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How Police Recovered Newborn Stolen From Hospital, Suspect Confesses

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A newborn baby stolen from a hospital in Ado-Ekiti has been safely recovered and reunited with his parents, thanks to a swift and coordinated operation by the Ekiti State Police Command.

Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, confirmed the recovery on Wednesday, identifying the baby’s parents as 29-year-old Mustapha Aliyu and 22-year-old Salmatu Lawal.

According to Eribo, the case broke open after a concerned informant contacted a senior police officer, expressing suspicion about a woman she had seen and connected to the widely reported abduction.

Investigators traced a bag left behind at the hospital, which contained cotton wool and a receipt from a well-known supermarket.

Reviewing CCTV footage from the supermarket, officers were able to identify a woman seen with a group of men, a crucial lead that led to the suspect’s arrest.

Police revealed that the suspect, Miss Deborah Ayeni, had faked a pregnancy and loitered around the hospital pretending to be an expectant mother.

She seized the opportunity to abduct the baby when the mother briefly stepped away from the ward.

During questioning, Ayeni confessed to the crime.

She told investigators she lost her pregnancy in March and feared her husband, who resides in the United Kingdom, might leave her.

Out of desperation, she said, she decided to steal a baby to cover up the loss. She also admitted to spending the night at the hospital to build trust and bond with the infant before carrying out the abduction.

The baby’s father, Mustapha Aliyu, expressed deep gratitude for the police’s swift action.

“We thank Allah for bringing our child back to us safely. We also appreciate the police for their tireless efforts and professionalism,” he said.

Aliyu explained that the baby was taken while he had briefly stepped out to purchase supplies for his wife.

The police say investigations are ongoing and that charges will be filed against Ayeni in due course.

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Soludo Unveils Plans To Redesign Igbo-Ukwu Museum, Launches Key Projects

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Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has announced plans to redesign the historic Igbo-Ukwu Museum, aiming to transform it into a world-class cultural hub that reflects the rich archaeological and cultural heritage of the South East.

During a working visit to Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area on Wednesday, Soludo emphasized that the museum upgrade goes beyond infrastructure.

“It will not just be about structures, but about our identity and pride,” the governor said.

He highlighted the significance of the Igbo-Ukwu bronzes, noting that they are among the oldest in Africa and deserve to be preserved and celebrated globally.

“The Igbo-Ukwu bronzes are among the oldest on the continent. They deserve a world-class museum, one that attracts scholars, tourists, and our children,” he added.

The museum redesign, he said, is part of a broader vision for cultural reclamation and promoting Igbo heritage.

“Let the world come and see that before the books were written, we already told our story in bronze,” Soludo stated.

Alongside the museum plans, the governor commissioned a 4.2-kilometre road and a newly upgraded Comprehensive Medical Centre in the community.

The health facility, delivered through a public-private-community partnership, will provide free antenatal and delivery services and will be fully staffed and maintained by the state government.

Community leader, Barth Nwibe who was present at the event, lauded the governor’s commitment to grassroots development and announced a ₦50 million donation from the people of Igbo-Ukwu in support of Soludo’s re-election.

“Governor Soludo has walked his talk. We are seeing real development at the grassroots,” Nwibe said.

The Igbo-Ukwu Museum is known for housing 9th-century bronze artefacts that continue to challenge colonial-era narratives and showcase the technological and artistic sophistication of ancient Igbo civilization.

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Replacing Shettima With Kwankwaso Would Be Risky, Say Farounbi, Bayo Shittu

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Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, have both raised concerns over speculations that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso might replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 general elections.

The two elder statesmen, speaking separately to The Guardian in Ibadan, reacted to growing reports that the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) may be brought into the All Progressives Congress (APC) to run on a joint ticket with Tinubu.

Both men described such a move as potentially dangerous, warning of political and electoral consequences, especially in Nigeria’s Northeast region.

According to Shittu, bringing Kwankwaso into the APC should be for support, not replacement.

“His coming to the APC is to support our president. He should not come to replace anyone. It will be dangerous to replace Rabiu Kwankwaso with Shettima. It will affect our votes in the North East. Kwankwaso can be supported to become President in 2031, not to replace Shettima.”

Farounbi, meanwhile, expressed concern over the implications of working with someone like Kwankwaso, whom he described as politically ambitious and unlikely to take a subordinate role.

“Shettima is more controllable than Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso will not take a back seat in terms of governance, because he has presidential ambitions. Shettima is far better for Tinubu than Kwankwaso. I will say it is dangerous to replace Shettima with Kwankwaso,” the former ambassador stated.

