Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the seventeen-count cybercrime charges brought against him by the Nigerian Police Force.

Sowore was arrested by the police and detained at the Intelligence Response Team detention facility in Abuja on Monday, after refusing to accept the administrative bail conditions granted to him by the police.

He was invited to the Force Intelligence Headquarters in Abuja over allegations of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.

Sowore was, however, arraigned before Justice Musa Liman on Wednesday to take his plea.

When the charges were read to him, Sowore pleaded not guilty to all seventeen count.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had filed the charges against Sowore for allegedly calling him an “illegal IGP” on his verified X handle (formerly Twitter).

Count One of the charge read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on the 13th day of December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly send messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, where you called him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.’ This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024), and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.”

Count Two read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, intentionally and knowingly caused the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, calling him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.’ This statement, which you knew to be false, tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle, @policeNG. The publication contained threats intended to incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm the property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force. By so doing, you committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024).”

Count Three read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on December 20, 2024, intentionally and knowingly sent messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, stating: ‘The illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, will make the next #ENDSARS inevitable! He is working tirelessly towards it. Just a matter of time. #EgbetekunMustGo #Revolution.’ This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence.”

After taking his plea, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, made an application for bail.

Justice Liman stood the matter down till 3 p.m. for ruling on the application.

The Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti Division, on Wednesday, dismissed the defamation suit against activist Dele Farotimi.

The prosecutor, Samson Osobu, said he filed a notice of discontinuance and withdrawal in accordance with Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and prayed that the charge be struck out.

“The nominal complainant [Babalola] has expressed his desire to discontinue the case,” said Mr Osobu.

In response, the defendant’s counsel, Olumide Fusika, accepted the discontinuance and withdrawal, stating, “We are not opposed to the discontinuation of the charge.”

The presiding judge, Babs Kuewumi, thereafter struck out the suit.

The development came after Mr Babalola, on Sunday, forgave Mr Farotimi and promised to withdraw the case after the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other monarchs.

Mr Farotimi was arraigned for defaming Mr Babalola in his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.’

An Iraqi court on Wednesday sentenced nine drug dealers to death on charges of drug trafficking.

A statement by the Supreme Judicial Council said that the Central Criminal Court issued a verdict to execute nine drug dealers after 186 kg of various drugs were seized.

The chaos and conflicts that have engulfed Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003 impeded Iraqi governments from effectively addressing the threat of drugs.

In May 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani underlined the importance of waging “a war on drugs.”

He said that drug dealing remains one of the main ways of financing terrorism, and the circulation of drugs flourishes in the shadow of terrorism.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order banning trans surgery for minors, describing it as a barbaric act that ought not to be allowed.

Mr Trump, who had declared there are only two genders, announced this development in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.

“Today, it was my great honour to sign an Executive Order banning the chemical castration and medical mutilation of innocent children in the United States of America,” Mr Trump said.

The U.S. president described chemical and medical mutilation of children as a barbaric act, directing all federal agencies to cut funding for such procedures.

“Our nation will no longer fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support so-called ‘gender-affirming care’, which has already ruined far too many precious lives.

“My order directs agencies to use every available means to cut off federal financial participation in institutions which seek to provide these barbaric medical procedures that should have never been allowed to take place,” Mr Trump said.

The U.S. president noted in his executive order that “countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding.”

He added, “Moreover, these vulnerable youths’ medical bills may rise throughout their lifetimes, as they are often trapped with lifelong medical complications, a losing war with their own bodies, and, tragically, sterilization.

“Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.”

This order came barely two weeks into his second stint in the White House. Mr Trump had vigorously campaigned against transgender, vowing to end it in America.

A stampede at the world’s largest religious gathering killed at least 15 people with many more injured, a doctor at the Kumbh Mela festival in northern India told AFP Wednesday.

Deadly crowd accidents are frequent occurrence at Indian religious festivals, including the Kumbh Mela, which attracts throngs of devotees every 12 years to the city of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

The six-week festival is the single biggest milestone on the Hindu religious calendar, and millions of people had travelled there to take a dip in the confluence of holy rivers.

