News

Killing Of Anambra Ex-monarch: APC, APGA In Verbal War

Published

4 years ago

September 12, 2021

Last Friday’s gruesome murder of the former traditional ruler of Mkpunando community in Anambra East LGA, Alex Edozieuno and his driver, Chukwuemeka has triggered an altercation between the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

APC had raised the alarm over plots by some top government functionaries in the state, to eliminate selected leaders of the party, claiming that the late Edozieuno was also its member.

In a press conference by the Director-General of the Andy Uba campaign organization, Mr Paul Chukwuma and the state party chairman, Mr Basil Ejidike on Sunday, the duo said some leaders of the party in the state have been receiving death threats.

Chukwuma said some members of his party, including himself, has received threats for supporting the APC and its candidate, adding that the assassination of Edozieuno last Friday was politically motivated.

“We are here to brief you on a sad event that took place in our state on Friday. We woke up to the news of the assassination of Chief Alex Edozieuno. Until his death, he (Edozieuno) was the traditional ruler of Mkpunando community, before he was dethroned by the Obiano government.

“This death is of major concern to us because it is considered to be a politically motivated killing. We wonder how anyone could indulge in such an act, no matter how highly placed.

“A few weeks ago he joined our party in an elaborate political function. His reception into the party took place in his home town and was attended by many Anambra people, and now he is gone.

“Like late Edozieuno, most of our members, including the APGA lawmakers that defected to our party have been receiving death threats by phone calls. We wonder why the death threats to us and to members of our families, from highly placed individuals in Anambra, and a serving member of this government (names withheld).

“Our contest in Anambra has never gotten to a point where lives are lost and we are not taking this lightly. We are calling on the law enforcement agencies to move into action and conduct proper investigation since the threat has come to reality.

“Our resolve to salvage Anambra is not shaken. We could have swept it under the carpet, but the manner in which Edozieuno was killed is a source of concern to us. Things have gone bad in Anambra State, and infrastructure has broken down.

“We have had series of things go wrong in this state, but we have never addressed a press conference. We are forced to address this one because the issue at stake is bigger than the rest. I have been receiving threats and our party leaders too.

“We have decided to do things differently this time and we are reaching out to the people in the grassroots and by the grace of God it is yielding results and people are leaving APGA and PDP in droves to join our party, and it is apparent that some people are not happy with this.

“If this had happened on a Monday, it would have been blamed on IPOB. Let us distinguish criminals from IPOB, because IPOB has never threatened any APC member, and we have nothing against them,” Chukwuma said.

But the APGA in its reply through the state governor, Willie Obiano accused the APC of politicizing the death of the former monarch.

Governor Willie Obiano, while reacting through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba described the allegation as stupid and unintelligent, calling on the APC not to politicize the death of the former monarch or that of anyone.

A release by Adinuba read: “The Anambra State Branch of the APC held a press conference where its leaders attempted to politicize the brutal murder of the former traditional ruler of Mkpunando community in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, Chief Alexander Edozieuno.

“The APC leaders alleged some Anambra State Government officials and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe, had a hand in the murders, adding that the persons had been sending threatening messages to APC members.

“It is important to remind some politicians that it is asinine and callous to attempt to politicize the death of any person. To allege that the murders were preceded by threats and text messages without proof is preposterous.”

Adinuba said rather than politicize the ex-monarch’s death, the APC should provide whatever it has about the crime to the Nigeria Police Force, to help fish out the killers, as they are also the party in power at the federal level and controls the country’s security apparatus.

Obiano had immediately after the news of the killing on Friday ordered security agencies in the state to immediately swing to work, while the new state police commissioner in Anambra, Mr Tony Olofu also visited the scene of the event.

News

Why I Picked Amupitan As INEC Chair – Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday explained that his choice of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission was based on his apolitical stance, integrity and impeccable record of service.

“President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical,” a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted him as saying.

The President spoke at the State House, Abuja, during the meeting of the National Council of State, which unanimously endorsed the nomination of Amupitan to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure as INEC Chairman ended on Tuesday.

Tinubu told council members that Amupitan, a professor of law from Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria, is the first person from the state to be nominated for the top electoral job.

Council members, including serving and former leaders, backed the nomination, describing the professor as a man of proven integrity.

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, said Amupitan’s track record “reflects a deep commitment to justice, knowledge, and national service.”

Following the council’s approval, the President is expected to transmit Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional provisions.

Aged 58, Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

A professor of law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, he is currently the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and also serves as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.

He obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in law from the University of Jos, after earlier studies at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, Amupitan has built an extensive academic and administrative career spanning over three decades.

He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014 and has written extensively on company law, corporate governance, and evidence law.

His published works include Corporate Governance: Models and Principles (2008), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).

Beyond academia, Amupitan has served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education.

He was also a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja, between 1996 and 2004.

The Kogi-born scholar, described by colleagues as “a jurist of quiet influence,” is married with four children.

When confirmed by the Senate, Amupitan will become Nigeria’s 15th INEC chairman.

News

Meet New INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan

Published

2 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The appointment, which was confirmed by the National Council of State on Thursday, follows the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu from the electoral body.

According to a statement issued by Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, Amupitan’s nomination marks the first time a native of Kogi State will head Nigeria’s election management agency.

The law professor hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state.

Amupitan, who currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, has spent more than three decades in academia and legal practice.

He joined the institution in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose through the ranks to become a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.

Details from the University of Jos website show that the new INEC boss obtained all his degrees, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate, in Law from the same university.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing his programme at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

Amupitan’s areas of academic and professional interest include Law of Evidence, Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, and Privatisation Law.

He was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014 in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession.

Beyond academics, Amupitan has held several administrative and national positions.

He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Law, Head of the Department of Public Law, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors at the University of Jos.

He has also represented the institution on several boards, including the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, where he served as a member of the Governing Council.

He was, until his nomination, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

The legal scholar has authored and co-authored over 50 academic publications, with research spanning corporate governance, electoral law reform, and petroleum industry legislation.

He has supervised more than a dozen doctoral and master’s students in law.

Professor Amupitan is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.

Outside academics, he has served on several boards, including Integrated Dairies Limited, Riss Oil Limited, and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council.

He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and they have four children.

News

Elder Statesman Christopher Kolade Dies

Published

2 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

Veteran broadcaster and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Christopher Kolade, has died at the age of 92.

The family announced the elder statesman’s death in a statement on Thursday.

The statement said the late former Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria died peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

“We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service, and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings,” the statement read in part.

Kolade had a distinguished career as a diplomat, academic, advocate for integrity and corporate governance, among other things.

Born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Kolade was the son of an Anglican missionary. He attended Government College, Ibadan, before proceeding to Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he completed his higher education.

Kolade began his career in broadcasting, eventually rising to the position of Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation.

He later became Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, where he was widely recognised for his ethical leadership and corporate reforms.

The deceased also served Nigeria as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, leaving behind a legacy of diplomacy, integrity, and professionalism.

Kolade taught Corporate Governance and Human Resources Management at the Lagos Business School and Leadership & Conflict Management at the School of Media & Communication, both part of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.

Kolade, a former member of the university’s Governing Council, also served as its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, and was later Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State.

Deeply committed to promoting ethical standards in business, Kolade chaired several integrity-driven organisations, including Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE.