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Alleged attempted murder: NUPENG not using police, court to settle union matter- President tells court
The National President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, on Wednesday, reiterated before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that the union was not using the police and court to settle union matters.
Akporeha made the assertion while being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Christopher Oshomegie SAN, in the ongoing trial of 21 former leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of NUPENG before Justice Yusuf Halilu, sitting at Maitama, Abuja.
The police dragged a one-time PTD National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, and 21 others before the court on a five-count charge bordering on attempted murder, breach of peace and assault in the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/042/2023.
The defendants are alleged to have, on November 1, 2023, attacked Akporeha, the union’s secretary-general, Olawale Afolabi, and the new PTD national chairman, Augustine Egbon, thus acting in a manner likely to cause their death, among other offences.
Other defendants included Dayyabu Garga, Humble Obinna, Akinolu Olabisi, Godwin Nwaka, Tiamiu Sikiru, Abdulmimin Shaibu, John Amajuoyi, Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku, Sunday Ezeocha and seven others.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed hearing in the case yesterday, while answering questions from Oshomegie, Akporeha told the court that NUPENG had about 150 branches, of which PTD was one, adding that there was no issue of one group against another in the union.
According to him, “It is not correct that one group is using the police and court against another to settle a union matter. I am the national president of the union (NUPENG); I oversee everybody.
“NUPENG is one body, and there are no groups. NUPENG has about 150 branches, of which PTD is one. The issue of one group against another does not arise.”
Akporeha, who is the second prosecution witness (PW2) in the case, informed the court that the union conducted PTD executive elections in June 2022 in Ibadan in which the first defendant, Lucky Osesua, Dayyabu Garga, and others emerged as winners, but the National Industrial Court, sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, nullified the elections.
He said the court ordered NUPENG to conduct another election for PTD, but some of the defendants still went to the National Industrial Court in Abuja, and the court also nullified the election.
“After the first election was nullified, the court directed that another election be conducted. This was conducted, but some of them (defendants) went to court, and the court also nullified the second election.
“After this, NUPENG conducted another election in Ibadan, while some people also conducted another illegal election in Abuja. It is NUPENG that is supposed to conduct the election. The one the court directed to be supervised by NUPENG was conducted in Ibadan,” he told the court.
He further told the court that most of those who conducted the illegal Abuja election did not show up in Ibadan for the election the court ordered NUPENG to supervise.
He admitted that the Lucky Osesua-led executives that emerged from the illegal election held in Abuja later filed a suit against the executives elected in Ibadan, adding that he was joined as a defendant in the suit.
Akporeha denied the suggestion by Oshomegie that he (the NUPENG President) came to install the person that won the Ibadan election on the day he and others were attacked at the PTD national secretariat at No. 50 Majekodunmi Street at Utako, Abuja, which also served as the NUPENG liaison office.
According to the witness, the winners of the election in Ibadan had been inaugurated thereafter, emerging victorious, adding that Osesua and other defendants were not supposed to occupy the PTD national secretariat as they were not the authentic PTD executives.
He informed the court that on the day of the attack on him and others, they met Osesua and other defendants at the premises’ gate and were stopped from driving into the premises, adding that he and others had to use the small gate to enter the premises where they were later attacked by the defendants.
The witness told the court that the defendants led a mob of youths armed with gallons of petrol and other weapons to attack the hotel he and others lodged in and destroyed doors, windows and others.
He added that he was talking with the new PTD National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, when he heard the door of his room being broken into and beaten to a pulp.
“I was not with Egbon, but I was on the phone with him when I heard the door to his room broken and he screamed. I also saw when he was being beaten and dragged from the fourth floor. He was beaten to a pulp,” Akporeha said.
He added that it took the intervention of the then acting Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Utako division to rescue him from his hotel room, and later arrested the defendants and took them to the police command.
Following the completion of his cross-examination by the defence counsel, Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned the case to November 10 for continuation of hearing.
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Bosso replaces Danjuma as Imo Police Command CP
The Imo State Police Command, Owerri, has a new Police Commissioner in the person of Audu Garba Bosso, who replaced Aboki Danjuma, the outgoing Police Commissioner. Danjuma was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and posted to Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Upon assumption of duty, CP Bosso called on sister security agencies, stakeholders, and all residents to collaborate with the police in tackling crime and social vices.
He stressed that community-based policing, intelligence-led operations, and a people-friendly approach will guide his administration, with strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights.
In a brief biography made available to journalists by the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, it was revealed that CP Bosso was born on December 31, 1967, in Bosso, Niger State.
He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on June 10, 1994, as a Cadet ASP, Course 18/1994.
Revealing his academic history, Okoye stated that CP Bosso holds an NCE in Geography/Biology, a B.Sc.Ed in Biology, and an M.Sc in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is also a member of the National Institute of Policing Studies (MNIPS).
In the course of his career, he has attended key professional courses, including PMF Mobile Training School, Citizenship and Leadership Course, Community Policing Course, TLCC, and SLCC, which have shaped his strategic and community-oriented policing philosophy.
The command’s spokesperson added that before his recent deployment to Imo State, CP Bosso served as DPO in over twenty-two divisions nationwide across Sokoto and Kwara State Commands, including Bale Gudu, Dange-Shuni, Wamako, and Kebbe Divisions in Sokoto State, as well as ‘B’ Division, Surulere, Ilorin, Kwara State Command, among others.
“He also held strategic appointments across several state commands, which include: CSP Administration, Kwara State Command; 2i/c Ilorin Metro Area Command, Kwara; 2i/c CID, Katsina State Command; AC Provost Marshal, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Area Commander, Saki, Oyo State Command; Area Commander, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State Command; ACP Administration, Enugu State Command; Area Commander, Iyekogba, Edo State Command; Director CPTU, Police Service Commission, Jos; Director Finance & Administration, POLAC Wudil, Kano State; DCP G.I FCID Annex, Gombe State; DCP Operations, Borno State Command; and CP G.I FCID Annex, Kaduna State, before his posting to Imo State,” Okoye stated.
The new Commissioner has called on all Imo residents to actively partner with the Police and other security agencies through timely information sharing and participation in community policing initiatives, assuring the public of his commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining peace, and fostering a people-friendly policing culture across the state.
News
After Bitten To De@th By Snake, Another Snake Reportedly Found Under Ambulance Carrying Nanyah’s Remains Back Home
A London-based teacher and culture ambassador, Uche Nworah, has shared a shocking incident that reportedly occurred while the remains of late singer Ifunanya Nwangene popularly known as Nanyah, were being transported to Enugu.
Nworah, who claims to have been Facebook friends with Ifunanya’s uncle for years, revealed details he says were shared directly by her uncle during a phone conversation.
Contrary to earlier reports circulating on social media, Nworah clarified that Ifunanya did not reside on the ground floor of her Abuja apartment but on the second floor.
This, he noted, raises questions about how snakes could have accessed her living space, as ground-floor access via drains or toilets would not apply.
According to Nworah, the ambulance carrying Ifunanya’s body broke down while en route to Enugu, in line with her father’s wishes.
The breakdown caused a delay as a replacement vehicle had to be called to continue the transport.
While waiting for the replacement ambulance, a snake was reportedly found under the broken-down vehicle.
Sharing the uncle’s account on Facebook, Nworah wrote:
“…Beyond social media claims, I received a call from Ifunanya’s uncle, who has been my Facebook friend for many years. During our conversation, he made disclosures that some may consider disturbing, while others may view them as mere coincidences.
He stated that contrary to widespread reports on social media, Ifunanya did not live on the ground floor of her residence but on the second floor. This raises questions about how snakes could have gained access to her apartment. Had she lived on the ground floor, one might argue that the snakes entered through drainage systems or toilets, but this explanation appears less straightforward given that she lived on the second floor.
He further recounted a strange incident that occurred while her body was being transported to Enugu State in an ambulance, in accordance with her father’s wishes. According to him, the ambulance conveying her remains broke down along the Abuja Expressway, necessitating calling for a replacement vehicle. During the wait he said, a snake was discovered beneath the broken-down ambulance and was subsequently killed.
While these incidents may be entirely unrelated and purely coincidental, they nonetheless raise questions and leave room for reflection.”
The revelation has sparked discussion online, with many questioning the unusual events surrounding the singer’s death.
See below;


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FMINO PRESS RELEASE: CAC AT 35 YEARS HAS BECOME A PILLAR OF NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC CREDIBILITY – INFORMATION MINISTER
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, institutional reform, and ease of doing business, describing effective inter-agency collaboration as critical to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister made this known while receiving the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, who led the delegation of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Ministry ahead of the Commission’s 35th anniversary celebration (CAC@35).
Idris commended the Corporate Affairs Commission for what he described as remarkable institutional reforms that have repositioned the Commission as “a key driver of Nigeria’s business environment and economic credibility.” He noted that CAC’s transformation, particularly through technology and digitisation, aligns strongly with the Federal Government’s broader reform agenda.
The Minister praised CAC’s role in improving the ease of doing business, strengthening corporate governance, and enhancing investor confidence, stressing that such reforms are vital to national development. He also acknowledged the Commission’s contribution to Nigeria’s recent delisting from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, describing it as a major milestone that reflects growing global confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory and transparency frameworks.
According to him, the progress recorded under the Tinubu administration, including rising foreign reserves, easing inflation, improved investor confidence, and economic stabilisation, cannot be fully told without recognising the role of reform-driven institutions such as the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The Minister further encouraged CAC to intensify public engagement and advocacy to ensure Nigerians are fully informed about the Commission’s innovations, services, and achievements. He assured the Commission of the Ministry’s support in amplifying its reforms and programmes through strategic communication and public enlightenment.
Earlier, the Registrar-General of CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, said the courtesy visit was to formally invite the Honourable Minister to the Commission’s 35th anniversary celebration and to present a scorecard of reforms achieved under the current administration.
He explained that CAC has transitioned from a largely manual, location-bound registry to a fully digital, technology-driven institution, with services now accessible in real time from anywhere in the country. He disclosed that the Commission has expanded its digital offerings from 33 services to over 100 online services, deployed artificial intelligence for business name reservation and registration, and introduced Application Programming Interface (API) services to support banks, embassies, security agencies, and other institutions.
The Registrar-General highlighted the operationalisation of the Beneficial Ownership Register, noting that it has strengthened transparency, boosted investor confidence, and positioned Nigeria as a global reference point for corporate disclosure. He added that CAC’s reforms have helped bring over four million informal businesses into the tax net, improved security by registering POS operators, and supported small and medium-scale enterprises through free business registrations in partnership with relevant agencies.
He also announced the Commission’s upcoming partnership with Google to further strengthen its digital infrastructure and service delivery, as well as the launch of an AI-powered public support platform to guide users on corporate and regulatory matters.
He thanked the Honourable Minister for the warm reception and support, and formally invited him to the CAC@35 anniversary celebration scheduled for February 9, 2026.
The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of Information and National Orientation, Mr Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Director National Archives, Dr. Evelyn Odigboh, Director Public Relations and Protocol, Dr. Haruna Suleiman, and the Special Assistant, Administration to the Honourable Minister, Dr. Sunday Baba, fnipr.
Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
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