On Wednesday, a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court sentenced a 33-year-old man, Salisu Abubakar, to eight months’ imprisonment for stealing wrappers worth N830,000.The magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, however, gave the convict, a resident of Liberia Road, Malali, Kaduna, an option of a N50,000 fine.

The magistrate warned the convict to desist from committing crimes and ordered the return of the stolen wrappers to the owner.

Earlier, the convict had pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him.

Following the guilty plea, the prosecutor, Chidi Leo, urged the court to try him summarily under Section 286 sub 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The prosecutor told the court that Mr Abubakar had committed the offences on April 18 at Ungwan Rimi Road, Kaduna.

Mr Leo said that Mr Abubakar and two others, now at large, broke into a shop belonging to the complainant, Rabiu Nasir, and stole wrappers and lace fabrics valued at N830,000.

He said Mr Abubakar was caught with the stolen items while the others ran away.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released Nigerian socialite and businessman Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, on bail following his arrest over alleged naira abuse.E-Money was taken into custody by the EFCC on Tuesday, April 28, after being arrested late Monday night at his residence in the Omole area of Lagos.

He was then moved to the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja.

The socialite was said to have allegedly sprayed naira at a public event, including United States dollars, thereby also violating Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

After regaining his freedom, E-Money shared a calm update via his Instagram handle.

The businessman was seen at home with a gospel track playing softly in the background.

“No tension, everywhere good. I see all your love and support. God bless you all,” he wrote.

Likewise, fellow socialite Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, also took to Instagram to celebrate E-Money’s release.

He wrote, “My brother don fall out. To God be the glory.”

The anti-graft agency has been cracking down hard on individuals accused of abusing the Nigerian currency.

Just days ago, singer and rapper Terry Apala was remanded in custody over alleged Naira abuse.

He joins a growing list of entertainers and public figures facing similar charges.

The way out of the problems in the world lies in upholding and practising multilateralism, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has said.

Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers from the BRICS members and partner countries, he said all countries should make a choice.

He said the countries should make a choice in the face of the U.S. waving the tariff stick around the world.

Mr Wang said China’s response to the trade war is clear and firm: it will fight to the end if it must fight, and any talks must be based on equality and respect.

According to Mr Wang, China upholds not only mutually beneficial cooperation but also international rules.

Cardinals aged 80 and above are ineligible to vote in a papal conclave. Of the 135 cardinals originally eligible for the 2025 conclave, 15 are 79 years old—some just weeks away from the age limit. However, with Cardinal Antonio Cañizares of Spain stepping aside due to health reasons, the total number of electors now stands at 134.

The age restriction for electors was introduced by Pope Paul VI in the 1970s and reaffirmed by Pope John Paul II in the 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.Among those participating, the five oldest cardinals eligible to vote hail from Spain, Guinea, Poland, Pakistan and England, according to Catholic News Agency.Cardinal Ryłko, a long-serving Vatican official, was a close collaborator of Pope John Paul II and led the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Ordained by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła before he became pope, Ryłko was made a cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. He played a role in shaping lay ministry initiatives and is fluent in Polish, Italian, English, and German.

Cardinal Joseph Coutts – PakistanBorn: July 4, 1945
Cardinal Ryłko, a long-serving Vatican official, was a close collaborator of Pope John Paul II and led the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Ordained by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła before he became pope, Ryłko was made a cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. He played a role in shaping lay ministry initiatives and is fluent in Polish, Italian, English, and German.

Cardinal Joseph Coutts – PakistanCardinal Robert Sarah – Guinea

Born: June 15, 1945

A prominent figure in the Vatican, Cardinal Sarah has served under three popes in key curial roles, including prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. He became an archbishop at age 34 and strongly advocated for traditional liturgy. Fluent in French, Italian, and English, Sarah also participated in the 2013 conclave and is seen by some as a potential candidate for the papacy.

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has flagged off the construction of an industrial city in Izhiangbo, the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state as part of efforts to boost the state’s economy and attract investment.

Speaking at the groundbreaking on Tuesday, Nwifuru said the project would feature a wide range of modern infrastructure, including a well-planned road network, sustainable power supply from independent providers, standardised water systems, broadband internet and robust security architecture.

He said that the city was not a mere construction project but also a comprehensive and deliberate strategy to reposition the state as a foremost destination for industrialisation and economic expansion.

He said, “It is designed to host a wide range of industries, including manufacturing hubs, technology parks, logistics centres, and export facilities.

“Through this project, we aim to harness and add value to our abundant natural resources — solid minerals, agricultural produce, and human capital; attract both local and international investors by providing a business-friendly environment with modern infrastructure; and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, empowering our youth and women.Additionally, it will promote technological advancement and innovation; stimulate trade and economic integration within and beyond the borders of Ebonyi State.”

The governor said Izhiangbo was chosen for its strategic location along major transport corridors and its proximity to raw materials, skilled labour, and markets.He added, “The Industrial City will feature a well-planned road network with constant and sustainable power supply through independent power solutions; standardised water treatment and reticulation systems; advanced waste management and environmental protection measures.

“The industrial city features broadband internet connectivity and security architecture that guarantees the safety of investors, workers, and residents.

“Our government, in collaboration with strategic partners, is committing substantial resources to ensure the successful delivery of these critical infrastructures.”

China is ramping up its propaganda campaign to push back against new US tariffs, deploying Cold War-era imagery, patriotic messaging, and AI-generated memes to denounce what it calls “bullying” by Washington and reinforce a narrative of national resilience.

In response to the sweeping 145% tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, Beijing has openly condemned the measures as ineffective and provocative, arguing they will neither resolve the fentanyl crisis nor hinder China’s continued economic ascent.

On Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry posted a video across its official social media accounts, featuring American-accented English narration and footage of a Chinese MiG-15 shooting down a US fighter jet during the Korean War. The video compared yielding to the tariffs to “drinking poison,” declaring: “China won’t kneel down, because we know standing up for ourselves keeps the possibility of cooperation alive, while compromise snuffs it out.”

The video continued with Cold War references, calling imperialists “always arrogant” and suggesting any appearance of reason is only due to pressure. It cut to images of the Korean War armistice signing, reinforcing Beijing’s message of defiance in the face of US power.

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, echoed these sentiments on Monday during a BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in Brazil, describing Trump’s trade strategy as “the open return of the law of the jungle.” According to a foreign ministry readout, Wang warned that silence or compromise would only “embolden the bully further.”A Chinese official speaking anonymously to Reuters said the leadership sees any sign of concession as a long-term weakness, potentially allowing Trump to alter the terms of engagement again in the future. Messaging like “Do Not Kneel,” the official explained, is designed to resonate both within China and abroad.Despite heavy censorship on Chinese social media, especially regarding sensitive topics such as alleged human rights abuses, memes and musical skits targeting US tariffs are flourishing. On Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, a viral AI-generated song set to an upbeat electronic rhythm parodied US policy with lyrics like, “The King has come up with new tariffs! Peasants, peasants, listen up!”—a jab at US Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent controversial use of the term “peasants” to describe Chinese citizens.The satirical track continues, “Tariffs for you even if you are not human!” as it displays an image of a penguin—mocking reports that new US levies apply even to uninhabited Antarctic islands.Through its use of historical references, pointed rhetoric, and digital satire, China is signalling it has no intention of backing down as tensions with the US escalate.China is ramping up its propaganda campaign to push back against new US tariffs, deploying Cold War-era imagery, patriotic messaging, and AI-generated memes to denounce what it calls “bullying” by Washington and reinforce a narrative of national resilience.

In response to the sweeping 145% tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, Beijing has openly condemned the measures as ineffective and provocative, arguing they will neither resolve the fentanyl crisis nor hinder China’s continued economic ascent.

On Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry posted a video across its official social media accounts, featuring American-accented English narration and footage of a Chinese MiG-15 shooting down a US fighter jet during the Korean War. The video compared yielding to the tariffs to “drinking poison,” declaring: “China won’t kneel down, because we know standing up for ourselves keeps the possibility of cooperation alive, while compromise snuffs it out.”

The video continued with Cold War references, calling imperialists “always arrogant” and suggesting any appearance of reason is only due to pressure. It cut to images of the Korean War armistice signing, reinforcing Beijing’s message of defiance in the face of US power.

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, echoed these sentiments on Monday during a BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in Brazil, describing Trump’s trade strategy as “the open return of the law of the jungle.” According to a foreign ministry readout, Wang warned that silence or compromise would only “embolden the bully further.”

