Barely 48 hours after the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee of the Labour Party threatened to sanction LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, over Wednesday’s meeting, the camps of the duo told PUNCH Online that the summit will hold as planned.

The Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, and Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, disclosed this in two separate phone chats.

The clarifications come in the wake of speculations that Obi and Otti had chickened out following Abure’s threat of sanction.

“Who are those speculating about the nonsense? This is the real theatre of the absurd. If someone were acting this out as a Nollywood script, everyone would say this scriptwriter is a foolish and demented scriptwriter. Nigerians can innovate the good, the bad and the ugly,” Ndubuaku kicked.

The union leader, however, confirmed that he would be attending the event.

Ibrahim also dispelled the insinuation, saying all the invited stakeholders are ready to storm the venue today.  He said, “It is not true. There is nothing like that. If it was postponed, I would have issued you and other media persons an official statement on that.”

When asked about the threat of sanctions on his principal and the governor, the spokesman declined to comment.

“We don’t want any drama with the Labour Party or join issues with members of the party,” he said.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that the Abure-led NEC sacked LP Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, from his position over his alleged involvement in anti-party activities.

The NEC also vowed to direct the disciplinary committee to sanction Obi and Otti if they go ahead with their planned stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday and other activities that may undermine the party.

The development was announced in the communique read to journalists by the Labour Party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk, at the end of a NEC meeting held at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

Earlier, both Abure and Obi had simultaneously called for separate meetings of the National Executive Committee to discuss the future of the party following Friday’s judgment by the Supreme Court.

While Abure’s NEC was held at the national headquarters on Monday, Obi and Governor Alex Otti moved their stakeholders’ summit to Wednesday to a yet-to-be-named venue.

The feuding parties made the summons in separate terse statements made available to PUNCH Online.

When contacted for reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, insisted that the NEC, which is the highest organ in the party, has made its position known.

“However, we are watching the development and will respond at the right time,” Obiora said.

Niger military government has officially made Hausa the country’s new national language, moving away from its colonial past where French played a central role.

The change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.

According to the document, “The national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are English and French.”

Hausa is already the most commonly spoken language across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions.

Most of the country’s population of about 26 million people understand and speak Hausa. In comparison, only around three million people, just 13 per cent, can speak French.

The new charter also officially lists nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”

This language switch follows a national meeting held in February. 

During that event, the military government received more support and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, was given approval to stay in power for five more years.

Since taking over in a coup in July 2023, which removed the country’s civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, the junta has been cutting off ties with France.

These actions include removing French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.

Like Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which also have military governments and used to be French colonies, are taking similar steps.

They’ve also pulled out of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth that supports French-speaking nations.

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has approved the appointment of a new chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

According to the statement, the new RSIEC Chairman, Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey, will work with six members and four professors.

The appointment was announced in a Government Special Announcement issued on Wednesday by Prof. Ibibia Worika, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government.

The statement, which was sent to newsmen, said the appointment takes effect from Monday, 7th of April 2025.

It reads, “The Following have also been appointed as Chairman and members of the Rivers State Electoral Commission:

“Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey, Chairman
Mr Lezaasi Lenee Torbira member
Prof  Author Nwafor
Professor Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha Member
Professor (Dame) Joyce Akaninwor Member
Dr (Mrs) Olive A. Bruce Member
Professor Chidi Halliday Member.

“All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025”.

Recall that Ibas had last week suspended the heads of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state, including the RSIEC, then headed by Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.)

Veteran Nollywood actor, Anayo Onyekwere popularly known as Kanayo O. Kanayo, has taken to social media to celebrate his daughter, Valerie, as she marks her 25th birthday.

The actor while celebrating his daughter’s birthday stated that before his daughter gets to age 27, he is expecting her to either get married, complete her PhD or leave his house as an adult.

Taking to his Instagram page on Tuesday, the actor showered his daughter with blessings, and admiration, while also clearly stating that he expects her to either get married, complete her PhD or leave his house as an adult.

He wrote, “My dear daughter, Uloaku( Bank/house of wealth) Congratulations on your 25th birthday.

“From little Valerie to a prospective Madam Uloaku. As I told you this morning while praying for you, it should be a day of sober reflections, things to copy, things to paste, and things to delete. What realities there are and the facade of things thereof.”

Kanayo reminisced about how she would often challenge him for being away on movie sets, missing out on time at home. He explained that constant travel is part of the job for successful actors and expressed gratitude for remaining active and in demand in the industry.

“Your issue with me has always been” you are always travelling, hardly at home”. Uloaku, Good actors travel, always on the move because they are always HIRED. Thank God I am still very active and relevant. Try and tolerate me.”

