By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, has disclosed that the Commission would commence the 2023 main pilgrimage to Rome by the third week of January, 2024.

Pam made this known in a statement made available to newsmen by Mr Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director/Head, Media and Public Relations in Abuja on Friday.

He explained that based on the current happenings in Israel and the Middle East, the stakeholders unanimously agreed to have the next main pilgrimage exercise in Rome.

He enjoined the State Pilgrimage Leaders to continue to uphold Israel and the entire Middle East in prayers so that there would be quick de-escalation of the crisis in the region.

He further urged them to commence mobilisation of intending pilgrims in their various states through effective sensitisation outreach.

He lauded the efforts of the states who participated in the just concluded Easter Pilgrimage completion exercise which ended on Oct. 9, 2023

Pam spoke on Oct. 31 during a meeting with members of the Conference of States, which comprised all the States Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers from the states Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board across the 36 states, including FCT.

Earlier, the Chairman, Conference of States Rev. Isaiah Magaji thanked the NCPC boss for his visionary leadership.

Represented by the Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, Magaji

Urged colleagues to cooperate with the Commission in order to advance the cause of Christian pilgrimage in the country.

He further commended the executive secretary for being able to stabilise the Christian pilgrimage sub-sector in Nigeria and as well the effective way he had navigated the waters of Christian Pilgrimage for over three years in the saddle.

The meeting afforded the state Pilgrimage Leaders the opportunity to brainstorm on the challenges and way forward for Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

Some of the state pilgrimage leaders who could not attend the meeting physically participated virtually. (NAN)

•NCPC Executive Secretary, Rev. Yakubu Pam

Mushroom cook tried to kill ex four times — Police

Mushroom murder-accused cook Erin Patterson is accused of making four attempts on her ex-husband’s life, court documents reveal.

Erin Patterson, 49, made a brief appearance in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning after a police raid at her home on Thursday led to charges in an alleged poisoning case.

She has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Charge sheets released to the media by Magistrate Tim Walsh indicate police allege Ms Patterson attempted to kill her ex-husband Simon Patterson, 48, four times between 2021 and this year.

Three alleged attempts occurred between November 16 and 17, 2021, May 25 and 27, 2022, and September 9 last year.

The fourth alleged attempt is said to have occurred on July 29, when his parents, aunt and her husband fell ill after eating a meal at her Leongatha home.

Simon Patterson was expected to attend the lunch, hosted as part of a church mediation process for their relationship, but pulled out last minute.

His parents, Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, 66, died in hospital days after the alleged poisoning.

Mrs Wilkinson’s husband, Ian, a 69-year-old Korumburra pastor spent seven weeks in hospital following the lunch in a critical condition — With Ms Patterson accused of his attempted murder.

Ms Patterson has repeatedly denied responsibility for the deaths.

A neighbour of Mr Patterson, who didn’t want to be named, said the allegations about what had happened were “bloody awful”.

”He’s a nice guy, its just bloody awful,” he said.

The neighbour said Mr Patterson hadn’t been at his home for several days.

At a memorial service for his parents on August 31, Mr Patterson described his parents as “very much a team, working at life together”.

Don and Gail Patterson died after allegedly ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Picture: Supplied

“The fact they died on consecutive days is fitting in some ways as it reflects the togetherness as a couple that they always worked so hard to grow,” he said.

“Mum’s final message in our group chat, as she lay in Dandenong hospital, was ‘lots of love to you all’”.

In August, Ms Patterson claimed to reporters she was also admitted to hospital after the lunch with bad stomach pains.

In a statement to police she wrote: “I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones”.

“I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.”

Ms Patterson has steadfastly denied responsibility for the deaths.

“I lost my parents-in-law, my children lost their grandparents,’’ she told The Australian on August 16.

“And I’ve been painted as an evil witch. And the media is making it impossible for me to live in this town. I can’t have friends over.”

She was remanded into custody on Friday and will return to court in May next year. (Yahoo!)

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