The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has condemned the alleged brutal killing of a 50-year-old Nigerian citizen, Jeremiah Okoye, by the country’s police while in their custody.

Mr Okoye, a native of Eziniffite Nnewi in Anambra, was said to have died while being detained in Limpopo Province on January 13.

NICASA president-general Frank Onyekwelu, in a telephone interview with journalists on Friday, said investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s death.

“We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constitutional duties,” he said.

Mr Onyekwelu said Mr Okoye, who resided at No. 71, Magazyn Street, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, had lived in the country for 22 years.

He said NICASA had officially informed the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa and contacted Mr Okoye’s family and friends in Limpopo following the sad incident.

“Nigerian citizens in South Africa say no to police brutality and killings and demand justice for the late Okoye. Our lives matter; nationality is not criminality.

“We implore all our citizens to be law-abiding and allow the authorities to utilise all their resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Okoye,” he said.

Mr Onyekwelu expressed hope that Mr Okoye’s death would not become another statistic like others before him.

“The death of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly under police custody, has become a recurring issue that needs to be stopped.

“We fear that these recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, if unchecked, will become a dangerous pattern,” he added.

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Manuel Chang, the former Finance Minister of Mozambique, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis to a term of imprisonment of 102 months and ordered to pay $7 million in forfeiture. The restitution amount will be determined at a later date. Chang was convicted after a four-week trial in July and August 2024 of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his role in a $2 billion international fraud, bribery and money laundering scheme that victimised investors in the United States and elsewhere. He was arrested in December 2018 in South Africa, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued at the request of the United States and extradited to the Eastern District of New York in July 2023.

Carolyn Pokorny, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Brent S. Wible, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

“Today’s sentence shows that foreign officials who abuse their power to commit crimes targeting the U.S. financial system will meet U.S. justice,” stated Acting United States Attorney Pokorny. “My office will continue to pursue those who violate our laws and harm U.S. investors regardless of their power, position or title.”

“Manuel Chang abused his position as Finance Minister of Mozambique by obtaining $7 million in bribe payments in exchange for helping secure more than $2 billion in loans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Chang’s brazen misconduct betrayed his duty to the people of Mozambique and defrauded investors, including those in the United States, of substantial losses. With today’s sentence, Chang has been held accountable for his violations of U.S. law.”

“Manuel Chang abused his authority as the former Mozambique Finance Minister by helping to obtain billions of dollars in loans, a large portion of which was diverted from its intended purposes to satisfy bribe payments, ultimately causing significant financial loss to U.S. and global investors,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “With the support of his co-conspirators, Chang violated the trust of his office and wielded his position to enrich himself and other Mozambican officials. May today’s sentencing reiterate the FBI’s commitment to dismantling all corruptive malpractices orchestrated by foreign governments, especially those targeting our country as their personal piggy bank.”

As proven at trial, Chang received $7 million in bribes in exchange for signing guarantees on behalf of the Republic of Mozambique to secure funding for three loans for maritime projects. As part of the scheme, Chang and his co-conspirators falsely stated to banks and investors that the loan proceeds would be used for the projects and that the borrower would not pay bribes to Mozambican government officials. In fact, however, Chang and his co-conspirators facilitated the criminal diversion of more than $200 million of the loan proceeds that were used to pay bribes and kickbacks to Chang and others.

Between approximately 2013 and 2016, in his capacity as Mozambique’s Minister of Finance, Chang, together with his co-conspirators – including executives of Privinvest Group, a United Arab Emirates-based shipbuilding company – ensured that Credit Suisse AG, through its subsidiary in the United Kingdom, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited (CSSEL), and another foreign investment bank would arrange for more than $2 billion to be extended to companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government: Proindicus S.A. (Proindicus), Empresa Moçambicana de Atum, S.A. (EMATUM), and Mozambique Asset Management (MAM). The proceeds of the loans were intended to fund three maritime projects for which Privinvest was to provide the equipment and services. Specifically, Proindicus was to perform coastal surveillance, EMATUM was to engage in tuna fishing, and MAM was to build and maintain shipyards.

Instead, Chang and his co-conspirators illegally facilitated Privinvest’s diversion of more than $200 million of the loan proceeds to bribes and kickbacks. These funds included more than $150 million that Privinvest used to bribe Chang and other Mozambican government officials to ensure that companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government would enter into the loan arrangements and that the government of Mozambique would guarantee those loans. The loans were subsequently sold in whole or in part to investors worldwide, including in the United States. In doing so, the participants in the scheme conspired to defraud these investors by misrepresenting how the loan proceeds would be used. Ultimately, Proindicus, EMATUM, and MAM each defaulted on their loans and proceeded to miss more than $700 million in loan payments, causing substantial losses to investors.

In October 2021, Credit Suisse AG and CSSEL admitted to defrauding U.S. and international investors in the financing of an $850 million loan for the EMATUM project. CSSEL pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Credit Suisse AG entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (Fraud Section) and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS). As a part of the resolution, Credit Suisse AG and CSSEL paid approximately $475 million in penalties, fines, and disgorgement as part of coordinated resolutions with criminal and civil authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Office’s Business & Securities Fraud Section is handling the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Hiral D. Mehta, Genny Ngai and Jonathan Siegel, and Trial Attorneys Peter Cooch of the Fraud Section and Morgan Cohen of MLARS, are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Timothy Migliaro. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department appreciates the assistance of South African authorities, particularly those in the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the South African Police Service, as well as authorities in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal.

The incoming administration of Donald Trump is prepared to begin its massive deportation campaign, with an estimated 150 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers expected to take part in a deportation raid in Chicago from Tuesday.

Citing two people familiar with the development, the New York Times reported that the plan is tagged “Operation Safeguard” and will commence immediately after Mr Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

During his campaign, Mr Trump had promised to carry out the largest deportation in American history.

There are no details about the scale of the operation yet, but hundreds of ICE agents have been asked to volunteer for the post-inauguration raid targeting illegal immigrants living in the United States.

Details of the operation are still being finalised but could begin next week.

Don Terry, a spokesman for the Chicago police, said the department would not “intervene or interfere with any other government agencies performing their duties” but noted that it “does not document immigration status” and “will not share information with federal immigration authorities.”

The “Operation Safeguard” would be conducted as a routine operation and extend to other major cities across the United States.

However, the plan is expected to face opposition in some cities, especially Democrat-run cities, who have vowed that they would not provide any assistance for the incoming administration in their operations.

Ahead of his inauguration scheduled for January 20, American President-elect Donald Trump has launched his crypto coin, $Trump.

Mr Trump announced the launching of $Trump, a Solano-based meme coin, on Friday in a social media post.

“My new official Trump Meme is Here! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: Winning! Join my very special Trump community. Get your $Trump now. Go to gettrumpmemes.com,” Mr Trump wrote, posting his iconic photo charging his supporter to “fight” after he escaped assassination during a campaign in Pennsylvania, Butler.

$Trump has blown up since the announcement, hitting $8 billion market cap in less than three hours of its launch.

A brief explanation of $Trump on its official website reads, “On July 13, 2024, President Trump faced death and came up fighting! With his fist in the air and the iconic battle cry FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, President Trump showed the world what a LEADER is made of.

“Now, you can get your piece of history. This Trump Meme celebrates a leader who doesn’t back down, no matter the odds. Join the Trump Community – we’re all about fighting for what matters.”

During his campaign, Mr Trump vowed to make America a leading cryptocurrency hub in the world.

The Gombe Police Command has apprehended four suspects for allegedly vandalising transformers in the metropolis.

The command’s spokesman, ASP Buhari Abdullahi, said on Friday in Gombe that the suspects allegedly vandalised and removed armoured cables from power transformers in the area.

“On Wednesday, at about 3:00 p.m., information from one Abubakar Sulaiman of Hayin Kwari Misau quarters, Gombe Local Government Area, that some groups of boys were sighted with armoured cable suspected to be have stolen around Hayin Kwari Misau quarters.

“On receipt of the information, the divisional police officer led the patrol team to the scene where four suspects were arrested in connection to the case,” he said.

He said the police recovered 20 metres of 300mm armoured cables and 20 metres of 500 mm armoured cables.

Mr Abdullahi said a preliminary investigation showed that the items were stolen from transformers one and two at Gandu quarters in the metropolis.

He enjoined the residents to be vigilant, protect public assets in their domains, and report suspicious persons and movements to security agencies.

The spokesman said operatives of the command detained 21 other suspects for alleged criminal conspiracy, theft, possession of dangerous weapons, kidnapping, robbery, and culpable homicide, among others.

According to him, the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to tackle crimes and protect lives and property.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in a cybercrime training centre in Benin, Edo.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Oyewale said the arrest of the suspects at their hideout on Thursday in Benin was triggered by credible intelligence.

According to him, the apartment is being used as a “Yahoo” academy or training school for internet-related fraud and other fraudulent activities.

”Items recovered from the suspects include six exotic cars, laptops and phones.

”The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said that Nigerians in diaspora spent about N60 billion when they visited the country in December 2024.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa made this known at the 2025 budget defence session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora in Abuja.

The chairman revealed that remittances alone by Nigerians in the diaspora in the last five years have exceeded $90 billion.

“And in fact, all over the world, everybody now wants to have a Nigerian as a friend. So let’s seize the moment. We can take over the world, and we will.

“We have 17 million of them. And how much did this generate for the growth of the economy? Remittances alone in the last five years have been over $90 billion.

“This December, of course, you know, it is not less than N60 billion in what they spent coming to Nigeria. It could grow, but it is just scratching the surface,” said Ms Dabiri-Erewa.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa said the large influx of diaspora Nigerians in December 2024 resulted from years of consistent interaction and engagement with the community.

According to the NiDCOM helmswoman, the commission is exploring innovative funding strategies, including working with the National Assembly committee on diaspora to enhance its financial capacity.

She proposed the establishment of a Diaspora Plaza, which she said would serve as a hub for Nigerians abroad to connect, engage with government officials, and learn about opportunities within the country.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa said several engagements were held at her residence during the yuletide, adding that many young Nigerians have resources and are willing to invite visitors to the country.

Addressing journalists after the session, the Senate Committee on Diaspora chairman, Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra), expressed reservations about Nigeria’s readiness for diaspora voting.

Mr Umeh said Nigeria must first tackle the challenges confronting its electoral process before considering extending such rights to Nigerians in the diaspora.

He cautioned against allowing Nigerians in the diaspora to vote without reliable data and systems in place, which could have grave consequences.

“Yes, we are preparing for it. But I am saying that we need to put the enabling environment for it to succeed,” Mr Umeh said.

Mr Umeh said the committee would fight for increased funds for the commission in the 2025 budget.

The senator said funding had been the problem of NiDCOM and that the parliament was determined to support the commission in achieving its mandate.

“In the 2024 appropriation, the provisions were very poor. The National Assembly worked hard to add something to their budget.

“This year, again, we have seen how they operated last year under difficult circumstances, and again, we are going to make moves for them, and we will call on Mr. President to pay particular attention to the diaspora community,” he said.

The chairman said the diaspora community needed to be fully explored and tapped into by the government of Nigeria.

The wife of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has been abducted from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the abduction in a statement released on Friday.

The victim was reportedly abducted by four masked men who attacked her, pulled her out of her Lexus Jeep, and drove away with her late Thursday night.

The spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, said “Information was received regarding the kidnapping of Mrs Odumosu, resident of Aminu Street, Arepo.

“Reports indicate that she was about to enter her home when four masked men attacked her, dragged her from her jeep and took her through the swamp to an unknown location.

“The divisional police officer has led a team of policemen to the scene where they are currently searching for the swampy bush area.

“The CP, Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has been briefed, and all covert operations have been deployed to assist with digital intelligence to ensure she is rescued unhurt.”

Odutola added that the local chiefs of Warewa and Maaba had been approached to deploy local security outfits to assist in the search effort.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday expressed sadness over the death of Adewunmi Onanuga, the deputy chief whip of the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker, who represented Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State, died on January 15, following a brief
illness, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesman, said in a statement.

The deceased served as the chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development in the ninth assembly and deputy
chief whip in the 10th.

“She never stopped serving her constituency, and her passion for a better Nigeria will remain unforgettable in the hearts of those who came
in direct contact with her.

