civil Engineering with specialization in Applied Mechanics/Systems in 1976 the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

The Chairman of ASUU Unilag chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru, speaking to a Vanguard correspondent on Sunday night, said with Ibidapo-Obe’s death, the nation has lost a quintessential scholar and a seasoned university administrator.

Professor Ibidapo Obe, served as the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos from year 2000 – 2007. He died as the pro chancellor, Crawford University, Igbesa.

Paris St-Germain: Mauricio Pochettino replaces Thomas Tuchel as head coach

Emenike Agu
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Paris St-Germain: Mauricio Pochettino replaces Thomas Tuchel as head coach

Former Tottenham and Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed head coach of Paris St-Germain.

The Argentine, 48, who succeeded Thomas Tuchel, has signed a deal until 30 June 2022, with the option of an extra year.

Pochettino, who played for PSG between 2001 and 2003, has been out of work since being sacked by Spurs in November 2019.

PSG are third in Ligue 1 and will face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League in February and March.

German Tuchel was sacked on 29 December after two and a half years in charge.

Pochettino will take his first training session on Sunday following the French league’s winter break.

He said he was “happy and honoured” to take on the role and that the club “has always held a special place in my heart”.

“I return to the club today with a lot of ambition and humility, and am eager to work with some of the world’s most talented players,” said Pochettino.

“This team has fantastic potential and my staff and I will do everything we can to get the best for Paris St-Germain in all competitions. We will also do our utmost to give our team the combative and attacking playing identity that Parisian fans have always loved.”

PSG chairman and chief executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi said Pochettino’s return “fits perfectly with our ambitions”, adding: “It will be another exciting chapter for the club and one I am positive the fans will enjoy.”

Pochettino
Pochettino played 95 times for PSG

Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol and spent 18 months at Southampton before joining Tottenham in May 2014.

He guided them to the League Cup final in his first full season, while two third-placed finishes sandwiched a runners-up spot in the Premier League in 2016-17.

A former Argentina defender, Pochettino led Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019, where they lost to Liverpool.

He was sacked five months later, with the club 14th in the Premier League, and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

Tuchel’s final game in charge of PSG was a 4-0 win over Strasbourg on 23 December, which moved the reigning champions to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Lyon and second-placed Lille before a two-week winter break.

PSG have been linked with a January loan move for Tottenham’s Dele Alli, who made his Premier League debut under Pochettino.

Analysis – ‘Match made in heaven’

We all wanted to see him back and we all thought he was waiting for the Manchester United job. PSG is a massive job. There’s a massive expectation there.

With the squad he can pick from and the players he can attract, it’s a match made in heaven.

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman on BBC Final Score

Pochettino has got the best out of Dele Alli in the past and it would probably be a clever move all round to get him out there with with the Euros looming.

You have to have success [at PSG]. They have moved Thomas Tuchel on because PSG are actually in a title race rather than winning at a canter. It’s a great opportunity for Pochettino.

India makes first India-Nigeria air bubble flight

Emenike Agu
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India makes first India-Nigeria air bubble flight

India made its first direct India-Nigeria Air Bubble flight to Nigeria on January 01, 2020.

This was disclosed by the High Commission of India, Abuja via its Twitter handle on Saturday. The flight, which was conducted by Air Peace Airline, had 535 passengers on board.

It tweeted,

  • “Glad to facilitate the first India-Nigeria Air Bubble flight of 2021. APK 7804/7805 LOS-DEL-LOS @flyairpeace flight on 31 Dec/01 Jan carried a total of 535 pax. We thank authorities on both sides and shall continue to facilitate seamless travel. ??? ??”What you should know
    • In November 2020, the Indian High Commission in Nigeria facilitated Delhi-Lagos-Delhi air bubble flight.
    • India created an air bubble arrangement with Nigeria in September 2020.
    This was disclosed by the High Commission via its Twitter handle on Sunday. It explained that,
  • “The Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements” are temporary arrangements between the two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.”

