Crime
Obi, Kwankwaso lead NDC’s battle against deregistration
The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has wrapped up marathon strategy meetings involving its presidential candidate, Peter Obi; national leader, Seriake Dickson; National Working Committee members and other key stakeholders ahead of Monday’s (today) appeal against the court ruling that nullified its registration.
The development comes barely 48 hours after the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the NDC.
The ruling has intensified political tensions and drawn condemnation from opposition leaders who insist the decision is aimed at weakening opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election.
A senior party official disclosed that the party leadership had been holding back-to-back emergency meetings to finalise its legal strategy before approaching the Court of Appeal on Monday.
According to him, Obi, Dickson, the party’s national chairman, national secretary and other members of the party’s leadership attended Saturday’s closed-door meeting, while another emergency session was held on Sunday to fine-tune preparations for the appeal.
“Yes, a number of closed-door meetings have taken place since the Kogi High Court judgment went viral. For instance, Obi, Senator Dickson, the party chairman, the secretary and other executives were in yesterday’s meeting.
“Even as we speak, there is another emergency meeting ongoing ahead of tomorrow’s appeal.
“However, we are not privy yet to who will lead the legal team. What I only know is that the NDC National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, will play a key role in it,” the source said.
The National Secretary of the party, Ikenna Enekweizu, who spoke to our correspondent on the sidelines of a recent press briefing, confirmed that the appeal would be filed on Monday.
Enekweizu, however, declined to disclose the identity of the counsel that would lead the legal battle.
He said, “I don’t think it’s appropriate at this time for us to announce who our legal team leader will be. By the time we file our processes on Monday, you will know those who are in the team and who the leader is. I don’t know if that answers your question.”
The lawyer described the Lokoja judgment as unprecedented and lacking any legal foundation, insisting that the party remained convinced it would secure victory on appeal.
“This is the worst thing that can happen in judiciary. That ruling has no legal basis. There is no precedent in law that can justify it.
“So, obviously, we see it as part of the attempts by the powers that be to further shrink the democratic process in Nigeria.
“I’m sure we are aware that recently, some parties, by virtue of a judicial ruling, were ordered to be deregistered.
“What they were attempting to do was to ensure that we do not take part in the democratic process that is still ongoing. But I can assure you that it will not happen. Our candidates will definitely participate in the forthcoming elections.
“Of course, we have a strong conviction that the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man in Nigeria. The court that delivered the ruling is not the highest court and it’s not the last court in the land. We’ll see our appeal process through to its ultimate end.
“I can assure you that all our candidates, from presidential candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, his running mate and all our candidates up to the House of Assembly level, will all be on the ballot,” he stated.
Kwankwaso meets Dickson
The National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that no temporary setback would weaken the Nigeria Democratic Congress as the party grapples with the recent court ruling setting aside its recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Kwankwaso stated this after paying a courtesy visit to the National Leader of the NDC, former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, in Abuja on Sunday.
The former Kano State governor disclosed the visit in a post on his verified Facebook page, saying the meeting formed part of efforts to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Today, I paid a courtesy visit to the National Leader of our party, the NDC, His Excellency Seriake Dickson, at his residence in Abuja,” Kwankwaso wrote.
“The engagement forms part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the party’s unity, resilience and strategic readiness as we prepare for the 2027 general elections.”
He expressed confidence that the party would overcome its current legal challenges, insisting that its members remained committed to democratic principles and the rule of law.
“As true democrats, we remain committed to the rule of law and have absolute confidence in the judicial process,” he said.
“No temporary setback can weaken the spirit of a movement built on hope, justice, equity and the collective aspirations of the Nigerian people.”
Kwankwaso also appealed to members and supporters of the party not to be discouraged by the recent developments.
“I urge all party members, supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to stay calm, resolute and focused on our shared mission. Together, we will rise above every challenge,” he added.
“Nigeria will be OK.”
A 20-year-old woman has recounted how a Nigerian man dragged her into a wooded area in Wrexham, Wales, and raped her after offering to escort her home from a night out.
The victim, whose identity has been withheld, said the attack occurred on September 7, 2025, after 24-year-old Gift Oladele approached her while she was walking home.
According to an account published by the Daily Mail on Wednesday, Oladele told the woman that he was heading in the same direction and offered to accompany her.
However, when they reached an isolated area, he allegedly grabbed her over the mouth and dragged her into the woods.
“He was a lot bigger than I was. I tried pushing him away, but he overpowered me,” the woman said.
She said Oladele covered her mouth and prevented her from calling for help before violently assaulting her.
The victim said she feared that she would be killed after Oladele allegedly asked if it was her first experience of rape.
“My brain just switched into survival mode. It was weird. It was either I do what he says and get home to my mum, or he is going to kill me,” she recalled.
She said the attacker struck her six times on the head and left bruises on her body.
According to her, after the assault, Oladele allegedly told her, “I think you’ve had enough now. At least you have been raped by someone good-looking.”
She also alleged that he threatened to track her down if she reported the incident and warned that he could take photographs of her and publish them online.
