Category: Featured

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 48-year-old man, Olatide Temitope Emmanuel, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murder and impersonation.

The convict was arraigned before Justice Jubril Aladejana in December 2025 on a two-count charge bordering on the murder of a woman, Bosede Falade, and falsely presenting himself as a medical doctor. The prosecution told the court that Emmanuel committed the offence on June 24, 2019, at Odo Ikole Compound in Erinmope Ekiti when Falade died during childbirth after undergoing a surgical procedure carried out by him.

An eyewitness, Rev. Omotade, told the court that he was informed by the deceased’s husband that his wife had died during childbirth at about 9:00 p.m. When he arrived at the clinic, he saw the corpse on a stretcher while the self-acclaimed doctor stood beside it. According to him, a close examination of the body suggested that the operation had been carried out unprofessionally, prompting him to alert the police in Otun Ekiti for investigation.

During the trial, the defendant claimed he had been a nursing apprentice at a hospital in Lagos State and later established a clinic in Erinmope Ekiti in 2019. He said the deceased approached him for childbirth and that he performed a Caesarean section after informing her and her husband. While the baby survived, he said the woman later developed complications and died.

Delivering judgment, Justice Aladejana held that the defendant’s admission that he lacked proper medical qualification but still performed surgery showed extreme recklessness. The court ruled that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that his actions led to the death of Bosede Falade, and consequently sentenced him to death by hanging.

The Chairperson of the (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri has assured Nigerians stranded in parts of the Middle East that the Federal Government will commence their evacuation once the airspace in the region becomes safe for flights.

Dabiri-Erewa gave the assurance on Tuesday while responding to complaints from a Nigerian citizen reportedly stranded in , who raised concerns over the delay in the evacuation of Nigerians from the region. She explained that current security concerns have made the skies unsafe for aviation, preventing immediate evacuation efforts.

According to her, the Federal Government is closely monitoring the situation and will act swiftly once aviation authorities declare the airspace safe for travel. She stressed that the safety of Nigerian citizens and airline operations remains the government’s top priority, noting that evacuation flights cannot be carried out while the airspace remains closed or considered dangerous.

The NiDCOM boss urged Nigerians in affected Middle Eastern countries to remain calm and maintain contact with Nigerian embassies and relevant authorities for updates. She added that the commission is working with the and diplomatic missions in the region to ensure stranded citizens are safely returned home once flight operations resume.

Dabiri-Erewa further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, assuring that all necessary arrangements are being put in place to facilitate a smooth repatriation process as soon as conditions permit.

The Commissioner of Police in , , has ordered an internal investigation into the conduct of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and detained an inspector following allegations of unprofessional conduct in connection with recent kidnapping incidents in , a community in of the state.

The development followed a protest by residents of Jobele who took to the streets to express frustration over the rising wave of kidnappings in the community. The protesters accused some officers attached to the local police division of negligence and misconduct, alleging that their response to security complaints had been slow and uncoordinated despite repeated reports of criminal activities in the area.

In response to the protest, the police commissioner directed an immediate probe into the allegations. Sources within the command disclosed that the DPO in charge of the division has been formally queried, while an inspector reportedly linked to the alleged misconduct has been detained pending the outcome of the investigation. The command said the action was necessary to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the police.

A spokesperson for the in the state assured residents that the command remains committed to tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities across Oyo. The police also urged members of the public to remain calm and continue to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in tracking down suspected kidnappers and ensuring the safety of communities.

Meanwhile, residents of Jobele have called on security authorities and the to intensify surveillance and deploy more personnel to the area, warning that the persistent kidnapping incidents have created fear among locals and disrupted normal social and economic activities.

Academic activities at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) are set to be disrupted as the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike over what it described as “amputated” salaries paid to lecturers for January and February 2026. The decision was reached during an emergency congress of the union held on Tuesday.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by the union’s chairperson, Prof. Idou Kehinde, and secretary, Prof. Adesina Arikawe, the lecturers resolved to withdraw their services starting Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The union said the industrial action would continue until the university management pays the outstanding portions of the salaries in full.

ASUU-UNILAG accused the university administration of paying incomplete salaries, noting that several allowances were omitted in the January and February payments. According to the union, lecturers at the Akoka campus were not paid their Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), while staff at the Idi-Araba campus were denied both the EAA and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA). The union also alleged that February salaries were again paid partially, leaving out other key components of the lecturers’ earnings.

The union described the salary deductions as unjust and unacceptable, insisting that the action violated the welfare agreement reached between the Federal Government and ASUU earlier in 2026. The lecturers therefore urged their members to comply strictly with the strike directive until the university administration resolves the issue and pays the withheld allowances in full.

Meanwhile, the university management has indicated that it is engaging the union in discussions aimed at resolving the dispute, even as concerns grow among students about the potential disruption to lectures and academic schedules if the strike persists.

The Inspector-General of Police, , has urged communities in not to surrender to bandits and criminal elements terrorising parts of the state, assuring residents that security agencies remain committed to restoring peace and safety.

Speaking during a security engagement with stakeholders in the state, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 8, , who represented the IGP, said communities must remain vigilant and continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the fight against banditry and kidnapping.

Disu emphasised that the Nigeria Police Force is strengthening intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and joint security patrols to tackle the growing threats posed by bandits and other criminal groups in parts of the state. He assured residents that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would not allow criminals to overrun communities.

He also called on traditional rulers, community leaders and youth groups to support security efforts by providing timely and credible information that could help security operatives track down criminal elements hiding within or around their communities.

The police chief reiterated that the fight against banditry requires collective responsibility, urging residents not to lose hope or abandon their communities out of fear. He added that the police leadership under remains determined to deploy all necessary resources to ensure that citizens across can live without fear.

Residents at the meeting welcomed the assurance and called for sustained security operations, noting that improved collaboration between communities and security agencies would be key to defeating bandits and other criminal elements threatening lives and livelihoods in the region.

Residents of Jobele in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State on Monday staged a protest after a suspected kidnapper apprehended by members of the community was allegedly released by the police without explanation.

The protest followed a series of kidnapping incidents that have reportedly plagued the community in recent months. Locals say Jobele has recorded no fewer than seven kidnapping-related attacks recently, heightening fears among residents. The latest incident occurred between Saturday night and early Sunday morning when armed assailants attacked a resident, leaving the victim severely injured. The victim was initially taken to the General Hospital and later referred to Ogbomoso for further medical treatment.

Disturbed by the rising insecurity, residents organized a community vigil on Sunday night that lasted into the early hours of Monday. At about 1:00 a.m., members of the vigil group reportedly apprehended a suspicious individual allegedly found in possession of a gun, a cutlass and other dangerous weapons. The suspect was subsequently handed over to officers at the Jobele Police Station for investigation.

However, tension escalated when community members visited the police station on Monday morning to follow up on the case and were allegedly informed that the suspect had already been released. The development sparked anger among residents, who questioned the circumstances surrounding the release and demanded accountability from the authorities.

In protest, residents, including students and youths, blocked the Old Oyo–Ibadan Road along the Ibadan–Oyo–Ogbomoso highway, disrupting traffic as they demanded an explanation from the police. The demonstrators called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Police Command and the Oyo State Government to urgently investigate the matter and address the growing security concerns in Afijio Local Government Area.

Community leaders warned that the alleged release of a suspect linked to violent crime could further embolden criminal elements in the area, stressing that the safety of lives and property must not be compromised.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Olohundare Jimoh, has announced a ban on motorists covering their vehicle number plates, warning that the police command will begin strict enforcement of the directive across the state.

The police boss also cautioned against the use of tinted glasses that obscure the front and right side windows of vehicles, as well as the operation of unregistered vehicles on Lagos roads.

CP Jimoh made the declaration on Monday during a press briefing after addressing officers and men of the command on new directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Disu Olatunji.

According to him, vehicle owners must ensure that newly purchased vehicles are properly registered before being driven on public roads.

“It is prohibited for anyone in Lagos to cover their plate number or to use tinted glasses where the front screen and the right screen are tinted and covered. People are also prohibited from using unregistered vehicles,” the commissioner stated.

He explained that the briefing followed a meeting with police leadership held earlier in March 2026 by the Inspector-General of Police, where the need for improved professionalism, discipline and supervision within the force was emphasized.

CP Jimoh said the Lagos command had already begun sensitising officers on the new directives less than 24 hours after the meeting, adding that the move is aimed at strengthening policing standards and improving service delivery to residents.

The commissioner also stressed the importance of strict supervision of officers to ensure that policing activities are carried out in line with human rights standards and international best practices.

He further reiterated the need for stronger community policing, urging officers to work closely with residents in identifying and addressing security challenges in their neighborhoods.

According to him, policing strategies in the state must be guided by the security priorities of the communities they serve.

The police chief added that the Inspector-General of Police had directed commands nationwide to return to basic policing principles, including closer engagement with the public.

He warned that human rights abuses by police officers would not be tolerated, stressing that all personnel must uphold the dignity and rights of Nigerians.

