A High Court sitting in Ohaukwu, Ebonyi State, on Friday, admitted on bail, the detained Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Timothy Ngwuta. Ngwuta was arrested by police on December 11, 2021, arraigned and imprisoned for alleged promotion of the protracted Effium-Ezza Effium communal clash. The priest, who was detained for twelve days and released on bail as a result of ill health arising from his alleged torture by security agents, was thereafter rearrested on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, and arraigned on March 11, 202, for alleged kidnapping and murder and remanded at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre, up till the time of filing this report. Ngwuta’s detention generated reactions from different quarters, including the Catholic church. The church condemned his detention, saying, he was a prisoner of conscience, even as it alleged that the State Government signed an Executive Order directing the courts in the state not to hear any matter linked to the Effium crisis. However, the State Government through the Attorney-General, Cletus Ofoke, debunked that there was such an Executive Order. On Friday, Rev. Fr. Ngwuta, was eventually admitted on bail by the Court following an application for his bail filed by his lawyers. The matter was, thereafter, adjourned sine die since the Office of the Attorney-General of the State and the Department of Public Prosecution neither filed any information nor opposed the bail application.

  An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Friday dismissed a no-case submission by Victor Aduba, charged along with kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aduba, an ex-soldier and Evans are charged with kidnapping a businessman, Mr Sylvanus Ahamonu, and collecting a $420,000 ransom from his family. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ruled that prosecution established a prima facie case against Aduba, adding that his no-case submission dated Feb. 23 failed. “I have carefully considered the submissions of the prosecution and the defence. “The court, at this stage, is not to review evidence of the prosecution but to see whether the prosecution has enough evidence before the court to warrant the defendant to defend himself. “Evidence of the prosecution shows that it has sufficiently proven a prima facie case against the defendant and the defendant has a case to answer. “I hereby dismiss the application of the defence, and order that the defendant should open his defence,” Taiwo ruled. Defence counsel, Mr Emmanuel Ochai, had argued that prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant. He, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the charge against his client. Prosecution counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, had, however, asked the court to determine whether the evidence adduced sufficiently linked the defendant to the alleged offences. NAN reports that Evans had on Feb. 4 opened his defence and denied kidnapping Ahamonu and collecting $420,000 ransom from his family. NAN also reports that the judge expressed dissatisfaction at the absence of the defendants on March 28 which stalled their the trial. The judge adjourned the case until June 15 for Aduba to open defence. Evans is facing four kidnapping charges at various high courts of Lagos State. Justice Hakeem Oshodi on Feb. 25, sentenced him and two other to life imprisonment for kidnapping Mr Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NAN)

  The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Thursday, called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to release the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and all Igbo youths in detention over the agitation for Biafra. Ohanaeze President General, Ambassador George Obiozor, made the call in his opening address at the ongoing Imeobi of Ohanaeze meeting currently holding at the Ohanaeze National Secretariat in Enugu. While expressing optimism that the Igbo nation would come out stronger from the current turmoil, Obiozor said that Ndigbo seeks healing, national unity, and progress on a platform of justice, equity, fairness and a sense of belonging in Nigeria which will start from the release of Igbo youths detained in various cells across the country without trial. Reacting to the current security situation pervading the region, Ohanaeze PG said that each geo-political zone had its own peculiarity. According to him, “The advent of insecurity in the South East is both bizarre and dramatic. The South East had been adjudged the most serene and peaceful zone in Nigeria until April 5, 2021, when gunmen attacked the correctional facility in Owerri, Imo State and freed a total of 1,844 prison inmates. “Since the April 5 episode, insecurity in the South East has attained an unprecedented unbearable crescendo. In condemning the spate of violence in the South East, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide also called attention to the strategic capacity of the local non-state actors to overwhelm a highly fortified correction centre and discharge a total of 1,844 inmates without any arrest.” Commenting on the 2023 general election, Obiozor urged Igbos wherever they reside in Nigeria to make haste to acquire their Permanent Voter Cards. “In this connection, I call on the Association of South East Town Unions, traditional rulers, the leadership of Ndigbo in Diaspora, religious bodies, market associations and all other groups to take this message very seriously. It is a task that must be undertaken,” he stated. South-East leaders at the meeting include Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Sen. Chris Anyanwu, Chief Enwo Igariwey, Sen. Victor Umeh, Prof. Peter Umeadi and Prof Fred Eze among others. A communique is expected at the meeting.

  The Federal Government says it has completed repair of the damaged track on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line. Engr. Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), disclosed this in a statement on Thursday In the statement, which Engr. Niyi Ali signed on his behalf, the NRC Managing Director said, “The connection of the AKTS line has been achieved. This implies that the major track components (Concrete Sleepers and Rails) have been completely laid. The south end of the tracks (which was destroyed by the explosion) has been successfully joined with the north end. Track access between Abuja and Kaduna is now restored. “The Technical Team continue with other track stablization works including Ballasting, Temping, Fastening of accessories (clips, bolts and nuts) and Welding.” He further stated that “loco 2502 which was involved in the accident (though not damaged) and trapped at the Rigasa end due to lack of route access has now crossed to the Idu end and taken to the Workshop for proper examination and routine maintenance.” He said “the Abuja – Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) will resume soon with additional security measures put in place.” He also said when the trains resume, “passengers will be required to provide their NIN registration for verification prior to purchasing train tickets. This is for improved Passenger profiling and safety on-board. Most of the victims abducted during the incident of March 28, 2022, are still in captivity. The terrorists had killed at least nine persons and abducted over 60 of the passengers, including children and elderly persons.

  The main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday, described former President Umaru Yar’Adua as a beloved leader and exceptionally courageous and humble statesman who gave his all and died in the service of his fatherland. In a statement signed late Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it “remembers with nostalgia the late President Umaru Yar’Adua (President of Nigeria, 2007-2010) who gave his all and died in the service of his fatherland. “Late President Yar’Adua was a beloved leader and exceptionally courageous, humble, honest, forthright and dependable statesman, whose legacies in stabilising our nation, particularly in instilling the Rule of Law, equity and peaceful co-existence in line with the manifesto of the PDP remain unparalleled. “He was an unrelenting advocate of the Rule of Law, who dignified the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by promptly executing Orders of Court in line with his Oath of Office, even when such Orders were not favourable to his interest or that of his Party.” It further described the late president as a detribalised Nigerian, an angel of peace who manifestly loved Nigerians without regard to ethnic, religious, class or political considerations and placed the peace, unity and wellbeing of the people above every other interest. In the statement titled ‘PDP extols late President Yar’Adua’s legacies,’ the party added that, “Despite his personal challenges, President Yar’Adua stood firm in the defence of truth, justice, fairness and laid a solid foundation for electoral reforms and credible elections in Nigeria. “His avowed commitment to the unity and peaceful co-existence of our nation is legendry through his Amnesty Programme, which brought relative peace to the then restive Niger Delta region of the country and set the nation on the path of social and economic sustainability. “Indeed, our nation will continue to miss late President Yar’Adua as a leader with a heart for the people as envisioned by our founding fathers. The PDP, in remembering late President Yar’Adua, urges Nigerians to insist on the Rule of Law and credible elections in our country by actively participating in the ongoing electoral process and voting en masse in the 2023 general election to rescue Nigeria from misrule.” The main opposition, therefore, saluted the widow of the late President and the entire Yar’Adua family for their courage and steadfastness in upholding the virtues, values and legacies of the departed President.