The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Canada

  • Nigerian sues Canadian govt for $10m over 8-month detention

    NIGERIA born Olajide Ogunye  is suing the Canadian government after he was held by Canada  immigration authorities for eight months in a top-security prison.

    Ogunye who is now a Canadian citizen was mistaken for a refugee with a different name.

    Now, he wants C$10m ($760,000, £571,000) as damages from government for the illegal detention.

    The 47-year-old man woke up on the morning of June 1, 2016 to find his home in Toronto surrounded by Canada Border Service agents.

    “It took me five minutes just to get to my car,” he told the BBC.

    Before he could drive off, an agent presented him with a warrant for the name Oluwafemi Kayode Johnson, a failed refugee claimant who had been deported from Canada in the 1990s whom the immigration authorities believed had illegally returned to the country.

    “That is not me,” he told them. He showed them several forms of ID, including his Canadian citizenship documents and a provincial health card. The agents told him they would “sort this out”, and drove him to their office where they fingerprinted him.

    There, they said his fingerprints matched Johnson’s and they booked him into Maplehurst Correctional Complex, a maximum-security prison for dangerous offenders.

    “I wasn’t expecting something like that to me as a Canadian citizen,” Ogunye says.

    For the next 248 days, Ogunye would be incarcerated – first in Maplehurst and then in Central East Correctional Centre, another maximum-security prison – while CBSA investigated his case.

    Now that he is a free man, Ogunye is suing the government for C$10m for wrongful arrest and negligent investigation.

    CBSA spokesman Barre Campbell told the BBC the agency is “reviewing the matter” and that “it would be inappropriate” to comment further.

    His lawyer, Adam Hummel, says that the CBSA’s investigation was marked by delays and procedural irregularities that lengthened Ogunye’s stay in prison and took a toll on his mental and physical health.

    “For them to keep someone in jail for eight months… it is not really a good thing. I hope they don’t do this to somebody else and that is one of the reasons why I’m bringing this to court,” Ogunye says.

    Hummel also says the CBSA has never produced the fingerprint sample used to identify Ogunye as Johnson.

    Ogunye moved to Canada from Nigeria as a refugee with his parents in 1990, and obtained citizenship at 26 years old in 1996. He has several siblings in Canada, as well as two daughters, both born in Canada.

    At one point, his lawyer arranged for him to be granted bail, if two bondsmen would swear to his identity. The bondsmen swore that he was indeed Olajide Ogunye.

    But according to the statement of claim, the CBSA would not accept any proof that did not corroborate their belief that he was Johnson because “fingerprints don’t lie”.

    In prison, Ogunye says he was assaulted by fellow inmates and fell into a deep depression and was placed on suicide watch.

    “I’m crying like 24/7 in jail,” he says.

    This is not the first time Canada’s immigration detention system has fallen under scrutiny.

    A 2017 investigation by the Toronto Star found that about 114 immigration detainees were being held in jails and prisons for three months or more while the immigration and refugee board reviewed their cases. Less than 1% of detainees who have been incarcerated for six months or more are released, the investigation found.

    Ogunye was one of the lucky ones.

    Six months after his arrest, CBSA interviewed his brother and sister, according to the statement of claim.

    They confirmed he was their brother Ogunye, not Johnson and in February 2017 he was released.

    In his release report, the investigating officer wrote that “the person in custody may be Olajide Obabukunola Ogunye”, the statement of claim says.

    Since leaving prison, Ogunye says he has lost his job at a hair salon, which he held for 17 years, and his relationship with his daughters has deteriorated.

    Matters may have been complicated by Ogunye’s own past criminal record. According to Hummel, CBSA agents told his former lawyer that they did not believe Ogunye because of charges related to credit-card fraud and impersonation back in the 1990s.

    But his current lawyer says his past is irrelevant.

    “The minute he showed him he was a Canadian citizen, everything that they were doing that dealt with immigration was unlawful,” Hummel says.

