Prince Ugochukwu Orji, the immigration officer who arrested the fleeing Enugu State native doctor accused of killing people for rituals, has been rewarded with N5 million.

Foremost industrialist and philanthropist Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, who is also a senatorial aspirant for the Anambra South senatorial district by-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, made the gesture.

Onunkwo hosted the immigration officer at his residence in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State.

Prince Orji, an immigration officer, was at his duty post last month when the alleged ritualist and fake native doctor, Ichie Billion, attempted to use a motorcycle to cross into the Republic of Benin from Nigeria at the Seme Border. Having recognised his face from the internet, Orji swiftly intercepted him.

Onunkwo, an industrialist and Chairman/CEO of Seahorse Lubricant Industries Ltd., while presenting a cheque of N5,000,000 to the officer, stated that it was part of Seahorse Lubricant Industries’ corporate social responsibility and a gesture of encouragement for moral renaissance in society.

“Nigeria still has men of honour. Ugochukwu stood in the gap when it mattered. In a system where many are tempted to sell their conscience, he chose to uphold the law.

“Seahorse is giving him N5 million not just to appreciate his bravery but to encourage a culture of truth and accountability in our nation.

“I urge the Nigerian Immigration Service to look into this case and consider rewarding Ugochukwu officially. Let this be an example to others — that honesty is not only possible in this country, but it also pays. Our system must start celebrating people who choose integrity over impunity,” he said.

Narrating what transpired on the day of the arrest, Orji recounted: “I stopped him and confronted him with his photo. He denied it at first, saying it was his brother. But I insisted. He then tried to bribe me with N3 million, then N7 million, N10 million, and eventually N15 million, with his wife promising to send the money.

“I pretended to cooperate just to detain him without raising an alarm. When I confirmed from my superior that he was indeed the wanted man, I handcuffed him and recovered voice notes from his phone that revealed attempts to erase his tracks.”

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly reconciled with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declaring that any past grievances between them have been put to rest.

The reconciliation reportedly took place during a meeting in Lagos with members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), who had gathered to appeal on behalf of Sanwo-Olu and others who may have fallen out of favour with the president.

According to ThisDay, the GAC chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, acknowledged Tinubu’s recent discontent with some individuals in Lagos, particularly the governor, and appealed for forgiveness.

In response, Tinubu reportedly told the gathering that all is forgiven.

“It’s all over now. All is forgiven,” the publication said, citing multiple sources.

Following the president’s statement, Sanwo-Olu and several GAC members reportedly prostrated before him in a gesture of respect and reconciliation.

Sources noted that the meeting focused solely on seeking and granting forgiveness, without delving into the specific issues that may have caused the rift.

President Bola Tinubu’s reforms are steadily preparing Nigeria’s economy for lasting recovery and growth, despite current hardships, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, has said.

His remarks, made after a visit to President Tinubu’s Lagos home, were echoed by Aminu Suleiman, a member of the recently launched North West Development Commission, who urged Nigerians to be patient, suggesting Tinubu’s two years in office have been more effective than the preceding administration’s entire eight-year term.

Bagudu emphasised that Nigeria is beginning to see positive outcomes from long-overdue economic changes.

“We’re not where we want to be, but these steps have turned the economy in the right direction,” he stated.

He highlighted the administration’s pivotal decision to end costly subsidies on fuel, foreign exchange, and electricity.

Decades of underinvestment brought Nigeria to a point where even paying salaries was difficult.

“By cutting these subsidies, we freed up resources. Today, subnational governments, states and local governments have nearly tripled the funds they had before. That’s transformative,” he said.

The minister noted that these freed-up funds are being channelled into critical sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, consumer credit, digital innovation, and human capital development.

He added, “These are not abstract promises. We are seeing real allocations going to security, education, and economic empowerment.”

Bagudu also reported a resurgence of investor confidence, both domestic and international.

“There is a visible return of private capital. Investors are taking Nigeria seriously again. They see a government that’s making tough but necessary choices,” he added.

He likened the reforms to “filling the hole under a house”, explaining that while visible progress might not yet be apparent, crucial foundational work is underway.

Bagudu also commented on the growing number of opposition politicians joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), including governors from Delta and Akwa Ibom states, describing it as a reflection of faith in Tinubu’s leadership and the direction of the country.

He concluded that as Nigerians celebrate Eid and the second anniversary of the Tinubu administration, “the administration’s reforms are working, and investments are rising, despite challenges besetting the country.”

Portugal won for a 2nd time in its history the UEFA Nations League after a 2-2 draw in regular time against Spain and then by winning after penalties, as the only player that failed to score was Alvaro Morata, and he cost his nation the chance to triumph.

Spain took the lead in the match after 21 minutes when, after a fantastic attack, the ball ended in Martin Zubimendi, who scored 1-0.

However, only 5 minutes later, Portugal tied the result after great individual effort by Nuno Mendes, who scored into the bottom right corner for 1-1.

La Furia scored in the last minute of the regular time of the 1st half to take the lead for a 2nd time in the final as Pedri assisted Mikel Oyarzabal, who made it 2-1 in the 45th minute.

Selecao refused to give up and in the 61st minute, the world’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo tied the result after the ball ended in his feet after a cross, and he scored 2-2.

However, minutes before the end of the regular time, Ronaldo was forced to leave as Goncalo Ramos entered in his place, while the other star on the pitch, but for the opponent, Lamine Yamal, was also substituted after the end of the 1st extra 15 minutes.

Alvaro Morato missed his penalty, while Portugal were 5 of 5 from the penalties and won the tournament

A 68-year-old man has reportedly fallen into a deep well, on Sunday while trying to recover his lost mobile phone at Mobolorunduro mosque, Molefalafia, Oke-Ado in the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo  State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

A resident, Ajadi Olaleye, who spoke with The PUNCH in Ibadan, the state capital, said, “The fire fighters were able to rescue him alive and subsequently handed him over to his family for proper medicare.”

When contacted, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde of the state on Fire Service Reform, Adebayo Akiinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement.

He said the agency was intimated of the incident through a phone call that an elderly man has been trapped inside a well at the premises of Mosque located at Molefalafia in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

“The distressed call was reported at exactly 06:10hrs this morning, Sunday June 8, 2025 through telephone call of someone that fell into a well at Mobolorunduro Mosque, No.30 Ajeigbe Street, Molefalafia, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

“The fire personnel led by ACFS Adedeji promptly deployed to the scene of the incident. On getting there, it was discovered to be a man of about 68 years of age trapped inside a deep well of Mobolorunduro Mosque while he was solely trying to recover his lost phone in the well. 

“The firemen swiftly swung into action by tying all necessary knots and observing precautionary measures. The man was rescued alive and handed over to his family for proper care.

“The cause of the incident was as a result of ignorance, not knowing the danger associated with entering a well without properly trained.”

Akiinwande, therefore, advised the public to desert from any activity that could pose danger into their valuable lives.

He also reiterated the effort of the present administration in securing the lives and property of entire citizens of the state.

Every year, the town of Ijebu Ode in Ogun State comes alive with colour, culture, music, and heritage as it hosts the Ojude Oba Festival — a century-old celebration that unites the Ijebu people and beyond.

Slated for the third day after Eid al-Kabir (Ileya), this year’s edition, Ojude Oba 2025, promises another vibrant spectacle filled with history, fashion, faith, and fanfare.

Here are 10 things to know about this iconic Yoruba festival.

1. Ojude Oba Is Held in Honour of the King

Ojude Oba literally means “The King’s Forecourt.” The festival is a grand homage paid to the Awujale of Ijebuland, the traditional ruler of Ijebu Ode. It gathers age-grade groups (regberegbe), dignitaries, entertainers, and locals who converge at the palace to show loyalty, appreciation, and solidarity with the monarch.

2. It Holds on the Third Day After Eid al-Kabir

Ojude Oba is tied closely to the Muslim calendar. It is held annually on the third day after Eid al-Adha (Ileya), a major Islamic celebration. This year, 2025, will follow the same pattern — depending on the sighting of the moon.

3. It Has Over 100 Years of History

The origins of Ojude Oba date back more than a century. One account traces it to Balogun Kuku, a wealthy Muslim convert, who rallied his household to pay homage to the king after the Eid prayers. Another version credits Imam Tunwatoba, who led his companions to thank Oba Fidipote for allowing peaceful Islamic practice in Ijebuland.

4. It Draws a Global Crowd

Though deeply rooted in Yoruba and Ijebu tradition, the festival is now a global affair. Up to a million people, including Nigerians in the diaspora, attend the event annually. Attendees come from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and beyond, making it a unifying spectacle.

5. It Features Cultural Age Groups (Regberegbe)

One of the festival’s highlights is the parade of regberegbe — cultural age-grade groups. These groups are known for their dazzling display of fashion, dance, pageantry, and loyalty to the king. The friendly competition among these groups is one of the most anticipated elements of the festival.

6. Fashion Takes Centre Stage

Ojude Oba has become a fashion runway of tradition. The Yoruba people, especially the Ijebu, treat clothing as a mark of status and identity. Each regberegbe appears in new, elaborate outfits every year, often designed months in advance. Rich fabrics like sanyan, indigo-dyed cotton, and deep reds and yellows dominate the scene.

7. It Reflects Religious Tolerance

Despite its Muslim origins, Ojude Oba is a symbol of religious harmony. Christians, traditional worshippers, and even tourists join in the celebration. The spiritual heart of the festival is about gratitude, prayer, and peace — offered for the king, his subjects, and the land.

8. It Has Military and Historical Displays

The event also features cultural warriors, including descendants of ancient warlords and traditional soldiers who march with swords and perform gun salutes. This military symbolism harks back to Ijebu’s precolonial martial heritage, reinforcing the festival’s cultural depth.

9. It Boosts Local Economy and Tourism

Ojude Oba significantly contributes to the Ijebu Ode economy. Hotels get fully booked, artisans and traders enjoy increased patronage, and local businesses thrive. Corporate sponsors also use the festival as a platform for brand visibility and community engagement.

10. It Is Supported by the Awujale and Sponsors

The festival is jointly organized and funded by the Awujale of Ijebuland, the Ijebu people, corporate brands, and notable personalities. Each year, leading companies and individuals sponsor regberegbe groups and entertainment, helping sustain and expand the event’s reach.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers has said that a shift to computer-based examinations by West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council will not eliminate malpractices.

The NUT National President, Audu Amba, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.

Amba was reacting to the recent directive by the Federal Government that WAEC and NECO should fully transit to Computer-Based Testing for their examinations by 2026.

NAN reports that by the directive, both multiple-choice and essay papers by the two bodies would be administered via computer, starting with the May/June 2026 examination cycle.

Specifically, WAEC is expected to begin conducting objective exams via CBT starting in November 2025.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who announced the federal government’s decision, had said that switching to CBT for WAEC and NECO examinations would enhance efficiency and reduce malpractices.

Amba, however, said that the major challenge with the nation’s education system, which is encouraging malpractices, is the priority placed on paper qualifications.

According to him, because the society only recognises certificates and grades, the students will go the extra miles, some times, with the support of their parents to acquire them, even when they cannot be defended.

“We have placed more emphasis on certificate. What is your grade? What is your scores?

“Not minding the intellectual intelligence of that student.

“The students will go out of their ways to make sure that they get the marks that will give them the certificate,” he said

Amba also underscored the need to address the digital literacy gap among students and teachers before implementing such policy, adding that this may require additional training programmes and resources.

“We are talking about CBT exams. Where is the light, manpower and network? You see, we have a long way to go.

“How many of our teachers in our localities are even computer literate? We don’t sit down within the city and give a directive that cannot be implemented.

“In my village, for instance, network ceases. You can’t get it until you get to a particular place, and so it is in many of our villages.

‘There are also some of our students that have not seen a computer before not to talk of operating it,” he said

The NUT president reiterated that many things needed to be addressed first and and in time, before it could get to a level of CBT introduction.

According to him, there is need for relevant stakeholders to work together to improve the education sector for the betterment of the students and the nation.

The Federal Government has declared Thursday a public holiday to commemorate the 2025 Democracy Day celebration.

This is contained in a statement by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on Sunday in Abuja.

Ajani disclosed that the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while declaring the holiday on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians for an uninterrupted 26 years of civil rule.
“June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign and peace is sustained and our future assured.

“The last 26 years tell the story of our resilience, strength, and courage, and a hope renewed than ever,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo reiterated the commitment of the Renewed Hope government of President Bola Tinubu to the universal value of democracy that is based on freely-expressed will of the people in determining Nigeria’s political, economic, social, and cultural systems.

(NAN)

The Republic of Ireland spent €324,714, equivalent to about N577m, to hire a chartered flight for the deportation of 35 Nigerians to Lagos on Wednesday night, according to an Irish news outlet Raidió Teilifís Éireann.