“Rep. Onanuga was also a role model for women in politics, demonstrating that with hard work, integrity and dedication to just causes,
women can be effective leaders in politics,” the president said.

Mr Tinubu offered condolences to the Onanuga family, her loved ones, the government and the people of Ogun State, particularly her
constituents in Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency.

He prayed that God grant her eternal rest and comfort her family and all.

Israel’s security cabinet was set to meet Friday to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

If approved, the agreement would halt fighting and bombardment in Gaza’s deadliest-ever war and initiate the release of dozens of hostages held in the territory since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Under the deal struck by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, the ensuing weeks should also see the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The ceasefire, due to begin Sunday after more than a year of war, would take effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States.

Gaza rescuers said Thursday that Israeli strikes killed dozens of people, while Israel’s military reported hitting about 50 targets across the territory over the past day.

But even before the start of the truce, Gazans displaced by the war to other parts of the territory were preparing to return to their homes.

“I am waiting for Sunday morning when they will announce the ceasefire,” said Nasr al-Gharabli, who fled his home in Gaza City for a camp further south in the territory.

“I will go to kiss my land, and I already regret leaving Gaza and my land. If I die on my land, it would be better than being here as a displaced person.”

In Israel, there was joy but also pain over the fate of hostages who have died or been killed since their capture.

In Tel Aviv, pensioner Simon Patya said he felt “great joy” that some hostages would return alive, but also “great sorrow for those who are returning in bags, and that will be a very strong blow, morally”.

The lead-up to Friday’s security cabinet meeting has been fraught with uncertainty, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accusing Hamas of reneging on key parts of the deal to extort last-minute concessions — an allegation Hamas denied.

His office said early Friday a “deal to release the hostages” had been reached, however, as he ordered the security cabinet to meet.

“The government will then convene to approve the deal,” it added.

At least two far-right cabinet members have voiced opposition to the deal, but US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whose government is Israel’s close ally, said he believed the ceasefire would go ahead on schedule.

“I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation will begin, as we said, on Sunday,” he said.

A Pakistani court on Friday convicted former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi in a landmark graft case, sentencing Khan to 14 years in prison.

Khan, who has been held in custody since August 2023, was charged with around 200 cases but his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, claimed the latest conviction was being used to pressure him into silence.

“I will neither make any deal nor seek any relief,” Khan told reporters inside the courtroom after his conviction.

The anti-graft court convened in the jail near the capital Islamabad, where Khan is being held, and convicted him and his wife over a welfare foundation they established together, the Al-Qadir Trust.

“The prosecution has proven its case. Khan is convicted,” said Judge Nasir Rana, announcing a 14-year sentence for Khan and seven years for Bibi.

Khan maintains the cases are politically motivated and designed to keep him from returning to power.

The sentence has been delayed several times over the past month, with analysts saying the jail term was being used to pressure Khan into accepting a deal with the military to step back from politics.

Since being ousted from power in 2022, Khan has launched an unprecedented campaign in which he has openly criticised the country’s powerful generals.

He’s been previously handed four convictions, two of which have been overturned while the sentences in the other two cases were suspended. But, he remained in prison over pending cases.

Last year, a United Nations panel of experts found that Khan’s detention “had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office.”

Khan was barred from standing in February’s election and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was hamstrung by a widespread crackdown.

PTI won more seats than any other party in the poll. Still, a coalition of parties considered more pliable to the influence of the military establishment shut them out of power.

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man, Samuel Egbetokun for allegedly poisoning cows in the Alabata community of the Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

The command informed PUNCH Online on Friday that two out of the three cows that consumed the harmful substance died instantly before the cattle rearer could intervene.

The command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola stated that the suspect had laced cassava with rat poison and tossed it to the cows while they were grazing.

It was gathered that the cattle rearer, Boji Sanni, initially did not realise that the cassava thrown by the suspect had been laced with harmful substances until the three cows began collapsing after consuming it.

The command said, “The incident came to light on January 16, 2025, when a 54-year-old man, Idris Lawal, of Akingbasa Village, complained to the local police station.

“His cattle rearer, Boji Sanni, caught a man throwing cassava mixed with a substance suspected to be rat poison to his cattle while grazing on January 15, 2025.

