Ann Oladayo-Odeleye, the acting zonal commanding officer of Zone B, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has pledged inclusivity, discipline and innovation in the zone.

Ms Oladayo-Odeleye, the first female zonal commanding officer of the zone covering Lagos and Ogun State, made the pledge in an interview with journalists after her first parade with the FRSC officers on Monday in Lagos.

She said there was no gender in a uniform job.

“Everyone is the same; my focus is for everybody to come on board and work together to achieve our aim as stipulated by the corps marshal.

“We have already started deploying modern technology. It is not a new thing, but we are hoping to deploy more. Our men on the road wear body cameras; that is technology; we capture events in real-time as they occur.

“Deployment of technology is part of our strategy programme for 2025, as stated by the corps marshal,” she said.

She added that she intends to build on existing infrastructure and what had been in existence.

The zonal commanding officer urged FRSC officers to be disciplined.

“I will not change anything but build and improve on it, most especially in the areas of reducing traffic crashes on our roads, deploying more men, deploying technology and responding rapidly to crashes.

“On our response time to crashes, we have to work on that, have good teamwork with our men, stakeholders, and synergise with them to achieve the aim.

“ It is a teamwork, going to be inclusive and will not be gender biased; everybody will be carried along, both sister agencies, both the Lagos and Ogun governments, because the zone comprises both states,” she said.

She also urged motorists to be compliant and obey rules and regulations because it would no longer be business as usual.

Mohammed Bara’u has assumed office as FRSC’s sector commander in Kano.

His new position was announced in a statement on Monday.

Mr Bara’u took over from Masa’udu Matazu following a nationwide redeployment of senior officers across various FRSC commands.

The new Kano commander officially assumed duty on Monday after a successful tenure as the zonal head of operations at FRSC Zone 1 Headquarters Kaduna.

The new commander is expected to bring his wealth of experience and a strong commitment to the corps’ mandate of promoting safer road use in Nigeria.

”He is a seasoned administrator and accomplished officer who has served in various operational, administrative, and strategic roles within the corps,” said the statement.

He called on the Kano government, stakeholders, and the public to support and cooperate with the FRSC to improve road safety and reduce traffic crashes across the state.

Police commissioner Shetima Jauro-Mohammed has ordered an investigation into the death of five Nasarawa children in Agyaragu in Obi LGA.

The commissioner said this in a statement on Monday.

The remains of the children were found inside an abandoned, unserviceable vehicle parked at the home of a resident, Abu Agyeme.

The commissioner ordered a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the kids’ death and commiserated with the bereaved families.

He also cautioned parents, guardians, and vehicle owners to be vigilant and ensure that children do not gain access to parked or abandoned vehicles without supervision.

On Sunday, at about 5:30 p.m., he said a resident of the area reported to the police that the children were discovered unresponsive inside a disused vehicle parked in a compound.

The children were reportedly between six and 10 years old.

“Upon arrival, the officers found the victims locked inside the abandoned vehicle.

“They were promptly evacuated to Aro Hospital, Agyaragu, where a medical Doctor regrettably confirmed all of them dead due to suspected suffocation.

“This heartbreaking incident is a painful reminder of a similar tragedy that occurred in August 2019,” the police statement explained.

It noted that due to severe heat burns on the deceased’s bodies, the remains were released to their parents based on a request for burial.

Two separate accidents in the Ojota area of Lagos State and on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway on Saturday claimed three lives.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, and the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in separate statements on Sunday.

According to Taofiq, a pedestrian lost his life after being crushed by a truck while trying to cross the expressway at the Ojota bus stop in Lagos State.

Taofiq noted that the truck, while driving on the carriageway of the expressway, hit the pedestrian, who was violating the use of the pedestrian bridge.

He said, “Preliminary findings indicate that the fatal collision occurred as the lorry was transiting the Ojota main carriageway, where it encountered the pedestrian in breach of crossing regulations. In a futile bid to flee the scene, the lorry driver lost vehicular control and subsequently collided with a Toyota Corolla, identified by registration number LND 905 HN.

