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Ex-Edo Speaker, Aides Escape Death As Vehicle Reportedly Somersaulted

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2023

The former speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Marcus Onobun, narrowly escaped death Wednesday as a result of an auto crash.

According to a statement by his erstwhile media aide, Mrs. Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, Onobun, a first timer in House of Representatives (Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben) was involved in the accident with some of his personal aides.

The terse statement by Ebojele reads in part: “The member representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun has solicited for prayers from constituents and Edo people for healing.

“This is as a result of a ghastly accident involving him and his personal staff. Hon. Onobun and his personal staff are by the grace of God recuperating from the effect of the accident in which they sustained various injuries.

“Hon. Marcus Onobun is asking for your prayers and respect for his recuperation , calling on all his, family, friends and supporters to remain calm and steadfast as what God cannot do does not exist.”

“Please pray for speedy recovery for Rt Hon Marcus Onobun and his personal staff.”

The statement was however silent on when, where and how the accident happened and the extent of injury sustained by the victims in the road mishap.

But a source who would not want his name in print however disclosed that the ill-fated Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), the lawmaker was traveling in was at top speed when it somersaulted severally.

Onobun, from Iruekpen-Ekpoma and of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the rescheduled House of Representatives election last March 18.

News

Boko Haram Once Nominated Muhammadu Buhari As Negotiator – Jonathan Revealed

Published

4 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents once nominated the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as their negotiator.

Jonathan said Boko Haram chose Buhari to negotiate with the Nigerian government on their behalf.

He made the disclosure while speaking at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), in Abuja.

Jonathan said the insurgents named Buhari after his then-administration set up several committees to explore dialogue with the group.

Jonathan said: “One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government.

“So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and had a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.”

Jonathan noted that the inability of Buhari to eradicate Boko Haram terrorists showed that the crisis was more complex than often portrayed.

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Edo: Pandemonium As NDLEA Operatives Chase Escaping Driver With Shooting

Published

6 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

There was pandemonium at Oka Market, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Friday, as operatives of the State Command of Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) shot sporadically in chase of an escaping driver.

In the course of the commotion, traders and residents took to their heels, probably to avoid being hit by stray bullets, while others were confused, not sure of what caused the sporadic gunshots.

The sporadic gunshots which lasted more than five minutes at the gate of the NDLEA Head Office, by Oka Market, followed a hot chase of an articulated vehicle driver who was said to have brushed their (NDLEA) vehicle.

The driver, who reportedly brushed the NDLEA vehicle refused to stop for negation, which prompted officers at the scene to alert their colleagues who waited at the alert.

According to eyewitnesses, as the escaping articulated driver approached the NDLEA office, officers who were said to have been alerted by their colleagues pursuing the trailer began to shoot.

Seven of the tyres of the trailer were deflated by bullets of the NDLEA operatives yet the driver refused to stop.

The officers continued to shoot while pursuing him, until he was caught.

A source said that the driver brushed their vehicle on the way, and that every effort by the officers to stop him so they could settle the matter proved abortive; hence the gunshots and deflation of the tires.

“It was a simple thing; they jammed our men, but the officers tried to stop him so that they could settle, but the driver refused to stop. That is why the men have been shooting to stop him. Even after bursting about seven tires, he was still running, but we caught him and they are bringing him back to our office,” he concluded.

Calls and messages sent to the commander, Edo State NDLEA Command, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, were not responded to as at when filing this.

News

JUST IN: Court Bars Police From Enforcing Tinted Glass Regulation

Published

8 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has issued an order directing the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo in the ongoing case concerning the controversial tinted glass permit.

The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force, came up for hearing today.

Delivering the interim order, the Court directed the police authorities to respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.

Confirming the development, Kunle Edun, SAN, who led the legal team, noted that the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.

Details of the ruling and the next adjourned date are expected shortly.

Further updates coming soon…