News
Court remands Enugu traditional ruler in prison for alleged murder
An Enugu Magistrate Court, on Thursday, remanded the traditional ruler of Igga community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Igwe Herbert Ukuta, and a former councillor of the community in prison for alleged murder and being members of a terrorist group.
The monarch, who had been in detention for one month and two days at the state criminal investigation department, and four others were arraigned by the Enugu State Police Command on a 10-count charge before an Enugu North Magistrate Court 1.
In Charge No. MEN/320c/2024, between the commissioner of police (Kanayo Uzuegbu) vs. Igwe Herbert Ukuta (62); Festus Okonkwo (62); Ofadile Titus Henry (39); Sunday Ugwu (26) and Obinna Ayogu (54), the community leaders were accused of conspiracy, being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its security wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN); murder of five persons, including two policemen; and being a member of a terrorist group.
The police said the offences allegedly committed by the defendants are contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 25(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Some of the charges read, “That you, HRM Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’; Festus Okonkwa ‘m’; Ofadile Titus Henry ‘m’; Sunday Ugwu ‘m’; Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the 3rd day of May, 2024, at about 1315 hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Membership of a Terrorist Group and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 25(3) and Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu, did recruit Festus Okonkwa ‘m’; Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’; Sunday Ugwu ‘m’ and others now at large into the membership and activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN), which is a proscribed terrorist group by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District held in Enugu, knowingly engaged in the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network within the Igga Community and Adarice Farm Settlement, concealed and failed to report the same to the law enforcement agencies, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta’m’; Festus Okonkwo ‘m’; Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’; Sunday Ugwu ‘m’; Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large, on the 3rd day of May, 2024, at about 13:15 hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Inspector Nwoga Cornellus ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Constable Ikowa Anthony ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Emegoni Aloysius ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkw ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Adada Joshua ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo Titus Henry”, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Eze Fidelis ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
When the charges were read to them, they did not make any pleas, as the magistrate did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case as the charges were brought under the federal act.
All the accused were subsequently ordered to be remanded at Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre.
Tettey, a newly qualified lawyer and alumna of the Faculty of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was among millions of Ghanaians rejoicing over the Black Stars’ triumph when tragedy struck.
According to reports, she suffered a cardiac arrest while watching the match with friends at Standard Hostel, a private student hostel located at Bomso near the KNUST campus in Kumasi.
Witnesses immediately rushed her to the KNUST Hospital, where medical personnel reportedly spent about 45 minutes administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in a desperate attempt to save her life. Sadly, all efforts proved unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead.
Tettey had only recently been called to the Ghana Bar, making her sudden death even more heartbreaking for family, friends, colleagues, and members of the legal community.
News of her passing has spread rapidly across the country, casting a shadow over what had been a moment of national celebration. While Ghanaians continue to celebrate the Black Stars’ victory, many are also mourning the loss of a promising young professional whose life was cut short.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and rapid medical response during large public and social events.
What should have been a day remembered solely for Ghana’s sporting success has instead become a day marked by both celebration and sorrow.
News
Shocking! Vandals excavate, steal 3km of Port Harcourt–Kaduna Pipeline after spending months in South-East forest
A major national security and economic sabotage has unfolded in Nigeria’s South-East as suspected pipeline vandals have excavated and removed more than three kilometres of a strategic high-pressure petroleum pipeline.
The pipeline transports refined petroleum products from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kaduna in Northern Nigeria.
An investigation revealed that the large-scale vandalisation occurred in remote forests straddling Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State and Obeagu Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, raising serious questions about security oversight and the protection of critical national infrastructure.
The affected pipeline forms part of Nigeria’s vital petroleum distribution network, conveying petroleum products from the Port Harcourt refinery corridor through several states to northern parts of the country.
During a visit to the scene, SaharaReporters observed extensive excavation trenches stretching across difficult terrain, with evidence suggesting that the operation was carried out over an extended period rather than as a hit-and-run criminal activity.
The scale of the operation indicates a highly organised network involving specialised equipment, logistics support and detailed knowledge of the pipeline route.
Reaching the vandalised section underscored the remoteness of the operation. It took the media over three hours and twenty minutes to reach the area by motorcycle.
At one point, the journey became impossible by road, forcing our crew and the commercial motorcyclist conveying them to abandon the motorcycle and trek more than two kilometres through a dense forest before arriving at the site.
At the scene, large sections of the pipeline had already been excavated and removed, leaving behind deep trenches and signs of heavy mechanical activity.
Residents of both Eha-Amufu and Obeagu communities alleged that the operation was masterminded by a businessman in Ebonyi State, whose identity could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
According to multiple sources familiar with the operation, the suspect allegedly mobilised dozens of workers from Abakaliki area of Ebonyi State and established a makeshift camp inside the forest for weeks or even months, while the excavation progressed.
One source told SaharaReporters: “I don’t know his real name. He came with more than 50 able-bodied men from Izzi. They spent over two months inside the bush excavating the pipeline.”
The source added that after exposing the buried infrastructure, the group deployed specialised cutting equipment to slice the pipes into transportable sections before evacuating them in trucks.
“They dug up the pipeline, cut it into pieces using heavy machinery and loaded the materials onto trucks. They lived in the forest throughout the operation. They evacuated the pipes in the dead of the night with assistance of corrupt elements in the security,” the resident said.
Residents expressed shock that such a large-scale operation could have continued for months without attracting decisive intervention from authorities.
Several sources alleged that multiple security agencies operating in the area were aware of the activities of the criminals. (SaharaReporters)
News
My name has been cleared, says Alison-Madueke after London Jury acquits her of corruption charges
Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has declared her complete vindication after being acquitted of all charges brought against her by a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London.
In a statement issued on Wednesday through her representative, Bolouere Opukiri, Alison-Madueke said the verdict marked the end of an eleven-year legal battle that had subjected her and her family to intense public scrutiny.
“Today, at Southwark Crown Court, I was acquitted of all charges brought against me,” she said.
Reflecting on the lengthy legal process, the former minister described the period as one of immense hardship and personal suffering.
“For eleven arduous years, this matter has weighed heavily upon me and my family. Today, a decade of unrelenting and unjust vilification, condemnation, and scrutiny has finally concluded,” she stated.
Alison-Madueke expressed gratitude to God, her legal team, family and friends for their support throughout the trial.
“I give thanks to Almighty God for His faithfulness and for the complete vindication I have received. I am grateful to my legal counsel for their diligence, and to my family and friends for their steadfast support and encouragement throughout this period,” she said.
The former minister said the verdict had brought a sense of relief and closure after years of legal uncertainty.
“I am profoundly relieved. My name has been cleared, and this ordeal has come to an end,” she added.
Despite the acquittal, Alison-Madueke indicated that she intends to speak further about the events of the past decade and outline her future plans.
“This, however, is not the final chapter. In due course, I shall address this difficult period in greater detail and share my intentions for the future. For now, I intend to embrace the freedom that has been unjustly denied me for many years,” she said.
The statement followed her acquittal at Southwark Crown Court, bringing to a close a legal case that had attracted significant public attention over the past eleven years.
-
News1 day agoLondon court acquits Alison-Madueke of all corruption charges
-
Politics2 days ago
Stakeholders demand sanctions against A’Court’s Justice Lifu, as Mark warns FG on political manipulation
-
International23 hours ago
$300bn reconstruction aid, sanctions lift’ – US-Iran MoU details emerge
-
News2 days ago
Court martial: 12 soldiers face trial over alleged murder, other criminal offences
-
News2 days ago
Appeal Court suspends execution of judgment against ADC, 4 others parties
-
News1 day ago
My name has been cleared, says Alison-Madueke after London Jury acquits her of corruption charges
-
Politics2 days ago
Ex-Gov Ugwuanyi reaffirms support for APC’s Ikeje Asogwa, disowns PDP candidate
-
Business1 day ago
Pipeline sale controversy deepens as expert warns of investor confidence risks
