International Archives - Page 9 of 14

Swiss authorities probe death of Nigerian in police custody 5th June 2025

The Switzerland authorities said they have begun an investigation into the murder of Michael Ekemezie, who reportedly died in Lausanne on May 25 after some Swiss police officers pinned his head to the ground during a routine check.

According to the family, the 39-year-old Ekemezie from Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, reportedly collapsed and died at the police station less than an hour after being taken into custody.

The elder brother of the deceased, Henry Ekemezie, had in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, disclosed that his brother was chased by the police during a routine check, after he was caught up, handcuffed and pinned face-down, by an officer who used brutal force that proved fatal.

A viral video that circulated on X also showed the moment the deceased was pinned to the ground by a Swiss police officer, crying out in pain and shouting, “You’re hurting me.”

As a result, the family of the deceased, through their counsel, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, petitioned the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria and the Nigerian Diaspora Commission on May 30, 2025, demanding an investigation into his death.

The family lamented that since the incident took place, neither the Switzerland government or the Federal Government of Nigeria had reached out to the family.

However, in a reply dated June 4, 2025, the Swiss Embassy contacted the family of the deceased through their counsel, informing them that the competent prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The reaction by the Switzerland embassy is coming after the report featured in the South-East Punch on Wednesday.

The letter dated June 4, 2025, and signed by the Chargé d’Affaires of Switzerland, Siamak Rouhani, was made available to our correspondent on Wednesday,

The letter read, “The Embassy of Switzerland acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 30 May, 2025.

“The Embassy would like to inform that the competent prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the death of a person of African origin on May 25, 2025, at a police station in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“The results of this investigation are pending. In accordance with the principle of separation of powers and of the protection of personal data, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not hold any information concerning ongoing cantonal proceedings and cannot interfere in them.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore, has no information concerning the circumstances of this tragic event. The deceased’s family and its agent – supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Bern – can therefore interact directly with the competent cantonal authorities.”

However, in its reaction, the family of the deceased, through their legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, acknowledged the response of the Swiss Embassy while reiterating with unwavering resolve a demand for a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation.

“On May 30, 2025, we submitted a formal petition to the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, urging an immediate and transparent investigation into the tragic and deeply disturbing death of Mr Michael Ekemezie, a Nigerian citizen who lost his life after reportedly being brutalised by Swiss police officers in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 25, 2025.

“Today, we acknowledge receipt of an official response dated June 4, 2025, signed by the Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Siamak Rouhani. In the correspondence, the Embassy confirmed that the competent cantonal prosecutor’s office has formally launched an investigation into the incident. However, invoking Switzerland’s strict data protection laws and constitutional principle of separation of powers, the embassy declined to disclose further details at this stage.

“While we take note of this official acknowledgement and the initiation of investigative proceedings, we remain deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and the continued silence surrounding the exact circumstances of Mr Ekemezie’s death. A young Nigerian life was lost, under suspicious and distressing conditions, while in the custody of a country that proudly upholds itself as a global advocate of human rights, justice, and the rule of law.

“This is not just a legal matter; it is a human tragedy. A mother grieves. A family mourns. A nation watches with bated breath.

“Justice must not be shielded behind bureaucratic procedures. It must not be delayed. And it must never be denied. We urge the Swiss government and all relevant authorities to fully cooperate with the government of Nigeria and the legal representatives of Mr Ekemezie’s family, and every diplomatic and legal channel must be pursued. The truth must be uncovered. Accountability must be served,” the family said in a statement.

South Korea’s new president pledges peace, dialogue with North

South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung pledged to reach out to the nuclear-armed North and “heal wounds” as he assumed office on Wednesday, following a decisive victory in a snap election triggered by his predecessor’s controversial martial law declaration.

The centre-left leader also warned that “rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring” pose an existential threat to Asia’s export-dependent fourth-largest economy, which has been unsettled by global trade disruptions, notably under former US President Donald Trump.

Lee secured a commanding 49.4 per cent of the vote, defeating conservative Kim Moon-soo, who garnered 41.2 per cent. Kim conceded defeat after being hampered by internal party divisions and a third-party candidate splitting the right-wing vote. Lee’s term began immediately after the official certification of the results on Wednesday.