Pilgrim Renu Devi, 48, told AFP that a huge crowd was moving down a promenade to reach the rivers abutting the festival site.

“I was sitting near a barricade, and during the pushing and shoving, the entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward,” she added.

“When the crowd surged, elderly people and women were crushed, and no one came forward to help.”

Rescue teams working with pilgrims to carry victims from the accident site weaved through piles of clothes, shoes and other discarded belongings.

Police were seen carrying stretchers bearing the bodies of victims draped with thick blankets.

“At least 15 people” were killed, a doctor at a hospital tending to survivors told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to media.

Authorities have yet to officially confirm any deaths in the stampede, which took place around 1:00 am (1930 GMT Tuesday).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his “deepest condolences” to relatives of those killed in a stampede at a Hindu religious festival on Wednesday.

“The accident that happened at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh is extremely sad,” he wrote in a post on X. “My deepest condolences to the devotees who have lost their loved ones.”

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has said that the Federal Government is ready to welcome deported Nigerians from the United States.

The Director of Media and Corporate Affairs of the commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, in an interview with Vanguard on Tuesday evening, said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in charge of such development.

Balogun further said FG had already set up an inter-agency committee to handle the matter should Nigerians be deported from the US.

“The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US.”

However, the NiDCOM spokesperson stressed that its commission was not aware of Nigerians in America being processed for deportation.

Recall that about 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are faced with deportation as Donald Trump crackdown on illegal immigrants in the country.

In the document compiled by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the agency revealed the data is broken down by nationality and number of people faced with deportation.

It also clarified that as of November 24, 2024, there are 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders.

In the document titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” Mexico and El Salvador top the list of nations facing the most deportation, with 252,044 and 203,822, respectively.

The ICE is charged with the responsibility of protecting America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security.

Meanwhile, on Thursday last week, hundreds of migrants were arrested, and others flew out of the country on military aircraft as Donald Trump’s promised mass deportation operation got underway.

The runway at Kano airport has been temporarily closed for inspection and clearance after a Max Air plane suffered a tyre burst while landing.

The incident on Tuesday night led to flight disruptions, though all passengers and crew were safely evacuated without injuries.

After the incident, the airline announced this on their official X account on Wednesday morning.

“As a result, the Kano runway will remain temporarily closed for inspection and clearance, which may lead to delays in flight operations today, Wednesday, 29/01/2024.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience as we await further updates on the runway reopening,” the airline added.

Max Air reassured the public that the situation was handled professionally. “Our crew handled the situation professionally, ensuring the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew members. There were no injuries, and the aircraft has since been removed from the runway as of 04:28,” the airline stated.

The airline praised its engineering team for its swift response and assured passengers that updates on flight schedules would be provided as soon as possible.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority through their official X account on Wednesday morning confirmed that the incident involved Flight VM1605, with registration number 5N-MBD.
According to the NCAA, “The pilot, cabin crew, and all 53 passengers were safely disembarked with no injuries recorded.”

The agency further stated that the aircraft had been moved from the runway to Taxiway B.

“The aircraft has been removed from the runway to Taxiway B. The NCAA has directed that a thorough runway inspection be carried out before the runway is opened.

“The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has taken charge of the investigation,” the agency said.

Earlier today, A Max Air aircraft carrying 53 passengers suffered a tyre burst while landing at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Tuesday night.

Sources suggested the incident, which occurred at 10:57 p.m. may have involved the nose landing gear tyre.

All passengers were safely evacuated without injuries, but efforts to obtain comments from airline and safety officials were unsuccessful.

The Economic Community of West African States has announced that despite the official withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the bloc on Wednesday (today), citizens and businesses from these countries will continue to enjoy key benefits of membership to maintain regional stability.

“The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger from ECOWAS has become effective today, 29th January 2025,” the statement issued by the ECOWAS Commission on Wednesday read.

ECOWAS assured that passports and identity cards bearing its logo will remain valid for travel within the region.

Trade and economic activities will proceed under the existing ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, allowing goods and services from the three countries to move freely.

According to the statement, their citizens will retain visa-free access, residence, and establishment rights across ECOWAS states.

“However, in the spirit of regional solidarity and in the interest of the people, as well as the decision of the ECOWAS Authority to keep ECOWAS’ doors open, all relevant authorities within and outside ECOWAS Member States are requested and required to:

“Recognise National passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, until further notice. Continue to treat goods and services coming from the three countries in accordance with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and investment policy.

“Allow citizens of the three affected countries to continue to enjoy the right of visa-free movement, residence and establishment in accordance with the ECOWAS protocols until further notice. Provide full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the three countries in the course of their assignments for the Community,” the statement read.

A special ECOWAS committee has been established to negotiate future engagement with the three countries, ensuring that the transition does not negatively impact millions of people who rely on cross-border movement and trade.

The statement added, “These arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future engagement with the three countries by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

“The Commission has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three countries. This message is necessary to avoid confusion and disruption in the lives and businesses of our people during this transition period.”

A 32-year-old Nigerian woman, Temitope Iwute, died during childbirth in the United Kingdom.

Iwute died shortly after receiving her Master’s degree at York St John University.

Announcing her death on Monday, the official X account of the Community of Nigerians in the UK made a post seeking to raise money to support her newborn baby and her family for her burial.

NIUK Community also launched a GoFundMe account to raise the needed funds.

The message read, ”Dear NIUK Community, we’re reaching out with heavy hearts to support the family of Temitope Elizabeth Soneye Iwute, a vibrant 32-year-old who tragically passed away during childbirth, leaving behind her precious newborn son.

“Temitope had just completed her MSc at York St John University and was eagerly looking forward to her future. Now, we ask for your help to honour her memory and support her baby’s future.

“Your donations will ensure a proper farewell for Temitope and provide love and stability for her son. Every contribution matters.”

So far, the account has raised £3,785 out of the £15,000 goal, with 157 donations amounting to 25 per cent.

The organiser, Mauren Elor, further wrote in the GoFundMe description, “Imagine the joy of a mother-to-be, her heart overflowing with love for the little life growing within. Temitope Elizabeth Soneye Iwute, just 32 years young, radiated that joy.

“She was a woman whose warmth could melt the coldest heart, whose laughter could chase away any shadow. She was a devoted wife, a cherished daughter, a beloved sister, and a friend to all. Temitope dreamed of motherhood, of cradling her child, of singing lullabies and of sharing her boundless love. Tope just rounded up her MSc program at York St John University(England) and was looking forward to her convocation ceremony.

“But fate, in its cruellest twist, had other plans. Temitope tragically passed on during childbirth at Croydon University Hospital London, leaving behind a precious newborn son and a world enveloped in grief. Little Baby will never know the tender touch of his mother, the soothing sound of her voice and the unwavering strength of her love. He will grow up without the woman who cherished him before he even took his first breath.”

Elor added that her kindness deserves a celebration of a life filled with love and light, stressing, “But more importantly, your generosity will help us embrace the little Baby with the love and care his mother would have showered upon him. It will help provide for his future, ensuring he has a safe and stable home, access to education, and the opportunity to grow into the wonderful man his mother knew he would be.

“Every donation, no matter how small, is a testament to the power of love and a promise to this little Baby that he will not face this journey alone. Please, open your hearts and join us in honouring Temitope’s memory and providing a future filled with hope for her precious child.

“Donate today and share this campaign. Let’s wrap her son in a blanket of love and show him that even in the darkest of times, compassion and kindness prevail.”

The first plane carrying Colombian migrants deported from the United States has landed in the South American country after the settlement of a dispute between the nations over U.S. deportation policy.

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“They are Colombians; they are free and dignified, and they are in their home country, where they are loved,” Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro announced on social media platform X on Tuesday.

“The migrant is not a criminal; he is a person who wants to work and get ahead, who wants to live,” the president wrote.

The Colombians arrived in the capital, Bogotá, on a Colombian Air Force plane.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Petro had initially prevented two U.S. military aircraft carrying deported Colombians from landing. He justified his decision by saying migrants were not criminals and should be treated with dignity.

U.S. President Donald Trump reacted promptly and announced tariffs of 25 per cent on goods from Colombia and entry restrictions for Colombians. Mr Petro flexed his muscles and also announced tariffs but then backed down.

Just a few hours later, the White House issued a statement saying Mr Petro had agreed to all of Mr Trump’s conditions. On the basis of this agreement, the tariffs would not be imposed, the White House said.

With the landing of the plane in Colombia, the visa sanctions imposed by the U.S. State Department and the increased customs and border protection checks on all Colombian goods and nationals would cease to apply.

Mr Petro’s decision to reject the flights on Sunday was met with criticism in his own country. Local media reported that a think tank had called on the president to pursue a responsible and pragmatic foreign policy.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the National Information Technology Development Agency Community ICT Centre in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative.

The Renewed Hope Initiative is Mrs Tinubu’s project introduced to transform lives across the country through various programmes in health, education, agriculture, social investment, and economic empowerment.

During the commissioning of the ICT centre at the Kwara State College of Education on Tuesday, the first lady congratulated the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, and his team for working closely with RHI to bridge the digital gap nationwide.

She said the construction and equipment provided were in furtherance of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through industrialisation and digitalisation.

She added that the knowledge of ICT serves as a vital tool for empowering communities, especially women, enabling them to break traditional barriers and access new opportunities.

He stated, “In this collaboration with NITDA, on March 12, 2024, we commissioned the first-ever ICT community centre constructed by NITDA, named the Zainab Bulkachuwa Community ICT Centre in Bauchi State.

“NITDA has constructed four community ICT centres so far.
The centre we are commissioning today is the second, while Benue and Oyo centres are ready to be commissioned soon. Therefore, today’s commissioning presents us with another opportunity under the mandate of the Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy to further expand digital access for our citizens by providing communities with the resources they require to develop ICT skills.’’

According to Mrs Tinubu, Digital Economy Centres in five states and the Federal Capital Territory have also been fully equipped with computers and other ICT materials.

The five states include Jigawa, Ebonyi, Cross River, Oyo, Niger, and the FCT

She said 10 additional centres in Abia, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Yobe, and Zamfara are being fully equipped and will be ready for commissioning soon.
She stated, “I have been informed that these centres have greatly benefitted our youth, especially women and girls, by providing invaluable opportunities for growth and empowerment. I am glad to hear about the success stories and the opportunities these centres are offering members of these various communities that have benefitted from this intervention.

“By equipping themselves with ICT skills, women and girls can enhance their educational prospects, be self-reliant, participate in the global economy, and support their families.

“I urge the community members to take full ownership of this centre. The success of this centre depends on their active participation and utilisation of the resources available.’’

The first lady, under the RHI Economic Empowerment scope, presented a grant of N50 million naira to Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Mrs Abdulrazaq is also the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

The money, according to Mrs Tinubu, is to support another set of 1,000 women petty traders with the sum of N50,000 each to enable them to recapitalise their existing businesses in addition to the earlier empowerment of 1,000 women in the state in 2024.

Under the RHI Social Investment Programme, 250 elderly citizens were given a grant of N200,000 each in December 2024 to enable them to celebrate Christmas.

In addition, RHI, under its education programme, is working closely with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to build an alternative high school for girls in Kwara State.

Responding, the director general of NITDA said the centre was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for robust learning.

Mr Abdulrazaq and his wife praised Mrs Tinubu and NITDA for providing the centre.

He urged stakeholders in a better Nigeria to do more for society, saying, “It is important to invest in the future of the youth. This project is not just an investment in infrastructure; it makes a powerful statement about the essential role of technology in our survival and progress in this era.”

He expressed gratitude to the federal government and the RHI for contributing to innovation in the state.

The centre is named Amina Ndalolo Community ICT Centre.

American musician and actress, Selena Gomez, has been forced to delete an Instagram video after she filmed herself breaking down in tears while speaking about the deportation of Mexicans from the U.S.

