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Obovrevwori, Dafinone, Guwor, Adewole, Temienor, others Bid Ex-Minister Gbagi Farewell in Delta

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Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on Friday led political associates and dignitaries from all walks of life in bidding farewell to late Chief Kenneth Gbagi, erstwhile Minister of State for Education whose remains were laid to rest in his Oginibo, Ughievwen Kingdom country home, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta.

Gbagi, the Delta State Governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections died on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the age of 62 years.

Dignitaries in attendance at Oginibo for the interment ceremony included; Senator Ede Dafinone representing Delta Central Senatorial District; Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; SDP Presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo; Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Theresa Diai; Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekeme Ohwovoriole (SAN); immediate past Senator representing Delta South, Senator James Manager; and former President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick.

Others comprised  the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; member representing Ughelli South in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Festus Utuana; former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Alexander Ogomudia (retd.); former Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung; Senator Ugochukwu Uba from Anambra State; Mr. Mustapha Alfa, SDP Governorship candidate in Nasarawa State; Prince Temienor Oghenekevwe, SDP candidate for Ughelli South Constituency in the 2023 elections to the Delta State House of Assembly;  in 2023; Olorogun Austin Emafuku, President General of Udu Kingdom, and the Delta Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, among others.

In his homily during the funeral service, the Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ehwerido, represented by the Very Revd. Fr. Ambrose Oghenejode Abaka, said the late Chief Kenneth Gbagi was a generous man who helped people within and outside the country in difficult times of their lives.
Revd. Fr. Abaka said the news of Chief Gbagi’s death came as a rude shock to many people, adding that he was an erudite scholar of immense repute.

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He disclosed that the deceased was a servant leader in the authority of Christ, saying; “we are gathered here as a family in communion with God to seek God’s grace and mercy on his soul.”

The Catholic priest harped on the need for peace and unity among the people in the Niger Delta so as to advance sustainable socioeconomic growth and development in the region.

“We need unity in the Niger Delta to advance sustainable development in the region. Before now, Burutu port was working but today, Burutu and Warri ports are no longer working.

“Crude oil are extracted from the Niger Delta but most oil companies have their offices in Lagos. We need unity to reposition the region,” he said.

According to the Catholic priest, “without unity, no meaningful development could be achieved”.
A top political aide to Gbagi, Prince Temienor Oghenekevwe, in a tribute vowed to consolidate on the legacy of the deceased politician.

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Oghenekevwe, SDP candidate for Ughelli South Constituency in the 2023 elections to the Delta State House of Assembly said, “Chief Gbagi was successful in all aspects of life. His legacies will sustain in Delta and across the country at large. But more importantly, we want to build on the good foundation he has laid in politics”.

He spoke further, “Gbagi lived a life of integrity, and was a firm pillar of support for the party till his death. He was a father, mentor and great leader who left the most valuable asset of good name.

“We worked with him while he was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governorship aspirant but could not get to candidacy of PDP and he was frustrated out of the party, those were were his very challenging moment.

“What we appreciate about him was his persistence and strong determination. He left PDP few days to the party’s primary election and worn the governorship candidate ticket of our great Party (SDP) in the March 2023 governorship elections. After the elections he fought so gallantly for what he believed.

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“In all, he never resorted to any form of illegality, he was firm and relied so much on the instrument law. Politically, Gbagi was successful he made history in all ramifications of life before his departure.

“Gbagi appreciate and associate with people of integrity, credibility and accountability and that was a critical factor leading to his emergence as a leader in the Delta political terrain which also restored people’s trust and confidence in leadership”.

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Court Gives Falanas, January Date To Prove Case Against VDM

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A Lagos High Court has adjourned the defamation suit brought by Femi Falana and his son against social media influencer, Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, until January 23, 2025.

The case was brought by human rights activist Femi Falana and his son, Folarin, popularly known as Falz.

VeryDarkMan arrived in court dressed in a red native outfit, accompanied by fans who cheered him on, but the Falanas were not present.

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The case could not proceed as several applications filed by the parties were still not included in the court file. As a result, the court decided to adjourn the hearing until January 23, 2025.

On October 14, Justice Matthias Dawodu ruled on an ex-parte application filed by the Falanas, granting them legal protection from defamation. The judge ordered that VeryDarkMan remove a defamatory video he posted on September 24, 2025, which targeted the senior lawyer and his son. Additionally, the court prohibited VeryDarkMan from posting or sharing any defamatory content about them on his social media accounts until the matter is resolved.

The Falanas had filed separate lawsuits seeking N500 million each in damages, claiming that VeryDarkMan posted a video accusing them of accepting N10 million from Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, to influence a legal matter.

