Another coronavirus case confirmed in Lagos

A third-year-old case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Lagos, Nigeria.

The state’s Commissioner of Health, Akin Abayomi, revealed this at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Her identity is given as a 30-year-Nigerian lady and her case is “independent of the index case”.

She returned from the UK on March 13 and was under self-isolation, where she developed symptoms and eventually tested positive.
This development comes days after the state government confirmed that the second case was now free of the virus.

- DAILY POST

Poverty pushed me into it, says woman used by different pastors for same miracle

Bose Olasunkanmi, a Nigerian woman, who was used by different pastors for the same miracle, says she was pushed into the act by poverty.

In October last year, TheCable Lifestyle had reported how she took centre stage on social media after video clips emerge where she was being used for “fake” miracles by some pastors.
But speaking with The Punch, Olasunkanmi reflected on the events that made her consider such act.

The 44-year-old woman, who hails from Ilesa in Osun state, said her ordeals started after the demise of her mother in 1990.

She revealed that after her mother’s death, she started working with a food vendor to eke out a living.

Olasunkanmi, however, said she had a ghastly accident in 1999, which affected her leg and right hand.

The accident, according to her, led to the termination of her work with the food vendor and made her depart for Igando, a suburb in Lagos, to stay with sister.

In 2003, she got married and had three kids but her husband died on October 3, 2017.

Following her husband’s death, she relocated to her sister’s shop. It was during this period that she met Fatila Musa, a girl, who told her she could make money with the state of her hand, by staging miracles for pastors in churches.

According to her, that kickstarted her foray into churches where she staged fake miracles for different pastors, including Chris Okafor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry.

“If I knew they would put my videos on the social media, I would not do it (the fake miracle),” she said.

“It is poverty that pushed me into it. When my husband died, I could not use my hands to do anything. I am a widow; there was no helper for me. If I knew it would lead to this, I would not have followed the girl (burst into tears).”

- THECABLE

Fresh problems for Ronaldinho with Brazil legend to be investigated for money laundering

Prosecutors will focus on what they believe is a money laundering scheme, involving Brazil football legend Ronaldinho and the businesswoman who invited him to Paraguay.

Investigators will review files and messages on phones belonging to Ronaldinho and his brother and business manager, Roberto Assis.

The lead prosecutor in the case, Osmar Legal, told Reuters he is investigating the link between the brothers and Dalia Lopez.

Lopez, who is a businesswoman, arranged their visit and who met them on arrival at the airport in Asuncion before they were detained.

“She could be involved in a money laundering scheme and that means we have to investigate all the other people that were related to that kind of crime, including Ronaldinho,” Legal said.

“That is why we strictly maintain that he be kept in jail.

“Our principal hypothesis is that they produced false documents, that they used those documents [to enter Paraguay] and that they were eventually going to be used for some commercial means or investments that were not legal.”

Ronaldinho was arrested with his brother on March 6, after attempting to enter Paraguay with a fake passport.

A judge denied them bail or refused to release into house arrest, saying they posed a flight risk.

- DAILY POST

2 Nigerians arrested in India, forced to do coronavirus tests

Two Nigerians, arrested at the weekend in India, for crossing illegally from Bangladesh, were kept in the isolation ward of Karimganj civil hospital in south Assam.

The Nigerians identified as Kanu Kingsby, 28 and Chinedu Nangshu(sic), 30, were brought to Karimganj civil hospital on Sunday for coronavirus test. But they tested negative.
The Telegraph newspaper, quoting the police, said the Nigerians were arrested on the Assam-Tripura border checkpost in Churaibari.

They did not have any valid documents and identity cards and were travelling in a Agartala-Guwahati night super-bus of Swapna Travels (No.AS 01 JC 8052) at Churaibari.

The officer-in-charge of Churaibari checkpost, Mintu Seal, said they had been handed over to nearby Bazaricherra police station and would be produced in court.

The police suspect that they had entered India from the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura illegally.

They told the police that they would sell clothes and perfume in India.

- PM NEWS

DAURA STATE SECURITY : Man who used former SIM card of Buhari’s daughter threatened national security

The Department of State Services (DSS) has told a federal high court in Asaba, Delta state, that Anthony Okolie, the man arrested for using the previous phone line of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, was detained for 10 weeks because his offence threatened national security.

