News
Edo Assembly Declines To Confirm Ex-lawmaker As commissioner Over DSS Petition
The Edo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, declined to confirm the commissioner nomination of a former member of the Assembly, Chris Okaeben.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, during an emergency plenary sitting, said Okaeben’s confirmation was declined over an alleged petition before the Department of State Services.
Okaeben, who was a former member representing Oredo West Constituency, was among six nominees called inside the chamber for confirmation.
However, Agbebaku told the House that the report from the screening committee indicated that the former lawmaker was being investigated by the DSS.
He said, “Six out of the seven commissioner-nominees before us today have been cleared and confirmed, except one, who is our former colleague, Chris Okaeben. He has a question to answer with DSS. So, he has to report to the DSS office for clearance.
“That is the report before me. The report is from the screening committee, and I am not a member of the committee. The committee submitted a report.
“After his appearance with the DSS. They can take him and clear him. That is not a problem at all.”
The Speaker did not disclose the nature of the petition the lawmaker has with the security agency.
Meanwhile, the House cleared and confirmed John Akhigbe, Festus Ebea and Dr Elizabeth Ebosele.
Others are Dr Jerry Uwangue, Dr Kenneth Okoruwa Ihensekhien and Barr. Usenbo Paul Ehigie.
A close confidant of Okaeben, who pleaded anonymity, said the ex-lawmaker was unaware of the petition against him and only got to know about it when he appeared at the Assembly for screening.
The source said, “Yes, it’s true he wasn’t cleared. It was when he got to the Assembly that he was told about the petition. I am sure the issue around the petition will be solved, and he will be screened.”
Okaeben was elected to the Edo State House of Assembly in 2015, representing the Oredo West Constituency.
He was re-elected in 2019, serving two terms in office from 2015 to 2023.
He began his public service career as Supervisory Councillor for Works and Transport in Oredo Local Government Area from 2007 to 2008.
He later served as Senior Special Assistant (Youth Employment), Edo State Government from 2009 to 2010, Secretary to the Council, Oredo Local Government from 2010 to 2012 and Executive Director, Petroleum Monitoring Committee, Edo State from 2012 to 2013.
In 2014, Okaeben was appointed Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Edo State under Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Bandits have killed a monarch,his wife, his son, and three other residents in a deadly night attack on Olegabulu community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Residents said the attack happened on Thursday night when the armed men, numbering about four and arriving on two motorcycles, stormed the palace of the monarch and opened fire on him and his family members.
According to a resident who requested anonymity, the attackers entered the community without raising suspicion, reportedly exchanging greetings with locals in the native dialect before heading straight to the royal residence. Once inside, they opened fire, killing the traditional ruler, his wife, and his son on the spot.
The attackers were said to have spent about 20 minutes in the community. After the assault on the palace, they reportedly moved to a nearby compound where they killed two additional residents and left another person injured before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as coordinated and deceptive, noting that the gunmen initially blended in with residents before launching the attack.
The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident, stating that five people were killed and one person sustained injuries.
He added that security operatives, including police personnel, have since visited the scene.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, DSP Udeme Edet, said she was yet to receive full details of the attack at the time of filing this report.
Proceedings in the case involving former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, were on Thursday adjourned till May 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, represented the prosecution, while Bello was represented by his lead counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu.
During proceedings, the prosecution informed the court of the need for more time to respond to applications filed by the defence, while Bello’s legal team urged the court to consider their submissions and move the matter forward.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, adjourned the case to May 6 to allow all parties to adequately prepare and ensure a fair hearing.
Mr Bello is currently facing charges bordering on alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure as governor, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
Nigeria is set to experience one of the highest increases in food insecurity worldwide in 2026, according to the latest Global Report on Food Crises released on April 24, 2026.
The report, compiled by agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme, raised fresh concerns over worsening hunger levels driven by insecurity, economic hardship and declining humanitarian funding.
According to FAO findings, about 4.1 million additional Nigerians could fall into acute food insecurity in 2026, placing the country among those with the largest increases globally.
Reacting to the development, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Mr Alvaro Lario, said “the crisis is becoming more prolonged and difficult to contain”.
“We are no longer seeing just temporary shocks, but persistent shocks over time,” warning that the situation is placing growing pressure on global stability.
FAO noted that about 266 million people across 47 countries face high levels of acute hunger in 2025, with conditions expected to remain severe into 2026.
In Nigeria, the situation is being worsened by continued insecurity in key farming regions, rising inflation and limited access to food.
According FAO projections, over 34 million Nigerians may experience crisis level hunger between June and August 2026, during the peak of the lean season.
The FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr Hussein Gadain, said the combined impact of armed conflict, climate shocks, high food prices and cuts in global aid funding is pushing more Nigerians into hunger.
The report called for urgent and sustained intervention, warning that without immediate action, millions more could slide into emergency levels of food insecurity in the coming months.
BREAKING: Benue boils again as bandits invade palace, kill monarch ,wife, son three others
Yahaya Bello to know fate on May 6 as Court adjourns financial infractions case
Nigeria set to record largest surge in food insecurity globally in 2026-Reports
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