They argued that VeryDarkMan knew the allegations were false but chose to spread them, causing harm to their reputations. The Falanas further pointed out that the video continues to circulate online, further damaging their reputations.

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In response, VeryDarkMan applied to the court for permission to appeal the ruling.

He argued that refusing his request would be an injustice, as the case involves significant legal questions that require further examination. He stated, “A refusal to grant leave may result in the enforcement of a decision that does not reflect a correct application of the law, leading to outcomes that may be detrimental not only to the parties involved but also to the administration of justice as a whole. The appellate court’s role in clarifying and, where necessary, correcting trial court decisions is vital in maintaining the integrity of the judicial system.”

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READ 8 Facts About New Lakurawa Terror Group in North West

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Lakurawa, a new terror group is now wreaking havoc in northwestern part of the country. It was once dismissed as harmless herders.

Initially seen as seasonal migrants, the Lakurawa group has evolved into a powerful militant force linked to jihadist networks in the Sahel.

With roots stretching back six years, Lakurawa has grown under the radar, exploiting Nigeria’s porous borders and limited government oversight.

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Here’s what you need to know about this escalating threat and the challenges it poses to the region’s security.

From Herders to Terrorists

Originally seen as seasonal herders from Niger, the Lakurawa group quietly entered Sokoto communities in search of pasture, later gaining a reputation as militants with ties to jihadist networks across the Sahel.

Authorities’ Early Misjudgment

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Locals first reported suspicious activities by Lakurawa herders nearly six years ago, but authorities dismissed them as non-violent. However, recent intelligence from Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters reclassifies Lakurawa as a new terror group with connections to extremist networks.

Cross-Border Threats

The Lakurawa exploit Nigeria’s porous borders with countries like Niger, Chad, and Mali, entering remote areas to promote radical ideology, often in Hausa and Fulfulde languages, and impose strict “Islamic” rules on communities.

Unusual Alliances

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Invited by local leaders to fend off other bandits, Lakurawa quickly grew from an auxiliary force into a dominant presence, controlling communities through a mix of militant enforcement and religious influence.

Camp ‘Darul Islam’ in Forests

Lakurawa established camps around Gwangwano, Mulawa, Wassaniya, and Tunigara along the Nigeria-Niger border, naming them Darul Islam, or “Abode of Islam.” Their membership has since swelled to over 200 young men.

Escalation and Armed Attacks

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Once tolerated by local communities, the group’s violent tendencies surfaced through alleged attacks on military bases and confrontations with Nigerian security forces, marking a shift to full-scale militancy.

Radical Ideology and Social Control

The group enforces stringent rules, often forbidding music and dancing, and collects levies disguised as religious Zakat. They pressure locals to obey these laws, maintaining authority over vulnerable communities.

A Growing Regional Concern

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With ties to jihadist groups across the Sahel, Lakurawa’s presence reflects broader security challenges. The breakdown in joint border patrols after Niger’s recent coup has only worsened Nigeria’s exposure to such extremist threats.(PRNigeria)

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It’s wrong to arrest individuals in place of suspects — Says PSC chairman

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd) has condemned the practice by Nigeria Police Force operatives of arresting individuals in place of actual suspects.

He also frowned at the handcuffing of suspects during arrests, adding that the law prohibits these practices.

A statement on Wednesday by the spokesperson for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said Argungu made this known
during training on international Human Rights-based policing and effective oversight of personnel of the Police Service Commission.

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Ani said the PSC chairman stressed that every suspect must be accorded humane treatment and must not be subjected to any form of torture, cruelty, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

The statement read, “DIG Hashimu Argungu, x-rayed human treatment of arrested suspects and declared that a suspect shall be accorded human treatment, having regard to his right to the dignity of his person and not be subjected to any form of torture, cru
Argungu noted that a suspect shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract and shall be brought before the court as prescribed by law or otherwise released conditionally or unconditionally.

He explained that “a person shall not for any reason be arrested in place of a suspect adding that the law prohibits the handcuffing or any other unnecessary restrain of an arrested person, except if there is reasonable apprehension of violence or an attempt to escape; the restrain is considered necessary for the safety of the suspect or defendant or by order of court.”

Ani added the PSC chairman also noted that all over the world, police officers generally have broad powers to carry out their functions and duties.

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“He noted that the constitution as amended and other procedural laws, however, place limits on how far Police can go in trying to enforce the law.

“According to him, one of the primary purposes of these laws is to protect citizens from abuses by the government, including police misconduct,” the statement added

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