Metro

Court Adjourns As Delta Family’s Search For Corpse Hits Five Months

Published

6 months ago

April 10, 2025

Editor

A Delta State High Court sitting in the Isiokolo Judicial Division has adjourned the hearing till April 17, 2025, in a case of alleged mysterious disappearance of the corpse of a 78-year-old man, Joseph Ighorhiohwunu since November 21, 2024.

The corpse of Ighorhiohwunu had allegedly disappeared from the Nigerian Navy Hospital mortuary, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State after children of the deceased, Omokiniovo Ighorhiohwunu and Mr. Duke Ighorhiohwunu, deposited the corpse at the mortuary on November 21, 2024.

The suit was filed as a fundamental human rights application under suit no. HCI/FR/32/2024 was brought before the court and filed in-person by one of the children of the deceased, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, a human rights activist, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the deceased and in the public interest.

In the originating process, the applicant had claimed that “Joseph Ighorhiohwunu died while receiving treatment at Group Christian Medical Centre, Effurun” without his knowledge and that he was only made aware of the deceased’s death on 21st November 2024, the day he died.

The applicant further claimed that “the deceased was not diagnosed with a verifiable medical condition and was deposited at the Nigerian Navy Hospital, Effurun on November 21, 2024.”

The applicant accused several members of the deceased’s family — namely Mr Michael Igho-Amaka, Mr Onajite Ighorhiohwunu, Mr Felix Ighorhiohwunu, Mrs Ese Ighorhiohwunu, Mr Duke Ighorhiohwunu and Mr Sunday Ighorhiohwunu — of colluding to unlawfully remove the corpse from the Nigerian Navy Hospital Effurun and allegedly using the family compound at No.127 Urhu-Egbe Street, Okpara-Inland as an illegal cemetery.

The applicant claims that the family has secretly made burial arrangements and constructed a tomb for the deceased at that location during the pendency of this case and police investigation.

The applicant consequently urged the court to compel all eleven respondents to disclose the whereabouts of the missing corpse, alleging that the body may have been diverted for spiritual or ritual purposes.

At the resumed hearing of the case on April 7, 2025, counsel for the applicant, Andrew Elekeokwuri Esq, informed the court that the applicant had filed a “further and better affidavit” concerning the allegedly missing corpse of the deceased.

In response, the counsel for the 1st to 8th respondents, Barr. A.O.Aderere and the 11th respondent, His Greatness Agadaigho who were present in court, raised objections because they had not been served with the said processes.

The trial Judge, Hon. Justice O. Aforkeya consequently directed the court bailiff to serve relevant court processes on the respective respondents’ counsel present in court.

As regards the 9th respondent (Chairman, Ethiope East Local Government Area) and the 10th respondent (Nigeria Navy Hospital, Effurun), who were neither present nor represented in the court, the judge further ordered the bailiff to serve them with the court processes alongside the hearing notices.

Following preliminary arguments and a review of the evidence, Justice Aforkeya adjourned the matter to April 17, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing.

Meanwhile, counsel to the 11th respondent, His Greatness Agadaigho Esq., has filed a motion on notice and a counter affidavit on the same day (7th April 2025), seeking an order granting leave to the Applicant/Respondent to claim damages in the sum of N5m against the plaintiff/applicant/respondent, in favour of the 11th respondent.

The motion on notice which was supported by a 9-paragraph affidavit, partly averred that “the 11th Respondent in this suit professionally and comprehensively managed the health of the deceased, Late Joseph Ighorhiohwunu, from 2018 until his death on Thursday, the 21st day of November 2024.”
(PUNCH)

Metro

Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate In Rivers, Rescue Babies

Published

7 hours ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have busted a child trafficking syndicate that manipulates young mothers and vulnerable pregnant women, steals their babies, and sells them to waiting buyers.

The police said the four-member syndicate is led by an ex-convict identified as Blessing Jack, who had previously been arrested, tried, and imprisoned in Calabar, Cross River State, for a similar offence.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday and sent to newsmen.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said Blessing, aged 54, was arrested by men of the Command’s C4i Intelligence Unit on October 9 in Igwuruta, near Port Harcourt, following a discreet probe into the activities of the syndicate.

She said Blessing’s arrest led to the location of her other three female partners, who were consequently taken into custody.

The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its investigation into the activities of a child trafficking syndicate in the state, with the arrest of several suspects.

“The syndicate, allegedly led by one Blessing Jack, a 54-year-old female resident of Timber Road, Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, exploits vulnerable young mothers, stealing and selling their newborn babies for significant financial gains.

“On October 9, 2025, at about 1500hrs, operatives of the Command attached to the C4i Intelligence Unit, through technically aided policing, arrested Blessing Jack at Igwuruta in Port Harcourt.

