Enugu Court Sentences Man To Death By Hanging For Killing Own Son

The Enugu State High Court sitting in Enugu, the state capital, has found a man, Okolie Chigozie Michael, 32, guilty of unlawfully killing his son. He committed the offence when he was 28 year-old in 2020. 

Delivering her judgement on the matter on Wednesday, Hon. Justice C. C. Ani found the accused guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging. 

The court found him guilty after it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused, Okolie Chigozie Michael, on April 14, 2020 at Emene in Enugu, took his son, Igwilo Chimereucheya, to the bush and strangled him. 

Regrettably, when the child didn't die, the convict hit him on chest, which resulted to the child passing out hot feaces and urine before giving up the ghost. 

The convict was accused of using his fingers to scratch and inflicted bodily injury on his son, making it appear as if the child was involved in a fight, after which the convict took him home, cleaned him up and laid him on the bed, leaving him as though he was asleep and attempted to escape. 

The mother of the 1 year and seven months old child raised the alarm and attracted neighbours when she noticed that the child was dead. 

In itself judgment, the court agreed with the Prosecuting Counsel, Barr. Nkechi Ogbodo of the Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Enugu, who had during the trial tendered evidence before the court, including autopsy report to proved that indeed the deceased was strangled to death. 

It was gathered that the convict is a serial abuser, who constantly beats up the mother of his son. 

It was further gathered that he was earlier made to sign an undertaken at the police station at the insistence of their landlord and his wife's employer, due to constant threats that he will kill both the mother and her child. 

Consequently, he was cautioned at different police stations to desist from his violent acts before the incident that led to the death of his son, Chimereucheya, occurred. 

It was reported that on certain occasion, the convict inflicted injury on the deceased's penis because he urinated on the bed. 

Justice Ani noted in her ruling that it was evident from the confession by the culprit on how he murdered the deceased showed that it was voluntary and premeditated act, not under duress. 

Therefore, the court found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to death accordingly, haven committed the committed the offence punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004. 

While Okolie Chigozie Michael, the defendant in the case, is a native of Ibeme Obingwa in Abia State, the mother of the child hails from Imezie Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Continue Reading

Arc Usman Ya'u Darazo Distributes Relief Materials And Mats To Tsangaya Schools In Darazo

 

The National Chairman of Lobito Support Group, Arc Usman Ya'u Darazo, has distributed relief materials and cash donations to people and Tsangaya schools across the Darazo metropolis. 

The gesture is part of Arc Usman's invaluable efforts towards alleviating the hardships faced by the people in the country. 

He started the distribution of relief materials in Darazo LGA by Arc Usman, starting at Tsangayan Alaramma Malam Gambo in Darazo West and at Malam Abubakar Unguwar Dallatu in the metropolis.

The Usman's Ya'u Personal Assistant is also the overseer of the Arc Usman Yau's activities. His activities include the distribution of bags of rice, new boreholes, cash donations, and educational kits to pupils. Ahmad Mai Mai, who represented Arc Usman Yau, handed over the materials to Tsangaya schools. 

He said it was disheartening to see some almajiris sleep without even a mat or food, which makes their lives comfortable. 

He further called on the government and other stakeholders to put more effort into making Almajiris joyful.

The leaders of the Almajiris schools expressed delight and appreciated Arc Usman Yau Darazo for bringing the items to them, which they said will no doubt ease their difficulties.

By Lukman Garba Darazo 

Continue Reading

Hardship: Rethink Nigeria's Romance With Bretton Woods Institutions, Sack Unproductive Appointees - CNPP Tells Tinubu

 

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “to struggle through the hard path by rethinking Nigeria's relationship with the Bretton Woods Institutions, realistically assessing the performance of his appointees and sacking those constituting a cog in the wheel of the progress of his administration through their clear unproductivity and sabotage.” 

The CNPP, a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, while reacting to the call by the called by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the federal government to completely phase out petrol and electricity subsidies in the country in its 'Post Financing Assessment (PFA)' report. 

The umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria noted in the statement that “restoring macroeconomic stability in Nigeria should come from homegrown policies and programmes as IMF solutions have never aided Nigeria's economic recovery, rather our economic woes worsened every time Bretton Woods Institutions' advisories were implemented in Africa. 

“While removal of subsidy, due to the attendant corruption that bedevilled its payment was desirable, it was akin to shooting down Nigeria's economy by implementing subsidy removal policy without functional refineries for local production of petroleum products. 

“The call by IMF for the complete phase out of petrol and electricity subsidies in the country is a suggestion to the Bola Tinubu administration to inflict more hardship on already suffering masses of Nigeria.

“Has the IMF ever advised the USA and European countries on removal of subsidies on cotton, which has been detrimental to one of Africa’s leading cotton exporters, Burkina Faso?

“It's on record that in Europe in 2019, €38.2 billion was spent on direct payments to farmers and €13.8 billion on rural development, with a further €2.4 billion supported the market for agricultural products. Has the IMF ever spoken about energy and agricultural subsidies in the USA and the European countries? 

“We therefore urge President Bola Tinubu to focus on homegrown solutions to Nigeria's economic crisis and jettison policy advisories from the IMF and other Bretton Woods Institutions. 

“We equally call on Mr. President to sack all unproductive appointees and identify those who are engaging in economic sabotage, especially as regards revenue generation in the oil and gas sector, and relieve them of their duties to increase foreign exchange earnings”, the CNPP counselled.

Continue Reading

CNPP To Tinubu: Transfer of Crude Oil Proceeds To CBN Is the Way To Go

 

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has described the speculated directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, transferring revenue from crude oil sales to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the way to go. 

Since on Monday, there has been unconfirmed reports that the President has relieved the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of its monopoly control over the proceeds from crude oil sales. 

The CNPP in a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, said that “if indeed the directive was issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is the way to go. 

“We have always criticized the NNPC Limited for not meeting its OPEC quota as well as non-remittances or under-remittances of proceeds from crude oil sales due to corruption. 

“Therefore, we welcome the speculated directive to the NNPC Limited to submit receipts for crude oil sales to the CBN for vetting and documentation. 

“While we urge the Federal Government to confirm the directive without fear or favour, we call on President Bola Tinubu to make it a policy of government that all payments for oil sales and all other revenues accruable to the federation account be forwarded to the apex bank without any delay. 

“This will reduce renenue losses as every kobo should be accounted for in the current revenue realities where the country's debt servicing takes a large chunk of the country's earnings. 

“The NNPC's monopoly over crude oil sales has been a ground for the unbridled corruption bedeviling the federal government owned oil company. 

“The initiative should also be extended to all other revenue generating agencies of the federal government, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Ports Authority, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Immigration Service, among others”, the CNPP said.

Continue Reading

CUPP Disagrees With President Tinubu For Travelling On A Private Visit While Nigeria Is In Dare Need Of Leadership

 

…….We in CUPP are disturbed and not happy by the frequency of President Tinubu's so-called private trips to France.

…,.We are back to the Buhari era

……Comprehensive Health fitness test should be made compulsory so that Nigerians will avoid this situation in future.

It is our hope and belief that these private trips do not involve something untoward that is hidden from Nigerians who voted for him to salvage the country which has been on downward spiral.

Tongues have begun to wag, and speculations beginning to abound about the real reasons for these private trips. 

We hope that Nigeria is not about to witness another Buhari 2.0 presidency where from time to time without any form of announcement, the President would sneak out of the country to a foreign country for medical treatment in the name of private visit.

President Tinubu should realise that Nigeria is beset on all sides by insecurity, galloping inflation, hunger and starvation, unemployment that is running wild, and out of control, etcetera. The value of the naira is speeding southward with our currency exchanging at almost a thousand five hundred naira to the United States Dollar.

CUPP feels and recommends that the country needs a hands on deck president, and whatever the reason for these private visits can be conveniently handled in Nigeria or in the absence of such facility being available, provision should be urgently made to have it brought to Nigeria.

Nigeria needs the physical presence of their president to have that assurance that the job of Mr. President has not been outsourced to those who have no business exercising it.

High Chief Peter Ameh,

National Secretary,

CUPP.

Continue Reading

CNPP, CSOs Blame Smear Campaign Against Naval Chief Ogalla On Frustrated Oil Thieves

 

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and over 38 Civil Society Organisations, under the umbrella of the Coalition Of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have described online reports linking Nigeria's Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to alleged multibillion naira oil bunkering and contract-splitting fraud as “the handiwork of a frustrated syndicate involved in stealing of Nigeria's crude oil.” 

Some online media platforms had reposted an allegation that a preliminary investigations estimated that the Naval Chief had accepted over $170 million in bribes over the past six months alone.

