The Anambra State Police Command has rescued Reverend Father Stephen Echezona, abducted by gunmen at a petrol station in Ichida, Anaocha Local Government Area.
The assailants, operating in a white Lexus SUV without a plate number, took the priest in his own vehicle after abandoning theirs during a gun exchange with security operatives who responded to the attack.
In a statement on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the victim was rescued in the early hours of March 23, 2025, by a joint security team comprising the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and local vigilante groups from Ichida and Ihiala.
“In the early hours of today, March 23, 2025, a Joint Security team comprising the Police, Military, Civil Defence, AVG Ichida, and Ihiala respectively secured the release of Rev. Father Stephen Echezona at Ihiala. The priest was returned unharmed,” Ikenga said.
He added that the kidnappers abandoned their Lexus SUV in an attempt to escape after a gun battle with security forces.
“The victim was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida where a joint security force engaged the armed criminals in a gun duel.
“The assailants abandoned the white Lexus and, in a bid to flee the scene due to the superior firepower of the Joint Security Team, held the Rev. Father hostage.
“The operatives also recovered the white Lexus vehicle,” he further stated.
Ikenga explained that a coordinated chase led to multiple security checkpoints being alerted, forcing the kidnappers to abandon the priest in Ihiala and escape through a nearby bush.
“In a coordinated hot chase by the operatives, different security checkpoints and security operatives in the state were alerted, which resulted in the criminals abandoning the Priest at Ihiala and escaping through a nearby bush.
“The joint security team has taken over the scene in Ihiala for possible arrest of the armed criminals and recovery of the Toyota Highlander belonging to the Rev. Father.
“Further developments would be communicated, please,” Ikenga added.
Mrs Uchechi Kanu, wife of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has said the apologies tendered by her husband’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, are yielding results.
Uchechi said it was crucial for Agabi, whom she described as “a towering figure” to address the court in that manner to ease tensions.
The IPOB leader’s wife stated this in a press statement shared with Sunday PUNCH.
She disclosed that the apologies were Agabi’s initiatives to clarify past arguments and outbursts witnessed at Justice Binta Nyako’s court, adding that the counsel’s decisions would facilitate dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
At the resumed sitting, Agabi apologised to the court on behalf of the IPOB leader, saying, “They are now at a place where they must apologise to Justice Binta Nyako, the prosecution team, and his legal team.”
Agabi stated that Kanu had been angry for a long time, and noted that the attack on Justice Nyako was unjustified. He also apologised to Kanu’s team, whom Kanu had verbally attacked at the last sitting.
The counsel further expressed regret over Kanu’s comments directed at the Federal Government’s counsel, who is also the chairman of the Body of Benchers, describing him as a lawyer held in high regard.
Reacting to the development, Uchechi said, “My husband, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, accepted the need for Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, the new lead counsel, to address the court of Justice James Omotosho on what transpired at Binta Nyako’s court, that shook the foundations of the Nigerian judiciary.”
“These clarifications were duly delivered by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN—a towering figure. Chief Agabi, stepping into Onyendu’s brief, acted to smooth the ruffled feathers in some segments of the bar and bench, caused by his legitimate, anger-fuelled outbursts against Justice Binta Nyako’s court that led to her recusal.
She said, “Chief Kanu Agabi’s stature demanded it; he couldn’t represent Onyendu without restoring decorum acceptable to the Abuja bench in particular and the judiciary in general.
“Remarkably, Justice James Omotosho, also apologised to Onyendu for the prolonged delay and mishandling of his trial over the years, acknowledging his ordeal at the hands of the Federal High Court Abuja.”
The Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, has said that President Tinubu acted fast to save Nigeria’s economy by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He also said it was the proper thing to do to suspend the political actors in the two factions to allow for tensions to diffuse.
Karimi, in a statement on Friday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, said that the President acted in the best interest of the state and Nigeria, having taken his decision in compliance with the constitution.
He said, “President Bola Tinubus’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State have wider political and economic safeguards for both the state and the county at large.
“No President or government worth its name, will fold its arms and watch a political situation deteriorate to what we saw in Rivers State. We saw that bombing of pipelines had begun, and the security situation was getting worse with the tension everywhere.”
He recalled the “fatherly role” Tinubu had played in the crisis since 2023 in a bid to get the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to reach an understanding, but to no avail.
He explained, “We were all here in 2023 when Mr President called that truce meeting at the Aso Rock Villa. There was an eight-point agenda for settlement reached between the factions.
“When Nigerians expected that progress should be made to achieve peace, things started deteriorating considerably to a point where the governor demolished the House of Assembly building and administered the state with only three legislators.”
Karimi observed that with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which gave the upper hand to the 27 lawmakers loyal to the camp of the FCT minister, matters merely got worse in the state as the lawmakers were set to impeach the governor.
“What did you expect would be the implications? There would have been more destruction, killings and economic losses for the country.
With the bombings that had already started, it was a matter of time before the whole state would be engulfed in flames. No responsible President would sit, arms folded, and allow that to happen,” he added.
The senator further argued that it took “painstaking efforts” by the administration to raise daily crude oil production to around 1,800 barrels, noting that Nigeria’s economy was already “witnessing a rebound under the renewed hope projects of the government.”
“Allowing the situation in Rivers to get worse before he would act, wouldn’t have helped the state or Nigeria as a country in any way.
“Mr. President intervened at the right time, and his actions are covered by law”, he said
Karimi also spoke on the emergency declaration done in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and a couple of other states by former President Goodluck Jonathan without removing the governors from office or suspending the state assemblies.
He stated that the case with those states was not generated by political crises but rather by security concerns.
“So, I will advise those comparing the two scenarios to remember that one was purely about security threats resulting from the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, while that of Rivers is clearly political.
“It was the proper thing to do to suspend the political actors in the two factions to allow for tensions to diffuse. Nigerians should appreciate the President for the action he has taken so far,” he stated.
He also noted that there was no cause for alarm as the National Assembly had indicated that the emergency rule could be reviewed as soon as there were signs that things could quickly normalise in the state.
A former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, has applauded the dismissal of criminal charges against her and two others over a stampede incident in Ibadan, Oyo State, which led to the death of 35 children.
She, however, says her heart still grieves over the tragedy.
PUNCH Online reports that the Oyo State Government had in December 2024 filed murder charges against the ex-queen, popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal of Islamic High School in Bashorun, Abdullahi Fasasi.
The defendants spent nearly a month at Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan and spent Christmas and New Year’s Day in custody before they were released on bail.
At the Thursday proceedings, the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, applied to withdraw the charges before an Oyo State High Court.
Following the application, the judge, Justice B.K. Olawoyin struck out the case and dismissed the murder charges.
Reacting to the ruling in a post via her Instagram handle on Thursday, Silekunola stated that she had been silent on the matter due to a court order but expressed relief at the outcome.
She wrote, “As a woman and a mother who for many years has been a passionate lover and advocate of children, my heart bleeds and goes out to the bereaved families whose children lost their lives in the event of December 18, 2024, which was intended for good but later ended up in a sad experience for us all.
“My prayer is for God to comfort the families and rest the souls of the children who lost their lives in the unfortunate occurrence. May the Lord restore their joy and grant each of them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
She appreciated the Oyo State Government for acting in good faith and also expressed gratitude to her family, religious leaders, and supporters for the love and prayers she received during her ordeal.
“Through God, in His infinite mercies today, the charges against us were withdrawn after a compassionate consideration from the Oyo State Government, having considered our intention and our attitude towards all that has happened.
“Though we feel relieved by the outcome of today’s court proceeding, my heart and the hearts of everyone directly affected still grieve the loss. I pray for our healing and ask for your prayers also.
