A staffer of the World Health Organisation, Bauchi State Office has tested positive for coronavirus, The PUNCH reports.

The new case brings the total number of active cases in the state to two.

The Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Bauchi about 5.20 pm on Sunday.

Responding to enquiries, he said the result of the patient was gotten in the state at 4.00 pm on Sunday from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja.

He said the WHO staffer returned to Bauchi after having close contact with a positive case in Kano State.

Mohammed told The PUNCH, “Yes, it is true, we have an additional case in the state, the result was sent to me around 4 pm today. He is the contact of a positive patient in Kano.

“He is a staff of WHO in Bauchi but we don’t want to mention his name because it is against the ethics of the medical profession. He went to Kano and had contact with a Professor in Kano that is positive.

“He started having symptoms three days ago, then yesterday (Saturday) we took his samples and sent it to Abuja for confirmation and it was returned this afternoon. It is positive.

“We have decontaminated the UNICEF and the WHO offices and sealed them. We have taken samples of seven people he had close contact with. They are about 15 contacts that we are tracing and we are going to take their samples.”

Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele has broken the silence since she was convicted with her husband on 6 April for holding a birthday party amidst Coronavirus lockdown in Lagos.

The actress was arrested by the police on 5 April and arraigned at the Ogba Magistrate Court along with her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz the following day.

They were sentenced to 14-day community service and fined N100,000 each for the offence.

Since then, she had remained silent until few days ago when she uploaded a new photo on her Instagram page.

#covid19 is real!!! Let’s all #StayatHome and #staysafe #thiswillpass by the grace of God!! pic.twitter.com/8dUytmTuea

— funke Akindele Bello (@funkeakindele) April 19, 2020

But on Sunday, Akindele released a video on Twitter, charging all to join the battle against Coronavirus by observing strictly the rules of social distancing.

“Thank you so much for all the love, supports, feedback support, I really appreciate, this past few weeks have been a learning time, but we must keep moving forward,

“My dear friend, Coronavirus is real, we all must continue to collaborate with the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government by staying at home, staying safe and wash our hands regularly and maintain social distancing to contain the virus.

“A lot us are so used to ourselves that we fail to maintain social distancing, but trust me, it is very important at this time, social distancing will help to curb spread of Coronavirus, prevention is better than cure, my heart goes out to those who had lost love ones.

“To our health workers, we can’t tank you enough, I pray this pandemic will pass us soon, those living in fear and uncertainty daily, we are in this together, let us stay at home and stay safe,” she said.

The deadly Coronavirus has killed an 83-year old woman in Lagos, with the total death from the disease now put at 14.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this on his twitter handle on Sunday.

He said Lagos had recorded one more death, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 14.

Abayomi said the deceased was a female, aged 83 with underlying health issues.

“Lagos recorded 1 death, bringing total number of #COVID19 related deaths in Lagos to 14.

“The deceased is a female, aged 83 with underlying health issues.

Let’s observe Social Distancing and stay home to stop the transmission of COVID-19 infection,” he said.

#COVID19Lagos update as at 18th of April, 2020

☑️23 new #COVID19 cases confirmed in Lagos.
☑️The total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases in Lagos is now 309.
☑️4 #COVID19 patients were discharged as at 18th of April bringing the total discharged cases to 94.@jidesanwoolu pic.twitter.com/zBxwoTgZOn

— Prof. Akin Abayomi (@ProfAkinAbayomi) April 19, 2020

☑️Lagos recorded 1 death, bringing total number of #COVID19 related deaths in Lagos to 14.

☑️The deceased is a female, aged 83 with underlying health issues.

Let’s observe #SocialDistancing and #StayHome to stop the transmission of #COVID19 infection #ForAGreaterLagos

— Prof. Akin Abayomi (@ProfAkinAbayomi) April 19, 2020

The Commissioner added that as at Saturday, Lagos had 23 new COVID-19 cases confirmed, with the total number now 309.

“Four COVID-19 patients were discharged as at 18th of April bringing the total discharged cases to 94,” he said.

Sacked Kano State Commissioner for Works, Muaz Magaji has opened up on his sack and denied that he celebrated the death of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

Magaji was sacked on Saturday by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for celebrating the death of Abba Kyari.

In several, now deleted, FaceBook posts, Magaji gloated over Kyari’s demise, describing it as freedom for Nigeria.

“Win win… Nigeria is free and Abba Kyari has died in the epidemic… the death of a martyr… if he is a believer, the person is complete,” Magaji wrote.

In a subsequent post, the commissioner said the office of the chief of staff to the President is too powerful and it should be broken into two.

“For the good of Nigeria and Mr President… The CoS office should be split… A PPS (principal private secretary) and a humble manager of his office as CoS… It is currently too powerful for a non-elected official.”