2020 in review: 25 stories that shaped the sporting year

Emenike Agu
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2020 in review: 25 stories that shaped the sporting year

Loss of sports legends Kobe Bryant, Diego Maradona, major international events including Olympics postponed over coronavirus

ANKARA

The world of sports experienced an unpleasant year in 2020 as it saw the deaths of sports legends, former basketball superstar Kobe Bryant and football icon Diego Armando Maradona as well as the impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Former USA and the Los Angeles Lakers guard Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in January as his death shocked the sports community in the globe.

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic showed itself in the sports world, in just like every aspect of life, as much as the accomplishments, achievements of the athletes, teams.

Here is an overall look of the year’s major events in 2020:

– JANUARY –

Jan. 2:

– Former NBA Commissioner David Stern dies at the age of 77.

NBA says on website that Stern suffers a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 12 and undergoes emergency surgery. He passes away with his wife, Dianne, and their family at his bedside. He was retired in 2014 after 30 years of servis as the commissioner.

Jan. 7:

– Italian football player Daniele De Rossi retires from the game. De Rossi, 37, is a Roma veteran as he plays 18 years for the Serie A team.

But he spent the 2019-20 season in Argentine giants Boca Juniors. De Rossi won the 2006 FIFA World Cup with the Italian national team.

– English football club’s Senegalese star Sadio Mane, 28, wins the 2019 African Player of the Year for the first time in his career.

Jan. 12:

– Portuguese motorcyclist Paulo Goncalves, 40, is killed over in the seventh round in the 2020 Dakar Rally held in Saudi Arabia.

– Turkish women’s national volleyball team qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after beating Germany 3-0 in European qualifiers final.

Jan. 15:

– Norwegian chess star Magnus Carlsen sets a world record as he holds 111-game unbeaten streak in the game.

Jan. 17:

– Carlos Sainz wins the 2020 Dakar Rally in cars. Meanwhile Ricky Brabe is the 2020 champion in the Dakar Rally’s motorcycle category.

Jan. 20:

– A former Olympics and world champion in wrestling, Turkey’s Kazim Ayvaz dies at the age of 83.

Jan 26:

– US basketball legend and a former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna are killed in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California.

Bryant won the NBA title with the Lakers for five times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010).

The 18-time NBA All-Star played for the Lakers in 1996-2016, spending his whole 20-year career in a single franchise.

Bryant helped US national team win two Olympic gold medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

– Turkey’s first professional boxer Garbis Zakaryan dies at the age of 90. The former Armenian-Turkish athlete is fondly remembered by his fans as “iron fist”.

Jan. 29:

– World Athletics postpone the World Athletics Indoor Championships in China’s Nanjing due to the coronavirus outbreak in China. The original date for the indoor championships is March 2020.

– FEBRUARY –

Feb. 1:

– US tennis player Sofia Kenin, 22, wins the 2020 Australian Open title in women’s singles. This is Kenin’s maiden grand slam title.

Feb. 2:

– Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic become the 2020 Australian Open champion in men’s singles category.

Feb. 9:

– Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis sets a world record in pole vault discipline. Duplantis breaks the record with 6.17 meters vault in Poland.

Feb. 15:

– A Turkish alpine skier, Sila Kara saves the life of a minor in Slovenia’s Krvavec Ski Resort. Kara, 20, saves the Slovenian boy during a warm up in Krvavec Giant Slalom.

Kara is then honored with a medal by Krvavec police for her bravery.

Feb. 16:

– Sweden’s Duplantis sets another world record in pole vault. He breaks his own record with 6.18 meters vault in Scotland.

– The NBA All-Star game MVP (Most Valuable Player) award is permanently named for Kobe Bryant. The NBA says on website that it is referred as “The Kia NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award”

– Turkish wrestler Suleyman Karadeniz bags a gold medal in men’s freestyle 92 kg category in the 2020 European Championships.

