THE Delta State Police Command has said that it has arrested one Mr Nicholas Charles for stabbing a family friend to death in Asaba, the state capital, over a disagreement.   State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abaniwonda Olufeme disclosed this while parading suspects of various crimes at the state Police headquarters, Asaba. He said the deceased, one Ngozi William, had visited the suspect and his wife at their residence when she met her untimely death. Olufemi said: “On April 5, 2024, about 2300 hours, one Ngozi William went to visit a family friend, one Mr. Nicholas Charles, and his wife at 10, Adizue Onochei Street, Asaba. “While the said Ngozi was in the apartment, a disagreement ensued between herself and the said Nicholas, which took them to the kitchen. “During the course of the disagreement, the suspect, Mr. Nicholas, picked a knife on the fridge and stabbed the victim, which led to her death. Suspect is in custody and investigation is ongoing. “Due to the rate of kidnapping in Ughelli and environs, I detailed a special team to work in synergy with the newly posted DPO in Ughelli Police Division with a clear mandate to fish out the faceless kidnappers, and ensure that they are all brought to book. “Consequently, on 8/4/2024, the operatives on the special assignment working on credible intelligence stormed one of the hotels in Udu LGA and arrested a notorious kidnapper.   “Upon his arrest, suspect gave useful information that led to the recovery of one pump action gun loaded with four live cartridges, one Beretta pistol and three rounds of 9mm ammunition.”

  The Nigerian Navy is currently holding three of its personnel and a civilian in close custody while investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Ifeanyi Richard Onumaegbu, a civilian staff member at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital in Navy Town, Ojo Lagos. In a statement released on Thursday by Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Nigerian Navy expressed deep sadness over Mr. Onumaegbu’s demise and the events leading up to it. According to the statement, Mr. Onumaegbu, a longstanding employee of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, was discovered deceased in his office after an altercation with individuals had taken place. The statement emphasized Mr. Onumaegbu’s integral role within the Navy family, having served diligently since 2009 in the Laboratory Department. The statement further revealed that on March 31, 2024, Mr. Onumaegbu was found lifeless in his office, following an altercation four days earlier with a civilian woman and some Navy personnel at Navy Town barracks.   Consequently, all individuals suspected to be involved in the altercation were identified and are currently in custody. The Nigerian Navy has facilitated the transfer of Mr. Onumaegbu’s body to a reputable government hospital in Lagos for autopsy, as requested by his family. They assured both the family and the public that every necessary step is being taken to determine the cause of death, with a commitment to prosecuting anyone found responsible according to the law.

  Gunmen kidnapped a journalist and reporter with Channels Television, Mr Joshua Rogers, at his residence in Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday night. Rogers, who covers the Rivers State Government House for his organisation, was reportedly trailed after he closed from work to his residence. The miscreants accosted him before he alighted from his car, pointed a gun at him and whisked him along with his vehicle off to an unknown destination at about 9 pm. A source who said he doesn’t want his name mentioned said the reporter had earlier covered an event in Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state where Governor Siminalayi Fubara, inaugurated a Primary Healthcare Centre. The facility was built and donated to the state by the PAMO Educational Foundation, founded by former Rivers governor, Dr Peter Odili, on Thursday. The source said, “Yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by some unknown gunmen. “We are appealing to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unhurt. He is just a journalist doing his job and not a money bag. So I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.” It was also gathered that the hoodlums had contacted his wife and demanded N30m as ransom before releasing him. Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, for confirmation, were unsuccessful as she did not pick up several calls put across to her by PUNCH Online. Iringe-Koko has also yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of publication on Friday morning.

  A high court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has granted bail to Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the sum of N50 million. Rahmon Oshodi, the judge, in his ruling on the bail application on Friday, admitted Emefiele on bail with two sureties in like sum. The former CBN governor is facing trial in Lagos on a 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office. More to follow…

