Metro

Thunderstorm Kills Three Anambra Pupils On Football Field

Published

2 years ago

November 5, 2023

Three male students of a private secondary school (name withheld) in Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have died while playing football on the school field.

It was gathered that the incident happened late Saturday durinh rainfall which was accompanied by breeze and thunderstorms.

According to eyewitness, the students were practising on the school’s pitch in preparation for a football competition before the lightning started.

The eyewitness said about nine students were involved while six of them were rescucitated later at the school’s clinic where they were first rushed to.

The source said, “The boys were practising on the football pitch with their coach in preparaton for a football tournament.

“The coach had ended the practice session before the rains started, but some of the students stayed behind to continue playing football.

“Lightning, accompanied by claps of thunderstorms suddenly enveloped the area and the boys were struck in the process”

Witness reports added that “a teacher heard the students screaming and running. He ran to the field and saw at least nine students trembling and jerking on the turf.

“That was when he raised the alarm and people gathered to help. The boys were immediately rushed to the school clinic, from where they were taken to hospital in Awka.

“Six of the nine boys were resuscitated and are currently receiving treatment, but three did not survive. Their parents have been contacted.”

A resident, identified as Hope Egwu, told journalists that the news of the accident went round the community on Sunday before it was made public, adding that everyone had been held spellbound.

At the hospital in Awka, parents and sympathisers trooped into the ward where the survivors were receiving treatment.

When interrogated, a doctor at the hospital, who craved anonymity, said three out of the nine boys were brought into the hospital dead, but six others were revived.

“As of now, parents of two of the dead boys have taken the corpses away, while one is still in the mortuary.

“It is sad that they were playing on the field barefooted. If they had boots on, the impact of the lightning would probably have been minimised,’’ the doctor added.

When contacted on the telephone, the school principal, who picked his calls after several efforts, simply said, “I am not in the mood to explain anything or make a statement right now” and thereafter dropped the call.

The state’s police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who was contacted, said the incident had not been reported to the police.

Metro

Accountant Jailed 15 Years For Defrauding Oyo Job Applicants

Published

16 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

A serving accountant in the Oyo State Health Management Board, Wahab Olabanji, has been sentenced to a total jail term of 15 years following his conviction for fraudulently collecting various sums of money from unsuspecting victims with the promise of giving them employment.

Wahab, who until his trial was the Chief Executive Officer (Accounts) on Grade Level 14 at the state Hospital Management Board, was accused of collecting the money from applicants who applied for the last recruitments into the board and the state Teaching Service Commission.

The Chairman of Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, Justice Eni Esan (retd.), disclosed this in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, on Tuesday.

She said Olabanji was convicted on a 30-count charge of official corruption, obtaining money under false pretence and conversion, to which he was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 on each count of the charge.

Esan said, “The man was convicted on a 30-count charge of official corruption, obtaining money under false pretence and conversion. However, after a rigorous 17-month trial, the court delivered its judgement on Friday, August 1, 2025, in which the defendant was found guilty on all the 30 counts and he was sentenced to imprisonment for six months with an option of N50,000 fine on each count of the charge.

“The court also ordered the defendant to pay all sums fraudulently obtained from his victims within three months to remedy the wrong suffered by the victims due to the corrupt and fraudulent actions of the defendant.”

She reiterated OYACA’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption in the public service of the state.

Metro

Tragedy Adverted As Tanker With 50,000 Litres Of Diesel Skids Off Road In Oyo

Published

18 hours ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

A tanker carrying 50,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil skidded off the road on Wednesday evening at Jin-Jofes Filling Station, Iwo Road in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online on Thursday that the incident occurred around 8 pm as a result of brake failure while the driver was attempting to navigate a bend.

One of the eyewitnesses, Ajadi Oyekunle, said, “I was heading home when the incident happened. It could have been disastrous, but the immediate arrival of the state Fire Service averted an explosion.”

Another witness, Bisola Ogungbade, said, “It happened during rush hour when everyone was trying to get home. Thankfully, both the driver and the motor boy were rescued alive. The motor boy sustained a minor injury to his shoulder and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.”

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said the report was received at exactly 20:07 hrs on Wednesday via a phone call from one Adisa Kazeem.

“Our officers, led by ACFS Adeniyi Adesina, were promptly deployed to the scene. On arrival, they found a DAF trailer tanker with registration number LAGOS: T17 657 LA, carrying 50,000 litres of AGO, had skidded off the road into a nearby gutter, and its contents were spilling.

“The firefighters quickly applied a chemical foam compound to blanket the spillage and neutralise the flammability of the content to prevent a possible fire outbreak.

“The driver and motor boy were rescued alive, though the latter sustained a minor shoulder injury and was taken to the nearest hospital. The situation has been brought under control, and normal activities have resumed on the road”, Akinwande added.

He also confirmed that operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Akobo Division and the Amotekun Corps were present to provide security during the operation.

The firefighters reportedly returned to the station around 4:12 am on Thursday.

