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Obasanjo, Malema, over 20,000 lawyers storm Enugu for 2025 NBA Confab

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Members of Nigeria Bar Association converging in Enugu for 2025 Conference
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..,Enugu is set, home of hospitality, love, peace – NBA President, Osigwe

…Gov Mbah prepared Enugu ahead – SSG, Onyia

Enugu, the capital of the old Eastern Region, is a beehive of activities as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, firebrand South African politician, Julius Malema, and over 20,000 lawyers converge for the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which formally opens on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, led thousands of lawyers in a health walk across major roads in the capital city, as more lawyers and guests continued to pour into the historic city.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, assured participants of a memorable experience, noting that Governor Peter Mbah had long prepared the state for large events like the NBA’s AGC.

Gov Mbah: Enugu is ready for 2025 NBA Conference

Speaking to newsmen, Osigwe, who relished the thrilling moments already being experienced in Enugu, said the city was a befitting venue for the theme of the conference, “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”

“Enugu is the capital of the South East region and also the home of hospitality, beauty, and peace. That was why we chose Enugu State to host our conference after moving from Port Harcourt.

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“So, we are here in Enugu to enjoy the best that the people have to offer and also have a conversation about building Nigeria and making it an economic giant in Africa. Enugu is set, we are so excited.

“Our keynote speaker, Julius Malema, is on the ground in Lagos and will touch down here tomorrow (Sunday). Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president who will chair the opening ceremony, will also be on the ground tomorrow.

“We are all set, we are so excited. We are going to make this a never-to-be-forgotten experience, the type that will make you want to come back every time for a conference in Enugu,” he told reporters.

Also speaking to journalists, Prof. Onyia said the government of Dr. Peter Mbah had strategically prepared Enugu to host conferences like that of the NBA and many others.

“The Enugu State Government under Dr. Peter Mbah, in its design and thinking around tourism, hospitality, and economic growth, had already factored in most of what you are seeing in preparation right now.

“Even without the NBA’s plan to come, we had already started planning what would happen if the NBA came here, if the Nigerian Society of Engineers came here, or others,” he stated.

He recalled: “Not too long ago, Enugu Air was commissioned; not too long ago, our 100 CNG buses and five modern transport terminals were commissioned. The reconstructed and revamped Hotel Presidential was also unveiled, just to name a few. We want to ensure that when people come here, they move around easily, feel safe, and even love to live here. We are grateful to the NBA for choosing Enugu and believe that they will have a memorable experience during their stay.”

Meanwhile, one of the lawyers already in the state, Barr. Favour Abraham from Minna, Niger State, said she was looking forward with excitement to a memorable experience in Enugu.

“This is my second time in Enugu. I came here for the NBA conference in 2005. So, it has been 20 years. Today, it is a beautiful city. At least from the airport, we had Enugu State CNG buses actually waiting for us. The people here are hospitable. I can say Igbo people are very warm and welcoming. Enugu has changed, and it is a beautiful city.

“So, we are here to explore, attend our conference, gain more skills and knowledge, and then enjoy Enugu to the fullest. We have beautiful things like okpa, isiewu, abacha and more. At least we are coming from the North, and we would love to explore the city,” she added.

Another first-time visitor, Daisy Ovrawah from Delta State, said she was “expecting something totally different.”

“I like the airport, the town, and the CNG bus that brought us from the airport to the International Conference Centre. It was very convenient. I love the ICC. This is very beautiful. I am impressed; I like what I am seeing,” she said.

Barr. Godswill Onyegbu, a participant from Abuja, said he was looking forward to “a very highly coordinated conference.”

“We just got to the conference and the NBA bus brought us to the venue. I commend the governor for the CNG bus. Also, on our way, I could see that Enugu was very clean,” he said.

Hon. Munirat Suleiman, Magistrate of the Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja, praised the registration process as seamless.

“Having attended several NBA conferences that had a lot of glitches, with problems collecting materials and registering, I am impressed that this Enugu experience has been stress-free. So far, so good, and I am enjoying the beautiful city of Enugu, the Coal City,” she said.

Highness Rufus Olarewaju Ajayi from Ekiti, who was in Enugu in 2001 for the Oputa Panel, said: “Since I came here last night, I think I am highly impressed by what I have seen so far.”

Enugu suspends transport enforcement for NBA conference

The Enugu State Government has suspended transport enforcement activities following the 2025 Nigeria Bar Association Conference, holding in Enugu between August 25 and 29.

The directive is contained in a statement signed and issued by the State Commissioner for Transport, Dr Obi Ozor, on Thursday in Enugu.

He said, “With immediate effect, all transport-related enforcement activities are suspended in Enugu until Monday, Sept. 1.

“This moratorium is to ensure seamless mobility and zero friction during the ongoing NBA Annual General Conference movements. This also applies to all Ministry of Transport enforcement contract operations.”

Ozor said that their focus and primary responsibility should be on traffic management within the period.

According to him, with over 20,000 visitors expected in the city, it is critical to maintain smooth traffic flow and prevent congestion around key locations, particularly the International Conference Centre, adjoining routes and the key clusters.

“Officers are to direct traffic aggressively and proactively, ensuring orderliness across major junctions, terminals, and access points.

“All field staff must caution motorists professionally where necessary, without harassment or intimidation.

Any officer, unit, or contractor found wanting will face severe sanctions, including summary removal from post, contract termination, and loss of job,” he stressed.

He, however, warned them to stand down on all non-emergency enforcement activities with the exception of only those on safety, critical, and emergency responses, such as accidents, life-threatening hazards, and active traffic incidents.

