News & Announcements

Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor was given a death by hanging verdict for murder by a high court in Port Harcourt.

Orlunma Nwagba, his choir mistress whom he allegedly impregnated, was killed, and Okoroafor, the general overseer of the Altar of Solution and Healing Assembly situated in Oyigbo, Rivers State, was charged with her murder.

In addition, he was accused of murdering Chigozie Ezenwa, a friend of Nwagba, and her 11-month-old daughter Cresabel on December 11, 2017, in the state’s Oyigbo Local Government Area.

The pastor’s confessional confessions and the evidence, according to the trial judge S.O. Benson, proved that he committed the crimes.

Justice Benson ruled that the cleric should be either by hanging from a tree until he is dead or by being given a fatal injection, which also kills more quickly, because the prosecution had proven its case of murder against him.

According to our source, the pastor lured the women into a bush and allegedly committed the crime twice when they were there to discuss the claimed pregnancy at the pastor’s home in Oyigbo.

On December 17, 2017, men from the Rivers State Police Command detained Okoroafor after Ezenwa’s husband alerted them to the killing of the three people.

Precious Ordu, the prosecution attorney from the state Ministry of Justice, expressed her satisfaction with the verdict in a statement to reporters outside the courtroom.

Ordu noted that during the trial, the prosecution got multiple threats, but she was happy that justice had won out.

“Justice has been served to the state, the complainant and the convict.

“This will serve as a deterrent to all those who intend to commit the same offence because it is justice for all,” he said.

On his part, counsel for the defendant, Innocent Ekwu, said he and his team would appeal the judgment.

“We, as counsel for the defendant, have decided to appeal the case. We are going to file our notice of appeal as quickly as possible because we have grounds on which we believe that the defendant did not commit the offence,” he said.

The governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, promised on Monday that the victims of the sorrowful incident would not be forgotten, one year after terrorists attacked the St. Francis Catholic Church in the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Richard Olatunde, the governor’s chief press secretary, said in a statement that the attack was a terrible tragedy that affected both the state’s government and its citizens, and that the government would always remember what happened to Owo Kingdom.

The statement said, “It’s been one year since the massacre that occurred at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo. 41 persons were killed, while several others were injured. Workers of iniquity invaded our land and terminated the lives of our people. It was a black Sunday.

“One year after, we are still nursing our pain. The scars of the heavy blow dealt to us will always remind us of our losses and the pain we endured. The horrific attack was a dagger drawn into our hearts. It was the most dastardly act that could happen in any society.

“The Church of God was desecrated. A place of worship, considered safe, was turned into a slaughter slab. Our people were mindlessly killed by cowards and mass murderers. It was a tale of pain, sorrow, and fear. We are still grappling with the shock from the attack.”

According to the announcement, the relatives of the victims and the injured have been contacted by the Donation Management Committee on Owo Attack, which was chaired by the state commissioner for finance, Wale Akinterinwa.

It added, “We have provided financial and medical assistance to the dependants and the injured. We understand that no amount of money can fill the void left by our loved ones. Our efforts are geared toward easing the burden created by the death of breadwinners in families.

“We are constructing a fitting memorial park in honour of the deceased. The memorial park, situated opposite the palace of Olowo of Owo, is part of our commitment to immortalise the victims of the attack.

“We once again extend our heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their loved ones in the horrific attack. We also sympathise with the injured and their families. Equally, we offer our condolences to the Catholic Church of Owo and the entire people of Owo.”

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were prohibited from going on strike by the National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja, on Monday in protest of the Federal Government’s unilateral revocation of the fuel subsidy.

In a decision written by Justice O. Y. Anuwe, the court prohibited the two organizations from carrying out the strike action while it awaited the outcome of a lawsuit filed by FG.

The NLC and the TUC were named as defendants/respondents in the lawsuit marked: NICN/ABJ/158/2023. The court ordered that the interim order and the main action should be served on both parties promptly, even though it set the subject for hearing on June 19.

Following an ex-parte application that FG submitted via the Federal Ministry of Justice, the court issued the order.

The application’s proponent, Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru of the FG, said that the intended strike action could impair business operations as well as those in the health and education sectors.

Exhibits FGN 1, 2, and 3 were notices to members from the NLC, TUC, and Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, requesting that they resign their positions as of Wednesday, June 7.

According to the court’s judgement, section 7(b) of the NIC Act, 2006 gave it sole authority over cases involving the issuance of orders prohibiting any individual or organization from participating in a strike, lockout, or other kind of industrial action.

It declared that the NIC Act of 2006’s sections 16 and 19(a) gave it the authority to provide immediate interim relief as well.

The court held that the affidavit of urgency as well as the submission of FG’s lawyer revealed: “a scenario that may gravely affect the larger society and the well-being of the nation at large”.

“Counsel has pointed out that students of secondary schools nationwide, especially those writing WAEC exams nationwide, will be affected; the tertiary institutions who have only just resumed after a long ASUU strike will also be affected, not leaving the health sector, amongst other sectors; and above all, the economy of the nation.

