The search for the wreckage of a private helicopter that crashed in Nigeria on Thursday will continue this morning, an official has said. The authorities also announced the deployment of an underwater drone to aid in the search.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crashed on Thursday after leaving Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with officials saying three bodies of the eight passengers were recovered.

“The incident, which occurred on Thursday, October 24, 2024, involved eight persons onboard and took place off the coast of Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean,” Bimbo Oladeji, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said in a statement shared by aviation minister Festus Keyamo on Sunday morning.

“As of 11:55 AM today (Saturday), divers began setting up and checking equipment to conduct an underwater search and recovery, followed by preliminary sweeping operations at 2:15 PM. However, by 4:30 PM, diving activities were suspended due to the loss of daylight. Recovery operations are set to resume tomorrow at 9:00 AM local time,” she wrote.

The spokesperson said no item from the crashed helicopter has been recovered.

“Despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage or critical components – such as the black box, Flight Data Recorder (FDR), or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – have yet been located due to the challenging conditions of the operating environment, limited visibility at depth and human divers’ operational constraints,” she said.

Mrs Oladeji said her agency would deploy an underwater drone in its search for the wreckage.

“To enhance recovery efforts, the NSIB is working to deploy a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped to operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters. With its advanced cameras, sensors, and Tether Management System (TMS), the ROV will enable the NSIB team to conduct detailed surveys, collect environmental data, and capture critical evidence essential to understanding the cause of the incident,” she said.

Read the NSIB’s full statement below.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) continued its recovery operation and investigation into the ditching of a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registration 5N BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, October 24, 2024, involved eight persons onboard and took place off the coast of Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean.
As of 11:55 AM today, divers began setting up and checking equipment to conduct an underwater search and recovery, followed by preliminary sweeping operations at 2:15 PM. However, by 4:30 PM, diving activities were suspended due to the loss of daylight. Recovery operations are set to resume tomorrow at 9:00 AM local time. Despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage or critical components – such as the black box, Flight Data Recorder (FDR), or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – have yet been located due to the challenging conditions of the operating environment, limited visibility at depth and human divers’ operational constraints.
To enhance recovery efforts, the NSIB is working to deploy a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped to operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters. With its advanced cameras, sensors, and Tether Management System (TMS), the ROV will enable the NSIB team to conduct detailed surveys, collect environmental data, and capture critical evidence essential to understanding the cause of the incident. The ROV’s capacity for close inspections and light manipulation tasks will be invaluable in such deep-water environments, where it will aid in assessing wreckage conditions, gathering vital data, and developing insights into potential causes.
Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB, further expressed his sympathies to the loved ones of those affected, stating, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of the crew and passengers involved in this tragic event. We recognize the depth of this loss, and I assure you that all efforts are fully underway. Our priority is to recover and analyze all necessary data to bring clarity to the families and the nation.”

The NSIB is collaborating closely with an amalgamated team of search, rescue, and recovery units comprising various government agencies and private entities. The Bureau urges the public to avoid speculation, emphasizing the importance of respecting the integrity of the recovery and investigation as they progress.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency and accountability, continually working to enhance transportation safety across Nigeria.

Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance,
Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau

Former Big Brother Naija housemate cum actor, Adeolu Okusaga, better known as Saga, has described his colleague, Liquorose, as his very good friend.

Naija News reports that there have been speculations online that Saga and Liquorose are dating due to their recent film reenactments.

However, in an interview with Punch, the reality TV star attributed his chemistry with Liquorose to their off-screen friendship.

He said, “Liquorose is my very good friend. We are both super talented and that is what I want to put out there. A lot of people don’t like to brag about themselves but I am going to brag about myself. I am a very talented actor and Liquorose is a great actress as well. Coming together, we create chemistry at the snap of a finger.

“Working with her is so easy and seamless. Most of those shoots take shorter time than people might imagine. The fact that Liquor is my friend in real life makes it easier for us to have an onscreen connection that works for the camera. Liquorose and I are working on a miniseries that we will be giving information on soon.”

Speaking on his recent delve into the Nollywood industry, Saga stated that he is eager to explore a wider range of characters.

He added, “I want to play action roles; be a father, scientist, pastor, or even delve into science fiction. I have so much more to give. If I am cast for romantic roles right now, I’ll make the most of it. But, when the opportunity comes to show a different side of me, I’m also ready.”

[NaijaNews]

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday October 25, raided the Igbo-Igunuko shrine, located at the Alfa Beach, Ajah, where jumbo bags of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,760kg were recovered and two suspects: Gbenga Abiodun and Sunday Abiodun wre arrested.

The Agency’s Spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said another suspect, Ademola Oyelakin was also arrested same day with 770kg of the same psychoactive substance along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

A total of 11,786 pills of tramadol, molly, rohypnol and diazepam as well as 64 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered from the underground storage a suspect, Muhammad Warnos Abdullahi dug in his bedroom at Marwa Coastal road, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos when NDLEA officers raided his home on Friday October 25,

The suspect dug the illicit drug storage deep in his room, covered it with padlocked iron slate, a rug and then put his mattress on top to avoid detection.

