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An unpopular self-styled preacher who claimed he could assist infertile couples conceive “miracle babies” through prayer was exonerated by a Kenyan court on Monday, claiming a lack of prosecution evidence.

To support his claims, Gilbert Deya, a former stonemason who immigrated to London from Kenya in the mid-1990s, was charged with kidnapping five kids between 1999 and 2004.

The 86-year-old was declared innocent by Senior Principal Magistrate Robison Ondieki after determining that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence to connect Deya to the accusations.

Following a ten-year legal battle to remain in the UK, the preacher, whose Gilbert Deya Ministries has churches in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester, was extradited from Britain to Kenya in 2017.

Deya and his wife Mary asserted that through prayer, infertile and post-menopausal women may conceive within four months, without having sex.

However, prosecutors said the “miracle babies” were stolen, mainly from Nairobi’s poor neighbourhoods.

“The charges were trumped up and could not stand in a court of law,” Deya’s lawyer, John Swaka, told AFP.

“He is delighted and very happy. He has no squabbles with anyone and will go back to serving the Lord.”

When a British coroner determined that a baby named Sarah, who had passed away at the age of three weeks, was unrelated to either of her alleged parents, Deya’s claims first came to light in a 2004 case.

DNA tests revealed that the mother had not given birth despite traveling to Nairobi after being informed she was infertile.

For the first occasion in eight centuries, an English coroner had to render a formal judgment on whether a miracle had occurred in the case.

Deya asserts that in 1992, the United Evangelical Churches of America ordained him as an archbishop. Before relocating to Britain, he was well-liked in Kenya as a televangelist.

Kenya, a largely Christian nation, has about 4,000 churches, some of which are led by self-styled pastors who lack theological training.

The April discovery of deaths connected to a Kenyan cult that engaged in starving to “meet Jesus Christ” raised concerns about the necessity for tighter control over religious organizations in the country of East Africa.

In the Shakahola forest in coastal Kenya, around 400 dead have already been discovered. Cult leader and purported preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie has been in police custody since mid-April.

On Wole Madariola Street in the Aguda neighborhood of Lagos State, a storey structure housing an orphanage home caught fire on Sunday. Seven children were saved.

In a statement released on Monday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, said that a power surge coming from an air conditioner in the structure was what started the fire.

Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary, stated that the Agency received the distress call regarding the fire incident at approximately 2:43 pm.

The statement partly read, “A one-storey building housing an orphanage/motherless babies home, was engulfed by fire which reportedly started from an air conditioning unit in the house as a result of a power surge which was said to have quickly spread out.

“A total of seven boys with ages ranging between one and seven years were quickly evacuated from the Home and safely relocated to the compound opposite the Home.

“Management Team of the Home informed LRT of plans to relocate the children to the house of the owner of the Home temporarily, to ensure their welfare was sustained.

“The fire which had initially spread to the storage room of the home has been extinguished with dampening down concluded.”

“Post Disaster Assessment revealed that the whole of the first floor was salvaged, while the fire was contained in the store room. The rest of the ground floor was also salvaged.

The head of LASEMA also revealed that the seven children were formally given to the RED CROSS by the Deputy Director, Mr. Balogun, and Mrs. Rasheedat Sadik, both of the Child Protection Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

Neither injuries nor casualties were reported in the dangerously close call, he continued. He claimed that the procedure was successfully completed in a speedy manner.

Benjamin Daberechi, a 19-year-old student, was detained by NDLEA agents for attempting to transport 7.2 kg of methamphetamine wrapped in crayfish to Europe, where he was going to study.

According to reports, Daberechi was detained on Wednesday during the Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624’s outbound passenger clearing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The suspect told the operatives he was going to Cyprus for school, and added that a white substance discovered in his suitcase had tested positive for methamphetamine, according to a statement made on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

The statement read, “Operatives of the NDLEA, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja arrested a 19-year-old student, Benjamin Daberechi, for attempting to export 7.2Kg of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish to Europe where he was going for undergraduate studies.

“While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

“A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine.”

Additionally, according to Babafemi, a female lawyer named Ebikpolade Helen was detained when agents found 12 bottles of skuchies and 5 kg of marijuana in her Lekki flat.

He said, “Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos-based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialises in the production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids, and black currant has been arrested in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra State following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.”

Babafemi added that the operatives intercepted a 116.5kg consignment of Colorado hidden in motor spare parts.

He said, “In the same vein, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday, July 11, intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.

“Based on intelligence, the agency had requested a 100% examination of the container which arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on June 14. A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Services, and other stakeholders on Tuesday, July 11, however, led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicle spare parts.”

Babafemi pointed out that NDLEA agents from the Lagos Directorate of Operation and General Investigations successfully stopped attempts to export varied quantities of illegal substances using courier services.

He stated that a courier company had discovered 336 grams of skunk concealed inside computer hard drives headed for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Police in Anambra have arrested one Ukamaka Udugbo from Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state for allegedly beating her 75-year-old mother under her care.

The Divisional Police Officer of Abagana Police station, SP Ifeanyi Umeh confirmed the arrest when an NGO, 50-50 Action Group of the WomenAid Collective (WACOL) visited him on the incident.

Umeh said that the police station was informed about how the suspect had been physically assaulting her septuagenarian mother and immediate action initiated which led to the arrest of the accused.

Umeh said that after investigation and documentation, the case would be transferred to the police command in Awka.

Mrs Ify Unachukwu, the leader of the delegation, thanked the police for the prompt response and urged the force to see that the incident was given due attention to serve as deterrent to others.

Unachukwu described the act as “very unfortunate” for a daughter to beat her aged mother and discouraged young minds from emulating such bad conduct.

The NGO also visited Mrs Nkiru Okpata, the President General (women wing) of Abagana Community, on the incident.

Okpata said that her attention was drawn by a community member, of a video trending on the social media on Friday which showed that the  action happened at her community in Obeagu Umudun by Mrs Ukamaka Udugbo.

She said she commenced investigation in the community and it was confirmed and she launched into action immediately.

“I am shocked because Udugbo is one of the the women leaders in the community both in the church and her village.

“She attends the general meeting where we preach against violence against women.

“We are going to strip her of all her positions in the church and the community because she went against our rules and regulations,” she said.

Recall that a video went viral of a woman in her 50s, Ukamaka Udugbo, seen beating her aged mother, Mrs Theresa Nwaokaka of Obe-Orofia, while bathing her outside her house in Obeagu Umudun in Abagana.

It was gathered that Nwaokaka has been living in her daughter’s home where she was being taken care of.

The victim’s son, Mr Emeka Nwaokaka, expressed shock at his sister’s behavior saying that their mother had been staying with the sister for a long time.

Nwaokaka said that his sister was remorseful since the incident broke out to public attention and described the act as “confusing”.

Mrs Eunice Anagor, the chairperson of the kindred where Udugbo hails from, assured the group that they would take care of the victim who was receiving treatment at an hospital.

Mr Ben Okongwu  the community President General said that the issue had been reported to the Divisional police station adding that justice would be served.

“We do not want to take laws into our hands so the incident was reported to the police as the video clip was confirmed,” he said.

Six people have been detained for allegedly gang-raping a 19-year-old girl in Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State. The suspects have been identified as Afam Ezenwa, Chijioke Ifeanyi, Collins Obadom, Abuchi Okechukwu, Chima Obiekezie, and Sunday Okafor.

The suspects, who were 16, 17, 18, 20, and 27 years old, are accused of performing the crime after ambushing the victim and dragging her into a room where they turned around and defiled her.

The teenager (name withheld) described her trauma, saying the incident occurred when she visited her mother’s home in Oramaetiti and was ambushed by the boys.

She said that despite her pleading, they continued as one of them recorded the incident on camera.

She added that after being saved by some neighbors who overheard her cries for assistance, she headed home.

She was, however, apparently attacked by another group of youths on the way home, who harassed her and demanded that she take her trousers off while threatening to kill her.

She revealed that after the boys escaped with her trousers, a kind Samaritan took her to her parents.

Her mother said that she was the hoodlums’ third victim and said they were notorious for raping girls and taking their pants for ritual use.

She asked the state government to take the situation seriously because her daughter’s life was in danger, especially since the pants had not been found.

Ify Obinabo, the state commissioner for women and social welfare, confirmed the incident to journalists in Awka on Saturday. She said that the suspects had been detained and taken to the state criminal investigation department in Awka, where they will face charges.

Obinabo pointed out that the arrest was made in response to a social media video that went viral and showed the teenager being gangraped.

She said, “The high rate of crime among delinquents in Anambra is alarming. Parents and guardians should stop sparing the rod, thereby spoiling the child.”

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s nominee for president in the 2023 election, charged on Saturday that the Federal Government had honored people who had “stole the country dry” while ignoring the crucial roles that educators played in shaping the “leaders of the tomorrow.”

During the Pace Setters Academy graduation ceremony in Abuja, Obi spoke in support of more funding for education. He attributed the nation’s lack of progress to the government’s lack of awareness of the value of education.

He stated, “Education is the most important thing any nation needs. It is the foundation of development. If you don’t have an educated citizenry, you can’t have a healthy society. You can’t pull people out of poverty without education. This is because the more people you ensure get education, the more they would be able to pull themselves out of poverty.

“We can’t have 20 million out-of-school children and start to talk about development tomorrow. That is why we need to invest in education. During our campaigns, we said we will invest in public schools and private schools. We talked about having a budget for every child in a way that the budget for each child will be paid to their respective schools, whether private or public.