“LASTMA personnel, demonstrating commendable swiftness and efficiency, apprehended the fleeing driver and secured the vehicle. Both were handed over to operatives of the Ogudu Police Division for comprehensive investigation and appropriate legal action.

“In line with prescribed procedures, the remains of the deceased were respectfully transferred to officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit by LASTMA operatives, ensuring due diligence and dignity in the handling of the casualty.”

Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled the deceased’s family and urged pedestrians to imbibe the use of pedestrian bridges.

“It is both reckless and unlawful to ignore the infrastructural provisions made for pedestrian safety,” he remarked.

“The Lagos State Government has invested significantly in pedestrian bridges, and it is incumbent upon all road users to utilise them conscientiously,” Bakare-Oki remarked.

In Ogun, Akinbiyi noted that two drivers lost their lives following a head-on collision between a truck and a luxurious bus along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

According to the TRACE spokesperson, an investigation revealed that the accident occurred when the driver of the luxurious bus drove in the wrong direction and collided with the truck.

He noted that the impact of the collision led to the death of both vehicles’ drivers.

Akinbiyi said, “A fatal RTA/RTC at Babcock dumpsite inbound Odogbolu along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway on Saturday involving a blue Mack truck with no number plate and a YUTONG luxury bus with number plate KJA 538 YK.

“According to the preliminary police investigation, the luxury bus drove against traffic and had a head-on collision with a containerised Mack truck.

“The drivers of the two vehicles died while the motor boy of the Mack truck sustained injuries.”

He concluded that the bodies of the deceased drivers were taken to the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital morgue by the police, while the injured motor boy was rescued at a hospital.

Jury selection begins Monday in New York in the blockbuster federal s*x trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who stands accused of years of harrowing abuse.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty on all counts, insisting that any sex acts were consensual — but prosecutors say for years he coerced victims into drug-fueled s*x parties using threats and violence.

At a recent hearing, his attorney Marc Agnifilo offered a preview of his team’s defence by describing the artist’s free-wheeling “swinger” lifestyle.

The prosecution said it had offered Combs a plea deal — the specifics were not disclosed — but that he had rejected it.

Combs faces one charge of racketeering conspiracy, the federal statute known by its acronym RICO that was once primarily used to target the mafia but in recent years has been wielded in cases of s*xual abuse, including against the fallen R&B star R. Kelly.

It allows government attorneys to project a long view of criminal activity rather than prosecuting isolated s*x crimes.

If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in ushering hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Over the decades, Combs — who has gone by various stage names including Puff Daddy and P. Diddy — amassed enormous wealth for his work in music but also his ventures in the liquor industry.

He was arrested by federal agents in New York in September 2024 and denied bail multiple times.

Combs is being held at Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Centre, a facility plagued by complaints of vermin and decay as well as violence.

High-profile inmates there included Kelly, Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and Sam Bankman-Fried, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur convicted of fraud.

Combs has appeared in pre-trial hearings looking remarkably aged, his once jet-black, styled coif now overgrown and grey.

The jury selection start date is notably the first Monday in May — which annually marks New York’s Met Gala, a glittering celebrity charity bash where Combs was once a red carpet mainstay.

Just two years ago, he posed for the cameras at that event uptown — but on Monday, he will be downtown in federal court, as the panel of citizens tasked with determining his fate face a barrage of questions from lawyers on both sides.

Jury selection is expected to wrap up in about a week, with opening statements tentatively scheduled for May 12.

The proceedings are estimated to last eight to 10 weeks.

Core to the case is Combs’s relationship with his former girlfriend, the singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who is expected to be a key trial witness.

A disturbing surveillance video from 2016, which was aired by CNN last year, shows Combs physically assaulting Ventura at a hotel.

Prosecutors say the encounter occurred following one of the “freak-offs” they argue were a feature of his pattern of abuse.

The so-called “freak-offs” were coercive, drug-fueled sexual marathons including s*x workers that were sometimes filmed, according to the indictment.

