COVID-19: Ogun shuts borders with Lagos, Oyo, others

Ogun State Government has announced the closure of all borders with neighbouring states and the international border with the Republic of Benin.

States in the South-West including Lagos and Oyo with high COVID-19 cases would be affected by the border closure.

The government, which said this on Saturday, explained that the closure would be effected at 12 midnight on Sunday, 29th March 2020.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, the government said the border closure would be in force for two weeks in the first instance.

The statement read, “With this restriction order, movement in and out of the state has been banned as a further measure to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

“The state is constrained to effect border closure in order to stem and flatten the curve of the spread of the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, not only in the state but in the country and in the West African sub-region.

“The position of Ogun State is peculiar. It not only shares an international border with the Republic of Benin, but it also does so with all other states in the South West (except Ekiti), including Lagos State, which has understandably recorded the highest number of infections in the country largely because it hosts the busiest air and seaports and it’s the nation’s economic capital.

“The border closure will not only be beneficial to Ogun State but the national efforts to curtail and contain the virus. Lessons from other climes strongly indicate that closure of borders has the potential to drastically flatten the curve of spread whilst unrestricted movement portends grave dangers.”

The government, however, clarified that the only exceptions to the interstate restrictions are vehicles conveying personnel involved in essential services such as security agencies, health workers, food and medical items and petroleum product.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration,  Muhammed Babandede, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The CG, who disclosed this in a WhatsApp message to our correspondent this morning, explained that he is already on self-isolation since he returned from the United Kingdom on March 22.

Ottagistreel later called him on phone and Babandede confirmed the development.

He stated, “Today, I tested positive for COVID-19. I have been on self-isolation since my return from UK on Sunday 22nd of this month with British Airways in Lagos.

“I urge my loved ones, Immigration Officers and Nigerians to pray for me and all those affected.”

Babandede urged immigration officers to continue working with his deputy to move the service forward.

He added, “It is a very difficult time but we can’t change what God destined for us.

“I urge officers to continue working with my able Deputy to further move our Service to another level. As advised by NCDC, I am totally isolated.”

This is happening barely 12 hours after the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, tested positive for COVID-19.

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75 monarchs demoted by Abiodun drag gov to court

The 75 monarchs appointed and promoted by a former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, have dragged the current governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to court over their demotion.

The monarchs described the reversal of their upgrading, appointments and promotions by Abiodun as a nullity and of no effect, whatsoever.

The monarchs, in their suit, joined the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; state House of Assembly; and the state Attorney General as defendants.

They told the court that their upgrading, which took effect from May 13, 2019, was in line with Section 25(1)(2) of the Chiefs Law, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

Amosun had upgraded the monarchs, who were previously ‘Baales’ (chiefs), as Coroneted Obas of their respective communities at the twilight of his administration.

But Abiodun ordered their demotion after a Chieftaincy Review Committee he set up recommended the reversal of their appointments.

In the originating summons, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, the monarchs are seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from preventing them from acting, parading or referring to themselves as Coroneted Obas.

The claimants are also asking the court to declare that the activities and recommendation of the review committee are an afterthought and a nullity.

The originating summons read in part, “A declaration that the defendants are stopped from reversing or revoking the upgrading, appointment and promotion of the claimants as Coroneted Obas in Ogun State and/or preventing claimants from acting, parading or referring to themselves and being referred to as Coroneted Obas of their respective communities.

“A declaration that the defendants cannot capriciously reverse or revoke the upgrading, appointment and promotions of the defendants in the absence of any complaint against the upgrading, appointment and promotion of the claimants duly brought to the attention of the claimants for their defence/response.”

They also prayed the court to compel Abiodun to pay all remunerations and entitlements due to them but unpaid to each of them from May 13, 2019, when their upgrading was done by Amosun

I warned my wife against adultery, she didn’t listen – Man who killed suspected partner’s lover with scissors

Habib Kasali, a 35-year-old motorcyclist was arrested by police officers of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly killing a man in his community at Ibafo area of Ogun State with a pair of scissors after suspecting the victim was having an affair with his wife. He tells DAUD OLATUNJI his side of the story

When did you marry your wife?

We have been married for over six years and we have one child.

How did you get into trouble?

A cult member in my area had been dating my wife and I had reported him to one of his superiors in the cult group but he never listened to me. I begged everyone who could talk to him but he never listened to me.

In fact, one of his superiors who I reported him to told me that he also knew that he was dating my wife and had tried all he could to stop him but all to no avail.

Later, I went to report to the Baale (traditional leader) of our community and the Baale said I should bring my mother. So I went there with my mother and my wife. When we got there, my wife was asked if she was still interested in me and she said yes, but despite that she didn’t give me any rest of mind. She was coming in late and if I asked her where she was coming from, she would say she was coming from the salon and it had been going on like that. Again, I called his friends and they also confirmed my findings to me; I left them feeling very sad.

So on Saturday, I went to buy liquor from a woman selling herbs and on getting there, I saw my wife and the guy eating from the same plate, that was how a fight broke out between us. In the course of the fight, I saw a pair of scissors and I used it to stab him in three places. That was how he died.

Where did you stab him?

Close to his eye, chest and stomach area, but I never wanted to kill him. In fact, before that day, I had begged him to leave my wife alone. I am not promiscuous and I only love my wife but he never listened.

How well did you know the victim?

He was one of the cult boys in our area whom I gave money anytime they asked me for money.

Are you a member of the same cult group with the deceased?

No, I am not a member of any cult group. Everybody in our community knows that I am not a cult member.

Since you got into detention, has your wife been here to see you?

No, she has never been here. I have not seen her.

What about your family?

I don’t know if my family members are aware that I am in trouble, especially my mother. If anyone had told her, she would have been here.

Or are they ashamed of identifying with you?

No, I have relatives and they will definitely come here if they are told about my predicament.

Did your mother ever warn you about the danger of not being able to control your anger?

Yes, she always warned me against having anger and that was why I didn’t want to fight initially but my disobedience to her warnings has landed me into trouble.

I was seduced by my 14-year old pupil – Azunere, 23-year-old suspected rapist

Chima Azunere, 23, a teacher from Imo State but working in Ogun State, was recently arrested for allegedly raping one of his pupils, who is 14 years old. Azenere tells DAUD OLATUNJI he does not know what came over him and made him sleep with the pupil in his friend’s apartment

Before your arrest, what were you doing for a living?

I was working as a teacher and also as a fashion designer. I was teaching at a school at Papa Ibafo, Ogun State.

You have been accused of raping one of your pupils, why did you do it?

It was a case of rape and defilement. Actually, I don’t have anything much to say; I will only say it was a mistake and devil’s work. I wasn’t expecting what happened, but it has happened. The only thing is to find a way out.

How did it happen?

It all started from the school, I used to teach them practicals. I was employed as a teacher to teach them how to make garments and my pupils were over 30. Last Wednesday, they all came to my office to see me and ask how to go about the practicals.

Initially, they were to submit their work on Friday and when they came around, I explained to them what to do. However, about three or four of them came back, including the girl in question. I cut out some fabrics for them and showed them how to sew.

She sewed and made some mistakes, so she came back and showed me what she did because she was the only one that sewed on that Wednesday. I told her she made some mistakes and needed to correct the mistakes. But she was not willing to sew again that day, so she waited until Thursday. She returned on Thursday. I corrected her, showed her the errors she made and made the corrections for her. But when she sewed again, she made the same mistakes and closing time was drawing nearer. So I told her to come back the following day, which was a Friday.

On Friday, the school deliberated on whether to close the because of coronavirus pandemic. We (teachers) were actually running around to prepare and coordinate examination for the pupils. While I was in the office with my friends having a discussion, she came with her classmates again. Due to the stress of coordinating the pupils, I was so exhausted and tired, so, I told her to come back later. She came back around noon and again, closing time was approaching. She and her friends deliberated on coming to my shop and I said it was not a problem.

I told them that if they could come to my shop, we would surely work together like we usually did in school. But unfortunately, she was the only one who came around 5pm. I was not in shop when she arrived and the owner of the shop was busy with the two (sewing) machines.

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I was in my friend’s place relaxing, when she came to the apartment. She knocked and I opened the door for her. She came in and brought out the fabric, but I told her to undo some of the mistakes she had made while sewing.

While I was in the room, she called me that she needed water. Immediately, I went out to buy two sachets of water, I gave one to her and took the other one. After taking the water, I went inside the room with my phone and called her. When she came in, she looked into my eyes and I looked into her eyes, then we mistakenly kissed; that was how the incident happened.

Had you asked her out before then?

Actually, we had not discussed anything about what was going to happen.

Did you have any feelings for her?

Actually, on February 14, 2020, she and some of her classmates bought a greeting card for me in the presence of my friend. I opened the card and found the things (they wrote) inside to be shocking, but I kept it somewhere because I did not have any interest in that. But I was surprised.

When I called her back to ask for the meaning of what was in the card, she said it was her group of friends that bought the card and shared to some of their teachers they loved and that I was one of them. I accepted the card and kept it in my locker, thinking it was just teacher-pupil love and friendship. I never had any special affection for her and don’t think she did. I cannot say if she was directly telling me that we should be dating, but that was the content of the card.

What class is she in?

Science department, Senior Secondary School 1. My job was to teach them how to sew attire for male and female. During that period, they were trying to sew the attire that would be used for their cultural day on March 27.

I actually told them to use the sewing machines in their various houses but she was very serious and zealous in learning how to do it in school so that I could put her through. The school has sewing machines that pupils can make use of if they don’t want to do it at home.

Do you have any advice for male teachers thinking of doing what you did?

If their female pupils are coming to them, they should make sure they avoid having any discussion with them alone. If they want to have any discussion with their pupils, it should be in the midst of others.

When last did you see the girl?

She was here on Tuesday (during the week) to make her statement. I saw her and felt very bad. I think she feels bad too because her mother and father were not interested pursuing the case; it was a pastor that informed the NGO which brought up the case. Even her mother was crying and felt very bad when she saw me in the condition I was.

I want the government to temper justice with mercy. I promise not to do something like that again

Ogun empowers poultry farmers with 54,000 broilers

     

Ogun State Government says it has commenced the second phase of its broiler project in order to reduce dependency on foreign poultry products and improve the socio-economic development of the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina, made this known during an inspection tour of a farm institute in the Odeda Local Government Area of the state, a statement said.

He said 54 beneficiaries were empowered with 1,000 day-old broiler chicks each, in the first phase of the project.

He said, “We have been very successful in the first phase of this project. We raised young farmers with 54,000 birds and they made an average profit of N130,000 each within six weeks of production.

“In this second round of production, average of N170,000 to N200,000 profit is being projected per beneficiary based on their experience.

“It is also worthy of note that we have been very successful in raising young people as a pilot in stimulating the interest of other youths in agriculture.”

Addressing journalists at the institute, the Director of Livestock, Broiler Project, Mr Tunde Adebiyi, explained that this cycle of production would produce over 110,000kg of broiler meat in the next six weeks, which he said would attract more youths to the scheme.

“Arrangements are ongoing to replicate this project across the 20 local government areas of the state. The success of this pilot broiler project is already attracting youths into the project. The 54 pilot youths will also serve as ‘train the trainer’ for the 9,000 youths, already registered for the extension of the Ogun broiler project in the Ministry of Agriculture,” he said.

Meanwhile, as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, Unilever Nigeria donated packets of lifebuoy soaps to the state through the Office of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun.

Receiving the soaps, Abiodun represented by a physician from the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Dr Bolanle Adefuye, said the donation would aid hand washing among other measures necessary to abate the spread of the disease.

She said the donated items would be distributed across the three senatorial districts of the state to ensure people were not short of hand washing soap and further promote personal hygiene among the citizenry.

Abiodun also highlighted other preventive measures as keeping social distance; not picking the mouth or nostrils; coughing and sneezing into the elbow; advising people to strictly adhere to government’s regulations and maintaining clean environment.

The Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Business, Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Mrs Soromidayo George, while presenting the donated soaps, commended government’s responsiveness to the pandemic, saying it was necessary to support the state in its efforts to contain the spread of the disease.

How we uncovered Ogun new coronavirus case –Hospital

The management of Owokoniran Memorial Hospital in Sagamu, Ogun State, has explained how its workers discovered and managed the new COVID-19 case.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Gbadebo Saba, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement.

Ogun State had on Tuesday, confirmed a new case of COVID-19 after a United Kingdom returnee who resides in Sagamu tested positive.

The CMD said the COVID-19 case was received at the hospital on March 20 while he was displaying some symptoms of coronavirus.

He said, “The management of Owokoniran Memorial Hospital can  confirm that a patient who recently returned from the UK was presented at  our hospital and had to undergo investigations including COVID-19 which was reported positive.”

He added, “The said patient visited the hospital, on March 20, 2020, after displaying symptoms of high fever, headache and general body weakness.

“The healthcare workers on duty were able to identify these symptoms and the patient was immediately referred to the appropriate authorities for testing.”

While speaking on the level of management of the virus to curb its spread, Saba said the case was kept in isolation while awaiting the results.

Saba said, “The said patient was kept in isolation for few hours while awaiting testing by the appropriate authorities after they were contacted and was discharged to go into self-isolation at home while awaiting the result.

“The healthcare workers that were in contact with the patient had barrier protection and they have been instructed to self-isolate and are being monitored closely.”

He, however, allayed the fears of the people of Sagamu over possible contraction, saying the hospital had undergone series of cleaning and decontamination since the case was confirmed.

“We can assure our staff, patients and the larger community that your health and safety is our concern and we are cooperating with public health officials to help minimise the spread of the virus.