Okolie, who was arrested in July 2019 in Asaba, Upon his release, Okolie sued the DSS, MTN and Hanan Buhari, demanding compensation of N500 million for the violation of his rights.

While opposing the defendant’s case at the resumed court session on Thursday, March 12, E. E Daubry, the DSS counsel, urged the court to uphold Okolie’s detention because “the matter is not expected to be brought to court.”

He said they could not charge the suspect (Okolie) to court because if they did, “classified information” would be divulged.

“The first family is being investigated and that is a national security issue and this representation and misrepresentation were made to people within and outside Nigeria and that warranted a long investigation, his phone had to be analysed,” he said.

“And My Lord, the DSS in performing its responsibility can meet with other agencies because there are other strategic government agencies. My Lord, we have deposed to the fact that classified issues arose in the course of that investigation that made the DSS say ‘no, we cannot go to court with this.’

“We can’t take the applicant to court, cannot file charges. The law requires that if they are staying beyond 48 hours, there must be reasonable circumstances that warrant that. And in this case, we are saying the national security issues that underpin the investigations cannot be revealed to third parties. Now, my lord, if we file under the ACJA that we need an order to keep him in SSS custody, it will mean filing at the registry. Between the registry and when it will be convenient for my lord to hear the application, the information is divulged.

“We urge this court to dismiss this suit with what I call leg-breaking cost.”

However, Tope Akinyode, Okolie’s lawyer, prayed the court to dismiss the submissions of the DSS.

He said: “The applicant was detained for a period of 10 weeks, 10 weeks my lord. I have read all the provisions of the constitution from the beginning to the end and I have never seen an allowance of such under the law. We ordinarily do not need to labour ourselves. it is a clear violation of the applicant’s human rights”.

Akinyode added that MTN should have demanded a court order before disclosing details of his client to the DSS.

Meanwhile, the president’s daughter has since denied the allegation that she asked the DSS to arrest Okolie.

The matter has been adjourned till April 1 for judgment.

- THECABLE

SHITHOLE ! N’assembly security operative ‘beats up’ female journalist

A security operative with the national assembly’s sergeant-at-arms reportedly beat up Lizzy Chirkpi, a journalist with Order Paper, on Monday.

The operative, identified as Labaran Usman, was said to have kicked at the journalist several times after confronting her over where she parked her vehicle.

Umar Lawal, a member of the house of representatives who had attempted to intervene in the incident which occurred at the National Assembly Complex on Monday, was also said to have been shoved by Usman.

TheCable could not immediately reach the operative for comments, but the matter is being investigated by the office of the sergeant-at-arms.

Narrating her ordeal to journalists, Lizzy said she had parked her car behind the green chamber’s park when a vehicle began to honk behind her.

“Then I noticed a man in black jean and T-shirt came to meet me. Immediately, he shouted at me ‘hey, why did you park here?’ and I told him I was waiting for my colleague who went to the press centre to get a camera.

“Just as I was trying to explain he interrupted, ‘no, no madam. I said you can’t park here, this is not a car park,” she said

“And then as I insisted that I would not move my car, not until the person I’m waiting for comes, he went and started deflating my tyres.

“I rushed out of the car to stop him but at that point, he started pushing and kicking because I stopped him from deflating the tyres. He kept pushing and kicking me, saying for questioning his authority, he must deflate the tyres.”

She said the operative also attempted to remove her car keys but a male colleague attempted to stop him.

“He continued to punch me and drag my shirt and at that point, the lawmaker (Umar Muda) who was watching from his car got out and came to my rescue but that did not deter Usman,” she added.

“He even pushed the lawmaker backward and started hauling insults on him.”

While a complaint was later lodged at the office of the sergeant-at-arms, the house press corps also reported the matter to Mohammed Sani-Omolori, clerk of the national assembly.

- THECABLE

FRSC to step up patrol, says rickety vehicles will not be tolerated

Boboye Oyeyemi, corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has directed that patrol operations be stepped up to check increasing violation of traffic regulations.

According to a statement signed by Bisi Kazeem, FRSC’s public education officer, Oyeyemi said patrol officers must ensure strict enforcement for offences like overloading, rickety vehicles, removal of extra lights, and enforcement of compliance on the restriction of motorcycles and tricycles to their designated routes.

He said the directive is geared towards achieving the 2020 corporate strategic goals of minimising the risk of death on the road by reducing road traffic crashes by 15% and fatality by 20%.