“In my view, this is a situation of extreme urgency that will require the intervention of this court,” Justice Anuwe held.

According to the judge, “Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders:

“The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned Industrial Action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 5th June 2023.

“It is ordered that the defendant/ respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the motion on notice and the order of this court hereby made.

“The motion on notice is hereby fixed for hearing on 19th June 2023. Hearing notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/respondents along with the other processes.”

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, had called on its members across the nation to stop working on Wednesday in a notification that was signed by its general secretary, M. J. Akwashiki, before the order.

A scene unfolded in the Ondo State Magistrate Court in Odigbo, the state’s administrative center for the Odigbo Local Government Area, when the defendant, Segun Akala, fled the courthouse after the magistrate ordered his remand.

It was learned that Akala was accused with stealing and was arraigned in court on one count.

A source in the court said, “Immediately the magistrate, D. O Ogunfuyi, ordered his remand, the defendant, with handcuffs in his hands, took to his heels, jumped out through the court’s window and fled to a nearby bush.

“It took the intervention of policemen within the court area to apprehend him and take him back to the court.”

A motor saw chain and pullover garments worth N336,000 that belonged to Akintan Akintade were allegedly taken by the defendant.

The defendant committed the crime on May 27, 2023, at Aipon Road, Via Odigbo, Ondo State, the Police Prosecutor, Usifo James, had earlier told the court.

The prosecution claims that the offense committed violates Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code found in Chapter 37 of the Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria (2006).

However, the defendant entered a not guilty plea to the accusation brought against him.

The defense attorney, Mr. Rufus Omotayo, asked the court to give the defendant bail instead of the prosecutor’s request for an adjournment so that he could review the case file and get his witnesses ready for the trial.

In his decision, Senior Magistrate Ogunfuyi granted the defendant bail in the amount of N100,000 with two sureties in the same amount.

He postponed the hearing until June 23, 2023 and ordered the defendant to be held at the Okitipupa Correctional Center while his bail is perfected.

Sweden has officially declared sex as a sport and is also set to host its first-ever sex competition.

The participants will engage in sex sessions which can go up to six hours daily.

A panel of judges will decide the winners of the sex competition while the audience will also influence the final decisions.

Tagged European Sex Championship, the competition will start this week, June 8, and run through a period of six weeks with participants engaging in sexual activities from 45 minutes to 1 hour daily, depending upon the duration of their matches.

Aside from influencing the decision, the audience will also notice several aspects of sexual activity.

The final decision on the winners will be arrived at after considering the factors like the chemistry between the couple, knowledge about sex as well as endurance level.

Nationwide blackout looms as electricity workers have mobilized to join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protest strike against the sudden fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The National Union of Electricity Employees disclosed this in a June 2 memo signed by its general secretary, Dominic Igwebike.

“Sequel to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on June 2. 2023 at the Labour House Abuja, over the sudden removal of fuel subsidy which has brought untold hardship to Nigerians as well as increased inflation in the economy, the NLC has directed that the nationwide withdrawal of Services action will commence on Wednesday, June 7, 2023,” the memo reads.

The planned strike will see electricity employees nationwide withdraw their services by 12 a.m. on Wednesday.

“Please note that withdrawal of Services nationwide commences from 0.00 hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023,” the memo added.

Former president Muhammadu Buhari’s regime had planned fuel subsidy removal for June ending, by not making provisions for it in the 2023 budget.

However, Mr. Tinubu, in his inaugural speech on May 29, said “Subsidy is gone”.

His pronouncement triggered panic nationwide as citizens rushed to buy fuel while oil marketers suddenly increased pump prices.

On May 31, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced a pump price increment that saw petrol prices skyrocket from N195 to over N500 nationwide.

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Sunday shunned a meeting called by the Federal Government to discuss the subsidy removal and the attendant hike in fuel pump prices across the country.

The union insisted that it would not hold any dialogue with the government representatives unless a legitimate team was set up.

However, the Trade Union Congress officials attended the meeting which was a follow-up to the talks held with the NLC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week, which ended in a deadlock.

This is as the electricity workers vowed to join the strike and plunge the nation into a blackout in protest against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Bola Tinubu administration.

The National Treasurer of the NLC, Hakeem Ambali, confirmed the decision of the union to boycott the meeting which was a follow-up to the Wednesday meeting on the removal of subsidy.

During the meeting attended by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari, Dele Alake, and others, the NLC had insisted on the reversal of the fuel pump price pegged at between N488 and N557.

Following the breakdown of talks, the congress resolved at its NEC meeting held on Friday to embark on a nationwide strike.

Ambali explained that like the TUC, the NLC was invited for a follow-up meeting at the State House following the earlier meeting which ended in a deadlock.

He hinted that the union did not attend the talks because the government representatives had no official mandate or authority to negotiate for the President.