It is unclear how much of the CNN video will be shown to jurors as evidence in court — the footage’s quality has been a sticking point between the opposing legal teams — but Judge Arun Subramanian has ruled that at least some of it will be admissible.

The floodgates opened after Ventura filed a civil suit alleging Combs subjected her to more than a decade of coercion by physical force and drugs as well as a 2018 rape.

That 2023 suit was quickly settled out of court, but a string of similarly lurid s*xual assault claims against the Grammy winner from both women and men followed.

First, a few necessary disclosures about one of the subjects of this reflection, the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara. We have shared the bonds of friendship for over thirty-six years, having once walked the same academic corridors at the University of Jos, where we both studied law, and later at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. Ours has been a long, evolving friendship, enriched not merely by time, but by the quality of thoughts exchanged over the years. In this digital age, with the internet collapsing distance and instant messaging enabling the flow of ideas at the speed of thought, we have often found ourselves engaged in private, sometimes spirited, intellectual conversations on subjects both urgent and discursive.and presides over a government soaked in ostentation. This is not the power of example. This is the example of power, without vision, control without compassion.

Dogara’s remarks tried to separate Tinubu from coercive power. He said: “Not by the example of his power, to say that I’m forcing myself because I have my hands on the levers of the coercive apparatus of the state.” Yet, this is precisely what has begun to happen. The President has filled the Independent National Electoral Commission with loyalists. The judiciary is increasingly compromised. Governors and legislators are made to bow at the altar of Bourdillon or be humiliated. Dogara’s language absolves Tinubu too quickly. He paints him as a man who merely could use coercion, rather than one who is already doing so.

Let me be clear. Our country cannot afford more of Tinubu. The 2023 election was a mirage. 2027 must be a reckoning. First, Tinubu has no coherent vision. His “Renewed Hope” agenda is a slogan, not a strategy. His economic reforms are haphazard. There is no long-term investment in public infrastructure. No credible plan to reform education. No urgency about health care. No interest in creating real jobs. Second, his style of governance is steeped in nepotism and patronage.

Appointments are made on the basis of loyalty, not competence. Ministers lack direction. Government agencies operate like fiefdoms. Third, he is disconnected from the sufferings of ordinary citizens. How can a leader who has not addressed the soaring cost of living, who has not curbed the dollarisation of our economy, who has said nothing meaningful about the kidnapping of schoolchildren or the slaughter of farmers, be said to wield the “power of example”?

Fourth, Tinubu lacks democratic humility. He has not shown respect for dissent. He avoids the media. He does not speak to the people. He hides behind proxies and spin doctors. He governs like a man who believes the presidency is his entitlement, not a trust. Fifth, and finally, Tinubu’s politics is anchored in the past. He is the godfather of a political machine that has corrupted Lagos and now seeks to extend that corruption nationally. Our country cannot afford to be governed as Lagos has been: where a few men own everything and millions struggle for scraps.consults, who learns. We need a president who is not afraid to lose power if doing so preserves integrity. One who would rather do what is right and be voted out than do what is popular and win.

We need a president who lives modestly, speaks plainly, and acts justly.

In 2027, citizens must ask themselves: who among the contenders reflects these values? Who shows not just competence, but character? Tinubu has had his chance. He has used it poorly. He should not be given another. Dogara’s remarks, though well-intended, confuse appearance for essence. It is not enough to say the right thing. One must also do the right thing. And when someone consistently does the wrong thing, no amount of oratory can rescue them.

Let citizens not be fooled by slogans. Let them not confuse the absence of tyranny with the presence of virtue. Let them not mistake cleverness for wisdom. Tinubu is not the example we need. And if our dear fatherland is to survive as a democratic republic, then 2027 must be the year we say, enough.

Our country deserves better.

Citizens must demand a country that works.

Abdul Mahmud is a human rights attorney in Abuja

The Niger Delta Development Commission has warned the public regarding the activities of fraudsters offering non-existent postgraduate scholarships to unsuspecting victims.

