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Court jails Boko Haram ‘victim’ after 10 years in detention

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Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court has sentenced a Boko Haram terrorist victim, Ali Kolo, to nine years imprisonment after more than ten years in the detention.

Kolo, who was shot in the right leg by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, was on Thursday found guilty of failure to report activities of the dreaded group to security agents.

The Boko Haram victim was put on trial by the Federal Government on a four-count charge but pleaded guilty to one count which bordered on concealment of information on the activities of the terrorist group in Borno State.

A Federal Government lawyer, Mr. David Kaswe, who led the prosecution, told Justice Lifu that the defendant in 2017 failed to convey information on the activities of the terrorists to the military or any other security agency as required by the provisions of Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2013.

The lawyer, a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, tendered the extra-judicial statement where the convict admitted failure to relay information on the terror group to the appropriate quarters as well as an investigation report which indicted him for refusal to help the Federal Government in curbing the activities of terrorists.

Justice Lifu admitted the two exhibits following no objection from the defence counsel, Mrs A.O Usman.

The Federal Government lawyer, consequently, pleaded with the judge to impose a jail term of 10 years on the defendant based on his guilty plea, and his confession in his statement to the military, as well as the investigation report that indicted him.

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However, the defendant who was 37 years old when the terrorists shattered his right leg with bullets, informed the court that he was shot with an AK-47 gun while on his way to report the terrorists to the military.

The defendant, through his lawyer Mrs Usman, explained that his journey to report the terror group was cut short because he landed in the hospital as a result of the gun injury and pleaded with the judge to be lenient with him.

In his judgement, Justice Lifu agreed that the defendant didn’t report the activities of the terror group to the military but held that it was due to circumstances beyond the control of the convict.

Justice Lifu consequently, sentenced him to nine years imprisonment and ordered that the sentence should start from 2017 when the defendant was arrested and clamped into detention.

Justice Lifu held that by prison law, the convict had already spent more than 10 years in detention and must therefore be immediately released from custody to enable him attend to his injury occasioned by Boko Haram gun shots.

Although the government lawyer expressed reservation at the verdict of the court, Justice Lifu stood his ground that the convict was not found guilty for Boko Haram membership or training in weapons but was convicted only for concealment of information.

The judge held that the convict had suffered enough and must be released immediately upon his signing of warrant for his release, adding that keeping him in prison would amount to double jeopardy.

In another development, Ibrahim Buba, a Borno State based bricklayer, was jailed 10 years for failure to relay information on the activities of Boko Haram to the military.

Bubba, also known as Baba Gana, had in his defence claimed that he ran from Borno to Mubi in Adamawa State and later to Onitsha in Anambra State when the terrorists were after his life, having recognizing some of them.

The convict admitted knowing two of the terrorists and that he did not pass information to the military and instead ran to Onitsha where he was apprehended in 2023 while engaging in bricklaying job.

He pleaded for leniency, prompting Justice Lifu to impose a 10 years sentence on him as against 20 years demanded by the prosecution.

Justice Lifu ordered that the 10 years jail term should start from March 24, 2023, when the convict was arrested and detained.

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Butcher Stabs Colleague To Death Over Disagreement On Market Sanitation In Ogun

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A 21-year-old butcher, identified as Selim Ayodele, has allegedly stabbed his 26-year-old colleague, Ibrahim Wasiu, to death following a disagreement over sweeping their workplace in Ogun State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, October 18, at a cow meat-selling outlet in the Alagbole area of the Akute/Ajuwon satellite towns in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

According to reports, trouble started after the day’s business activities when the two colleagues disagreed over the cleaning of their sales outlet, with the argument allegedly escalating into a fatal confrontation.

The Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta on Friday, disclosing that the suspect had been arrested.

Babaseyi said the incident was reported at the Ajuwon Police Divisional Headquarters on Sunday night, prompting police operatives to commence an investigation.

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He explained that preliminary findings indicated that the disagreement began after the two men had concluded their day’s work at the meat-selling outlet.

During the altercation, Ayodele allegedly picked up a knife and stabbed Wasiu in the left side of his chest before twisting the weapon.

The victim was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police spokesperson added that the suspect remained in custody as investigations continued ahead of his prosecution.

He further disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited in the morgue of a private hospital for an autopsy.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to prompt response to criminal incidents, thorough investigations and the prosecution of offenders in accordance with the law.

The police commissioner also urged residents to exercise restraint, resolve disagreements peacefully and promptly report criminal incidents to the appropriate authorities.

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Why Pete Edochie wept in Ghana

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Golfers converge in Enugu for maiden Pete Edochie Golf Tournament
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FRED IWENJORA reports that very brave Okonkwo of “Things Fall Apart”, Ebubedike, the Ononenyi of Nteje, Anambra State, and Ibobo Oyi na Omambala shed tears uncontrollably during this tour especially when students and pupils of Knutsford University used his name for different forms of recitations and poetry.

One may ask why Pete Edochie traveled to Ghana?

This visit was for the launching of the Pete Edochie Legacy project, themed “Celebrating the Africa legend; The lion that needs not to roar”.

It is “a cultural initiative created to honor and celebrate one of Africa’s most revered figures” according to the Ghanaian project organisers.

The Legacy project includes a biographical book, a documentary series and international tour with Ghana serving as the launch pad.

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The publishers, KPL publishers had noted that the contributions of the 79-year-old screen star to Africa cinema are very noteworthy.

At the end of it all, the star actor had, aside unveiling his autobiography in a gala event, paid courtesy calls to industry and policy makers in Ghana including the visit to Ghana’s Goldbod, the body regulating everything gold in Ghana. Organisers saw the visit as an important segment of the tour because a visit to Ghana may have been incomplete without seeing first hand the reason the country was called Gold Coast.

He had also met and greeted select fans and featured in a public lecture and colloquium in his honor before returning to Nigeria.

From when he landed at Kotoka International Airport Tuesday 29th September, 2026 till his departure from Ghana on Wednesday 7, October 2026, there was no dull moment.

Reception was top notch and indeed out of this world.

Ghanaians as well as Nigerians left businesses and trouped out to see “the president of African screen” according to Elizabeth Ama Tetteh, one of his numerous Ghanaian fans who noted that she had been resident in Enugu, Nigeria. It was indeed heartwarming to see Ghanaian as well as Igbo cultural groups on hand to welcome him to the old Gold Coast. Dispatch riders led his motorcade out of the airport.

On arrival, he first paid a courtesy visit to Eze Dr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Onyendu Ndi igbo, Ghana and sued for peace between Nigeria and Ghana. The respected Eze Ihenetu had organised a congregation of Igbo and Ghanaian leaders for a traditional cocktail reception.

According to the major propeller of the project Kelvin King Dawie of King Dawie Publishing Ltd (KPL) “When people ask why Pete Edochie, I tell them that no honor for Pete Edochie is too big. He has very much distinguished himself on the continent of Africa and beyond as a custodian of the cultural heritage of Africa and has been consistent in it for decades since mounting the stage at the tender age of 15. He is well known and received a lot of honors and awards globally including Nigeria’s national honor of merit; MON.

“We also looked at the way he has distinguished himself on stage and in communication which has warranted him receiving Honorary Doctorate in Literature and creative arts.

On this continent, Pete Edochie is one of a kind and he needs to be projected and celebrated as that icon of Africa who has held high the heritage of Africa for over six decades of his acting life.

King Dawie, an accountant, business strategist and social impact leader also hinted that “the project is in four phases, the autobiography, a 16-episode documentary to properly chronicle his life’s journey and then also the African youth mentorship initiative to help him pass on information to the next generation and an international tour. It took a lot of several efforts from several people too numerous to mention to set this ball rolling and hopefully achieving. We also remain very grateful to our star guest for accepting our proposal. ” However, there are major take-aways from these nine days Pete Edochie “Presidential visit” to Ghana.

Cultural diplomacy at its highest African peak

Years back, Africa viewers had voted Pete Edochie as their main choice in (AMVCA).

However, this Ghana visit is International cultural diplomacy at its highest African peak.

It seems first in history that a film star would make so much impression in another country that a book would be written and unveiled on him in that country.

It also reveals that Nigeria and Ghana have co-existed as West Africa’s beloved Anglophone countries despite hiccups occasioned by various ‘Ghana must go’ or ‘Nigeria must go’ agitations.

And to see both Nigerians and Ghanaians under one roof because of Pete Edochie, animosities may have been doused even if for a moment.

The unveiling of the autobiographical book; Titan of Africa, the story of Pete Edochie, published by KPL Publishers was a big attraction on its own and first of its kind for a Nigerian actor. The event which held at Kempiski Accra drew together distinguished Ghanaians with highlights including his meeting with Ghanaian legendary actress, broadcaster and musician Grace Omaboe, known to many as Maame Dokono. He also met with 102 years old Warrant Officer 1 and WW2 veteran, Pa Joseph Ashitey Hammond. Their tight hug meant that this meeting for the WW2 veteran was highly anticipated like the story of the nunc dimitis contained in the synoptics.

There are pointers to the huge respect that he commands in the so called Gold Coast and that Africa is so culturally connected in many ways.

Another take away from the tour was that the man Pete Edochie is very well blessed and his star never seems to dim as years roll by.

Despite that he is bound to the wheelchair and could barely walk or sits on the chair in his current films, fans continue to adore him from far and near. (Saturday Vanguard)

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Four Shot as NDC Convoy Attacked in Ebonyi, Campaign Vehicle Burnt

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Four people were reportedly shot when a convoy of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came under attack in Ebonyi State, with one of the campaign vehicles set ablaze.

The incident occurred during a campaign movement in the state, according to sources familiar with the development.

The identities and conditions of those injured were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.

The motive for the attack remained unclear, while the attackers had yet to be identified.

Security agencies were expected to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and burning of the campaign vehicle.

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Further details were awaited from the NDC, the Ebonyi State Government and the relevant security authorities.

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