News Rider

       Ukpo David Nwamini Ukpo is the young man at the centre of alleged organ donation for Sonia, daughter of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice. The Ebonyi State indigene opened up on how he was promised a better life in the UK not kidney harvesting.  CHIKA OKEKE brings unedited post from his Facebook page titled, "‘My journey to UK.’ "Okoro only promised to help me work in UK company not that they want to use my kidney replace anybody's kidney. Suffer too much before." It reads, "On one fateful day I met a man named okoro in a building site where I was working for my daily bread, okoro told me he like me, he want to help me achieve my dream because he saw me as a great person. He told me could you like to work in UK. I just started laughing because I don’t have money for that, then I told him no am not interested and asked me why I told him I don’t have money for that." “He just started laughing to me and t...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja      Muhammad Justice Tanko Muhammad has resigned as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He tendered his resignation on Sunday night, citing his health condition as the reason for his decision.  Channels Television informed that plans are underway to swear in the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria. A formal announcement on his resignation will be made shortly according to other sources.  Sources also said that this may not be unconnected with the series of demeaning affairs in the court. 

BY CHIKA OKEKE Tears flowed unhindered as Nigeria's golden voice, Mrs Osinachukwu Nwachukwu is laid to rest in Abia State today.  The lead Vocalist in Prospa Ochimana's hit song, 'Ekwueme', was buried in her family compound in Isuochi Umunneochi, Abia State. She died on April 8, 2022 in Abuja hospital at the age of 42 years. Prior to her final journey today, a night of worship was held in Abuja on Thursday, June 23.  The late singer died of injury sustained from domestic-related violence.  Colleagues of the late singer had accused her husband, Peter Nwachukwu of subjecting the deceased to domestic violence, leading to her death. During his arrest and trial, Peter Nwachukwu claimed that Osinachi died of lung cancer.  Despite his denials, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Wuse remanded Peter in Kuje Correctional Facility, Abuja till the conclusion of his case, described as culpable homicide.  Culpable homicide attracts death penalty, one...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, with Agency Report  The United Kingdom has adjourned the trial of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu to July 7 for further hearing.  London Metropolitan Police had on Thursday arrested and charged the duo for trafficking a child to the UK for alleged organ harvesting. According to reports, Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia was diagnosed with kidney disease, had been on dialysis and needed an urgent transplant. Upon questioning, the child revealed that he was 15 years as against the 21 years tendered by the accused, just as he was allegedly tricked to the UK with the promise of a better life. Daily Mail revealed that the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.  The presiding Magistrate, Ms Lois Sheard described the allegations as serious, just as she remanded the defendants into custody ahead of next month's hearing.  However, the police said that it launched investi...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  The Nigerian Police Force have launched manhunt in Abuja Community to rescue about 22 farmers that were abducted by bandits. Bandits had on Thursday evening attacked Rafin-Daji community, Gurdi ward in Abaji Area Council, kidnapping 22 farmers and setting ablaze two tractors.  While Rafin-Daji shares boundaries with Zago community in Niger State, both communities are connected through River Gurara. The marauders were said to have stormed the community in a large number while some residents were working on their farms, shooting sporadically before abducting the victims. Reacting, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Oduniyi Omotayo informed that a combined team of Police officers have been deployed to the area to rescue the farmers. According to him, “The incident happened in Rafin Daji, a boundary community between Niger and the FCT. The farmers were on their farmlands working when the gunmen kidnapped them." “Upon receipt of this info...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  Worried by the continued attacks on journalists, the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos has called on the Nigeria Police Force and Lagos State government to apprehend the assailants and probe them before a competent court of jurisdiction.  This is coming on the heels of recent attack on journalists in the convoy of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, shortly after their visit to the palace of Oba Rilwan Akiolu, alongside the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  The affected journalists, Adeola Ogunrinde and Omatseye Atsenuwa of Smooth 98.1FM were severely injured, while Adedoja Salam of TVC was left in a state of shock.  Reacting, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade was optimistic that the arrest would serve as deterrent to other hooligans that may be planning similar attacks on journalists ahead of the 2023 general elections.  He expressed dismay over the arrest of a campus journal...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja                                                     Dr Habiba Lawal  In line with President Muhammadu Buhari's directive to institutionalise the Civil Service, the Ecological Project Office (EPO) has challenged its staff on the need to deliver quality services to Nigerians.  Permanent Secretary of EPO, Dr Habiba Lawal stated this in Abuja over the weekend in commemoration of the 2022 Nigeria Civil Service Day, with the theme, “Performance Management System (PMS): Impact on Productivity in the Nigeria Public Service”.  The event also coincided with the Recognition/Award Ceremony for outstanding staff of EPO for their meritorious performances in the service to humanity.  Lawal urged the staff to show more commitment in the discharge of their assigned duties, which she believed was in consonance with the new ...

