The Rivers State Government has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to refund N300 million paid as hosting rights for its 2025 Annual General Conference, following the association’s decision to relocate the event from Port Harcourt to Enugu. In a statement issued Monday by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), through his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, the government expressed disappointment over the NBA’s stated reasons for the relocation, calling them “misleading and uncharitable.” While acknowledging the NBA’s right to choose its conference venue, Ibas questioned the omission of any mention of refunding the money already disbursed…
Author: Ado Oyeyemi
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No fewer than 47 people have been confirmed dead following coordinated attacks by gunmen on the Zike and Kimakpa communities in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night. The violence erupted around 8:00 p.m., leaving several others injured and numerous homes razed. The attack comes just days after a similar assault in Bokkos Local Government Area claimed 52 lives and left a trail of destruction. Danjuma Auta, National Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, confirmed the casualty figure, stating that the communities were overwhelmed by the scale of the violence. “Many houses were razed down by the…
An Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has granted bail to controversial singer Okikiola Badmus, widely known as Portable, in the sum of ₦1 million. His bail follows his arraignment on charges of criminal defamation, intimidation, inciting public disturbance, and cyberstalking. As part of the conditions, the court ordered Portable to provide two sureties in the same amount. One must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, while the other must own property within a Government Reserved Area, verified with a valid Certificate of Occupancy. READ ALSO:
A Magistrates’ Court in Jos has sentenced 22-year-old panel beater Mohammad Auwal to one year in prison for stealing a bicycle and a mobile phone. The magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, delivered the sentence on Monday after Auwal pleaded guilty to the theft. He was given the option to pay a fine of N30,000 to serve six months instead of one year. In addition, the court ordered him to pay N150,000 in compensation to the victim or face an extra six months in prison if he fails to pay. According to police prosecutor Inrahim Gokwat, the incident occurred on March 8 and…
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced a 22-year-old labourer, Emmanuel Ugwu, to six months in prison for stealing a gas cylinder. Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos handed down the sentence after Ugwu pleaded guilty. However, he was given the option of paying a N50,000 fine instead of serving jail time. According to Prosecutor Ijuptil Thiawur, the theft was reported on March 8 by the complainant, Gift Ugwu, at the ‘C’ Division Police Station. The stolen item—a gas cylinder containing three kilograms of gas—was valued at N46,400. The offence was in violation of the Plateau Penal Code Law.
An 18-year-old electrician, Abubakar Mohammed, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a Magistrates’ Court in Jos for attempting to steal an air conditioner from a shop. The sentence was handed down on Monday by Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos after Mohammed pleaded guilty. He was given the option of paying a N30,000 fine instead of serving the jail term. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay N90,000 in compensation for damages, or serve another two years in prison if he fails to do so. According to the prosecutor, Ibrahim Gokwat, the attempted theft was reported on March 6 by…
A Jos Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 42-year-old carpenter, Ado Ali, to 30 months in prison for defrauding a man preparing for his wedding. The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos on Monday after the carpenter pleaded guilty to the charge of cheating. The court, however, offered him the option of paying a N50,000 fine instead of serving the full term. In addition, Ali was ordered to pay N600,000 in compensation to the complainant, Kenneth Chollom. According to the prosecutor, Ibrahim Gokwat, the case was reported at the ‘A’ Division Police Station on March 22. Chollom had given…
Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has detained three judges accused of accepting bribes in a high-profile case related to illegal crude palm oil exports. The AGO’s Director of Investigations, Abdul Qohar, announced on Monday that Judges Agam Syarif Baharuddin, Ali Muhtarom, and Djuyamto were taken into custody late Sunday. The three allegedly received payments in exchange for acquitting major companies—Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group, and Musim Mas Group—despite evidence they had exported crude palm oil without proper government permits. In March, the judges ruled that while the companies had indeed acted without permits, their actions did not constitute a criminal…
Toke Makinwa is drawing major attention online after opening up about her thoughts on marriage—and it’s sparked an unexpected wave of proposals. The media personality recently shared on her podcast Toke Moments that she’s open to remarrying, even if it means being a second, third, or even fifth wife. In a now-viral clip, Makinwa said, “At this point in my life, if I have the opportunity to be the second, third, fourth, or fifth wife, I will take it.” She reflected on the pressures of being a successful woman, saying, “I am the boss everywhere and that can be tiring.…
Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has raised concerns over the growing influence of fake native doctors and self-proclaimed prophets who deceive young people with false promises of wealth and protection from the law. Speaking at a political event in Awka, Soludo criticized these individuals for misleading the youth into believing that charms and rituals can help them evade airport security while smuggling drugs. According to the governor, such misguided beliefs have had tragic consequences. He revealed that 23 youths from Anambra are currently on death row in Indonesia for drug-related offenses. Soludo emphasized that these young people were manipulated into…