A 24-year-old university student appeared in court on Thursday over a social media post that falsely claimed President William Ruto had died, amid growing concerns about the Kenyan government’s crackdown on dissent, AFP reported.

David Mokaya, 24, was arrested late last year after posting a picture of a funeral procession on social media with the caption: “President William Ruto’s Body leaves Lee Funeral Home”.

The image quickly circulated online, prompting his arrest under laws targeting the spread of false information.

The case was heard at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi but was adjourned until July 31.

Mokaya’s lawyer said the case was “an attack on freedom of expression”.

“Our client was taking the right… as a citizen of Kenya to express his political opinions, express political satire… and also criticise the head of state,” he told AFP.

“Political satire is not a crime,” he added. “The case is very flimsy.”

The trial came as Kenya faces scrutiny from human rights organisations over the treatment of critics and activists following mass protests in June last year over tax hikes and allegations of government corruption.

Rights groups accuse security forces of killing at least 60 people and abducting dozens more during and after the demonstrations.

In December, several individuals reportedly disappeared for weeks after sharing AI-generated images of President Ruto in a coffin.

Among them was cartoonist Gideon Kibet, known as Kibet Bull, who has since ceased publishing political cartoons following his release.

Rights groups allege a covert unit within Kenya’s intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies is behind these abductions, an accusation the government and police deny.

However, earlier this month, Ruto acknowledged the issue, stating that all abducted individuals had been returned to their families and assuring the public that such incidents would not happen again.

China on Thursday criticised a new plan by the United States government to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals, calling the move “political and discriminatory,” AFP reported.

The decision, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marked a tightening of visa rules and is expected to impact thousands of students from China and Hong Kong.

The announcement, made Wednesday, revealed that the US would begin “aggressively” revoking visas for Chinese students, especially those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or who are enrolled in sensitive academic fields.

The policy is also expected to lead to more stringent vetting of future student visa applications, including increased scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity.

Beijing quickly responded with condemnation.

Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Mao Ning, said China had formally protested the decision, accusing Washington of “unreasonably” targeting Chinese students and undermining international academic exchange.

Mao urged the US to protect the “legitimate rights and interests” of international students.

The latest measures followed growing scrutiny from the Trump administration of foreign influence in American universities. Trump has previously attempted to limit visas for students attending elite institutions, including Harvard University, amid broader accusations that top schools harbour anti-American sentiments.

International students, particularly from China, have long formed a key financial base for US universities. In the 2023–24 academic year, China sent nearly 280,000 students to the United States, although India has recently surpassed it as the top source of foreign students.

The visa crackdown is part of a broader foreign policy shift, with Rubio also ordering embassies to halt new visa appointments pending a review of application procedures. Critics argue the new restrictions could discourage not only Chinese students but also students from other countries.

Some affected students have expressed anxiety over the uncertainty. A doctoral student from Taiwan, who planned to begin studies in California, said the suspension has caused concern, though they remain hopeful that delays will be resolved before the academic year begins.

Backlash has also emerged at Harvard, where protests and legal challenges have followed efforts by the Trump administration to cut federal research funding and impose stricter oversight on admissions.

The university has rejected allegations of bias and continues to defend its policies in court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, secured the conviction and sentencing of 32 internet fraudsters before Justices A.N. Erhabor and W.I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.

According to a statement posted on Thursday via X by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, the convicts were prosecuted on separate one-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, advance fee fraud, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.

The convicts include Amos Adievugwhare, Kelvin Osakpamwan, Isaac Kelvin, Obanuso Elliot, Ndubisi Emmanuel, Danjuma Godwin, Abraham Abisere, Enang Shedrack, Wiliki Bright, David Dagul, Imooa Michael, Targema Solomon, Henry Davou, Akinluyi Ayoola Cornelinus, Ifeanyi Nelson Pius, and Torkula Henry Luper. Others are Yahaya Jibrin, Monday Atekha Destiny, Sodiq Ahmad, Anthony Gabriel Onuche, Anyaler Udoka, Seun Ibeg, Dallah Osikadi, Ediwin Asemota, Igbo Aondona, Iyobosa Okoro, Osayande Bright, Isiguzo Chidi Morris, Kadiri Bobby Abdul, Osazee Marvins Osabuohein, Efosa Destiny Omorosa, and Kelvin Adams Aisosa.

One of the charges reads, “That you, Amos Adievugwhare (m), on or about the 15th of April, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.” 

The statement noted that all 32 defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

Prosecuting counsels I.M. Elodi, I.K. Agwai, K.Y. Bello, Ibrahim Al-Amin, Salihu Ahmed, Bala Rabah, and Faisal Ibrahim urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. Defence counsel pleaded for leniency, citing their clients’ remorse.

Justice Erhabor sentenced 29 of the convicts — including Adievugwhare, Elliot, Emmanuel, Godwin, and others — to two years in prison each or a fine of ₦200,000. Osabuohein received five years imprisonment or a fine of ₦500,000.

