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PSC elevates 1,607 DSPs, says war against banditry must-win

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PSC elevates 1,607 DSPs, says war against banditry must-win

The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of 1,607 Deputy Superintendents of Police to the next rank of Superintendent.

The Chairman of the commission and retired Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, charged the newly elevated officers to steer clear of minor issues, including land matters and recovery of rents, which could be resolved through alternative dispute resolution or legal processes.

“You need to concentrate on helping the nation win this war against insurgency and banditry and also remember that the police force is the lead agency in internal security,” Arase said.

This was according to a statement on Wednesday by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

The statement noted that the PSC had earlier stepped down the consideration of the officers’ promotion at its last management meeting where other recommendations were considered when it noticed some discrepancies in the list.

It quoted Arase as saying that the PSC had restored the dignity of the specialists’ cadre in the Nigeria Police Force.

It added that the promotion of the DSPs to SP rank saw the elevation of 158 officers in the professional cadre, including 105 in the communication unit, 22 in transport, 10 medical officers, nine nurses, and another nine from work.

Arase said, “The commission will continue to give equal opportunities to all cadres in the Nigeria Police Force. The era where specialists stagnated in one rank is now history.

“The Nigeria Police Force needs these specialists for efficient and effective policing and promised that the commission will continue to accord them the required privileges.

“The general duty officers will continue to receive the support of the commission in the area of prompt and regular promotions. We tasked the newly-promoted officers to reciprocate the commission’s gesture by rededicating themselves to the service of the nation.”

The other professionals promoted to superintendents were six workshop officers, three maritime, and one each from medical and dental units and Band.

A total number of 1,423 DSPs were promoted in the General Duty cadre.

Some of the promoted officers are the Public Relations Officers for Anambra and Delta states, Tochukwu Ikenganyia, and Bright Edafe, respectively.

Others are Clement Ominiyi Awoyemi, Salami Ganiyu, Dogo Mathew, Finedon Akah, Attahiru Umar, Adamu Wakili, Constance Katu Ekeh, Nuhu Danjuma and Yaha Bashir.

The list also includes Iwuji Barnabas Iliya, ADC to the Rivers State Governor;  Samson Ekeinde , Officer in charge, Safer Highway, Bayelsa State Command; Clement Gladys C, Lagos Command; Usman Nureni and Adibeli Joy.

Enoch Suleiman, Officer in charge of Surveillance,  Zone 5 Benin; Sidi Umar Ahmad, Technical Assistant to the DIG Training and Head of IGP Smart Force Management and Data Base Centre; Patrick Chinwe Anike, Divisional Crime Officer 19th mile Division, Enugu State Command; Ben Orih, Unit Commander 28 PMF, Umuahia; Nwanaga Innocent Okpuru, OPTS Officer, SPU BASE 28 Owerri, Imo state; Isa y. Ladan, Department of Operations,  Rivers State Command, and Moses Omale were some of the other DSPs that got the Commission’s approval for promotion to the next rank of Superintendents.

The approval has been officially communicated to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.

UN condemns abduction of Borno IDPs 

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UN condemns abduction of Borno IDPs 

The United Nations has condemned the reported abduction of Internally Displaced Persons, many of whom are women, boys and girls, in the Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.

“The exact number of people abducted remains unknown but is estimated at over 200 people,” Ann Weru, Head of Public Information, Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the UN in Nigeria, said in a statement mailed to According Online on Wednesday.

“On 29 February, members of a non-state armed group (NSAG) allegedly abducted the IDPs who had reportedly ventured beyond the safety of the trenches surrounding Ngala – from the ISS, Zulum, Kaigama, and Arabic IDP camps – in search of firewood.

“While an unspecified number of older women and children under 10 have reportedly been released, scores of IDPs remain unaccounted for, according to protection partners.

“I stand in solidarity with the families of all those abducted, especially children, and their communities, and urge those who have abducted them to release them without harm,” the statement quoted Mohamed Malick Fall, Resident Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs, as saying.

“On behalf of the United Nations, I remind all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm,” Fall, according to the statement, said.

The statement noted that the humanitarian coordinator, who is also an Assistant Secretary-General of the UN, urged authorities and other partners to provide more livelihood opportunities for IDPs in camps in Borno State, alongside ongoing efforts for lasting solutions, to reduce the risks of insecurity and violence faced by IDPs.