Senator Abba Moro (Benue South) has stated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could have won the 2023 presidential election if it had not picked Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

During an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Tuesday night, Moro described the decision to pick Okowa, a former Delta Governor as a “costly error” for the opposition party.

His remarks follow recent comments by Okowa, who expressed regret over accepting the vice-presidential slot.

Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ on Monday, Okowa admitted that his candidacy went against the wishes of his people.On April 23, Okowa and Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa defended the move, saying it was in the “best interest of our people” and necessary for the state to be “connected to Abuja.”

Reacting to Okowa’s defection, Moro said the former Governor’s statement only confirmed that “his heart was never truly with the PDP.”

According to him: “Given what we know now, with the hindsight that we have now, some of us think that the party would have won the election if other candidates, other than Okowa, had been picked as the vice-presidential candidate from the south.

“I think there is an error of judgment on the part of everybody that was involved in the choice of Okowa as the candidate.How else would you characterise this scenario that a sitting Governor, a former senator and a presidential candidate of a party couldn’t deliver his state even to the presidential candidate?

“And to think that two out of the senators from that state were from the opposition parties other than the PDP.

“So, I think that picking Okowa as the vice-presidential candidate in 2023 was a very serious mistake.

“As it is now, you can safely conclude that we lost the election because of lack of commitment.

“Otherwise, how can you explain that shortly after losing his state, that ordinarily should have been a very easy pick for the PDP, instead of rendering an apology to the party and Nigeria, he’s now talking about regretting being on the ticket?His soul was not in the PDP. His soul was not in that election, and that is why we performed very miserably in Delta state.”

Telecommunications services disrupted in Kogi State are expected to resume by Wednesday following a resolution of the dispute between MTN Nigeria and the state government, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria has said.

The Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, told PUNCH Online on Tuesday that the issues that led to the shutdown of telecom masts in the state, primarily affecting MTN, had been addressed, paving the way for service restoration.

“We have resolved the issues. Services will be fully restored on Wednesday,” Adebayo said.

The shutdown stemmed from a compliance dispute between MTN and the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency, which accused the telecom giant of violating operational rules and under-declaring the extent of its optic fibre network coverage in the state.

KUIMCA Director General, Taofeeq Isah, told journalists in Lokoja on Friday that MTN failed to comply with state operational rules.

“After assuming the office last August, I found non-compliance in their files. A four-day verification showed they covered more areas than declared,” Isah said.He noted that MTN initially claimed to have laid 48 optic fibres across Kogi, but a joint verification exercise revealed a much larger coverage.I called them for a discussion where they complained of being overbilled concerning the area of the state covered by their optic fibre.

“I went with them for a verification exercise to assess their claim, which took about four days, and we found out they were even covering more areas than they claimed,” Isah said.

Kogi demanded additional levies, and MTN’s refusal led to a court-ordered facility shutdown, leaving subscribers and businesses frustrated for over a week.

Officials from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service also accused MTN of tax evasion and submitting irrelevant documentation during compliance checks

Meta says it has launched enhanced personalisation features for its Meta AI assistant and introduced a ‘Discover’ feed to promote social interaction around AI use.

In a statement on Tuesday, Meta said the AI assistant could now learn individual preferences, such as interests in travel and language learning, and glean relevant details from user interaction contexts.

“The Meta AI will draw upon user-provided information from Meta products, including profile details and content engagement, to deliver more pertinent responses.

“Users who link their Facebook and Instagram accounts within the Accounts Centre will benefit from a more refined and integrated AI experience,” Meta said.

It added that the ‘Discover’ feed allowed users to share and explore innovative AI uses, view popular prompts, and adapt them for personal use while maintaining control over their content.

Meta emphasised that users could retain control over their content, with nothing being shared to their personal feeds unless explicitly chosen by the user.

It said these two latest developments underscored Meta’s commitment to creating AI tools that were intelligent and deeply connected to individual users and their social experiences

Members of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti North Senatorial District have endorsed Governor Biodun Oyebanji and Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye for a second term in office.

In January and February, the leaders of the Ekiti South and Central districts endorsed the governor and his deputy for reelection.

Leaders and party members made the endorsement from the Ekiti North senatorial district at a meeting held on Tuesday in Ido-Ekiti, Ido-Osi LGA.

The endorsement came barely two weeks after the state caucus of the party endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Mr Oyebanji for a second term in office.

The stakeholders said the present administration had laid a solid foundation for a transformative development that must not be disrupted.

They said Mr Oyebanji’s second term would ensure the completion of numerous impactful projects, safeguard Ekiti’s future, and elevate the state to new heights.

In his address, Cyril Fasuyi (APC-Ekiti North) said the governor has touched every nook and cranny of the 16 LGAs with transformative projects that directly impact the people’s lives.

He described the governor as a man of his word, whose action reflected his campaign commitment. The senator explained that the governor has fulfilled his electoral promises to the Ekiti people and effectively delivered on the six pillars of his administration.

“He has delivered on all the six pillars of his administration and Ekiti North, in particular, has felt his presence; we have felt his impact in all the five local governments and a good turn deserves another.

Earlier, the Ekiti North Progressive Leader’s Forum chairman, Samuel Abejide, said the governor had ensured that the benefits of governance were felt at the grassroots.

The Ekiti House of Assembly speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye, commended the governor for embarking on tangible developmental projects in the state.

Mr Aribasoye assured Ekiti residents that no individual or group would be allowed to disrupt the pace of development.

Adefowora Abiodun, one of the promoters of the cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto Bridge Exchange, has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the accused turned himself in.

Mr Abiodun, on Monday, surrendered to the anti-graft agency following a ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, approving EFCC’s request to arrest and detain six CBEX promoters.

This decision is pending the conclusion of the investigation into the alleged offences and potential prosecution of the individuals declared wanted by the EFCC.

Mr Abiodun, alongside five others, Seyi Oloyede, Emmanuel Uko, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, were declared wanted by EFCC on Friday over the CBEX Ponzi scheme that swindled thousands of Nigerians out of their money, worth over $1 billion.

Mr Abiodun’s lawyer, Babatunde Busari, stated that the accused submitted himself for investigation to clear his name.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday granted an application by the federal government to shield the identities of witnesses billed to testify against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice James Omotosho granted the application after the federal government’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, moved an ex parte motion to the effect.

Moving the motion, Mr Awomolo told the court that the identities of the witnesses needed to be protected for security reasons.

The lawyer informed the court that the charges against Mr Kanu bordered on terrorism, hence the need to protect the witnesses.

He requested that the names of the witnesses be shielded from the public for general security reasons.

Kanu Agabi, who appeared for Mr Kanu, did not object to the application.

Mr Agabi, however, requested similar cooperation from the federal government when the bail application for Mr Kanu would be argued.

The judge subsequently granted Mr Awomolo’s plea.

Meanwhile, the first prosecution witness, identified as PWAAA, commenced testifying as the government formally opened its case against Mr Kanu.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday commiserated with Mr Adeyemi Edun, CEO, Daniel Ford International, and other family members on the death of Mrs Olufunmilayo Edun, their matriarch.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja, by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman.

The President urged the family to find comfort in the remarkable impact she made in her lifetime through her devotion to prayer, charitable works and wise counsel.

He prayed to the Almighty God to grant peaceful repose to the departed soul and bring strength and comfort to the Edun family during this grieving time.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of businesswoman Aisha Achimugu over alleged N8billion oil block transactions.

She is also to account for how she came about 136 personal and corporate bank accounts,l.

According to a top source in EFCC, Mrs. Achimugu was arrested upon returning from London through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Her arrest was barely 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo, ordered her to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday and before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Achimugu was declared wanted by the EFCC in March 2025 on allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

In an affidavit by an EFCC investigator, Mr. Chris Odofin, Achimugu was under investigation for alleged conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption, and possession of property reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means

The affidavit also showed the applicant operates a total of one hundred and thirty-six (136) bank accounts across ten different banks both in her personal and corporate names.

A Nigerian fraudster, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, received more than eight years in prison in the United States for his role in a transnational fraud operation that earned him millions of dollars in illegal proceeds.According to court documents, for several years, Mr Ogbata tricked his victims, mostly adults or otherwise vulnerable, into parting with their money by sending them false personalised letters, claiming he was a representative of a bank in Spain.

The 36-year-old would then follow up by lying to the victims that they were entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for them by a family member who had died overseas years before but must pay certain fees to be able to receive the fake inheritance.

To claim the purported inheritance, the unsuspecting individuals would go ahead to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to bank accounts controlled by Mr Ogbata’s associates and the first batch of victims whom the defendant had gained their trust.

During his years-long operation, Mr Ogbata admitted to defrauding more than 400 Americans and stealing over $6 million in the process before he was eventually caught by the American enforcement agencies alongside European authorities.

“This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their outstanding contributions to this case,” acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said in a statement on Monday.

He added, “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located

On Monday, top United Nations officials in New York called for urgent action to rescue the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and revive international cooperation.Speaking at the Economic and Social Council annual forum on financing for development, they warned that a staggering $4 trillion annual financing gap threatened global development goals.

UN secretary-general António Guterres, president of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang, and president of ECOSOC, Bob Rae, stressed the need for more resources and a global financial overhaul.

Without an effective response, they stressed, the world risked falling even further behind on ending poverty, fighting climate change, and building new sustainable economies.

Last week, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund held Spring Meetings where global growth, trade tensions and the rising debt burden in developing countries were front and centre.

Mr Guterres warned that global cooperation itself was under threat. He pointed to rising trade tensions as a major risk, noting that fair trade was a clear example of the benefits of international collaboration.

Mr Guterres said the surge in trade barriers posed a “clear and present danger” to the global economy. He said this was evident in recent downgrades to global growth forecasts by the IMF, the World Trade Organization, and UN economists.

Guterres highlighted how many donors were pulling back from aid commitments while soaring borrowing costs drained public investments, putting the SDGs “dramatically off track.”

Mr Rae echoed these concerns, emphasising that over three billion people live in countries where governments spend more on interest payments than health or education.

Mr Rae called for urgent reforms that would allow countries a fair chance to repay what they owed while investing in their futures. He also sounded the alarm over rising trade barriers, citing recent moves by major economies, like the United States, to impose new tariffs.

He urged countries not to see trade as a zero-sum game where there are only winners and losers. Mr Rae admonished them to embrace fair, open trading systems as a path to shared prosperity.

Mr Yang underscored the consequences of rising debts and shrinking fiscal space. According to him, governments in more than 50 developing countries now spend over 10 per cent of their revenues on debt servicing.

The UN economist said in 17 of them, debt servicing gulps over 20 per cent, which is a clear warning sign of default. He stressed that closing the financing gap, estimated at over $4 trillion annually, was critical to achieving the SDGs.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are all interconnected. For instance, progress on SDG 2 to end hunger is closely tied to advances in health and education.

Mr Rae added that the conversation must move beyond declarations to concrete, measurable action.

The Russian government has expressed its willingness to share with Nigeria the new strategies it has developed to support the country’s fight against terrorism.

This was disclosed in a statement on Monday.

It said Lt.-Gen. Andrei Averianov, a Russian envoy, made the pledge on Monday when he paid a courtesy visit to defence chief Christopher Musa in Abuja.

Mr Averianov said Russia was engaged in special operations in 39 countries, during which she developed new methods and was willing to share them with Nigeria to support the fight against terrorism.

The statement noted that it had been 80 years since Russia fought Nazism, adding that the security landscape has, however, evolved, with asymmetric threats such as Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram now emerging.

According to the statement, the head of the Russian delegation expressed Russia’s delight in being part of the fight to create a more secure environment for future generations in Nigeria.

Mr Averianov pledged Russia’s support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism while recognising Nigeria’s significance as a major stakeholder and power in the region.

He said Russia had been observing and learning from Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.

“As brothers in arms, we are ready to assist, particularly with the provision of the full range of weapons required by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to prosecute its war on terror,” Mr Averianov said.

Mr Musa welcomed the delegation on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and the members of the Nigerian military.

Mr Musa said Russia and Nigeria were undergoing challenging times, resulting in the loss of personnel and necessitating the conduct of special operations.

The defence chief thanked the delegation for the support from Russia.

Mr Musa, he said, noted that Russia and Nigeria had long enjoyed strong ties, emphasising the need for continued partnerships in the areas of training and operations.

“For the Nigerian Army, navy and air force, there is the need to expand training in Special Operations and provision of requisite equipment, special boats, fast attack craft and amphibious training.