“A conversation between Blessing Jack and one Marley Oburu ‘m’ revealed the syndicate’s modus operandi. She discussed a recent incident where her associate had taken a woman’s baby, claiming the baby had died, but had been paid the sum of ₦2,000,000 for the transaction.”

She continued, “The transaction suggested that Blessing and her associates use fake scans and manipulate vulnerable pregnant women to obtain their babies.

“Other suspects arrested include: Chinonso Raymond, a 30-year-old male of Igwuruta, Port Harcourt; Chinyere Okorie, a 32-year-old female of Pipeline, Rumuoholu, Port Harcourt; and Nkechi Nwankwo, a 50-year-old female of Pipeline, Rumuoholu, Port Harcourt.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that Blessing Jack had previously been imprisoned in Calabar for three years for child trafficking, highlighting her long-standing involvement in the illicit business.”

The state police image maker said all the suspects voluntarily confessed to the crime, detailing their individual roles.

“Suspects are currently in police custody, while an in-depth investigation has been launched to arrest other members of the syndicate and dismantle the network,” Iringe-Koko stated further.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their diligence in investigating and apprehending the suspects, saying the Command will continue to work tirelessly to protect vulnerable individuals and combat human trafficking in the state.

CP Adepoju appealed to members of the public to report any information that may aid in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases, saying, “Together, we can build a safer and more secure society for all.”

Rivers State Police Command, in September, said its operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed two of their victims after collecting a total ransom of N10.4m.

Earlier in August, the Command said its men busted an armed robbery/kidnapping syndicate terrorising residents of Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of the state, and its environs.

Metro

BREAKING: Lagos Re-arraigns Kidnapper Evans Over Police Officers’ Killing

Published

10 hours ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

Lagos State Government on Monday re-arraigned convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja is hearing the case of the murder of two police officers by the billionaire kidnapper.

He and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were arraigned before Justice A. O. Ogala on a five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Details later…

Metro

Lagos Demolishes 17 Houses For Encroaching On Waterways

Published

2 days ago

October 11, 2025

Editor

At least 17 houses have been demolished by the Lagos State Government for encroaching on the right-of-way (RoW) of the Ikota River alignment.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, led a monitoring and enforcement team, accompanied by journalists, to the site on Saturday.

Wahab cautioned residents against actions that threaten the environment, warning that nature inevitably retaliates against human negligence and unlawful reclamation of wetlands.

He disclosed that the ministry had received reports months earlier about illegal reclamation activities aimed at narrowing the river’s natural path.

“We stopped them then, but we were alerted again recently that the encroachment had resumed aggressively, with attempts to sell land to unsuspecting buyers,” Wahab said.

The commissioner said the government had now taken decisive action to halt the encroachment and clear all illegal structures along the alignment.

He added that those behind the unlawful activity would be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Speaking on the perennial challenge of flooding, Wahab noted that while it is impossible to completely prevent flooding in a coastal state like Lagos, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, lagoons, and rivers, the government continues to invest in infrastructure to mitigate its impact.

“What we can do is reduce its effects through resilient infrastructure, which Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently provided and maintained,” he said.

Despite ongoing efforts to desilt and maintain drainage systems daily, Wahab lamented that some individuals persist in obstructing waterways for personal gain.

He cited property number 156 as an example, saying it blocked the coastal road alignment and disrupted the natural flow of water.

“That property will be cleared to allow the Ikota channel to discharge freely into the Lagos Lagoon,” he added.

Wahab stressed that demolition was not always the state’s first option, as the government often explored corrective measures.

“Sometimes we ask developers to produce practical designs for stormwater discharge, but they must bear the cost, not taxpayers,” he said, describing it as irresponsible for the government to fix problems created by private developers who profit from violating environmental regulations.

During an inspection tour of the Lekki–Epe corridor, Wahab also decried the massive encroachment on wetlands originally designed to retain excess rainwater.

He said drone surveillance had exposed extensive damage to the wetland corridor, including the destruction of coconut trees planted for soil stability.

According to him, violators were issued demolition notices on 26 September, ahead of planned transport infrastructure works on the same route.

He explained that the inspection was intended to align environmental preservation with the Ministry of Transport’s Green Line Rail project.

Additionally, the Commissioner for Transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, stated that the Green Line Rail project, which will run from Marina to Epe, is anticipated to commence in December following stakeholder consultations and feasibility studies.

Osiyemi said some car dealers who were granted temporary approval to use power line spaces had violated terms by constructing permanent structures on wetlands.

“As a state, we must enforce compliance and protect the environment while advancing our transport development agenda,” Osiyemi said.

He added that the Green Line project, which is expected to last approximately three years, forms part of Lagos State’s integrated transport solution aimed at easing mobility across the metropolis.

Other areas visited during the inspection included Chevron Gate off Orchid Road, Partibon Homes, Oral Extension Phase 2, and Park View in Ikoyi.

(NAN)