The former Disney Child star uploaded an emotional video on her Instagram story in which she sobbed over President Donald Trump deporting undocumented immigrants hours after he issued a daily quota of arrests for border officials.

In her recording, which has since been deleted, Ms Gomez admitted she felt powerless over the situation.

She said, “I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything.”

The video, however, did not sit well with social media users, who were quick to slam her for not using her reported net worth of $1.3 billion to take action by herself.

British journalist and broadcaster, Piers Morgan, said, “Posting yourself weeping over illegal immigrant criminals being deported is a new level of absurd celebrity narcissism.”

Another person commented saying, “What a moron. What purposes does this serve? Is this a PR stunt???? Who cares what Selena Gomez thinks. Keep it to yourself. Disgraceful.”

A social media user also said, “Selena Gomez, if you truly want to help, use your millions to make their lives better.

“One of the people that has enough power and money to actually help people is posting a video of themselves crying on an Instagram story, like can you please give your money away.”

Other commenters accused Ms Gomez of staging the outrage and encouraged her to take a social media break.

Mr Trump, on his inauguration day as the 47th president of the U.S., signed a series of executive orders aimed at hardening immigration policies, including the stoppage of citizenship by birth for children of illegal immigrants.

Mr Trump had signed orders to declare a national emergency at the Mexico-U.S. southern border, stating the deployment of more troops to the area as he threatened to deport “criminal aliens.”

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects at a security checkpoint on the Umudioka-Awkuzu road by Igbariam and recovered one Beretta pistol, two live ammunition and a Toyota Corolla car from them.

In a statement on Monday, the spokesman for the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad from Enugwu-Ukwu carried out the arrest.

Ikenga said four occupants were in the vehicle when they were ordered to stop for a search; while two alighted and ran away, two others were apprehended.

He said, “Operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad Enugwu-Ukwu, at a security checkpoint on Umudioka-Awkuzu road by Igbariam on January 25, 2025, at 5:38 pm, arrested two out of the four occupants of a white Toyota Corolla vehicle with registration number YAB 26 CB.

“The team also recovered one Barreta pistol, two live ammunition, and the Toyota Corolla vehicle.

“The two suspects are Raphael Peverga and Saakura Teryima, both aged 22 years old and from Benue State. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest the other two suspects who are currently on the run.

“It was reported that the suspects alighted from the vehicle while still in motion when the operatives ordered them to park the vehicle for a security search.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, assures that the Command shall continue to evolve strategy and improve operational positioning in the State to nip the bud of such criminal elements.

Media personality Toke Makinwa has condemned music super star 2Baba for who he handled separation from wife Annie Macaulay-Idibia.

Makinwa expressed outrage on social media stating that 2Baba’s actions were unacceptable

She warned 2Baba that if he thought Annie was alone, he would have to face the collective opposition of her supporters.

Toke wrote: “This is wrong on all levels and you should be ashamed of yourself for bringing this here. Bring it on if you think she is alone, let me tell you here that you will have to fight all of us”.

In another post, Makinwa emphasised the importance of women standing up for themselves.

She argued that if women don’t support one another, they could become vulnerable to similar treatment.

Makinwa vowed to fight for Annie’s rights, warning 2Baba that if he attempted to involve the media, he would be met with resistance.

She wrote “I’m not one for too much talk but what is wrong is wrong and as a woman if you sit on the fence on this one, if it misses you, it will touch your daughter or any female in your family. No one is innocent and if you want to bring the media into it, knowing what is happening, we would fight for her”.

The Lagos State Government has commenced electronic registration for the 2025 Universal Basic Education by Continuous Assessment Scores and Placement Test.

This development is part of the state’s efforts to provide quality education to its citizens.

According to a circular signed by the Director of the Lagos State Examinations Board, on Monday, Mr Orunsolu Adebayo, the registration would run from Monday, January 27 to Friday, April 18, 2025.

It read, “Only primary six pupils in public and approved private primary schools in Lagos State are eligible to participate in the UBE by CAS and Placement Test.

“Registration is free for public primary schools, while pupils of approved private primary schools are required to pay N5,000 per candidate through the Lagos State Central Billing System.”

