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As governor, El Rufai banned us from reporting killings by bandits in Kaduna- ex SOKAPU president Asake

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Jonathan Asake, a former president of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has narrated chilling accounts of the nightmare the people of Southern Kaduna faced when Nasir El Rufai was governor of the State.

Asake said the government banned the communities from reporting incidences of mass killing of Christians and other residents of the area and threatened to arrest anyone that reported the incidents.

In an interview he granted the Sun on Saturday, January 24, 2026, Asake shared a detailed account of how he mobilized media coverage to document attacks and displacement in Southern Kaduna despite facing government intimidation.

He recounted a series of violent incidents that occurred in July 2020, beginning with an attack in Gwenaorogo community within a local government area where 17 people were killed on July 13th. After reporting this initial attack, he said the violence escalated as attackers moved to other communities, killing 35 people in a single day and displacing over 5,000 residents.

The former SOKAPU leader revealed that when he and his organization reported these incidents, the Kaduna State government under Nasir El-Rufai threatened to arrest them. Rather than backing down, Dr. Asake said he took proactive measures to ensure the situation received public attention.

Upon receiving information about the imminent arrest threat, he immediately contacted 21 media organizations and arranged transportation for them. By 7 o’clock the following morning, journalists had assembled, and despite the personal risk, Dr. Asake led them to the affected areas.

He described arriving at a displacement camp where they encountered over 5,000 people who had fled their communities due to the violence. The media presence, he implied, served as protection and helped bring national attention to the crisis facing Southern Kaduna communities at the time.

According to Jonathan Asake, “They went into other communities and they killed 35 people in one day and displaced over 5,000. So when we reported, the government under El-rufai threatened to arrest us. When I got the hint, I quickly called 21 media houses and prepared a bus. As early as 7 o’clock, they had assembled, and I took the risk and we went to the place where the people were.”

 

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Supreme Court to rule on ADC, PDP cases Thursday

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.

While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.

 

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Tinubu to reconstitute NHRC board, retains Ojukwu as ES/CEO

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President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.

Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.

Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.

Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.

The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.

He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.

If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.

Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.

 

 

 

 

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Breaking: EFCC investigates Pastor Jerry Eze over alleged money laundering

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.

According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.

“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.

“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.

“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.

The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.

He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.

“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.

“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.

The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.

He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.

The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.

 

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