A 48-year-old native doctor identified as Ezekiel Buba, has been arrested by the police in Adamawa state.

He was arrested for allegedly killing a mentally challenged man identified as Alamisa, brought to him for treatment at Gombiyel in Shelleng Local Government Area of the state.

Buba who was paraded before newsmen by the police on Thursday, March 23, accused a demon of slaughtering the deceased.

He stated that the deceased, who was suffering from mental illness and epilepsy, was brought to him by his elder brother, Yahaya Musa of Kambillam in company of other family members for treatment. Buba said he earlier tested the deceased and found out that he was mentally derailed, but that he had no chickens at that time to slaughter to offer sacrifice for the man to get well.

"I usually slaughter chickens for sacrifice to a blood demon in order to prevent it from tourching anybody. Failure to make sacrifice to the demon, a patient cannot get well".Buba said

He went on to state that while performing some rituals with a robe at his backyard, the demon descended in a whirlwind with knives tied on his leg and slit the throat of the patient.

"I saw the demon in the whirlwind but before I could reach where the patient is lying down to protect him, the demon over took me and slaughtered him. Initially, the demon had warned me and demanded that I should slaughter chickens and offer sacrifice of blood. I was waiting for market day to buy the chickens for sacrifice as demanded.'' he said

He added that the family members of the deceased did not see the demon while coming down to the scene to kill Alamisa, saying that he was the only one who sighted it and rushed in to prevent it but to no avail. According to him, he normally communicates with the demon which he inherited from his grandmother when asleep in the night in Koma Damti dialect in Jada LGA, saying that he has been using it to treat people in order to earn a living.

On his part, an elder brother of the deceased, Yahaya Musa, blamed the native doctor for murdering his brother, saying that he was the one who slaughtered his brother and removed his throat.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the state police command, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, said that the suspect was apprehended in connection to the crime and is being investigated.

Rev. Musa Mairimi, a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), has been killed by bandits in Kaduna.

The bandits also kidnapped his wife in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The incident happened on Thursday night, March 23, 2023,  at ECWA Church Buda (2) Kasuwa Magani DCC in Kajuru.

Hausa Christians Foundation - HAFCO, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Friday, March 24. 

“The Church in Kajuru woke up to the sad news of Murder and Kidnapping this morning. The Fulani Militia have killed Rev. Musa Mairimi and abducted his wife this night 23/3/2023 at ECWA Church Buda (2) Kasuwa Magani DCC.

"Kajuru local government of Kaduna State. Oh Lord we ask for the Grace and Courage to Boldly declare your Counsel for the Salvation of Mankind even amidst this raging persecution. May Your Church keep advancing in Jesus Name. Amen,” the post read.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has slammed Festus Keyamo.

Isiguzoro, on Friday called for the arrest of Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

Isiguzoro accused Keyamo of trying to inflame those calling for an interim government to prevent the swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze made the call while responding to Keyamo’s letter asking DSS to arrest the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Isiguzoro said Keyamo was trying to burn down Nigeria by calling for Obi’s arrest over alleged inflammatory remarks.

Speaking, Isiguzoro said:

A heavy rainstorm has caused serious havoc in Kogi on Friday.

The storm rendered many homeless after destroying houses in Iyara, headquarters of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

An unspecified number of people were reported to have sustained various degrees of injuries in the disaster.

The heavy rain started at about some minutes past 4pm as some classrooms of Community High School, Iyara were touched by the storm.

Although there was no loss of life, those injured according to reports are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

The President of Iyara Development Association, Alh. Aliyu Badaki expressed sadness over the disaster which he described as unfortunate.

According to him, the damage done by the storm is massive and beyond what the Community can handle.

He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Corporate Organizations, and well-to-do individuals to come to the aid of the community.

A social critic, Senator Shehu Sani has reacted to the recent loss by the nation’s Super Eagles against the national team of Guinea Bissau in an African Cup of Nations qualification series on Friday.

Sani said that bad luck has become the country’s only luck.

His statement is contained in a post via his verified Twitter handle on Saturday.

The former lawmaker advised that the nation’s team stops playing any international football tournament until after May 29th.

