The family of 35-year-old Abdulqadri Jimoh, who reportedly died under suspicious circumstances in police custody in Ilorin, Kwara State, has called for justice and financial compensation from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

They allege that he was tortured to death by officers during his detention.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, the convener of the human rights campaign “Justice For Olatunji Jimoh,” Mr. Owolabi Olumuyiwa-Tayo, also asked the police to provide the cause of the death of the deceased and make the autopsy report public.

Present at the press conference were: nine-year-old Aisha Abdulqadri and six-year-old Amidat Abdulqadri (the deceased’s children), mother Adijat Jimoh (60 years), father Jimoh Alabi (65 years), elder brother Ismail Jimoh, and lawyer Olukayode Oloyede, among other members of the Balogun Fulani area of the Ilorin emirate.

The family said, “The family is crying out to the public and the Nigeria Police Force to help investigate the case so that it will not be swept under the carpet.”

“We are asking that the officers who unlawfully arrested him be punished, that the welfare and education of his two children be looked into, that the two aged parents be cared for because of their failing health as a result of the rude shock they suffered, and that the Nigeria Police Force pay for damages,” the convener said.

Olumuyiwa-Tayo, who narrated the situation leading to the death of Abdulqadri, said the deceased was lured out of his house by a co-worker, Jelili Kehinde, before he was arrested by the police.

“It is no longer news that a 35-year-old promising farmer and the breadwinner from the family of Jimoh Alabi (Olatunji Jimoh) died in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force on December 20, 2024. It was established that on December 19, 2024, Olatunji Jimoh was washing clothes at home in the Balogun Fulani area of Ilorin around 5:00 pm when his friend came to lure him out.

“Olatunji was abducted by members of the Nigeria Police Force Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) while riding on a bike when Mr. Jelili Kehinde, who had come to lure him out, alighted from the bike. The officers jumped on the bike and drove him to the police headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State.

“At around 6:00 pm, Olatunji made a call to a member of his family, who later came to the station to find out what had happened, knowing that Olatunji owed his superior at work, Mr. Gabriel Sunday, who works at Olam Offa, the sum of N220,000.00.

“Moreover, his family was prepared to pay the amount, out of N425,000.00 sent to him by his aunt, but the police officers, one Mr. Adekunle Emmanuel Ogunshola, Mr. Emmanuel Ajiboye, and Mr. Oluwole Bamiteko, denied him bail, even after the payment was made. The family was told to come back the following morning while the mother cried profusely.

“Around 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, a strange call was made to his sister, asking them to come to the police station. When she told them that it was late because she had a baby she was nursing, the call continued until around 2:00 am to 7:00 am. The family gathered in front of the police headquarters but was not allowed to enter until around 8:00 am, when they were called back and told the news that Olatunji had hung himself in the cell.

“The mother broke down in tears and demanded to see the cell. Upon reaching the cell, it was established that the cell was not even 6 feet, while Olatunji was taller than 6 feet. They later asked how he could have hung himself, and the police officers told them that he knelt down and hanged himself.

“They called for questioning. The family later demanded the remaining body of Olatunji when they learned that the body had been taken to the mortuary without the family’s consent.

“Around 9:00 am to 10:00 am, they arrived at the mortuary and discovered that his lap had already been dissected, and some wounds were found on his body,” he recalled.

In a dramatic twist, both Senator John Azuta Mbata and Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu are laying claim to the position of President General of the Igbo apex socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Reports had earlier indicated that Okwukwu, a prominent lawyer and activist, was elected as the new President General of the organization during a convention in Port Harcourt on Friday.

However, in a shocking turn of events, Senator Mbata emerged with his own election, held separately in Enugu.

Prominent figures at the Enugu election included Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State, among other notable Igbo sons and daughters.

According to the returning officer at the event, Senator Mbata was returned unopposed by the General Assembly.

Senator Mbata, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to the delegates and vowed to prioritize the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), alongside advocating for the restructuring of Nigeria and other pressing Igbo issues.

However, speaking on Arise Television on Friday evening, Okwukwu denied any knowledge of the election in Enugu and insisted that his election, which took place in Port Harcourt, was legitimate.

He reaffirmed his position as the rightful President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and emphasized that he was elected unopposed by the General Assembly during the Port Harcourt convention.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced that land grabbing is now a criminal offense, with individuals caught forcibly occupying another person’s property set to face legal repercussions.

This declaration comes as part of efforts to tackle the growing problem of land encroachment in the state, through the establishment of the Anti-Land Grabbing Agency and the Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Adebayo Lawal, made the announcement during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement event organized by the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OYMASED) at the University of Ibadan.

The session, which aimed to revive the core values of the Yoruba people, saw discussions on how to address socio-economic challenges in the state, with a focus on land-related issues.