It added that the Lagos State Examinations Board had also approved Yoruba Language as one of the subjects for testing the knowledge and thinking ability of pupils sitting for the Placement Test by CAS.

Adebayo, assured stakeholders and parents that measures were in place to ensure seamless and hitch-free registration.

He emphasised that no child would be left unattended during the registration process.

Alfred Okyere, a Ghanaian studying in Canada, has been stabbed to death at work after spending a few days as a part-time worker at the DSI Underground Canada.

Mr Okyere, 23, who arrived in Canada in 2024 and stayed with his elder sister, Lydia Obeng, was allegedly killed by his co-worker, 53-year-old Troy Francis Leclair, at DSI, a mining supply company.

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Ms Obeng said the police revealed that Mr Okoye was stabbed more than a dozen times.

“They told us there was an altercation, and he was stabbed 17 times in 30 seconds,” Ms Obeng explained. “I know he is very calm. Alfred is never troublesome. It was a new job he told me he had found, and he started last Wednesday. And he left around 2:40, picked an Uber and went to work.”

She added, “Alfred’s name never crossed my mind when I saw the police here. I know he is very calm. Alfred is not trouble.

“When the police broke the news, I couldn’t believe it until they brought me his bag. I packed his lunch and everything when he was living and a document we took to SGI. So he clearly told me that he was the one.”

In a statement, the police confirmed Mr Alfred suffered injuries from the stabs, and he was pronounced dead in the hospital.

“Upon arrival, police located a 23-year-old male victim suffering from stab wounds,” a police statement. “He was transported to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.”

However, Ms Obeng said the deceased’s family did not get any information regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr Okyere’s death.

Meanwhile, the Canadian police have charged Mr Leclair with murder.

The operatives of the Abagana Divisional Police Headquarters, Anambra, said four suspects were nabbed for allegedly burning a 74-year-old woman to death in the Ifitedunu area.

The four suspects included a 21-year-old lady, Chinyere Ekwenugo, who allegedly conspired with others to kill the woman in a wheelchair.

The other suspects are Uzochukwu Okeke, 47, Fidel Anayo, 60 and Ikenna Anene, 54, from Abagana.

A police spokesman in Anambra, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement, saying the incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.

“During interrogation by the police operatives, the suspect, Chinenye Ekwenugo, confessed that her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Igwe, who is currently at large, and three others set the victim ablaze.

“They brought a casket to bury her before the intervention of the security operatives,” he said.

He said the police operatives also recovered the burnt remains of the deceased, the wheelchair, and a casket, adding that moves have been initiated to arrest the main suspect, Mr Igwe.

The body of the deceased, according to the police, has been deposited in the morgue for autopsy and further probe of the cause of death.

The police commissioner, Nnaghe Itam, while reacting to the incident, called for calm and ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command for a comprehensive investigation.

The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola SAN, in the early hours of Monday, agreed to withdraw the cases instituted against activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

Following Babalola’s petition to the police commissioner in Ekiti State that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, the police arrested the activist lawyer and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti.

Consequently, Farotimi stood trial for alleged criminal defamation before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District and as well for alleged cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of Federal High Court.

But Babalola, who spoke at ABUAD after the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers at the midnight meeting, said, he had agreed to withdraw the criminal case, saying, “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case.”

Also in attendance were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

Babalola, who restated the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and the influence it wielded, said, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”

The senior advocate said that he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.

He listed those who had appealed to him to take the matter out of court including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.

He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.

“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.

“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. when Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”

The Ooni, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”

Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.

“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.

“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.”

The Ooni added, “We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our own way, we have done the needful.”

In a petition dated November 19, 2024, addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Afe Babalola alleged that defamatory content in Dele Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, tarnished his reputation.

Farotimi was arrested in Lagos by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command and transported to Ado-Ekiti, where he faced a 16-count charge of criminal defamation and cyberbullying. Following his arraignment in a magistrate court, he was remanded in custody.

The allegations stem from claims in the book accusing Babalola and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria of influencing Supreme Court justices through corruption.