“The rearer reported that before realising the cassava was laced with poison, some cows had consumed it. Consequently, two female cows died, and a third is undergoing treatment. The value of the dead cows is estimated at ₦1,500,000.”

Detectives from the Odeda Division, tasked with conducting a preliminary investigation, combed the area and recovered the poisoned cassava, which was secured as evidence, according to the police.

The suspect then reportedly confessed to the crime following his arrest.

“The Commissioner of Police has taken a personal interest in the case, particularly due to concerns about potential retaliation from herders or cattle rearers. He is warning others to refrain from such actions, emphasising that this case will serve as a deterrent,” Odutola said.

This marks the second incident involving residents and cattle rearers in the LG within a week.

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka retired with an injury during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday in Melbourne.

Osaka needed treatment on her stomach at 6-5 in a first set which she went on to lose on a tiebreak to her Swiss opponent, before shaking hands and leaving the court.

Osaka had a troubled build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year, retiring from the final in Auckland with an abdominal injury.

The Japanese star also revealed last week that she and her rapper boyfriend Cordae, the father of her daughter Shai, had split up.

But the former world number one came to Melbourne in confident mood, saying that her injury was improving.

“I’m pretty optimistic about playing my match. I mean, for sure I’m going to play my match,” she said before the start of the tournament.

“I’ve been practising pretty well for the two days that I’ve been here, so it seems to be going good.”

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, reached the third round of a Slam for the first time since the birth of Shai with fine wins over Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova.

But both went to three sets at Melbourne Park and clearly had taken a toll.

Osaka led 5-2 in the first set against Bencic before becoming hampered on her serve and in her movement, allowing Tokyo Olympic champion Bencic to draw level and take it to a tie break, which she won 7-3.

Osaka could not continue and left John Cain Arena waving to fans.

“It’s not the way you want this match to end. I thought it was getting to be a good match,” Bencic said.

“Hopefully she will be fine soon and can play well for the rest of this year.”

Bencic will face either American third seed Coco Gauff or Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the fourth round

The Rivers government has announced the death of nine individuals following a suspected cholera outbreak in Andoni and Akuku-Toru LGAs.

Ada Oreh, the health commissioner, confirmed the development on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

She said three deaths occurred in Andoni, while six others were recorded in Akuku-Toru, with 41 suspected cases currently under monitoring across the two areas.

“We urge the public not to panic, as the state government has already implemented measures to contain this outbreak,” Ms Oreh said.

The commissioner noted that health officials were conducting tests to determine definitively whether the deaths were caused by cholera.

She, however, said, “The symptoms observed align with the surveillance case definition for the disease.

“The ministry is also investigating a suspected outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea caused by cholera in the Isiodun community in Andoni LGA. The symptoms analysed are consistent with cholera.”

According to Ms Oreh, the bacteria responsible for cholera thrive in environments lacking access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and hygienic conditions.

She added that the bacteria could be transmitted through contaminated water or food and contact with infected surfaces.

“Rivers is particularly prone to outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera during the dry seasons. This poses significant public health challenges due to the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with such outbreaks.

“The ministry, in collaboration with its partners and the authorities in Andoni LGA, has activated emergency response measures.

“Our rapid response team has also been deployed to the affected areas to enhance disease surveillance, strengthen case detection in health facilities, and supply essential supplies to the communities,” Ms Oreh stated.

Ms Oreh disclosed that the response team had distributed oral rehydration solutions, intravenous fluids, and vital medicines to health centres in the affected areas.

She advised residents to practice frequent hand washing with soap and clean water, particularly before eating and after using the toilet.

Ms Oreh also urged them to drink only boiled or chlorine-treated water to ensure safety.

A group of Nigerian hackers breached the UnitedHealthcare database to steal more than six terabytes of confidential health records and private information of 120 million Americans registered with the insurance company, according to court filings seen by Peoples Gazette.

In a series of coordinated cyber attacks against UnitedHealthcare, the hackers broke into the company’s computer systems in February 2024. They stole the names, addresses, emails, and social security numbers of registered clients who are now seeking redress in court.

Scores of Americans have filed a class action lawsuit against the company before the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, saying their private health data was stolen following a 2024 database breach.

The hacking started on February 21, 2024, according to the lawsuit filed on January 15, 2025.