“Others include the need for assistance in the maintenance of Russian platforms and the provision of air surveillance, respectively,” he said.

The defence chief stressed that Nigeria had several Russian-made platforms that were currently unserviceable. He requested support by providing spare parts and deploying Russian experts for in-country maintenance or arrangements for backloading such equipment to Russia for repairs.

Mr Musa appealed for enhanced intelligence sharing from Russia to Nigeria, noting that the Russians had gained valuable experience and capacity from their extended operations, particularly in the Sahel region.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has paid N155.4 million as compensation to property owners affected by the dualisation of the Ikere-Akure road.

Oyebanji said that the N155.4m “covers the formal acquisition of land valuation and payments for unexhausted improvements on the affected property. The transparent and fair disbursement of these funds is our priority, and I want to assure you that due process has been followed.”

The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, spoke on Monday at Ikere Ekiti while unveiling the disbursement of compensation.

He assured the citizens that embarking on projects that would add value and create vistas of economic activities and business development would continue to dominate the priority lists of his administration.

The governor, who noted the road was conceptualised to bolster business activities and enhance the inter-state transportation system, said, “This project is not just an infrastructural intervention; it is a crucial lifeline that will strengthen socio-economic ties between Ekiti and Ondo states and enhance the general well-being of our people.

“It is also part of the broader development policy to open up our communities, reduce travel time and ensure the safety and convenience of commuters along this crucial corridor.He praised property owners for their understanding, acknowledging that the compensation might not match the value of their properties but commending them for their sacrifice.He said, “Though what we are giving might not be commensurate or equal to your property, I want you to know that with this sacrifice, you have written your names with indelible ink in the history of the development of our dear state. I urge you to use these funds wisely.

“You can see that this government is highly compassionate. Some governments can acquire such properties in the public interest and destroy them, and still refuse to pay compensation. But the Oyebanji administration didn’t do that. The administration promised to pay the compensation before the completion of the project, and it is fulfilling this today.”

The Special Adviser on Lands, Survey and Geographical Information System, Prof. James Olaleye, said that the propertiesacquired were strategic for the successful construction of the road that will bolster economic activities and ease traffic gridlock along that pivotal corridor.

Olaleye described the road as one of the arteries of business and agriculture development in the state, particularly for its linkage to Ikere Ekiti, perceived as the second largest town in Ekiti State.

“To those receiving payments today, use the money wisely. I know it is not easy to give up your property and relocate. But this is a necessary step you have to take for the success of this project. We appreciate your understanding,” the special adviser stated.

The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has said that the growing wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is driven by the performance of President Bola Tinubu, rather than mere political calculations.Otu described the mass defection led by Governor Oborevwori — along with former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and key structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta — as “a historic moment” that would foster deeper regional collaboration, accelerated economic development, and greater political stability.

As Vice Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Otu urged Oborevwori and other new entrants into the APC to bring their experience and grassroots mobilization capacity to bear in advancing the collective goal of a flourishing South-South region and a renewed Nigeria.Your Excellency’s decision to board the progressive train is a profound testament to your commitment to inclusive governance, sustainable development, and national unityI am confident that your leadership will further galvanize our collective resolve to deliver the dividends of democracy and drive forward the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Bola Tinubu,” Otu said.Otu described the mass defection led by Governor Oborevwori — along with former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and key structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta — as “a historic moment” that would foster deeper regional collaboration, accelerated economic development, and greater political stability.

As Vice Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Otu urged Oborevwori and other new entrants into the APC to bring their experience and grassroots mobilization capacity to bear in advancing the collective goal of a flourishing South-South regionHe concluded with a warm welcome to Oborevwori, expressing optimism about a strengthened partnership aimed at charting a new course for regional and national greatness

Barely 35 months after the death of popular gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.

Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of his wife on April 8, 2022.

Delivering judgment on Monday, the judge ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, thus finding the defendant guilty.Peter Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on a 23-count charge, including culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses—including two of the late singer’s children—and tendered 25 documents as exhibits.Before sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency, but the prosecution, led by Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to enforce the full weight of the law.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Peter Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide).

Additionally, he received two years’ imprisonment each for counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months’ imprisonment for count 10; and three years’ imprisonment for count 11. He was also fined N500,000 and N200,000 respectively for counts 6 and 7.