“More than two million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states have fled to garrison towns where they have few, if any, livelihood options. Those who venture beyond the protective trenches surrounding these towns to forage or farm do so at great peril, with killings, abductions, forced recruitment, and sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) rampant,” the UN lamented in the statement.

“Two days to the commemoration of International Women’s Day, this incident is a stark reminder that women and girls are among those most affected by conflict. The crisis in the BAY states is disproportionately affecting women, boys and girls,” the global administrative body lamented in the statement.

The UN lamented a high prevalence of GBV against women and adolescent girls, while boys are targeted for recruitment by NSAGs.

Forex market recorded $4bn turnover in January -Report

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Forex market recorded $4bn turnover in January -Report

The official foreign exchange market, the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, witnessed a 40.46 per cent drop in turnover to $4.37bn (N4.03tn) in January from $7.34bn recorded in December 2023.

According to the latest Financial Markets Monthly Report issued by FMDQ, which houses the NAFEM, the US dollar appreciated against the naira, with the spot exchange rate increasing by 10.44 per cent ($/N93.66) to close at an average of $/N990.96 in January 2024 from $/N897.30 recorded in the previous month.

The report added that exchange rate volatility increased in January 2024 as the naira traded within an exchange rate range of $/N838.95 – $/N1,482.57 compared to $/N806.73 – $/N1,099.05 recorded in December 2023.

The report further noted that the market turnover in January 2024 was N7.19tn, representing a month-on-month decrease of 55.92 per cent (N9.12tn) from the turnover recorded in December 2023 (N16.31tn).

FMDQ noted that the MoM decrease in the FI market turnover was driven by 62.31 per cent (N3.24tn), 2.54 per cent (N0.06tn), 79.50 per cent (N3.49tn), 53.27 per cent (N2.28tn) and 59.45 per cent (N0.05tn) decrease in turnover across Treasury Bills, OMO Bills, CBN Special Bills, FGN Bonds and Other Bonds, respectively.

“As a result, the trading intensity for T.Bills and FGN Bonds decreased MoM by 0.56bps and 0.11bps to 0.30 and 0.10, respectively T.bills and FGN Bonds within the >6M – 12M and >20Y tenors respectively were the most traded sovereign FI securities, accounting for 35.86 per cent (N1.42tn) and 26.52 per cent (N1.05tn) of the secondary market turnover for sovereign FI securities in the spot market,” the report said.

According to the report, total turnover in the money market segment decreased MoM by 21.45 per cent (N1.54tn) to N5.64tn in January 2024.

Meanwhile, total turnover in the FX derivatives market segment in January 2024 was $4.56bn (N4.21 trillion), representing a MoM decrease of 29.52 per cent ($1.91bn) from the December 2023 figures.

The Exchange said that the MoM decreases in the FX derivatives turnover were jointly driven by the 27.67 per cent ($1.71bn), 62.50 per cent ($0.15bn), and 100.00 per cent ($0.05bn) decrease in FX Swaps, FX Forwards and FX Futures transactions, respectively.

On Wednesday, the naira depreciated marginally against the dollar to N1,605.74 at the official market from N1,602 recorded the previous day.

The drop on Tuesday marks a second-day decline after last week’s win against the greenback note, indicating that demand pressures persist in the forex market as supply remains insufficient.

This decline coincides with the announcement from the cryptocurrency trading platform, Binance, that it will cease trading activities involving the Nigerian currency.

Binance was accused of exploiting the Nigerian currency, Naira, leading to its free fall in value. The company is, in addition, facing allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering and tax invasion, among others.

At above N1,600/$1, the exchange rate between the naira and dollar is down by 43 per cent in 2024 and remains one of the worst currencies in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is despite several policy measures introduced by the apex bank to resolve the forex crisis.

PDP constitutes caretaker committees for Kano, Kogi chapters

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PDP constitutes caretaker committees for Kano, Kogi chapters

The Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee has approved the composition of Kano and Kogi states Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of their respective chapters for a period not exceeding 90 days.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that this action was carried out on behalf of the National Executive Committee, pursuant to the provisions of the party’s Constitution.

Members of the Kano State PDP Caretaker Committee appointed are: Alhaji Mai Adamu Mustapha – Chairman, and Barr. Baba Lawal Aliyu – Secretary.