Karadeniz defeats his Swiss opponent Samuel Scherrer 3-0 in the final in Rome to win the only gold medal for Turkey in this year’s European Championships.

Feb. 23:

– British boxer Tyson Fury ends Deontay Wilder’s five-year reign as World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight world champion.

– Galatasaray football team win against Fenerbahce 3-1 in Istanbul derby to end a more than two-decade-long drought in derby victories at their archrivals’ Ulker Stadium.

Feb. 25:

– Fatma Damla Altin becomes the world champion in the pentatlon discipline in the 2020 Virtus World Indoor Athletics hosted by Poland. Altin is the first Turkish paralympic athlete to win in the field of pentathlon.

Feb. 26:

– Another Turkish paralympic athlete, Esra Bayrak wins the 60-meter world championship in running in the 2020 Virtus World Indoor Athletics.

Feb. 29:

– Turkish motorcyclist Toprak Razgatlioglu wins 2020 MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship’s season opener in Australia.

– MARCH –

March 7:

– Ex-Brazilian football star Ronaldinho is arrested in Paraguay for fake passport charges. The 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto Assis are said to hold false documents while entering Paraguay.

March 12:

– NBA suspends the 2019-20 season until further notice after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

– The National Hockey League in US and Canada (NHL) pauses the remainder of the 2019-20 season because of the global spread of the novel coronavirus.

March 13:

– Turkey postpones Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey due to be held in April for coronavirus pandemic.

– UEFA Champions League and Europa League games are postponed to curb the spread of coronavirus.

March 17:

– UEFA postpones the EURO 2020 for one year due to the spread of the coronavirus across the globe.

– Similar to the EURO 2020, the 2020 Copa America is delayed for a year due to the spread of the coronavirus across the globe, the South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL said.

March 18:

– FIFA postpones 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in China for the virus.

March 19:

– Turkish karate athletes Serap Ozcelik Arapoglu, Meltem Hocaoglu Akyol, Merve Coban, Ali Sofuoglu and Ugur Aktas qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as karate makes debut in the olympic games.

– Turkey postpones football, basketball, volleyball and handball leagues amid coronavirus pandemic.

March 22:

– A former Real Madrid chair, Lorenzo Sanz dies of COVID-19.

March 23:

– UEFA postpones Champions League and Europa League final matches indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

– Turkish football club Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim tests positive for COVID-19.

March 24:

– International Olympic Committee (IOC) postpones Tokyo 2020 Olympics for a year over coronavirus pandemic.

March 27:

– Dutch football club Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Abdelhak Nouri recovers from a coma, which he faces in 2017. 

Dutch-Moroccan midfielder Nouri collapsed during a friendly match between Ajax and Germany’s Werder Bremen on July 8, 2017, in Austria due to a cardiac arrest causing serious brain damage.

March 28:

– World down syndrome sports union chief Geoff Smedley dies of coronavirus.

March 30:

– Galatasaray manager Terim gets released from hospital as he has coronavirus treatment.

– The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says that the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo is held on July 23-Aug. 8, 2021, while the Paralympic Games between Aug. 24 and Sept. 5, 2021.

– APRIL –

April 1:

– UEFA postpones all international matches in June for the virus.

– Brazil’s iconic football stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Maracana is said to be converted to a hospital as part of the fight against the novel coronavirus.

– Wimbledon, one of the most popular tournaments of the annual tennis calendar, is cancelled due to the pandemic.

April 3:

– Turkish Football Federation (TFF) says that the leagues may start in June at the earliest.

April 4:

– The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) postpones the Nations League semis and finals in June.

April 7:

– The Formula 1 postpones the Canadian Grand Prix for health reasons.

April 10:

– Turkey wins two gold and a bronze medal in the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup based on their performance on the qualifiers. The 2020 World Cup finals scheduled for March in Baku is canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The international gymnastics body counts qualifiers rankings as final results.

April 15:

– One of the most prestigious cycling competitions, the Tour de France is postponed to Aug. 29 – Sept. 20 for the novel coronavirus.

