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Okuama: Court orders military to produce detained leader
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The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, to produce the detained President General of the agrarian Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Prof Arthur Ekpekpo, in court at the next adjourned date of September 30, 2025.
Justice H. A. Ngajiwa gave the order on Monday, during the hearing of the bail request for Prof Ekpekpo in the suit No: FHC/WR/CS/42/2024, filed before it by the Okuama community.
Prof Ekpekpo, Mr Julius Oghoroko, Mr Bernard Esegba and others were arrested in 2024 over the killing of 17 soldiers who were purported to be on a peace mission in the Okuama community.
Other Okuama leaders arrested by the military between August 18 and 20, 2024, were the President General of the Okuama Community, Pa James Oghoroko; Treasurer, Pa Dennis Okugbaye, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria and Mrs Rita Akata.
Pa Oghoroko died in a military cell on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Pa Okugbaye, who was also among those detained, reportedly collapsed in the military cell and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
They were all arrested after the initial invasion of the community by the military, which forced residents to flee and take custody at the internally displaced camp established by the Delta State Government at Ewu.
Following the detention, the community filed a case in court, seeking the release of all their detained leaders.
Earlier before the Monday hearing, counsel for Prof Ekpekpo, Dr Jonathan Ekperusi Esq, had filed and submitted a motion on notice seeking bail for the community President General before the Court.
In its ruling over the bail request, the court ordered “the third and fifth respondents to produce the first applicant (Prof Arthur Ekpekpo) on the next adjourned date.”
The court order read, “After hearing Dr Jonathan Ekperusi Esq, counsel for the applicants, the court, having considered the circumstances of the case, hereby ordered as follows: ‘An order is made against the 3rd and 5th respondents to produce the 1st applicant (Prof Arthur Ekpekpo) in court on the next adjourned date.
“The order is also to be served on the second respondent, the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“The case is adjourned to the 30th day of September 2025 for hearing of the pending motion for bail.”
The Director, Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, did not pick up his calls and was yet to respond to the message sent to him on the matter as of the time of filling this report.
The PUNCH reported that the lawmaker representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, while reacting to the news of the death of Okuama President General in military detention in December 2024, called on the military authorities to release Prof Ekpekpo, Chief Adogbo, Pa Okugbaye, Pa Ahwemuria and Mrs Akata unconditionally or charge them to a civil court without further delay.
By Gloria Ikibah
Members of the ECOWAS Parliament will this week begin deliberations on strategies to position Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) as key drivers of regional value chains, as part of efforts to boost economic integration and expand opportunities for businesses across West Africa.
The discussions will take place during a delocalised meeting of the Parliament’s Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector; Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research; Administration, Finance and Budget; and Public Accounts, scheduled to hold in Cotonou, Benin Republic, from 27 to 31 July 2026.
The meeting will focus on the theme, “Empowering MSMEs as Formal Drivers of ECOWAS Regional Value Chains,” reflecting growing recognition of the critical role small businesses play in the region’s economy.
According to a media advisory issued by the Communications Directorate of the ECOWAS Parliament on 21 July 2026, “The ECOWAS Parliament is holding the delocalized Meeting of the Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector | Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research | Administration, Finance and Budget | Public Accounts, on the theme ‘Empowering MSMEs as Formal Drivers of ECOWAS Regional Value Chains.’”
The meeting comes at a time when policymakers across West Africa are seeking practical ways to unlock the economic potential of MSMEs, which remain the backbone of the region’s private sector.
A United Nations policy brief on the subject indicates that MSMEs account for more than 90 per cent of all businesses and provide about half of total employment across ECOWAS member states. Despite their importance, many of these enterprises continue to operate outside the formal economy and face significant obstacles, including limited access to finance, weak infrastructure and barriers to cross-border trade.
Lawmakers are expected to examine these challenges and develop recommendations aimed at integrating MSMEs more effectively into regional value chains, improving their competitiveness and enabling them to contribute more meaningfully to sustainable economic growth and regional integration.
Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has dismissed claims that the Mexican government rejected his diplomatic appointment, attributing his delayed resumption instead to the ongoing FIFA World Cup being co-hosted by Mexico and the United States.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today last Monday, the former presidential aide said the delay was due to logistical and diplomatic considerations linked to the global football tournament, stressing that he was not the only Nigerian envoy yet to assume duty. Omokri said reports suggesting that Mexico had declined to accept him as Nigeria’s ambassador were false and were being promoted by political opponents.
“Mexico has not rejected me. Not at all,” he said.Politics He explained that the Mexican government is currently focused on hosting the World Cup alongside the United States, leaving little room to process the arrival of new diplomats. “You should understand that Mexico is right now hosting the World Cup, along with the United States of America, and all of their focus is on that,” Omokri stated.
According to him, several Nigerian ambassadors-designate are also yet to resume at their respective postings for similar reasons.Executive Branch “Most of us ambassadors have not resumed. So, I’m not the only one. A lot of my colleagues are in my situation, but it’s okay. These things happen,” he said. The ambassador-designate also accused members of the opposition of spreading misleading narratives about his appointment, insisting that such claims have no basis in reality. “The opposition will always say things like I have been rejected. We do not work on the basis of the opposition. We work on the basis of reality,” he said.
Omokri expressed confidence that Nigeria continues to enjoy cordial diplomatic relations with countries around the world and maintained that host nations would receive Nigerian envoys in due course. “The reality of it is that we have countries in the world that respect Nigeria, and they’re going to be taking Nigeria’s envoys,” he added.
A young Nigerian girl who was trafficked to Cotonou, Benin Republice for prostitution has d!ed.
Sewuese passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Benue State after she was brought home.
Activist, Zege Orkwande, who has been facilitating the rescue of trafficked Benue girls said investigation is ongoing and those who trafficked her will face the full wrath of law.
“People are asking “who took Sewuese to Cotonou”. Trust my process,” he wrote.
“The people that trafficked/smuggled her to Cotonou for prostitution will sure face the law and serve in prison uniform.
“All information gathered. I’m waiting for her to be buried first. REST WELL.”
ECOWAS Parliament Moves to Strengthen MSMEs as Pillars of Regional Trade
Ambassador Omokri Amid Rejection Rumours Says World Cup Cause of his delayed resumption
Sad: Young Nigerian reportedly trafficked for commercial s*x dies after rescue
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