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Tinubu Grants Notorious Kidnapper Who Abducted Mike Ozekhome In 2013 Presidential Pardon

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Ezigbe was among the 175 persons who recently received a presidential pardon and other forms of clemency following the approval of the national council of state.

President Bola Tinubu has been granted presidential amnesty to Kelvin Oniarah Ezigbe, a convicted kidnapper who abducted Mike Ozekhome, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in 2013.

He was among those whose jail term was reduced under the presidential pardon announced by President Bola Tinubu.

Ezigbe was among the 175 persons who recently received a presidential pardon and other forms of clemency following the approval of the national council of state.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said in a statement on Saturday that the 20-year prison term of Ezigbe was reduced to 13 years “for showing remorsefulness and attending the National Open University”.

Before his arrest in 2013, Ezigbe was a notorious criminal who terrorised Delta state and its environs, especially the people of Kokori in Ethiope east LGA.
He had executed high-profile kidnappings like the abduction of Ozekhome alongside his driver on August 23, 2013, at the Ehor stretch of the Benin-Auchi highway, Edo state.

Four police officers who responded to Ozekhome’s abduction were ambushed and killed by Ezigbe’s team.

His gang was reportedly responsible for the abduction of Hope Eghagha, a former commissioner of higher education in Delta, in September 2012 while driving from Warri to Asaba.

Eghagha’s police orderly was killed during the attack.

His men also killed two prison officials in Delta while in a vehicle with some arrested members of the gang.

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In September 2013, a combined team of army and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Ezigbe and five of his gang members in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

Ezigbe, who described himself as a freedom fighter, was arrested one week after he issued an ultimatum to the federal and state governments to develop Kokori, an oil-rich community in Delta state.

In June 2024, Ezigbe was arraigned alongside some members of his gang for “conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, kidnapping of persons, inciting persons to commit acts of terrorism, recruitment and abetting escape”.

During the trial at the federal high court in Abuja, Ozekhome told the court that he was held hostage for three weeks and was only released after he paid a N40 million ransom.

In October 2023, Binta Nyako, the trial judge, convicted Ezigbe and Frank Azuekor, a member of the gang, for the charges preferred against them.

Nyako sentenced Ezigbe and Azuekor to 20 years’ imprisonment each. The prison term was to start on the date of their arrest in 2013.

 

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US roller coaster ‘incident’ kills one, injures several

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One person was killed and several were injured after an “incident” on a roller coaster at a theme park in the US state of Georgia on Monday, officials said.

Officials did not confirm how the person died or how the others were injured in the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said detectives from the county’s major crimes unit were investigating what happened.

Cupid said one person had died and others were injured, adding that next of kin had been notified.

“A terrible tragedy occurred today at Six Flags Over Georgia,” Cupid said in a statement.

“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” she said.

A Six Flags spokesperson told US media that the park and local authorities responded immediately and that they were fully cooperating with local officials.

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said.

Theme park operator Six Flags, which has properties throughout North America, has temporarily closed nine similar rollercoasters across six parks “out of an abundance of caution”.

Officials did not specify which ride was involved in the incident in Georgia, but local media identified it as the Goliath roller coaster.

The roller coaster reaches top speeds of 70 miles per hour (113 kmh) and heights of 200 feet (61 meters), according to the park’s website.

The incident comes after Six Flags decided last month to permanently shut down a popular roller coaster in its California theme park after dozens of people claimed to have suffered brain damage while riding it.

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AFP

Source: punchng.com

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FG seeks arrest of suspect in attack on Ogun FMC worker

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The Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspect who allegedly stabbed a health worker at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the call in a statement issued on Monday night by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Salako condemned the reported stabbing of Mr Lawal Olasunkanmi, a medical laboratory scientist at the hospital, describing the attack as “barbaric and unacceptable”.

“No grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties.”

The minister said the ministry would follow the case to ensure that the alleged assailant was brought to justice.

He said the incident reinforced the urgency of implementing measures directed by the ministry on Aug. 5, to strengthen the protection of health workers in federal tertiary health institutions.

According to him, the measures include strengthened security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident reporting, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling procedures.

“These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,” he said.

Salako also appealed to health workers, who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to return to work immediately in the interest of patients and the wider public.