April 19:

– English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion’s home stadium is converted to a test center so that the novel coronavirus tests can be done in the venue.

April 22:

– The Berlin Marathon – an annual running event since 1974 – is postponed.

April 23:

– UEFA postpones women’s 2021 European football championship (UEFA Women’s EURO 2021) to 2022 due to the pandemic.

– European volleyball confederation CEV cancels 2019-20 volleyball events for the virus.

April 24:

– The 2020 European Athletics Championships due to be held in August in Paris are canceled for pandemic.

– FIFA announces that it would distribute approximately $150 million to the local federations for the fight against the novel coronavirus.

April 27:

– The French Grand Prix in the Formula 1 is canceled due to the virus.

April 30:

– The 2019-20 season in the French top-tier league, Ligue 1 ends amid pandemic as the leaders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are crowned the 2020 champions.

– MAY –

May 1:

– Fenerbahce women’s basketball team star Alina Iagupova is named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the EuroLeague Women season.

May 6:

– Turkish Football Federation (TFF) says the football leagues resume in June 12, 13 and 14.

– Italian football giants Juventus’ Argentine forward Paulo Dybala beats coronavirus. His treatment lasts for 45 days.

May 7:

– Brazilian football club Flamengo says 38 people at the club contract the COVID-19.

May 8:

– IFAB – the International Football Association Board – says that football teams can do five substitutions in a football game until the end of 2020 amid pandemic.

May 11:

– Turkey ends 2019-20 volleyball season with no winners amid pandemic.

– Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) announces that all leagues are concluded without winners and no teams are relegated.

May 15:

– The Belgian football body ends the 2019-20 Pro League as leaders Club Brugge are the 2020 champions in Belgium.

May 16:

– Previously suspended in March, the German top-flight football division Bundesliga resumes the season.

May 18:

– Scottish Premiership football league ends over pandemic as leaders Celtic win the 2020 title.

May 20:

– Turkey cancels 2020 Presidential Cycling Tour amid coronavirus pandemic.

May 25:

– Europe’s top-tier basketball tournament, Turkish Airlines EuroLeague cancels 2019-20 season for coronavirus pandemic.

May 28:

– One of the suspended competitions in Europe for the COVID-19, the English Premier League says that it resumes to play on June 17 behind closed doors.

– Italian Serie A is said to resume on June 20.

May 29:

– Spanish football organizers decides that La Liga will resume on June 11.

– Turkish Super Lig and Turkish Cup matches for the 2019-20 season are said to be played without spectators for health reasons.

May 30:

– US sprinter Bobby Morrow – a triple gold medalist in the 1956 Olympics in Australia’s Melbourne – dies at the age of 84.

– JUNE –

June 1:

– Italian swimmers Fabio Lombini and Gioele Rossetti die in a plane crash in Italy.

June 3:

– UEFA bans Trabzonspor from European competitions for a year as the Turkish club fails to fulfill its financial obligations.

June 12:

– Previously halted due to COVID-19, Turkish Super Lig resumes the 2019-20 season.

June 17:

– Napoli win the 2020 Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) after defeating Juventus 4-2 on penalties in the final.

June 21:

– Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radi dies of the novel coronavirus.

June 24:

– The New York Marathon due to be held in November is postponed to November 2021 for coronavirus.

June 25:

– The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is announced to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

– FIFA announces a $1.5-billion package to minimize the economic damage of the novel coronavirus on football federations.

June 26:

– Liverpool win the 2020 English Premier League title after 30 years.

June 28:

– International basketball body FIBA’s first African chief Abdoulaye Seye Moreau from Senegal dies at the age of 90.

June 29:

– Barcelona sign Juventus’ Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic for €60 million ($67 million).

– Juventus transfer Barcelona’s Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo for €72 million ($80 million) transfer fee.

June 30:

– The Confederation of African Football (CAF) postpones the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon to 2022 as the coronavirus has global impacts.

