Crime
Uzodimma orders probe after saving widow from drinking ‘corpse water’ of late husband
Uzodimma gave the charge in Isieke, Awo-Omamma, Oru East where female siblings of a deceased man, Odinakachi Ndubuisi tried to force his wife, Chika Ndubuisi to drink the water used to wash the corpse to prove her innocence over his death on Friday.
Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Nkechi Ugwu, Uzodimma warned locals to desist from such practice, saying it will not be allowed in Imo State.
The Imo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief Nkechi Ugwu and security operatives had on Friday saved a widow, Mrs Chika Ndubuisi from drinking the water used to wash her husband’s corpse.
Ugwu, alongside the local government Chairman, and security operatives stormed the venue of the burial at Isieke, Awo-Omamma, Imo State on Friday, October 24th.
The Commissioner said the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Onurube Coalition Group, Virgin Heart Foundation, Harsco Global Media, Odumodu TV, and Sisters With a Goal intervened, rescued the widow, and provided her with support and protection.
Ugwu disclosed that the widow, Chika Joy Amanda was falsely accused by her in-laws, the Akamegbulem family, of killing him.
Sources who pleaded anonymity said Chika was locked inside the ambulance that conveyed the corpse to the Isieke community, waiting for her to drink the water before help arrived.
However, due to the heavy presence of security operatives and government officials, Odinakachi’s siblings backed down and allowed her to alight from the ambulance.
Thereafter, security operatives directed that the burial ceremony begin and ensured the dust-to-dust rite was performed by Chika and her children, and the corpse was buried.
Late Chika’s husband, Mr Odinakachi Ndubuisi was said to have given up the ghost after a tough battle with hepatitis complications.
The source said during treatment, one of Odinakachi’s sisters forcefully moved him from the hospital to a native doctor where he gave up the ghost.
Sources had alerted Onurube Coalition that some female siblings of Odinakachi Ndubuisi had threatened the widow that she would be forced to drink the water used to wash her husband’s corpse to prove her innocence.
The source said Chika was locked in the ambulance for hours alongside her brother with the corpse and was resisted from alighting until she tasted the corpse water.
However, upon notice of the barbaric practice, Onurube Coalition consisting of Marjorie Ezihe, Davidson Nwosu, Harriet Ijeoma, and several others alerted the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief Nkechi Ugwu and the Oru West local government Chairman, and several security operatives who stormed the community and rescued Chika, her children, and brother.
The Imo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief Nkechi Ugwu said the ministry waded into the obnoxious, victimisation and inhuman treatment meted out against a widow in Awo-Omamma in Oru-East LGA whose husband died of a protracted sickness.
Ugwu said “When the attention of the ministry was drawn that the family members accused her of killing her husband and wanted the widow to drink the water used in bathing the husband’s corpse and also bathe with the water, efforts were made to stop the obnoxious and harmful traditional practice.
“In collaboration with the council Chairman of Oru East, Chief Okwaraigwe, the representatives of Virgin Heart Foundation and Onurube, Director Child Development of the Ministry, Mrs. Blessing Azubuike, and security personnel from Oru East, we attended the burial to ensure that obnoxious practice was not carried out on the widow.
“We were there until the man was buried and the grave site closed. The woman and her children were rescued from the hands of the evil perpetrators and those caught in the act were handed over to the authorities for prosecution in line with the relevant extant laws”, Ugwu said.
Further, she said calm has been restored to the community saying “calm has been restored to the community with an investigation started to fish out those behind the harmful traditional practice long abrogated and prohibited. We gave a stern warning to people to desist from such acts because in imo state, such will not be condoned.”
In May 2025, a non-governmental organisation, Community Life Project, called for the total eradication of the harmful traditional practices and the denial of women’s inheritance being practiced in some communities of Imo State.
Meanwhile, calm has been restored to the community while Chika and her children have been taken into protective custody to protect them from further attacks from her in-laws.
The controversy surrounding the alleged N1.3 billion Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council scandal deepened on Monday following the reported arrest of the father of the council’s embattled promoter, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The Federal Government has listed the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and 10 others as prosecution witnesses.