The remarks come amid ongoing internal political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with Tinubu’s party exploring strategies to retain power.

However, both commentators believe that any decision to alter the current power dynamic within the presidency could carry unintended consequences.

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Labour Party Has No Candidate For Edo Bye-Election – INEC Insists

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the Labour Party (LP) will not be participating in the upcoming Edo State National Assembly by-election, slated for next week.

The by-election will be held to fill vacancies in the Edo Central Senatorial District and the Ovia Federal Constituency, following the elevation of Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Dennis Idahosa to Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively.

Speaking at a press briefing in Benin City, the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, revealed that nine political parties had successfully submitted candidates for the polls.

These include:

Action Alliance (AA)

African Democratic Congress (ADC)

All Progressives Congress (APC)

Allied Peoples Movement (APM)

Action Peoples Party (APP)

Action Democratic Party (ADP)

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

While the Labour Party had announced Paul Okojie as its candidate for the Edo Central seat, Prof. Onuoha clarified that the party failed to comply with procedural requirements.

“From our records, the Labour Party and others didn’t invite us for their primaries,” he said.

He added that INEC did not monitor any LP primary because the party failed to notify the commission of its intention to participate.

“Some others invited us, but we got there, and their doors were locked. We could not find anyone,” he noted.

Despite the controversy, the INEC commissioner assured the public of the commission’s readiness to conduct a transparent and hitch-free election.

“The Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) has been configured, while non-sensitive materials have been deployed,” he said.

Prof. Onuoha also disclosed that 101,617 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain uncollected in the areas where the by-election will take place, out of a total 719,504 registered voters across the seven local government areas involved.

Responding to calls from the PDP for his redeployment, Onuoha stood firm and appealed for media support in maintaining electoral integrity.

“Even if you bring your brother to INEC, he can’t compromise elections because of the way the commission is structured,” he stated.

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Enugu Court Remands Alleged Ritualist, Two Others For Kidnapping, Murder

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An Enugu North Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of three suspects, including a well-known ritualist, Obi Levi Obieze, over their alleged involvement in multiple cases of kidnapping and murder in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Obieze, alongside Sabastine Emeka Offor and Odinwamkpa Ejike, was arraigned on Wednesday before His Worship, Osondu Chukwuani, at Court 1 in Enugu North.

The trio faces a seven-count charge filed by the Enugu State Police Command, ranging from conspiracy to kidnap and murder.

According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly conspired between April and May 26, 2025, to commit kidnapping, an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Enugu State Criminal Code.

Among the victims were Ukamaka, a 13-year-old girl; Chimaobi Ezi, a 15-year-old boy; and Joy Miracle Udokamma, aged 31.

Both Chimaobi and Joy were allegedly murdered by the suspects.

The charge also includes the use of personal violence during the abductions.

The case file (MEN/473c/2025), signed by the Prosecutor and Head of the Legal Team of the Enugu State Police Command, SP Justice Attah, Esq., outlines the following:

“That you, Obi Levi Obieze a.k.a. Ozo Ezeani/E dey play e dey show, Sabastine Emeka Offor, Odinwamkpa Ejike, and others now at large, between April and May 26, 2025, along Umuojo Road, Ishiagu Village, Umumba Ndiagu Community, did conspire to commit kidnapping, an offence punishable under Section 495 (a)…”

The charges further allege that the group used force in abducting their victims and ultimately killed Chimaobi Ezi and Joy Miracle Udokamma, offences punishable under Section 274 (1) of the same law.

The suspects pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them.

However, the presiding magistrate noted that the Magistrate Court lacks jurisdiction to try capital offences such as murder.

Consequently, the Magistrate ordered the transfer of the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further review and arraignment at a competent high court.

The matter was adjourned to August 20, and the accused were remanded in prison custody.

According to a statement from the media office of Governor Peter Mbah, Obieze, the prime suspect, was arrested at the Badagry-Seme border while attempting to flee the country.

His arrest followed a wave of ritual killings and abductions that shook the Umumba Ndiagu community in May.

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Ghana Loses Two Ministers, Others In Deadly Helicopter Crash

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Dailygazettenig
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Ghana is in mourning following the deaths of two cabinet ministers and several others in a tragic military helicopter crash on Wednesday.

The Ghanaian presidency confirmed the incident, which claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, among others.

The Ghana Armed Forces earlier reported that an air force helicopter carrying five passengers and three crew members went off radar shortly after departing Accra around 9:00 am.