He wrote: “For the peace and health of our Hearts, it’s better we stop playing any international football tournament until after May 29th. Bad luck has become our only luck.”

A wanted suspect, Eze Akachi, has been nabbed in Umuahia, Abia State for alleged acid attack on his neighbour, Chukwuemeka, a native of Ukwa East LGA of the state in 2021.

The suspect who hails from Mbaise, Imo State, resided at Ubakala junction at Umuahia South LGA, when he committed the offence.

His arrest, facilitated by the Nigerian head office of Liberty International in Umuahia, Abia State, was coordinated by James Anyim Agbai, a human rights activist and journalist.

Speaking on the arrest of the suspect, Agbai recalled that Eze Akachi attacked his victim, Chukwuemeka, with liquid suspected to be acid, which allegedly damaged the victim’s eyes.

According to him, the traditional ruler of Mgbarakuma community in Ubakala, informed Liberty International about the crime, adding that Mrs Juliet Chukwuemeka, the victim’s wife, took her husband to Liberty International head office in Isieke Umuahia to lodge a complaint against the assailant, Eze Akachi.

According to Agbai, the suspect was previously arrested for the crime two years ago, but was granted bail by a Magistrate Court in Umuahia following ‘soft” charges brought against him by the police prosecuting team.

The suspect allegedly jumped bail for one year which made the judge in charge of High Court 5 Umuahia to issue an order for his arrest on sight.

“God exposed the suspect this March when he was sighted at Ohiya Mechanic Village in Umuahia by the wife of the acid victim, where she was hawking the popular Akpu Miri. Mrs Chukwuemeka raised an alarm and with the help of people at Ohiya and the efforts of my office, the suspect was re-arrested again and brought to the police station,” Agbai recounted.

The suspect was thereafter charged to court on March 21, 2023 and is currently facing trial again.

Agbai further promised to ensure that the alleged acid bath attack will not be swept under the carpet until justice is served.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has rejected the ruling of the Federal High Court that ordered the state to pay N5m compensation to Clement Adedotun.
Sanwo-Olu Rejects N5m Compensation To Uber Driver Tortured During EndSARS Protest

The court had ordered Sanwo-Olu’s government to pay the sum of N5m to Adedotun Clement, an uber driver who was severely tortured during EndSARS protest on October 20, 2021 at the Lekki toll gate.

Clement was carrying a passenger to Lagos Mainland when he encountered a gridlock at the Lekki Toll-Gate during a protest to commemorate the first anniversary of EndSARS.

Following the pandemonium that ensued after policemen and officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency fired tear-gas canisters to disperse the protesters, Clement temporarily abandoned his car like other motorists and ran for his life.

However, when he returned to pick his car, he was accosted, dragged, tortured and manhandled by the officers who refused to heed his entreaties that he was a Uber driver and only wanted to retrieve his car. The assault was captured on video and reported by media houses.

In their attempt to forcefully put him inside the vehicle of the Lagos State Taskforce otherwise called Black Maria, the officials of the Lagos State Government in connivance with police officers also used pepper-spray on Clement who cried for help.

Following public condemnation that trailed the viral incident, a human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Inibehe Effiong, took up the case and sued the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, Attorney General of Lagos and the Nigeria Police.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, March 14, in the fundamental rights case with Suit Number: FHC/CS/1862/2021, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice A. L. Allagoa, found that the treatment meted on the applicant amounted to a violation of his right to dignity and awarded the sum of N5 million as damages.

Following the judgment, Effiong wrote a letter to Governor Sanwo-Olu on March 16, 2023 demanding compliance with the judgment.

However, the governor refused to act on the demand, instead the State Government now filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Lagos division against the judgment.

In a Notice of Appeal filed on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, but served on Friday, March 23, signed by Dr Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the government said there was no evidence that the Uber driver was tortured.

Responding to the appeal, Effiong said his client was disappointed by the action of the Lagos State Government but that he was ready to face the government at the Court of Appeal.