“As the governor of Anambra State, I didn’t have anything called private school because there is no private child in Nigeria. I equipped schools with computers and other necessary facilities. If I have my way, education will have the highest budget and teachers will be celebrated. They are the ones moulding the children.

He referenced a teacher, Akeem Badaru, from St Michaels School in Ogun State for winning Cambridge’s best teacher award, beating 99 other countries. “Many Nigerians did not know. We are busy giving national awards to those who stole the country dry,” he added.

“The students are the future of Nigeria and we have trained them. It is now time for them to go out and practice what they have been taught,” he added.

The primary Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, would put an end to the unrest in the country’s South-East.

This occurs only a few days after the dismissal of a fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit brought by Kanu regarding alleged unjust detention practices by DSS employees.

Remember that Simon Ekpa’s IPOB organization has been posing a threat to the area for more than two years while Kanu has been held in captivity.

The instructions came from Lahti in Finland, where Ekpa is based and just stated that there will be a two-week sit-at-home period in the South East.

Speaking about the issue, Ohanaeze spokesperson Alex Ogbonnia claimed that Kanu’s ongoing arrest led to the unrest in the area and that the current state of affairs is a manifestation of the social injustice experienced in the area.

He said, “We have been consistent on the release of Nnamdi Kanu. We believe that the problem of what happened to Nnamdi Kanu has contributed to the agitation. What is happening in the South-East now is the manifestation of the social injustices meted on the South-East.

“Nnamdi Kanu issue will require a diplomatic political solution and not matter of charging him to court, leaving him in prison or being incarcerated; rather such will lead to more clamouring and affects the situation.

When asked if the tension in the South-East would come to an end if Kanu is released, he said “If he (Kanu) is released, at least the likes of Simon Ekpa would not have anything else to say again. No person can use Nnamdi Kanu as an excuse to cause mayhem in the country.”

South Africa deployed the army to help secure four provinces Friday, after at least 21 delivery trucks were set on fire in the past five days and amid concerns of unrest over a court decision that could send former President Jacob Zuma back to jail.

The deployment of soldiers came a day after South Africa’s apex Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma’s early release from prison on medical parole in 2021 was invalid.

The Department of Corrections has not said if it will order Zuma back to jail to serve the remainder of a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court, but his initial jailing two years ago sparked a week of violent protests that left more than 350 people dead in some of the worst violence South Africa had experienced in 30 years.

Police said they had no evidence that this week’s torching of trucks was connected to the 2021 unrest or to Zuma, but the decision in Zuma’s court case clearly has put the country on edge.

The truck burnings appear to have started on Sunday, the second anniversary of the start of the 2021 protests.

Zuma, 81, was not in South Africa and had traveled to Russia for medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, said Mzwanele Manyi, a spokesperson for the former president. Manyi gave no date for Zuma’s return.

Authorities haven’t established the motive for this week’s truck attacks, nor if they are connected to each other as they took place in various parts of the country.

Police Minister, Bheki Cele said there is a possibility that the truck burnings are economic sabotage against South Africa and police are hunting for at least 12 people believed to be linked to the attacks.

In many instances, armed men have forced drivers out of their trucks and then set them alight in the middle of major roads.

“These are organized and sophisticated operations,” Cele said in a statement released by the South African government’s official news agency.

Authorities haven’t reported any deaths or serious injuries related to the torching of trucks.

Trucks have previously been burned in South Africa as a form of protest against the government for failing to provide basic services, but the number torched this week was unusually high.

The 2021 riots shook Africa’s most developed economy, seen as a bedrock of democracy on the continent. It was the worst instance of civil unrest since the end of apartheid in 1994, with authorities still investigating two years later who was behind what appeared to be an orchestrated attempt to unsettle the government.

The Department of Corrections hasn’t said if it will order Zuma back to jail after his appeal failed or if the time he spent on medical parole will count as him having served his sentence. The department was studying Thursday’s court ruling, it said.

Zuma spokesperson Manyi said the ex-president had served his time “inside and outside prison” and the court ruling was “just to anger people for no reason.”

Zuma is also on trial in a major corruption case related to an arms deal the South African government signed in the late 1990s, before he was president but when he was an influential politician on the rise.

Zuma was forced to resign as president in 2018 after a series of corruption allegations, but has been seen as central in a political faction allegedly working to undermine current President Cyril Ramaphosa, the man who replaced him as South Africa’s leader and vowed to bring those guilty of graft to justice.

On Friday, soldiers were deployed in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal where Zuma is from, and the central province of Free State.

The army would support police in their response to the truck attacks, the South African Department of Defence said.

Cele said that 21 trucks had been burned down since Sunday in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

“No matter the motive, the country’s law enforcement remains on high alert,” Cele said.

