The Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, on Tuesday said that it had suspended passport processing for Nigerians in different Canadian communities, to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The commission said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the suspension was indefinite.

It said that it would however continue to issue Emergency Travel Certificates (ETC) and visas to applicants that needed to travel urgently.

“This measure is in line with the Canadian government’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s guideline of ‘social distancing’ as a ‘community mitigation strategy’ to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“It is a conscious effort by government to reduce contact between people and hopefully stem community transmission of the virus.

“Applicants for ETC and visas should, as usual, forward their applications by mail, attaching the relevant documents.

“The ETC or visa would be processed and mailed back to the applicants accordingly,” the statement read in part.

The commission therefore enjoined Nigerians in Canada to adhere to the COVID-19-related guidelines provided by Canadian health authorities in their communities.

NAN reports that Canada recorded no fewer than 324 confirmed cases and four deaths from Coronavirus across the provinces on Monday.

The confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada on Monday compelled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to announce the closure of the country’s borders to non-citizens or non-permanent residents.

Canada’s new measure was however not directed at citizens of the United States, where about 4,482 confirmed cases and 86 fatalities from Coronavirus was reported on Tuesday.

The U.S. has also shut its borders especially against European countries.

(NAN)

In the true spirit of reconciliation, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday said despite the various contestations that gripped the party in recent times, the party will bounce back stronger and better.

Addressing members of the National Working Committee (NWC) which had in attendance members of both pro and anti-Oshiomhole groups, the chairman said the NWC of the party is united.

According to him, “despite what we have passed through, this NWC is not divided.”

The chairman, who admitted that the party may have gone through some challenges and disagreement, argued that the action and inaction of NWC members were not to destroy the party but for its progress.

He then urged members of the NWC to put all that happened behind them in order for the party to forge ahead.

Oshiomhole who went philosophical noted that God must have allowed the party to pass through the recent travails in order to teach everyone a lesson and for everyone to readjust their disposition towards their responsibilities.

“I think that God is never wrong, He has allowed what has happened to happen so that we all can learn, everybody re-examine his conscience, strengthen those bonds of friendship, bonds of solidarity and work as a family.”

Extending olive branch to his opponent, Oshiomhole admitted that he may not have been the best chairman, but pointed out that nobody can fault his sincerity of purpose stressing that in the interest of peace he was prepared to reconcile his style of leadership.

“I am the first to admit that I am not the best chairman in the world and I will never be. But no one can fault the sincerity of my purpose. My style can only be my style. But, I recognise that I must reconcile my style to others so that we can meet in the middle of the road.”

The chairman then commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for granting listening hears to those who approached him with a view to ensuring that our party remains on course.

#WATCH: The moment National Chairman of @OfficialAPCNg, Adams Oshiomhole, walked into the venue of the NWC meeting. pic.twitter.com/LUJxoFZ5aF

— TVC News (@tvcnewsng) March 17, 2020

He also expressed appreciation to the role APC Governors played in resolving the party crisis.

He said the attendance at the NWC meeting would shut the mouth of detractors who thought NWC members will be coming to fight. “I wear no boxing gloves. I wanted to wear complete white to send a message of peace. And, I think everybody came here with a good heart and may God see us through this moment. We are going to bounce back stronger and better.”

The chairman arrived the party Secretariat at about 12:50 pm to the waiting hands of some loyal party members, APC States Chairmen who came in solidarity with the chairmen. No fewer than 17 States Chairmen were on ground to welcome him.

On arrival, the chairman went straight into his office where he held a brief meeting with some loyal members of the NWC before moving into the Conference room of his office for the meeting.

The acting national Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom who arrived the Secretariat as early as 11:27 am had earlier packed his car at the parking space meant for the national secretary before he took the seat of the national secretary during the meeting as Arc. Waziri Bulama who was nominated for the post was not in attendance.

The National Deputy Chairman, North, Alhaji Lawan Shuaibu was equally absent at the meeting.

The pro-Oshiomhole NWC group at the meeting include, Chief Abiola Ajumobi, National Deputy Chairman, the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Prince Hillard Eta, national legal adviser, Babatunde Ogala, National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibiduro, National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Woman Leader, Salamatu Hassan Beiwa, Acting National Auditor, Paul Chuwkuma, National Treasurer, Abu Adamu Fanda, National Welfare Officer, Ibrahim Masari and Special (physically challenged) Leader, Misbau Didi.

The anti-Oshiomhole group at the meeting had, the acting National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, National Vice Chairman South-West, Pst. Bankole Oluwajana, National Vice Chairman, North East, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Deputy Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, National Vice Chairman, North West, Inuwa Abdikkadir.

A chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos, Prince Hammed Olanrewaju Muhammed has slammed those members of the party who are caling for the removal of Adams Oshiomhole as the Chairman of the party.