He said; “I’m not surprised by their decision not to obey a judgment that the everyone knows is justifiable. Since they’ve chosen this infamous path, I will equally file a cross-appeal against the N5 Million damages and ask the Court of Appeal to increase it significantly.

“The message derivable from this action is that Lagosians are back to the regime of real Governor Sanwo-Olu that they know, and not the pretentious one who tried to project himself as a populist or respecter of human rights during the campaigns.”

Nollywood actress Angela Eguavoen, in this interview talks about her sports life, love for Neymar, ‘relationship’ with 1994 AFCON winner and ex-Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen, and more

Did any sport catch your fancy while you were growing up?

Oh yes, that was back then, when I was in Paradise Schools in Benin City. At the inter-house sports, I used to participate in a lot of sporting activities. I loved swimming especially, but I also ran races and the sack races were fun to take part in because you would try your hardest not to fall, but the sack will do its best to bring you down. I did not win many medals for the school, but I really liked to participate in a lot of extracurricular activities.

Why do you love swimming?

I was best at swimming. I just love to swim because it is a sport that deals with every part of the body, so, I just gravitated towards swimming more. Now, I still participate in swimming more than any other sport.

Did your parents encourage swimming back then or were they more interested in your academic pursuit?

My parents are the kind of people that never discourage anyone from doing anything. They don’t tell you to stop or not pursue a particular interest, so, I always had the support from them and even when I later started participating in cultural activities, which led to my love for the theatre and acting.

Nowadays, do you still participate in any sporting activities?

Yes, I do a lot of walks, oftentimes throughout my estate and I use my jump ropes a lot in my house. I also encourage everyone around me to take a walk because it may seem little, but it does a lot for your body.

What sport do you watch now for entertainment?

It’s only football and that is because of my man, he likes football too much and he is now influencing me also to watch.

Do you have a favourite footballer?

I like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but I love Neymar, he is my favourite.

Why is Neymar your favourite?
He is a very good footballer and he is good-looking and highly talented. He is loading with a lot of good attributes.

Do you follow the Super Eagles?

What I do when lonely –Angela Eguavoen
Yes, I do and Victor Osimhen is my favourite player in the team. He is doing very well in Europe but I am not sure if only Osimhen will be able to carry the Eagles all the way. Hopefully, he is the missing link we need to do better. I am very proud of all that he is doing in Europe. Anyone putting Nigeria on the map, wherever you are, footballer, actor or a musician, as long you keep putting Nigeria on the map, I am always proud of whoever that person is because when you are winning, we are all winning.

How did you feel when the Eagles couldn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?

I was heartbroken, I was embarrassed. At this point, anything that has to do with Nigeria, I don’t put my hopes too high, so, I don’t end up getting disappointed. As they didn’t qualify, I didn’t take it to heart because it is Nigeria. I hope we can qualify for the next one now though, because I am impressed with the amount of talenyt in that team now and I believe Nigerians can succeed at whatever we put our hearts to do. See the way the music industry is booming now all around the world. It will be impressive if the football part of Nigeria can get all over the world. I don’t think it is impossible for us to win the World Cup.

So what country did you support at the World Cup since Nigeria was absent?

Morocco. I really wanted them to win because they are Africans and also because they played very good football at the tournament.

Do you think there is anything that can be done to make sports in Nigeria better organised?

First of all, with the type of government we have in Nigeria, that doesn’t focus on proper training, they need to first deal with that aspect. The only thing Nigeria has gotten right when it comes to our football is the jerseys, the designs are always on point and so beautiful. So, they should make the training environment for the athletes beautiful too, and pay them very well and let them have good health insurance. I feel with these things, it is going to be way better and the players will actually be able to play really good football, both the male and female teams.

How far do you think the Super Falcons can go at the upcoming 2023 Women’s World Cup?

I am very very proud of them for qualifying and I will definitely watch them at the tournament. I feel they should be able to do well.  If the environment is conducive for them, they should be able to do really well.

So who is your favourite Nigerian footballer of all time?

Mikel Obi is my favourite footballer of all time and he even influenced my support for Chelsea. It is a Nigerian thing to always support our own.

Your last name, Eguavoen, is same as that of former Super Eagles captain and coach Austin Eguavoen. Are you both related?

