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A Nigerian national, Phil Odili, has been nabbed in Bloemfontein, South Africa, after police allegedly discovered about 28 undocumented foreign nationals hiding in his guesthouse during a raid.

Odili is the husband of the Deputy Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Lulama Titi Odili.

Confirming the arrest, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae said the operation had triggered a major police and immigration investigation.

According to her, officers found between 28 and 29 people who had allegedly been staying at the guesthouse for about seven days without leaving the premises.

“It’s a guesthouse where we had about 28 to 29 people that were arrested because they were hiding in this place.”

She added, “We’re told that it’s about seven days that they’ve been hiding in this place. There is someone who’s coming in bringing some foodstuffs for them.”

The raid comes amid heightened immigration enforcement in South Africa following protests against illegal immigration.

Letsoha-Mathae said Odili had been taken into custody but was yet to be formally charged.

“The husband is not yet being charged. He’ll be transported to the nearest police station. We’ll know later today what charges he’ll be facing.”

Authorities said preliminary findings suggest many of those arrested are undocumented migrants from countries including Nigeria and Ethiopia.

The investigation took another twist after police allegedly recovered a Nigerian passport alongside the d+ath certificate and South African identity document of a deceased South African woman.

“This person is having a Nigerian passport but is in possession of a d+ath certificate of a South African woman and an ID of a South African woman,” Letsoha-Mathae said.

She said investigators are also probing how a visa allegedly linked to the deceased woman was obtained after her d+ath. Police say investigations are ongoing, and no formal charges have yet been announced against Odili.

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By Francesca Hangeior

The Federal High Court has issued the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026, aimed at ensuring the speedy, efficient and fair determination of pre-election cases across the country.

In a statement signed by the Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, the court said the new Practice Directions were approved by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Terhemba Tsoho.

According to the statement, the Practice Directions are designed to strengthen the handling of pre-election matters in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2026, and other relevant laws.

The court noted that the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026 have repealed the 2022 edition.

The statement urged members of the Bar, political parties, litigants and other stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the new provisions.

The court also announced that copies of the new Practice Directions are available for download on the Federal High Court’s official website.

The statement was issued on June 29, 2026, by Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, Director of Information, Federal High Court of Nigeria.

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By Francesca Hangeior

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, on Tuesday challenged Nigerian scientists to identify the fastest pathway towards developing the country’s first Lassa fever vaccine, describing the recurring disease as a major public health burden requiring urgent scientific solutions.

Echono gave the charge in Abuja during the presentation of the outcomes of a TETFund-sponsored Mega Research Project on Lassa Fever conducted by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.

Speaking after receiving the findings, Echono said the research had reinforced the need for Nigeria to move beyond generating scientific evidence to developing practical interventions that directly improve the lives of citizens.

He urged the research team to prioritise vaccine development, stressing that immunisation remains the most effective strategy for controlling infectious diseases.

He said, “What is the shortest route towards developing a vaccine? How can we ensure that the burden on our people is reduced? Every year, thousands of Nigerians die from Lassa fever. How can we reduce this burden?

“I know a vaccine is usually the most effective mode of disease control. You vaccinate people, and they become almost immune. What is the fastest path, and how can TETFund support that drive so that we can achieve direct benefits and direct impact on the lives of Nigerians?”

The TETFund boss assured the researchers that the intervention agency would work with relevant government institutions to ensure the findings translate into national health policies and interventions.

“We will escalate these findings to the relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Ministry of Health. If we receive the validation we expect, it will strengthen our case for establishing a vaccine development centre in Nigeria,” he said.

He commended the researchers for producing findings capable of improving healthcare delivery, adding that defeating diseases such as Lassa fever would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s health system.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Francis Uba, described the project as one of the institution’s most significant research investments.

According to him, TETFund demonstrated remarkable foresight about four years ago by awarding the university a N250 million Mega Research Grant to investigate Lassa fever.

“This significant investment was not merely financial support; it was an expression of confidence in the capacity of Nigerian scientists and institutions to generate evidence-based solutions to one of our nation’s most persistent public health challenges,” he said.

Uba noted that recurrent outbreaks of Lassa fever continue to impose heavy medical, social and economic costs on Nigeria and other West African countries by claiming lives, overstretching health facilities and threatening national health security.

He added that the project had generated valuable evidence on the epidemiology, diagnosis, management and control of the disease while strengthening the university’s research infrastructure, laboratory capacity and collaborations with local and international partners.