Cele also said police continue to investigate the 2021 riots and are looking to make more arrests.

At least 67 people have been arrested over what police call the insurrection two years ago in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.

“I wish to take this opportunity to allay any fears that what transpired in July 2021 will repeat itself,” Cele said. “We have a capable state that has learnt from the past. The security apparatus is working in unison and the security cluster is in a better state to respond to any eventuality.”

Novak Djokovic claimed “36 is the new 26” after the history-chasing Serb reached his ninth Wimbledon final with a fiery victory over Jannik Sinner on Friday.

Djokovic’s 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win sealed the defending champion’s record 35th Grand Slam final appearance and moved him closer to a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title.

The 36-year-old faces world number one Carlos Alcaraz or Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in his fifth successive Wimbledon final on Sunday.

Djokovic may have moved past American legend Chris Evert as the only man or woman to make 35 major finals, but he has even more significant feats in his sights on Sunday.

The world number two will tie Roger Federer’s eight Wimbledon crowns if he wins a fifth consecutive title on the All England Club grass.

With 23 Grand Slam singles titles to his name, the world number two is aiming to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24.

“I feel 36 is the new 26, it feels pretty good. I feel a lot of motivation,” he said.

“It is great to be part of this next generation, I love it.

“This sport has given me and my family a lot. I will return a favour to this sport and play as much as I can.”

Djokovic is the third oldest man to reach the Wimbledon final in the Open era and will become the oldest All England Club male champion — surpassing Federer’s 2017 triumph aged 35 — if he wins on Sunday.

At a time when Federer has retired and Rafael Nadal is preparing for a farewell tour next year before his own retirement, Djokovic is still going strong.

He has already won this season’s Australian Open and French Open as he chases an astonishing clean sweep of all four Grand Slam events in a single year, with the US Open to come in August.

On the secret of his longevity, Djokovic said: “We are part of an individual sport so you have to rely on yourself and put yourself in the best physical and mental state before heading out on court.”

Thursday July 13, the Redemption City of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was a beehive of activities. It was the 75th birthday of the Mother-in- Israel and wife of the General Overseer, Pastor Mrs Folu Adeboye.

The colourful celebration started with a birthday lecture theme: “Effective Teaching and Discipleship Through Christian Education” delivered by former University of Lagos VC, Prof Toyin Ogundipe.

Ogundipe, the guest speaker at the event, said that effective teaching and discipleship would raise generations that would actively participate in nation-building by promoting virtues and spiritual growth.

The lecture was followed by a reception in honour of the celebrant and her husband, the revered man of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye revealed his romantic side by again professing his undying love to the wife of his youth whom he described as pillar and source of strength.

In celebrating his wife’s milestone, he wrote:
My Darling.

As we celebrate this momentous day, marking your 75th birthday, I want to express my deepest love and admiration for you.

Throughout the years, you have been the pillar of our family, a source of strength and inspiration, and my most cherished companion.

Our shared journey has been adorned with happiness, laughter, and the occasional hurdle.

Yet, amidst it all, your unwavering love and support have illuminated my path. Your wisdom, grace, and kindness have touched the lives of those around us, and I am forever grateful to have you by my side.

As we reminisce on the beautiful memories we have woven together, I am reminded of the countless moments that have defined our love.

From the simple joys of everyday life to the grand adventures we have embarked upon, each experience has been enriched by our togetherness.

Today, as we honor your remarkable 75th birthday, I want to celebrate the incredible person you are. Your selflessness, compassion, and generosity serve as an inspiration to us all. Your love knows no bounds, and your unwavering dedication to our family has been awe-inspiring.
I consider myself truly blessed to call you my wife, and I am filled with gratitude for every single day we have spent together. You have been my rock, my confidante, and my partner in all aspects of life. Your presence in my world is a priceless gift that I cherish beyond measure.

On this special occasion, I wholeheartedly wish you a joyful 75th birthday, my love. May this day be brimming with happiness, laughter, and an abundance of blessings. As we continue on this journey together, I eagerly anticipate creating more beautiful memories and growing old gracefully by your side. 

Happy Birthday, and may God bless you abundantly, @pastorfoluadeboye.

Also President Bola Tinubu praised the celebrant, for her Christian virtues, devotion to her highly-respected husband, the church, and family values.

In a press statement signed by his Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, noted with admiration many of the outreach programmes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God targeted at rehabilitating drug addicts and the poor spearheaded by Mrs Adeboye.

“I celebrate this Godly woman, Pastor Folu Adeboye, on her 75th birthday. We are inspired by her devotion to the work of God, family values, and the downtrodden among us. Mrs Adeboye’s generosity of spirit and unflinching commitment to seeing that young people live value-guided life will continue to be a guide and beacon to many.