However, he issued a statement on Sunday on his Facebook page, saying he never celebrated the death of Abba Kyari.

“Assalamualaikum, dear people of Kano and Nigeria at large, I want to sincerely clear up what a lot of people may have misunderstood and set the record straight. As a Muslim and a patriotic Nigerians, I was only misunderstood by people to think that I celebrated Kyari’s death, the truth is I did not.

“Not only that, I made several posts mourning Kyari’s death on my same facebook account and through my special assistants but the general public couldn’t commend such or claim I did such post, rather tend to capitalize on a full-phrase post that is given another set of definition and direction as well as negativity in other to tarnish my reputable image as a member of H.E. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Administration and his loyalist and that of our National Party APC.

“The use of “win win phrase” is basically an attempt to explain the Islamic Promise on the people that died as a result of any kind of pandemic. The late Mallam Abba Kyari was privileged to die as a result of Covid-19,making him among the beneficiaries in Islam. He is conferred with the automatic privilege of martyrdom.

“Our Rasul S. A. W assured on the path of martyrdom in Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad wal-Siyar. Even Sheik Isah Ali Pantami has taken time to explain more of this..By this, the death of Mallam Abba Kyari is a big win for him, which is almost the dream of every Muslim,” he said.

He added that “on the other hand, Nigeria equally has the opportunity to restructure the office of the Chief of Staff, where I called Mr President to ensure that we can utilize the pandemic challenges into more strengths, by disintegrating the power of the office for a rapid administrative flow, which over and above anything, our constitutional democracy is meant to achieve and function so often.

“However, in an emotional reaction to my posting, agents around the office of the Chief of staff misunderstood my whole meaning, infuriated from the loss of their benefactor, as such petitioned my principal His Excellency Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the Governor of Kano State, they twisted the narrative with explanation completely out of context and lacing it with religious and cultural connotations that made it necessary for our Principal the Executive Governor to show leadership and solidarity with the dead by relieving me off my position in Kano State as his Commissioner of Works and Infrastructural.”

Magaji said he was confident that the governor must make such a difficult decision as a conditional sacrifice to appease the aggrieved individuals who were aggrieved, especially from their loss and that he understood the difficulty of the circumstances, both from misunderstanding his post, to the Governor’s decision and in general the pains of people in Abuja.

According to him, “Wholeheartedly, I want to use this opportunity to reiterate that as a devout Muslim, I could not have celebrated the death of any human being; because its against my culture, social civilization and most importantly the teaching of my religion.

“I equally want to appeal to all people, especially those in Kano to give people the benefit of doubts by accepting their explanation on what they actually and truly mean by themselves. I sincerely apologised for any misunderstood action, reaction and inactions, we are all in a difficult times that anxiety, worries and depression makes understanding and misunderstanding becomes difficult.

“I am so sorry for any pain I may have caused both the families of the late chief of staff and my boss His Excellency Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. I am forever loyal to my boss; the Governor of Kano State and indebted to all the people of Kano state.

“I want to plentifully remain grateful to His Excellency for the opportunity he gave me to serve my state under his administration and I am pleased to leave not on account of fraud, insubordination, dishonesty, treachery, disloyalty, betrayal, act of incompetence or undermining the government or the people of Kano; but due to this unfortunate misunderstanding and miscommunication of my Facebook post.

“I assure you that everyone will calmly understand my meaning by revisiting everything I’ve said. I am only humane, perfection is never part of our creation,” he said.

The Rivers State Government has released the 22 Staff of Exxon Mobil arrested for violating the State Executive Order restricting movement in the state.

The 22 Staff of Exxon Mobil were released from the State Isolation Centre at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday morning according to Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State, Professor Zaccheus Adangor.

However, Professor Zaccheus Adangor, noted that they were released without charges.

The 22 staff were arrested for entering the state on Thursday, 16 April.

Their actions violated the border closure ordered by Governor Nyesom Wike.

The Governor, in a statement, on Friday vowed that the 22 staff of the American oil firm would be prosecuted.

However, the Attorney-General said the State Government will no longer press charges against them.

He said the decision followed the interventions of well-meaning Nigerians.

The Attorney-general, however, noted that Rivers State remains committed to implementing the Executive Order issued to check the spread of coronavirus.

General Overseer, Redeemed Christians Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has predicted that the deadly Coronavirus pandemic will soon end in Nigeria and Africa.

In his sermon on Sunday, Adeboye said the journey to normalcy has begun in Nigeria.

He said the journey to normalcy might not be very rapid or sudden, but that it would be gradual.

“Return journey to normalcy has started, I am believing that your pastors will soon return to their normal duties. Maybe at most, I will spend one more Sunday with you after which the pastors will be back to their duties in Jesus Name.