While in Plateau, a suspect Fadan Bindom, 39, was arrested at Pilgani village in possession of 65.85kg cannabis and 18 grams of tramadol, while another suspect Sunday Agbata, 42, was nabbed at Pavwei – Rayfield Jos South LGA with 5,830 tablets and ampoules of bromazepam, diazepam and pentazocine injection on Wednesday 23rd October.

A major distributor of illicit drugs in FCT Abuja, Umar Muhammed, 40, was on Monday October 21, nabbed following the earlier seizure of a consignment of 198.5kg cannabis linked to him at Wuse market park.

In Edo state, NDLEA operatives recovered 640kg cannabis concealed in 80 jumbo bags of fresh vegetables at Ewu junction, Irrua, Esan Central LGA and arrested a suspect, Austin Oruamen, 27, while another suspect Adereti Kazeem, 35, was nabbed with 200 blocks of cannabis weighing 133kg at Obalayan, Ile-Ife, Osun state on Thursday 24th October.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto; St. Mary College, Awka, Anambra state; Prime Rose Model Private College, Saki, Oyo state; Community Model Arabic College, Malumfashi, Katsina state; Community Junior Secondary School, Rumuomasi, Rivers state; and WADA advocacy lecture to Rugar Alhaji Manu Unguwan Sullubawa, Gombi, Adamawa state, among others.

[newtelegraphng]

The Sokoto State Ministry of Health has cautioned residents that cases of Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis, commonly known as Apollo is on the rise in recent weeks in the state.

Commissioner for Health in the state, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, who announced this said the symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of red eyes, swelling pain and watery discharge which spread rapidly through contact with infected individuals and contaminated surfaces.

Hajiya Balarabe said as part of effort to contain the spread of the disease, the ministry has been sensitizing the people on the need to strictly adhere to preventive measures.

She noted that such measures include ensuring good hygiene, avoiding sharing personal items, disinfecting common surfaces, keeping social distancing and avoiding touching the eyes.

The Commissioner added that the ministry was actively monitoring the situation and enjoined people to always report to outbreak of any disease to the ministry for prompt action.

Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, has said the life of Vice-President Kashim Shettima is at risk as a result of the “faulty” presidential aircraft he uses to represent President Bola Tinubu in official engagements across the globe.

He said this after Nigeria’s number two citizen cancelled his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa over an incident at an airport in New York, United States.

According to the presidency, Shettima could not proceed to Samoa because a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the president on Information and Startegy, had said some parts of the aircraft, including the windscreen of the cockpit, was damaged during the incident.

Commenting on the situation in a statement issued in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Sunday, Lawan called on the Federal Government to get Shettima a new aircraft to avoid any tragedy.

He said the aircraft designated to the Vice President has had several incidents in recent times.

“I want to sympathize with the Nigerian Government, especially the office of the Vice President, his crew and staff over the unfortunate incident at JFK Airport in New York, U.S.A.”

“I also express my gratitude to Allah (God) for saving the precious life of our dear Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima and those on board the ill- fated VP’s plane, even as I urge the Nigerian government to demand a thorough and timely investigation from the United States government over the incident that affected Vice President Kashim Shettima’s plane at one of the most secure spots in the World.

“The life of the Vice President, and that of his crew/officials stand at risk while using the old and faulty presidential aircraft. Therefore, there is the urgent need to acquire a new aircraft to Senator Kashim Shettima so as to avoid these recurrence of air mishaps,” he said.

Early this year, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence mandated the Federal Government to acquire new aircraft for Tinubu and Shettima, but the presidency came under intense public scrutiny and in the end, only that of Tinubu was acquired.

[DailyTrust]

An Anglican priest identified as Ven David Arinze Ajaefobi, who is said to be the Archdeacon of Oyi Central Archdeaconry and Vicar of St James’ Parish, Awkuzu, has been reportedly kidnapped.

A source told DAILY POST that the cleric was allegedly kidnapped by unidentified individuals on Saturday night.

The source said, “The abduction occurred around 9:00 PM on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the entrance gate of St James’ Parish, Awkuzu, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.”

As of the time of filing this report, no contact has been made by the abductors to the priest’s relatives for ransom or reason for his abduction.

The source said the church has announced prayer sessions for his safe release.

When reached for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer of Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had not received any report of such an incident.

[DailyPost]

“A judge shall avoid developing excessively close relationship with frequent litigants – such as government ministers or their officials, municipal officials, police prosecutors in any court where the judge often sits, if such relationship could reasonably create an appearance of partiality.”

Rule 2.8, Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in Nigeria (2016)

Sylvanus Nsofor was a little-known Justice of the court of appeal when he breathed oxygen into Muhammadu Buhari’s political aspirations with his dissent in the presidential election petition in 2007. Eight years earlier, he had launched a unique career in the history of political litigation in Nigeria.

The case arose from the election into the office of chairman of the Obio/Akpor local government area (LGA) in Rivers state in Nigeria’s Niger Delta on December 12, 1998. Cyprian Tasie Wike was the candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP). Cyprian Chukwu flew the flag of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). After screening aspirants on November 24, 1998, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) settled on Ezenwo Nyesom Wike as its candidate. 