– JULY –

July 2:

– Spanish basketball club Barcelona name Lithuanian basketball legend Sarunas Jasikevicius their new head coach

July 3:

– Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi scores his 700th goal this week, reaching a new milestone in his storied career.

July 4:

– Bayern Munich win the German Cup, beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

July 5:

– The 2020 Formula 1 season starts with the Austrian Grand Prix after a nearly four-month delay due to the coronavirus outbreak. Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas wins the Austrian GP at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

July 9:

– UEFA confirms that the UEFA Champions League and Europa League’s second leg of their last 16 games would be hosted by the home teams.

July 12:

– NBA is set to return at the end of July as teams arrive at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida this week to return to work.

– Atakas Hatayspor win 2nd-tier TFF First Lig title to promote to the Turkish Super Lig.

July 13:

– UEFA confirms that English Premier League club Manchester City’s two-year ban on participating in UEFA competitions is lifted.

– The Washington Redskins announces they are retiring their nickname, which has long been considered derogatory by Native Americans.

July 16:

– US Olympic sprinter Deajah Stevens gets 18-month ban for missing doping tests.

July 17:

– Real Madrid win their 34th Spanish La Liga title over a 2-1 victory against Villarreal.

– German football player Andre Schurrle announces his retirement from the game. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner last plays for German club Borussia Dortmund.

July 19:

– Turkish football club Galatasaray’s veteran midfielder Selcuk Inan confirms his retirement.

– Medipol Basaksehir clinches their first-ever Turkish Super Lig title after second-place Trabzonspor lost to Konyaspor 4-3.

July 20:

– One of the most prestigious awards for football player of the year, the Ballon d’Or, is not given out in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

July 22:

– Turkish football club Fenerbahce is fined €2 million ($2.3 million) by UEFA for violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

July 24:

– Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are crowned the 2020 French Cup winners, beating Saint-Etienne 1-0 in the final at Stade de France.

July 27:

– England’s Leicester City’s English forward Jamie Vardy, 33, becomes the oldest top scorer in the English Premier League.

July 29:

– The Turkish Football Federation announces that clubs are not relegated to a lower league for the 2019-20 season in the top-tier Turkish Super Lig.

July 30:

– Trabzonspor beat Aytemiz Alanyaspor to win the 2020 Ziraat Turkish Cup.

– Legendary Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo returns to Juventus as the new manager of under-23 team.

July 31:

– Istanbul club Fatih Karagumruk are promoted to Turkish Super Lig after defeating Adana Demirspor in Ankara

– AUGUST –

Aug. 1:

– French football team Lille acquire Turkish forward Burak Yilmaz.

– Arsenal win their 14th English FA Cup by beating Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.

– Italian forward Ciro Immobile is crowned the 2020 Golden Shoe winner. With 35 goals in 36 games, Immobile is the top scorer both in Italy’s Serie A and in Europe.

Aug. 5:

– Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce hire Erol Bulut as their new manager.

– Turkish football side Galatasaray sign their former midfielder Arda Turan.

– Turkey’s Medipol Basaksehir are eliminated in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 after they are beaten by Denmark’s Copenhagen 3-0

Aug. 7:

– The Turkish Basketball Federation confirms that Super League games would be tipped-off on Sept. 26.

Aug. 12:

– France cancels two Paris marathons due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Aug. 15:

– Former Inter Milan midfielder Emre Belozoglu from Turkey announces his retirement from the game. Belozoglu last played for Fenerbahce.

Aug.16:

– Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is named the 2019-20 English Premier League’s Player of the Season.

Aug.19:

– African qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are pushed back until next year due to the pandemic.

Aug. 22:

– Spanish football club Sevilla are crowned the 2020 UEFA Europa League champions over a 3-2 win against Italy’s Inter Milan.

Aug. 24:

– Germany’s Bayern Munich won against France’s Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to claim the 2020 UEFA Champions League title.

Aug. 27:

– NBA postpones three playoff games after the Milwaukee Bucks refuse to take to the court in protest of racial injustice and police brutality after the shooting of a black man in Wisconsin.