Other members include Ibrahim A. Dan’Iya, Prof. Muntari Y. Banana, Hon. Aminu A. Jingau, Barr. Habibu Adamu, Auwalu Ibrahim Dan’Zubuwa, Abubakar Gwarmai, Kabiru Bello Dandago, Haj. Ladidi Dan’Galan, and Auwalu Mukhtar Maibiscuit.

Those appointed to lead the Kogi Chapter for the stipulated time are: Sen. Danjuma La’ah – Chairman and Sen. Phillip Gyunka – Secretary. Others include Hon. Joshua Adejoh, Hon. Sunday Shigaba, Paul Ukwenya, Hon. Gabriel Olorunnipa, Hon. Mo Sule, Chief Dayo Akande, Hon. Tola Ade, Audu Idris, Sheidu O. Abara, Bilikisu Onusaga, Abiola Olajubu, and Grace Atawodi.

 

The NWC urged all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of PDP in Kano and Kogi States to remain united and continue to work together for the progress of the Party in the State.

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I’m best positioned to lead Super Eagles – Okpala

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I’m best positioned to lead Super Eagles – Okpala

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Sylvanus Okpala, has declared his interest and availability to lead the Super Eagles of Nigeria, noting that he is best positioned to lead the team.

Okpala, who won the AFCON title in 1980 as a player and as an assistant coach in 2013, said this in an interview with According Online on Tuesday.

Last Friday, Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro, confirmed his exit as coach of the Super Eagles after his contract officially expired.

Peseiro, who guided the Eagles to a second-place finish at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, said he was fulfilled coaching Nigeria.

However, Okpala, while commending Peseiro for his efforts as the Nigerian head coach, noted that it was high time the Nigerian coaching job was brought home.

Okpala said, “The only thing I can say about Peseiro is that he has tried his best, but the game goes on.”

When asked about a possible replacement, he said, “I’m one of those that should replace him. For the fact that we have been in this issue of getting to quarter-finals, semi-finals, that is a wrong way of employing a coach.

“I mean, whenever Nigeria is going to the Nations Cup, we are going there to win, but it is not a must you must win. But we must present a team to win and not just participate.”

“Our players are abroad based players, and most of them are playing against each other, either in the Italian league or so on, so they get the same training, so when we are going to the World Cup, we should be thinking about winning the World Cup. We might not qualify from the group stage, but we must go there with the mindset to win.”

He noted that Nigeria must do all it can to qualify for the World Cup. “To qualify now for World Cup is going to be very difficult, difficult in the sense that we are in the same group with South Africa, so we must be very careful. and if Nigeria does not qualify for another World Cup, there will be a lot of crisis in Nigerian football.”

The 1980 AFCON winner noted that there needs to be a bar raised by the Nigerian team, which he believes has all the potential to win the World Cup.

“Getting to the semifinals of the World Cup is no longer news in Africa because Morrocco has gotten to the semifinals in the last World Cup. I think Africa should be talking about winning the World Cup. It is the same football; the difference is the mentality,” he added.

Okpala, while saying that the tactics of the ex-Super Eagles coach weren’t bad, said, “Peseiro is a good coach; he’s not bad. I think the problem with him is that when you’re thinking about what to play, you must also think about what the other team will play and make sure that you stop them from playing what they’re supposed to play and play what you’re supposed to play. But I think he was so much on what he was going to play. What if the other team overwhelms your team? What do you do?” he asked.

Sylvanus Okpala
Keshi (left) and Okpala

Speaking on the vacant Super Eagles managerial position, he further noted that knowledge and experience should be considered for whoever is selected, adding that he qualifies for both.

“I’ve won the Nations Cup as a player, and I have won it as an assistant coach to Keshi, the record is there. It is not easy. It’s not by luck or mathematics, it’s by knowledge.

“The team we went to South Africa with, you can’t compare them with these boys. We went there with home-based boys, playing in the Nigerian league. it was only Mikel (Obi), even Mikel wasn’t a regular player in Chelsea then when he came with us. Then Amunike, and I think Musa too.

“We had only about only one year with the boys then, but this team has spent over 2 years together. We have players that can win the World Cup.”

He further noted that although Nigeria in 2013 wasn’t the favourite to win as opposed to Ivory Coast, who had “one of the best ever African teams,” they were able to prove them wrong.

