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Why high-profile native doctors are still in detention – Anambra govt

Published

3 weeks ago

July 30, 2025

The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, has clarified that the high-profile native doctors currently in detention over their alleged involvement in criminal activities are still being detained on the orders of the court pending the determination of the criminal suit against them.

Mefor was reacting to rumours making the rounds across the state that the native doctors were deliberately detained in different detention facilities of the “Operation Udo-Ga-Achi” security outfit without being arraigned in court for trial.

Three prominent native doctors – Onyebuchi Okocha (popularly known as Onye Eze Jesus), Chidozie Nwangwu (Akwa Okuko), and Ekene Igboekweze (Eke Hit) – were arrested in February following Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s crackdown on the activities of traditional spiritualists in the state.

Following their arrest and subsequent detention, the three of them were docked at the Anambra State High Court, Awka, and after taking their pleas, the matter was adjourned, where it is still pending.

Their arraignment came about a month after they were arrested and detained for various offences bordering on “money ritual”, “oke ite” and “preparation of charms for criminals”, among others.

Since then, questions have been raised over their whereabouts and legal status, with claims circulating that they were being held by the state’s vigilante-backed security outfit without being charged.

But speaking to journalists at CANA House in Awka on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, dismissed the allegations, stating that the suspects had been arraigned before a high court in Awka and were being detained legally.

He said, “Udo-Ga-Achi is made up of vigilante groups and police and those high-profile native doctors being detained like Onyebuchi Okocha (alias Onye Eze Jesus), Chidozie Nwangwu (a.k.a. Akwa Okuko), Ekene Igboekweze (alias Eke Hit, and others are not being detained without the approval of the police.

“However, if you feel your right is being trampled upon, you go to court to seek redress. Nobody is being held unduly. All these native doctors, none of them is being held by us, they are being held under the order of the court.

“Police is part of the ‘Udo-Ga-Achi’ security outfit, the suspects may be detained wherever the police approve the suspects arrested should be and that has been the practice. People who are saying they are being detained, where do you keep suspects, in the Vatican?.

“They should be detained somewhere until they are taken to court. Nobody is being held in Anambra unduly. They are there under the orders of the court and releasing them means disobeying order of court.”

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Every Nigerian should learn combat skills for self-defence – CDS Gen Musa

Published

2 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged all Nigerians to learn combat skills to protect themselves in the face of danger.

General Musa gave this advice on Thursday when he appeared as a guest on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.

He likened the acquisition of combat skills to driving, swimming, and other essential survival skills.

When asked whether he would advise Nigerians to learn combat skills for self-defence, General Musa said, “That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct.

“In Europe, swimming is compulsory; [so is] Learning and teaching about security because you have to learn what security is.”

According to him, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, should train Nigerian graduates in unarmed combat skills for day-to-day survival against dark-hearted men.

The defence chief further explained that security is the responsibility of all Nigerians, even as he urged citizens to remain situationally aware of their surroundings to identify strange and suspicious individuals.

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Uganda reaches agreement with US Govt to take in migrants

Published

14 hours ago

August 21, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Uganda has entered an agreement with the United States to take in nationals from third countries who may not get asylum in the U.S. but are reluctant to return to their countries of origin, the foreign affairs ministry said on Thursday, August 21.

President Donald Trump aims to deport millions of immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, and his administration has sought to increase removals to third countries, including by sending convicted criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini.

“This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted,” Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said in a statement.

Waiswa added that Uganda would prefer to receive people from African nationalities under the agreement.

“The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented,” he said.

On Wednesday, another Ugandan foreign affairs official had denied a U.S. media report that the East African country had agreed to take in people deported from the United States, saying it lacked the facilities to accommodate them.

Uganda, a U.S. ally in East Africa, also hosts nearly two million refugees and asylum-seekers, who mostly hail from countries in the region such as Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.

In July, five immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, who Washington said had been convicted of serious crimes, were flown to Eswatini, where they are now in a high-security prison. The deportations are being challenged by a group of Swazi and southern African NGOs, with a high court hearing scheduled for Friday.

Also in July, eight men from various countries were deported by the US to South Sudan, via Djibouti, where they were held for weeks in a shipping container. Meanwhile, more than 250 Venezuelans were repatriated to Venezuela after being sent to a notorious El Salvador prison in March without due process.

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FRSC rewards officer for rejecting 104 bribes in one month

Published

14 hours ago

August 21, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has honoured Assistant Route Commander Babatunde Owoeye of the Osun State Sector Command for his exemplary integrity in July 2025.

The commendation was held during a ceremony on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at the Osun State Command headquarters.

Records show that Owoeye rejected bribes from traffic offenders on 104 separate occasions.

He also turned down bribe attempts 18 times in May and 38 times in June, reflecting a consistent commitment to ethical conduct in service.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sector Commander Leye Adegboyega lauded Owoeye, stating that his conduct mirrors the FRSC’s long-standing policy against corruption and extortion among its personnel.

Adegboyega added that the recognition aligns with the anti-corruption agenda of the Corps Marshal, Sheu Mohammed, as well as the commission’s broader efforts to promote professionalism and accountability.

“For his exceptional integrity, Assistant Route Commander Babatunde J. Owoeye has been awarded a commendation and a cash gift of N250,000. He recorded 104 ‘Attempt to Corrupt Marshal on Duty’ (ACS) cases in July alone — a feat that is unprecedented in the command’s history,” Adegboyega said.

The FRSC reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on bribery and assured the public that honesty and discipline within its ranks would continue to be recognised and rewarded.