Apapa gridlock: Senate probes e-call-up system, alleged extortion - Newstrends
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Apapa gridlock: Senate probes e-call-up system, alleged extortion

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The Senate has mandated the Senator Danjuma Goje-led Committee on Marine Transport to probe the implementation of the electronic call-up system of admitting trucks into the port terminal and allegations of extortion by port officials.

Despite the introduction of the call-up system by the Nigerian Ports Authority, the gridlock on major roads leading into and out of Apapa port has not abated.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government collaborate with the Lagos State Government to ensure the relocation of tank farms to other areas.

It asked private terminal operators to explore water transport as an option in the movement of containers, just as it urged the Federal Ministry of Works to commence the reconstruction and repair of all access roads to seaports, namely Apapa Creek road, Apapa Oshodi Expressway and Tincan Island.

Besides, the Senate directed its committees on Marine Transport, Works and Petroleum (Downstream) to meet the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, concessionaires, Nigeria Union of Petroleum Engineers and all other stakeholders to ensure resolution of pending conflicts and ensure synergy, among other stakeholders.

Resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion titled: ‘Urgent Need to Tackle the Protracted Apapa Gridlock in Lagos and Embrace the Newly Introduced Electronic Call-Up system of Admitting Trucks into the Terminal’.

The motion was sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu and co-sponsored by senators Solomon Adeola and Adetokunbo Abiru.

Presenting the motion, Senator Tinubu said: “The Senate notes with great displeasure the gridlock which has persisted on access roads to Apapa Seaport in Lagos and has, for many years, been a source of heartache for individuals and businesses plying the road.

“Senate is also aware that the gridlock has persisted due to the terrible condition of Apapa port, the concentration of Tank Farms in the area, indiscriminate parking of petroleum tankers and trailers wanting to load petroleum products from the tank farms and the racket created by persons benefiting from the chaotic situation.

“Senate is also aware that the tank farms attract thousands of trucks and tanker drivers who lift the petroleum products for onward supply to Nigerians who owing to the paucity of parking lots take up all the spaces on the road instead thereby causing traffic.

“The Senate is also informed that there about 40 tank farms in the Apapa axis alone. This over-concentration is disadvantageous because one accident could be the undoing of this very important aspect of the Federal Government highway.

“The Senate is also informed that the unpalatable situation has made the area a goldmine for unscrupulous persons and operatives who have gone on to create a racket profiting off the turmoil created.

“Senate decries the poor quality of port access roads, complex ports procedures and ineffective truck call up system among other factors contributing to delays, inefficiencies and gridlock in Apapa with a huge cost to Nigeria’s economy.

“The Senate notes that this gridlock has increased the cost of doing business, encourage illegalities and stiffen ports activities with its attendant negative impact on government’s revenue projections.

“The Senate is concerned that the roads leading to Apapa are characterised with so much traffic that people would rather walk than drive.

“The Senate is worried that this gridlock has continued to pose a security threat to the lives of innocent Nigerians as hoodlums exploit the situation to disposes motorists and passers-by of their valuables.

“The Senate is also worried that due to the deplorable state of the roads, and the number of trucks and containers on the road, there have been several cases of containers falling on smaller vehicles, killing innocent citizens while goods worth millions of Naira are also destroyed or stolen in these accidents.

“The Senate further notes that only recently, following allegations of extortion by security operatives posted to the area, the Presidential Task Force handed over the reins of managing the traffic situation to the Lagos State Government which in turn set up the Apapa Special Traffic Management…

“The Senate observes that the NPA recently introduced the electronic Call-Up system for admitting trucks into the terminal and to control the movement of trucks in and out of Lagos Seaports.

“The Senate is concerned that despite the well-intentioned initiative the chaotic traffic situation still lingers as tankers and trucks are still parked indiscriminately on the roads causing inconvenience to residents, commuters and business activities in the area.

“The Senate is also concerned that tankers have not been incorporated into the e-call up system and the areas where container trucks used to be stationed have now been taken over by the tankers.

“Bothered by the seeming discord among stakeholders in the implementation of the e-call up system, NUPENG representatives have reportedly stated that the initiative is not feasible not only because alternative parking lots have not been provided, but also because as a body, NUPENG is not subject to the authority of the implementing agency in the Nigerian Ports Authority.

“The Senate is further concerned that clearing agents and truck owners along the port’s access roads at the Tincan Island Port complex accused officials of the NPA, security agents and the police personnel who are deployed to manage traffic in the area of sabotaging the smooth operation of the newly introduced e-call up system by colluding with community boys, touts and miscreants who disregard official e-call up tickets to extort truckers.

“Senate notes allegations by industry operators such as the National Association of Road Transport Workers that human interference in the e-call up system continues to hamper resolution of the issues and compound the problem.

Apapa gridlock, an embarrassment

“The Senate, however, is saddened that the current Apapa gridlock has become an embarrassment to our nation and a sore point for maritime business along the Lagos and Tincan Island Ports corridor and also saddened that this has a huge impact on the ease of doing business in Nigeria, shipping and the final cost of goods.

“The Senate is further saddened about the diversion of Nigerian bound cargoes to neighbouring country’s seaports.

“Senate is however reminded being the country’s most valuable import and export gateway, and a high yielding revenue hub, Apapa port is currently raking in over N1trillion annually into Federal Government’s treasury through various taxes, levies and tariffs.

“The Senate is equally reminded that as a stakeholder in the success of Nigeria, we must ensure viable working systems and institutions that benefit the populace.”

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Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse

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Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse
Abducted farmer, Ibrahim Kadafa, popularly known as Ibro or K9

Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse

KADUNA, Nigeria — Residents have been thrown into mourning and outrage after armed bandits reportedly collected a staggering ₦56 million ransom before handing over the lifeless body of an abducted farmer, Ibrahim Kadafa, popularly known as Ibro or K9, to his family.

The tragic incident occurred along the Kaduna-Abuja highway corridor, where Kadafa and his friend, Mustapha Shelpidi, were reportedly kidnapped while harvesting soybeans on a farm about two weeks ago.

According to accounts from family sources, Kadafa sustained a gunshot injury to his leg while attempting to escape during the attack.

Rather than receiving medical attention, the abducted farmer was allegedly left without treatment throughout his captivity, as his family struggled to negotiate his release.

After weeks of negotiations and efforts to raise the money, the family reportedly met the kidnappers’ demands, paying ₦56 million in ransom, alongside three brand-new Samsung mobile phones and ₦20,000 worth of airtime.

However, what the family had hoped would be a joyful reunion turned into an unimaginable tragedy on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

When relatives arrived at the agreed location to receive Kadafa, the bandits reportedly handed them his corpse instead of the living man they had spent millions of naira trying to rescue.

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The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, although relatives suspect that complications arising from the untreated gunshot wound may have contributed to his death while in captivity.

Meanwhile, the fate of his friend and fellow abductee, Mustapha Shelpidi, remains unknown, raising further concerns about his safety and the possibility that he is still being held by the kidnappers.

Friends and associates of the deceased have continued to express grief over the incident, describing Kadafa as a dependable friend, responsible family member and respected figure in his community.

One of his grieving associates recalled how the late farmer regularly sought his advice on important personal decisions, describing their relationship as that of brothers.

“He was someone who believed in me enough to seek my advice whenever he needed to make important decisions. He was my brother and friend. This is wrong, in all shades,” the associate lamented.

Kadafa was reportedly the first son of his mother, who is now left to mourn his death, while several of his siblings reside in Abuja.

His killing has renewed concerns over the worsening security situation along the Kaduna-Abuja highway and surrounding rural communities, where farmers, travellers and other residents remain vulnerable to attacks and abductions.

The incident has also raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of security operations in the area, particularly as kidnapping victims and their families continue to face devastating consequences despite paying huge sums to secure their freedom.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on Kadafa’s death or provide details about efforts to rescue Shelpidi.

The family and community are now left mourning a man whose relatives reportedly paid millions of naira in the hope of bringing him home alive.

Bandits Collect ₦56m Ransom, Three Phones Before Returning Abducted Kaduna Farmer’s Corpse

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I Caught My Husband in Our Matrimonial Bed With Another Woman, Waited for Them to Finish – Wife

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I Caught My Husband in Our Matrimonial Bed With Another Woman, Waited for Them to Finish – Wife

KUMASI, GHANA — A woman has sparked widespread reactions after recounting how she caught her husband allegedly having an affair with another woman in their matrimonial bedroom but chose to wait until they were done before confronting him.

The woman made the revelation during an interview on Nhyira 104.5 FM, where she narrated the shocking experience and her unusual reaction to discovering her husband’s alleged infidelity.

According to her account, she returned home unexpectedly and discovered that her husband was in their bedroom with another woman.

Rather than immediately confronting the pair, creating a scene or attempting to force her way into the room, she decided to remain calm and wait for them to finish.

“I caught my husband in our bed with another woman, so I waited for them to finish,” she reportedly told the programme’s presenters.

Her revelation has since generated considerable attention on social media, with clips from the interview circulating across various online platforms and triggering heated discussions about marriage, betrayal and relationships.

The woman’s unusual decision to wait instead of immediately confronting her husband has particularly divided social media users.

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Some commentators expressed admiration for her composure, arguing that she demonstrated remarkable self-control in a situation that could easily have resulted in a heated confrontation.

Others, however, questioned how she managed to remain calm after discovering such an intimate betrayal, with some suggesting that the shock of the discovery might have left her temporarily speechless.

Some social media users also wondered what happened after the couple allegedly finished, particularly how the woman confronted her husband and what explanation he offered for the incident.

Others turned the story into a broader discussion about the importance of faithfulness and respect in marriage, insisting that no spouse should have to endure the humiliation of discovering an affair in their matrimonial home.

The account also attracted humorous reactions from some online commentators, who described the woman’s patience as extraordinary, while others said they would have reacted very differently if they had found themselves in a similar situation.

However, the circumstances surrounding the alleged affair, including the identity of the other woman and what happened after the discovery, have not been independently established.

As the interview continues to circulate online, the woman’s account has added another chapter to ongoing social media conversations about marital infidelity, trust, emotional control and the painful consequences of betrayal.

I Caught My Husband in Our Matrimonial Bed With Another Woman, Waited for Them to Finish – Wife

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Court Admits Supreme Court Judgment Against Emefiele in $4.5bn, N2.8bn Fraud Trial Despite Defence Objection

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Court Admits Supreme Court Judgment Against Emefiele in $4.5bn, N2.8bn Fraud Trial Despite Defence Objection
Former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele in court

Court Admits Supreme Court Judgment Against Emefiele in $4.5bn, N2.8bn Fraud Trial Despite Defence Objection

LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Ikeja Special Offences Court has overruled an objection by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and admitted a certified true copy of a Supreme Court judgment into evidence in his ongoing $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud trial.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, who presided over the proceedings on Friday, admitted the judgment as Exhibit L, ruling that it was a public document admissible in evidence.

The document reportedly concerns multiple properties forfeited to the Federal Government and allegedly linked to the former CBN governor.

The prosecution had sought to tender the Supreme Court judgment through its eighth witness, Alvan Gurumnaan, the lead investigator in the case.

However, Emefiele’s defence counsel opposed its admission, questioning its relevance and legal admissibility in the ongoing criminal proceedings.

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Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

He is standing trial alongside Henry Omoile, who faces a separate three-count charge over the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.

During Friday’s proceedings, the defence challenged the prosecution’s attempt to introduce the Supreme Court judgment, raising concerns about its relevance to the criminal trial and the circumstances surrounding the document’s presentation.

The defence also questioned the prosecution’s reliance on the judgment, which arose from a forfeiture-related matter.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi dismissed the objections, holding that a certified true copy of a court judgment qualifies as a public document that can be admitted in evidence.

The judge explained that judgments are tendered in subsequent proceedings to establish what a court had previously decided, not to automatically import the evidence presented in the earlier case into a fresh trial.

He cited several judicial authorities, including David v. Friyisi Akperen (2000), Egwu v. Ezeubu (1992), Okoye v. Ogoji (1991) and Ademba v. Odizi (1999), in support of his position.

Justice Oshodi further held that the omission of certain ancillary details did not make the certified judgment incomplete or inadmissible.

Following the ruling, the court admitted the document as Exhibit L, with its use restricted to establishing the decisions previously reached by the Supreme Court concerning the disputed assets.

The development marks another stage in the prosecution’s presentation of evidence against the former CBN governor.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until December 17, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination and further proceedings.

 

Court Admits Supreme Court Judgment Against Emefiele in $4.5bn, N2.8bn Fraud Trial Despite Defence Objection

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