Governor Makinde expressed confidence that the newly created agencies would play a pivotal role in curbing land grabbing, calling the practice “alarming” and stressing that forcefully taking land from others would no longer be tolerated.

“Forceful occupation of land is no longer acceptable,” he stated. “Anyone attempting this must be prepared to face the consequences.”

In addition to tackling land grabbing, Makinde also warned against indiscriminate cattle grazing, revealing that violators would be prosecuted under the Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, which is headed by retired Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi.

The event also highlighted the ongoing efforts of OYMASED to address various socio-economic issues, with the Director-General of the agency emphasizing the importance of returning to the foundational values of integrity, respect for elders, and hospitality.

The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, further endorsed OYMASED’s initiatives, announcing plans for public awareness campaigns.

Key stakeholders at the event, including traditional leaders and legal officials, voiced their support for the governor’s initiatives to restore order and discipline in the state.

Justice Aderemi also lauded the steps taken to ensure compliance with state regulations and promote value reorientation.

Raheem Okoya, son of billionaire businessman Chief Razaq Okoya, has publicly apologised to Nigerians for his involvement in a viral video showing the abuse of naira notes.

The video, which also featured his brother Wahab and an unnamed police officer, sparked public outrage and led to the detention of the officer.

In a statement posted on X, Raheem expressed regret for his actions, stating, “To the Nigerian people, my actions were not to cause any trouble or harm. My intentions were pure and naive. I ask for your forgiveness and support in this situation, as I had no intention to raise such an alarm. I wasn’t fully aware of the consequences of my action.”

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the detention of the officer involved, emphasizing that disciplinary action was underway.

Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, condemned the officer’s involvement, noting that his behavior violated the ethical standards of the police.

“The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of Lagos businessman Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action,” Adejobi wrote.

“The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical.”

The video, which surfaced last week, depicted Raheem and Wahab Okoya dressed in agbada outfits, dancing and tossing bundles of N1000 notes into the air to promote Raheem’s new song, “Credit Alert.”

The footage sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the accountability of the billionaire family in the matter.

While disciplinary action against the officer is ongoing, no official statement has been issued regarding potential consequences for the Okoya brothers.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has raised concerns over the overwhelming financial burden of conducting elections in Nigeria, calling it excessive and unsustainable.

In his statement on Friday during a defense of the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly, Prof. Yakubu noted that while INEC is one of the largest employers in the country, it operates with a significantly reduced budget of N40 billion, far below the N80 billion originally requested.

He expressed that the budget constraints are straining the commission’s ability to effectively manage the electoral process and its responsibilities.

To address these challenges, Yakubu urged lawmakers to consider organizing a retreat that would allow both the legislature and INEC to collaborate, share ideas, and devise solutions to the pressing issues facing Nigeria’s electoral system.

“We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting elections all year round,” Yakubu said.

He also highlighted the urgent need for repairs to INEC’s deteriorating facilities, including 860 buildings across the country.

The chairman called on the National Assembly to ensure that the electoral body, which has now proposed a budget of N126 billion, receives sufficient funding to meet its growing demands.

The victims of the tragic stampede during a Christmas rice distribution in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, have been laid to rest amidst grief and sorrow.

The incident, which occurred on December 21, 2024, claimed the lives of at least 21 individuals, mostly women and children, during the palliative distribution organized by Chief Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi through his Obijackson Foundation.

The victims were honored in an inter-denominational burial service at St. Mary’s Field in Okija on Friday.

The service, attended by grieving families, survivors, community members, and prominent figures, was organized by the Obijackson Foundation in collaboration with the Okija royal palace.

The Very Rev. Donald Chukwudolue, who led the service, prayed for the families of the deceased, asking God to comfort them and prevent such tragedies in the future.

He referenced Revelation 21:1-8, stating, “We ask God to wipe away every tear and console the families of the deceased. We pray such an accident will not occur in Okija again. Okija mourns, Anambra mourns, and Nigeria mourns.”

Bishop Ralph Okafor of the Ihiala Diocese also offered words of comfort, encouraging the grieving families to move forward with faith.

“The past is past, we must move on,” he said, reading from Psalm 23.

Chief Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, founder of the Obijackson Foundation, expressed his condolences and reassured the community of the foundation’s commitment to continuing its work for the people of Okija.

“This tragedy has strengthened our resolve to ensure that such an incident will not happen again,” he said.

“We will continue our service to the Okija community with love and dedication.”

The traditional ruler of Okija, Emeka Okezie, urged the foundation to remain steadfast in its philanthropic efforts, despite the unfortunate incident.

Chief Daniel Chukwudozie, Chairman of Dozzy Group of Companies, also offered his condolences, donating N10 million to the affected families.