Despite the threats, the woman immediately told her parents what had happened after arriving home at about 3:30am, prompting her father to contact the police.
“I felt numb. I was hysterical. My brain couldn’t figure out what had just happened,” she said.
Oladele was arrested the following day at his cousin’s residence in Wrexham. Police reportedly discovered that he had attempted to conceal a mobile phone, which subsequently revealed internet searches relating to sexual attacks.
Oladele was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court in April to 17 years in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault. He was also given an extended licence period of eight years, bringing the total sentence to 25 years.
He had been convicted at Mold Crown Court in March after denying the offences and claiming that the victim had consented.
The court also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order protecting the victim for life.
At the time of the Wrexham attack, Oladele was reportedly on bail over another rape allegation in Manchester dating back to November 2024. He had also previously been jailed in 2022 for a sexually motivated attack.
Oladele, a Nigerian citizen born in Italy, had previously challenged attempts by UK authorities to deport him to Nigeria on human rights grounds.
Following his earlier prison sentence, the authorities sought to deport him, but he argued that removal would violate his right to private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
An immigration tribunal subsequently ruled in his favour, holding that his deportation would be disproportionate. Two subsequent appeals by the Home Office were also rejected.
Reacting to the decision, the victim’s mother questioned why her daughter’s rights appeared not to have received similar consideration.
Wrexham Chief Inspector Caroline Mullen-Hurst described Oladele as “a dangerous predator” and commended the victim for her courage in reporting the attack.
She said Oladele showed no remorse for his crimes and forced the victim to relive the traumatic experience during the trial.
The victim said the assault had continued to affect her physical and emotional wellbeing, including making it difficult for her to eat.
She added that there were times when she cried uncontrollably and struggled with thoughts about continuing to live.
A suspected motorcycle thief has been beaten and burnt to death by a mob in Ikpe Ikot Akpan Village, along the Ikot Ekpene–Uyo Road in Akwa Ibom State.
The incident occurred at about 7:05 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after the man was allegedly caught attempting to steal a motorcycle belonging to a resident, identified as Idoroenyin Udo.
According to the police, the motorcycle owner resisted the alleged theft and raised an alarm, prompting residents to chase and apprehend the suspect.
Instead of handing him over to the police, however, the mob allegedly attacked him and subsequently set him ablaze. He suffered severe burns and died at the scene.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has launched an investigation and deployed operatives to the area to identify and arrest those involved in the mob action.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, condemned the incident and warned residents against jungle justice.
He stressed that an accusation does not amount to guilt and urged residents to hand suspected criminals over to law enforcement agencies for proper investigation and prosecution.
The police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend everyone connected with the incident, adding that those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Two weeks after the gruesome murder of popular Awka Master of Ceremony and celebrity town crier, Mr Aiza Nwosu, the Anambra State Police Command has arrested his niece, Miss Jennifer Nwosu, alongside 12 suspected cultists in connection with the ongoing investigation.
The victim’s nephew, Mr Kenechukwu Nwosu, who the police identified as a principal suspect, remains at large.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Awka, explaining that Jennifer was initially arrested and later granted bail but was subsequently rearrested after allegations surfaced that the Command demanded N600,000 for her release.
Ikenga dismissed the allegation, describing it as untrue and insisting that the Command did not collect any money from Jennifer before she was released.
According to him, investigators became interested in Jennifer because of her alleged communication with her brother, Kenechukwu, on the night of Aiza Nwosu’s murder.
Ikenga said Jennifer, during interrogation conducted in the presence of her lawyer, initially denied having seen or spoken with her brother for about five years.
He, however, said information obtained by investigators indicated that she communicated with Kenechukwu on the night of the incident and allegedly informed him about the death of Aiza Nwosu.
He said the communication was among the issues being investigated by the police, particularly as investigators were attempting to locate the suspect who remains at large.
Ikenga stated: “The Command is investigating a cult-related murder in Awka. As part of that investigation, the police are examining individuals and circumstances that may assist in identifying the perpetrators and locating the principal suspect who remains at large.
“During interrogation conducted in the presence of her lawyer, Miss Nwosu denied communicating with the suspect for over five years.
“However, information available to investigators indicated that there was communication between her and the suspect on the night of the incident.
“The communication under investigation included information concerning the death of the victim and an alert to the suspect that the police were closing in on him.
“These were legitimate investigative issues that the police had a duty to clarify.”
The police spokesman stressed that being invited, arrested or questioned in connection with an investigation did not amount to a declaration of guilt, adding that the Command remained guided by due process and the presumption of innocence.
He further explained that Jennifer was subsequently released after offering to assist the police in locating and apprehending her brother.
Ikenga said the release was connected to the ongoing investigation and the need to explore every lawful means of bringing the principal suspect to justice.
He also cited Section 83 of the Criminal Code of Anambra State, which, according to him, provides for liability where a person becomes an accessory after the fact to a felony.
He added that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law provides the legal framework for bail and criminal proceedings, stressing that the police would continue to exercise their investigative responsibilities within the law.