When asked if he was best positioned to lead Nigeria, Okpala said, “Yes, if I am given a chance.”

He noted that back in the 2013 feat, the NFF had already bought the flight tickets to return the Super Eagles back home when they were to play Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals, but the team didn’t give up. According to him, “We sat down and planned a strategy and that strategy worked.”

“So yes, if I am given a chance, I will do wonders with these boys,” he noted.

He, however, noted that even if he wasn’t made the head coach, he could be brought in to bring his expertise and experience to the team, saying that “coaches are born, not made.”

“I’m very good at reading games, and that gives me an advantage too,” he added.

The Nigeria Football Federation will be tasked with choosing a successor to Peseiro after he penned a farewell message to Nigerians following the expiration of his contract as coach of the Super Eagles.

Soludo receives peace committee report, promises swift action

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Soludo receives peace committee report, promises swift action

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has received the final report of the Anambra Truth, Peace and Justice Commission, established by his government to investigate the remote and immediate causes of insecurity in the state and by extension, South East region.

During the event held at the Government House, Awka, on Wednesday, Soludo commended members of the commission and its chairman, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, for their “dedication” and “historic” nature of the report.

He stressed that the report has the potential to serve as a national framework for addressing security challenges in the country while expressing deep concern about the impact of crime and violence has caused on young people.

He said, “We pledge swift action based on the commission’s recommendations, we plan to dissolve the cabinet into sub-committees in analysing and implementing the recommendations.

“There is a need for collaboration with federal agencies, regional governments, security services including the state vigilante group, and the local communities. We have plans to share the report with national security agencies and work with neighbouring states to address the cross-border nature of criminal activities.”

The governor reiterated his commitment to achieving sustainable peace in the region, assuring citizens that he will “read every sentence” in the report and ensure its recommendations are implemented for a safer future.

He stressed the importance of community involvement, including religious institutions, in tackling the challenges, describing the necessary approach as a “crusade” requiring collective action.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Odinkalu, thanked the governor for entrusting them with the task.

Odinkalu, a former Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, noted that the biggest structural factor in the violence is the political economy of land, not IPOB/ESN.

He argued that while Lagos is gaining land, Anambra is losing land due to ecological pressure, crises in leadership, and impunity.

He said, “The Commission surveyed 66 communities in the state, documenting cases of traditional rulers, security agents, presidents-general and community members who have disappeared and remain missing.”

Odinkalu however, emphasised the need to end the use of the term “unknown gunmen,” especially by the media, develop a 25-year security strategy to reform community governance and establish an agency for the protection of victims and accountability for violence.

A delegation including the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, members of the Anambra Executive Council, Secretary of the Commission, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu and representatives of the United Nations Development Programme attended the event.

Soludo, had in June 2022, after three months in office as governor of Anambra, set up the Commission and saddled it with the task of unravelling the circumstances behind insecurity which was at its peak in the Southeast as of then, to begin the genuine quest for peace and reconciliation, among others.

 

The Commission began work by conducting town hall meetings and engagements with various stakeholders, communities, traditional rulers, security agencies and individuals who were in one way or another affected by the insecurity.

Ogun seals another illegal nursing school

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Ogun seals another illegal nursing school

The Ogun State Nursing and Midwifery Committee, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health, has sealed another unregistered nursing training institute in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, disclosed this during a routine monitoring that the institution, iFaat College of Nursing Sciences, located in Adigbe area of the state, was training nursing students without obtaining accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Oladehinde, according to the statement on Wednesday, was represented by the Acting Director of Nursing Services and Chairman of SNMC, Mrs. Serifat Aminu, during the routine monitoring exercise.

The Permanent Secretary, during the monitoring exercise, observed that the institute lacked adequate personnel and infrastructure required for standard nursing education, adding that the institute has not received approval from the regulators.

“We have gone out as part of our routine monitoring exercise to inspect institutions that are offering nursing sciences courses and discovered that this particular school has no accreditation.

“For a facility to run a nursing programme, whether at college level or at the university, such a facility must reflect the basic requirements of the NMCN.

“That is why we closed down this place. We have advised the owner that once the infrastructure and personnel in his facility have been upgraded to the expected standards, the NMCN would visit the school for inspection and if they are satisfied, it would be accredited,”  he said.