Prince Muhammed, who is the Senatorial Youth Leader, Lagos Central Senatorial District, told P.M. EXPRESS in an interview that it makes no sense calling for the removal of Oshiomhole at this time when all hands supposed to be on deck to rally round him to succeed.

“How can any right thinking person decide to rock a boat that has been sailing smoothly and how can disgruntled minority think they can have their way and silence the majority? I don’t think this is good for our democracy.

“We stand by our party and we stand by the position of our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on this issue that no matter what status quo must remain the same.

“Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has done nothing wrong to justify the injustice being meted on him by all the enemies within the party. In whose interest are they doing this? I believe they are doing this for their own greedy and selfish interest.

“The Anti Oshiomhole are anti progress, they don’t have the love of our party and that of the nation in their hearts. They just want to destroy the structures of APC and derail the programmes and agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari for the country. They are fighting for 2023 in 2020.
” Nigerians should know that these people are out to destroy the country, ” Prince Muhammed said

Mavin Records star, Korede Bello has released the much talked about video to his hit single ‘Sunmomi’ on Friday, March 13.

The superstar, who broke the internet a month ago when he debuted a new look and released the audio version of the song ‘Sunmomi’, has enjoyed massive airplay and positive sentiments with many praising his artistic genius and melodious tune.

Directed by popular music video director Moe Musa, the video for ‘Sunmomi’ boasts colourful lighting and shows Korede Bello in a vivacious mood, delivering his smooth lyrics in a steady flow; reiterating the love he has for the African woman.

Since the release of the video, fans have shown excitement and have lauded the singer for dropping the video in a timely manner.

Korede Bello - Sun Momi (Official Music Video) – 02:48
— KOREDE BELLO

One fan on Instagram wrote, “I have seen the video, I love the lighting and Korede is just a pure talent. This is a must watch.”

‘Sunmomi’ is Korede Bello’s first single in 2020 and an addition to the singer’s catalogue of hit songs which include, Romantic, Godwin, Do Like That, Mr Vendor, Melanin Poppin and others.

The All Progressives Congress National Working Committee members are cutrrently meeting behind closed doors at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Only moments ago, national Chairman of the party led others present into the national working committee hall.

Among early arrivals for the meeting are the Deputy NAtional Chairman South South, the new deputy national chairman South west Abiola Ajimobi and Suspended NAtional Chairman North West Inuwa Abdul Kadir.

In his opening remark, Oshiomhole acknowledged challenges within the system, but said they are not.

“We come from different background, but bonded by a shared vision of building a party that is pro- people. What binds the party together is more than the present crisis.

“We should re-examine ourselves, put on thinking caps and come up with ways to strengthen the party.

“Let’s put whatever happened behind us, and find time to generate ideas that will help the government in governance, something that concern Nigerians not individual interest,” Oshiomhole advised.

The Supreme Court has adjourned till a yet to be announced date, its decision in a application by the Abdulaziz Yari faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for a review of its May 24, 2019 judgement in the intra-party dispute in the Zamfara APC.

The Supreme Court had, in the judgement, held among others, that the APC did not hold valid primaries preparatory to the 2019 general elections, voided its (the party’s) victory in the elections and made a consequential order, directing the party with the second highest scores in the election to claim the victory.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State benefited from the effect of the consequential order.

But, in an application argued on Tuesday by the lawyer to the Yari faction of the Zamfara APC, Robert Clarke (SAN) prayed the court to review the consequential order, on the grounds that it was wrongly made.

Clarke argued that the order the Supreme Court ought to make was that directing the APC and INEC to conduct fresh primaries and elections in Zamfara State, instead of voiding the party’s victory.

He argued that, by the consequential order, the Supreme Court made it possible for the PDP, which was not a party in the Zamfara APC’s intra-party dispute, to benefit from the outcome of the dispute.

In a counter-argument, lawyer to the Senator Kabir Marafa. faction of the APC in Zamfara, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the application with punitive cost.

Ozekhome argued that, not only is the application without merit, it constitutes an abuse of the process of the court.

He added that, with the recent two decisions of the Supreme Court, in the governorship disputes in Bayelsa and Imo states, the applicant ought not to have quietly withdrew the application.

Ozekhome prayed the court to dismiss the application with punitive cost.

After listening to the lawyers, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, who led a five-man panel that heard the application, announced that the court’s decision is reserved until a date to be communicated to parties.

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said another case of the deadly Coronavirus has been recorded in Lagos, bringing to three the cases recorded in Nigeria.

According to Lagos Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, the new case of Coronavirus is a 30-year-old Nigerian woman, a member of Non- Government Organization community, who travelled from UK to Lagos on 13th of March, 2020.

“She is now in isolation and receiving care at Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.

“Red circle Contact tracing of all passengers and all those who may have come in contact with this latest case has commenced,” he said.