On the allegation by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) that N600,000 was demanded from Jennifer for her release, Ikenga said the allegation was false.
He explained that Jennifer was granted bail at the office of the Commissioner of Police, which, he said, demonstrated that no money was collected from her.
Ikenga urged individuals and organisations making allegations of extortion, corruption or misconduct against the Command to provide credible and verifiable evidence.
“We welcome scrutiny, but we also urge individuals and organisations making allegations of extortion, corruption or misconduct to support such claims with credible and verifiable evidence,” he said.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State Police Commands has dismissed allegations by a human rights organisation that its operatives demanded N600,000 from the sister of a suspected cultist allegedly linked to several cult-related killings in Awka.
The Command also said it had commenced investigations into the gruesome murder of popular Awka socialite and celebrated Master of Ceremony, Aiza Nwosu, who was reportedly gunned down about two weeks ago.
The police said investigations into the murder and other cult-related killings in Awka had led to the identification of Nwosu Kenechukwu as a person of interest.
According to the Command, Kenechukwu’s sister, Miss Nwosu Chikamso Jennifer, was arrested after investigators established that she allegedly became aware of efforts by police operatives to apprehend her brother and assisted him in evading arrest.
Reacting to reports published online, including allegations raised by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said Jennifer was not arrested simply because of her relationship with the suspect.
Ikenga said: “The Command considers it necessary to clarify the facts and set the record straight.
“The Command’s investigation established that Nwosu Kenechukwu has emerged as a person of interest in ongoing investigations into several cult-related killings in Awka.
“Further investigation established that Ms. Jennifer became aware of efforts by Police operatives to apprehend her brother and subsequently assisted him in evading arrest.
“Her arrest was therefore made in the course of a legitimate criminal investigation arising from her alleged conduct, and not merely on account of her relationship with the suspect, as suggested in the publication.”
The police spokesperson also categorically denied allegations that N600,000 or any other amount was demanded as a condition for Jennifer’s release.
“The Command also categorically and unequivocally denies the allegation that ₦600,000, or any other monetary consideration, was demanded as a condition for Ms. Jennifer’s release.
“At no time did the Police demand or impose any financial payment as a condition for her release,” he said.
Ikenga explained that Jennifer was later granted bail in accordance with established police procedures after undertaking to cooperate with investigators and assist efforts to locate and apprehend her brother, who remains a person of interest in the investigation.
He said the Police Command remained committed to the rule of law, due process and the protection of fundamental rights, stressing that such principles did not prevent the police from taking lawful investigative measures against persons reasonably suspected of aiding suspects to evade arrest or interfering with criminal investigations.
“The Command will not be distracted by unverified narratives capable of prejudicing ongoing investigations or misleading members of the public,” Ikenga added.
He said the Command’s priority remained uncovering the circumstances surrounding the cult-related killings, identifying all persons connected to the crimes and ensuring that anyone found culpable was brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The Police Command also urged media organisations, civil society groups and members of the public to verify sensitive allegations with the appropriate authorities before publication, particularly where such reports could mislead the public, undermine confidence in law enforcement or compromise ongoing investigations.
“The Anambra State Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to professional, accountable and intelligence-driven policing, and will continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without fear, favour or distraction,” Ikenga said.
The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled an alleged child-stealing and human trafficking syndicate operating across several states, rescuing 17 children and arresting seven suspects in an intelligence-led operation.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to Iniedu, the investigation began following the disappearance of a three-year-old child, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, during a masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29, 2026.
Police detectives, acting on intelligence, arrested Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, on August 4.
The police said Popoola allegedly confessed to participating in the stealing, movement and sale of children from churches, parties and other event venues within and outside Oyo State.
Her information reportedly led investigators to Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, who was arrested in Mowe, Ogun State.
“Four children and two pregnant young women were rescued from her custody,” Iniedu said.
Further information obtained during the investigation reportedly helped detectives locate Ifakunle, who was rescued in the Gbagi area of Ibadan on August 20.
The investigation was subsequently expanded after police uncovered evidence suggesting that the alleged criminal network operated across state boundaries.
On September 2, police operatives extended the operation to Agbor, Delta State, where four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State were rescued from persons suspected of having illegally acquired them.
Christopher Joy and Rosemary Jesse were arrested in connection with the operation.
The police said the investigation also uncovered allegations that some victims who died in the custody of members of the alleged syndicate were transferred to individuals suspected of involvement in ritual activities.
This development led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi and Yakubu Azeez, who are being investigated over the alleged use of victims for ritual purposes.
Iniedu further disclosed that the police had received information about six children who allegedly died while in the custody of members of the network.
He said investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended the Oyo State Command for the breakthrough and directed that the operation be sustained.
The IGP also ordered the police to dismantle the entire network, locate additional missing children and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Nigeria Police Force assured the public that investigations would continue to establish the full extent of the alleged syndicate’s operations, locate other possible victims and identify all persons involved.
Police authorities urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving children to the appropriate security agencies.
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