“I have received love so pure, so genuine, with no iota of discrimination and prejudice… My dearest nuclear and extended family, my spiritual daddies and mummies, my loving ardent followers and fans spread across the globe, my friends, volunteers, and partners of Wings. Indeed, eniyan laso mi! You all prayed for me, on me, and with me. Ha! Thank you!! I couldn’t believe my ears and my eyes.”
NAFDAC destroys N1tn fake drugs, others in Anambra
The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, on Friday, destroyed counterfeit, substandard and fake pharmaceutical and other products worth over one trillion naira at the Anambra State Waste Management Authority Dump Site, Agu Awka, Anambra State.
The Director General of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, who performed the exercise at the dump site located in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra, said the affected products include, Analgin, controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg, amongst others.
Adeyeye, who was represented by the NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director, Dr Martins Iluyomade, said the fake, substandard, unregistered, and expired drugs were confiscated from Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu- Ogu) and Ekumi/ Tenant Road drug market in Aba.
Addressing journalists shortly before the destruction of the items, the NAFDAC boss reiterated the commitment of NAFDAC to ensuring that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water and drinks are safe, wholesome and effective for human consumption.
NAFDAC destroys N1tn fake drugs, others in Anambra
She said, “Today, we are destroying the fake, counterfeit and illicit drugs that were seized during our one month enforcement exercise. The products that were classified as illicit, expired, and banned were confiscated during a raid on Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market (Ogbu- Ogu) and Ekumi/ Tenant Road drug market in Aba.
“The recent discovery of counterfeit and other products in these major markets in the country is mind-boggling. The discoveries made of the presence of unregistered products, banned products such as Analgin, and Controlled substances such as Tramadol 225mg amongst others, are part of the things making our country unsafe in terms of security.
She noted that the agency intends to put an end to substandard drugs.
She said, “We, as an agency have come to realise that the time has come to put an end to the circulation of substandard medicines in Nigeria. Different calls, different cries have been made and we have listened to those cries and rejig our ways and assured Nigerians that they can go to bed that whatever medicines that are now in the system are safe and fit for consumption.
The enforcement exercise took us about a month from February 10 to March 5 and we want to say it is a continuous exercise. The current management of NAFDAC has an unrenewable commitment to ensure that these fake drugs are stamped out. It is a bit complex even though we have said that medicines have been certified but still people get them in.
“Bulk volumes of narcotics and other medicines that are not approved because of their effect were confiscated. The volume that we found during this exercise is more than enough to destabilise a country, by research, there is a correlation between them and insecurity.
“The volume is huge and humongous and it is one of the highest in the world. From Onitsha and Aba, the total volume of trucks of fake drugs that have been moved out of these markets are over a 100 40ft containers. And it is over a trillion naira, the estimated value of products that are being destroyed today. Millions of people have been saved by this action alone
“We assure all Nigerians that the medicines that are now available in the market are authentic and efficacious and we urge Nigerians that when they see something, they should say something.”
The NAFDAC boss, however, commended the media for its role in propagating the fight against fake drugs in the country, calling for every individual to lend their voice against fake drugs.
The Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Authority, Mike Ozoemanam, who represented the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, commended NAFDAC for sanitising the market of fake and illicit drugs.
He said, “The governor visited the market during the enforcement exercise. He did not come there to play politics, but to support the agency. The governor took the bull by the horns because we saw the correlation between the fake drugs and the effect on our youths and you can see that the state is now quiet.
“Anambra people are good people and peace-loving people and we urge NAFDAC not to relent in their fight against fake and illicit drugs Whether banned or contaminated, we do not want it in Anambra State.”
The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Friday, secured a court injunction barring the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting the recall petition from her constituency.
The push to recall the lawmaker intensified on Thursday, with more groups in her constituency throwing their weight behind the process.
The move comes on the heel of her suspension from the Red Chamber, after a dispute with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements.
On Wednesday, constituents began the process for her recall but INEC denied knowledge of the process.
The Federal High Court sitting at Lokoja on Thursday, however, granted an interim injunction restraining INEC from receiving or acting on any petition seeking to recall her pending the determination of the motion.