“The return journey to normalcy might not be very rapid or sudden, it might be gradual but it will be steady. I sincerely hope that when the battle is over, we will remember to give all the glory to God.

“We thank God for the government and the efforts they have made, I believe they have done creditably well,” he said.

The man of God warned Nigerians not to travel out in a hurry once normalcy had returned.

“Coronavirus will soon decline in Africa. I urge you to avoid traveling out of Nigeria for 2 months.

“We have entered the declining stage for coronavirus, let’s endeavour to maintain hygiene and stay home,” he said.

Forty-nine new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;

23 in Lagos
12 in FCT
10 in Kano
2 in Ogun
1 in Oyo
1 in Ekiti

As at 10:40 pm 18th April there are 542 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.

Discharged: 166
Deaths: 19

Forty-nine new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;

23 in Lagos
12 in FCT
10 in Kano
2 in Ogun
1 in Oyo
1 in Ekiti

As at 10:40 pm 18th April there are 542 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.

Discharged: 166
Deaths: 19#TakeResponsibility pic.twitter.com/W63s32Iuj7

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 18, 2020

As at 10:40 pm 18th April, number of states with confirmed cases of #COVID19: 19 + FCT

Lagos- 306
FCT- 81
Kano- 37
Osun- 20
Oyo- 16
Edo- 15
Ogun- 12
Kwara- 9
Katsina- 9
Bauchi- 6
Kaduna- 6
Akwa Ibom- 6
Delta- 4
Ekiti- 4
Ondo- 3
Enugu- 2
Rivers-2
Niger- 2
Benue- 1
Anambra- 1

As at 10:40 pm 18th April, number of states with confirmed cases of #COVID19: 19 + FCT

Lagos- 306
FCT- 81
Kano- 37
Osun- 20
Oyo- 16
Edo- 15
Ogun- 12
Kwara- 9
Katsina- 9
Bauchi- 6
Kaduna- 6
Akwa Ibom- 6
Delta- 4
Ekiti- 4
Ondo- 3
Enugu- 2
Rivers-2
Niger- 2
Benue- 1
Anambra- 1

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 18, 2020

Forty four of the 58 Boko Haram terrorists captured recently by Chadian forces have died in prison.

Reports said the detainees took a lethal substance that produced ‘a heart rhythm disorder’.

Youssouf Tom, the public prosecutor announced this to the N’Djamena High Court on Saturday, the Chadian news platform, alwihdainfo.com reported.

All the detainees were arrested by the army during the offensive against Boko Haram in Lac region.

They were brought to N’Djamena as part of the counter-terrorism investigation.

“As of the 14th of this month, following the fighting against the Boko Haram sect in the Lake Chad region, 58 men were taken prisoner and brought to N’Djamena for judicial investigations,” said the prosecutor.

“Thursday morning, a new drama was announced to us by the jailers that 44 of the prisoners died in their cells,” he added.

“40 were buried, the other four bodies were turned over to a medical examiner who made an autopsy report.

“The report reveals that there was a consumption of a lethal substance having produced a heart rhythm disorder in some, severe asphyxiation in others, ” said Youssouf Tom.

The investigation continues to “determine the exact cause of this tragedy”, while a toxicological and anatomopathological analysis is planned.

COVID 19: UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AT GUDU CEMETERY

The Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA has noted with concern the video trending on social media, showing a man pulling off his PPE unprofessionally after participating in the burial of the late Malam Abba Kyari.

They released a memo to that effect.

COVID 19: UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AT GUDU CEMETERY

The Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA has noted with concern the video trending on social media, showing a man pulling off his PPE unprofessionally after participating in the burial of the late Malam Abba Kyari. pic.twitter.com/xu6zVrwWZb

— Official FCTA (@OfficialFCTA) April 18, 2020

A suspected COVID-19 patient who had reportedly sneaked into the state from a neighbouring state has been found and taken to an isolation centre in Amachara hospital, Umuahia.

The suspect, identified as Vincent, was first seen around 153, Azikiwe Road, Umuahia, from where he allegedly disappeared.

After his disappearance, the state Ministry of Health, in partnership with the State Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 declared him wanted, calling on those who have had contact with him to call the committees hotline or the state commissioner for health.

But today, the missing case was arrested and taken to the isolation centre at Amachara General Hospital in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Abia State Commissioner for Information John Okiyi Kalu said that specimen had been obtained from the suspect and taken to Ebonyi State for testing.

“What happened, in this case, is that we received a report from our centre in Abuja, and we traced him to the place where we were told he was staying; we brought him in to do a test. After our first approach to him on the phone, he again disappeared. Today, we deplored the security resources of the state and tracked him down. We will keep him in custody until the result of the sample is out.

The commissioner also said that the suspect had made some appreciable confession that is worthy of note.