Columns

Ikenga Ugochinyere begs Tinubu to discontinue Kanu’s trial

Published

1 year ago

March 19, 2024

Ikenga Ugochinyere

Some South East members of the House of Representatives, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, have called on President Bola Tinubu to invoke the relevant sections of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

They also noted that the dismissal of Kanu’s bail application was another major setback for the healing process and return of peace in the region.

Justice Binta Nyako had on Tuesday rejected Kanu’s bail request, and granted an accelerated hearing on the matter.

Speaking on behalf of other South East lawmakers who were in court, Ugochinyere stated that granting Kanu bail would have provided an opportunity to open doors for discussion to bring about peace in the South East.

Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato South and North in the House of Representatives, however, appealed to the president to extend the same gesture as he did to Sunday Igboho as well as Omoyele Sowore.

He said, “We received the news of the rejection of the bail with sadness, and we just lost an opportunity to commence the process of healing in our land.

“That bail application, if granted, would have brought an opportunity to open doors for discussion to bring about peace in the South East.

“Just a few weeks back, the Federal Government discontinued the criminal charge filed against Omoyele Sowore. I’m also aware that the Federal Government has allowed Sunday Igboho back home.

“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu not to allow this moment pass him by. What the President should do and the Attorney-General in particular, is to invoke the power invested on him under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to discontinue the matter. The case can be discontinued in the interest of the public and justice.

“It is also painful for us that this bail application was rejected and we hope that President Tinubu will do the needful by discontinuing the matter.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ejected the bail application by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, however, granted an accelerated hearing instead.

Columns

Prove allegations against Akpabio or face consequences – NEYGA tells Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has been informed that she must face the consequences of lying as a lawmaker.

This was as she was challenged to prove her allegations of defamation in open court or be prepared to face the consequences.

The spokesman of the Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA), Ibrahim Dan-Musa, disclosed this in a statement he issued.

Dan-Musa stressed that Natasha Akpoti’s action undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s political system.

He also tackled former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, for defending Natasha Akpoti.

Stressing that nobody is above the law, Dan-Musa said Ezekwesili’s defence of the suspended lawmaker was hypocritical.

He said: “A senator who peddles lies must face the consequences.

“She cannot wake up one day, point fingers at high-ranking officials, and expect to walk away unscathed when challenged to prove her claims.”

Dan-Musa also disclosed that the world is watching the court proceedings.

“From the United Nations to Fox News, the international community is observing whether Nigeria will tolerate unsubstantiated defamation or uphold the rule of law,” he added.

Drama started between Natasha Akpoti and Akpabio when the former accused the Senate President of making sexual advances at her.

She claimed that Akpabio denied her some privileges for turning down his sexual advances.

Natasha was subsequently suspended for six months due to her inability to substantiate her allegations.

Akpabio is currently in court to challenge the defamatory claims the suspended lawmaker made against him.

Columns

Stop mocking Benue people – Comedia Efe Warriboy reacts as Alia declares public holiday to welcome Tinubu

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Popular comedian, Efe Warriboy has berated Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia for declaring Wednesday, June 18, a public holiday to welcome President Bola Tinubu to the state amid statewide mourning over the recent Yelewata massacre.

Ekwutosblog reported that the Benue State government in a statement released on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Serumun Deborah Ambe, declared Wednesday a public holiday to honour Tinubu during his one-day visit to the state and urged residents to “come out en-masse” to welcome the president.

Reacting in a video message shared via his Instagram page, Efe Warriboy stated that Governor Alia’s declaration of a public holiday over the president’s visit to the state was a mockery of the bereaved people of Benue.

He said, “I’m trying my best not to be rude while making this video, but given this scenario, it would be difficult. What’s happening now in Benue State shows that regardless of your title, whether Reverend Father or Senior Pastor, once you hold power in Nigeria, a demon will enter inside you. That’s what I’ve noticed. And when you join APC, it gets worse. Even PDP, they are all the same.

“Just imagine the nonsense declaration of public holiday over President Tinubu’s first in Benue. The Governor is even supposed to be in a state of mourning and not telling people, who just lost their family members, to come and celebrate Tinubu’s visit.

“A man said in a viral video that he lost 20 family members. But the most important to the Governor is welcoming Tinubu. The president is supposed to sneak into the state and not expect heroic welcome. Is he coming to commission a project or dead bodies?

“What is wrong with you, Nigerian politicians? What Governor Alia is doing is simply playing politics with the lives of Benue people. He is trying not to do anything that will make his political overlords deny him his re-election ticket in 2027.

“If not so, how do you explain this nonsense? He is welcoming Tinubu as what? Did he build a factory that the President is coming to commission? Over 200 people killed, and that is just the number of the recent killings. The same people who are mourning their loved ones, you are asking them to come out and welcome President Tinubu.

“Even if you, politicians, don’t have consciences or have signed a deal with a foreign company to reduce Nigeria’s population, you must not rub it on the faces of the people. Because it has started to look like that. I missed former Benue State Governor, [Samuel] Ortom.

“He very vocal about the killings in the state. It got to your turn as governor, and as a Reverend Father, people were expecting you to be unbiased, but you disappointed a lot of people.”

Columns

Nigeria’s CDC explains three reasons for the Benue massacre

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has highlighted three critical issues in the Yelewata town, Benue State, massacre by suspected herdsmen.

The CDS spoke when he visited Benue on Tuesday over the spark in killing at Benue communities.

According to him, there are three-pronged issues to the Benue crisis between farmers and herders, namely land dispute and cattle rustling.

He noted that a political solution is the best fix to the three issues.

“There are two or three issues.

“One is the issue of land. Indigenes or non-indigenes. It is critical. Which can be sorted out politically. Secondly is the issue of the movement of animals.

“If the animals don’t move, we don’t have an issue. We also have the issue of animal rustling. These are the critical aspects that must be addressed,” according to the Channels Television video.
This comes as over 300 people were killed in Yelewata town in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on June 13-14, 2025.