Seledi Thompson-Wakama, NDDC spokeswoman, issued the warning in a statement on Sunday.

She disclosed that the scammers had been soliciting money from members of the public under the pretext of securing scholarship placements.

“The attention of the NDDC has been drawn to fraudulent emails and messages sent to applicants of the commission’s postgraduate foreign scholarship programme,” she said.

Ms Thompson-Wakama revealed that the fraudulent emails, purportedly sent from nddcregistry@gmail.comand claiming to be from NDDC’s ‘Board Registry’, invite recipients to a fictitious document verification and authentication exercise.

According to her, the purported exercise is scheduled for May 19 to 21 at Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“Members of the public are hereby advised that the NDDC has no affiliation with this fraudulent selection process,” she said.

She clarified that all official communication concerning the commission’s scholarship programme is conducted exclusively through the official NDDC portal: www.scholarship.nddc.gov.ng.

“Applicants are strongly advised to disregard any unsolicited messages requesting money, invitation, sensitive information, or offering scholarship placements outside of the official NDDC procedures,” she added.

Ms Thompson-Wakama urged anyone who receives such fraudulent emails to report them immediately to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for prompt investigation and action.

She encouraged Nigerians interested in the NDDC’s programmes to utilise only the official NDDC communication channels.

“We also advise former beneficiaries of the commission’s programmes and prospective applicants to verify all information through the NDDC’s official website official: www.nddc.gov.ng,” Ms Thompson-Wakama explained.

The Cross River government has announced plans to review safety measures at Obudu Ranch Resort following a fatal crash near Ikwette community’s hill.

Governor Bassey Otu confirmed this in a statement on Sunday by his chief press secretary, Nsa Gil.

The accident, which occurred on Saturday, claimed four lives and left nine injured.

A vehicle carrying thirteen passengers was involved in the tragic incident.

Preliminary reports suggest brake failure may have contributed to the crash near the ranch’s bottom hill.

Emergency responders, including the Nigerian Army personnel stationed at the ranch, arrived promptly to assist those affected.

“Details of the victims are still being gathered. They were seminarians travelling in a bus owned by the Enugu Catholic Diocese,” the governor said.

Led by a reverend father, the group had completed a tour of the ranch before the accident occurred outside the resort’s main premises.

“The state government is contacting the victims’ families to offer support and necessary assistance during this difficult period,” the statement said.

He urged all visitors to prioritise safety, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, and follow all travel guidelines to the resort.

Mr Otu also appealed for privacy and compassion for the victims’ families as they cope with their loss.

Missing Babcock University student Siwajuola Oladipupo was found on Sunday alive, days after his mother, Omotayo Fijabi, cried out for help.

“My son has been found,” a relieved Ms Fijabi posted on Facebook, where she had been providing updates regarding the matter on Sunday afternoon.

During a Facebook live session on Saturday, Ms Fijabi renewed calls for help locating her son after being unable to reach him for more than 72 hours, prompting the Ogun state government and Babcock University management to act.

On Sunday, she thanked the public for their support in finding her son. The previously distraught mother noted that their “backing has not gone unnoticed”.

Meanwhile, Ms Fijabi added that she could not disclose further details about the incident due to the matter’s sensitive nature.

She explained that her priority now is taking care of her son and gathering more information.

She added, “I kindly request your understanding as I prioritise providing adequate care and gathering detailed information regarding the incident. Due to the sensitive nature of this matter, we are operating under strict instructions.

“My immediate focus is on ensuring his well-being to facilitate a thorough questioning and investigation. I promise to provide a comprehensive account of the events in due course. Thank you for your patience and understanding. God bless.”

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has urged the public, especially pedestrians, to use designated overhead pedestrian bridges when crossing busy expressways.
LASTMA general manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki made this appeal in a statement on Sunday by Taofiq Adebayo, the agency’s spokesperson.

Mr Bakare-Oki said the advisory followed a tragic incident in which a pedestrian was fatally struck by a lorry while crossing the Ojota expressway unlawfully.