Justice Aziegbemhin sentenced Kelvin and Osakpamwan to two years each, with the option of ₦300,000 and ₦400,000 fines, respectively. Omorosa also received two years or a ₦200,000 fine.

“In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones and computers, being tools of their crime and money found in their respective bank accounts, being proceeds of their crime, respectively to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

“The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest by officers of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities,” the statement added.

The House of Representatives has given the West African Examinations Council 24 hours to appear before it over growing concerns about the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination.

The ultimatum was issued on Thursday by Oboku Oforji, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies.

Oforji said WAEC must appear on Friday, May 30, 2025, without fail.

He expressed disappointment after WAEC failed to attend a scheduled meeting meant to address reports of irregularities during the exams.

“We invited WAEC to explain the problems being reported, including students writing exams as late as midnight in some centres.

“Their absence today is unacceptable,” Oforji said.

He noted that WAEC had informed the committee on Thursday morning that it couldn’t attend because its officials were busy with the exams. 

“But that is exactly why they need to appear. These irregularities are happening under their watch, and the public deserves answers,” he said.

Oforji stressed that the House is not out to attack WAEC but wants to understand what went wrong and how to fix it.

“This level of confusion during national exams is unheard of. WAEC has conducted exams for years, but we’ve never seen this kind of disorganisation,” he added.

“If WAEC fails to appear by Friday, the House will be forced to use its constitutional powers to compel them.”

He said the goal was to protect students and ensure such challenges do not happen again.

A resident of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, identified as Mr Destiny Uguru, met his untimely on Wednesday when a heavy advertising billboard fell on a tricycle where he was taking shelter from a rainfall.

The incident, which happened around the popular Aba Salad Market junction on the Aba-Owerri Road, also injured eight other people who are currently hospitalised, PUNCH Metro gathered.

Our correspondent learnt that the deceased, who was an indigene of Izzi, Ebonyi State, left behind a heavily pregnant widow.

One of his relatives, Mr Chinedu Nwaibo, who witnessed the tragic incident, said the tragedy occurred during a downpour that came with a heavy wind.

He said, “When the rain came with wind on Wednesday, I and my kinsmen (community men) had to take refuge in his small shanty shop, not knowing that a tragedy was closer to them.

“I went into my small shanty with my brothers when the rain started. We were seven inside the shop when the heavy wind and rain got stronger.

“They complained that my shanty wasn’t a comfortable place for them to take refuge, that they preferred staying inside their tricycles near the fallen billboard.

“I refused to go into the tricycles with them. It wasn’t up to a long time, the billboard fell and injured seven people and killed one person.”

He said the deceased’s corpse had been deposited in a mortuary.

Nwaibo further pleaded with the Abia State Government to come to the help of his kinsmen, who were only out in the streets, struggling to make ends meet.

“I beg the government to please come and help us. Let them help my brothers, who are victims of this tragedy. They were only out here to make ends meet.

“They never knew that such a tragedy awaited them. The dead guy, Destiny Uguru, had two children and his wife is heavily pregnant. He was a young man of just 27 years old.”

The MD/CEO Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertising Agency, Mrs Victoria Onwubiko, said the incident brought a sad experience to the state.

After moving around the ward where the victims were admitted at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Onwubiko said the Abia State Government would take care of every bill of the victims.

She stressed she had seen the survivors, and that they were recuperating as the doctors were doing everything possible to keep them stable.

“The governor has given an order for everything to be done without looking back. There will not be any other death because, from what we’re seeing, they’re all recovering well.

“They’re about eight. Five are currently at the ABSUTH, while about three have been discharged.”

Mrs Onwubiko said the government had contacted the family of the deceased and is currently talking to them.

Speaking on the quality of the billboard, she said, “The board was erected about five years ago, and apparently, it was not well-done. That’s why it fell.

“Going forward, strict methods are applied for all boards of such heights. No matter how low it is, it can still hurt people.

“Everything is being done to ensure that things are done properly. So, we will make sure that we’ll do more than we’re doing now. 

“Apparently, nobody technically sound in construction of such was there when they erected that billboard or else, it wouldn’t have happened.

“What we’re currently doing is that any site that must come up, all our technical people must be there to evaluate things before it’ll be allowed to stand. So, the government is doing all it can to ensure the right thing is done.”

On further measures to stop a recurrence of such incident, Onwubiko said, “Structural inspection of every site will start henceforth. All those who have such billboards must submit the technical drawing used for the construction.

“If we don’t see such, then that site must come down. Besides that, we do an inspection of all the sites in the state to make sure that they’re sound no matter the height. Anyone that’s not sound will come down.”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Emmanuel Ogunyemi, a civil servant in Lagos State, for unlawfully collecting salaries from two separate government agencies.

Investigations conducted by the ICPC revealed that Ogunyemi was concurrently listed on the payrolls of both the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA). This arrangement led to an illegal financial benefit amounting to ₦3.49 million.

According to the commission, his actions were in violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

Based on these findings, the ICPC brought an eight-count charge against Ogunyemi before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja (Charge No: ID/25541C/2024).

