..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her

An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.

Wife of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said that the ex-Biafra leader was not just synonymous with fight for justice but also a strong believer in the power of knowledge.

This is as the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, called for climate action, pointing out that it was more detrimental to do nothing.

He delivered the guest lecture on the theme- “Sustainable and Climate Resilience Future: Beyond Rhetorics,” on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the 4th Annual Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Memorial Lecture.

The event was organised by the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, on its Founders’ Day as part of the 16th convocation ceremony.

The minister said the event was not a mere ceremony but a convergence of history, intellect, and legacy.

She said: “We gather to honour and reflect on the life of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a towering figure whose contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution and whose unwavering commitment to the dignity of his people remain indelible. He was not only a soldier and statesman, but also a man of ideas, a leader who believed in the power of knowledge, justice, and principled leadership.

“Dim Ojukwu’s legacy compels us to ask difficult questions about nationhood, equity, inclusion, and the responsibilities of leadership. His life reminds us that leadership is not defined by convenience, but by courage, sacrifice, and the willingness to stand for what is just, even in the face of overwhelming odds.”

The minister stated that the university was promoting climate resilience, the same way Odumegwu-Ojukwu did.

According to her, the Igbo leader loved planting trees, and understood long before many others, even before climate action became more amplified, that respecting nature’s balance was important and that “trees were the silent guardians of our air, our soil and our future.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as we reflect on the life and legacy of Dim Ojukwu, let us recommit ourselves to building a Nigeria anchored on justice, unity, and shared prosperity. Let us invest in education, empower our youth, and strengthen our institutions, for these are the pillars upon which sustainable development rests.”

She also charged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the institution, urging them to see the knowledge they had acquired as mere foundation because their character, resilience, and integrity will define their journey.

“Be ambassadors of this great institution, uphold its values, and contribute meaningfully to national and global development,” she stated while further highlighting the importance of strengthening the nexus between academia and policy.

The minister said that universities must continue to serve as think tanks, generating ideas and research that can inform government policies, particularly in areas of foreign relations, economic diplomacy, and national development strategies.

She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would remain open to such collaborations, as they work towards projecting Nigeria’s image positively on the global stage.

She wished the University and its brand new Governing Council, a highly successful founders’ day celebrations.

The EU Ambassador, Mignot described the minister as a major promoter of Nigeria-EU partnership.

The Vice Chancellor of COOU, Prof Kate Omenugha extolled the Minister for the leverage she had given the university by facilitating their reach especially in the diplomatic community.

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has formally tendered his resignation and proposed the establishment of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to drive integrated reforms across Nigeria’s power, gas, and related sectors.

Adelabu announced his resignation in a letter dated April 22, 2026, and signed by Bolaji Tunji, his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations.

In the letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

He, however, emphasised that sustaining and consolidating the gains recorded in the power sector requires stronger coordination at the highest level, including the appointment of a central authority to harmonise policy direction and execution.

Speaking further on the development, Tunji said the minister expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, describing his tenure as a privilege to contribute to national development.

Adelabu noted that his decision aligns with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which precludes serving political office holders from contesting elections. He further disclosed that his gubernatorial aspiration dates back to 2016 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In his three-page letter, the minister outlined key achievements recorded during his tenure, including the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised the electricity market and improved the investment climate.

He highlighted that peak power generation rose to over 6,000 megawatts, driven by the integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant and the rehabilitation of thermal power plants. Transmission capacity was also strengthened through grid upgrades under the Presidential Power Initiative.

Adelabu further cited notable improvements in the distribution segment, including enhanced regulatory oversight, improved revenue collection, and progress in reducing Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses.

Efforts to close the metering gap, he added, gained momentum through the Presidential Metering Initiative and the World Bank-supported Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).

On the financial front, Adelabu stated that tariff reforms and a ₦4 trillion debt restructuring programme increased market revenues from ₦1 trillion in 2023 to ₦2.3 trillion in 2025, restoring investor confidence and placing the sector on a path to sustainability.

Despite these gains, the minister acknowledged persistent challenges, including gas supply constraints, infrastructure vandalism, and the need for full commercialisation of the electricity value chain.

He therefore proposed key measures to sustain progress, including the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs with targeted subsidies, recapitalisation of distribution companies, accelerated nationwide metering, sustained transmission investments, and strengthened regulatory enforcement.

“Central to his recommendations is the creation of a Coordinating Minister for Energy to provide strategic oversight and ensure synergy across power, gas, water resources, and environmental sectors,” Tunji said.

“According to him, this approach is critical to improving gas supply for thermal generation, optimising hydroelectric resources, and accelerating renewable energy deployment.”

Tunji added that Adelabu remains committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless handover process, while expressing gratitude to the President for the confidence and support extended to him throughout his tenure.