Although Russia-based BlackCat mainly orchestrated the hack, they said the stolen files were downloaded mostly by Nigerians, but some downloads also occurred in Russia and Brazil.

“The data was quickly spread across five continents: North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. In the end, it was downloaded by 47 different parties,” stated the suit filed on Wednesday.

“It was mainly downloaded by users in Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil, with the most activity coming from Nigeria and Russia,” it added. “This experiment demonstrated that data released on the dark web will quickly spread around the world.”

At least 60 Americans are taking part in the lawsuit, each alleging in court filings how they were adversely impacted by the breach, considered among the largest in the healthcare industry’s history.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dissolved the members of the State Executive Council with immediate effect.

Peoples Gazette reports that the SEC members included cabinet members such as commissioners, SSA and other political appointees of the governor.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the affected members were to hand over government property in their possession to the accounting officers.

The governor, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution.

“They are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac. All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government property in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries. Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the exco members for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours,” the statement issued on Wednesday read.

The Gazette reported that the dissolution came barely one month after Mr Aiyedatiwa won the November 16, 2024, governorship poll.

The governor is expected to be sworn in by February 24, 2025.

Gunshots erupted near the venue of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led, three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday morning, causing widespread panic.

Lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters scrambled for safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

However, swift intervention by fully-armed security operatives restored calm, allowing the tribunal sitting at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, to continue.

Edo APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe, condemned the incident, describing the shootings as deeply disturbing and unacceptable.

Tenebe said: “The tribunal is a sacred space, where justice is meant to be administered impartially. Any act of violence within its walls undermines the very foundation of our legal system and threatens the safety of all involved.

“Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable. We must all condemn the shootings in the strongest possible terms.”

Edo chairman of APC also stated that violence had no place in a civilised society, while declaring that the people that were responsible for the heinous act must be brought to justice swiftly and without exception.

The former representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo, of the APC, won the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo, and was inaugurated on November 12 last year.

Seven of 18 political parties that participated in the election, which filed petitions at the tribunal, were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA), which wanted their candidates to be declared winner of the keenly-contested poll.

Speaker of the Nasarawa House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, has promised to support and increase funding for the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in making the institution a citadel of learning.

Mr Jatau gave the assurance while in the audience with the university’s management, led by the vice-chancellor, Sada’atu Liman, on Tuesday in Lafia.

Mr Jatau commended the university’s management for their efforts in developing it and called for its sustenance.

The speaker assured his leadership’s readiness to pass resolutions and bills directly affecting the education sector.

Earlier, the vice-chancellor said funding was the major issue affecting the university.

The VC said the university’s liability needs urgent attention and called for the House intervention to address it.

Cyril Ndifon, the suspended dean at the law faculty of the University of Calabar, on Tuesday, alleged that pictures extracted from his phone in the alleged sexual harassment offence were edited.

Mr Ndifon told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, that the pictures allegedly extracted from his phone by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were edited.

The suspended lecturer stated this while being led in evidence as the first defence witness (DW-1) by his lawyer, Joe Agi.

In the pictures, he said he did not see his face or that of the prosecution star witness, who was identified as TKJ.

“I did not send any nude photographs, neither did I solicit for any. This (Oppo phone) is not the phone I used to chat with her (alleged rape victim).

“She has another number which she used to chat with me,” he said.

He said ICPC admitted in court that they did not ask for the girl’s phone to verify the pictures.

When asked about ‘Exhibit H’, which contained pictures and chats allegedly exchanged between him and the alleged rape victim, he said, “All these pictures are not from my phone. Looking at it, slide 661 shows that this document has been edited.”

He added, “I haven’t gone through the whole document so I don’t know which other part was edited. I watched the video slide. But I didn’t see my face or TKJ’s (name of the girl withheld).

“The ICPC didn’t invite me to where they were doing the extraction, and I haven’t been told who told ICPC about the complaint.”

Mr Ndifon told the court that TKJ, a student of the Faculty of Law in UNICAL, made her statement to ICPC on November 9 and 10, 2023, after he was already charged to court on October 30, 2023.

Despite not being qualified, he alleged that TKJ was admitted as a student after testifying against him. The embattled lecturer said she was listed as number one on the notice for those who wrote supplementary exams for the faculty of law.

Mr Ndifon expressed shock that the prosecution witness came to testify as he could not even assist her, being that he was no longer in the law faculty of law at the time of the allegation.

“The allegation against me occurred when I was no longer in the faculty of law, so she cannot say I had asked for oral sex or any other advances. I’m totally shocked she came to testify because nothing like that happened,” he insisted.

The suspended dean said he neither sent nor requested explicit photographs from anyone. He accepted knowing TKJ through her uncle in the UK, who informed him that she allegedly paid someone in the vice-chancellor’s office N100,000 to help her secure admission into the law faculty, but the person failed to do so.
Mr Ndifon said, “Her uncle then asked me to help recover the money since admission had closed, but I felt insulted and refused to respond, having scored 102 in her JAMB exam.”

ICPC’s counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, cross-examined Mr Ndifon before Justice Omotosho adjourned proceedings until February 12 and 13 for continuation of trial.

ICPC had, on January 25, 2024, re-arraigned Ndifon alongside his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, on four counts bordering on alleged sexual harassment and an attempt to perverse the cause of justice.

The commission had alleged that Mr Ndifon, while being the dean of the law faculty, requested a female diploma student, identified as TKJ, to send him her “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself” through Whatsapp chats.

Impeached South Korean leader, Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over his failed martial law bid, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first president to be detained in the nation’s history.

Yoon, who faces charges of insurrection over his short-lived effort to impose martial law last month, said he would comply with investigators to avoid “bloodshed.”

A former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party to election victory in 2022, Yoon could face the death penalty or life in jail if he is found guilty of insurrection.

He had sought to evade arrest for weeks by remaining in his residential compound, protected by members of the Presidential Security Service who had remained loyal to him.

His guards had installed barbed wire and barricades at the residence, turning it into what the opposition called a “fortress.”

Yoon, who had vowed to “fight to the end,” managed to thwart a first arrest attempt on January 3, 2025, following a tense hours-long impasse between the guards and anti-graft investigators working with the police.

But before dawn on Wednesday, hundreds of police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office again surrounded the residence, some scaling perimeter walls and hiking up back trails to reach the main building.

After a standoff of about five hours, authorities announced Yoon had been arrested and the impeached leader released a pre-recorded video message.

“I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office,” Yoon said in the message, adding that he did not accept the legality of the investigation but was complying “to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed.”

Yoon left his residence in a convoy and was taken to the offices of the CIO.

Investigators began questioning Yoon shortly after his arrest, Yonhap reported.

AFP reporters earlier witnessed brief scuffles at the gate of the residence, where Yoon’s die-hard supporters had been camped out to protect him, as authorities first moved on the compound.

His supporters were heard chanting “illegal warrant!” while waving glow sticks and South Korean and American flags. Some laid on the ground outside the residential compound’s main gate.

Yoon shocked the nation late on December 3 when he declared martial law, claiming he needed to safeguard South Korea “from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements”.

He deployed troops to parliament but lawmakers defied them and voted against martial law. Yoon revoked martial law after just six hours.

Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours following his arrest. Investigators would need to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody.

Yoon’s legal team had repeatedly decried the warrant as illegal.

His ruling party also said Wednesday’s arrest was unlawful.

“History will inevitably record the fact that the CIO and the police executed an unjust and illegal warrant,” PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong told a party meeting, apologising to Yoon’s supporters.

In a parallel probe, the Constitutional Court on Tuesday launched a trial to rule on parliament’s impeachment of Yoon.

If the court endorses the impeachment, Yoon will finally lose the presidency and fresh elections will have to be held within 60 days.

The trial was adjourned on Tuesday after only a very brief hearing as Yoon declined to attend. The next hearing is set for Thursday, although the proceedings could last for months.

South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party celebrated Yoon’s detention, with floor leader Park Chan-dae telling a party meeting it was “the first step” to restoring constitutional and legal order after weeks of turmoil.

The country’s parliament speaker echoed those sentiments.

“Now that the chaotic situation has ended, we should concentrate our efforts on stabilising state affairs and restoring people’s livelihoods,” Woo Won-shik said.