I am not related to him, and I have been asked many times, so, it is now a normal thing for me. We are from the same state, so, there is a possibility of a relation but none that I know of. I wasn’t really following football when he played, so, I don’t know much of his playing days but we talk on socials, we follow each other on social media but have never met.

Will you invest your children who intend pursuing a sports career?

I will one hundred per cent because there is so much money in sports right now, and I love it. I love how it exposes you to the world and it feels like once you are there, you can be sorted. I just love everything about sports, and for the fact that there is so much money in it and it is a convenient thing to do. Of course, if any of my children have interest in it and they love it, I would support them.

Nafisa Abbas, a housewife, has been dragged to court in Abuja.

The woman, on Friday, appeared before a Grade 1 Area Court, Karu, Abuja, for allegedly causing grievous harm to her neighbour.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the police charged Abbas, 20, with voluntarily causing grievous harm and inciting disturbance.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr Olanrewaju Osho, told the court that sometime in December 2022, the defendant poured hot water and beans on the victim, who was her neighbour, thereby causing her injuries.

The incident happened behind ECWA Church, Karu, Abuja.

The prosecutor said the defendant had been brought to the Karu Police Station on several occasions for inciting public disturbance and had been warned by the police to desist from the act.

The judge, Malam Umar Mayana, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He held that the sureties must provide means of identification and verifiable addresses.

The case was adjourned until March 28 for substantive hearing.

The Umuigbo Youth Progressive Association has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and traditional institutions to do more to secure the lives and property of Igbos and non-Igbos residents of Lagos State.

The association made the plea in a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, National Secretary and National Patron, Rev. Gabriel Emmanuel, Ms Gladys Ogoke, and Chief Mbazuruike Amaechi respectively on Friday in Lagos.

In the statement entitled: “Threats and Attacks on Igbos and Non- Igbos Resident in Lagos State”, the group described as totally unacceptable the alleged attacks in the state.

“The Umuigbo Youth Progressive Association believe in One Nigeria and also believes that every Nigerian citizen is free to live, work and do his or her legitimate business in any part of the country without being terrorised or subjected to threats of any kind.

“To this effect, we hereby call on the Governor of Lagos State and traditional rulers to publicly condemn these attacks and put a stop to it,” it stated.

According to the statement, the attacks are deliberately promoted for political gains without thinking of the long-term consequences on the peaceful co-existence of residents and the people of the state.

“We are waiting for a response from Lagos State Government guaranteeing the security of the lives and properties of everyone resident in Lagos State irrespective of their tribes or religion,” it stated.

The statement urged the state government to continue to protect residents of the state regardless of tongues and ethnic background.

Following the conduct of the March 18 gubernatorial election in Nasarawa state, indigenes, Friday, have expressed displeasure over the outcome of the election, threatening to go on a seven-day state protest.

The indignes who made their stand known during a protest in Abuja also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to, as a matter of urgency, review the results of the Nasarawa State governorship elections.

The protesters under the auspices of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State further further demanded the immediate removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

The leadership of the party in Karu accused the INEC of being biased in the conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly election.

The protesters with placards with inscriptions such as:

Following the conduct of the March 18 gubernatorial election in Nasarawa state, indigenes, Friday, have expressed displeasure over the outcome of the election, threatening to go on a seven-day state protest.

The indignes who made their stand known during a protest in Abuja also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to, as a matter of urgency, review the results of the Nasarawa State governorship elections.

The protesters under the auspices of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State further further demanded the immediate removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

The leadership of the party in Karu accused the INEC of being biased in the conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly election.

The protesters with placards with inscriptions such as:

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola was on Friday spotted observing Jumat prayers at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque in Abuja.

The development is coming in the wake of reports that the CJN allegedly met with President-elect, Bola Tinubu in London.

CJN Ariwoola leaves Supreme Court premises for Jumat prayer in Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kayode Ariwoola leaving the Supreme Court for the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Abuja, to observe his prayers on Friday pic.twitter.com/b2AJn2Kz0O

— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) March 24, 2023

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, March 24, 2023, arraigned Mamman Nasir Ali, son of Ahmadu Ali, a former Chairman, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and one Christian Taylor before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud.

