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Kenyan doomsday cult leader charged with murder of 200 followers
Kenyan doomsday cult leader charged with murder of 200 followers
A Kenyan court on Tuesday charged the leader of a starvation cult and dozens of suspected accomplices with murder over the deaths of nearly 200 people in a forest near the Indian Ocean.
Self-proclaimed pastor, Paul Mackenzie, who has already been charged with terrorism, manslaughter as well as child torture and cruelty, is alleged to have incited hundreds of his acolytes to starve to death in order to “meet Jesus”.
On Tuesday, Mackenzie and 29 other suspects pleaded not guilty to 191 counts of murder, according to court documents seen by AFP.
A 31st suspect was deemed to lack the mental fitness to stand trial and ordered to return to the Malindi High Court in a month’s time.
The cult leader has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
He was arrested in April last year after bodies were found in the Shakahola forest, with the grisly discoveries provoking horror across the world.
Autopsies revealed that the majority of the 429 victims had died of hunger.
But others, including children, appeared to have been strangled, beaten or suffocated.
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The case dubbed the “Shakahola forest massacre”, led the government to flag the need for tighter control of fringe denominations.
A largely Christian nation, Kenya has struggled to regulate unscrupulous churches and cults that dabble in criminality.
Court documents have described Good News International Ministries founded by Mackenzie as “an organised criminal group (which) engaged in organised criminal activities”, leading to the death of hundreds of followers.
Questions have been raised about how Mackenzie managed to evade law enforcement despite a history of extremism and previous legal cases.
A Senate Commission of Inquiry reported in October that the father of seven had faced charges in 2017 for extreme preaching.
He was acquitted of charges of radicalisation in 2017 for illegally providing school teaching after rejecting the formal educational system that he claimed was not in line with the Bible.
In 2019, he was also accused of links to the death of two children believed to have been starved, suffocated and then buried in a shallow grave in Shakahola. He was released on bail pending trial.
There are more than 4,000 churches registered in the East African country of 53 million people, according to government figures.
Previous efforts to regulate religious institutions in Kenya have been fiercely opposed as attempts to undermine constitutional guarantees for the division of church and state.
Kenyan doomsday cult leader charged with murder of 200 followers
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Reps Uncover 29 Forged Documents in Fake Agency Probe, Order IGP to Produce Suspect Adeyemi
Reps Uncover 29 Forged Documents in Fake Agency Probe, Order IGP to Produce Suspect Adeyemi
The House of Representatives has uncovered a massive web of alleged forgery involving 29 government documents as it investigates the phantom Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). The House Committee investigating the PFIPC has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to produce the self-acclaimed Director-General of the organisation, Adeyemi Adeniyi, before lawmakers by 12 noon on Wednesday. The directive was issued on Monday during a resumed investigative hearing at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, with Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, representing the IGP, instructed to ensure Adeniyi’s appearance.
Providing an update on the criminal aspect of the case, ACP Abdullahi informed lawmakers that the Nigeria Police Force had already filed an eight-count charge against Adeniyi before the Federal High Court, confirming that the suspect had been arrested and arraigned following petitions from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. He stated that the case is ongoing but cautioned against demands for disclosures that could prejudice the ongoing criminal investigation and court proceedings, urging the committee to avoid public statements that might influence judicial outcomes.
In a startling revelation during the hearing, Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi disclosed that investigators had identified about 29 allegedly forged documents linked to the operations of the non-existent agency, which include purported approvals from the State House, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and several other government institutions. Gagdi noted that representatives from many of the affected agencies had already appeared before the committee and formally disowned the documents attributed to their offices, adding that the committee is also dealing with what is said to be a forged Act of the National Assembly in an attempt to establish a fake agency.
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One of the most dramatic moments of the hearing came when the committee examined signatures on documents allegedly issued from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, and when lawmakers asked whether the signatures matched authentic official correspondence already verified by investigators, the police witness responded unequivocally that they are not the same. The committee said the discrepancy reinforced concerns that official State House documents may have been forged, lending credence to suspicions that a coordinated scheme was executed to give the phantom council an air of legitimacy.
The committee is investigating how the PFIPC—which the Federal Government insists has no legal backing—allegedly secured office accommodation in Phase III of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and received a budgetary allocation of ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The police investigation was triggered by a petition dated October 17, 2025, from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, alleging that Adeniyi fraudulently presented himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council. According to police, the petition alleged Adeniyi used the purported office to secure accommodation within the Federal Secretariat, seek approval to recruit about 300 personnel, attempt to secure a $1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget, and plan to organise a World Investment Summit under the platform of the purported council.
Explaining the urgency behind the summons, Gagdi said Adeniyi’s appearance had become imperative given the gravity of the allegations and the integrity of institutions involved, stressing that people’s names, people’s integrity, institutional names, and institutional integrity are all at stake. He maintained that it is not an option for Adeniyi to stay away, as the committee needs him to confirm certain documents in a way that will not undermine the investigation and will enable the timely submission of its report. The committee subsequently directed its clerk to formally communicate its resolution to the Inspector-General of Police. Gagdi assured that the House investigation would continue independently, and its final report could recommend further action by relevant security agencies.