The commissioner added that such actions must be logged and reported to the permanent secretary of the ministry.

“We also appeal to our transport partners in the Council Area and the Board, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), to follow suit by ensuring orderliness and supporting with temporary parking spaces throughout this period,” Ozor said.

Meanwhile, the ministry had earlier announced the restriction of vehicular movements to some designated routes ahead of the conference.

The ministry ordered Keke riders, commercial buses, and private vehicles to avoid certain restricted entry points during the weeklong event to ensure smooth traffic management and security.

It listed the non-restricted areas as Presidential Road till First Bank
Nkpokiti Junction, MSP, Uwani, Timber, Maryland, ESBS, Monkey Junction, ESBS, Lomalinda, Agric Bank, Ike Ekweremadu Agric Bank, Independence Layout Police Station.

Others were Bisalla Road, Rangers Avenue Junction, Roban Stores Junction, Presidential Road, House of Assembly Quarters Road, Ogui Road, Obiagu Road, New Haven, Ogui Road, Abakiliki Road, Zik Avenue and Agbani Road.

According to the ministry, the prohibited routes are Sullivan Junction/Roban, Niger Foundation Junction, Rangers Avenue, Cubana Junction by Rangers Avenue, Nkpokiti Junction by Car Wash, IMT by SPAR Junction, ESBS Junction, Agric Bank Junction, and Toscana Junction.

They advised motorists to plan their movements accordingly and adhere strictly to traffic guidelines during the conference period.

It explained that the measures were temporarily aimed at ensuring the success of the NBA National Conference while minimising inconvenience to road users.

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Security guard kidnaps employer’s two children, demands ransom

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The abducted children
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A private security guard has escaped with two kids from his employer in Minna, with the police suspecting abduction.

The security guard, named Sani Abdulrahaman, a Fulani by tribe, on Sunday, reportedly took Umaru and Anas, both six years old, on Sallah picnic without the knowledge of their father, Alhaji Danjuma, a businessman, and failed to bring them back home.

The father of the children raised the alarm asking the public and security agencies to help him locate the fleeing security guard and his children.

Danjuma said someone called him on Sunday evening and said he was in Erena forest in Shiroro Local Government Area with the children.

According to him, the caller asked for undisclosed ransom before his children who were in their custody would be released.

When contacted, Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred about one o’clock on Sunday, May 31.

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Abiodun explained that the security man pretended that he was taking the children for Sallah celebration in the town, but did not return.

He said the police suspected abduction but disclosed that “investigation has commenced and efforts to locate the children are ongoing.”

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Police arrest suspect behind AI-generated Tinubu voice note

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Ifechukwu Dennis, the suspect
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The Nigerian Police Force has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis, the man identified as the originator of an AI-generated voice note that was widely circulated online as a leaked recording of President Bola Tinubu.

Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the arrest on Thursday in a post on his official X account.

“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice,” he said.

The arrest closes a week-long controversy that began on May 27, 2026, when a video of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, went viral.

In the clip, an AI-generated voice resembling Tinubu’s was heard making inflammatory statements — including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had pressured Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2023 election, and that he was indifferent to Nigerians’ suffering.

Investigations by multiple news organisations, however, established that VDM had not posted the doctored audio.

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An unidentified individual had extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and superimposed the AI-generated voice notes before recirculating the manipulated version online.

Despite this, the Presidency had initially called for VDM’s prosecution.

Onanuga had described the incident as “a clear case of egregious abuse of the social media platform,” drawing criticism after fact-checkers confirmed VDM’s original video contained none of the fabricated audio.

Further details on the circumstances of Dennis’s arrest and the charges he may face were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.

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Five abducted Kwara worshippers killed, one escapes, others still held

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Terrorists have killed five out of the eight worshippers abducted at ECWA Church Omugo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state, says one escaped abductees.

Rev Sunday Omole had urged federal government to expedite action on the release of the abductees from the captivity of the terrorists.

The clergyman said government intervention had become necessary after the community paid the terrorists N20 million and provided additional items worth more than N300,000, yet the abductors refused to release the worshippers and instead demanded an additional N300 million ransom.

He added that from the action of the terrorists it was clear that they just wanted to be exploiting the community.

Recall that eight of the worshippers including the Pastor’s wife were kidnapped in the morning of March 22,2026 during a Sunday service.

The death of the five worshippers including the Pastor’s wife was disclosed in a statement issued by the Pastor of the church, Rev Sunday Omole, Wednesday evening.

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The statement reads:

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I inform the church, families and individual concerned in regard to the 8 people that were abducted from ECWA OMUGO on 22nd of March, 2026.

“We received one of our son’s, Mr Sunday Bakare also abducted over a month ago, he escaped and brought the following news that only 3 out of 8 of our people are remaining with the kidnappers. The remaining 5 have gone to be with the Lord.

“They are; Elder Chief David Omopariola,
Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun,
Mrs Iyabo Aniyi,
Elder Joshua Akanbi Adeyemi and
Mrs. Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole(his wife).

“Brethren, let’s know that God knows why He allows this to happen. The great comforter will comfort us in Jesus name, amen.

“The prayers of the saints in the beginning of the church also worked and answered still they had martyrs. John 16:33 says (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Heaven is our home and Gain. Let’s reason as child of God as we navigate this moment. God bless you, and comfort you all in Jesus name, amen.”concluded the statement.

It was also gathered that the three remaining worshipers are in terrible health condition, while a member of church who escaped from the terrorists captivity is currently receiving an urgent medical attention in a private hospital in OmuAran.

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