RTÉ News reported that the flight, which took off from Dublin Airport, conveyed 21 Nigerian men, nine women, and five children.

According to the medium, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, disclosed the cost of the chartered flight, explaining that it was carried out by An Garda Síochána, Department of Justice staff, and prison officers, who accompanied the deportees on the flight.

The minister said although the flight made an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board, all 35 returnees arrived in Nigeria on Thursday morning.

O’Callaghan added that this was the third time the country had used a chartered flight for deportees this year, and the operations underscored its strict enforcement of deportation rules.

According to him, the Nigerian deportees failed to comply with an earlier deportation order served to them.

“People need to know that if they are served with a deportation order, it has meaning, and the meaning is that you are not entitled to stay in Ireland.

“If it is the case that you’re not permitted to stay, whether you have overstayed your work visa or haven’t been granted asylum, there must be a consequence,” the minister was quoted as saying.

As of 1 pm on Saturday, the exchange rate stood at approximately N1,777.43 per €1. Therefore, €324,714 is equivalent to about N577m in Nigerian currency.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, through its spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said  there was no issue with the deportation and that the Irish government didn’t have to inform the commission before deporting any Nigerian.

“There is no big deal in that. They have been deporting Nigerians before now. So, the country doesn’t have to inform us when it is not NIDCOM that is bringing the people. They have been deporting people. Once you run afoul of the law of the land, they have the right to deport. So they don’t have to inform us,” Balogun said.

The Irish government recommenced chartered flights for deportations in February 2025, with a total of 106 people deported through this channel so far, according to Irish media.

The Irish Department of Justice said further charter operations will be carried out throughout the year, as 2,403 deportation orders were signed in 2024.

The Peoples Democratic Party is set to overhaul its South-South zonal and state structures in a sweeping move aimed at flushing out disloyal members and forestalling further defections.

A member of the PDP’s National Working Committee, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the planned restructuring was part of renewed efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the source, the party is “clearly displeased” with the spate of defections in recent weeks and is ready to take firm action.

“This will not be business as usual. When the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and former governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, left, the NWC met and resolved to challenge their defection in court. That process is ongoing. As for Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, who defected on Saturday, the party will act after the Sallah break,” the source said.

“These defections damage the party’s internal structure because most of these leaders have their loyalists occupying key positions at state and zonal levels. The party must now clean the house. We will overhaul the South-South leadership to ensure only committed members remain in charge. No more space for political opportunists who will jump ship at the slightest discomfort.”

The PDP has faced internal turbulence since the 2023 general elections.

With no clear resolution in sight, the party has continued to lose high-profile members to the ruling All Progressives Congress. 

On April 23, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and other key party leaders dumped the party.

After months of behind-the-scenes talks with APC leaders, Governor Eno and several officials also formally defected last weekend.

The wave of defections has dealt a major blow to the party’s image and weakened its electoral base ahead of the 2027 polls.

Reacting to Eno’s defection, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, urged disloyal members planning to jump ship to do so quickly, so loyalists could focus on rebuilding the party.

“No political party, whether big or small, will be happy to lose assets, especially priced assets like a sitting governor from a critical state such as Akwa Ibom. So yes, the PDP received the news with mixed feelings,” Osadolor said.

“But at this stage in our national life, what Nigeria needs are sincere patriots committed to nation-building, not political merchants chasing personal gains. It is sad that the men we once looked up to as beacons of integrity have turned out to be nothing but overhyped figures, big men in oversized shoes and garments who cannot meet the basic standards of integrity.”

Osadolor criticised Eno, a cleric, for prioritising political survival over public welfare.

“The truth is, given his background, many had hoped his worldview on governance would be shaped by compassion, service, and truth. But it appears the welfare of Nigerians is not his concern. His focus, clearly, is securing a second term,” he said.

The PDP deputy national youth leader, however, expressed optimism that the defections would make it easier for Nigerians to reject the APC in 2027.

“In an interview earlier this year, I said those looking for transport fare to leave should hurry up. And if they need help, they can come to Wadata Plaza, we’ll be glad to escort them out. Let them go quickly so the party can heal and rebuild.

“It’s better they leave now than linger as saboteurs. Those of us who truly believe in this party are ready to reposition it. All hope is not lost.”