  Mali’s ruling military junta on Thursday banned media coverage of political parties a day after suspending their activities, marking the latest crackdown on dissent in the West African nation. Opposition voices have been largely stifled since the colonels seized power in a 2020 coup, overthrowing civilian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Mali’s high authority for communication issued a statement Thursday calling on “all media (radio, television, written press and online) to halt broadcast and publication of the activities of political parties and the activities of a political nature of associations”. It did not indicate what would happen to media organisations that did not observe the ban. The move comes after authorities on Wednesday ordered the indefinite suspension of all political activities, saying it was needed to maintain public order. Government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga blamed the suspension of party activities on the “sterile discussions” during an attempt at national dialogue earlier this year. “Subversive acts by political parties are multiplying,” a decree read out to reporters by Maiga said. He added that the fight against armed jihadist and Tuareg separatist groups could not be reconciled by “sterile political debates”. The latest crackdown has prompted numerous comments on social media but there has so far been little reaction from parties or leading figures, already largely silenced. Moussa Mara, who was prime minister from 2014 until 2015, urged authorities to reverse the decision, calling it a “major step backwards” that “does not promise a peaceful future”. The president of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM) party, Housseini Amion Guindo, called for “civil disobedience until the fall of the illegal and illegitimate regime… due in particular to its inability to satisfy the essential needs of Malians”. Under pressure from regional bloc ECOWAS, the junta had promised to hold elections and hand power back to civilians by March 26, 2024, but no vote was organised. The United Nations voiced alarm Thursday at the junta’s move to suspend political activities. “We are deeply concerned by the decree suspending the activities of political parties and other civic associations,” the UN rights office said on X, formerly Twitter, insisting that “it must be immediately repealed”. ‘Return to the barracks’ Since August 2020, Mali’s opposition has been largely muzzled by legal woes, the dissolution of organisations, restrictions on press freedom and calls for national unity. But in a rare joint statement on March 31, a number of political parties and civil groups decried the “legal and institutional vacuum” left by the failure to hand back power to civilians on March 26. They called for a “rapid and inclusive dialogue” to ensure that the presidential election is held “as soon as possible”. In a separate statement on the same day, a group of human rights organisations said that Mali had “reached an impasse” and that it was time for the military “to return to the barracks”. Since seizing power in 2020, the junta has ended several international alliances, including with the European Union and former colonial power France, and instead fostered closer ties with Russia. The military government last year ordered the withdrawal of the UN stabilisation mission MINUSMA, and in January ended a 2015 peace agreement with separatist groups in the north. The worsening security situation in Mali has also been compounded by a humanitarian and political crisis. Neighbouring Sahel states Burkina Faso and Niger also underwent military coups in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The three countries have all pledged to leave ECOWAS in favour of their own Sahel alliance.

  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says financial institutions lost a sum of $12 billion to cyberattacks in the past 20 years. IMF disclosed this in a report titled ‘Global Financial Stability Report, April 2024’. The Bretton Wood institution disclosed this in one of the report’s chapters on April 9 and plans to publish the remaining report on April 16. According to the IMF, the loss recorded by financial institutions since 2020 stood at $2.5 billion. IMF said the financial sector is extremely exposed to cyber risk, adding that about one-fifth of the recorded cyber incidents in the past two decades have affected the financial industry, “with banks being the most frequent targets followed by insurers and asset managers”. “Financial firms have reported significant direct losses, totaling almost $12 billion since 2004 and $2.5 billion since 2020,” IMF said. “Financial institutions in advanced economies, particularly in the United States, have been more exposed to cyber incidents than firms in emerging market and developing economies. “JP Morgan Chase, for example, the largest US bank, recently reported experiencing 45 billion cyber events per day while spending $15 billion every year and employing 62,000 technologists, many focused on cybersecurity.” Cyber incidents, IMF said, are key operational risks that could threaten the operational resilience of financial institutions and hurt overall macroeconomic stability. “A cyber incident at a financial institution or at a country’s critical infrastructure could generate macrofinancial stability risks through three key channels: loss of confidence, lack of substitutes for the services rendered, and interconnectedness (Adelmann and others 2020),” IMF said. “While cyber incidents thus far have not been systemic, ongoing rapid digital transformation and technological innovation (such as artificial intelligence) and heightened global geopolitical tensions exacerbate the risk.” IMF said direct losses from cyber incidents reported by firms have thus far been generally modest but could become very large. “Based on available data, the median reported direct loss to a firm from all cyber incidents has been about $0.4 million, and three-fourths of the reported losses are below $2.8 million,” the Bretton Wood institution said. “Although losses from malicious incidents have been more than five times as large as those from nonmalicious incidents, at around $0.5 million, the magnitude of losses in absolute terms has been generally modest as well. “For example, most cyber extortions, such as ransomware attacks, or malicious data breaches have resulted in losses of up to $12 million.” IMF said the distribution is, however, heavily skewed, with some occurrences imposing losses of hundreds of millions of US dollars.