At the time, local elections were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP initially submitted Nyesom Wike’s name as their candidate. However, sometime before election day, the party substituted his name with Samuel Rogers Icheonwo. When it announced the results, INEC declared the candidate of the PDP as the winner with 40,370 votes, beating the candidate of the AD into second place with 11,441 votes. 

Nyesom Wike sued, claiming that INEC had announced Icheonwo as the winner when he was not lawfully sponsored by any party in the contest. The election petition tribunal struck out the petition, holding that it lacked jurisdiction “to resolve the issue as to who was sponsored by PDP.” 

Nyesom Wike appealed. In his judgment on behalf of a three-person panel of the court of appeal on 6 March 1999, Sylvanus Nsofor nullified the result announced by the INEC and ordered a re-run of the election with Nyesom Wike as the candidate of the PDP. Wike duly won the re-run to emerge as the chairman of the Obio/Akpor LGA.

In 2008, he became chief of staff to a Governor of Rivers state whose emergence rested on a somewhat improbable piece of judicial machination. 

After a stint as minister of state for education, Wike emerged in 2015 as the candidate of the PDP for the governorship of Rivers state. Following the election on 11-12 April 2015, the INEC declared him as the winner ahead of  Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Peterside petitioned challenging the result declared by INEC. The tribunal granted his petition and initially set aside the result. The court of appeal agreed with the trial tribunal.

On 12 February 2016, the supreme court set aside the judgment of the court of appeal on a specious technicality and restored Nyesom Wike as duly elected. The author of the supreme court judgment was Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. 

In the past week, she and Nyesom Wike resumed mutual acquaintance. In the intervening nine years, Kekere-Ekun had risen to become Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) while Wike emerged in August 2023 as minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The venue was the flag-off of the construction by the minister of 40 units of judicial housing in Abuja. 

This was the latest chapter in Wike’s durable track record as Nigeria’s most prolific judicial benefactor. 

As governor of Rivers state, he gave 41 Range Rover sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to judges in the state. Customary court judges were not left out. He gave them 29 Renault SUVs while complaining about the “unfortunate unwillingness of the judiciary in Nigeria to seek true independence to discharge their functions.” 

The irony was clearly lost on him. 

In 2020, Wike donated 24 luxury duplexes to judges in Rivers State and reportedly “handed out $300,000 in cash to judges who preferred to build their own houses.” It was presumably tax-free. Then CJN, Tanko Muhammad, slavishly “applauded his generosity saying the gifts spoke of the ‘love the Rivers State governor has for the judiciary.’”

The love was fully requited. 

The previous year, in January 2019, the judiciary had made Wike’s re-election an electoral non-event when it disqualified the opposition APC from fielding any candidate against him.

Before leaving office as governor in 2023, Wike launched yet another construction of quarters for judges also in Rivers state, this time on a site “where his administration recently demolished flats initially belonging to Bayelsa state.” 

Now, as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike’s political generosity has become fully federalised under the judicial benediction of yet another CJN. At the launch of the 40 new units of judicial housing in Abuja this past week, the minister had in attendance both the CJN and the PCA. Presumably keen to impress such high judicial presence, Wike serenaded them with testimony as to how he summarily revoked the land previously allocated to construction conglomerate, Julius Berger, in order to make it available for building suitable judicial digs. 

The high judicial figures present looked nothing if not suitably impressed, but the minister was only getting started. According to him, it was important “to build houses for judges so they would not be susceptible to temptations from unscrupulous politicians.” 

No one around had the presence of mind to ask him to look in the mirror. 

This has been described charitably as convenient overreach. A better description of it will be judicial subornation. In full public glare, the two senior-most judges in the country looked rather giddy as they advertised an undisguised breach of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, whose effectiveness depends on their combined leadership and example. 

There is no political litigant in the country more prolific than the current minister of the FCT. He has an almost extra-terrestrial ability to normalise outcomes that defy all cannons of lawful judicial enterprise. If anyone fits the description of the prohibition in Rule 2.8 of the Judicial Conduct, it is Minister Wike. Yet, for him, the Chief Justice of Nigeria is happy to retrench that same Code of Conduct. 

It was not supposed to be like this. 

Jerome Udoji, one of Nigeria’s best-known lawyers and public servants, was born in Ozubulu in present-day Anambra state around 1912. Udoji was also the first indigenous district officer in the colonial civil service. He ended his civil service career as chief secretary to the government of the Eastern Region under the military coincidentally in 1967, the same year in which Wike officially was born.

When he got the opportunity to undertake a retrospective on his public tour of duty  in 1995, fifteen years before he died in 2010, Udoji chose to issue his memoirs with the title “Under Three Masters.” The three masters whom he served, of course, were colonial administrators, post-colonial civilian politicians, and their military usurpers. 

Each set of masters was not without exertions in seeking judicial subservience. Until now, they had usually encountered judicial resistance. Under the current dispensation, however, it is almost as if the government has a minister responsible for judicial subornation. To many, the leading judges have simply become Wiked and the country has a CJN who appears happy to have the judicial branch fully Nyesomized.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.