While advising the public to be cautious about schools that claim to offer nursing sciences courses, Dr Oladehinde said certificates earned from such institutions would not earn the students a license to practice from NMCN, saying such students would eventually become quacks.

Reacting, the proprietor of the institution, Mr. Stephen Fatula, said he had initiated the accreditation process, pledging to abide by the terms of the regulators.

In February, an enforcement team comprising the Ogun State Ministry of Health and Nursing and Midwifery Committee sealed the Nursing Department of Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Obada in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

The state government moved against the school for allegedly offering a degree programme in Nursing Sciences for six years without accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. (

Bayelsa governorship election tribunal resumes sitting March 11

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Bayelsa governorship election tribunal resumes sitting March 11

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja will resume proceedings on March 11, 2024.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, adjourned sine die (indefinitely) following allegations of bias against the members of the panel as well as a petition seeking the disbandment of the tribunal.

Adeleye added that the tribunal would await the decision of the Court of Appeal on the petition against the panel.

The All Progressives Congress and its candidate in the Bayelsa State governorship poll, Timipre Sylva had in a petition dated March 4, 2024, accused the tribunal of denying them their Constitutional right to a fair hearing as required by law by ordering them to call their 234 witnesses within seven days.

They had claimed that the order hurriedly made them close their case without calling all the witnesses they had lined up for the matter.

The petitioners also claimed that the tribunal distorted the oral testimony of their witnesses in the record of proceedings and had also made findings and decisions in respect of the authenticity and weight of polling unit election results they tendered.

They, however, called for the disbandment and reconstitution of another panel.

However, in a hearing notice dated March 6, 2024, sent to parties involved in the matter on Wednesday, it stated that the tribunal would resume proceedings on March 11.

The notice stated, “Take notice that the above election petition will be heard on the 11th day of March 2024 and on such other days as the Court of Appeal may determine.”

The APC and its candidate are challenging the re-election of Governor Duoye Diri, and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrujakpo.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Diri the winner of the election after polling 175, 196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sylva of the APC who scored 110,108 votes.

Dissatisfied, Sylva and the APC approached the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Diri as the winner of the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

Sylva and the APC are contending that elections were held in some polling units in three local governments of Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Nembe where INEC and the other respondents claimed there was no election.

The petitioners claimed that if the results from these local governments were added to their votes, they won the election.

37-year-old Nigerian caregiver slumps, dies in UK

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37-year-old Nigerian caregiver slumps, dies in UK

A 37-year-old Nigerian woman, Chidimma Ezenyili, who had been working as a caregiver in the United Kingdom slumped on February 22 and died two days later.

According to News Express Nigeria on Wednesday, the incident occurred while Ezenyili was attending to an elderly woman, Ian Hale in Scott Road, leading to her collapse while on duty.

Before Ezenyili migrated to the UK, she was said to have practised law in Nigeria, She had been caring for Hale for the past five months alongside her husband, Friday, both of whom relocated in August 2023 to provide their toddler daughter, Mandy, with a brighter future.

Catherine Segal, Hale’s daughter, recounted the events, noting that despite feeling unwell, Ezenyili continued her duties out of commitment to her responsibilities.

Hale’s daughter, Catherine Segal, said, “She (Ezenyili) was driven there by her husband with their three-year-old daughter as she wasn’t feeling well but didn’t want to let my dad down.”

Speaking further, Segal said the caregiver collapsed on Thursday, February 22, and stopped breathing and did not have a pulse. “Naturally, her husband started shouting for help. The neighbourhood raced to help. Myself and my husband ran outside along with our next-door neighbour and our neighbour from across the road. We had two GoodSAM first responders arrive shortly after to assist. The community first responder along with several ambulances, police and the critical care team arrived to take over attempts to save her life and were successful in getting her on life support in the ambulance.”

Segal said the deceased was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where doctors at the neurosciences critical care unit discovered she had suffered a severe brain haemorrhage.

In his narration, Segal’s husband, Saul said; “Sadly, life support was turned off two days later, on February 24, and she passed with her husband by her side. Suzy came here as a carer to fill a need in our community. She was qualified in law in Nigeria and was planning to attain her qualifications to practise law here after her sponsorship as a career finished. She was a really good carer. Kind, considerate and always willing to help no matter what the circumstances. Her dream was for her daughter, Mandy, to attend school in the UK and to make a new life here where she would have the opportunities that Suzy and Friday never had growing up in Nigeria.”