The decision to suspend the Game 5 basketball matches between the Bucks and Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder is made “in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor.

Aug. 28:

– The NBA playoff games resume following a series of commitments reached between players and the league after a strike that halted play.

Aug. 29:

– Arsenal win the 2020 English FA Community Shield after defeating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties.

Aug. 30:

– Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic announces his return to Italy’s AC Milan.

– SEPTEMBER –

Sept. 3:

– Turkish league matches are played without spectators in the first half of the 2020-21 season.

Sept. 4:

– Barcelona’s Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi decides to stay at the Spanish side for one more season.

Sept. 14:

– Dominic Thiem wins the 2020 US Open in the men’s singles, beating Alexander Zverev in the epic final in New York.

Sept. 18:

– Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBA 2019-20 season.

Sept. 19:

– Wales international Gareth Bale returns to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Real Madrid.

Sept. 20:

– Tadej Pogacar clinches the Tour de France 2020 while the 107th edition of the competition ends.

Sept. 22:

– NBA icon Michael Jordan and stock car racing driver Denny Hamlin start a new NASCAR Cup Series team to compete for the 2021 season.

Sept. 23:

– Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer alongside Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne are shortlisted for the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award.

Sept. 24:

– UEFA continues to allow teams to make up to five substitutions in club and international games for the remainder of this season.

Sept. 25:

– Spanish football club Atletico Madrid announce the signing of Luis Suarez from La Liga rival Barcelona.

Sept. 29:

– Former Chelsea and Galatasaray forward Didier Drogba is picked as the recipient of the 2020 UEFA President’s Award.

– OCTOBER –

Oct. 1:

– Bayern Munich are crowned the 2020 German Super Cup champions following their 3-2 win against rivals Borussia Dortmund.

– Turkish national basketball team player Cedi Osman is appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

– Bayern Munich’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski wins the 2019-20 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award.

– The UEFA Executive Committee confirms to open the stadiums up to 30% capacity for its organizations after months-long restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Oct. 5:

– English Premier League club Manchester United sign Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani on free transfer.

Oct. 8:

– Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei breaks the men’s 10,000-meter world record at an event in Valencia, Spain. The 24-year-old achieves the milestone at the specially-organized NN Valencia World Record Day.

Oct. 10:

– Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek beats US’ Sofia Kenin to win women’s singles title in 2020 French Open (Roland Garros).

– The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced that clubs are allowed to use executive boxes at 50% capacity.

Oct. 11:

– Spain’s Rafael Nadal wins the men’s singles title at the 2020 French Open after beating Serbian star Novak Djokovic in final.

Oct. 12:

– The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 to win their first NBA Finals in 10 years and clinch their 17th title in franchise history.

Oct. 16:

– Argentine right-back Pablo Zabaleta announces his retirement from football at the age of 35.

Oct. 23:

– French football club Lille’s Turkish midfielder Yusuf Yazici becomes the UEFA Europa League player of the week over his hat-trick against Sparta Prague.

Oct. 26:

– Turkish swimmer Emre Sakci breaks a European record by finishing the men’s 50-meter breaststroke in 25.50 seconds at the International Swimming League in Budapest, Hungary.

– NOVEMBER –

Nov. 1:

– Arsenal defeat Manchester United 1-0 to seal first league win at Old Trafford since 2006.

– Legendary Turkish basketball player and coach Yalcin Granit passes away at the age of 88.

Nov. 6:

– French Ligue 1 side Lille’s Turkish midfielder Yusuf Yazici is named the UEFA Europa League player of the week for the second time after he scores his second hat-trick this season against AC Milan.

Nov. 8:

– Kenya’s Benard Cheruiyot Sang wins 42nd intercontinental Istanbul Marathon men’s title.

– Kenya’s Diana Chemtai Kipyogei seals 42nd intercontinental Istanbul Marathon women’s title.

Nov. 10:

– Turkish swimmer Emre Sakci sets another European record in Budapest, Hungary after finishing men’s 100-meter breaststroke race in the International Swimming League in 55.74 seconds.

Nov. 15:

– Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton from UK secures the 2020 Formula 1 World title in the Turkish Grand Prix with a first-place finish at the Intercity Istanbul Park.

Nov. 16:

– Former Barcelona and Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, 36, retires from football.

Nov. 17:

– The 2020 FIFA Club World Cup is moved to February 2021 as pandemic forces FIFA to pick new dates for this tournament.

Nov. 21:

– American swimmer Caeleb Dressel sets two short-course world records in men’s 100-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle in International Swimming League.

Nov. 25:

– Kawasaki Frontale are crowned the 2020 Japanese champions in football.

– Regarded as one of football’s greatest players ever, Argentine legend Diego Armando Maradona dies of heart failure. Maradona was a beloved Napoli player as he won two Italian Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990 as well as the 1989 UEFA Cup with this club. The 1986 FIFA World Cup winner was 60.

Nov. 29:

– A former Senegalese football player, Papa Bouba Diop, dies at the age of 42.

– DECEMBER –

Dec. 3:

– US Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson passes away at age of 86.

– The Washington Wizards acquire Russell Westbrook from the Houston Rockets in exchange for John Wall and a future lottery-protected first-round pick.

Dec. 4:

– French club Lille’s Turkish forward Burak Yilmaz is named the UEFA Europa League player of the week after he comes off the bench to score twice to secure a 2-1 comeback win for his team over Sparta Prague.

– Italy’s Naples municipality renames Napoli football club’s stadium as it is hereafter called “Diego Armando Maradona Stadium” over the Argentine football legend’s death.

– FIFA names Japan the host nation for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, with an undisclosed date during late winter.

Dec. 8:

– US female tennis player Sofia Kenin is honored by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) with Player of the Year award.

– The Champions League game between PSG and Basaksehir match is paused after Basaksehir head to locker room for alleged racist remarks by 4th official to assistant manager Pierre Webo, the match is rescheduled for next day with a new team of match officials.

Dec. 11:

– Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski are named the Best FIFA Men’s Player award finalists

Dec. 13:

– Turkish gymnasts Ferhat Arican and Ibrahim Colak earned gold medals at European Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Turkey’s Mediterranean port city of Mersin.

– Former Fenerbahce manager Otto Baric dies of the novel coronavirus. The Croatian national, Baric was 88. He manages Fenerbahce during the 1997-98 season.

– Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen wins the last race of the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship in the UAE at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the virus-hit 2020 season ends.

Dec. 14:

– Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier dies at the age of 73. The French national has an aortic surgery in a Paris hospital recently.

Houllier-led Liverpool win the 2001 UEFA Cup and the same year’s UEFA Super Cup.

Officer says voice of God saved him from Nashville explosion; see that moment caught on video

Henry Williams
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Officer says voice of God saved him from Nashville explosion; see that moment caught on video

Nashville police officer James Wells is being hailed as a hero for helping to evacuate people from downtown Nashville moments before a suicidal man detonated a bomb in an RV. Now the officer says God was speaking directly to him and that is what helped save his own life in the process.

Wells sprung into action after arriving on the scene of the suspicious vehicle on Christmas Day. The vehicle was being treated as a possible bomb situation.

In a press conference on Sunday, Wells said he heard the call of Officer Tyler Luellen saying that he needed everyone at the scene on Second Avenue immediately.

Wells and his partner, Officer Amanda Topping, pulled up to the RV, unaware that it was the vehicle in question and would soon cause a massive explosion.

After moving and getting a rescue plan in place which helped many evacuate. He says God saved his own life.

Authorities confirmed that the man suspected of igniting the bomb died in the blast. Civilians sustained injuries but none were fatal.

Wells has only been with the police department for 21 months.