Breaking!
Third case of #COVID19NIGERIA confirmed in Lagos.
- This is a new case independent of the index case
- 30 year old Nigerian, female
- Returned from the UK on 13th March
- Observed self-Isolation, developed symptoms
- Tested positive
- Now at Mainland GH receiving care pic.twitter.com/f8osZk4Ba4

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 17, 2020

Abayomi said the woman travelled to the UK and came back on March 13 on British Airways 75.

He explained that the woman went into self-isolation and was only in contact with her family.

Abayomi added that the woman lived with her parents, saying that the entire family had been moved to the IDH, Yaba for isolation to see if they would develop symptoms of the virus.

The commissioner said while the woman had been moved to isolation I ward for treatment, those who boarded the plane with her would be traced.

He said people in the flight with the woman should contact the government for appropriate advice on what to do.

According to him, government would be doing aggressive contact tracing .

He said the woman was doing well as she did not need serious care at the moment, saying she was calm and comfortable.

Pastor Chris Okafor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, aka Liberation City, Ojodu Berger, Lagos has dissociated himself from claims of performing fake miracle on a woman, Bose Olasunkanmi, alleged to have been paid for the purpose.

Five pastors, including Pastor Okafor, were alleged to have paid and used same woman with disfigured arm to perform similar fake miracle.

The news of the fake miracle supposedly performed on the woman with disfigured hand trended on the social media and some national dailies recently.

Pastor Okafor, while addressing reporters in Lagos on Monday through his couansel, Monday Ubani, denied claims that the woman was paid N400,000 for the miracle.

He maintained that the money given to the woman was to empower her start a new life.

According to the pastor, “The recent story in a national daily and online platforms that the sum of N400, 000 was paid to her for a fake miracle is not true.

“The lady in question came to church like every other person and the said programme through which she was healed was shown on a live television and there was nothing to hide because it was not only the woman that was healed.

“The church is not new, it’s been in existence over 10 years and the members who keep increasing have experienced the touch of God one way or the other. So there was no issue of arranging any miracle to anybody”, he said.

On the money paid to the woman, Pastor Okafor said when the news broke, it was discovered that the woman had been going to other churches and that when confronted, she said it was poverty that made her do it and because she is a widow.

Bandits have kidnapped three candidates after writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Kaduna

The candidates were abducted on Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road on Saturday.

The driver of a former House of Representatives member, Adamu Shekarau, was also kidnapped.

Police in the state confirmed the incident on Monday, adding that a one- and-half-year-old was among the abductees.

Police spokesman Muhammad Jalige said police were on the trail of the bandits.

He gave the names of the kidnapped UTME candidates as Yusuf Sani, Ummi Sani and Umairah Mustapha.

Jalige said, “Yes, there was an attack on Saturday on Birnin-Gwari Road. The driver of the vehicle was shot to death and four other people were kidnapped. The incident happened around a village called Ungwan Yako.

“Three of the kidnapped victims are candidates who came to Kaduna to write UTME exam. They were on their way back when the incident happened. “The police around the area engaged the criminals and recovered their motorcycle. We are still on the trail of the criminals.

“Also, the Commissioner has directed for more deployments on the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road and one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) has been deployed to that area. The APC is just about to leave the police headquarters now to the place.”

An embittered husband, Mr. Ojo Owoeye, has narrated to the Court how his wife, Bola, dumped him and opted to sleeping with his younger brother for her sexual satisfaction.

According to P.M.EXPRESS reports, Mr. Ojo, who is a timber contractor, was the defendant in a divorce suit filed by his wife, Mrs. Bola Owoeye, at the Akoko Customary Court, Ondo State.

He said that their 16-year old marriage crashed after his estranged wife, Bola, started sleeping with men outside including his younger brother and he deliberately abandoned her.

Bola had approached the Court to dissolve her 16-year-old marriage to Mr. Ojo for lack of care for her and her three children.
However, Ojo, who agreed to the dissolution, said he intentionally abandoned his wife because she was fond of sleeping around with different men including his younger brother.

The defendant, Mr. Ojo, said he reported his wife and his younger brother to his mother-in-law but the latter pacified him. He added that his younger brother also denied having extra marital affairs with Bola.

“My lord, there was a time that I came home from a journey at about 9pm and met my wife unclad with only her wrapper around her chest, sitting on my younger brother’s lap,” Ojo said.

He also told the Court that at a point he had to destroy his wife’s mobile phone when he discovered she often received calls from other men.

The President of the Court, Chief Maku Awe, then noted that the marriage has broken irretrievably and dissolved the marriage.

He ruled that the two were free to go their separate ways and remarry, granting the custody of the first and last children, who are 16 and four years old, to the mother.The second child, a nine-year-old female, was given to the father.

The Court also ordered that Mr. Ojo should be paying the sums of N3,000 and N2,000 as monthly feeding allowances for the children in the custody of his ex-wife.

Culled from PM Express