However, in a statement jointly signed by the CNPP's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema and the National Secretary of the CNCSOs, Alhaji Ali Abacha, they described the allegations as “dead on arrival as efforts to truncate the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration's renewed quest to mitigate the stealing of the country's crude oil is the target of the disgruntled ring's attack on Ogalla. 

“We strongly believe that it was based on Ogalla's track records of service that prompted Mr. President to trust him with the appointment in the first place and he has in the last six months shown that President Tinubu did not make any mistake in his choice of the Naval Chief. 

“It has since become evident that since the Chief of Naval Staff launched the Nigerian Navy's “Operation Delta Sanity”, which has been embraced by the government and leaders of the Niger Delta states, the oil thieves are increasingly uncomfortable. 

“The new anti-crude oil theft tactical operation initiated by the Chief of Naval Staff and his effort to provide necessary equipment for personnel have become a serious nightmare for the enemies of the country's economy due to its holistic and robust roadmap against crude oil theft and other forms of illegalities on Nigeria's territorial waters. 

“The Nigerian Navy in its reaction to the syndicated allegations expressly disclosed that all the vessels alleged to have been released, which was the basis of the bogus $170 million allegedly received by the Naval Chief in bribes, are still in the custody and undergoing investigation. 

“The Navy said unambiguously and we quote: “Indeed, all arrested vessels mentioned in the publication that were involved in crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering are being investigated and none of such vessels has been released as alleged.” 

“So, if the basis for the allegation, which is the arrested vessels, are still in custody, we call on the Chief of Naval Staff to disregard the detractors and continue with his renewed efforts against oil thieves in support of President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. 

“Nigerians are currently suffering from severe economic hardship and we urge President Tinubu and the Naval Chief not to be deterred by the smear tactic and discrediting actions of the oil stealing syndicate who are increasing unable to continue in their nefarious trade. 

“It is on record that the CNPP and CNCSOs have been in the forefront of the agitation for an end to the brazen thieving of Nigeria's crude oil in the last eight years and we will back every genuine efforts aimed mitigating the age-long economic sabotage for the benefit of the suffering masses. 

“On the contract splitting allegation, the Navy has issued a clear response and there is no need over-flogging a dead horse as we call on President Tinubu not to succumb to the antics of the already drowning oil thieves who would naturally fight back by all means possible, including the ongoing syndicated blackmail”, the CNPP and the CSOs said.

Continue Reading

I’m Not Dating GNC CHUKWUEMEKA – Pinky Presh Debunks Rumours

 

Precious Ifeanyi, better known as

Pinky Presh ( Pinky Baby ) has debunked rumours that she is dating her colleague, who’s also a close friend GNC CHUKWUEMEKA popularly known as GNC.

She took to her TikTok and Facebook page to share the post, where she urged people to stop saying that she is in a relationship with the actor, saying that she is not having any love affair with him.

In the video, she made on her TikTok, and Facebook handles, she said, “People should stop this rumor that I’m dating GNC; I’m not having any love affair with him. I’m not his girlfriend; he’s my very good friend. Any pictures and videos seen are on my movie set.”Her aim in sharing her new post is to clarify the kind of relationship between her and the actor, blogger, anchor, and to let people realize that the two of them are not dating each other.

Continue Reading

PRESIDENT TINUBU'S APPROVAL OF THREE BILLION NAIRA FOR VERIFICATION OF NATIONAL REGISTER AND THE UNENDING PROFLIGACY OF THE PRESIDENCY

 

Coalition United Political Parties CUPP is distressed by the report emanating from Saharareporters of the approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to expend an outrageous and mind-boggling sum of N3,000,000,000(three billion naira) to verify the national register of the poor. 

CUPP frowns and condemns this mindless attack on our collective purse in the name of verification of the national register.

This reckless and mindless spending on verification of national register reflects a lack of fiscal discipline and responsibility that has become a hallmark of President Tinubu's government who in the guise of helping the poor, keeps elevating cronyism as an art, which we ignorantly thought had gone with President Buhari's administration.

CUPP believes that a prudent approach could have achieved the same goal with less of our tax money through the acquisition of the same national register from the thirty-six states of the federation and FCT wherein the rural areas are predominantly domiciled and is pained that this elementary form of conservation of public funds was wilfully neglected on the alter of cronyism, raising CUPP's concern and that of majority of Nigerians about the financial stewardship and the efficient allocation of our scarce resources by this government to projects that will trully be beneficial to the masses. 

It is CUPP's belief that this mindless spending through cronies such as New Planet Projects Limited, a company controlled by the family of Dr. Bunmi Tunji Ojo, the Minister of Interior undermines whatever little confidence Nigerians may have had in the present government, and therefore brings to the fore the urgent need for more rigorous budgetary oversights by the National Assembly, which has from day one begun to exhibit all the symptoms of a rubber stamp parliament that abdicates its oversight functions when most needed.

High Chief Peter Ameh

National Secretary CUPP.

Continue Reading

Humanitarian Ministry, Miscarriage Of Justice: CNPP, CSOs Caution Against Undermining Investigation, Call for Probe Of A'Court Judges

 

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and frontline civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Coalition Of National Civil Society Organizations Against Inept Leaders, have sounded a note of caution against undermining the ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption against Betta Edu and Sadiya Umar-Farouq, embattled former and suspended ministers of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, now Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. 

In a statement signed by the CNPP's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, and the National Secretary of the coalition of Nigeria civil society organizations, Alhaji Ali Abacha, they also called “for investigation of the Judges of the Court of Appeal who masterminded the miscarriage of justice in the legislative election appeals to determine if the Judges soiled their hands to stand justice on the head.”

While former minister Umar-Farouq is under investigation at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for over N37 billion corruption allegations, Betta Edu was recently suspended by President Tinubu after a week of deafening accusations of financial misconduct against her to the tune of N585 million.  

The groups noted that they have “watched with kin interest how some CSOs have engaged in pro- and anti- investigation of corrupt leaders.” 

Decrying what they called “the obvious move by interested civil society groups to undo each other in defence and against the ongoing investigation of the rot in the corruption allegations against public officials, a development that is capable of undermining the ongoing process. 

“We, therefore, call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that justice is done and that anyone found wanting in the allegations of corruption in the Humanitarian Ministry is diligently prosecuted. 

“We equally call for public probe of all Appeal of Court judges involved in the judgment that removed both elected governors and legislators in the 2023 general elections contrary to the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. 

“The miscarriage of justice meted against validly elected National and State Assembly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) in Plateau, Enugu, Abia and other states who have been unjustly removed from their legitimate seats by the Court of Appeal contrary to earlier decided and settled cases by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. 

“While we await whatever remedy that is open for the victims of the Court of Appeal's miscarriage of justice, if any,  we call for immediate probe of all the affected judges to determine if they were induced financially or otherwise.

“An open investigation and adequate discipline of judges, who are found wanting, are necessary deterrence to bad eggs in the Nigerian judiciary”, they stated.

Continue Reading

CNPP Urges Tinubu Govt To Do More Working Than Talking, Says FDI Won't Increase in Absence of Security And Rule Of Law

 

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has encouraged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to begin to do more of working than talking as “the current decline in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country will worsen unless the government tackles insecurity and improve in the area of institutionalising the rule of law.” 

The CNPP spoke while reacting to the president's New Year Message, saying that “it is obvious that investment tops the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration's agenda but will be very difficult to achieve in the obvious absence of security and rule of law.” 

This was contained in a statement signed by the CNPP's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema. 

According to the statement, the CNPP maintained that “though President Tinubu affirmed that on every foreign trip he has embarked on, his message to investors and other business people has been that `Nigeria is ready and open for businessʼ, it is not enough.

“The Tinubu administration has continued to make promises over the past seven months as if the government is campaigning in an election rather than walking the talk.

“For the Tinubu administration to succeed, the government and its officials should stop praise-singing and celebration of its achievements. Nigerians can differentiate between a government that is working for them and the one that is not.

“It's time to deal with insecurity and end the killing of the innocent in the country. That is the primary purpose of government; to protect lives and property of the citizens.

“Secondly, upholding the rule of law is an important factor if Nigeria must attract key Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as no investor will invest in a society where the government does not obey court judgments or where court orders can be procured at the black markets.

“This explains why the recent capital importation data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the total FDI that came into Nigeria in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 was only $48 million, and compared to the previous quarter, the FDI inflow to the country experienced a decline, dropping from $84 million in Q4 2022 to $48 million in Q1 2023, which is about 43%. But on a year-on-year comparison, there was a substantial 69% decrease, as FDI fell from $155 million in Q1 2022 to $48 million in Q1 2023.

“The CNPP therefore encourages the President Tinubu administration to do more in practice than talks as the country's FDI won't increase in the absence of security and rule of law”, the statement concluded.

Continue Reading