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“How Three Snakes Were Found In Singer Ifunanya’s Lugbe Apartment,” Says Abuja Choir Director
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More details have emerged on the circumstances surrounding the death of the 25-year-old Abuja-based classical, jazz, RnB, and soul singer, Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, popularly known by her stage name Nanyah, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, after she was bitten by a snake in her apartment in Lugbe, Abuja.
Narrating the sequence of events that led to the singer’s death, Sam C. Ezugwu, Director of the Amemuso Choir, of which the late Ifunanya was a member, gave a detailed account of her final hours, describing a frantic race against time that ultimately ended in tragedy.
According to Ezugwu, the first alert came at exactly 10:13am when a message was posted in the Amemuso Choir WhatsApp group by a member identified as Stephanie, urgently asking if anyone was around Jabi or the FMC, Abuja.
“I immediately called her to ask what was wrong. She informed me that Ifunanya had been bitten by a snake,” Ezugwu said.
He explained that he quickly contacted Vincent, a member of the choir known for handling emergency situations, and asked him to head to FMC.
Ezugwu said he also rushed to the hospital alongside Paschal, Ifunanya’s closest friend.
“When I arrived at the hospital with Paschal, Ifunanya’s closest friend, the doctors were already attending to her,” Eugwu said.
“She was struggling to breathe, had been placed on oxygen, and was unable to speak, though she tried to communicate using hand gestures.
“One of the doctors confirmed that Ifunanya arrived at the emergency ward by herself and had explained what happened. She reportedly told them that she saw a grey snake that bit her.”
He added that Ifunanya’s uncle, Mr Joseph, was also present at the hospital.
“Ifunanya was placed on a drip and administered antivenom, alongside other treatments,” he said.
“As medical efforts continued, the doctor in charge informed Vincent that they urgently needed Neostigmine and additional doses of the medication already administered, explaining that the hospital had exhausted its supply.”
However, as efforts continued, the doctor in charge reportedly informed Vincent that the hospital urgently needed Neostigmine and additional doses of drugs already administered, explaining that FMC had exhausted its supply.
After several calls, Ezugwu said it was confirmed that Neostigmine was available at Skylark Pharmacy near the National Hospital.
He and Vincent immediately drove out to purchase the medication.
He said subsequent calls to a hospital contact, identified as Chiamaka, initially yielded uncertainty about Ifunanya’s condition.
On returning to FMC, Ezugwu said they found her lifeless body on the hospital bed, prompting an outpouring of grief as members of the Amemuso Choir and other friends gathered at the emergency ward.
“Soon, the emergency ward was filled with AMEMUSITES and other friends, all grieving the devastating loss.”
Further inquiries from neighbours and individuals, Ifunanya contacted earlier, revealed that she was bitten on the wrist by a snake while sleeping in her room between 8am and 9am.
“She rushed out to seek help, and neighbours immediately tied her hand to slow the spread of venom and encouraged her to go to the hospital.
“A neighbour attempted to assist, but her car failed to start despite several attempts. Ifunanya then ran approximately 500 metres to the estate gate, took a motorcycle, and went to Divine Health Hospital, the closest hospital to her residence in Lugbe, Abuja.”
She subsequently booked a ride to FMC and, while in transit around 9:40am, contacted friends, family members, and members of the Amemuso Choir.
Throughout the ordeal, Mr Joseph and Vincent were said to be in constant communication with Ifunanya’s father, Mr Nwangene, who requested arrangements for an ambulance and the transportation of his daughter’s body to Enugu.
“Unfortunately, the hospital did not have antivenom and referred her to FMC,” he said. She then booked a ride to FMC. While in transit, around 9:40am, Ifunanya contacted friends, family members, and the Amemuso Choir.
“Throughout this period, Mr Joseph and Vincent were in constant communication with her father, Mr Nwangene, who requested that they arrange for an ambulance and transport his daughter’s body to Enugu.”
After her death was confirmed, Ifunanya’s body was moved to the mortuary, embalmed, and prepared for transportation.
Ezugwu said members of the Amemuso Board, including its president, Dr Dayo Benjamins Laniyi, who also serves as Mandate Secretary for Women and Children in the FCT, visited during the process.
The body was later placed in a white body bag and loaded into an ambulance, which moved in convoy to Guardian Angel Catholic Chapel, Lugbe.
There, the Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Stephen Biodun, prayed over and blessed her remains before the ambulance departed for Enugu.
Following the incident, a snake handler was engaged to inspect Ifunanya’s residence.
Ezugwu disclosed that a medium-sized cobra was found inside her room, another smaller snake near her doormat, and a third snake in a nearby compound.
“Subsequently, the services of a snake handler were engaged,” Ezugwu said. “Upon inspection of Ifunanya’s residence, a medium-sized cobra was found inside her room, another smaller snake was discovered near her doormat, and a third snake was located in a nearby compound.
“It was concluded that the cobra was responsible for the fatal bite.”
… As Former CFO Dismisses Missing Funds Claim, Defends Company’s Accounts
A dramatic session unfolded at the Senate on Wednesday as the Senate Committee on Public Accounts ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over his failure to appear before lawmakers investigating alleged unaccounted funds amounting to ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
The committee’s directive followed Kyari’s absence from an investigative hearing examining 19 audit queries raised against the national oil company by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
Lawmakers insisted that the former NNPCL chief had repeatedly failed to honour invitations despite several opportunities granted to him.
