EVENTS

Experts call for collective action against GBV in Ogun

Published

2 weeks ago

June 27, 2025

Experts in Ogun State have called for urgent action to curb the state’s persistent increase in Gender-Based Violence, GBV, and other forms of abuse.

They made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement on GBV, Standard Operating Procedures, Case Management, and Legislative Framework Workshop organized by the Gender Unit of the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, OGSTEP, and the Ministry of Women Affairs.

The engagement, held on Thursday at the OGSTEP conference room, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, brought together 86 media professionals, online content creators, civil society groups, and government agencies to strengthen ethical reporting on Gender-Based Violence, GBV.

Speaking at the engagement, OGSTEP’s Gender Specialist, Mrs. Ewajesu Fasina, lamented that the state had the highest number of GBV cases and insisted that everyone involved, particularly the media, must raise the alarm on the danger posed by the menace.

Fasina stated that according to a report from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development, 28% of Nigerian women aged 25–29 have experienced some form of physical violence at the age of 15, while 1 in 10 boys experiences sexual abuse.

She stressed the importance of the media in influencing public opinion on GBV and urged journalists to prioritize the dignity and safety of survivors in their reporting, warning against narratives that could cause further harm.

Fasina said, “Journalists have the power to overturn court cases with the power of the pen or the power of the keyboard.

“Journalists have the opportunity to cover all angles, the health, the security, the legal aspects of every story and that’s why we’ve taken out our time to say, in this war against gender-based violence, without media, without journalists, we cannot win it. Only this group of people have the better and eagle’s eye view.”

Also, a legal expert and State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Barrister Adedamola Lapite, maintained that asking for consent and maintaining confidentiality would help to prevent trauma for the survivors.

He guided participants through the legal framework for gender-based violence response and reporting, urging media practitioners to report responsibly and increase public awareness about the harmful impact of such issues on society.

“What we have done here today is basically talk to us on the things required in reporting gender-based violence cases. We must talk about the need for confidentiality, for consent, so as to avoid traumatizing survivors when we’re reporting them,” Lapite said.

The OGSTEP Project Coordinator, Mosunmola Owo-Odusi, stated that as part of their program intervention, they have renovated four Sexual Assault Referral Centres throughout the state and outfitted two of them with empowerment centres to ensure that survivors have a safe place to go.

EVENTS

Ex-House of Reps member dragged to court for beating man who demanded accountability

Published

1 day ago

July 9, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A business man, Mr Chinedu Anaukwu, has dragged a former member of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Chinedu Obidigwe, to court for beating him up for demanding accountability for his performance as lawmaker.

Obidigwe who represented Anambra East/West Federal Constituency, was said to have carried out the act in 2023, shortly before the general election.

According to the victim: “It was in 2023, just before the general election, I had written in Aguleri World Forum, a WhatsApp group, demanding accountability from Obidigwe who was then recontesting to return to the House of Representatives.

“I told him it had been over three years that he had been in the National Assembly, and that before aspiring for re-election, he should give us account of his constituency funds and other achievements in the area.

“His boys were not happy about it, and one day he accosted me with over 13 thugs and ordered them to kill me. They beat me until I lost consciousness.”

When the matter came up on Tuesday at Otuocha High Court, Anambra East Local Government Area, counsel to Anaukwu, Chief Gozie Obi, SAN, withdrew the charges against the second and fifth defendants in the matter, who were identified as aides of Obidigwe who participated in the assault.

While the second defendant is said to be already late, the fifth was said not to have been served with the processes.

Obi who spoke to journalists, said: “Today is the first time the matter is coming up in court for pretrial hearing and in the course of the proceeding it came to light that the second defendant is late and since you can’t sue a dead person, we had to withdraw against him.

“Also, the fifth defendant was not served, but we wanted the case to progress, so we had to withdraw against him too, moreso when we know that the principal defendant is Obidigwe as all the others were just his aides, and acted under his instruction.”

During the sitting, the principal defendant, Obidigwe, was represented by his lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Offoh.

The matter was later adjourned to November 18 for continuation pretrial before full hearing.

The plaintiff, Anaukwu, in his prayers, is asking for N200 million compensation for his ordeal, as well as the conviction of the former Rep.

EVENTS

BREAKING: Police take over PDP Secretariat in Abuja

Published

1 week ago

June 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

As tension continues to mount over the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, which is expected to hold on Monday, armed policemen have taken over its secretariat.

According to an official of the party who spoke to newsmen, the police were deployed to stop the proposed NEC Expanded Caucus Meeting.

Though some staff members of the party were initially allowed to go into the premises of the secretariat without any resistance from the police, they were later sent out.

At the time of filing this report, journalists were also asked to leave the premises of the secretariat, while some policemen were seen cordoning off Dalaba Street, which is the road leading to Wadata Plaza.

Details shortly…

EVENTS

Police arrest suspected cultist during meeting, recover firearm in Ogun

Published

2 weeks ago

June 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Ogun State Police Command, have arrested a suspected member of the Eiye Confraternity, Ismail Afolabi, at Saje Area of Car Wash, Abeokuta.

The suspect was arrested following credible intelligence received by the police that members of the Eiye Confraternity were holding a secret meeting with the intention to carry out criminal activities.

The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirming the arrest to DAILY POST on Sunday, said the suspect was apprehended while attempting to flee.

Odutola stated that he was found in possession of a cross bag containing a loaded cut-to-size double-barrel shotgun and live ammunition.

She said, “On Friday, June 27, 2025, at about 05:30 pm , the Ogun State Police Command received credible intelligence that members of the Eiye Confraternity were holding a clandestine meeting with suspected criminal intent at the Saje Area of Car Wash, Abeokuta.

“Operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit swiftly mobilized to the scene. On arrival, one suspect, Ismail Afolabi ‘m’, was found in possession of a cross-body bag containing a cut-to-size double-barrel shotgun loaded with live ammunition.”

The spokesperson noted that preliminary investigations have commenced, and efforts are ongoing to track down other accomplices.

The Command restated its commitment to eradicating cult-related violence and maintaining peace and order in the state.