“Corps is repositioning, strengthening, and sustaining road safety programmes that are packaged to make our roads safe, and, as such will not tolerate any form of bad driving habit,” Oyeyemi said.

“This operation has become overly relevant owing to the fact that the identified critical offences are major contributors to road traffic crashes with attendant loss of lives and properties.

“Because of this, the Federal Road Safety Corps is determined and committed to this course and must ensure that it stops at nothing when it comes to cleansing our roads of these ills. To this end, violators of traffic laws must desist or face the wrath of the law.”

He said the punishments for perpetrators would include referrals to designated government health facilities for emotional evaluation, payment of fines and compulsory road safety education.

The public was encouraged to report offences through FRSC’s toll-free number, 122, or the national traffic radio, 107.1FM.

- THECABLE

$30m fraud: FBI charges Nigerians, releases names

United States Federal agents have nabbed 24 individuals for their involvement in a large-scale fraud and money laundering.

13 Nigerians are part of the gang.

The scam targeted citizens, corporations, and financial institutions throughout the United States.

It involved Business Email Compromise schemes, romance fraud scams, and retirement account scams, among others.

A statement by the US Department of Justice noted that affected persons and companies lost more than $30 million.

U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak., said: “Fraud schemes, like the ones perpetrated and facilitated by these defendants, inflict considerable losses on citizens, companies, and the financial system.”

Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said: “There is no way we can make the victims of these schemes, many who have lost their life savings, whole again. Hopefully the arrests and pending prosecutions will at least give them solace that someone is being held accountable for their losses.”

Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Atlanta Field Offic assured that the U.S. SS will continue to collaborate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and others to America.

Persons charged with money laundering are Blessing Oluwatimilehin Ojo, Afeez Olaide Adeniran, Matthan Bolaji Ibidapo, Obinna Nwosu, Benjamin Ibukunoluwa Oye, Christopher Akinwande Awonuga.

Others are Ahamefule Aso Odus, Paul Chinonso Anyanwu, Chineda Obilom Nwakadu, Chukwukadibia Ikechukwu Nnadozie, Uchechi Chidimma Odus, John Ifeoluwa Onimole, Oluwafunmilade Onamuti.

The statement added that Afeez Olaide Adeniran and Blessing Ojo are also charged with wire fraud.

Adeniran allegedly defrauded a homebuyer of $40,000 intended for a real estate transaction.

Ojo scammed a media company in California of $89,140 to a bank account controlled by one of the defendants.

-DAILY POST

Coronavirus: UEFA set to conclude Champions League, Europa League in four days

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will consider a plan that would see the Champions League and Europa League finish in just four days following the coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

DAILY POST recalls that both the Champions League and Europa League fixtures have been postponed this week.
The quarter-final draw for both tournaments, which were scheduled to be held on Friday, has also been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UEFA is yet to decide when the fixtures will be played, but all the major league in Europe, including the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 have all suspended their domestic fixtures until April.
However, according to the Daily Telegraph, UEFA is now seriously deliberating whether it would be possible to play the semi-finals and the final over a four-day window in Istanbul.

The newspaper reports that the proposal would also apply to the Europa League, with the final due to be held in Gdansk, Poland.

Many conference calls are due to be held by UEFA on Tuesday to discuss various proposals.

- DAILY POST

Minimum wage: Organized Labour issues 7-day ultimatum

The Organized Labour in Rivers State has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Rivers State government to meet up its demand or face industrial action.

The seven-day ultimatum, which began on Monday, March 16, 2020 followed an extensive deliberation of both the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Councils one, two and three of the Rivers state councils in Port Harcourt.

Labour’s announcement is contained in a statement signed by the state Secretaries of NLC, Comrade Matthew Olabe and Comrade Prince Ndukwe of the TUC as well as their Joint public service negotiating council 1, 2 and 3, Comrade Opuwari Ogbada.

The organized labour expressed displeasure; “On the non-seriousness of the state government to resolve the issues in contention despite the window of opportunities offered by the state leadership in view of the intervention of the national leadership.

“Some of the contending issues to include, the reconvening of the negotiating team on the implementation of the new national minimum wage, non- implementation of promotion and annual incremental benefits since the inception of the present administration in 2015, payment of outstanding salary arrears to some workers for February and March 2016 and October 2017, nonpayment of pension and gratuity to pensioners, disappearance of the one hundred million Naira workers revolving housing/car loan scheme and the immediate removal of the retired head of service and other retired heads of ministries, departments and agencies.