“It was an adjourned meeting, a follow-up to the last one. However, the NLC insisted that we would be ready to negotiate with a team that has legitimacy and official mandate to negotiate for President Tinubu,” he stated.

Shedding light on the NLC’s boycott of the session, the National President of the congress, Joe Ajaero, contended that the meeting was of no consequence to the congress.

Speaking in an interview on Arise television on Sunday, Ajaero said, “Of what use is today’s meeting? As of Tuesday night, I had a meeting with the president of the TUC and some other government officials. I told the NNPCL MD that any move to increase the pump price would be taken as war.

“They went ahead to announce. We told them to return to the status quo so that negotiations will continue but up till now, they have not done that. So what are we going to the meeting to do?
“We are not making any progress and this is because we are still at the same point. The issue of alternatives and subsidies are things we have discussed over time and our position has been made public but the government appears not to be interested in our position.”

Speaking on media reports about factions of the NLC opposed to the strike, Ajaero said, “On Friday, all affiliates of the NLC agreed that we should take the next line of action. We don’t have northern NLC or southern NLC. If any media house has proof, let them bring it forward.”

In a notice issued on Sunday, the National Union of Electricity Employees also threatened to join the strike action.

Already, the NUEE has directed its members to withdraw their services nationwide over the sudden removal of the fuel subsidy by the FG.

The NUEE in a notice signed by its acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, urged its members to comply with the directive and stop work from the early hours of Wednesday.
                 

The Zamfara State Police Command has said that it freed nine children who had been kidnapped by bandits from the Gora-Namaye Community in the state’s Maradun Local Government Area.

The announcement was made in a statement released on Sunday in Gusau by the Public Relations Officer for the Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar.

He said, “On 3rd June, 2023, at about 2014hrs information was received from the district Head of Gora-Namaye village in Maradun LGA that nine children, comprising males and females who were sent by their parents to fetch firewood in the bush were intercepted and abducted by armed bandits.

“Receiving the report, the joint police and other security agencies mobilised to the scene and commenced a search and rescue operation that led to the rescue of the children.”

The Command has already unconditionally reunited the victims with their families, the police spokeswoman continued.

“Efforts are still on in tracing the hoodlums for prosecution,” Abubakar said.

According to The News Agency of Nigeria, bandits invaded some communities in the same Maradun LGA on Saturday, murdering a number of innocent people.

The deputy governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has refuted the claim that he took pleasure in beating his wife, Mrs. Oluwaseun.

A group operating under the Society for Women Empowerment said that Ayedatiwa had beaten his wife physically twice in the previous four months, which was against the ethics of his position.

The deputy governor, however, said he had never raised his hand to his wife since their marriage in a statement sent through his media assistant, Mr. Kenneth Odusola.

Aiyedatiwa claimed that the women’s group was faceless and that the media’s claims that he assaulted and abused his wife were unfounded.

The statement read,” The said allegation of domestic abuse is a figment of the imagination of those behind it and their ungodly intentions to cause a crisis in the state had been known for weeks and therefore such falsehood did not come as a surprise.

“While His Excellency reserves the right to privacy on issues pertaining to his family, it is pertinent to state clearly that there has never been any domestic violence between the Deputy Governor and his lovely wife, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, who at the moment is outside the shores of the country.

“It is not a secret that Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa has lived and worked in the United Kingdom for many years before her husband became an elected public official in Nigeria and since then she has been shuttling between the United Kingdom and Nigeria to take care of the home and the children who are also in the United Kingdom.

“Therefore, any report of alleged domestic issues within the family should be taken as the handiwork of the enemies of the state who are bent on causing a crisis where there is none and we therefore warn those spreading such falsehood to desist or face the consequences.”

Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor of Lagos State, has suggested that increasing the ability to train more medical professionals is the best way to fill the gap left by the growing problem of doctors immigrating to other countries.

Speaking to reporters in Lagos on Sunday, Hamzat emphasized the necessity of expanding the nation’s capability for educating new medical professionals to cover the vacancies left by many emigrating medical professionals.

The deputy governor also said that more doctors need to be trained for the good of the country because human migration is unavoidable.

Hamza stated, “Human migration is normal. People would leave, and people would come. But as a country, we can train more doctors.

“I am not against the brain drain of medical doctors, but what we need is to create a pipeline to train more doctors instead of complaining that medical personnel are leaving the country.

“If we train 5,000 doctors yearly, let us increase the numbers to 15,000; by doing so, the country benefits.”

The story of the 197 Americans who gave up their passports to become Singaporeans in 2022 was another example Hamzat used to support his claim that although people will continue to leave, the Nigerian government must constantly look for new opportunities to profit from the nations these Nigerian doctors are moving to.

“The Nigerian government should rather look for a way to benefit from the countries our doctors are moving to.

“For example, if 1,000 doctors go to the United Kingdom, the UK Government must pay us something back in return.

“Therefore, our medical colleges need to increase their capacity by training more people,” he insisted.