Another case of the novel Coronavirus disease has been confirmed in Lagos State, Nigeria.
The new case is independent of the index case – an Italian.
The affected person is a 30-year-old Nigerian lady.
She returned from the United Kingdom on March 13.
The Ministry of Health says she is now at Mainland General Hospital receiving care.
Details later…
It would be recalled that the news of miracle performed on a woman with twisted hand went wild like a hamarttan fire. Five pastors have allegedly used the woman with bulgy arm to perform same miracle and the Oracle of God as Pastor Chris Okafor is fondly called has also been fingered in the allegation.
However, the man of God has refuted the claim by the woman who said she was paid the sum of N400,000 for the miracle.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos recently, Dr. Okafor through his counsel, Mr. Monday Ubani Esq said; “It is necessary to respond to the issue of fake miracle that has been generating controversies for a while. The recent story in a national daily and an online platform that the sum of N400,000 was paid to procure a fake miracle is not true.”
“The lady in question came to church like every other person and the said programme through which she affirmed she received her healing was shown both on live television and other social media platform, and there was nothing to hide because it was not only the woman that was healed on that day.”
“The church is not new, it’s been in existence for 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 impress anybody. The things of the spirit are purely personal.”
On the issue of money paid to the woman, the church through their lawyer said;
“When the news broke out, it was discovered that the woman has been going to other churches and when asked, she said it’s poverty that caused it because she is a widow.”
“Upon hearing that, the church of God that is very compassionate gave her over N400,000 to empower her in order to live a worthy life instead of going from one church to another as was reported.
“The money given to her was not to procure fake miracle as wrongly reported but to empower her to stop going from one church to another and after her visit to Liberation City church, there has not been any report that she has gone to any other church. Liberation City Church was the one she visited last and she also confirmed that she received her miracle there.”
“There is no iota of truth in the story that has been going around about the miracle and money given to procure the said miracle.”
“Before one even talks about criminality on the issue, there must be an act of intention to commit a crime and there must also be an act itself. The woman has even confirmed that she never met Pastor Chris Okafor either before or after the program.”
“Even if there is any allegation, who is the complainant in this case? Is it the woman or any church member because it seems there is more to the story than meet the eyes because all the stories that have been written are one-sided against Pastor Okafor and no one has asked from the side of the church.”
“We are not denying the fact that some pastors do engage in such activities and the God that such men are claiming to be serving will be the ultimate judge.”
“If you attend Liberation Church, you will see for yourself what God is doing through the man of God and if it were fake miracles, it would have stopped working before now, rather God is made manifest daily in the ministry. No person will like to go to a church where nothing impacts his or her life personally and this is a fact.”
“We know there are fake pastors and God will judge them so as to exonerate those who are genuinely doing the work of God. We must be careful not to be involved wittingly or unwittingly in running down the character of any citizen in Nigeria. Our laws against defamation and destruction of reputation are still effective in the land.”
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted one Ekpe Sunday, a staff of Ecobank Plc who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent diversion of funds, forgery and impersonation to the tune of N7,067,576.55 (Seven Million, Sixty-seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-six Naira, Fifty-five Kobo only).
His co-defendant, Dennis Joseph James, was however, discharged and acquitted by the Court.
In a statement signed by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the Commission, Tony Orilade and made available to ABN TV on Monday, the EFCC had on May 21, 2014 arraigned the two staff of Ecobank alongside the bank over a fraudulent financial transaction in which one Chief Okon Ukim Edem lost the sum of N12,872,967.29 proceeds from the sale of shares.
Delivering judgement on December 7, 2018, Justice Ojukwu, discharged and acquitted the second defendant, Dennis, but convicted the first defendant, Ekpe and sentenced him to two years in prison, with an option of fine of N1million. He was also ordered to pay the victim (Edem) the sum of N2million as restitution.
Justice Ojukwu also found the third defendant (Ecobank) culpable, and ordered the bank to “refund to the PW1 (Chief Okon Ukim Edem) the sum of N12,872,967.29 (Twelve Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-seven Naira, Twenty-nine Kobo) forthwith being the sum of money involved in this fraudulent financial transaction, which he lost as a result of the negligence of the third defendant”.
Following the stay of execution order of the Court of Appeal on Monday which reinstated Comrade Adams Oshiomole, the national chairman of All Progressives Congress, a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the party holds Tuesday.
The meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2020 will hold at the Party’s National Secretariat by 12 noon.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday night and signed by the party’s national publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu.
The statement enjoined all members of the NWC to attend the meeting as important matters concerning the party will be considered and deliberated at the meeting.
The Court of Appeal on Monday stayed the execution order of an Abuja High Court restraining the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from further acting in that capacity.
The Abia State House of Assembly on Monday received a Petition Titled : A CRY for help by Lecturers of the School of Health and Management Technology Aba over unlawful disengagement.
The Monday’s plenary was presided over by the Speaker Rt.Hon.Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji.
The House also received a Petition by one Mrs Igwe over unlawful disengagement by the Management of the Abia State University Uturu.
The Speaker Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji referred the Petitions to the House Committee on Public Petitions headed by Hon Barr.Emeka Okoroafor.
The House Plenary was adjourned till Tuesday 17th March 2020 at10 am.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has halted the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
Justice Danlami Senchi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, had on March 4, 2020, made an order suspending Oshiomhole.
But in a bench ruling delivered by a three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Abubakar Yahaya, on Monday, ordered a stay of execution of the FCT High Court’s order.
The court ruled that the order would remain binding pending the hearing of Oshiomhole’s motion for interlocutory injunction slated for Friday.
The panel also unanimously restrained the respondents including the Police and the Department of State Services from further giving effect to the suspension order.
Details later…
The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Executive Council, NEC, meeting slated for Tuesday has been suspended indefinitely.
The suspension of the NEC was one of the agreements reached during the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Governors on the platform known as the Progressive Governors’Forum (PGF) at the State House today.
Details shortly…
The newly appointed chairman, Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa has again insisted that the Commission under his leadership will conduct the freest and fairest local government election in the state.
This is even as the opposition party in the state, the APC and other political parties accuse the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of appointing a card-carrying member of the PDP to conduct an election the PDP is contesting in.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Prof. Mkpa made this assurance during his swearing in ceremony by the Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
According to Prof. Mkpa, the Commission will before long propose the date for Local Government elections to the government. He thanked the Governor for finding him capable of undertaken the assignment. Prof Mkpa disclosed that he belongs to no political party and therefore would be fair to all and sundry.
Earlier, the State governor who was represented by his deputy, Sir. Ude Oko Chukwu charged Prof. Mkpa to treat all individuals and political parties fairly, equally and equitably.
He added that the appointment of Professor Mkpa followed the expiration of the tenure of the former ABSIEC boss, noting that there was need to fill the gap and rejig the Commission.
He said that government considered Prof. Mkpa’s pedigree, capacity and ability knowing that he is a man that treats everyone fairly.
The Deputy Governor also charged Prof. Mkpa to try and fix the date of Local Government elections as soon as possible, noting that Local Government elections in the State has always been free and fair.
Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, some members of the State Executive Council, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr-acb Agbazuere and key officers of ABSIEC were part of the brief ceremony which took place at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House Umuahia this morning.