      Oyebanji  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election. The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Kayode Adebowale, who is the Vice Chancellor, the University of Ibadan, announced the results." Adebowale said, “Oyebanji, having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected as the governor-elect of Ekiti State.” The APC scored 187,057 votes to defeat its closest rival, the SDP, which garnered 82,211 votes, the PDP, which got 67,457 votes and 13 other parties which participated in Saturday’s governorship election. Out of the 360,753 votes cast, the total valid votes in the election were 351,865. While the agent of SDP, Owoseeni Ajayi, did not sign the forms for the votes cast, the agent of the ADP, said, “Instead of having polling centres, what we have in Ekiti are vot...

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu; his wife, Chief Betty Anyanwu and others during the funeral mass for victims of terrorists' attack at St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo, Ondo State. The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu failed to withhold his emotion on Friday at the funeral mass for victims of the terror attack at St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo, Ondo State. Akeredolu and his wife, Chief Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu attended the funeral mass held at the Mydas Resort and Hotel, Owo. The teary governor while recounting the terror attack, lamented that the government failed to defend the victims of the attack. “We have failed to defend these people. Not because we have not tried, but because these forces on the other side are evil and they have support. They will not triumph over us forever,” Akeredolu said. The governor noted that something must be done in the country, adding that the security architecture of the nation needs rejigging. “When I see the sea of he...

BY CHIKA OKEKE Catholic Diocese of Ondo on Friday held a funeral mass for members of St. Francis Catholic Church that were killed by terrorists in Owo, headquarters of Owo local government area.  The mass, which was conducted at the Mydas Event Centre in Owo, witnessed large turnout of mourners, families and sympathisers, who could not hold back their tears during the service.  Terrorists had on Sunday, 5th June, 2022 attacked the church and killed many worshippers, a massacre that was believed to be a retaliatory attack by pastorialist over feud with farmers on grazing in the state.  The remains of the victims were deposited at the morgue of the Saint Louis Catholic Hospital in Owo. Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and a former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, were among the dignitaries present at the mass. Also, the Bishop of Ondo Catholic Diocese, Jude Arogundade; Bishop of Catholic Diocese o...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja About 40 worshippers that were killed by terrorists at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, headquarters of Owo local government area, Ondo State, would be committed to mother earth on Friday, 17th June, 2022.  The Director of Social Communication, Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ikwu, confirmed that a mass burial would be organised for the victims.  Terrorists had on Sunday, 5th June, 2022 attacked the church and killed many worshippers, a massacre that was believed to be a retaliatory attack by pastorialist over feud with farmers on grazing in the state.  He said that the burial would hold at the church’s new cemetery at Emure Road, Owo, insisting that only 40 persons died during the attack.  Meanwhile, the survivors are still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre and St. Louis Catholic Hospital in Owo, as well as other private hospitals in the state. Although no one has been arrested in connection with the ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja          Aregbesola  The federal governemnt has declared Monday, June 12 as public holiday in commemoration of the 2022 Democracy day.  Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who stated this in Abuja on Thursday,  pleaded with Nigerians to use the period for sober reflection on sacrifices made by the patriots to attain a democratic regime in the country.  A statement made available to newsmen by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Shuaib Belgore, quoted the minister as saying that Nigerians should work towards promoting unity in the interest of sustainable values. It reads, "As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one united, secured, peaceful and an indivisible entity, noting that no development can take place in an acrimonious environment." “With the challenges we face in Nigeria today, I ...