However, the defendant entered into a plea bargain agreement, which saw the charges reduced from eight to three.

Ogunyemi pleaded guilty to the amended charges before Justice Ismail Ijelu, who subsequently convicted him.

As part of the plea bargain, the court imposed non-custodial sanctions. He was ordered to pay a ₦1.5 million fine and perform three days of community service under the supervision of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

The court also required him to sign a ₦5 million bond of good behaviour, to be forfeited if he commits any future offence.

Before his arraignment, Ogunyemi had voluntarily refunded the full ₦3.49 million to the ICPC recovery account. The court subsequently ordered the forfeiture of the refunded sum to the federal government.

Additionally, Ogunyemi submitted a written undertaking to the ICPC, pledging to comply with all laws going forward.

The prosecution team was led by Yvonne William-Mbata, assisted by Roseline Eze and Oluwayemisi Pereira, while the defence was represented by Kehinde Adeleke.

According to the ICPC, this conviction underscores its commitment to promoting accountability and integrity within the public service.

Parents of students taking the 2024/2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Warri, Effurun, and surrounding communities have expressed deep concern over a potential mass failure due to the repeated late delivery of examination materials.

The Nation reports that several students did not return home until nearly midnight on Wednesday, May 28, after spending long hours waiting to write the day’s papers.

Others were dismissed between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., depending on when the question papers arrived at their respective centres.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) attributed the delays to efforts aimed at preventing exam question leaks.  

Students sat for the English Language examination that day, with the first paper reportedly beginning as late as 11:00 a.m.

“We just pray the students will pass. The fact that it was a core subject, English Language, makes it worse,” said a concerned mother and hairdresser in Warri. “My son’s school had to run a generator so they could write. He told me it’s an experience he’ll share with his children someday.”

Another parent, whose child wrote the exam near the railway tracks in the Uvwiama community of Agbarho, expressed fear not just over the academic impact but also the safety risks: “Apart from the fear of moving around so late, I was also afraid the children could be kidnapped.”

The Imo State Police Command, through its X-Squad Unit, has uncovered a child-stealing syndicate, arresting four of its members and rescued a stolen 20-month-old girl.

The rescued baby identified as Chimamanda Joy is the daughter of a visually impaired 35-year-old Mrs. Joy Ekwennaya from Amuri Omanze in Isu local government area of the state. 

The arrests followed an intensive investigation into a case reported by the mother, Mrs. Ekwennaya, on April 8th, 2025.

Police said Mrs Ekwennaya was lured to Umuahia in Abia State, with false promises of financial aid from a fake charity organisation, with a ploy by the syndicate to abduct her child.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Imo State Command, Henry Okoye made the disclosure through a statement he made available to newsmen on Thursday. 

According to the statement, while acting on credible intelligence on May 23, 2025, detectives of the unit arrested two key suspects including a 63-year-old Maria Nwaeze of Ariam Oboro and Rejoice Odimba, 29 years old from Ahai Eke, both from Abia State, in Aba. 

Police said their arrest provided crucial insights into the syndicate’s mode of operations.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects provided actionable intelligence, leading to a follow-up operation in Aba.

“On 27th May 2025 at about 1700hrs, operatives rescued the stolen child and arrested another suspect, Chioma Theresa (42) of Aboh Mbaise, Imo State.

“During questioning, Chioma confessed to buying the child for ₦1,500,000 from Gabriel Amarachi (41) of Ngwa, Aba South, Abia State who had falsely posed as a Social Welfare officer,” the PPRO said.

He added that further investigation revealed that the entire scheme was masterminded by a woman identified as Precious and her husband, who were currently at large.

“The couple orchestrated the deceitful invitation that led Mrs. Ekwennaya to Aba, exploiting her vulnerability under the guise of offering assistance,” the statement said.

The Command stressed that efforts were underway to arrest the remaining suspects.

Meanwhile, the rescued infant has been medically examined and safely reunited with her mother on 28th May, 2025 after due documentation.

Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Aboki Danjuma, assured of the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons, especially children.

He warned that there will not be hiding place for criminals in Imo State and urged residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities through the Command’s emergency lines.

Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have arrested a native doctor, Levi Obieze, popularly known as “E de play, e de show”, who was wanted for a string of heinous crimes, including kidnapping and ritual killings in Enugu State.

The arrest was confirmed on Thursday in a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, on behalf of the Comptroller General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap.

According to the statement, Obieze was apprehended by NIS personnel attached to the Lagos State Border Patrol Command at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme Road while attempting to flee the country on a motorcycle.

“Through credible intelligence, Obi Levi Obieze was apprehended by vigilant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Border Patrol Command, at Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Road while attempting to flee the country on a motorcycle,” the statement read.

Obieze, a resident of Umuojor village in Isiagu Community, Enugu State, is alleged to have masterminded the abduction of a 13-year-old girl earlier this week. His arrest followed disturbing reports from Enugu where two decomposing corpses of pregnant women were discovered in soakaway pits within his compound, an incident that plunged the community into shock and outrage.