“Failure of the state government to demonstrate seriousness in addressing the above issues at the expiration of the seven days ultimatum with effect from Monday 16th March 2020 it will have no option than to embark on an indefinite strike action without further notice from midnight of Monday 23rd March 2020.”

-DAILY POST

I’m now officially a woman – Bobrisky

Nigerian internet personality Bobrisky, known for his/her presence on the social media app Snapchat has officially come out to say he is now officially a woman.

Although Bob has since deleted the post, we culled it here for you. Nigeria is a country with no LGBT rights, so we wonder if the appropriate authorities will act on this information.

In 2014, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill that criminalizes same-sex relationships, defying western pressure over gay rights and provoking US criticism.

The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the national assembly in May of the same year of which Jonathan signed it into law.

“Persons who enter into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union commit an offense and are each liable on conviction to a term of 14 years in prison,” the bill says.

“Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offense and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison.”

Read more about the bill on The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/13/nigerian-president-signs-anti-gay-law

Amazon to recruit 100,000 as coronavirus expands online orders

Amazon.com Inc said it would hire 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers in the United States to deal with a surge in online orders, as many consumers have turned to the web to meet their needs during the coronavirus outbreak.

With shoppers clearing out shelves in fear of quarantines or product shortages, retailers are racing to keep food and hygienic items in stock and have employees on hand for in-store work or delivery.

Like Amazon, U.S. supermarket chains Albertsons, Kroger and Raley’s have sought new hires to staff busy sections and fulfil online orders. They are turning to people in the restaurant, travel and entertainment businesses who are suddenly looking for work because of the coronavirus.

“We want those people to know we welcome them on our teams until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back,” Amazon said in a blog post.

 Major shipper United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) said its trucking and air deliveries were still on despite growing government restrictions on commercial activities. It said Monday it was meeting demand with its existing workforce.

The coronavirus, which has led to more than 7,100 deaths globally and prompted mass lockdowns of people, has also led to items being out of stock on Amazon and some deliveries taking longer than usual.

Amazon’s headcount fluctuates seasonally, recently peaking for the holiday quarter at 798,000 full and part-time workers. It was not immediately clear how many people Amazon would employ after it hires 100,000 more.

To draw new employees, Amazon said it would add $2 to its minimum $15 per hour to U.S. workers’ wages through April. The extra pay for hourly employees in North America and Europe is expected to cost more than $350 million, Amazon said.

Meanwhile, other retailers facing long queues are making pitches for talent, too.

It was not clear if there would be any impact on delivery operations from new government restrictions. In the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday, officials said people must stay at home except for some essential purposes, such as work for “businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences.”

- PM NEWS

WHO :26 African countries have coronavirus cases

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, said there are now Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 26 African countries and there have been six COVID-19-related deaths.

The UN health agency said this in its regional official twitter account @WHOAFRO.

The agency said Government of Benin on Monday confirmed the country’s first case of COVID-19, a 49-year-old male of Burkinabe nationality, who entered Benin on March 12.

“Over the weekend, Central African Republic, Eswatini, Rep of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles announced first cases.”

Egypt has 166 coronavirus cases, the highest in Africa. It is followed by South Africa, with 64 cases, Algeria 60, Tunisia 20, Senegal 24, Cameroon 3.

WHO however reported two cases for Nigeria, when the Nigerian authorities said only one case, the first index case of a man from Milan, Italy remains.

 Burkina Faso has 7 cases, Togo 1, DRC 3, Cote d’Ivoire 5, Ghana 2, Gabon 1,Kenya 3, Ethiopia 4, Guinea 1, Rwanda 5, Namibia 2, Equatorial Guinea 1, Seychelles 2, CAR 1, Congo 1, Mauritania 1, Eswatini 1, Liberia 1, Sudan 1.’’

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said “With COVID-19 officially declared a pandemic, all countries in Africa must act.

“Every country can still change the course of this pandemic by scaling up their emergency preparedness or response.

“Cases may still be low in Africa and we can keep it that way with robust all-of-government actions to fight the new coronavirus.”

According to her, containment remains the most appropriate strategy for African countries.

Apart from South Africa and Algeria – which have clusters of transmission linked to imported cases – the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa are sporadic importations from European countries, mainly Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

- PM NEWS