“Preliminary findings show the lorry was on the Ojota carriageway when it struck the pedestrian, who breached crossing regulations by avoiding the nearby footbridge,” he explained.

The driver attempted to flee but lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a Toyota Corolla with registration number LND 905 HN.

LASTMA officers quickly apprehended the driver and secured the vehicle to prevent further danger.

“Both the driver and vehicle were handed to Ogudu Police Division for thorough investigation and necessary legal proceedings,” Mr Bakare-Oki said.

He noted that LASTMA operatives transferred the deceased’s body to officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU).

“This ensured respectful and appropriate handling of the victim’s remains in line with due process,” he added.

Mr Bakare-Oki extended heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family, describing the event as tragic and entirely avoidable.

He reaffirmed LASTMA’s dedication to preserving lives and promoting safe road habits across Lagos.

He warned that crossing expressways outside designated points is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

“It is reckless and illegal to ignore infrastructure provided for pedestrian safety,” Mr Bakare-Oki stated.

He stressed that the government has heavily invested in footbridges, and all road users must utilise them responsibly.

He urged the public to follow traffic safety rules, noting that non-compliance threatens everyone on the road

The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that its personnel, in separate operations, cracked down on notorious elements in Benue and Delta state.
The force headquarters’ public relations officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this on Sunday.

Mr Adejobi said the Benue State Police Command recovered several exhibits, including two locally fabricated guns and some live cartridges near the Tse-Gondo axis.

He said a group of suspected bandits from Shitele and Ukum, holding a secret meeting, eventually engaged in a gun duel with the operatives.

Mr Adejobi said that a serial car snatcher, Henry Okpor, was arrested on April 22 by the Delta State command’s CP special assignment team.

He said stolen items, including a pump-action gun, a Toyota Highlander (REG. No. RBC-414-BL) and a Hyundai Car (REG. No. LSD-367-DU) were recovered from him.

The police spokesperson said that another sting operation by the Delta team led to the arrest of Mudiaga Okparume and Arinze Humble, confirmed members of the Vikings Confraternity.

He said two Beretta pistols and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them.

Mr Adejobi also noted that two abducted persons in Agbarho, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, were rescued following a report of the incident on April 26.

He added that the state police arrested about nine suspects and recovered several ammunition.

The force spokesperson stated that all apprehended suspects would be duly charged to court after investigations.

The Federal High Court (FHC) has announced the establishment of a Freedom of Information (FoI) desk to enhance journalists’ and public access to information in the court.
The FHC spokesperson, Catherine Christopher, announced this in a statement on Sunday.

She said the establishment of the desk was in line with the court’s commitment to uphold transparency, promote accountability, and enhance access to information.

“The court hereby announces the establishment and operationalisation of the Freedom of Information (FoI) desk.

“The information/FoI desk has been created to serve as a central point for receiving inquiries from journalists and members of the public, submitting letters, formal FoI requests, and related correspondence, providing guidance on accessing public records and information in line with the Freedom of Information Act,” Ms Christopher said.

The director said the desk, which is located at the FHC’s Headquarters in Abuja, is fully staffed with trained personnel ready to assist individuals and organisations seeking information about the court’s activities, decisions and operations.

She said the desk would also ensure compliance with legal and procedural requirements in accessing information.

“This initiative reflects the court’s ongoing efforts to foster open communication and support the constitutional right to information.

“For further information, please visit the information/FOI desk at the Federal High Court Headquarters during official working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or contact us via email at fhc.informationdepartment@gmail.com or phone 09160005854,” Ms Christopher said.

The FoI Act passed in 2011 grants citizens a legally enforceable right to access information held by public institutions, including government ministries, agencies and bodies performing public functions.

The act aims to promote transparency, accountability, and public participation in government.

The Agbekoya Society of Nigeria has urged the implementation of community policing to address the rising security challenges in some parts of the country.

The society’s president, Okikiola Kamorudeen, made the call in a statement on Sunday.