    President Buhari  ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE OCCASION OF COMMEMORATION AND CELEBRATION OF DEMOCRACY DAY, 12TH JUNE, 2022.    Fellow Nigerians, Today, June The 12th, marks another Democracy Day anniversary and an occasion to celebrate freedom and unity of our Nation. 2.           From 1999, we consistently celebrated Democracy Day to mark the end of military rule and the return of power and control into the hands of those freely elected by the people. On this day, Nigerians recommit themselves to ensuring we protect and preserve the ideals of democracy. 3.           In 2018, we moved Democracy Day from 29th of May to the 12th of June. This change was to remind all Nigerians of one free election after which the presumed winner along with Nigerians were denied their rights and th...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja          Bola Tinubu Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu has emerged the winner of the highly touted All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary at a special convention held in Eagle Square, Abuja. Tinubu, who is currently the National Leader of APC, polled 1, 299 votes to defeat his closest rivals, former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yomi Osinbajo.  Amaechi garnered 316 votes while Prof Osinbajo polled 235 votes. These were followed by Senate President, Ahmed Lawan (152 votes), Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State (47 votes), Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi (28 votes); Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade (37); and former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who scored zero vote.  Other aspirants that contested alongside Tinubu are: a Business man, Mr Tein Jack- Rich; former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Yerima; immediate past Minister of Science and ...

Residents of Jenew Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have denied reports that their estate was attacked on Monday. Many media outlets had reported that suspected bandits in the early hours of Monday attacked Genuine Estate in Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory. The reports claimed that the gunmen operated on the estate between 1 am and 4 am and abducted a yet-to-be-identified number of residents. However, the chairman of the Estate, Ojeh Akpoborie, told our correspondent that gunmen didn’t attack the estate. He said, “Nobody has reported to us that his or her house was attacked. We have also not heard from anyone whether their children, husband, or wife is missing. Let me also say we have armed policemen in the estate, they have not reported any gunshot to us. I have been receiving phone calls too but I have taken my time to tell them nothing of such happened here.” Also, the Estate Manager, Soroibe Nwabara, said though he read the news but it was fa...

BY CHIKA OKEKE Over 50 worshippers have been reportedly killed on Sunday when bandits attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, headquarters of Owo local government area, Ondo State.  This is even as the massacre was believed to be a retaliatory attack by pastorialist over feud with farmers on grazing in the State.  Apart from worshippers, the bandits also killed passerby hit by stray bullets during the church’s Pentecost service. The church is less than 200meters away from the palace of Olowo of Owo. But a video circulating online showed many worshippers lying in a pool of blood while dead bodies littered the floor of the church during the attack.  The dead and injured were said to have been rushed to Federal Medical Centre and St. Louis Catholic Hospital, Owo. Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC, Owo, Dr Liasu Adeagbo said that many medical personnel have been deployed to cater for the injured persons. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations ...

                Late Osinachi and Peter Nwachukwu  A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Wuse, on Friday, remanded Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi, at the Kuje Correctional Facility, pending the hearing and determination of the homicide-related suit instituted against him by the Attorney General of the Federation. Justice N.K. Nwosu-Iheme gave the order after he pleaded not guilty to 23 counts bordering on domestic violence, homicide and among others. The judge ordered that the suspect be remanded at the correctional facility, while trial was adjourned to June 16 from 12pm and June 17 by 9am. “The business for today is for arraignment, accelerated hearing is hereby ordered,” declared Justice Nwosu-Iheme." “Defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility pending the hearing and determination of this suit,” she said. Nwachukwu’s wife died on April 8 and many of her colleagues h...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (middle), declared the duly elected PDP's flagbearer for the 2023 presidential election on Saturday.  The race for the next bigwig to populate the Aso Villa, Abuja by 2023 is seriously hitting up.  This has produced the likes of Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim and former Governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose. Also, former Speaker of Abia, Hon Chikwendu Kalu; former Deputy Speaker of Abia, Hon. Cosmos Ndekwe; the only female aspirant, Mrs Oliva Tariela; Publisher of Ovulation Magazine, Dele Momodu; former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mazi Samuel Ohuabunwa and financial Expert, Mohammed Hayatudeen-Hayatu-Deen, all in the People’s Democr...