  On Wednesday, the Nollywood luminous industry dimmed a shade darker with the heartbreaking news of the death of Junior Pope, born Pope Odonwodo. The industry mourned the charismatic talent who could ignite a scene with his mere presence. More than just an actor, Pope was a father, a husband, and a filmmaker who poured his heart into every role he played. Pope died alongside three crew members after their boat capsized in the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state on their way to a movie location. Initially, a glimmer of hope flickered when the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) reported signs of life. However, the hope was tragically extinguished hours later after the guild confirmed Pope’s passing, stating that efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Shortly before the boat mishap, Pope, who appeared scared of the river, shared a video of himself offering prayers for a safe journey while heading to the movie location. “See me lamenting….The risk we take to entertain you; crossing river 9ja yesterday with no life jacket…. Na wahooooo Who does that ??” the actor captioned the Instagram post.   Pope showcased remarkable versatility, captivating audiences in diverse roles BACKGROUND Born on May 7, 1984, in Bamenda, Cameroon to a Nigerian father (Luke Odonwodo) who is from the Ukehe tribe in Enugu state and a Cameroonian mother, Pope spent his early years in the Central African country, where he completed his primary and secondary education before relocating to Nigeria. Pope discovered his passion for acting while studying accounting at the University of Nigeria (Nsukka). His breakout role came in 2007 with Tchidi Chikere’s film, ‘Secret Adventures’. Whether he took the roles of a bodyguard, kidnap kingpin, palace attendant, or servant, Pope showcased remarkable versatility, captivating audiences in diverse roles. From the complexities of dramas like ‘Bitter Generation’ to the comedic brilliance displayed in sitcoms like ‘Professor Johnbull’, the actor was super talented. The film star’s multicultural upbringing was a key aspect of his identity which contributed to shaping his perspective as an actor and public figure. FAMILY MAN Beyond the dazzling lights and roaring applause, Pope’s heart belonged to his family. “In All I Give Glory To God, Indeed God Is Merciful….. God Is The Greatest, And Family Is Everything,” he wrote on Instagram in April 2021 alongside a family photo. Pope and his family Pope cherished his role as a devoted husband to Jennifer Awele, his wife, and a doting father to their three children. Their love story, beginning with a chance connection on Facebook, blossomed into a beautiful wedding ceremony in 2014. Pope was never shy about wearing his heart on his sleeve, showering his family with affection on social media. Even in the face of his last moments aboard the ill-fated boat, a raw desperation echoed in his final video. In Pidgin English, he cried out, “Abeg na only me dem born. I get three children, na me go raise them”. This was not just a plea for survival; he desperately wanted to fulfil his most “cherished role”; raising his children. Throughout their marital journey, Pope often spoke highly of Jennifer Awele, who he described as his “peace”. In a 2023 interview, the actor recalled some of the challenges he faced when he newly got married to his wife. He also prayed to “run mad” the day he laid his hands on Jennifer. “Back then it seemed like it wasn’t working, it was not easy at all. I have not mentioned it before but to the glory of God, today let me share this,” he said. “After I got married, the first year was not rosy; I collected my wife’s gold jewellery and used it to borrow money from aboki. So, I give Him the glory for giving me a patient wife. Why would I want to touch a woman like this? God forbid. One thing I told myself and God is that the day I lay my hands on my wife, let me run mad. Instead, I walk away.” In June 2023, they celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary after which he unveiled their multi-millionaira mansion on social media. Pope often praised his wife, whom he described as his “peace” RECOGNITION AND LEGACY In 2010, he won the ‘Nollywood Most Promising Actor’ award at the Entertainment Factory Awards. His influence transcended the Asaba film industry. He became a recognisable face in Nollywood, particularly known for his work in action comedies and crime thrillers where his charisma and talent shone brightly. Though his time on this earth was cut short, Pope leaves behind a legacy that transcends the silver screen. His impact on Nollywood, marked by his talent, professionalism, and warmth, will continue to resonate for years to come.

  Ukraine inaugurated an embassy in Ivory Coast on Thursday, a day after opening an embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo as Kyiv seeks a greater presence in Africa to counter Moscow’s influence. “A brilliant new page is being written in the new history of relations between Ukraine-Africa and Ukraine-Ivory Coast”, deputy foreign minister Maksym Subkh said, according to a translation of his Ukrainian speech into French. The new embassies were the result of “the instructions of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to spread Ukraine’s diplomatic presence in Africa”, he added. Subkh opened Kyiv’s embassy in Kinshasa on Wednesday amid plans to open several more representations in Africa to bolster support, DR Congo’s foreign ministry told AFP. He is due to visit Ghana, Mozambique, Botswana and Rwanda to inaugurate embassies in the coming weeks, a representative of the new embassy in Abidjan told AFP. “This war can seem very far away. But the catastrophic increase in food prices has already impacted the lives of millions of African families,” Subkh said at the opening in the diplomatic quarter of Ivory Coast’s economic capital. The deputy minister also thanked Ivory Coast for its “support … for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, particularly by voting in favour of key resolutions at the United Nations on the full-scale Russian invasion” from February 2022. AFP

