On Sunday, November 10, 2024, Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Church was officially dedicated by Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese.

The dedication ceremony marked the grand culmination of the centenary celebration of Catholicism in Akpugo, a momentous occasion for the town, Agbani Deanary and the entire diocese.

After more than forty years of dedication and service, the Mother Parish of all the Catholic parishes in Akpugo, was consecrated.

Joyous celebration filled the air as the faithful gathered to witness the culmination of decades of devotion and effort in building this magnificent house of worship.

The newly dedicated church, with its awe-inspiring architecture and aesthetic design, left attendees in wonder and admiration.

Sacred Heart Parish now stands as a beacon of faith and architectural excellence, not only within Enugu Diocese but across the country.

The church’s grandeur is a testament to the Lord’s blessings and the faithfulness of the people.

Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Victor Ogbozor, the priest who led the parish to this remarkable achievement, was praised for his vision and dedication in turning the dream of a monumental place of worship into a reality.

“This is truly the Lord’s doing, and we cannot thank Him enough,” said a member of the parish during the dedication ceremony.

“It’s a new era of faith for Akpugo Land.”

The ceremony was not just a religious milestone but also a celebration of the unity and perseverance of the people of Akpugo.

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Enugu East has remanded a 47-year-old man, Mr. Anthony Onyeukwu, in connection with the death of an 11-year-old houseboy, Goodluck John.

This development comes as part of the Enugu State Government’s ongoing efforts to combat child abuse.

According to Mrs. Ngozi Enih, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development in Enugu, Onyeukwu was arrested after a tip-off from a whistle-blower linked the child’s death to suspected abuse at the hands of the family where Goodluck had worked.

Advertorial

The young boy, who had been living as a houseboy in the home of the accused, was reportedly buried in his native Abia State without any formal report to the authorities.

While Onyeukwu claimed that Goodluck had died from an illness at Park Lane Hospital, Enugu, investigations revealed that there was no record of the boy being admitted or his body being deposited at the hospital’s morgue.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Calista Ifeanyi, presented the charges against Onyeukwu to the Chief Magistrate, Ngozi Edeh Anih.

The charges indicated that the suspect unlawfully killed Goodluck on October 15, 2024, at his residence in Loma Linda Extension, Enugu. This act, according to the charge sheet, violated Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code of Enugu State.

After hearing the charges, the Chief Magistrate ordered the remand of Onyeukwu in Enugu Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to November 20, 2024, pending a report from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Meanwhile, the office of Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, wife of the Governor of Enugu State, issued a strong warning against any form of child abuse, stating that perpetrators would face the full force of the law.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has raised alarm over the increasing wave of vandalism targeting the country’s power infrastructure, following a recent attack on the 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line.

This latest act of sabotage comes amid ongoing efforts to restore power to areas affected by the earlier vandalism of the 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna lines.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the company revealed that the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2024.

Vandals damaged transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 along the line, causing significant disruption to the power supply.

“On Saturday morning, TCN engineers attempted to re-energize the 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line, but the line tripped. After unsuccessful efforts to restore power, TCN linesmen were dispatched for a fault inspection,” the statement explained.

“Upon arrival, it was discovered that transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 had been vandalized, halting bulk power transmission.”

The company also reported the theft of two spans of aluminum conductors from the line, which has further delayed the restoration process.

Although the Lokoja-Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, with power still being supplied through line two, TCN is now working to replace the stolen conductors.

This attack is part of a troubling pattern of vandalism targeting Nigeria’s national power grid.

TCN highlighted previous incidents of similar attacks in the Gwagwalada area, including damage to the Gwagwalada-Kukuwaba-Apo line in December 2023 and the Gwagwalada-Katampe line in February 2024.

The company expressed deep concern over the growing trend of vandalism, which it said has become a major threat to the stability and expansion of Nigeria’s power transmission network.

“Vandalism of power installations severely hampers our ability to provide reliable electricity and to expand the national grid,” the statement continued.

In response, TCN is calling on local communities and security agencies to collaborate in combating these criminal acts.

“We appeal to residents of communities hosting transmission lines and towers to join forces with TCN and security operatives to curb this menace. These acts of vandalism are a disservice to everyone and undermine our collective efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s power infrastructure,” the statement concluded.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has expressed concerns that some judges are tarnishing the reputation of the judiciary.

Speaking at a public discourse on ‘Ethics, Morality, and the Law’, she acknowledged the negative impact of controversial rulings, particularly in cases involving political tensions in states like Kano and Rivers.

Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized, however, that the Nigerian judiciary is home to many dedicated, ethical, and capable judges.

While highlighting the professional integrity of most members of the bench, she also cautioned that judges must always be mindful of their individual accountability—both to society and to their moral and spiritual convictions.

In her address, the CJN pointed out that the judiciary must be aware of the perspective of ordinary citizens, who judge the legal system not only by its legal outcomes but also by how well it aligns with society’s ethical and moral values.

She reminded the legal community that justice is deeply rooted in the values of the Abrahamic faiths—Islam and Christianity—which both emphasize morality, integrity, and righteousness.

Kekere-Ekun also stressed the importance of lawyers in the justice system. She noted that legal practitioners play a unique role, often balancing the demands of law, ethics, and morality.

Lawyers, as key players in the justice system, are tasked with not just upholding legal standards but also ensuring their actions reflect societal ethical norms.

The degree to which this balance is achieved, she noted, significantly impacts public trust in the judiciary.

She concluded by acknowledging that while many judges are dedicated and hardworking, a few are still giving the judiciary a bad name.

The CJN’s comments were made during an event organized by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA), which celebrated its 30th anniversary and the elevation of Justice Habeeb Adewale Abiru to the Supreme Court.

Musiliu Akinsanya, widely known as MC Oluomo, has been elected the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The election took place on Saturday at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road in Osun State.

Akinsanya was the only candidate nominated for the position, and the election saw the participation of delegates from the four Southwest states: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti. This election was part of the Union’s Quadrennial Delegate Conference.

Aliyu Issa-Ore, the acting National President, monitored the election and explained that the Union’s Constitution allows the Southwest zone to elect a candidate for the national presidency.

Issa-Ore, represented by Adedamola Salam, Head of Finance at the National Headquarters in Abuja, confirmed that the election of MC Oluomo was in full compliance with the Union’s guidelines.

In addition to MC Oluomo’s election, Tajudeen Agbede was chosen as Vice President of the Southwest zone, and Akeem Adeosun was appointed as a trustee for the region.

After taking his oath of office, MC Oluomo addressed the gathering, emphasizing the need for peace and unity within the Union.

“I have forgiven those who wronged me, and I ask for forgiveness from anyone I may have offended. This union is ours, and we must protect it. We will not let anyone undermine our source of livelihood.”