The aircraft was en route to Obuasi, a town northwest of the capital.

All eight people on board were confirmed dead in the crash, authorities said.

President John Mahama’s chief of staff, Julius Debrah, expressed the government’s sorrow in a statement.

“The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country.”

Edward Omane Boamah, a medical doctor by profession, was appointed defence minister earlier this year following Mahama’s return to office in January.

He previously held roles as communications minister and deputy environment minister during Mahama’s 2012–2017 administration.

Boamah had taken the helm of the defence ministry amid rising regional insecurity, as Ghana continues to face the threat of jihadist activity spilling over from neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Though Ghana has largely avoided direct attacks, security analysts have warned of increased arms trafficking and militant infiltration through its northern border.

Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed was serving as Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology at the time of the crash.

Also among the victims were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, the deputy national security coordinator and a former agriculture minister, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The Ghanaian military has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

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Two Suicide Attempts Foiled In Anambra Community As Flood Destroys Farmlands

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Two suicide attempts were averted in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State after massive flooding submerged farmlands, pushing some farmers to the brink of despair.

It took the timely intervention of local villagers to prevent the two individuals from taking their own lives.

The flooding, predicted earlier by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has begun to impact not only coastal states but also parts of the North, South-East, and South-South regions.

In recent weeks, persistent torrential rainfall in the South-East has caused the River Niger to overflow, submerging large expanses of farmland in Ogbaru and leaving devastation in its wake.

According to local reports, many of the affected farmers had taken out loans for the current planting season.

The destruction of their crops has left them anxious and hopeless, with no clear means of repaying their debts, a situation that reportedly drove two of them to attempt suicide.

Ogbaru, a riverine area located along the banks of the River Niger and bordering Delta and Rivers States, is once again grappling with the harsh reality of its flood-prone geography.

Communities including Ossomala, Obeagwe, Akili Ogidi, Ogwuikpele, Ogwuaniocha, and several farm camps have been hit hard, with residents describing the flood as overwhelming.

Homes, farmlands, and infrastructure have been consumed by rising waters.

Many locals have voiced frustration over the lack of government support in the face of the disaster.

Residents say no meaningful efforts have been made to relocate them or provide relief materials and medical aid.

Mr. Adimali Nwachukwu, a yam and cassava farmer in Ogwuikpele, expressed his deep distress:
“The flood has destroyed me. It has ruined my hopes and wasted my labour. I don’t know where to start from. I borrowed money at a high interest rate to invest in large-scale farming this year.”

A widow, Nwakaego Nwafili, who cultivates cassava and maize, shared her heartbreaking experience:

“This year’s flood is suffocating me. Since the heavy rains started in July, I’ve been having panic attacks, knowing what was to come. I haven’t been sleeping at night, my mind is constantly preoccupied with my farm. I’m heartbroken as I speak to you now.

“All my crops are submerged underwater. I don’t have the funds to hire labourers to help with the harvest. I’m doing the premature harvesting by myself. I’m ruined.”

Another resident, Mrs. Oluchi Nzekwe, revealed that the flooding has taken a toll on her family’s health and well-being.

She disclosed that her husband’s blood pressure has risen sharply since the floods began, adding that their sole source of livelihood, farming, has been severely affected.

In June, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), visited Ogbaru for a flood simulation and awareness campaign.

The operation was designed to test Nigeria’s preparedness for forecasted flooding, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and educate vulnerable communities.

Speaking during the exercise, NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, emphasized the agency’s commitment to proactive disaster management, particularly in flood-prone states highlighted in the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction by NiMet.

“The simulation was a demonstration of the agency’s proactive approach to disaster management, particularly in high-risk flood-prone states like Abia, Anambra, and Imo, as identified in the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Annual Flood Outlook,” she said.

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Immunity Doesn’t Shield Stolen Assets, Court Rules In Yahaya Bello Property Case

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The Court of Appeal in Lagos has reinstated an interim forfeiture order secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over 14 properties allegedly linked to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The appellate court ruled that constitutional immunity does not protect assets suspected to be acquired through illegal means.

Justice Yargata Nimpar, delivering the lead judgment during a virtual session, ruled that the Federal High Court erred in law when it lifted the forfeiture order by relying on Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

That section protects sitting governors from criminal or civil prosecution but, according to Justice Nimpar, does not shield property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Justices Danlami Senchi and Paul Bassi agreed with the ruling, which clears the path for the EFCC to pursue a final forfeiture hearing on the properties, which span locations in Lagos, Abuja, and even Dubai.

In February 2023, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos initially granted an interim forfeiture order following an application by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

The agency claimed the properties, including a luxury apartment in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, were likely funded through unlawful means.

Justice Oweibo had also ordered the EFCC to publicize the forfeiture and allow any interested parties to contest the seizure.

Yahaya Bello, still serving as governor at the time, challenged the order, asserting that the assets were acquired before he assumed office.

He invoked Section 308 of the Constitution to argue that as a sitting governor, he could not be subjected to any legal action.

Bello’s lawyers further argued that the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2022, could not be retroactively applied to property acquired before its enactment.

A Kogi State High Court had already barred the EFCC from probing the state’s finances.

The Federal High Court in Lagos lacked jurisdiction since the properties were outside its territorial scope.

In April 2023, Justice Oweibo agreed with Bello and struck out the EFCC’s case, citing lack of jurisdiction and the constitutional immunity clause.

However, the EFCC appealed the decision, insisting that its mandate allowed it to trace and preserve suspected illicit assets, regardless of the owner’s current office.

The agency also claimed it had not been barred by any competent court from performing its duties.

The Court of Appeal agreed, ruling that while governors enjoy immunity from legal action, properties they allegedly acquired through criminal means do not enjoy the same protection.

The panel faulted the trial court’s decision to dismiss the case entirely, instead of allowing proceedings to determine the final forfeiture.

The judgment not only restores the EFCC’s temporary control over the 14 properties but also allows the anti-graft agency to pursue a final forfeiture verdict.

It also dismissed Bello’s objections to the process as “lacking merit.”

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Tinubu Running Nigeria Like A Private WhatsApp Group – Lauretta Onochie Slams Delay In Ambassador Appointments

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Former presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie has lambasted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his prolonged delay in appointing new ambassadors, nearly two years after recalling Nigeria’s envoys abroad.

In a strongly worded post on her verified X handle on Wednesday, Onochie accused Tinubu of running Nigeria’s foreign affairs like a “private WhatsApp group,” alleging that he has shown a preference for engaging only with countries where he can be idolised.

DAILY GAZETTE recall that President Tinubu had, in September 2023, recalled all Nigerian ambassadors stationed across the globe.

However, close to 23 months later, no replacements have been named, leaving Nigerian foreign missions without substantive leadership.

Ambassadors play a critical role in representing Nigeria’s interests abroad and managing diplomatic relations with host countries, a responsibility that, critics say, has been neglected under Tinubu’s administration.

Onochie, who served as media aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, did not hold back in her criticism.

She wrote: “A strategist who doesn’t know that Nigeria needs Ambassadors to relate with the rest of the world is running Nigeria like a private WhatsApp group.

“He prefers to relate to St. Lucia and Kazakhstan, where he can be idolised and worshipped for the right price.”

 

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Tinubu Told To Declare State Of Emergency In Plateau Over Ongoing Attacks

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Da Yohana Margif, a prominent community leader from Bokkos Local Government Area in Plateau State, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in the state following continuous deadly attacks allegedly carried out by Fulani militia groups.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, MargifMargif, who holds the traditional title of Waziri Mushere said the worsening violence and bloodshed had reached a critical level.

He described the situation as an existential threat to indigenous communities in Bokkos, who he said are being killed, displaced, and having their lands forcefully taken over.

“This call has become necessary due to the repeated and coordinated attacks by Fulani marauders who have laid siege to our communities,” Margif said.

“They kill the natives, sack them from their homes, and take over their ancestral lands.”

Margif, a former Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 Plateau elections, warned that without urgent federal intervention, entire communities could be wiped out.

“With the way these Fulani militias are unleashing violence on Bokkos, it’s only a matter of time before we are all exterminated,” he said.

He emphasized that declaring a State of Emergency is the only viable path to halting what he described as a campaign of terror and land-grabbing.

According to Margif, seven villages in Bokkos have already been overtaken by the armed groups.

“The savage killings and destruction of homes continue even as of today, Tuesday, August 5th, 2025,” he noted.

“Seven communities have been captured, and many lives have been lost. No one knows what will happen next. The people cannot sleep and are helpless.”

He painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

“Innocent villagers have been slaughtered, their homes burnt, and their ancestral lands forcefully taken over,” he said.

“Displaced families now roam as refugees in their fatherland.”

Margif concluded his plea by urging the president to act swiftly.

“I call on President Bola Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in Plateau State before we are all gone. The primary duty of any government is to protect lives and property. If it fails to do that, then it has no business being in existence,” he said.

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