He wrapped up his message by stating that by 2027, he expects her to either walk down the aisle, pursue a PhD, or move out and live independently.

“In all these, please ensure that before 2027, you are either walking down the aisle, going for your PhD, or walking out of my house. Simpliciter. Ka Chukwu Okike Abiama gozierem Uloaku.

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

This development is coming less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly restrained him from appointing administrators to oversea the affairs of the local government councils.

The order was issued by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday in suit no. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 in the case filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity.

Despite the court order, Ibas also approved the constitution of some boards of agencies, commissions and parastatals which he had earlier suspended

The approval was contained in a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.

Though the names of the new appointees were not listed, the statement said the appointments takes immediate effect.

It reads, “His Excellency The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

“He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended.

“All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”

Last week, the sole administrator had suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state with immediate effect

In a separate development, Ibas also cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.

He said the cancellation became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment and the absence of an appropriation law within the period.

Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, says bandits have taken over 64 communities in his state. 

He added that the latest killings in Bokkos LGA are “sponsored and genocidal”.

The Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) reported on April 4 that suspected bandits killed over 10 people, with the death toll later rising to 52.

The attack came seven days after some gunmen attacked the Ruwi community in Bokkos LGA as mourners gathered in the home of a deceased.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Tuesday, Mutfwangblamed unnamed terrorist groups for the carnage, alleging that the attacks were sponsored by yet-to-be-identified individuals.

“I can tell you in all honesty that I cannot find any explanation other than genocide sponsored by terrorists,” the governor said.

“The question is, who are the persons behind the organisers of this terrorism? This is what the security agencies must help us to unravel.

“We must come to the point where we know the sponsors because it is not just the work of ordinary people. This is being sponsored from somewhere.

“I am sure that in the coming days, the security agencies will work together, not at cross purposes but in unison, to be able to bring out the requisite intelligence that will help us to put this matter behind us.”

‘BANDITS HAVE TAKEN OVER 64 COMMUNITIES’

The Plateau governor, who decried the incessant attacks, said bandits have taken over 64 communities across Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom LGAs, displacing villagers in the state.

“If these attacks have been going on for close to 10 years, it tells you that there is a deliberate, conscious attempt to clean out populations and to reopen,” he added.

“As I am talking to you, there are not less than 64 communities that have been taken over by bandits on the Plateau between Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas.

“They have been taken over, renamed, and people are living there conveniently on lands they pushed people away to occupy.”

The attacks are the latest in a series of assaults on Plateau, which has, in the past, recorded similar incidents.

On the eve of Christmas in 2023, over 115 persons were confirmed deadfollowing attacks by gunmen on communities in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGAs of the state.

On April 18, 2024, gunmen killed at least 12 people in Tilengpat community of Pushit district in Mangu LGA of Plateau.

Days before, gunmen killed at least 10 residents of Mandar Shar and Kopnanle villages under Mangu and Bokkos LGAs.

Several villagers were injured, with the attackers destroying a slew of properties.

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recounted to a federal high court in Abuja how funds belonging to various LGAs in Kogi state were allegedly diverted and laundered through private accounts.

Remigius Egu, the witness, gave the account on Tuesday while testifying in the case against Ali Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, Kogi state governor.

The EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside Yakubu Adabenege, Abba Adaudu and Iyada Sadat on an 18-count charge, bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over N3 billion.

Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecution counsel, the witness, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, identified documents containing transactions that he said belonged to the second defendant, Adabenege.

According to a statement by the EFCC, “the witness told the court that multiple inflows of large sums of money from several Kogi State LGAs were traced to the account of Korforte Concept Limited on October 4, 2023”.

“These, he said, were as follows: Ogori Magongo LGA: N14,844,640.57; Ibeji LGA: N18,629,944.51; Adavi LGA: N20,887,557.54; Kogi LGA: N17,929.59; Kabba/Bunu LGA: N18,460,569.12; Ajaokuta LGA: N22,764,334.70; Okene LGA: 20,758,710.37; Yagba West LGA: N18,234,063.61; Ofu LGA: N21,368,633.69,” the statement reads.

The witness told the court that all inflows were received on October 4, 2023.

Before the inflows, the witness told the court that the balance in the Korforte Concept Limited account was N7,370 and that on the same day, a transaction of N110 million was made from the account to Adaudu, one of the defendants.

“He further revealed that on October 5, 2018, more funds were funnelled into the same account from additional LGAs that included Igalamela/Odolu LGA: N19,480,651.20; Olamaboro LGA: N19,089,517.01; Dekina LGA: N23,373,201.67; Ibaji LGA: N15,653,631.39; Omala LGA: N16,876,252.03; and Lokoja LGA: N20,591,073.74. He also disclosed that a transfer of N21.9 million to one Musa Omuya was made from the account that same day,” the EFCC statement added.