Upon taking office, Lee spoke with South Korea’s top military commander and formally assumed operational control of the armed forces, urging vigilance amid potential provocations from Pyongyang. However, in his first public remarks, he emphasised his readiness for dialogue.

“We will heal the wounds of division and war and establish a future of peace and prosperity,” he said. “No matter how costly, peace is better than war.”

Lee vowed that Seoul would “deter North Korean nuclear and military provocations while opening communication channels and pursuing dialogue and cooperation to build peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

His inauguration came just hours before US tariffs on steel and aluminium were set to take effect, imposing a 50 per cent levy on key South Korean exports.

“The rapid changes in the global order, such as rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring, pose a threat to our very survival,” Lee warned.

Markets responded positively to the election outcome, with the benchmark KOSPI index and the South Korean won both rising on Wednesday.

A Significant Shift

Lee’s approach to North Korea marks a “significant departure” from his hawkish predecessor, as he did not immediately impose preconditions for dialogue, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. This signals “his desire to resolve disagreements through talks,” Hong told AFP.

Lee held a modest inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly — the same venue where his predecessor deployed armed troops during an attempted suspension of civilian rule.

He also announced key appointments, including long-time adviser Kim Min-seok as prime minister and former unification minister Lee Jong-seok as head of intelligence.

Lee’s first day in office is expected to conclude with a series of congratulatory calls from world leaders, with US President Donald Trump likely to be among the first.

Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, swiftly congratulated Lee and expressed hope for cooperation, despite Lee’s previous calls for greater distance from the United States.

US Secretary of State emphasised that the Washington-Seoul alliance remains “ironclad,” citing “shared values and deep economic ties.”

The White House described the election as “free and fair” but expressed concerns about “Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Lee, highlighting the “great importance” of China-South Korea relations and expressing willingness to “firmly maintain the direction of good-neighbourly friendship” based on mutual benefit.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed a desire to “energise cooperation” between Seoul and Tokyo, South Korea’s former colonial ruler.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Lee on social media, expressing hopes to “strengthen” ties with South Korea.

A Positive Outlook

Lee assumes power with his party holding a parliamentary majority secure for the next three years, positioning him well to advance his legislative agenda.

On the streets of Seoul, citizens welcomed Lee’s conciliatory stance towards the North.

“Since our economy and many other aspects of society are closely linked to inter-Korean relations, I hope we can take a long-term perspective and move in a more positive direction,” said Choi Ki-ho, 55.

Lee Ju-yeon, a 42-year-old public sector employee, expressed hope that Lee “will devote himself to uniting our divided nation.”

Couple publicly flogged 100 in Indonesia for sex outside marriage

‎A man and woman were publicly flogged 100 times each in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province on Wednesday after they were found guilty of sex outside marriage by a court operating under strict Islamic law.

‎

‎Sexual relations between an unmarried couple is outlawed in Aceh, which imposes a version of sharia, the Islamic legal code.

‎

‎Indonesia banned sex outside of marriage in its latest criminal code in 2022 but that law will not come into force until next year.

‎

‎The two were lashed in sets of 10 with a rattan stick as a small crowd watched on at a park in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, and the female suspect was lashed by a woman, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

‎Three other suspects were caned a combined 49 times for alleged gambling and alcohol consumption.

A member of the sharia police holds a rattan stick during a public caning in Banda Aceh on June 4, 2025. A man and woman were publicly flogged 100 times each in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province on June 4 after they were found guilty of sex outside marriage by a court operating under strict Islamic law. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP)

‎”Today we are carrying out flogging punishment for perpetrators of adultery, alcohol consumption, and online gambling,” Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal told reporters.

‎”This becomes a moral lesson for the community at large. This flogging punishment becomes a gateway to repentance for them.”

‎Medical services were on standby for all of those convicted.

‎Rights groups have condemned the punishment as draconian.

‎Yet caning retains strong support among Aceh’s population as a common punishment for a range of offences including gambling, drinking alcohol and adultery.

‎In February two men were publicly flogged more than 150 times after being found guilty of sexual relations. Gay sex is outlawed in Aceh.

‎The region started using religious law after it was granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.

Ex-Abia AG denies forgery complaint against lawyer

Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Abia State, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN, has denied initiating any police complaint against Victor Giwa, a legal practitioner currently facing criminal charges reportedly related to forgery.

In a formal letter dated May 30 and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Kalu clarified that, contrary to widespread reports circulating online, he did not accuse Mr. Giwa of forging his official letterhead paper.

“I wish to inform you that the internet is agog with news that a charge is preferred against the above-named gentleman, indicating that he forged my official headed paper.

“Please note that I have neither filed a complaint nor have I incidented a report at any Police Station in Nigeria indicating that Mr. Victor Giwa forged my official headed paper, “the letter read.

The charge, marked CR/150/25, lists the Inspector General of Police as the complainant in the case against Victor Giwa.

Giwa was alleged to have forged a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of Kalu to communicate with the Attorney General of the Federation.

However, the matter was stalled due to the absence of the defendants on the date of the proceedings.

Counsel for the defendants, U.J. Udo represented the defendants and told the court that the first defendant, Victor Giwa, was bereaved and had travelled to his village for his sister’s burial. He, therefore, requested an adjournment.

Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request and adjourned the matter to 15 September 2025 for arraignment.

Flood kills 30 in India

Flash floods and landslides after torrential monsoon rain over the last two days killed at least 30 people in India’s northeast, officials said on Sunday.State disaster management officials said eight people died in Assam, and nine in Arunachal Pradesh, many of them in landslides as earth loosened by the water slumped into the valley below.

Another five people died in a landslide in the neighbouring state of Mizoram, state authorities said.

The officials said that six people lost their lives in Meghalaya, and at least two others were killed in the states of Nagaland and Tripura.

A red alert warning was issued for several districts in the region after the non-stop downpour over the last three days.

Rivers swollen by the lashing rain — including the mighty Brahmaputra, which rises in the Himalayas and flows through India’s northeast towards its delta in Bangladesh — broke their banks across the region.

The Indian army said that it had saved hundreds in a massive rescue operation across Manipur state.

“People have been shifted to safer places”, the army said on Saturday. “Food, water, and essential medicines were provided.”

Conrad K Sangma, the chief minister of Meghalaya state, has ordered officials to remain on high alert “especially in landslide-prone and low-lying areas”, he said in a statement.

Scores of people die each year during the rainy season due to flash floods and landslides across India, a country of 1.4 billion people.

India’s annual monsoon season, from June to September, offers respite from the intense summer heat and is crucial for replenishing water supplies, but it also brings widespread death and destruction.

South Asia is experiencing increased temperatures and has witnessed shifting weather patterns in recent years, but scientists remain unclear about how a warming planet is specifically affecting monsoons.

Last month, India’s financial capital, Mumbai, was swamped by monsoon rain that began two weeks earlier than usual, the earliest for nearly a quarter of a century, according to weather forecasters.

Nigerian pilgrim returns missing $5,000 to owner in Saudi

A Nigerian pilgrim, Hajiya Zainab, from Plateau State, has returned $5,000 (about ₦8.2 million) she found at Masjidul Haram in Makkah to its rightful owner, a Russian pilgrim.

The Plateau State Pilgrims Board, led by Daiyabu Dauda, and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, praised her honesty and integrity.

“She demonstrated exceptional integrity and honesty by returning $5,000 she found in Masjidul Haram to its rightful owner. That’s a remarkable act of kindness,” Dauda said in a statement.

Meanwhile, NAHCON says it is in talks with Saudi authorities to reopen visa processing for intending pilgrims.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday, by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information, Fatima Usara.

Usara said the commission said it remains hopeful.

“There is optimism for a positive outcome, and when that is realised, the commission will immediately transport the registered pilgrims for the Hajj in another special arrangement,” Usara said.

She added that some staff have been placed on standby in case the visa window is reopened.

Stop ‘reckless’ borrowing now, Atiku tells Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the decision of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to seek new external and domestic loans, describing the move as reckless and a threat to Nigeria’s economic future.

In a statement on Thursday via X, Atiku said the proposed borrowing of $21.54 billion, €2.19 billion, and ¥15 billion — totaling over $24 billion — would dangerously increase the country’s debt profile, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.

