Three native doctors in Anambra State, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Ki, Onyebuchi Okocha, also known as “Onyeze Jesus,” and Ekene Igboekweze, known as “Eke Hit,” have been remanded in prison by a state High Court.
The native doctors, who were arraigned before Justice Jude Obiorah on Friday, were accused of preparing protective charms for criminals and engaging in money rituals.
Their arraignment follows their arrest and detention about a month ago.
However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Justice Onuorah ordered that the defendants be remanded at the state facility, and the case was adjourned to April 11, 2025.
A bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba, in the Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State was triggered by a scavenger, Saturday PUNCH has gathered.
The explosion claimed the life of the scavenger and left three others injured.
Findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the scavenger was attempting to dismantle military-grade grenades with the intention of collecting them as part of the scrap metal he was searching for.
The scavenger, whose identity is yet to be known, was handling one of the grenades when it detonated, killing him instantly.
Three other individuals, whose names and addresses are also unknown, sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.
He said, “At 13:30 hours on April 3, 2025, a distress call was received by the EOD unit based in Ikeja that there was a bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba. Our team of EOD-CBRN operatives was swiftly mobilised to the scene.
“On arrival, the team ensured the area was safe, and after a thorough inspection, it was discovered that the explosion was caused by military-grade grenades that had been tampered with by a scavenger who was trying to split one of them. Sadly, the scavenger lost his life at the scene, while three others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.”
Hundeyin further confirmed that the scene was secured, photographed, and crucial evidence was collected for analysis.
“The deceased’s body has been moved to a public morgue for autopsy, and an investigation has been initiated. Further developments will be communicated,” he added.
Residents of Mogede community in Ibafo, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, have accused the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company of diverting electricity meant for their community to nearby companies, leaving them in darkness for months.
The residents also decried what they called an “astronomical increase in billing” despite the prolonged blackout.
According to them, the situation has crippled businesses and made life unbearable for many households.
In a protest letter signed by the chairperson of the community, Bisiriyu Serifat, the residents condemned the persistent blackout and the alleged diversion of electricity meant for them to private companies.
They described the situation as unfair and exploitative, calling for urgent intervention from the state government and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
A copy of the letter obtained by Saturday PUNCH reads, “For many months now, we have been having epileptic electricity supply in our community despite the astronomical increase in billing, which must be paid as and when due by customers, otherwise disconnection follows.
“Information reaching us states that electricity meant for our C.D.A is often traded illegally to surrounding companies, while we are persistently left in darkness.”
The residents demanded an urgent intervention by the Ogun State Government and the NERC to investigate their allegations against IBEDC.
Speaking on behalf of the community, a resident, Quadri Adelagun, expressed frustration over IBEDC’s alleged prioritisation of power supply to private companies while neglecting residential consumers.
“For several months now, we have been living in darkness, yet IBEDC keeps bringing us bills as if we are enjoying 24-hour power supply. How can we be paying for electricity we are not using?” he lamented.
Adelagun further alleged that the power distribution company had refused to address their complaints despite several meetings.
“We are not getting value for our money. We have met with IBEDC officials several times, but they have refused to take any action. They continue to take us for granted, as if we are nobody.
“We strongly suspect that IBEDC is illegally trading the electricity meant for our community to other companies in the area. Whenever we get light, it is only for a few hours, but these companies enjoy steady power supply,” he added.
But IBEDC denied diverting electricity meant for the community, saying “electricity supplied to local companies is through private, dedicated sources that are not part of IBEDC’s grid.”
Speaking to our correspondent, a Senior Communication Officer of IBEDC in the state, Ayodeji Bada, noted that Mogede community fell under Band E customers, meaning that its electricity billing was based on NERC’s approved methodology.
He attributed the irregular power supply to the community to rotational energy management system due to inadequate energy supply.
“Mogede community is part of our customer base in the Ibafo area. The electricity supply to this region, which serves Magboro, Ibafo 1, and Ibafo 2, is sourced from the Oke-Aro Transmission Station.
“The total load demand for these communities is 45MW, yet the allocation from the transmission station is currently limited to 12MW. This results in a rotational energy management system, where the three service centers receive supply on a daily rotational basis,” he said.
The Ondo State Police Command has appointed Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP as its new Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO).
He has officially resumed duty and will serve as the Command’s spokesperson, managing public communications and enhancing the force’s image.
This was made known in a statement signed by CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, the outgoing PPRO, on behalf of the Ondo State Commissioner of Police.
Ayanlade holds a degree in Sociology from the Nigeria Police Academy (Regular Course 2) and a Master’s in Criminology and Security Studies. Over the years, he has served in various roles, including as a Divisional Traffic Officer and Divisional Crime Officer.
He is also affiliated with international security organizations, being a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the International Association of Crime Analysts.
The Command also called on the public and media organizations to support Ayanlade in his new role.
Nigerian actor and comedian Ijoba Lande has opened up about his frustrating experience working with Nollywood star Funke Akindele, revealing that he was paid only ₦90,000 after a month of work.
Lande made the revelation in a viral video, sparking mixed reactions. While some criticized Akindele over the alleged low payment, others accused Lande of unfairly calling her out.
During a live session on his social media page, Lande detailed his time working with the Everybody Loves Jenifa star. He claimed to have spent an entire month at Akindele’s residence in Amen Estate, only to receive a payment far below his expectations.
The Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives has welcomed Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court, which removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
The caucus noted that Abure’s exit would bring stability and reinvention to the party.
According to the caucus, the judgment is a timely counsel to leaders who play god in the affairs of men, particularly in a democracy.
In a statement issued on Friday shortly after the Supreme Court pronouncement, the leader of the caucus, Afam Ogene, described the development as a “Veritable tonic for the revitalisation of the party” that has been engulfed by leadership tussle in recent times.
He commended the apex court of the judgment, stressing that LP can now experience a new lease of life.
The apex court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which recognised Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the highest court in the land held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce Abure as the National Chairman of the LP, having earlier determined that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
The Anambra lawmaker added that with the judgment, “The party will hasten to implement necessary mechanisms to restore internal peace and get the party back on track, to reassure its teeming members of the party’s viability for future elections and its commitment to leadership that prioritises the interests and welfare of the people.
“Next week, we expect the National Caretaker Committee, NCC, led by respected former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, to convene an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to chart the way forward.”
Ogene further argued that the crisis which had threatened the stability of the LP in recent times, could have been prevented if Abure and his team had heeded the caucus’ advice, or addressed the concerns of other stakeholders.
“These stakeholders had urged caution and greater sensitivity in managing the party’s affairs. But in a brazen display of arrogance and naked power-mongering, Abure had ignored these warnings, thus creating an environment for crisis to fester.
“For instance, in March 2024, LP House of Representatives members called for the postponement of the national convention of the party scheduled to take place by the end of that month, to allow for further consultations in the light of the party’s lingering leadership skirmishes.
“The caucus had emphasised at the time that the party’s health and sustainability were paramount, given its internal conflicts. As direct representatives of the people, they felt the party needed time to resolve its leadership issues and operational problems before holding a potentially divisive convention.
“Rather than heed that patriotic call, the party leadership proceeded to unleash tirades against them, abusing them in the media and threatening that they would be denied the party tickets for re-election in 2027. That was not only insensitive but undemocratic and disrespectful to the caucus, whose only concern was the peace, unity, sustainability, and progress of the party,” the statement read in part.
According to Ogene, “It is this uncertainty of not being sure of getting a party ticket in the next general elections that has made the caucus lose as many as six members.”
Israel said it killed a commander of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday in a strike in the Lebanese port city of Sidon that also killed his adult son and daughter.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strike as a “flagrant attack on Lebanese sovereignty” and a breach of the November 27 ceasefire with Israel.
“Overnight, the (army and the domestic security agency Shin Bet) conducted a targeted strike in the Sidon area, eliminating the terrorist Hassan Farhat, commander of Hamas’s western arena in Lebanon,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
It alleged that Farhat had orchestrated multiple attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians during the hostilities that followed the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023.
They included rocket fire on the Israeli town of Safed on February 14, 2024, that killed an Israeli soldier, the military added.