PauseUnmute
Fullscreen
Agbekoya is a Yoruba farmers and hunters association committed to protecting rural communities.

Mr Kamorudeen appealed to President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on food insecurity across Nigeria.

He said such a declaration would enhance food production and curb insecurity and cybercrime, particularly among Nigerian youths.

Mr Kamorudeen noted that community policing enjoys wide support, adding that Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had also endorsed it as a solution to insecurity.

“The society has deployed nearly 4,000 personnel to secure farmers in the South-West, significantly reducing kidnappings and violent clashes in rural areas,” he said.

In February 2024, Agbekoya urged the federal government to arm its members and similar local outfits to better confront regional security threats.

He stated that local outfits familiar with their communities are best placed to respond quickly and effectively to security issues.

Mr Kamorudeen said Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also backed community policing and encouraged residents to support the initiative and work with security agencies.

He maintained that the growing support from traditional institutions and local groups shows a shift toward grassroots-led security strategies.

Mr Kamorudeen said this collaboration could help build a more secure, peaceful, and united Nigeria.

The Nigerian Defence Academy has advised residents to steer clear of a Range Classification Exercise scheduled for Nigerian Army personnel serving at the academy.
The announcement was made in a statement by the Academy’s Public Relations Officer, Maj. Mohammed Maidawa, on Sunday in Kaduna.

According to Mr Maidawa, the exercise is scheduled to hold from May 5 to 8 at the NDA Open Range in the Afaka area.

He stated that the primary objective of the exercise was to further enhance participants’ proficiency and efficiency in weapon handling.

He said, “To ensure public safety throughout the period, the NDA urges members of the community—especially herders and farmers in surrounding areas—to avoid entering the range area during the exercise.”

He added that strict safety protocols would be enforced, and unauthorised persons would not be granted access to the firing range.

Mr Maidawa, “Media outlets and community leaders are kindly requested to disseminate this information widely to ensure all stakeholders are aware of the exercise and the necessary safety measures. The NDA appreciates the cooperation and understanding of nearby communities during this essential training. The Academy remains committed to fostering strong relationships with residents and prioritizing the safety and security of everyone around our training areas.’’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted at least 3.5 million pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup with a combined street value of over N3.4 billion in Rivers and Lagos States, respective.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the bulk of the seizures, two million pills of tramadol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup, were made on Tuesday, April 29.

Mr Babafemi said this was during a joint examination of a watch-listed container by NDLEA officers, men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies at the Port Harcourt ports complex, Onne, Rivers State.

“In Lagos, a total of 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid were recovered from a suspect Olarenwaju Wahab at the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo on Tuesday, April 29.

“The source of the consignment was traced to Q104B Road 25, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, which is the residence of one Obinna Kenneth, who is now at large,” he said.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 20kg.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed in tins of chocolate, milo beverage, white kidney beans and dark red kidney beans packaged.

He said this was part of cargo that came into the Lagos airport onboard a British Airways flight from Canada.

“At least three suspects, including the receiver of the consignment, Monsurat Lawson, have been arrested between Wednesday, April 30 and Saturday, May 3.

“In like manner, a businessman, Bobby Osas, was on Friday, May 2, arrested at the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy,” he said.

Mr Babafemi said a thorough search of his luggage led to the seizure of 8,130 pills of tramadol 225mg, 200mg and 100mg.

Also, NDLEA operatives frustrated an attempt by another syndicate to ship 104 grams of tramadol and skunk concealed in bottles of body cream to Iraq through a courier company in Lagos.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were recovered on Monday, April 28, by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI).

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress has cautioned Governor Dauda Lawal to stop the judicial harassment of the state lawmakers who chose to form a parallel assembly for peace to reign in the state.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Yusuf Idris stated the governor should have sat with the aggrieved members and amicably resolve the crisis in order to move the state forward, instead of using the judiciary to harass them.

Idris stressed that the Governor would not achieve anything by using his office to harass and intimidate the Honourable members, who refused to be manipulated by his government and decided to form a parallel assembly for the benefit of their constituents.

Idris said the state government has continued to “witch-hunt” the nine elected members of the State House of Assembly by using the judiciary as a tool to order their arrest without any summon.

“We at the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have found it disturbing and embarrassing how the state government is using the machinery of the judiciary to attack constitutionally elected members of the State House of Assembly for executing their legislative functions”.Even though a case is pending in the Court of Appeal, Sokoto in addition to a petition written to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, the National Security Adviser, the National Assembly and other stakeholders by the aggrieved law makers extracted from both the ruling PDP and opposition APC in the state, the Magistrate Court went ahead to order for the arrest of the members without any charge nor summon

“We are therefore calling on the state government under Governor Dauda Lawal to stop these harassment, sit with the aggrieved members and amicably resolve the crisis in order to move forward,” the statement reads.Idris said, ”Although the APC will continue to be on the right side of the law, the party will not allow judicial officers to be politicised and used against public interests.’

He maintained that the party would resist any attempt to witch-hunt its members just for voicing out the security situation of their various constituencies, which the government failed to address.

He finally called on the nine aggrieved members to petition the Judicial Service Commission against the court order granted by the Magistrate in order to serve as a lesson to other judicial officers.

The Lagos State Police Command has begun an investigation into the death of an 80-year-old Colombian national, Quesada Alfonso, whose lifeless body was discovered at a hotel in the Festac Town area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Saturday, said it occurred on Wednesday.

He said policemen in the area were alerted to the discovery of the deceased’s body in his room at about 3:30pm.

According to him, the late foreigner had been staying in the hotel in the last four months.

Hundeyin said, “A distress call was received on May 1, alerting authorities to the discovery of the deceased at around 3:45 pm in his hotel room (No. C85) on the 8th floor of the hotel. The police team, including homicide detectives, was dispatched to the scene to examine the situation.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had been staying at the hotel for more than four months before his death. No signs of violence or foul play were found on his body.”

He added that the corpse was evacuated and transported to Mainland General Hospital morgue in Yaba, where it was preserved for autopsy.

Hundeyin further revealed that the coroner’s inquest and other necessary procedures have been initiated.

He also revealed that some hotel management staff were briefly taken into custody for failing to maintain proper records of their guests.

“They have since been released as part of the investigation. Thorough investigation will continue to determine the cause of death,” he said

The New York State Catholic Conference, an organisation that represents the bishops of the state in working with government to shape laws and policies that promote social justice and respect for life, has criticised United States President Donald Trump for sharing seemingly AI-generated images of himself dressed as the Pope.

In a post on X.com on Saturday, the NYS Catholic Conference wrote: “There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President.

“We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us.”

Trump sparked a mix of laughter, disbelief, and debate after sharing the image on his Truth Social platform.

The digitally altered image, later reposted by the White House’s official X account, showed Trump in full papal regalia—flowing white robes, a golden crucifix, and a mitre—with one finger raised skywards.

The post comes just days after Trump jokingly told reporters, “I’d like to be pope, that would be my number one choice,” when asked who he backed as the next head of the Catholic Church.

His comment came shortly before the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.

While Trump didn’t endorse any contender, he alluded to “a very good” cardinal in New York, widely believed to be Archbishop Timothy Dolan, a staunch theological conservative with a clear stance against abortion.

Trump also attended Pope Francis’ funeral last week, marking his first international appearance since returning to office.

The immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian-American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC) Texas, United States of America, Ike Chidolue, has urged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to present her evidence backing her claim or quit the senate.

Mr Chidolue made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Recall that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of conspiring to kill her. The claim followed her accusation of sexual molestation against Mr Akpabio.

His reaction was in response to the suspended senator’s Facebook post, in which she dismissed a viral May 1 Facebook Live broadcast by one Dr Sandra Duru (also known as Prof. Mgbeke).

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan described the live broadcast which featured audio recordings and screenshots that appeared to contradict her public denials on several matters as “manipulated” and “politically motivated.”

