News

Edo CJ Frees One Inmate From Auchi Correctional Centre

Published

1 year ago

April 18, 2024

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, has granted freedom to an inmate of Auchi Medium Security Correctional Centre.

The freed inmate, Saliu Akande, who had been incarcerated since 2020 over alleged rape gained freedom when the CJ visited the facility on Thursday.

Okungbowa directed that the inmate be granted freedom due to non-availabilIty of case files and charges against him for the past four years.

The Chief Judge said the visit was part of his activities to decongest the correctional centre and to promote speedy trials.

“Section 470 (2) of Edo State Administration of Law 2018 has entrusted us with the mandate to ensure the criminal matters are speedily dealt with and congestion of criminal cases in courts are drastically reduced.

“Since my assumption of office, I have together with members of Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee worked assiduously to ensure that our mandate is accorded much desired seriousness.

“To this end, my avowed and unalloyed commitment is that no one is made to remain here one day longer than necessary unless as prescribed by law.

“Today’s exercise, therefore underscores the passion and commitment of my administration to achieve these goals” Okungbowa said.

The CJ thanked the members of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee for their support and effort aimed at decongesting correctional/custodial facilities in the state.

Okungbowa said he was aware of the perennial challenges faced by the correctional services in Edo and assured to ameliorate the problems.

He called on those who have benefited from the exercise in the state to be of good behaviour and ensure they avoid any act of misbehaviour that may bring them back as they may not be lucky next time around.

Welcoming him to the centre, the Assistant Controller of Auchi Command of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), Kingsley Ebare, commended the Chief judge for his efforts at ensuring that only those qualified inmates benefited from the exercise.

“The visit will restore hope to the hopeless and reposition their minds that Justice will be served to deserving persons according to the laws of the land,” he said.

Ebare thanked the CJ for appointing a substantial judge at the high court for prompt trials.

“In recent past, trial process at the high court Auchi were crawling, but for your benevolence of appointing a substantive judge, we are optimistic that adjudication of cases will pick up.

“To this extent, we are grateful to you in particular and to the state government at large” he said.

He, however,, appealed to Okungbowa to help the centre to liaise with the state government for assistance in the area of logistics and medical care for inmates.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

22 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

23 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

23 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.