Metro

Court Orders APC Served Hearing Notice In ₦10m Refund Suit

Published

6 months ago

May 20, 2025

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the service of a hearing notice on the All Progressives Congress following the absence of a representative to appear for the party in the ongoing nomination fee refund suit brought against it by a former aspirant.

The complainant, a former aspirant for the position of APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Sunny Moniedafe, in a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2434/2024, sued the ruling party, demanding the refund of the ₦10 million he paid for a Nomination Form in 2022.

Moniedafe explained that ahead of the APC’s National Convention on March 26, 2022, he purchased the ₦10 million Nomination Form to contest the position of Deputy National Chairman (North).

He further stated that during the convention, the party’s leadership, under then-President Muhammadu Buhari, urged aspirants to step down, as the position of Deputy National Chairman had been agreed to go to someone from Borno State in the North-East geopolitical zone.

According to Moniedafe, the leadership had reached a consensus on a candidate and directed other aspirants to step down, with ex-President Buhari instructing that those who complied should be refunded their money.

However, Moniedafe said, “Disappointingly, the leadership of the defendant reneged on its promise and blatantly refused, failed, and neglected to refund the said ₦10 million from March 2022 to the time of filing this case, despite repeated demands by me.”

At the resumed sitting on Monday, both the plaintiff, Moniedafe, and his lawyer, Okoi Obono-Obla, were present in court. However, no appearance was made for the defendant, nor was there any legal representative for the APC in court.

The presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, ordered that a hearing notice be served on the APC ahead of the next hearing date.

“The defendant is not in court and not represented,” Justice Halilu noted.

Justice Halilu acknowledged the statement of defence before the court but added that there was no proof that the plaintiff had been served. “I can see no proof of service here,” he said.

He instructed the court registrar to expedite the process by contacting the defendant’s counsel and providing them with the necessary documents so they could be served.

Obono-Obla responded, “My lord, we are very diligent. If we are served, we will respond immediately.”

The court acknowledged an application filed by the APC seeking an extension of time. In a brief ruling, Justice Halilu granted the request, stating, “The application filed by the defendant seeking an extension of time is hereby moved and granted.”

He proceeded to adjourn the case to July 15, 2025, for a hearing to determine whether the defendant had been served the hearing notice.

Metro

Two Brothers Miraculously Escape From Kidnappers’ Den In Edo

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

Two brothers, identified as Isaac and Victor Olayere, who were kidnapped on November 8 along Adughe and Imoga Road have miraculously escaped from kidnappers’ den.

The two brothers were taken into the bush as soon as they were kidnapped, throwing Uma/Imoga community into confusion, as the kidnappers demanded N22 million ransom.

While the community was still at a loss over how to raise the ransom, the victims called their father with an unknown number, telling him they had escaped from the kidnappers den.

The Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye revealed this during a telephone interview.

He called on the authorities to come to the rescue of Imoga, a town he said, shares border with Ondo and Kogi, thereby making it prone to kidnapping activities.

He said, “The two brothers were kidnapped on November 8 along Adughe and Imoga Road and were taken into the bush.

“Later, the kidnappers reached out to the family and demanded a ransom of N22 million, throwing the ancient community of Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Edo State.

“I swiftly reported the incident to the Ibillo Police Station with the hope that the rescue effort will lead to the release of the brothers.

“It was said that somehow, the kidnappers suddenly went into a deep slumber in the forest, enabling their victims to escape. They were found by the vigilante of Adughe, a neighbouring community in Kogi that speaks the same Okpameri language with Uma/Imoga in Akoko Edo.

“The vigilantes called Imoga people and the youth mobilised and entered the forest, but they could not see the kidnappers who had woken up after their captives had escaped and fled.

He noted that the activities of kidnappers and armed herders have become a major problem in the community, urging the authorities to create a police post in the area.

He added, “We need police presence in Imoga. If a police post is created here, the officers will patrol the community which will give the resident rest of mind.

“Imoga is the largest village in Akoko Edo, particularly in terms of land mass, into which many herders have entered en masse. It is the link between Edo State and the northern part of the country.”

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 39 Suspects With 2,477.59kg In Edo

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, have arrested thirty-nine (39) suspected drug traffickers with 2,477.59 Kg of narcotic drugs.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, state commander of the NDLEA made this known in a statement titled: operational scorecard for October 2025, which he made available to newsmen in Benin on Monday.

According to the statement, the suspects consist of twenty-seven (27) males and twelve (12) females.

The statement added that, within the period under review, three cannabis sativa farms measuring 6.711192 hectares with an estimated yield of 16,777.98 kg were also destroyed.

A breakdown of the total 2,477.59 kg of seized drugs indicates that Cannabis Sativa 2,476.87 kg; Tramadol 0.3575 kg; Nitrazepam 0.068 kg; Bromazepam 0.8141 kg; Diazepam 0.084 kg; Swinol 0.0036 kg; Danabol (Molly) 0.013 kg; Methamphetamine (abandoned) 0.0465 kg and Codeine Syrup 0.1 litre.

According to the statement, three cannabis farms located in the Ugbodo Forest of Ovia North East Local Government Area, covering an area of 6.71 hectares, with an estimated yield of 16,777.98 kg of illegal crops, were eliminated.

The command’s prosecution unit also made significant strides in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.

“October saw the conviction of eleven individuals involved in drug-related offences and eleven new cases charged in the courts. Currently, there are 121 pending cases at the Federal High Court in Benin City.

“Our commitment remains steadfast as we continue to enforce the law, educate members of the public, and rehabilitate affected individuals who have problems using drugs.

“The fight against drug trafficking is relentless, and those who continue to engage in this illegal trade will face not only heightened enforcement but also stiffer penalties,” the statement reads.

Metro

Police Rescue Stolen Boy, Arrest Six Over Child Trafficking In Anambra

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

Editor

The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a three-year-old boy who was stolen in the state and arrested six members of a child-stealing and trafficking syndicate operating across Anambra, Enugu, and Lagos states.

A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said that on September 4, following a petition from the victim, operatives attached to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, began an investigation into the case.

Ikenga explained that the petition detailed how the complainant’s daughter had left her three-year-old son in the care of one Samuel Ibe of Umusiome, Nkpor Uno, while she briefly went to her shop.

“On her return, both the child and the said Samuel were missing. Swift investigative actions by the operatives led to the arrest of the said Samuel Ibe. His confessional statement subsequently led to the arrest of his mother, Agatha Ejeweh, 35, and his younger brother, Ejeweh Chigozie Chidera, 15,” he said.

He further disclosed that operatives extended their investigation to Enugu State, where one Angela Eze, 30, was apprehended for collaborating with Juliet Onah to facilitate the transfer of the stolen child to Lagos.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives proceeded to Lagos State, where a suspect, China Cosmas, was arrested and the stolen child was successfully rescued. The child has since been reunited with his family in good health,” Ikenga added.

He confirmed that the suspects involved in the crime are currently in custody and will be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

Ikenga reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that criminal elements should not consider Anambra State a safe haven for any form of criminal enterprise.