However, Mr Chidolue said that the senator did not present facts or evidence to defend herself.

According to him, her post offered no facts, no forensics, and certainly no credibility.

He said, “What it does offer, unfortunately, is a continuation of a now familiar pattern; sensational allegations, quickly recycled into conspiracy claims once confronted with inconvenient evidence.”

Mr Chidolue added that if the materials presented by Ms Duru were authentic, they paint a troubling picture of a public official weaponising unproven accusations for political mileage.

He listed claims by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan which had not been backed by verifiable evidence to include accusations of sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as well as claims that a former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello was contracted to assassinate her.

Others he said were allegations that the Akpabios were involved in the 2021 death of a minor, assertions that her reassignment on the senate floor was punishment for rejecting sexual advances among others.

“Not one of these claims has been substantiated by a police report, sworn affidavit, senate resolution, or authenticated document. When confronted with contradictory evidence, the senator’s response has been predictable; attack the source, dismiss the proof, and shift the goalposts,” Mr Chidolue said.

He therefore called for a four-step course of action to restore credibility.

According to him, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan should authenticate or refute Ms Duru’s recordings through an independent forensic lab—publicly.

He stated, “She should also present evidence, police reports, court filings, senate records to back every claim, or seek legal redress if defamed.”

He added that failing all else, she should tender a public apology and vacate the Senate seat.

Mr Chidolue noted, “Let it be said plainly that Nigeria’s public institutions are not theatres for trial-by-sentiment. When elected leaders make explosive claims, they owe the public facts, not theatrics. Nigerians deserve better than conjecture and drama. The time for storytelling has expired. The burden is now her; evidence or exit.”

The Kebbi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to establish four additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the state by the end of 2025.

This initiative aims to address Gender-Based Violence through the establishment of the new centres in each of the four emirates in Kebbi.

The state Secretary of the Technical Working Group on GBV in Kebbi State, Nasiru Idris, gave then update in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

Mr Idris explained that the initiative followed a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, chaired by the governor’s wife, Zainab Nasir-Idris, who also serves as the chairperson of the TWG on GBV.

He said the meeting was attended by key government officials, consultants, and sectoral leaders, who discussed strategies for training SARC personnel and enhancing social work services across the state.

“I thank all participants, and I reaffirm my commitment to ensuring the new SARCs are fully operational before the end of 2025,” Ms Nasir-Idris said.

The governor’s wife also emphasised the importance of grassroots accessibility and collaboration across ministries.

She called for sustained media engagement to raise public awareness about GBV prevention and reporting.

Additionally, she highlighted the need to educate the public on survivors’ rights and the legal consequences for perpetrators.

In her opening remarks, Lead Consultant from Pearl Services Limited, Amina Ibrahim-Bamalli, commended the state government for its leadership in GBV programming in Northwestern Nigeria.

She highlighted the crucial role of social workers in helping survivors cope with trauma and suggested establishing skill acquisition centres to support survivors’ economic independence.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Women Affairs, Dr Suwaiba Salihu, underscored the need for the SARCs to be well-equipped.

In response, stakeholders were reassured that consultations with non-governmental organisations were ongoing to ensure adequate resource mobilisation for the centres’ operational readiness.

Further solidifying the state’s coordinated approach, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, A’ishatu Abbas, announced the upcoming formation of a multi-stakeholder committee to oversee the implementation of GBV policies.

Director and Medical Consultant of the Maitalle Tara SARC in Kalgo, Dr Nura Mohammed-Kangiwa,also provided insights into the necessary requirements for the operation of each centre.

A former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Basic Education, Rafa’atu Hammani, reiterated the importance of robust social services.

She emphasised the need for strong support systems to enhance the well-being of communities.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, A’ishatu Maikurata, pledged to ensure that social work training reached the grassroots. She expressed her commitment to improve accessibility to such training for local communities.

She also committed to reviving services at the community level, especially in rural areas where most GBV cases arose due to lack of awareness.