The arrest of Adeyemi’s father reportedly took place at the family’s residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Monday. According to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, police officers stormed the residence and took the elderly man into custody.
“The father has been arrested. There is no legal basis for substituted arrests. The young man has promised to appear in court, so why arrest his father?” Falana said.
Eyewitnesses alleged that police officers arrived in four vehicles, prevented neighbours from intervening, and took the elderly man to a police station. A family friend who was visiting the residence was also reportedly arrested, while Adeyemi’s aged mother was left in a state of shock.
The development has sparked concerns among legal practitioners and human rights advocates over the legality of the arrest.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, cautioned against drawing conclusions without knowing the reasons behind the arrest.
“If a person is arrested solely to pressure a suspect to surrender, such an arrest is unlawful,” Osigwe said. “However, if the father is himself a suspect or a person of interest in the investigation, then the law permits his arrest.”
Similarly, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sam Erugo, maintained that arresting a parent for an offence allegedly committed by a child is unlawful.
According to Erugo, Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, expressly prohibits arrest by proxy or in lieu of another person.
He, however, urged the Nigeria Police Force to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrest, stressing that the public deserves a clear explanation from the authorities.
The Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official statement on the reported arrest as of the time of filing this report.
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Nigeria’s foreign ministry said on Sunday one man was killed in front of his shop in the northeastern city of eMalahleni by unidentified criminals.
It gave no more details on the incident, which it said took place on Sunday, June 28 — on a weekend when tensions were building up ahead of nationwide anti-migrant rallies last week.
Vigilantes have attacked foreign nationals and looted foreign-owned shops on numerous occasions in the last few months, as South Africans blame immigrants for problems such as crime and unemployment. Migrant rights groups say foreigners are being used as scapegoats for deep-rooted problems.
Ghana said last week one of its citizens was fatally wounded in a shooting during the anti-immigrant demonstrations. South Africa said his killing was not related to the protests and accused Ghana of spreading misinformation.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the attacks against migrants. Police said they arrested 900 people during last week’s protests.
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Nigeria’s foreign ministry said on Sunday: “We wish to place the Government of South Africa on notice that if the situation continues to persist, all options remain on the table, some of which will be activated if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance… against foreigners is not addressed.”
Crime
Enugu Forest Guard Rescues Kidnap Victim, Arrests Native Doctor, Others in Intelligence-Led Operation
A coordinated operation by the Enugu State Forest Guard has led to the rescue of a kidnapped man and the arrest of four suspected criminals, including a man allegedly linked to ritual activities connected to the abduction.
The intelligence-driven operation was carried out in the Ette axis of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area following credible information that a young man, identified as Samson Eleje Abah, had been lured into a forest and abducted by suspected criminals.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, operatives of the Forest Guard stormed the location, rescued the victim unharmed, and arrested three suspects identified as Reuben Okwudili, Reuben Gebechukwu Chinoso, and Reuben Emeka.
The suspects have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Forest Guard said further intelligence gathered during the operation led to the arrest of John Agbo, a resident of Ofante Egberi in Kogi State, who allegedly travelled to the community to perform ritual activities believed to be connected to the kidnapping. He has also been transferred to the police to assist with ongoing investigations.
According to the agency, preliminary findings, supported by consultations with community leaders, revealed that residents had previously raised concerns about the alleged criminal activities of some of the suspects and had consistently provided intelligence to security agencies.
Community leaders condemned the incident and reaffirmed their commitment to partnering with security agencies by providing timely and credible information to combat crime. They also announced the imposition of traditional sanctions on the family of the principal suspects in accordance with local customs, stressing that criminality would not be tolerated in the community.
Describing the operation as another major breakthrough in its intelligence-led security campaign, the Forest Guard reiterated its commitment to tackling kidnapping, violent crime, and other security threats across Enugu State.
The Commander of the Enugu State Forest Guard, Dr. Akinbayo O. Olasoji, commended the operatives for their professionalism, courage, and swift response.
