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 ...