Connect with us
Maduka University Advert

News

Ibaji Communities protest Kogi Oil Law, call for equity, justice

Published

on

Members of various Ibaji groups during the press briefing
Spread the love

The people of Ibaji Local Government Area in Kogi, have strongly faulted the recently signed Kogi Oil Producing Area Development Commission (KOSOPADC) Law in July 2025.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Mr Apeh Abuchi, President, Ibaji Youths, said that the amended law was a threat to the constitutional rights of the Ibaji people.

Abuchi said this was in view of Ibaji local government area being the sole oil-producing community in the state.

He said that the community was therefore appealing for fairness and justice in addressing the actions contained in the July 2025 amended KOSOPADC law by the Kogi House of Assembly.

The press briefing was jointly organised by Ibaji Youths Foundation, Ibaji Unity Forum, and the National Association of Ibaji Students.

Abuchi stated that the struggle of the community for recognition and equitable participation in the benefits derived from their natural resources was not new.

Maduka College Advert

According to him, the law was signed on Dec. 20, 2023, by the former Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, establishing the KOSOPADC.

He said: “This law recognises the primacy of the host communities in the governance and management of the commission.

“Section six of the law stipulates that key leadership positions within the commission would be occupied by indigenes of the oil-producing communities of the state.

“Comparing with other states, laws governing similar commissions in Imo, Ondo, and Delta mandate that leadership positions be held by indigenes of the oil-producing areas.

“The Imo Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, and the Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Law, all ensure direct accountability and community-centric governance.

“However, the amended law signed on July 25, 2025, has fundamentally altered the landscape of the KOSOPADC Law.”

The Ibaji youths leader said that this amendment had diluted and rescinded provisions ensuring representation and leadership of the Ibaji people.

Abuchi said that the process leading to the amendment flawed and egregious due to the lack of public hearings or meaningful consultation with the community.

He added that the amended law striped away rights guaranteed by the 2023 law.

“The Chairman of the Board is zoned to Kogi West, the Secretary to Kogi Central, leaving Kogi East (where Ibaji is located) with no dedicated strategic leadership positions,” he revealed.

Abuchi described the amendment as a legislative ploy to rob the Ibaji people of their birthright, silence their voices, and to deny them the benefits that accrue from resources extracted from their ancestral lands.

He said the Ibaji people were therefore calling on the Kogi House of Assembly to reject the amended KOSOPADC Law and to retain the original law enacted in December 2023.

“We insist that strategic leadership positions within KOSOPADC must reflect Ibaji’s unique contributions and sacrifices as the sole oil-producing Local Government Area in state.

“We appeal to the leadership of Gov. Usman Ododo, the conscience of leaders, the integrity of the Kogi House of Assembly, and the broader Nigerian populace to ensure that the right thing is done regarding the KOSOPADC Law,” Abuchi said.

News

Another child dumped at Pastor Chibuzor’s gate in Rivers

Published

on

Chibuzo Chinyere
Spread the love

A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.

According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.

The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.

He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.

Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.

He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.

Maduka College Advert

Continue Reading

News

OAU medical student collapses, dies before final exam

Published

on

Spread the love

Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.

Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.

The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.

The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.

While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”

“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”

Maduka College Advert

Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.

“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.

“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.

“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”

Continue Reading

News

Misdemeanor: Senator Jim Nwobodo’s wife, Patricia loses at Enugu Magistrate Court

Published

on

Father remanded in prison for alleged sexual assault of 7-year-old daughter
Spread the love

..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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
The four- count charge levelled against them read:
.
“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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
“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
.
The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
.
The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert