OPM Founder Suspends Marriage Plan for Autistic Daughter After 1,000 Applications

The founder of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Omega Power Ministries, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, has announced the suspension of the proposed marriage arrangement involving his 21-year-old adopted autistic daughter, Chiemeka Chibuzor, following what he described as an overwhelming number of responses from interested suitors.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the cleric said the exercise had been halted after more than 1,000 applications were received from men expressing interest in marrying her, adding that further directives would determine the next step.

“Chiemeka Chibuzor’s wedding is hereby suspended. More than a thousand applications. No more weddings, pending further directive from me,” he wrote.

The announcement follows earlier comments by the cleric in which he publicly invited eligible men to apply, offering financial incentives and welfare support as part of the proposed arrangement. He had also outlined strict conditions for applicants, stating that interested suitors must be young and “physically and mentally fit.”

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He further disclosed that the proposed marriage package included lifetime financial support, free housing, joint property ownership, and periodic welfare monitoring by OPM officials to ensure the wellbeing of the woman.

The development generated widespread reactions online, with discussions centring on the ethical and social implications of linking financial incentives to marriage arrangements, particularly involving a vulnerable individual.

The cleric also referenced a previous OPM-supported union in which a non-verbal autistic man known as Aboy was married to an older woman earlier this year, a ceremony that attracted public attention and debate.

The latest suspension, however, signals a pause in the controversial arrangement as the church reviews the large volume of interest received.

Apostle Chinyere has not indicated when or whether the marriage proposal will be revived, stating only that the process remains on hold pending further instructions.

OPM Founder Suspends Marriage Plan for Autistic Daughter After 1,000 Applications

Money Laundering: Court Orders Arrest of Ex-Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, has issued a bench warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and co-defendant Bashir Nura Alkali over their failure to appear in court to answer charges in an ongoing ₦37.17 billion money laundering case.

The order followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the defendants alongside Sani Nafiu Rabiu on allegations bordering on fraud, money laundering, and abuse of public funds linked to activities during Farouq’s tenure as minister.

At Thursday’s sitting in Apo, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that an ex parte application had been filed seeking a warrant for the arrest of the defendants under Section 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, due to repeated failure to appear for arraignment.

Although the former minister was absent in court, she was represented by senior advocate Abdul Ibrahim (SAN). The third defendant, Sani Nafiu Rabiu, was present in court when the matter was called.

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The prosecution later amended its application to exclude the third defendant and proceeded with the request for a warrant of arrest against Farouq and Alkali only.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the defendants had been properly served with the charges, as evidenced by proof of service submitted to the court, but failed to present themselves for arraignment as required by law.

The judge subsequently ordered security agencies to arrest and produce the former minister and the second defendant before the court to take their plea.

The case had earlier suffered delays after the defendants failed to appear for arraignment, prompting the court to order substituted service on March 23, 2026, directing that the charges be pasted at their known addresses.

EFCC Allegations and Background of the Case

The EFCC alleges that about ₦37,170,855,753.44 was diverted through a contractor, James Okwete, during Farouq’s time in office. The funds were reportedly linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and allegedly moved through multiple accounts under investigation.

The anti-graft agency also stated that investigations uncovered complex financial transactions involving the contractor, which formed the basis of the money laundering charges currently before the court.

Farouq was previously invited and later detained by the EFCC in January 2024 after honouring an invitation linked to the case. She has, however, consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting she had no dealings with the contractor at the centre of the allegations.

Next Court Date

The matter has been adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment, while the court directed law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with its arrest order.

Money Laundering: Court Orders Arrest of Ex-Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq

Gunmen Kidnap 14 JAMB Candidates in Benue Highway Attack

Suspected gunmen have abducted at least 14 passengers, including candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, following an attack on a commercial bus along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.

The victims were reportedly travelling in a Benue Links vehicle from Makurdi to Otukpo on Wednesday night when the bus was ambushed around 8 p.m. near Otukpo by armed attackers, who forced most of the occupants into a nearby forest.

Sources familiar with the incident said the bus was carrying about 18 passengers, largely young students heading to Otukpo to sit for the ongoing 2026 UTME examinations scheduled for Thursday.

According to one source, the attackers intercepted the vehicle and marched several passengers into the bush, while two individuals—the driver and one passenger—managed to escape.

Confirming the incident, Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, noting that one victim escaped during the attack.

The police commissioner disclosed that he is personally leading a coordinated rescue operation in the area, with Divisional Police Officers and tactical teams deployed into nearby forests to track the kidnappers and secure the victims’ release.

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“I am in Otukpo with my team, and we are already in the bush coordinating operations to rescue the victims,” he said.

Emenari also revealed that investigations have commenced into the circumstances surrounding the journey, particularly as Benue Links reportedly has a standing policy against night travel. Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have picked up passengers outside official operating hours.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack, stating that security agencies had been mobilised following an emergency security meeting.

“It is true. Security operatives have been deployed into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims. The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to write JAMB,” he said.

The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of candidates travelling for national examinations, especially amid rising insecurity on key highways.

The Makurdi–Otukpo road has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months, with commuters frequently targeted by kidnappers, underscoring broader security challenges in parts of Benue State and Nigeria at large.

Authorities say efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted passengers and bring the perpetrators to justice, while stakeholders continue to call for improved security measures to protect students and travellers during critical national examinations.

Gunmen Kidnap 14 JAMB Candidates in Benue Highway Attack