The strike on a flat in a residential area of Sidon killed the official and his adult son and daughter, a Palestinian official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
An AFP correspondent saw the fourth-floor flat still on fire after the strike, which caused heavy damage to the apartment block and neighbouring buildings and sparked panic in the densely populated neighbourhood.
Lebanese state media had reported the 3:45 am (0045 GMT) strike on Sidon, saying at least three people were killed.
“A hostile drone raided a residential apartment… causing two successive explosions that led to a fire and extensive damage,” the state-run National News Agency reported.
Emergency workers rushed to the scene where they recovered “the bodies of three martyrs,” NNA said.
The Lebanese prime minister called for “maximum pressure on Israel to force it to halt these continual attacks which target various districts, many of them residential areas”.
Israel struck south Beirut earlier this week, killing a Hezbollah Palestinian liaison officer in only the second raid on the capital since a November ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.
The Lebanese health ministry reported four dead in that strike, including a woman.
Lebanese leaders condemned the attack, but Israel said it was in response to recent unclaimed rocket fire that Hezbollah insists it had no hand in.
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah spiralled into all-out conflict last September, and the group remains a target of Israeli air strikes despite the November 27 ceasefire.
Under the truce, Hezbollah is supposed to redeploy its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.
Israel is supposed to withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, but has missed two deadlines to do so and continues to hold five positions it deems “strategic”.
Indian actor Manoj Kumar, known for his roles in Hindi-language films with patriotic themes, died on Friday at the age of 87.
The death of the man dubbed “Bharat” Kumar — a reference to the ancient Sanskrit word for India, steeped in Hindu religious symbolism — sparked tributes from across the country.
Kumar, who was also a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), died in Mumbai due to heart-related complications.
Modi led the condolences, calling Kumar an “icon” of Indian cinema, saying that his works “ignited a spirit of national pride and will continue to inspire generations”.
Throughout his career, Kumar was known for acting — and at times directing — films that had a focus on unity and national pride.
Born Harikrishan Goswami, he renamed himself in Bollywood tradition — taking on the name Manoj Kumar.
He was the recipient of several national awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honour for cinema.
Kumar made his debut in Indian cinema in the late 1950s.
He went on to star in several films, many with patriotic themes, including “Upkar” (1967), “Purab Aur Pachhim” (1970), and “Kranti” (1981).
The Nigerian Air Force has announced the appointment of Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame as its new spokesperson.
He takes over from Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, who previously held the position.
A statement on Thursday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabir Ali, stated that Ejodame is a seasoned officer with vast experience in logistics, strategic planning, and defence management.
It added that Ejodame‘s appointment is expected to further enhance NAF’s public relations and strategic communication efforts.
The statement added, “He is a member of the 45th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Master’s degree in Transport and Logistics as well as a PhD in Information Systems and Management Studies from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.
“His professional journey has seen him undertake numerous high-level military and strategic courses, including logistics training at the United Nations International Peace Support Operations Centre in Kenya and Optimisation and Decision Making in Supply Chain Course from the Erasmus Intensive Programme, in Portugal.
“He completed training at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the Air Force War College, Makurdi, where he emerged as the Best Graduating Participant. Additionally, he received the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Air Staff Awards at the National Defence College, Abuja.”
The statement said Ejodame held several key appointments, including serving as directing staff at both the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the National Defence College, Abuja.
It added, “He was also the Pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, and the Director of Procurement at the same institution. His experience includes a diplomatic role as Nigeria’s Defence Adviser at the Nigeria High Commission in Malaysia, where he was concurrently accredited to 9 other countries, strengthening Nigeria’s defence ties across the region.
“A distinguished scholar, researcher, and public relations professional, Air Commodore Ejodame is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). He is also a Fellow of the Air Force War College, National Defence College, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport as well as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria.”
The National Counter Terrorism Center has handed over the former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Maharazu Tsiga, and 18 other rescued kidnap victims to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The handover took place in Abuja on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and insecurity in the country.
PUNCH Online reports that Tsiga was abducted alongside other persons on February 5, 2025, from his hometown of Tisga in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He, however, regained freedom on Wednesday after spending 56 days in captivity.
During the handover, Ribadu commended the efforts of the security forces and intelligence agencies involved in the rescue operation.
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to enhancing national security and ensuring the safety of all citizens.
