The Administrator, Office of Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Anani, on Friday pledged that justice will be served for a 12-year-old girl, who was allegedly gang-raped by five men on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024.

The hideous crime happened in Igiafodo Awuyemi, Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area.

Speaking during a visit to Esther at the Daisy Ehanire Danjuma Centre, Anani vowed that the perpetrators would face the full wrath of the law, citing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.

“The Edo State Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that these perpetrators are brought to book. Section 4 of the VAP Law defines rape, while Section 5 outlines the punishment.

EDO State has zero tolerance for any form of violence, and we are standing firmly with the victim,” she stated.

Anani condemned the perpetrators, who reportedly filmed the act and circulated the video on social media, adding that the evidence strengthens the case against them.

“The video footage makes it impossible for anyone to cover up this crime. The law will take its course, and these individuals will be dealt with decisively,” she added.

She commended the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, His Royal Highness Lukeman Akemokue, and his wife, Blessing, for their swift action in bringing the case to light and ensuring that both the victim and her mother were relocated to Benin City for safety and medical care due to threats against their lives.

“I really want to commend your Highness. He did a fantastic work with his wife. It happened in his community, Okpella Kingdom, and they didn’t hide it, immediately he saw the videos he took it up, I want to say when things like these happen speak out, speak out for somebody else because tomorrow it could be your own child,” she advised.

On his part, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Akemokue, thanked the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the office of the First Lady for a fantastic job for being proactive in response, noting that the Okpella community will continue to support the administration.

Anani was also at the Edo State Police Headquarters with the victim and other stakeholders. She commended the Police for responding promptly and appealed that the little girl get justice.

In his response, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Umoru Ozigi commended Anani for the visit, assuring that the victim will get justice.

He disclosed that three persons are currently in police custody concerning the crime.

In a surprising turn of events, Senator John Azuta Mbata has been elected the new President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, contradicting earlier reports that Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, a prominent lawyer and activist, had assumed the role.

Stay tuned for more detail soon..

An Anambra State Magistrate Court sitting in Nnanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, has convicted three brothers, including a lawyer, for conspiracy, forceful entry, and malicious damage to property belonging to a poor man.

The convicted individuals—John Nwakonobi, Tochukwu Nwakonobi, and Sunday Nwakonobi—are from Umudioka, Dunukofia Local Government Area.

They were charged with 10 counts of conspiracy, forceful entry, and malicious damage, offenses punishable under various sections of the revised Anambra State laws.

Chief Magistrate L. C. Okoye, who presided over the trial, found the three brothers guilty on all charges after an eight-year trial during which two prosecution witnesses passed away.

In his judgment, Chief Magistrate Okoye stated:

“It is my considered view that the prosecution has successfully proven the offenses against the defendants. On the other hand, the defendants corroborated much of the prosecution’s evidence through their own admissions.

“The defendants admitted that they collectively decided in family meetings to enter the disputed land. On different occasions, they sought to create an access road for their cousin and to measure land for the first defendant. The first defendant, in particular, narrated their actions to achieve these purposes.

“It is mind-boggling that the first defendant, being a lawyer who understands the law, did not deem it necessary to challenge the findings of the peace committee or resolve the title issue with the complainants.

“The defendants have failed to discharge the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which had shifted to them. I hereby hold that the prosecution has proven the charges against the defendants.”

The court sentenced the three brothers as follows:

“You, John Nwakonobi, Tochukwu Nwakonobi, and Sunday Nwakonobi, are convicted of malicious damage under Section 415(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 36, Vol. 11, Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991. Each of you is sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦20,000 in lieu of imprisonment.”

Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, a prominent activist lawyer, has been elected as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

His election was announced during the ongoing convention in Port Harcourt, where he was returned unopposed by the General Assembly, according to the returning officer, Dr. Achi Achi.

The convention, which began on Thursday, is expected to conclude on Friday.

In his acceptance speech, Okwukwu expressed gratitude to the delegates for entrusting him with the leadership of the Igbo race.

He pledged to prioritize the engagement of the Federal Government to secure the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and to advocate for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Okwukwu also promised to work towards uniting the Igbo people, stating that he would bring together all factions of the Igbo community as one indivisible family.

“I am fully aware of the unprecedented trust reposed in me and my capacity to do so,” he said.

Furthermore, he outlined several key initiatives, including engaging with the Federal and State governments to address Igbo grievances, modernizing the Igweocha/Port-Harcourt and other coastal ports, and advocating for the creation of Anioma State as part of an equalization process for the Igbo.

Okwukwu, who was the only independent contestant among more than four aspirants, emerged as the consensus candidate.

The election was attended by numerous delegates from the South-East, the Diaspora, and over 200 social and cultural groups.

The Nigerian Police Force has rejected the claims circulating on social media about the theft of N1.098 billion from the Enugu State government account, asserting that the account was never hacked.

The police clarified that the incident was a case of procurement fraud, not a cyber attack.

In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the police emphasized that there had been no hacking of the Enugu State Government’s account, and the allegations of a massive theft were entirely unfounded.

“The case, investigated by the National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC), was a matter of procurement fraud, not a cyber-breach,” the statement read.

“The suspect has been apprehended, and the funds have been recovered.”

The police also encouraged the public to refrain from spreading false information and to verify news sources before sharing.

The Enugu State Government and various stakeholders are working with the NCCC to ensure the security of their financial systems.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned an injunction issued by the Kano State High Court that prevented Aminu Ado-Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, and four other dethroned emirs—Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from presenting themselves as traditional rulers.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Mustapha found that the decision of the Kano State High Court on July 15, 2024, was flawed and violated the principles of fair hearing.

The appellate court criticized the lower court for its procedural and substantive errors, which it said compromised the fairness of the ruling.

The Court of Appeal ordered that the case be reassigned to a new judge by the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court for a fresh hearing, emphasizing the need for impartiality in the proceedings.

The appellate court stressed that the earlier decision had undermined the judicial process, making it necessary to intervene in order to uphold justice.

Justice Mustapha highlighted that the breaches of fair hearing were substantial enough to justify the annulment of the lower court’s injunction.