  The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the Federal Government is still paying subsidy on electricity despite the recent hike in tariff paid by Band A customers said to be about 1.5 million of the total 12 million consumers in the sector. The minister, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, said the government has about N1.8trn to pay in electricity subsidy for 2024. Adelabu insisted that the Electricity Act, 2023 made provisions for the review of tariff twice a year. Contrary to claim by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, that the increase in tariff paid by Band A consumers was illegal, Adelabu said, “Review of tariff is actually legal once it is within the exclusive responsibility of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The Act actually provides for review twice in a year, every six months.” On claims in some quarters that the Federal Government had removed subsidy on electricity in 2022, Adelabu cited rising dollar, soaring gas price, the cost of power plant, transmission and distribution infrastructure, amongst others in the last two years. “If we have been paying the tariff at the same level in the last two years, it logically means that someone has been paying the burden of all these increases,” he stated. “As it is today, looking at a total production, transmission and distribution cost, the Nigerian Government is bearing 67% percent of that cost before the increase in tariff for Band A customers. But when you look at generation cost, the Nigerian Government is paying 90% but in terms of total subsidy, it is about 67% of subsidy on the tariff. “Last year, it was about N720bn which was not fully funded, we have about N305bn carried into this year. If we retain tariff at the current level, the Nigerian Government will be needing about N2.9trn to subsidise electricity but with the increase for Band A customers, we are going to have a reduction of about N1.1trn. So, we are looking at about N1.8trn in subsidy,” he further explained. On April 3, 2024, NERC raised electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20 hours power supply daily. Customers in this category are said to be under the Band A classification. The increase will see the customers paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66, a development that has been heavily criticised by many Nigerians, considering the immediacy of the tariff hike and the current hardship in the land. However, Adelabu said, “The fact that the tariff for Band A, which is 15% of the total consumers will increase by over 200%, does not necessarily translate into 200% increase in their electricity bill if power is properly managed in terms of consumption.” The minister assured Band A customers of value for their money. He also assured Nigerians that consumers on other bands won’t be shortchanged by distribution companies as the regulators won’t hesitate to wield their big stick on any of such discos. He also said the government has shifted its attention on discos inefficiently ran and won’t hold back in taking the appropriate steps in the interest of consumers. ‘Naira Gains’ll Force Down Tariff’ Adelabu said by cutting down the inefficiencies of some operators in the sector, couple with the gains by the naira against the dollar in the last few weeks, tariff paid by Nigerians should moderate positively. “The tariff is flexible and I can tell you that even if naira gains more and the exchange rate comes down below N1,000, it must positively affect the tariff and the tariff even for the Band A will come to down below the N225 kilowatt per hour that we are currently charging,” he said. The minister further said the government has been working on ramping up power generation from about 4,000 megawatts to 6,000 megawatts in the next six months. He said 25% of Nigeria’s power generation is from hydroelectric power while the remaining 75% is from gas plants. The minister said “the gas that is supposed to be the raw material has not been coming in adequate proportion” but the government has been working with electricity generation companies to ramp up power generated for the benefit of Nigerians. He said the President Bola Tinubu administration plans to decentralise power generation across states of the federation and strengthen transmission and distribution of the energy to power Nigeria’s industrial transformation.

  The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians for saying that they keep freezers on for days due to low electricity tariff. “Anything we have said that are considered offensive, we are sorry about that,” Adelabu said with slight remorse on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday. The minister had come under fire by many Nigerians in the last one week for his comment which was considered offensive. Adelabu had told journalists in Abuja on April 4, 2024 that Nigerians lack the culture of electricity consumption management because of “cheap” power supply. He had made the statement after the government announced tariff increase for Band A consumers. The minister’s comment generated outrage with some persons calling for his removal. However, Adelabu, on Thursday, expressed regret over his comment, saying it “was never intended to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians in anyway”. “It was an innocent advice with regards to energy consumption management which we believe will go a long way in reducing people’s energy bills. And that advice was directed at those that we believe that because of the recent increase in tariff will start enjoying 20 hours of power per day,” he said. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had on April 3, 2024 raised electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20 hours power supply daily. Customers in this category are said to be under the Band A classification. The increase will see the customers paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66, a development that has been heavily criticised by many Nigerians, considering the immediacy of the tariff hike and the current hardship in the land. The minister subsequently said the new electricity tariff hike would only affect only 1.5 million of the about 12 million consumers in the sector.