The court granted the application following an ex-parte application for interim injunction supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency along with other court processes sworn to by Anebe Jacob Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The application was moved by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co.
The case was adjourned to May 6, 2025 for a report of service and further mention.
The order read, “That an interim injunction is granted restraining the defendant, staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the defendant by any person or persons whatsoever, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of the said district and conducting any referendum to initiate a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion.
“That the enrolled order of this honourable court alongside the Motion on notice be served on the defendant/Respondent pending the determination of the substantive suit. That the return date shall be the 6th day of May 2025 for report of service and further mention.”
A member of the House of Representatives, Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, has expressed support for the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
The lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North, South and Orire Federal Constituency described it “as a necessary step to restore order amid the escalating political crisis in the state.”
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Alao-Akala said, “The declaration of emergency rule in Rivers is in order, considering the current state of affairs in the state. It is important that we do everything possible to restore sanity and protect the interests of the people.
“The political crisis in that state has worsened in recent weeks, with tensions rising between key political stakeholders. This has led to concerns about a breakdown in law and order, prompting the Federal Government to consider the emergency rule as a last resort to contain the situation.”
The Chairman of the House Committee on Youth in Parliament stated that emergency rule should not be viewed as a long-term solution to the political crisis in the state.
He, however, asserted that it is the best course of action to prevent anarchy and safeguard residents from political fallout.
“The Youth in Parliament stands for democracy and good governance. However, when democracy is threatened by internal wranglings, it is the duty of the authorities to step in and restore stability. The people of Rivers deserve peace, and if emergency rule is what will guarantee that, then it is justified,” he stressed.
PUNCH Online reports that President Bola Tinubu had, on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, as well as members of the House of State House of Assembly for six months.
The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (retd) as the Sole Administrator for the state.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called for overhauling of outdated curricula in Nigerian Universities.
Kalu, while delivering his convocation lecture to mark the 37th convocation and 50th anniversary of the University Of Calabar on Thursday, revealed that with the use of Artificial Intelligence, most Nigerian courses are becoming obsolete and cannot be linked to problem-solving in line with modern realities.
The lawmaker emphasized that Nigerian Universities must rise up to its challenges and prioritise the introduction of tech skills such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, and data analysis.
He said, “The challenge beyond us is clear, our universities must go beyond theory to practical impact, bringing the gown into the town and now into cyberspace where knowledge is applied.”
“Universities should stop teaching students courses and curriculums that cannot transform them into problem solvers. There is so much emphasis on CGPA, and it is not based on GPA, it is based on problem-solving.
“Outdated teaching methods fail to empower students for future challenges. The true major of education is its true impact on the town. How many university projects directly tackle local challenges like health care, water access, food security or transportation? Our research should move away from theories and offer tangible solutions while graduates must be equipped to address real issues from policy refinements to policy transportation.
“Law faculties must adopt blockchains. Engineering students should embrace robotics when the gown mirrors the town’s needs, and productivity follows when we bridge the gap between academia and society university can drive national progress while contributing to global knowledge.
“We must translate theories into problem-solving, we should leverage technology and reform our curriculum. ”
Benjamin called on impactful learning on the path of University lecturers to students whom he described as future leaders who would shape the country’s policies, decisions, and laws in years ahead.
Ebira indigenes have condemned claims that the recall process against the lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was not backed by the majority of the electorate in the district.
The indigenes, drawn from the five local government areas of Kogi Central, reiterated their commitment to the recall, stating that the embarrassment caused by the embattled senator had taken an “international dimension.”
This position was contained in a statement on Thursday, jointly signed by the President and Secretary of the Kogi Central Elites Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Ibrahim and Prince Akerejola Johnson of Ogori/Magongo LGA, respectively.
The constituents urged Nigerians to dismiss what they described as “deliberate mischief” by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp, which suggested that people were deceived into supporting the recall exercise.