Reps Uncover 29 Forged Documents in Fake Agency Probe, Order IGP to Produce Suspect Adeyemi
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Prophetess who made husband swear fidelity oath celebrates mother-in-law’s death
Prophetess who made husband swear fidelity oath celebrates mother-in-law’s death
Canada-based Nigerian woman and self-acclaimed prophetess, Ezinne Maryjane Nwanorue, has come under intense criticism after publicly celebrating the death of her mother-in-law, Comfort Chika Nwanorue, in a series of controversial posts on Facebook.
The development has reignited public attention on the highly publicised family dispute involving Ezinne and her husband, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue, whose viral public fidelity oath before relocating to Canada dominated social media discussions in recent days.
In a Facebook post shared on Monday, Ezinne uploaded the funeral poster of her late mother-in-law alongside remarks that many social media users described as shocking and offensive.
Referring to the deceased as a “wicked witch,” Ezinne alleged that her mother-in-law and other family members had spent years working against her destiny. She claimed they had attempted to frustrate her progress in life but declared that God had delivered her and brought her into what she described as her “season of manifestation.”
She further warned individuals she identified as witches, wizards and evil people to repent or face divine judgment, insisting she was speaking in her capacity as “a prophetess of God Almighty.”
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The posts quickly spread across Facebook and other social media platforms, attracting thousands of reactions and generating heated debate.
While a small number of users expressed sympathy for Ezinne and suggested she may have endured difficult experiences with her husband’s family, many others condemned her decision to celebrate the death of a family member. Critics argued that regardless of any personal grievances, publicly rejoicing over someone’s death was inappropriate and inconsistent with the values of compassion and forgiveness.
The latest controversy follows an earlier incident that brought the family into the national spotlight.
Ezinne had previously disclosed that before sponsoring her husband, Franklin Nwanorue, to relocate to Canada, she instructed him to publicly swear an oath that he would never be unfaithful to her. According to her, the directive was based on divine instruction.
In the now-viral video, Franklin declared that if he cheated on his wife after arriving in Canada, he should die. He also pledged to remain faithful and continue being a responsible husband and father to their children.
However, Ezinne later alleged that despite taking the public oath, her husband became involved with another woman after relocating to Canada.
In another Facebook post, she accused Franklin of having an affair, claiming he “still slept with one of his side chicks” after making the declaration. The allegation fueled widespread conversations on social media about trust in marriage, public religious vows and the dangers of turning private family disputes into online spectacles.
Her latest comments following her mother-in-law’s death have further intensified public scrutiny of the family’s ongoing conflict.
As of the time of filing this report, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue has not publicly responded to his wife’s latest claims or her comments regarding his mother’s death. Other members of the Nwanorue family have also remained silent on the matter.
The incident continues to generate mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians calling for restraint and urging those involved to resolve their differences privately rather than through social media.
Prophetess who made husband swear fidelity oath celebrates mother-in-law’s death
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MURIC Tells Adeleke to ‘Pack Your Dancing Kits’ Ahead of Osun 2026 Election
MURIC Tells Adeleke to ‘Pack Your Dancing Kits’ Ahead of Osun 2026 Election
- The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised Governor Ademola Adeleke to begin packing his belongings from the Oke-Fia Government House in Osogbo, insisting that he will be defeated in the August 15, 2026 governorship election for allegedly deceiving Muslims in the state.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued a strong statement advising Governor Ademola Adeleke to start packing his belongings from the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, ahead of the upcoming Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026. In a statement released on Monday, July 27, 2026, by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the human rights group insisted that Adeleke would be punished at the polls for what it described as deceiving the Muslims of Osun State.
The group declared that Adeleke’s “unrenewable rent has expired” and that “the estate agents are waiting at the gates to usher in the new landlord,” referring to another Nurudeen as the incoming governor. MURIC stated that while it could overlook certain alleged political infractions such as the damaged flyover, alleged “edenisation” of governance, mishandling of local government affairs, and examination malpractice, the governor’s religious conduct was unforgivable.
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The core of MURIC’s grievance centres on what it describes as Adeleke’s deception of Muslims regarding his religious identity. According to the statement, though the governor is a Christian, he pretended to be a Muslim because he is aware that Osun State’s population is predominantly Muslim. MURIC contrasted Adeleke’s approach with that of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a Christian who did not pretend to be a Muslim and was transparent about his faith. The group also drew a comparison with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who “came out boldly with his Muslim-Muslim ticket at the federal level,” a stance MURIC described as “dignifying,” which it said was missing in Adeleke’s “Christian-Christian government.”
The statement further accused Adeleke of playing on the intelligence of Osun Muslims. “Though a Christian, he pretended to be a Muslim because he is aware that the population of the state is predominantly Muslim. That is very close to obtaining something by false means,” the statement read. MURIC concluded by telling the governor: “Pack your dancing kits from Oke-Fia because another Nurudeen, the Nurudeen with capital ‘N’, will soon move in. He is the new landlord.”
This latest salvo is part of a long-running feud between MURIC and Governor Adeleke. The group has previously accused the governor of marginalising Muslims in political appointments, alleging that Christians received 17 commissioners while Muslims received only seven. MURIC also alleged financial impropriety, including a payroll discrepancy and mismanagement of security votes. The Osun State Government has previously dismissed these allegations, with Commissioner for Information Kolapo Alimi accusing MURIC of spreading misinformation and challenging its director to declare any partisan interest in the opposition All Progressives Congress.
MURIC Tells Adeleke to ‘Pack Your Dancing Kits’ Ahead of Osun 2026 Election
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