  • Actors mourn as ‘Omoge Campus’ passes on

    The Yoruba sector of the Nigerian movie industry has once again been thrown into grief following the demise of one of its major players, Aisha Ibrahim, popularly known as Omoge Campus.

    According to information, the thespian passed away in Canada, on Tuesday, May 15.

    The demise of the mother of two was announced by her colleague, Bisola Badmus, who shared her picture on Instagram with the caption “Unquestionably God RIP Omoge Campus. Gone so soon RIP omogecampus”.

    It was reported that the deceased died of breast cancer in Canada.

    Since the announcement her colleagues have been uploading her pictures, to pay their respects.

    Actor/Producer Kunle Afod wrote, “Hmmmm… Another sad one…I never prayed to use.. R.I.P or GONE TOO SOON on my page again…I decided to celebrate my colleagues and appreciate them on my page not until we die or fall sick before we post each other’s picture … Now Aisha Abimbola is gone. Am still in shock .Omoge campus … what really happened? GOD not again; almost same time with Moji Olaiya and Canada again …Sun re ooo…”

    Another actress Liz Da Silva asking for the late actress to be prayed for wrote, “So sad and unbelievable. RIP Aunty Aisha. Vanity upon vanity; hmmmm Please pray for her.”

    Born in Epe, Lagos lsland, Lagos state, the graduate of Hotel Management, from Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), shot into limelight with the movie, Omoge Campus.

    Apart from her acting career, the deceased also ran a catering business.

    It is quite unfortunate as it is about this time last year that late Moji Olaiya passed on in the same country after the delivery of her second daughter.

  • UK trade minister delighted over Trump steel tariff extension

    Britain’s trade minister Liam Fox said on Tuesday he was delighted that United States President Donald Trump had decided to extend a temporary exemption on steel and aluminum tariffs.

    He was quoted as saying hitting British imports made no sense. The White House announced it was postponing tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico shortly before temporary extensions were due to expire at 12:01 a.m. ( 0401 GMT ) on Tuesday.

    “We’ve been very clear that we think that the mechanism that dealing with Chinese steel overproduction in this case is the wrong one, we would rather see it dealt with on a multilateral basis,” Fox told the Media.

    Read Also: What Trump and I discussed, by Buhari

    “I’m delighted that there’s a 30 day extension now for us to try to get a longer term deal with the U.S.

    “I think the idea of penalising Britain when the small amount of steel that Britain sends to the United States is incorporated into its military programme, to penalise us on grounds of national security would not make any sense.

    ”I’m glad we’ve got a breathing space on that.”

    NAN

  • U.S. to bid for 2026 World Cup

    U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the intention to bid for the 2026 World Cup in conjunction with Canada and Mexico.

    Trump, while announcing the bid on his Twitter handle, warned against opposition from countries that the U.S. has always supported.

    Morocco is currently challenging the North American bid for the first 48-team World Cup in 2026.

    The president suggested that the U.S. was considering withdrawing support for countries that are not reciprocating the America’s gestures.

    “The U.S. has put together a STRONG bid with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup.

    Read Also: FIFA releases Guidelines for 2026 Bidding Process

    ” It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid.

    “Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)? Trump tweeted.

    The 2018 edition of the World Cup would be hosted by Russia.

    On Dec. 2, 2010, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced the winning bids at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich.

    While Russia was chosen to host the 2018 World Cup, Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 World Cup.

  • Facebook alerts users affected by Cambridge Analytica scandal

    Facebook would start informing its users on Monday if their information “may have been’’ improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica.

    Cambridge Analytica is a consultancy suspected of improperly using the data of as many as 87 million people.

    In a statement, Facebook said that 70.6 million people affected were based in the U. S.

    Up to 2.7 million Facebook users in the EU were affected, with another two million affected in the Philippines and Indonesia.

