News

Family of boy allegedly killed by Cross River Governor’s aides demands N950m

Mr Stephen Mba, father of the late Moses, has filed a suit at Federal High Court in Calabar, demanding N950 million for the alleged killing of his son by security aides attached to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State.

Moses Mba, 21, was alleged to have been killed by aides attached to the governor’s residence in Calabar.

Mba made the demand in a suit no. FHC/CA/FHR/79/2025 filed in the court by O. R. Ogboaka, Okon Efut (SAN) and Associate, his counsel.

In an originating motion filed on October 10, the applicant joined Mr Victor Edet, Police Service Commission, Commissioner of Police, the state Chief Security officer, and Governor Bassey Otu as respondents.

He prayed that the torture, assault and the murder of the deceased was unlawful, unwarranted, flagrant abuse and executive recklessness against the deceased.

The second order demanded N950 million against the respondents as exemplary and aggravated damages in favour of the applicant.

In addition, the applicant explained that the amount demanded would be for general damages including the torture, murder and wanton violation of the deceased’s fundamental rights.

The applicant, in the motion, concluded saying, ‘’any such other order as the court may deem fit in the circumstance.’’

The mother of deceased, Mrs Victoria Mba, had alleged that her son was beaten and shot by the security operatives attached to the governor’s residence on August 1, 2025.

Mba had demanded justice for her deceased son.

She had explained that the late Moses died on August 9 at the Naval Reference Hospital in Calabar, following injuries sustained from the beaten and gunshot.

According to her, the young Mba, who would have turned 22 in November, was beaten, shot, and left in his pool of blood right in front of the governor’s residence.

“We (my husband and I) were actually away in Abia State when the incident occurred. We got a call same day from an official of the Red Cross Society that rushed him to the hospital.

“Upon our arrival at the hospital, we sought to enquire from our son the event that led to the beating and subsequent shooting.

“According to him, he only requested to see the governor and that he had a message for him from God.’’

Mba, who claimed that she was not excusing her son from claiming to have a message for the governor, said that the late Moses had the gift of prophecy, manifested at the age of 10.

According to her, we only pleaded with him to be done with his education before facing God’s work fully.

She claimed that her son was beaten and shot as he insisted on seeing the governor and was left on his own without assistance from those who caused him harm.

“It was the Red Cross whose office had close by that time that rushed him to the hospital as he was bleeding profusely from the gunshot injury.

“They (Red Cross) also paid the sum of N1.3 million, aside from other medical bills paid to operate on him,” she further stated.

Mba, however, noted that all through the period her son was hospitalised, security operatives from the governor’s office were at the boy’s hospital bed mounting surveillance.

She said that they were on plain uniform and changed duties three times a day, morning, afternoon and night.

She added that one of the aides to the governor’s Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Dickson, was in touch with them and was coming around the hospital also.

According to her, the security demanded a copy of all the receipts generated for his treatments, just as the same was given to the Red Cross that footed the hospital bills.

“When my son passed on, on Saturday, August 9, I called the same Dickson to inform him that the mortuary bill was N54,000 plus, but he sent us N50,000.’’

Mba further noted that few days after depositing the body at the morgue, some persons, led by the state’s Commissioner of Police were at the morgue to see her son’s corpse.

She said that the mortuary attendant alerted them on the visit but they instructed him not to allow them to see the corpse.

She alleged that they were being threatened by the aides and refused them from burying their son while accusing the deceased of having a mental disorder when he was alive.

According to her, my son never had any issue, he wrote the last JAMB and had 196, and his WAEC result is perfect. He was to study Business Administration at the University of Calabar.

“They are saying all I need is money, and that N3 million will keep me quiet. Nigerians should please help me, I want justice for my son, who is still in the mortuary,” Mba said.

The government of Cross River had condemned the beating and the shooting of Moses Mba that subsequently led to his death.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, however, exonerated the governor’s security aides.

He also alleged that the boy (deceased) was not mentally stable and that the house he went to was actually the governor’s former residence.

According to Ekpang, “firstly, the house is not where the governor presently reside and secondly, only one security person was there when the boy visited.

“There is video evidence that the boy was throwing big stones at the policeman. He was not mentally okay and, at a point, has to apologise for throwing stones.

“Inspite of this, we condemn the beating and shooting of the boy. It is not something that we should be happy about, no matter what.”

Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rasheed Afegbua, said the matter was before the DPP for advice.

“Whatever the DPP advises, we will follow,” he had stated.