‎In order to ensure accountability and transparency and correct anomalies of past years in the spending of public funds, the Oyo State House of Assembly, through its Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has commenced a probe on Auditor-General’s reports on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Local Government Areas in the state.
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‎The consideration for the public hearing, according to the Committee, will cover three years, 2020, 2021, and 2022 for MDAs and two years, 2023 and 2024, for local government areas.
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‎The public hearing, which is expected to last two weeks, is being held at the Caucus Room of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Secretariat, Ibadan.
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‎The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Olusola Owolabi, disclosed that the aim of the exercise is to ensure accountability and transparency in the spending of public funds.
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‎The lawmaker, who represents Ibadan North East State constituency 2, said that the House is acting under Sections 85(5-6), 128, and 129 of the Nigerian Constitution to re-examine every query on public income, expenditure, and internally generated revenue by the MDAs and council areas.
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‎Hon. Owolabi, who vowed that the Committee would not hesitate to refer culpable officers to the anti-graft agency for further probe, said that the House of Assembly, after years of unanswered audit queries, is ready to address years of negligence and check how public funds are spent.
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‎”The Constitution has saddled the House of Assembly with the responsibility of rechecking what the Auditor-General has raised. What were the responses of our agencies, ministries, and corporations to the audit queries? That is why we have to invite all MDAs and institutions to come and tell us what their answers to the Auditor-General’s queries were.
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‎”The objective is accountability. Money is being budgeted, and money is being given as releases, but they are not telling us how it is being spent. It is a public fund; it is taxpayers’ money. It belongs to all of us. So, we have to confirm what is being spent on. We have the right as a House of Assembly to scrutinize income and expenditure for accountability and transparency purposes.
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‎”Oyo State has an agency that has to do with the rule of law, that’s number one. Another agency we call Oyaka has to do with investigation, investigating corrupt officers and corrupt corporations. These agencies were established so that the accountability of Oyo State money will be paramount. When we find out that any person or any corporation or any agency is culpable, we hand them over to the anti-graft agency so that they can answer in detail so that the law will take its place,” Hon. Owolabi said.
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‎Revealing the guidelines for the public hearing to invited agencies, a member of the Committee, Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola, warned that officials found liable for misappropriation, unauthorized spending, diversion, or contract irregularities would be referred to Oyo State anti-graft agencies.
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‎He established that the exercise is a legal duty, not a political move, saying that budget passage must be matched by transparent spending.
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‎Other members of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts are Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, Hon. Abiodun Babalola, and Hon. Johnson Ogundele.
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The Clerk of the House, Bar. Adenike Taiwo Muraina-Akinola, who was represented by the Deputy Clerk, Legal, Mrs. Aderonke Ogundeji, called on all the invited MDAs and local governments to cooperate with the Committee, emphasizing that the exercise is not to witch-hunt them.

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, has described the internal legal dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a ‘family quarrel’ that should come to an end following the judgment of the Court of Appeal, in a ruling reshaping the party’s leadership dispute, which invalidated the party’s Ibadan convention and upheld the suspension of Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary.

The court ruling has now pushed party leaders toward a negotiated settlement.

The decision has also renewed calls within the party to resolve months of disagreements that eventually ended up in court, with senior figures now pushing for talks aimed at harmonising positions and restoring stability within the opposition party ahead of future political contests.

In a statement on Monday, Dr. Hashim maintained that leaders from the contending sides had already agreed in principle to work toward common ground through ongoing talks and negotiations.

“This is a family quarrel that must now end at the Appeal Court.

” Leaders on both sides have agreed in principle to unite and harmonise positions in all the talks and negotiations we have heard,” he said.

He also expressed optimism that the reconciliation efforts would succeed, noting that party members and many Nigerians are eager to see a united opposition.

“We trust that this unity would be achieved by the grace of God. Nigerians earnestly expect this and posterity demands it,” he added.

The Peoples Democratic Party has in recent months been dealing with internal disagreements and legal battles among rival factions, a situation party stakeholders say, must be resolved to restore cohesion and strengthen the party ahead of future political contests.

Since 2023 General Elections, no fewer than nine PDP governors have left the party, citing an irreconcilable crisis.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified the national convention of the (PDP) held in , , dealing a fresh blow to the opposition party’s leadership structure.

The appellate court upheld an earlier judgment of the which declared the convention invalid on the grounds that it was conducted in violation of subsisting court orders restraining the party from holding the exercise.

The convention, held in November 2025 in Ibadan, had produced new national officers for the party, a development that intensified the internal crisis within the PDP as rival factions laid claim to the party’s leadership.

With the ruling, all decisions taken at the convention have been set aside, while the court affirmed that the party must follow due legal processes before conducting another convention, further deepening the leadership tussle within the PDP.