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Alleged Treason: Absence Of Judge Stalls Sowore’s Case

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The alleged treason case filed by the Federal Government against a former Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore was stalled on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja due to the absence of the judge.

Sowore is standing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite on allegations of treasonable felony.

The federal government had accused Sowore of treason following his call for a protest tagged #RevolutionNow, on Aug. 5, 2019.

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Sowore was in court on Tuesday but the matter could not go on.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Alleged Forgery: Court Discharges, Acquits APGA National Chairman, Njoku

His counsel, Mr Marshall Abubakar told NAN that the court registrar had informed him that the judge was on national assignment in another jurisdiction of the court.

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Abubakar said he had to take a new date, Feb. 14, 2024, for a hearing.

NAN recalls that on the last adjourned date on Nov. 15, Justice Nwite had threatened to strike out the four-year-long case if the government failed to obey an order of the court to serve the charge on the second defendant.

The prosecuting counsel, Ms Mariam Okorie, however, said she was not aware if the second defendant, Olawale Bakare, had been served with the notice.

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Counsel to Sowore, Abubakar, had told the court that the prosecution team was only trying to frustrate his client by its inability to serve the second defendant the hearing notice for him to appear in court.

READ ALSO: How Ebonyi Varsity Student Chased By Police Died In Accident

Abubakar said he had written a letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice asking that the charge be severed so that Sowore could take his plea and stand trial alone.

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The prosecutor also told the court that since they had written to the minister, they would have to wait for the minister’s response to know the next line of action.

Justice Nwite had at the time, said he was minded to grant an adjournment on the condition that by the next adjourned date, the prosecution team would comply with the order of the court to serve the second defendant.

The judge had warned that if the order of the court to serve the second defendant was not complied with, the case would be struck out.

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Police Restores Peace After Bomb Explosion Rocks Imo Community

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The Imo State Police Command has restored peace and order in Obinwanne Community, Njaba LGA, after a bomb explosion rocked the area, killing the carrier and injuring two others.

A press statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, stated that the community was thrown into panic following the incident, but the swift intervention of police personnel restored normalcy.

He explained that operatives from the Njaba Divisional Headquarters received a distress call alerting them to the incident, which led to the immediate mobilisation of officers to the scene.

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It was confirmed that the blast was caused by an explosive device carried by one Mr Chinworeke Mmadu from Ebonyi State, which detonated prematurely, leading to fatal injuries that later claimed his life.

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According to the statement, two passers-by who sustained injuries were rushed to Santa Maria Hospital, where they remain in stable condition.

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“In furtherance of the response, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Hamzat A. Abdulkadir, visited the scene with operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, Unit. The area was carefully swept and has been declared safe for public use,” he added.

Okoye further disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed the deceased was carrying the explosive device, and inquiries are ongoing to determine his motive and possible affiliations.

READ ALSO:Woman Killed, Five Others Injured In Imo Market Explosion

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Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma, while responding to the development, wished the injured victims a speedy recovery and assured Imo residents of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

He also urged members of the public to remain calm, be security-conscious, and provide timely information to aid security efforts.

Danjuma further advised the public to report any suspicious item or object to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines for prompt action.

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Deborah Okwori, Murdered Fashion Designer Buried Amid Tears

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Deborah Eneyi Ohekuru Okwori, professionally known as Deb’rah Porsche, has been laid to rest in her hometown of Ugaga Ohuhu Owo, Oju Local Government Area, Benue State.

DAILY POST reports that Deborah was allegedly murdered by her jilted lover, Lintex Ogale, in Lagos on September 3, 2025. Ogale reportedly stabbed her multiple times before fleeing.

She was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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The suspect was later arrested and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending further legal proceedings.

Recall that the moment the casket arrived in her hometown, Deborah’s mother moved mourners to tears with a poignant tribute: “Since you did not wait to dance at my burial, I’ll dance for you instead.”

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She was seen dancing around the casket, expressing her grief and love for her daughter in an emotional display.

Family, friends, and community members gathered to honor Deborah’s life.

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Police Ask Court To Issue Arrest Warrant Against Andy Uba Over Alleged N400m Job Scam

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The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has formally asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of ex-senator Andy Uba over a N400 million job scam.

The police intend to arrest Uba and bring him to court for trial.

The IGP sought the arrest order on Wednesday following the persistent absence of Uba, who once represented Anambra South in the Senate, to appear in court for arraignment over the alleged appointment fraud.

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The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar had, in July, slated Wednesday for the arraignment of Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu.

When the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 was called on Wednesday, counsel to the defendants, C.L Odiniru apologized for Uba’s absence and said the former senator is sick and receiving treatment in the United States.

READ ALSO:Court Remands Man Who Beat Wife In Viral Video

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Counsel to the prosecution (IGP), Aminu Abdullahi, however told the court that the defense counsel had, during previous proceedings in the matter, given sickness as reason for the absence of the first defendant without adducing any documentary evidence to show that he is actually sick and cannot face his trial.

Abdullahi prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the former senator.

Defense counsel, Odiniru, opposed the application for a bench warrant and following a directive of the court, said the defense has obtained documents showing that Uba is receiving treatment abroad.

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But responding, Abdullahi said granting the application for bench warrant will be in the best interest of justice.

Justice Umar who was apparently angry over the repeated absence of Andy Uba, said the court will do whatever it takes to ensure that he is present to face his trial if he failed to come to court on the next adjourned date.

READ ALSO:Abuja Court Jails Ex-legislative Aide For N120m Fraud

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I will give you another opportunity by giving you another date. This case must be heard this year. Even if it means issuing a bench warrant of arrest, the court will do that,” the judge said and adjourned the matter till October 28, 2025 for Uba and his co-defendant to take their plea.

It would be recalled that the prosecution had, on March 5, 2025, amended a two-count charge filed against Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, before the former trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo.

The police had earlier named Uba and two others in the first charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024.

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The co-defendants, in the two-count charge filed on October 10, 2024 by Abdulrashid Sidi in the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, were Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.

But in the amended charge filed March 4, 2025, by Sidi, Uba and Etu are listed as 1st and 2nd defendants, while Crystal Uba’s name was dropped.

READ ALSO:Kenya Court Seeks UK Citizen’s Arrest Over Mother’s Murder

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In count one, it was alleged that Uba, Etu and Hajiya Fatima, now at large, sometimes in 2022, conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence.

Uba and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to Mr George Uboh that they had perfected ways for giving appointment as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to any interested person who could afford N400 million.

A presentation which you know is not true and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006,” the charge stated.

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The offence, the prosecution said, is contrary to Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.

Uboh, in a letter dated April 5, 2023, and addressed to the IGP, said the petition was based on documentary evidence and voice recording, adding that the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable.

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No fewer than six witnesses had been listed to testify against the ex-lawmaker and Etu.

The case was re-assigned to Justice Umar, following the suspension of the former judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, by the National Judicial Council, NJC.

 

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