An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Thursday ordered that a 35-year-old man, Dickson Peter, be remanded in a correction facility for allegedly setting his landlord’s house on fire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police charged the defendant with two counts of felony and arson.

The Magistrate, Mr M. Mudashiru, who did not take his plea due to lack of jurisdiction, ordered that he be remanded in the Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo Town.

Mudashiru said the remand is pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He adjourned the matter until July 23, 2024, for reference.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Femi Oluwadare told the court that Peter, on April 18, at about 12:30 am, was alleged to have unlawfully set fire to the house of his landlord, Cepas Okeme, and destroyed properties worth N6.5 million.

Oluwadare said that after he set the building on fire, it also spread to the next house property belonging to Bose Ali ‘F’ and destroyed property worth N3.5 million.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 443 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000

A 24-year-old girl, Sophia Nkwor, has been arrested by the police in Delta state for allegedly dumping and drowning her one-year-old son in a well at Araya community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Parading the suspect before newsmen at the state police headquarters in Asaba on Thursday, May 2, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, said the incident happened on April 26.

“On 28th of April 2024, a case of infanticide was reported at Oleh Division, that a suspect named Sofia Nkwor ‘f’ aged 24 years from Isoko South LGA, dumped her child of one year and one month old in a well along the road in Araya community Isoko South LGA. Children who went to play around the tree discovered the abandoned child floating on the well.”

Speaking to newsmen, the suspect said she decided to kill her child because of her inability to cater for him. Identifying the son as Destiny, she said the father of the child rejected him, adding that she was living with her grandmother in the community.

“l have no helper; it was only me that was taking care of the child; l was the only one that was doing everything and l was tired of doing that,” she said, adding that she was in a bad mood when she committed the infanticide

Tech giant, Google has reportedly laid off at least 200 employees from its 'Core' teams, and will be moving some roles to India and Mexico in a bid to cut costs. 

Asim Husain, vice president of Google Developer Ecosystem, informed employees about the layoffs in an email last week, saying that this was the biggest planned reduction for his team this year.

“We intend to maintain our current global footprint while also expanding in high-growth global workforce locations so that we can operate closer to our partners and developer communities,” the email read, as per the report 

Google's Core unit is tasked with building the technical base for its flagship products and ensuring safety of its users online. It also maintains the company's global IT infrastructure and provides users with internal tools and developer solutions.

At least 50 of the positions eliminated were in engineering at the company's offices in Sunnyvale, California, filings show. Many Core teams will hire corresponding roles in Mexico and India, according to internal documents viewed by CNBC.

The operatives of the FCT police command, on April 27, arrested two female suspects, Kulu Dogonyaro and Elizabeth Ojah, in connection with the trafficking of five children.  

The suspects who attempted to escape arrest from Sokoto police operatives, were intercepted and arrested by FCT police operatives at Kagini junction, Abuja, while suspiciously conveying five (5) children into the Federal Capital Territory. 

Confirming the arrest to newsmen, the FCT police command, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement released, said the command has handed the suspects and victims over to Sokoto state police command for further investigation and onward prosecution.

She added that the Commissioner of police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, has urged parents to pay utmost attention to their wards while reaffirming his commitment to ensuring the safety of the residents of FCT. He also calls on residents to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines in reporting suspicious activities through: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192.

Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, fixed June 5, 2024, for the report of settlement in the case of a socialite businessman, Pascal Okechukwu alias Cubana Chief Priest, over alleged abuse of the Naira.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on April 17, 2024, arraigned Cubana Chief Priest on three counts bordering on the abuse of naira.

The EFCC said the socialite was caught spraying naira notes during a social event at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

Cubana Chief Priest, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N10m.

Justice Ogundare gave him seven days to perfect the bail conditions, with a warning that if he failed, he would be remanded in custody.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, EFCC prosecutor Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, announced her appearance, while Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) appeared for the defendant.

Ojukwu informed the court that parties were exploring settlement and had applied that the matter be settled, under the provisions of Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.

He told the court that if the prosecution confirmed the position as true, then there would be a need to apply for a withdrawal of preliminary objection and allow for reconciliation.

The prosecutor’s counsel confirmed the position of the defence counsel and told the court that the application was still being considered.

The defence counsel then applied for a withdrawal of the preliminary objection and since there was no objection from the prosecution, the court granted the prayer and adjourned the case till June 5 for the report of settlement.

Counsel for the EFCC had, during arraignment, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on February 13, 2024, when spraying the naira at a social event at Eko Hotel.

Buhari also told the court that Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying the same for two hours.

The commission also said in January 2024, during a social event, the defendant tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the CBN by spraying the notes at the event.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007

Paid $500M To End Ajaokuta Steel Contract

The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shuaib Abubakar on Thursday disclosed that the Federal Government paid the sum of $500 in order to terminate the concession agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The minister, who disclosed this during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development in Abuja said the government was working assiduously to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel imbroglio.

He said, “It is a problem that has persisted for 45 years. We have gone to China to come and invest in the steel company including setting up a new plant and we have gone to seek financing”.

According to him, the challenges had changed as new technology had come up and there had been innovations and there had been discussions around it but it had not been finalised.

“Funding is a big challenge to the Ministry of Steel Development. Steel industry will be the bed rock of industrialization if we have proper funding.

“I am still at a stage where to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

On the $2 billion being requested to revive the moribund steel company, the minister said it was just a preliminary calculation, adding that the figure might not be up to that.

According to him, this is an estimate that may not be accurate at the last decimal point. It is just a process that will allow us to arrive at the right destination.

“The president has asked me to find a solution to Ajaokuta, so the figure will change pending the outcome of the technical audit.

“It’s clear to Nigeria that for this to happen we need funding and all the help we can get from the two chambers, this is why we need. I need all your support to make this a reality.”

Abubakar also disclosed that the nation spends $8 billion annually to import steel into the country, saying that it is in the best interest of Nigeria for the Ajaokuta Steel Company to work.

He noted that the revival of Ajaokuta Steel will cost money, and we have written a 10 year document for the revival. We will present the document to Mr President.

He said that it was in his own interest for Ajaokuta Steel to work, adding that he is from Kogi State and must push for such interest

Chairman, House Committee on Steel Development, Hon. Zainab Gimba, the urged the ministry to provide it with all the procurement process and other responses demanded by the committee

The committee said that Ajaokuta had remained a nightmare to many, adding that now that the minister had accepted to superintend over it, Nigeria expected more from him.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Osun State Command, has arrested a 32 year old man, Oladiti Saheed Toyin, for impersonation.

According to a statement by the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Michael Adaralewa, issued by the Command spokesperson, Adeleke Kehinde, on Thursday, Toyin, who resides at No 2, Lakewu area, Ororuwo, Boripe Local Government Area of the state, was arrested for parading himself as a medical doctor.

Adaralewa also revealed that he allegedly attended to a pregnant woman during childbirth which led to her death. 

“The suspect whose highest qualification is Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) has been operating an unlicensed clinic for the past six years and two months. He also has people who are undergoing training in his clinic as staff.

“While making his confessional statement, the suspect, Oladiti Toyin said on the 15th of April, 2024, a pregnant woman with 9 months and 3 weeks pregnancy visited his hospital popularly known as OLORUNTOYIN CLINIC at No 2, Lakewu area, Ororuwo, Boripe Local Government, Osun State.

“According to him the pregnant woman could not continue her antenatal care at her previous hospital because she had misunderstanding with her husband. The self–acclaimed doctor said he checked her blood pressure which was low and gave her some drugs. He thereafter asked her to come back whenever she fell into labour.

“On Thursday, 18th April 2024, the woman began to experience labour symptoms and was in the hospital where she was delivered of a baby. The victim developed some complications shortly after and was later rushed to a nearby licensed hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.”

The Osun NSCDC boss revealed that discreet investigation revealed that the suspect also engaged in the training of people to become quack doctors, at the cost of N5,000.

Adaralewa also said the suspect was guilty of flouting the provisions of Section 343 (1e) of the Criminal Code Act.

The Act provides that “Any person who in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life or likely cause harm to any other person gives medical or surgical treatment to any person whom he has undertaken to treat is guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable.”

The commandant assured members of the public that the suspect would be made to face the full wrath of the law upon the conclusion of investigation.

While cautioning members of the public to be mindful of medical institutions they visit when seeking medical attention, he urged them to report quacks to security agencies for prompt action.

Omowunmi, the wife of late singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad, has debunked reports that she secretly conducted DNA tests on her son, Liam.

Reports were rife in some sections of the media that Wunmi recently conducted DNA tests on Liam at two separate centres.

She has now dispelled the rumours.

“It is a lie,” she told SaharaReporters on Thursday, denying the allegations.

DAILY POST reports Wunmi’s father-in-law, Joseph Aloba, has been insisting on a DNA test to ascertain his grandson’s true paternity.

Wunmi, who had previously expressed her willingness for a DNA test on her son, said she was no longer open to the test.

She said only her late husband has the right to request a DNA test from her, stressing that Mohbad disvirgined her and that he was the only man she had slept with.

The Nigerian federal government has shifted the application deadline for companies interested in managing the $10 billion Diaspora Fund.

Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this in a circular on Thursday in Abuja.

Accordingly, the deadline for May 6 has been shifted to May 13, 2024.

The minister urged prospective applicants to utilise the extra time to complete their submissions, ensuring they are thorough and competitive.

She stressed that the extension is designed to allow stakeholders additional time to adequately prepare their applications following the guidelines established for the fund.

“The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment wishes to inform all interested parties that the deadline for the submission of Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Nigeria Diaspora Fund has been extended.

“The new submission deadline is May 13, 2024. This extension is intended to accommodate stakeholders who require more time to prepare their applications by the guidelines provided for the $10 billion Nigeria Diaspora Fund,” she stated.

The Anambra State Government has arrested one Uzochukwu Okoli for giving out his underage daughter’s hand in marriage.

Okoli was apprehended after his daughter reported to the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the ill-treatment being meted out to her by her father and the man he forced her to marry.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, on Thursday.

Ikeanyionwu said the girl, who is currently 16 years old, told the ministry that after the death of their mother, her father brought her back from Edo State, where they were going to school to take a husband.

The statement read, “She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-year-old man at the age of 14, but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu N. as husband.

“The girl, who also came with her elder sister, explained that life with the said husband had been a ‘living hell’ because he beat her and sometimes after beating her, peed in her mouth and that made her run away with her nine-month-old baby.

“Her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, on the other hand, claimed her daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said 20 years.

“Okoli, when he was handcuffed, threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison. He also urged them to pray he dies in prison because he will make life more miserable for them.”

Reacting to the development, Obinabo instructed that the case be charged to court so that the children could get justice.

She used the medium to urge parents to be mindful of their children and direct them properly instead of pushing them to early marriage, which will destroy their lives.

Our correspondent learnt that both Okoli and Chinedu were arrested and will be arraigned in court.