“Further in his testimony, the witness disclosed that there were more inflows into the account on October 8, 2018, being N17,369,243.52 from Ijumu LGA and N17,471,549.57 from Bassa LGA.

“On October 10, 2018, he said that transactions from the account showed N10 million wired to Musa Omuya and N5.1 million and N5 million, respectively, wired to Adaudu.”

Earlier in the proceedings, the fifth prosecution witness, Oyinkosola Akerele, the managing director of Forza Oil and Gas Limited, testified that the company—which also deals in foreign exchange transactions—received a payment from a customer, Abdul Bashir, for the purchase of US dollars.

Akerele further stated that the procured dollars were transferred to four beneficiaries. Three of them—Fatima Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Zara Bello (all children of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi)—received the funds as payment for their school fees at the American International School (AIS), amounting to $139,000.

Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, adjourned the matter till May 5, 19, 20, and 21 for the continuation of the trial.

A 30-year-old Nigerian woman, Cynthia Oguzie, was reportedly killed after an overhead water tank crashed on her when the ceiling of her room caved in.

A short video seen by PUNCH Metro showed the victim lying on her bed motionless though a woman could be heard saying the victim was still alive at the time.

Another clip captured the fallen water tank alongside the wreckage of the structure, while additional photos showed Oguzie’s lifeless body in what appeared to be a hospital.

Oguzie had reportedly moved into the Lekki, Lagos apartment just two months before the incident. 

A Facebook user who identified himself as her brother, Chukwuebuka Nathaniel, shared the incident on his page.

He blamed the tragedy on poor construction, alleging the water stand was substandard.

“Beware of Lekki buildings and their water stands. This is how they sent my sister to her early grave. Thank you, so-called Lekki landlord, and your engineer for doing this type of water stand,” he wrote. 

Nathaniel added, “The landlord said he is not in Nigeria, that it’s the engineer who built all the houses and sent him pictures and videos. This is how the story ended.”

Though the Lagos State Police Command has yet to officially confirm the incident, photos and videos of the tragic scene went viral on social media.

A flier outlining the burial arrangements showed that Oguzie’s funeral service will hold on Friday, April 25.

When contacted by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin, said the incident might have not been brought to the command’s attention.

The incident triggered widespread outrage and grief online, with many Nigerians calling out the developers for alleged negligence and cost-cutting measures at the expense of safety.

“Those engineers who don’t want to go through the mandatory training—most of them are not COREN certified,” commented Facebook user Felix Amehnawon.

“Chai! What a pathetic way to die. May she RIP,” wrote Amaka Duru.

Another user, Benedict Chinonso, stated, “There are specific pipes you should use for areas like this because of the salty water that rusts pipes over time.

“These people cut corners with cheaper materials just to make more profit. I hope someone pays for this so others will learn. This is sad.”

Charles Newton added, “The welder who fabricated that substandard tank stand needs to have been in jail by now.”

Ochuba Collins wrote, “This is why you should engage your engineer during the finishing of your building. Very painful. May she rest in peace.”

Chisom Nwankwo also shared his thoughts, saying, “Landlords sometimes pay for original materials, but the workers end up buying fake ones just to keep the extra money.”

As of Tuesday evening, the state government was yet to react to the incident.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Tuesday awarded the sum of N100m in general damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence of duty of care which led to the death of a student.

Mr Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim had sued the school for negligence that resulted in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Kamzie,

In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Ikpeatusim alleged that the school’s failure to provide adequate medical attention after Kamzie who fell ill shortly after her admission and resumption in the school led to her untimely death.

Kamzie, who was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017 became severely ill by October 2 and died a few days later. 

Justice Sylvanus Oriji, while delivering judgment in the suit brought before the court after awarding the N100m cost, ordered a 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment.

He also awarded an additional N300,000 as the cost of the suit.

Justice Oriji while pronouncing the decision of the court, held that the evidence presented showed the school and its agents acted negligently by failing to attend promptly and adequately to Kamzie’s medical needs.

“The claimant established his allegations of negligence against the school.

“There is no amount of money that can bring back the child to life,” he stated.

Justice Oriji however acknowledged the fact that one significant outcome of the case was the improvement of the school’s sickbay following the incident.

He noted that the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily was a commendable development.

While the claimant had asked the court to order the school to name one of its structures in Kamzie’s name in her honour, Justice Oriji noted that the improvement in the school’s sickbay was sufficient enough to know the school is making amends from its mistake.

“The court thinks that the improvement in the sickbay, ensuring doctors are available twice daily, is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by her family.

“The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through these improvements.”