He urged the workers to allow security authorities to carry out their duties and pursue the investigation.

The minister further urged the hospital management to ensure that the injured staff member received appropriate medical care and support while strengthening security arrangements in line with Federal Government directives.

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He extended the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, stressing that the loss of a loved one deserved compassion and appropriate attention.

Salako urged anyone dissatisfied with the care received at the hospital to use its formal complaints mechanism.

He said that such concerns could be examined fairly and addressed on their merits without recourse to violence.

The minister reiterated that protecting health workers was essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery.

According to him, health facilities must remain safe environments where personnel can perform their duties without fear of violence and patients and their families can seek care with confidence.

NAN

Source: punchng.com

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SEE FULL LIST: Names of 68 new SANs sworn in by CJN

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Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday, swore in 68 legal practitioners as Senior Advocates of Nigeria at the 2026/2027 Legal Year ceremony.

PUNCH Online reported that the swearing-in took place during the ceremony marking the new legal year.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee had approved the elevation of the 68 legal practitioners at its 174th plenary session held in Abuja in July.

According to PUNCH’s earlier report, the appointees comprise 67 advocates and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.

The names of the 67 advocates, listed according to their seniority at the Bar, are:

1. Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu
2. Jude Chukwuemeka Okafor
3. Godwill Achibong Umoh
4. Sunday Samuel Obende
5. Adebayo Olugbenga Adaralegbe
6. Jimson Ejovi Okodaso
7. Olalekan Lawrence Bade-John
8. Olaotan Thomas Olusegun
9. Philemeon Audu Daffi
10. Adenrele David Adegborioye
11. James Eromosele Agbonhese
12. Alexander Nduka Muoka
13. Onome Okodiya
14. Emmanuel Akunke Akomaye
15. Ikhide Ehighelua
16. Mas’ud Mobolaji Alabelewe
17. Ogunmuyiwa Olayinka Balogun
18. Anthony Auditz Iroagalachi
19. Mohammed Tajudeen Mohammed
20. Odion Peter Odia
21. Gbemiga Adaramola
22. Moses Okoh Onyilokwu
23. Charles Azubuike Obodozie
24. Hakeem Obafemi Agaba
25. Bimbo Felix Atilola
26. Okechukwu Steve Emelieze
27. Joshua Demilade Olaniyan
28. Igonikon Abiola Adekunle
29. Christian Nnadozie Nwokorie
30. Sadiku Momoh Ilegieuno
31. Sarafa Kolawole Idowu
32. Olujoke Enitan Aliu
33. Oliver Onyenucheya Amuzie
34. Adebisi Emmanuel Adeniyi
35. Faruk Abdullah
36. Sagir Gezawa Suleiman
37. Ifeanyi Godwin Ezeuko
38. Adebayo Folorunsho Ologe
39. Sabiu Gumba Adamu
40. Eric Keme-Egolukumor Omare
41. Soibi Ideriah Ovia
42. Somina Peter Johnbull
43. Chinedum Ikenna Umeche
44. Emmanuel Eghiegba Ekhasemomhe
45. Mohammed El-Hassan Sheriff
46. Junaidu Bello Marshall
47. Olawale Sunday Fapohunda
48. Adebiyi Alaba Adetoboye
49. Senior Sulyman Ibrahim
50. Agba Eimunjeze
51. Ayobamidele Oyekunle Akande
52. Adetunji Taiwo Adedoyin Adeniyi
53. Olamide Moigbotoluwa Adekunle
54. Umaru Yunusa
55. Akorede Habeeb Lawal
56. Darlington Nnabuike Ozurumba
57. Nnaemeka Francis Patrick Egonu
58. Kayode Orire Omosehin
59. Mitchel Akinrinsola Aribisala
60. Bolu Agbaje Akadri
61. Oluwaseun Asimiyu Alao
62. Olugbenga Olusanya Ajala
63. Mustapha Olayinka Ajenifuja
64. Afees Hassan Adebayo
65. Mohammed Abiodun Adelodun
66. Jonathan Akintola Makinde
67. Olajide Salami

The sole academic recipient is Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.

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PUNCH reported that the elevation recognises the recipients’ contributions to legal practice and scholarship.

Source: punchng.com

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