“No one is sponsoring this recall. Our people are largely united on this cause. From the history of Ebiras, you know we cannot be deceived. What she has done has been mainly propaganda. Even some of us that supported her on social media then are no longer with her. We cannot trade the integrity of the state and Nigeria for a Senator’s selfish, juvenile tendencies.
“A matter as simple as not taking an assigned seat in the Senate should not be one that would warrant a ‘sexual harassment’ national embarrassment of this nature, especially where all evidence point to blackmail. This is not who we are as Ebiras,” the statement read.
Addressing concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) stance on the recall process, the group clarified that the electoral body’s role had been misrepresented.
INEC has no official role until after this signature collection phase. We are the ones that are doing the recall, the petitioners. We have to ensure that the required threshold is met before formally presenting it for verification. This is where INEC comes in,” they explained.
They urged the public to disregard “mischievous interpretations” of the recall process, stressing that politicians would always frame events to suit their interests.
“For us as Ebira people, we are determined to bring Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan back home. While she is at home, she may learn the rudiments of representing her constituents better.
“Ordinarily, we would never have allowed anyone to intimidate our daughter if she was on her right. But in this particular instance, she disrespected the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which has clear rules and went on to introduce slants that have never been heard of in the history of the Senate.
“We investigated and we know the truth. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan should come home and learn the art of law-making. It is not about content creation like many people have said,” the statement concluded.
The National Assembly has been engulfed in controversy following allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio after Akpoti-Uduaghan was penalized for refusing to adhere to Senate rules.
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party, its acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and members of the National Disciplinary Committee led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Ikimi from expelling Senator Samuel Anyanwu from the party.
Justice Y. Halilu, in an order dated March 20, and exclusively obtained by The PUNCH on Friday, issued the directive after hearing Motion Ex-parte M/3951/2025, filed on March 17, 2025, along with an affidavit of urgency. The court also listened to the arguments of Anyanwu’s counsel, K.C. O Njemanze, and M. L. Young-Arney.
As reported exclusively by The PUNCH on March 13, the National Disciplinary Committee, led by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, recommended the expulsion of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a loyalist of ex-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, from the PDP.
In a letter signed by Ikimi on March 10 and received by the PDP acting National Chairman on March 11, the NDC stated that, despite being given an opportunity, Anyanwu failed to deny or defend himself against the petition filed by the Young Generation Caucus.
Ikimi committee’s report read in part “Having listened to the petitioners and the evidence led, including the oral testimonies of Hon. Afolabi Adekanbi and Dr Alex Adum, we find that the respondent, Senator Samuel Anyawu, was engaged in anti-party activities contrary to the provisions of Article 58 (1)(f) of the PDP Constitution 2017 and conduct likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party contrary to provisions of Article 58(1)(h) of the PDP Constitution 2017, by inviting security agents and other persons and thugs to interfere in the ordinary business of the party at the Headquarters of the party, at Wadata Plaza, Plot 1970, Michael Opara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja., particularly 29th January and 1st February 2025.
“The NDC recommends to the National Executive Committee of the PDP as follows: Expulsion of the Respondent i.e. Senator Samuel Anyawu, as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Consequently, the High Court in Abuja issued an interim injunction, restraining Damagum, the PDP, Ikimi, and other disciplinary committee members from accepting, acting on, or implementing the National Disciplinary Committee’s findings, decision, or recommendations until the Motion on Notice for an Interlocutory Injunction is heard and decided.
The order read in part, “An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Damagum and PDP their officers, agents and or servants from in whatsoever manner accepting, acting on, implementing and or giving effect to the findings, decision and or recommendation of the National Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (headed by the Ikimi with Senator Abdullahi Idris Uka, Eyitayo Jegede SAN as members) made on 10th March, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction, is hereby granted.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the Damagum and PDP, including the National Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, their officers, agents and or servants howsoever or whatsoever manner from suspending and or expelling the Anyanwu as a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party or taking actions or steps adverse or prejudicial to or likely to be adverse or prejudicial to the Anyanwu’s membership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction, is hereby granted.”
The motion on notice has been adjourned for hearing on April 7.