Bail: 49 suspected IPOB members learn fate March 19

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Bail: 49 suspected IPOB members learn fate March 19

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed March 19 for hearing and ruling on the bail applications filed by 49 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Although, 50 IPOB members were brought before the court by the Inspector General of Police, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, heard the bail application of Ozoemena Somadine (43rd defendant) and reserved ruling on it.

The police had said the defendants were intercepted on December 12, 2023, at Umunze Village, Uga Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, while acting on a tipoff.

According to the police, the defendants were intercepted inside a 911 truck with Reg No. XA-139 BDN, while holding a meeting “In connection with an act of terrorism”.

The police said a total of 48 black caps, 25 red caps, and six orange caps with IPOB designs alongside charms were recovered from them.

In the three charges preferred against them, the police accused the defendants of belonging to IPOB for the “purpose of habitually committing terrorism”.

They were also said to have admitted to being members of a “terrorist group” popularly known as the Indigenous People of Biafra and also admitted the caps with the emblem of IPOB and charms belonged to them.

The police said they committed an offence contrary, to and punishable under Section 25 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022.

In count three, the police said the defendants all admitted to possessing the power of bullet proof and disappearance through their charms which is contrary to Section 26, and punishable under Section 11 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The defendants are Nwancho Chukwuma; Ekene Orilinya; Nnamdi Chineke; Una Daniel; Egurube Chibuike; Cyril Ndukwe; Ikechukwu George; Emmanuel Mbano; Emeka Osuji; Chinanso Orazulike; Joseph Chukwu; Okwutu Oluchukwu; Chikodi Nnoli; Onyeka Odoh; Eberenna Ejikeme and Ngozi Onwukwe.

Others are Iwenofu Onwukwe; Patrick Chima; Paul Nwamma; Friday Uwanaiji; Okeke Chibueze; Agbom Uche; Alex onwu; Abuchi Ibe; Onwe Maduabuchi; Ndukwe Chukwuma; Ifeanyi Alor; Igwe Emmanuel; Onwe Samuel; Chidozie Edekoabi; Azuka Ikpezuma; Chukwuebuka Okoro; Anazodo Chinanso; Chibulke Igwe; Okonkwo Basil; John Okafor; Obinna Nwafor, and Nneka Chidebere.

Among the defendants are Zimozor Ukpa; Chukwu Chidindu; Uche Vincent; Ogbodo Sunday; Ozoemena somadine; Agbo Cynthia; Peter Ogoh; Chibueze Uwakwe; Tony Nwafor; Ebere Anazodo; Ikejiaku Nwabueze and Nwachor Izuchukwu.

At the proceedings on Wednesday, the prosecution witness, a police officer, ASP Stephen Hyelni, told the court that he took over the case after the matter was transferred to the Force Headquarters.

He said, “The case in question was transferred from Anambra command to the Force Headquarters. I was detailed to take over the suspects. Immediately I took over, the suspects I was handed a black bag containing charm and other ingredients. Another bag containing 52 black caps and another one containing 25 red caps.”

The counsel for the police, Malik Taiwo, sought to tender the three bags in evidence.

There was, however, no opposition from the defendants’ counsel.

It was, however, admitted as Exhibit A to C.

After opening Exhibit A (the bag containing charms) the witness was asked to list the items therein but could not.

Justice Omotosho said, “You must give us the list of items contained in Exh A. I will mark the contents in the exhibit.”

Taiwo, however, ought an adjournment to put their house in order.

Justice Omotosho, however, sought the understanding of the counsel to take the bail applications of the defendants at once as some were yet to file theirs.

But the counsel for the 43rd defendant, C. I Nwosu insisted that her client’s application be taken because of his ill health.

She noted that in addition to the application, she filed an affidavit of urgency.

Nwosu argued that the health of the defendant was at stake and he had been detained for a long.

Taiwo did not object to the application.

Justice Omotosho asked if the suit number cited in her bail application was the right one and if there were medical reports attached to her fillings.

She responded no.

The judge, however, reserved ruling on her application and adjourned till March 19 to hear pending bail applications and deliver a ruling on them.

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