“We commend our operatives for their professionalism and prompt action in rescuing the victim and apprehending the suspects,” Olasoji said.
He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence, emphasizing that public cooperation remains vital in the fight against crime.
“The Forest Guard will sustain aggressive patrols and deepen collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure criminal elements have no safe haven in Enugu State,” he added.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed how suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, stole more than ₦7.2 million from the bank account of a serving judge in a midnight cyberattack.
Olukoyede made the revelation during the public presentation of two books authored by retired High Court judge, Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye.
According to the EFCC chairman, the judge contacted him around 1 a.m. after receiving multiple debit alerts from her bank account. She told him that about ₦7.2 million—money she had saved over six years for her child’s education—had been fraudulently withdrawn.
He said the commission immediately swung into action and, despite legal restrictions limiting certain investigative activities in the state where the incident occurred, successfully recovered the entire sum before the close of business that same day.
Olukoyede said the incident underscores the increasing threat of cybercrime in Nigeria and warned that many people only appreciate its devastating impact after becoming victims.
He called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, the judiciary and the public to combat internet-related crimes more effectively.
The EFCC boss also urged the National Assembly and legal experts to review existing laws to accommodate the use of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations, noting that current legal provisions make it difficult for AI-generated evidence to be admitted in court.
Also speaking at the event, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged anti-corruption agencies to intensify efforts to recover stolen public funds traced to foreign countries.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) has cleared former Minister of Labor and Employment Senator Chris Ngige of allegations of ground to the tune of N80 Million.
Ngige was charged on 5 counts of conferring UNDUE advantage to 5 companies said to belong to his Associates and 3 counts of receiving monetary gifts of N38m ,and N42m through his Sen Chris Ngige Foundation Scholarship scheme and Sen Chris Ngige Campaign Organisation respectively.
Recall that on the strength of this matter the former Anambra state Governor was last year remanded at kuje Correction Center for three days and later granted bail.
Sen Ngige pleaded not guilty to the charges and pleads his innocence. Political observers believes the Minister is being witch hunted.
The EFCC prosecution witness at a Federal capital territory Court presided by Justice Marian Hassan again told the court that there was no undue influence,nor interference by the former Minister of Labour & Employment, Senator Dr Chris Ngige during the 12 months period that the NSITF Procurement was domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment between 2021and 2022.
The Procurement activities in the Parastatal’s Tenders board PTB and the Ministerial Tenders Board MTB performed their activities with due process and no hindrance.
The witness; Dr Maduka Onwusoro,now a Permanent Secretary said he served as Director of Procurement in the Labour Ministry 2019 up to 2023,with his Deputy Ms Joyce Akponor who was later deployed to NSITF on their request to man the needs of the various Departments ,collate bids and forward for PTB and MTB awards between 2021 and 2022.
Under Cross Examination by Lead defence Counsel PIN Ikwueto SAN the witness took a look at an Exhibit tendered by the Prosecution, he then affirmed that the approval annotation made on the document were his and affirmed that all the companies recommended and approval by the MTB in the document were done on merit and that there was no UNDUE interference or influence by anyone.
The Ex -Minister was being accused of conferring undue advantage Messrs Zitacom Ltd,Shale Atlantic ,and Olde English Consolidated ltd were on the list with many other companies.
The witness said as overall supervisor of Procurement activities no pressure was brought on him in connection with the 3 companies.
Earlier during his appearance last Thursday the same witness was emphatic that two other Companies Messrs Cezimo Ltd and Jeff & Xris Ltd also passed through due process and got their contracts on merit because there were pre- qualified and gave lowest bids.
Thereafter the defence sought to tender through the Bar some documents which were approvals and directives given to the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation( SGF )and the former Minister, Ngige by the former President Muhammadu Buhari but the Prosecution opposed and pointed out that the certification of the documents by the Federal Ministry of Labour Human Resources Department were not properly done in accordance with a past Supreme Court ruling on certification of documents.
This prompted the defence team to withdraw the application to tender them ,to enable them do the needful.
Thereafter the Judge adjourned the matter to October 14 2026 for further hearing.
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