    Other countries affected include Mexico, Canada, India, Brazil, Vietnam and Australia, according to Facebook.

    In a further effort to improve transparency after the scandal, Facebook would send all 2.2 billion of its users a notice that would allow them to see what apps they use and what data they are sharing with those apps.

    The company said this would allow people to shut off the apps completely or turn off third-party access to their apps.

    Cambridge Analytica is at the centre of a debate over whether it used the personal data of millions to influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the Brexit referendum.

    “I started Facebook, and at the end of the day I’m responsible for what happens on our platform,’’ Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said. “I’m serious about doing what it takes to protect our community.’’

    Zuckerberg is set to testify before U.S. lawmakers this week.

    NAN

     

  • Davido gets massive welcome in Canada

    It was a tumultuous crowd that welcomed Davido as he performed his first show on the Canadian leg of his 30 Billion World Tour in Montreal, Quebec on Friday.

    The FIA crooner had posted a video of his performance on Instagram. Captioning the video, he wrote, ‘MONTREAL THANK YOU! First day of Canada tour was LITTY!’

    Singing to a packed auditorium, Davido put up an impressive show which left the crowd singing his songs after him.

    On Saturday, Davido performed at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto and on Sunday, he performed at Winnipeg.

  • Russia to retaliate as U.S., EU, Canada others expel envoys

    Moscow will retaliate against a series of expulsions of Russian diplomats from European countries and response with regard to each case, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Monday.

    “There will be a mirror-like response. We will work it out in the coming days and give our response with regard to each country,” the source said.

    The European Council President Donald Tusk announced that 14 EU member states decided to expel Russian diplomats over the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in the UK.

    The U. S. also expelled 60 Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the poisoning of former double agent.

    The U.S. also ordered the closure of Moscow’s consulate in Seattle.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has adamantly denied any Russian state involvement in the incident.

    The former spy, Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in hospital in critical condition after being found unconscious on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury.

    The elder Skripal was convicted of selling Russian state secrets to Britain in 2006 and was traded to Britain in a high-profile spy swap four years later.

    British authorities have said the Skripals were attacked with a Russian-developed nerve toxin identified as Novichok

    Canada is expelling four Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy in Salisbury, U.K., prompting harsh condemnation and the threat of retaliation from Russia.

    Canada’s action will cover seven Russian personnel in all, including four members of Russia’s diplomatic staff posted at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ottawa or the consulate in Montreal.

    “The four have been identified as intelligence officers or individuals who have used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada’s security or interfere in our democracy,” Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.

    As well, three applications by the Russian government for additional diplomatic staff in Canada will now be denied.

    Freeland called the March 4 nerve agent attack on a close ally and partner of Canada “a despicable, heinous and reckless act” that potentially endangered the lives of hundreds.

    The steps have been taken pursuant to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, she said.

    The UK announced it was expelling 23 Russian diplomats earlier this month.

    Various countries announced they were making the same move in solidarity on Monday. These are:

    EU countries: France (4); Germany (4); Poland (4); Czech Republic (3); Lithuania (3); Denmark (2); Netherlands (2); Italy (2); Spain (2); Estonia (1); Croatia (1); Finland (1); Hungary (1); Latvia (1); Romania (1); Sweden (1)

    Ukraine: 13

    Albania: 2

    Norway: 1

    Macedonia: 1

    Iceland has also announced it is suspending high-level dialogue with Russian authorities, and its leaders will not attend the World Cup, which starts in Russia in June

  • Countdown to XXI Commonwealth Games: India, Canada are Nigeria’s threats in wrestling, Akuh admits

    Coach Purity Akuh has admitted that India and Canada remain Nigeria’s greatest threats at the XXI Commonwealth Games holding in Gold Coast, Australia.

    Akuh, however, assured that with the training the Nigerian wrestlers are undergoing in Yenogoa, Bayelsa, the team has the wherewithal to do well at the Games.

    He stated that this year’s Commonwealth Games would be exciting and competitive considering the quality of wrestlers favoured to win gold medals. “We believe and hope that we can do better than our last outing because we have quality wrestlers who are also world class in their various cadres.

    “For now, we have been training very hard in Bayelsa and the athletes are all in high spirit. But I must also acknowledge that wrestlers from India and Canada are not pushovers in the girls’ freestyle event because they are also teams to be reckoned with. We won’t be complacent but continue to work hard while hoping that God will reward our efforts,” Akuh added.

    Akuh, who was adjudged the best coach at the 2017 Nigeria Sport Award, acknowledged the technical input of the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali, saying, “Igali has been helping out in camp. As an Olympian, Igali has been encouraging the team by watching training sessions and adding his own inputs,” he stated.

    He added: “All the athletes have been given the mandate to make sure they watch videos of their possible opponents and we can all come together to analyse the videos to see areas where they can build on that will give them an edge over their opponents at the Games.”

  • Canada votes $94.4m to tackle humanitarian crisis in Nigeria, others

    The government of Canada has earmarked a total of $94.4 million to address humanitarian crisis affecting women and children in West Africa, including Nigeria.

    Giving this hint at the weekend was Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, while concluding her visit to West Africa just as she announced a total of $94.4 million for humanitarian assistance and initiatives to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.

    More than 24 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the Lake Chad Basin countries due to drought, food shortages and ongoing conflict. Canada will contribute $37.2 million to provide vulnerable communities in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria with food, acute malnutrition treatment, clean water, health care and protection services, including psychosocial support.

    In addition, $57.2 million will go towards initiatives to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Benin, Nigeria and Senegal. Over 4 million women and adolescent girls will benefit from greater awareness of, and access to these services, including preventing and responding to forms of gender-based violence such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

    “Canada is providing women and youth a chance to lead healthier and more prosperous lives. I came back to West Africa as Canada’s minister of international development—25 years after I started my career as a junior development adviser in Benin—to witness the results and meet some of the women and youth who benefit from Canada’s aid programs. It was uplifting to see generations of Africans working together to better their lives in close cooperation with Canadians on the ground.”

    Since the beginning of the conflict between the Nigerian military and non-state armed groups, the protraction of the crisis has devastated communities in the northeast of Nigeria, particularly in Borno State, where the population remains dependent on humanitarian assistance.

    Every year, 16 million children are born to adolescents—girls aged 15 to 19—accounting for just over one out of every 10 births worldwide. An estimated 15 million girls under the age of 18 are forced into marriage every year. For girls in developing countries, this makes it harder to stay in school and harder to work—perpetuating the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

     

  • Association lifts motherless babies’ homes in Enugu

    Two motherless babies’ homes in Enugu have received donations of foodstuffs and other materials from members of the Enugu State Association in Sidney, Canada.

    The homes were the Nigerian Red Cross Motherless Babies’ Home and the Holy Child Motherless Babies’ Home.

    Each of the homes received five cartons of 120g Indomie, three cartons of baby food, three parks of peak milk; 18 packs of pampers, two cartons of NAN milk, two cartons of baby lotion and a bag of rice.

    Led by Bernard Emewu and Maxwell Onaga, members of the association said the donations were made out of love for humanity.

    They said it was their own little way of remembering the less-privileged people in the society. They said the items would go a long way in alleviating the homes’ challenges.

    Noting that the gesture is an annual event, they said they also have plans for the individual development of the babies, particularly in the area of education.

    Receiving the items at the Red Cross Motherless Babies’ Home which has 30 babies, the Matron, Ezinne Chinyere Ogbonna thanked the donors for the gesture, even as she urged them to maintain the yearly visit to the homes.

    She called on other Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate members of the association by donating generously to the less-privileged in the society.

    At the Holy Child Motherless Babies’ Home that has 27 babies, they were received by Rev. Sister Agatha Francis who, as well, thanked them for their generosity.