Buhari is not fit for purpose, lacks capacity to tackle insecurity – Rivers Rep, Chinda

Chris Ottah
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Buhari is not fit for purpose, lacks capacity to tackle insecurity – Rivers Rep, Chinda

The lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, says the President Muhammadu Buhari, lacks the capacity to tackle the insecurity currently plaguing the country.

Chinda stated this while speaking at the grand finale of the sensitisation and verification of wards and local government area offices of the Grassroots Development Initiative, a pro-PDP group held in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State.

Chinda explained that his call for Buhari’s impeachment was not out of hatred or anything personal but was for the best interest of Nigerians.

“We do not hate Mr. President. He has done nothing personal to us but we are saying that Mr. President is not fit for purpose.

“If we look at our country and we do nothing and keep quiet because we are afraid or because we want to please people. By the time this country collapses, we will have no other country to go to,” he said.

Earlier, in his remark, President General of GDI, Bright Amaewhule, said the aim of the group was to ensure that only people who have the state at heart are elected into key positions.

U.S. nurse contracts COVID-19 after receiving Pfizer’s vaccine

Emenike Agu
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U.S. nurse contracts COVID-19 after receiving Pfizer’s vaccine

 nurse in California tested positive for COVID-19 more than a week after receiving Pfizer’s vaccine, an ABC News affiliate reported on Tuesday.

A medical expert explained the body needs more time to build up immunity.

Matthew W., 45, a nurse at two different local hospitals, said in a Facebook post on December 18 that he had received the Pfizer vaccine, telling the ABC News affiliate that his arm was sore for a day but that he had suffered no other side effects.
Six days later on Christmas Eve, he became sick after working a shift in the COVID-19 unit, the report added. He got the chills and later came down with muscle aches and fatigue.

He went to a drive-up hospital testing site and tested positive for COVID-19 the day after Christmas, the report said.

Christian Ramers, an infectious disease specialist with Family Health Centers of San Diego, told the ABC News affiliate that this scenario was not unexpected.

“We know from the vaccine clinical trials that it’s going to take about 10 to 14 days for you to start to develop protection from the vaccine,” Ramers said.

“That first dose, we think, gives you somewhere around 50 percent, and you need that second dose to get up to 95 percent,” Ramers added.

(www.newsnow.co.uk)

COVID-19: Lagos warns against crossover services, says defaulters will be fined N500,000

Emenike Agu
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0
COVID-19: Lagos warns against crossover services, says defaulters will be fined N500,000

The Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, warned residents of the state to comply with all restriction measures imposed by the authorities to curb the spread of coronavirus amid the second wave of the pandemic.

In a bid to ensure compliance with COVID-19 measures to curb the spread of the virus, the Lagos State Government has warned residents against flouting the guidelines in place ahead of crossover services on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

The state government announced that residents, who violate the 12 am to 4 am curfew imposed by the Federal Government and other protocols would be fined up to N500,000 when caught.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso while disclosing this in an interview with Newsmen also urged churches to avoid physical crossover services and large gatherings.

Omotoso said, “If you flout any of these rules, you can be fined. You will be taken to court and the magistrate will decide on the sanction. The fine can be between N20,000 and N500,000. It depends on the magistrate’s discretion.about:blank

“But it is not just about punishing people. People are being advised to take responsibility. The regulations were rolled out as an advisory and people have been obeying while people who have disobeyed have faced the consequences.”

Omotoso however, expressed optimism that religious leaders in the state would comply with the state government directive on crossover services.

He said, “With what we have been seeing, I don’t think churches will flout the protocols. CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) is in agreement with the government. COVID cases are going up and everybody is worried. Some of the giant churches have also announced that they won’t be holding physical crossover services.

“The Lagos State Government has also told them that there is a curfew by midnight to 4 am imposed by the Federal Government. Many of the churches have been adjusting their programmes. Churches are well-organised and we believe they will comply.”

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, had said that the commission would work with men of the Lagos State Police Command to enforce all restrictions announced by the government, especially during the New Year period.

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