“This borrowing spree will raise our total public debt from ₦144.7 trillion to a crushing ₦183 trillion,” Atiku stated, warning that the new loans represent more than 60% of Nigeria’s total foreign exchange reserves.

He noted that Nigeria’s debt burden has already reached alarming levels, with public debt standing at $94 billion (₦144.7 trillion) as of December 31, 2024.

Atiku further said, “Since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, public debt has jumped by 65.6%. Under the APC-led administration since 2015, public debt has ballooned by 1,048%, from ₦12.6 trillion to ₦144.7 trillion.”

He decried the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 50% and a debt-service-to-revenue ratio of over 130%, arguing that the government is spending more on repaying loans than it earns.

“This is not just unsustainable — it is immoral. The Tinubu administration is borrowing money not for development but to service existing loans, fueling a debt spiral that leaves nothing for infrastructure, education, healthcare, or jobs,” he said.

The former Vice President described the pattern of borrowing as a “Ponzi scheme,” warning that “Nigeria is now caught in a vicious cycle that mortgages the future to pay for the past.”

Calling the plan economic sabotage, Atiku urged immediate action to stop what he described as a looming catastrophe.

“We demand that this reckless borrowing plan be halted immediately. We call on lawmakers, civil society organisations, the media, and the international community to take urgent action to stop this looming catastrophe. Nigeria must not be sold into debt slavery,” he added.

75-year-old Edo pilgrim dies during Hajj in S’Arabia

A 75-year-old woman from Edo State, Adizatu Dazumi, died during the 2025 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Dazumi was from Jattu Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area.

PUNCH Online gathered that the pilgrim died on Monday at King Fahad General Hospital in Makkah after a short illness.

The Chairman of the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Musah Uduimoh, confirmed her death on Tuesday.

Uduimoh said Dazumi became ill shortly after performing Tawaaf (walking around the Kaaba) and was taken to the hospital on Sunday. She passed away the next day.

“She was buried in Makkah on the same day, according to Islamic tradition, and her family in Jattu Uzairue has been informed,” Uduimoh said.

He sent his condolences to her family and assured other pilgrims that the board is committed to their health and safety.

Presidency debunks fake White House invitation rejection statement

The Presidency on Sunday described as fake and malicious a widely circulated statement claiming that President Bola Tinubu rejected a working visit invitation from the White House due to domestic priorities and aircraft constraints.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, debunked the viral statement via his official X (formerly Twitter) page, dismissing the claims as the handiwork of “disinformation agents, hoax peddlers, fake news propagators, and clickbaiters.”

“Whoever you are, one day, the law will catch you,” Onanuga warned in a strongly worded post, as he shared the image being circulated with a “FAKE NEWS ALERT” overlay.

The forged document, disguised as a “State House Official Statement,” claimed that the Tinubu administration had declined a White House invitation for a working visit to Washington, D.C., citing “critical domestic priorities” and “logistical constraints, including the unsustainability of presidential aircraft for long-distance travel.”

The statement was falsely attributed to Onanuga himself, bearing his name and official designation as the signatory.

However, Onanuga distanced himself from the statement entirely, emphasizing that neither the White House nor the Nigerian Presidency had issued or acknowledged such communication.

The fake release stated that “the Nigerian government remains committed to fostering strong bilateral relations with the United States and looks forward to future opportunities for collaboration.”

Russia downs 77 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia downed 77 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said Thursday, two days after Kyiv carried out its largest direct strike on Moscow during the three-year war.

Thirty drones were intercepted and destroyed over the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine while 25 more were downed over Kaluga, the ministry said in a statement.

More drones were intercepted over the regions of Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Belgorod, it added.

The latest barrage comes after Russia downed more than 90 drones in the capital region on Tuesday. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called it the “most massive enemy drone attack on Moscow”.

Russia said three people died and several more were injured in Tuesday’s attack, which saw it intercept 337 Ukrainian drones across the country.

Multiple Ukrainian cities were also under attack Thursday morning, with a 42-year-old woman killed in Kherson, according to regional military administration head Roman Mrochko.

Authorities in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk also reported coming under attack early Thursday.