The hearing took another twist when former Chief Financial Officer of the NNPCL, Umar Ajiya Isa, strongly rejected claims that ₦210 trillion was missing from the company’s accounts. He argued that the figure being cited as unaccounted for exceeded the total revenue generated by the corporation during the period under review.
During deliberations, some committee members urged restraint. Senator Saliu Mustapha and Senator Tony Nwoye informed the committee that Kyari was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany and should be granted another opportunity to appear before lawmakers.
Their plea, however, met stiff resistance from other members of the panel who insisted that verbal explanations were insufficient. Senator Abdul Ningi argued that any claim of illness should be backed by documentary evidence rather than mere verbal assurances.
The strongest push for enforcement came from Senator Victor Umeh, who formally moved a motion calling for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the former NNPCL chief. The motion received immediate support from the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi.
Nwaebonyi told the committee that granting Kyari another opportunity to appear voluntarily would amount to chasing shadows. He noted that the committee had already convened nine separate meetings on the matter, with three of them presided over by him, without securing the former NNPCL chief’s appearance.
“This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 audit queries raised against NNPCL. The time to issue a warrant of arrest is now because the committee must conclude its assignment and report back to the Senate,” he declared.
Following a voice vote, Committee Chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo announced the panel’s decision, directing security agencies to ensure Kyari’s appearance before the committee.
“Anywhere Mele Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before this committee,” Dankwambo ruled.
While the committee intensified pressure on the former NNPCL boss, Isa mounted a vigorous defence of the company’s financial records. He described the allegation of ₦210 trillion in missing funds as impossible, insisting that the figures did not align with NNPCL’s audited financial statements.
According to him, the company generated approximately ₦54.5 trillion in revenue during the period under review, even before accounting for production costs. He argued that it would be mathematically impossible for ₦210 trillion to be missing when the total earnings were significantly lower than the amount being alleged.
“To be clear, if money had gone missing during our tenure, we would not have had the confidence to publish audited accounts. For over four decades, NNPC accounts were either not prepared, not published, or not submitted to the Auditor-General. The fact that audited accounts were released demonstrates transparency,” he said.
Isa also dismissed allegations that ₦5.8 billion was spent on the registration of NNPC Limited, describing the claim as false and harmful. He challenged the committee to verify the matter independently with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Nigeria Revenue Service.
Warning against the consequences of inaccurate financial allegations, the former CFO said unsubstantiated claims could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and affect investor confidence. He recalled how a previous petition allegedly disrupted efforts to secure about $2.5 billion in Chinese financing for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline project, despite sovereign guarantees backing the deal.
He further urged anti-corruption and intelligence agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, to investigate the allegations thoroughly and establish the facts. “When people claim ₦210 trillion is missing, they should be asked where exactly it went,” he stated.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to return in two weeks as lawmakers continue their probe into the audit queries and the financial operations of the NNPCL during the period under review.
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday ordered the unconditional release of Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo and other detained leaders of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement application, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa granted the order while ruling on a motion filed on May 4, 2026.
The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/42/2024: Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo & Ors v. Federal Government of Nigeria & Ors, also has July 13, 2026, fixed for continuation of hearing on the substantive matter.
The court had earlier ordered that the detained persons be produced before it, a directive which was reportedly not complied with by the military authorities.
Counsel to the applicants, Dr. Jonathan Ekperusi, appeared alongside Andrew Ubido, Esq., while Magdalene Irorere held brief for the 3rd and 5th respondents during the proceedings.
Following the ruling, members of the Okuama community expressed relief and joy over the court’s decision.
Victor Akemor, speaking on behalf of some community members, described the ruling as a welcome development.
“This is great news. Finally, we have reason to celebrate. The court is indeed the hope of the common man,” he said.
He also called on the Delta State Government to assist in facilitating the implementation of the court order and commended community leaders and legal representatives for their efforts.
The detained individuals, including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, President General of Ewu Kingdom; Chief Belvis Adogbo; Dennis Malaka; and Mabel Owhemu, have been in custody for nearly two years.
One of the detainees, Pa James Oghoroko, reportedly died while in detention.
The Okuama leaders were arrested by military personnel between August 18 and 19, 2024, following the killing of 17 soldiers near the community.
More than 100 Nigerians serving jail terms in Ethiopia may soon be transferred to Nigeria as both countries conclude arrangements for a prisoner transfer agreement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arrived in Addis Ababa for the signing of the pact alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
The Nigerian delegation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the agreement is scheduled to be signed on Wednesday.
She disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the lengthy process of negotiations, judicial reviews and ratification of the agreement.
“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she stated in a post on her X handle.
The minister identified Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison as the facilities where the affected Nigerians are being held.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the agreement as a product of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia, anchored on humanitarian considerations, justice and bilateral cooperation.
She said that while the Nigerian government continues to urge its citizens abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and protect the nation’s image, it remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians facing legal challenges overseas are treated fairly and in accordance with established legal frameworks.
The minister added that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remain a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
She also expressed appreciation to the Ethiopian government for its cooperation in bringing the agreement to fruition.
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