Metro

Court Orders TSTV CEO To Pay ₦938m, $1.42m In Debt Case

Published

1 day ago

August 7, 2025

Editor

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has ordered Telcom Satellites Limited, and its Chief Executive Officer, Bright Echefu, to pay a former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), a total of ₦938 million and US$1.42 million, along with post-judgment interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum until the debt is fully cleared.

Justice Bello Kawu made the order on July 7, 2025, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Turaki against the TSTV and its CEO.

A certified true copy of the judgment was sighted on Wednesday by The PUNCH.

Turaki, the claimant in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/332/23, sued TSTV and Echefu, as the 1st and 2nd defendants respectively, over unpaid debts.

In a writ of summons supported by a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Turaki, he stated that TSTV, a company duly incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, presented itself as an indigenous cable satellite television provider rendering media and telecommunication services to him.

He said the 1st defendant (TSTV) operated from its head office located at Plot 859, Idu Industrial Area, Idu in Abuja.

According to Turaki, the 2nd defendant, Echefu, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TSTV and its alter ego, personally obtained loans from him under false pretences.

Turaki said he became aware of the defendants in 2018 through a close friend and associate who had been approached by Echefu to convince him to invest in TSTV.

He noted that after about two months of due diligence and negotiations with Echefu, he declined the invitation to invest in TSTV as the terms presented were not acceptable to the 1st defendant.

He said that following the failed investment proposal, Echefu continued to mount pressure on him to invest in TSTV.

“Unrelenting in his efforts, the 2nd defendant wrote a letter conveying several propositions to me to come on board, including acquiring 35% of the shares of the 1st defendant and assuming its chairmanship,” he said.

According to Turaki, this proposal was made in a letter dated November 13, 2019.
He added that after persistent persuasion from Echefu and his collaborators, he agreed to serve as Chairman of TSTV and acquire 50% of its shares for the sum of ₦800 million.

He added that this decision was based on representations by Echefu that TSTV was a viable and profitable cable satellite company.

“The 1st defendant, as a result, deceived me into acquiring 50% of its shares for ₦800 million, even though the company was moribund,” Turaki stated.

He further said that after assuming the position of Chairman and investing in the company, Echefu again exerted pressure on him to assist in raising additional funds for TSTV’s operations.

Turaki said that under pressure from Echefu, he introduced him to Tudu Ventures Nigeria Limited, which lent the defendants the following sums: ₦1.2 billion, ₦800 million, US$1.6 million and US$500,000.

The defendants allegedly failed to repay the loans, prompting Tudu Ventures to file a separate suit (FCT/HC/CV/1588/21) to recover the funds. Partial judgment was entered against the defendants on November 22, 2022.

Turaki said he also personally granted loans to Echefu at his request, amounting to ₦138 million, US$1.35 million, and an additional US$70,000.

“The defendants, via a letter dated January 5, 2021, acknowledged receipt of $1.28 million and ₦138 million as part of the loans advanced to them,” the claimant said.

He added that the defendants later approached him again, stating that the $1.28 million was insufficient for its intended purpose and requested an additional $70,000, which he also provided, bringing the total loan to $1.35 million.

Turaki said Echefu once more approached him for a further loan of $70,000 to meet financial obligations, which was also granted.

“That the 2nd Defendant again approached me to advance a further loan of the sum of USS70,000, to enable them settle some financial exigencies, which was also advanced to the defendants”.

According to him, the defendants, through a payment proposal signed by Echefu for settling Tudu Ventures’ loans, his own loans, and the equity investment, agreed to repay $1.35 million, $70,000, and ₦138 million.

He added that Echefu’s Counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, (SAN), via a letter dated November 22, 2022 agreed to pay the sum of N200,000,000 on or before July 15, 2022, through the said counsel as a demonstration of the 2nd Defendant’s good faith and commitment to liquidating his Indebtedness to him which the 2nd Defendant failed to keep.

Turaki said he later instructed his lawyers, N.A. Saidu Legal Consult issued a demand letter to Echefu seeking repayment, but no response was received.

He emphasised that, given the efforts made and the lack of response from the defendants, it became clear to him that the defendants had no intention of repaying the loans which Echefu personally obtained and which are now overdue.

He, therefore, urged the court to compel the defendants to repay the outstanding loans with post-judgment interest of 10 per cent annually until the debt is fully liquidated.

In his judgment, Justice Kawu granted all the reliefs sought by Turaki.

He held, “An order of this Honourable Court directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of ₦138,000,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million Naira) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.

“An order directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of US$1,350,000 (One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.

“An order directing the 1st and 2nd defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the claimant the sum of US$70,000 (Seventy Thousand US Dollars) being the total loan advanced, now due and unpaid.

“An order directing the 2nd defendant to pay the claimant the sum of ₦800,000,000 (Eight Hundred Million Naira) being the total sum paid for 50% equity in the 1st defendant, despite knowing the company was moribund.

“An order awarding post-judgment interest at 10 per cent per annum on the total judgment sum from the date of the judgment until full satisfaction of the debt, and such further orders as the court may deem fit.”
(PUNCH)