News

Lagos Court Jails Train Driver 18 Months for N6.9m Theft

Justice Rahman Osodi of the Special offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, October 20,2025, convicted and sentenced one Christopher Ekene Ofielu, a driver with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, to 18 months imprisonment for N6.9m theft.

The 39-year-old convict was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and possession to the tune of N6,995,944( Six Million Nine Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Four Naira only)

One of the counts reads: “That you, Christopher Ekene Ofielu, on or about October 2023, Lagos, within this honourable court, used your Habaripay Squad account created for criminal activity and transferred the sum of N6,995,944 into your Access Bank account 14864072356, property of HabariPay Ltd.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Abubakar Dambuwa, called on Adams Adze, an investigator with the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

In his review, Adze said the defendant was arrested, following a petition dated September 26, 2023 submitted by HabariPay Ltd to the Commission.

He also stated that Ofielu had capitalised on a system glitch to make the unauthorized withdrawal.

The prosecution counsel, thereafter, informed the court of a plea bargain entered into by the defendant, and also urged the court to convict the defendant accordingly.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mercy Akhabue, prayed the court for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

“My Lord, he is remorseful and is a first- time offender,” he added.

After listening to both parties, Justice Oshodi convicted Ofielu on the count of stealing and sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, starting from October 20, 2025.

Justice Oshodi, however, gave the convict an option of a fine in the sum of ₦1.5 million provided he fully restitutes the stolen amount to the tune of N 6,995,944 to HabariPay Ltd within seven days from his Access Bank account No. 14864072356, failing which the jail term of 18 months would apply .

The court also ordered the restoration of the convict’s Eco Bank salary account.

Justice Oshodi further ordered that the convict’s biometric data be registered in the Lagos State offenders’ register.

The convict was ordered remanded at the EFCC custody pending the execution of necessary documents.

News

Governor Nasir Idris approves minor cabinet reshuffle in Kebbi

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle as part of his administration’s continued efforts to strengthen governance and enhance efficiency across the state.

In a statement released on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Tafida, and made available to journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the governor announced the redeployment of two commissioners within the State Executive Council.

According to the statement, Samaila Augie has been moved to the Ministry of Health, while Haliru Wasagu has been redeployed to the Ministry of Internal Security.

Tafida explained that the decision reflects Governor Nasir Idris’s vision of repositioning the civil service to ensure effective and efficient service delivery to the people of Kebbi State.

“I am directed to convey the approval of the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, for the redeployment of the aforementioned honourable commissioners. This directive is for strict compliance and takes immediate effect,” the statement read.

The SSG expressed the governor’s appreciation to members of the Executive Council for their continued cooperation and commitment to the administration’s goals.

He reaffirmed Governor Nasir Idris’s dedication to fostering peace, unity, and improved public service delivery, emphasising that the reshuffle is a strategic step towards a more responsive and result-driven government.

The move, viewed as a positive adjustment, underscores the administration’s determination to maintain momentum in governance and deliver tangible results to the citizens of Kebbi State.

News

Unijos confirms murder of student by colleague

The Management of the University of Jos, has confirmed the murder of Peter Mafuyai, a 300-level student of the department Banking and Finance of the institution by his friend and fellow student.

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Dr Rejoice Songden, the Registrar of the university confirmed the incident in a condolence message on Monday in Jos.

‎Songden, who condemned the incident, however, clarified that the incident occured outside the school premises.

‎“The Management of the University of Jos has received with deep sadness the report of the unfortunate incident involving two students, which tragically resulted in the death of a 300-level student of the Department of Banking and Finance.

‎‎“The deceased was allegedly murdered by his friend, Nanpon Timnan, a 200-level student of the Department of Agricultural Science.

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“On behalf of the council, management, staff and students, we express our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, colleagues of the deceased and pray for God’s comfort and strength to bear the painful loss.

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“The Management, however, wishes to clarify that the incident occurred off campus, not within the university premises as erroneously reported by some media outlets,”she said.

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The registrar explained that the university had concluded for 2024/2025 academic session since Aug. 30.

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‎“Therefore, students were not in session at the time of the incident; they are expected back on campus for the 2025/2026 academic session on Nov. 10.

‎“We deeply regret this tragic development and assure parents, guardians, students, staff and the general public that adequate security measures are in place to safeguard lives and property within the university vicinity,”she said.

‎‎Songden said that the university is fully cooperating with the security agencies to ensure speedy investigation into the matter and ensure justice is served.(NAN)

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