The ongoing construction of the new Regional Government House in Eziachi, Orlu Local Government Area, is making steady progress, with major structural works now completed and final finishing touches currently underway.

This development marks a significant milestone in the execution of the strategic project, bringing it closer to commissioning and full operational readiness.

When completed, the Regional Government House is expected to enhance administrative efficiency, improve public service delivery, and support infrastructure development across the region. The project aligns with Governor Hope Uzodimma’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which prioritizes inclusive governance and sustainable development across all zones of Imo State.

A day meant for celebration turned tragic in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State as a groom and two of his friends lost their lives in a fatal accident just moments before his wedding ceremony.

The incident occurred on Saturday.

The deceased, SP Mustapha Garba Gumau, a senior police officer, was reportedly enroute from Gumau to Magaman-Gumau for his wedding fatiha scheduled for 10:00 am when the accident occurred around 9:00 am at Bargan Tsamiya village.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle carrying the groom and his friends veered off the road and crashed, killing him and two others — Shuaibu Umar and Sulaiman Musa — on the spot.

Several other occupants of the vehicle were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Ekwutosblog reports that the sudden loss has thrown the communities of Gumau and Magaman-Gumau into mourning, as what should have been a joyful union turned into a sorrowful occasion.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Bauchi Police Command , Mohammed Wakil, could not be reached as his line was unreachable.

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has discharged and acquitted former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, of alleged fraud involving N754.8 million.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, the appellate court upheld Akpobolokemi’s appeal and overturned the ruling of the Ikeja High Court, which had earlier dismissed his no-case submission.

The court quashed the 12-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The EFCC had initially accused Akpobolokemi of conspiracy, stealing, and forgery in connection with purported illegal transfers from the account of the VIMSAS Committee.

While he was initially arraigned alongside several others, the charges were later amended to focus solely on him and one co-defendant.

Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of the trial court had previously held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against the defendants and directed them to open their defence.

Akpobolokemi, through his counsel, Ogbonna and Kunle Gbolahan, challenged the ruling, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish any direct link between him and the alleged offences.

The appeal pointed to the reliance on inadmissible evidence and uncorroborated testimonies of prosecution witnesses, including PW9, PW10, and PW11, as well as Exhibits P59 to P61.

The appellate court found merit in the appeal, holding that Akpobolokemi was neither a member of the VIMSAS Committee nor a signatory to any of its accounts.

It also held that he did not authorize or sign any withdrawal instructions or internal memoranda related to the transactions in question.

The court emphasized that trial courts are bound to act only on legally admissible evidence and noted that the evidence relied upon in this case should have been excluded, regardless of whether objections were raised during trial.

By striking out the charges and entering an acquittal, the Court of Appeal brought the protracted legal proceedings against Akpobolokemi to a close.

During the trial, Akpobolokemi’s defence consistently argued that the EFCC had not substantiated its case, while the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the testimonies of 12 witnesses supported the charges.