MURIC backs FRSC bill to ban preaching, hawking in commercial buses

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has thrown its weight behind a proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) bill seeking to prohibit preaching and hawking inside commercial buses, describing the move as a necessary step to improve road safety and maintain public order.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisation’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the proposed legislation was “a step in the right direction” and praised the FRSC for what he described as a proactive initiative aimed at reducing distractions that could lead to road crashes.

According to MURIC, preaching inside commercial vehicles distracts drivers, increasing the risk of accidents, while also creating situations capable of causing public disturbance among passengers.

The group argued that bus preaching is inconsistent with global best practices, noting that similar activities are not permitted in commercial public transport systems in major cities such as London, Paris and Frankfurt.

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Akintola said bus preachers frequently board intra-city, inter-city and interstate commercial buses, sometimes preaching throughout long-distance journeys, a practice he described as discourteous to passengers and potentially dangerous for road users.

He said MURIC’s support for the bill is based on two key considerations: the need to minimise driver distraction and the need to prevent conflicts that may arise from unsolicited religious activities in confined public spaces.

The Islamic rights organisation further stated that passengers often tolerate bus preaching despite finding it disruptive, adding that disagreements arising from such activities have, in some cases, led to altercations.

MURIC urged members of the National Assembly to expedite consideration of the proposed bill, citing Nigeria’s persistent road safety challenges.

The group referenced FRSC road crash statistics, which showed thousands of crashes, fatalities and injuries recorded across the country in recent years, arguing that measures capable of reducing distractions on the roads should receive legislative backing.

Akintola also observed that bus preaching is more commonly associated with Christian evangelists and called on Christian leaders and churches, particularly in the South-West, to discourage the practice among their members.

He maintained that preventing distractions capable of contributing to fatal road crashes should take precedence in efforts to improve road safety nationwide.

The proposed FRSC bill also seeks to prohibit hawking on highways and prescribes penalties for violations as part of broader efforts to enhance safety on Nigerian roads.

MURIC backs FRSC bill to ban preaching, hawking in commercial buses

Prophet Jailed for Defrauding Church Members of ₦136.4m in Enugu

A self-acclaimed prophet, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, has been convicted and sentenced by the Enugu State High Court for defrauding church members and other victims of ₦136.4 million through false claims of miracles, lottery winnings, and fraudulent investment schemes. The conviction followed his prosecution by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and stealing, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges before Justice H.O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu. Following his guilty plea, the prosecution, led by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict him, a request the court granted. Justice Eya sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment with an option of a ₦500,000 fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of his landed property in Enugu, covered by a Customary Certificate of Occupancy dated July 25, 1989, and registered as No. 92 at Page 92 in Volume 512 of the Land Registry, Enugu, to the Federal Government through the EFCC. The property is to be sold, with the proceeds used to compensate victims of the fraud.

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According to the EFCC, Ajuluchukwucheya deceived unsuspecting victims between 2023 and February 2025 by claiming he had won ₦30 billion in the Baba Ijebu lottery and promising investors huge returns based on the amount they invested. The agency said the claims were false and were used to obtain ₦136.4 million from victims. The EFCC said investigations began after a petition by one of the victims, Mrs. Ngene Nkiruka Jane, who alleged that the convict collected ₦6.7 million from her after claiming he could raise her late husband from the dead and promising returns through an investment scheme. Another victim, Okey Uwakwe, reportedly paid the prophet a total of ₦13.33 million for various spiritual services, including bringing his brother, who had lived abroad since 1997, back to Nigeria and making his sister-in-law, who had been childless for over 15 years, conceive. Uwakwe’s petition to the EFCC reportedly triggered the investigation.

Investigators also alleged that the convict sold so-called spiritual products, including “miracle stickers,” “spiritual dragon,” and “Holy Ghost thunder,” claiming they possessed supernatural powers capable of bringing prosperity and solving personal problems. Each of these items reportedly cost ₦38,000, with some congregants purchasing as many as 1,000 pieces of these products. The EFCC alleged that “Holy Ghost Thunder” was purportedly meant to fight a spiritual army that blocked Prophet Koboko from accessing his claimed ₦33 billion lottery winnings. As investigations progressed, more church members reportedly came forward with similar complaints.

Prophet Jailed for Defrauding Church Members of ₦136.4m in Enugu

Police Hunt Teacher Over Alleged Flogging to Death of 12-Year-Old Pupil in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a teacher accused of allegedly flogging a 12-year-old student to death at a school in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state. The tragic incident, which occurred on July 16, 2026, is being investigated under the Command’s Safe School Initiative (SSI). According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Safe School Initiative team has been activated and is being led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, ACP Harrison Oruruo. The team has been mandated to track down the fleeing teacher and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

Police operatives attached to the Neni Division responded promptly after receiving a report of the incident on the evening of July 16, 2026. The victim was immediately rushed to a hospital for medical attention but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor while receiving treatment. The victim’s body has been deposited in the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy. Preliminary investigations revealed visible marks of violence on different parts of the boy’s body, and photographs of the injuries were taken as part of the ongoing investigation.

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“The case is under active investigation, and all necessary steps are being taken to ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice,” Ikenga stated. He assured the deceased’s family and the public that the investigation would be thorough, diligent, and transparent. The Anambra State Police Command has expressed deep concern over the tragic incident and reiterated its commitment to protecting schoolchildren through the Safe School Initiative. The Command has appealed to members of the public with useful information that could aid the arrest of the fleeing teacher to report to the nearest police station or contact the Command through its emergency line: 07039194332. The incident has heightened concerns over corporal punishment in schools and renewed calls for stricter measures to safeguard children in learning environments.

Police Hunt Teacher Over Alleged Flogging to Death of 12-Year-Old Pupil in Anambra