They were arraigned alongside Nasaman Oil Services Limited on an amended 49-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, contrary to Section 8 and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006; obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006; forgery, contrary to Section 363 (3)(j) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011; and use of false documents contrary to Section 364 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

One of the counts reads: “Nasaman Oil Services Ltd, Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo (now at large) and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez (still at large), on or about the 9th day of November 2011 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud ,conspired to obtain the sum of N749,991,273.36 (Seven Hundred and Forty-nine Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy-three Naira Thirty-six Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria by falsely claiming that the sum of N749,991,273.36 represented subsidy accruing to Nasaman Oil Services Ltd under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 10,031,986 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which Nasaman Oil Services Ltd purported to have purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd of British Virgin Islands and imported into Nigeria through MT Liquid Fortune Ltd of British Virgin Islands and imported into Nigeria through MT Liquid Fortune Ltd Ex MT Overseas Lima, which representation you knew to be false.”

Another count reads: “Nasaman Oil Services Ltd, Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo (now at large) and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez (still at large),on or about the 11th day of April 2011 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,480,074,125.61 (One Billion Four Hundred and Eighty Million Seventy-four Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-five Naira Sixty-one Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria by claiming that the sum represented subsidy accruing to Nasaman Oil Services Ltd under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 20,492,982.50 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),which Nasaman Oil Services Ltd purported to have purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd of British Virgin Islands and imported into Nigeria through MT Liquid Fortune Ex Mt. Hellenic Blue and Ex MT. Milleura, which representation you knew to be false.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against them.

They were initially standing trial before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

However, Justice Onigbanjo withdrew from the case on health grounds, prompting the re-assignment of the case to Justice Dada.

Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, S.K. Atteh, prayed the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution call its witnesses and tender necessary documents to prove the case against them.

The defence counsel, Kolade Obafemi, however, applied to the court to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the bail already granted to them by Justice Onigbanjo.

“We crave your lordship’s indulgence that the existing bail granted to the defendants be allowed to continue,” he said.

In response, Atteh noted that what was most paramount for the prosecution was the attendance of the defendants to face trial.

“Our interest is that the defendants attend the trial; and so, we leave the decision to the discretion of this Honourable Court,” he said.

The defence counsel could not immediately present the bail papers of the defendants to the court, though he furnished the court with the earlier court rulings of Justice Onigbanjo with regard to the bail applications.

“I need to see the bail papers,” Justice Dada insisted.

In the instance, Justice Dada ordered that the defendants be remanded at the EFCC custody till the bail papers are presented to the court and a formal application for the bail of the defendants is filed.

The case has been adjourned till May 29 to 31, 2023 for trial.

Benue State House of Assembly member-elect for Gboko-West constituency, Mr Aondona Dajoh, is fortunate to be alive after an assassination attempt on his life.

Hoodlums were said to have ambushed him while driving home Thursday night, March 23, at Gyado Junction in Gboko Local Government Area of the state

He managed to escape but his car was burnt by the hoodlums.

Spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident.

Youths and residents of Ayede-Ogbese in Akure North local government area staged a peaceful protest on Friday to voice their discontent over the frequent attacks and kidnapping of several people by suspected foreign fulani herdsmen in their area.

After submitting a number of petitions over the years to alert the authorities to their situation, the youth came out in large numbers on the Akure-Owo expressway to demand immediate action from government and security services.

The protest was triggered by the recent abduction of three people in the community.

High Chief Femi Fajembimo, the Lisa of Ayede Ogbese, bemoaned the excessive security breaches caused by some Fulani herders in the town who are primarily from Chad and the Republic of Niger.

He said: “We have been under attack for over three years. Fulani groups, apparently from Chad and Niger, have set up structures in the territory to take over vast areas of farmland by force.

“The leaders of this Fulani group have taken up residence in neighbourhoods within Ayede Ogbese Kingdom whilst keeping their armed foot soldiers in the forests with their cattle.

“These armed Fulani terrorists, pretending to be cattle herders, are armed with Ak-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons with which they constantly attack anyone that ventures into the territory they have forcefully taken over.”

On her part, the Ondo State Police Command spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, disclosed that sanity has been restored in the community following the deployment of a detachment of security operatives to the area.

The police spokesperson appealed to the youths to allow peace to reign while assuring that security agencies have commenced thorough search in the area to secure the release of the kidnapped victims.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the duo of Taiwo Oluwadahunsola and Adebola Adetayo before Justice O. O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, for alleged N999,950,000 fraud.

They were arraigned alongside Green Eagles Limited on a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and issuance of dishonoured cheques.

Oluwadahunsola, Adetayo and Green Eagles Agribusiness, in September 2020, allegedly stole N946,000,311, from Volition Capital Investment Staff (Eti-Osa) Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited.

In another count, the defendants, on 3rd November, 2020 in Lagos, dishonestly converted N50,000,000, belonging to Volition Capital to the use of Green Eagles Agribusiness Solution Limited.

After they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari prayed the court for a trial date to prove its case.

Counsel for the defendants, Williams Ugwu, however, informed the court of the bail applications for the defendants.

Justice Abike-Fadipe granted them bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

The defendants were remanded at a correctional centre pending the perfection of their bail conditions while the case was adjourned till July 6, 2023.

Lagos State segxwal Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday sentenced 51-year-old Ubregbo Parmer to life imprisonment for defiling his colleague’s nine-year-old daughter.

Justice Abiola Soladoye sentenced Ubregbo after finding him guilty of the offence of defilement, which the prosecution sufficiently proved against the convict.

“The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, a medical doctor and the victim showed that the convict committed the offence. The evidence of the different prosecution witnesses established the ingredients of the offence against the defendant, who the victim properly identified.

“The victim gave a vivid and gory account of her ordeal in the hands of the defendant. I find him guilty of the one count of defilement and hereby sentenced [him] to life imprisonment,” the judge ruled.

Justice Soladoye berated the victim’s mother for being negligent in allowing her child to be taken away by a male colleague without supervision.

The state counsel, Olufunke Adegoke, called two witnesses and tendered two exhibits during the trial while the defendant testified as the sole witness in his defence.

Olufunke said the victim’s mother brought her daughter to the office and left her to attend to other things when the convict removed her panties and had segxwal intercourse with her.

The convict committed the offence on December 10, 2019 in the Magodo area of Lagos State.

The CBN has described as fake, the news making the rounds that it suspended accounts of Fintech companies like OPAY and PALMPAY.

CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that the viral news “is simply fake’’.

The viral news credited to AbdulMumin stated that the CBN was about to suspend accounts of the Fintech companies because they were being used to perpetrate fraud.

“Please if you are using OPAY, PALMPAY or any of these CHINA APPs or their POS, stop keeping much money in the account or stop using it.

“The CBN is about suspending their accounts because these apps are being used to perpetrate fraud,’’ the viral news read in parts.

OPAY and PALMPAY had in separate social media messages denied being under the radar of the CBN.

OPAY had stated that: “the post mentioning the CBN shutting down our operations is false and misleading to the general public.’’

PALMPAY also posted a similar disclaimer that: “we are aware of news currently being spread on social media about CBN shutting down the operations of PALMPAY.

“Please ignore all such misleading news of this nature,’’ it stated.

OPAY and PALMPAY are licensed under the CBN mobile payment regulatory framework.

They are to provide mobile money services including mobile payment services to both the banked and unbanked, and to drive financial inclusion.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have welcomed their third child together.

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan announced on Friday that their third baby girl arrived.

“Welcome to the world, Aurelia Chan Zuckerberg!” the couple wrote via Instagram. “You’re such a little blessing.”

Zuckerberg and his former Harvard University classmate previously welcomed daughters Max, 7, and August, 5, in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

The Meta CEO announced in September 2022 that his wife was pregnant for the third time and that his two kids have a sibling on the way.

“Happy to share that Max and August are getting a new baby sister next year!” he wrote.

Congratulations to the couple!!!

Check out their post below…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)