Defamation: Edo Gov Okpebholo demands apology from 2 PDP chieftains – Newstrends
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Defamation: Edo Gov Okpebholo demands apology from 2 PDP chieftains

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Governor Monday Okpebholo

Defamation: Edo Gov Okpebholo demands apology from 2 PDP chieftains

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has issued a five-day notice to Chris Nehikhare, Edo State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and a chieftain of the party, Mr. Shedrach Udugbai, to immediately tender an unreserved apology to him (Okpebholo) over what the governor described as defamatory remarks made by them at various times and on different platforms.

Nehikhare was accused of making “defamatory and unsubstantiated allegations” against the governor through a press release on March 10, 2025, captioned “Edo PDP condemns Okpebholo’s N200m bribery ploy to buy defection of each Assembly member”; “Reckless misappropriation of state resources” and “ Senator Monday Okpebholo has summoned all councillors from the 18 local councils of Edo State, in a desperate attempt to woo them with N2m each to decamp to the All Progressives Congress, APC.”

Udugbai was said to have defamed the governor while appearing on “This Morning on ITV” a programme aired on Benin-based Independent Television (ITV) on March 13, 2025, where he accused Governor Okpebholo of bribing three members of the PDP in the state House of Assembly with N200 million each to defect to the APC.

A pre-action notice by the governor’s legal representatives, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere and Taiwo Elizabeth Olorunfemi, sighted by our correspondent, said the alleged defamatory comments could be construed to mean that “the governor is a dishonourable man who engages in bribery and corruption and deals callously with the common wealth of Edo State.”

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The pre-action notice further stated that the alleged defamatory comments meant that “our client is a dishonest man, who can only have things done through bribery and corrupt practices,” and that our client is a “dishonest person incapable of managing the affairs of Edo State and/or holding any public office.”

The notice lamented that the wide broadcast of the said press release and interview including on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, significantly amplified the reach and impact of the alleged defamatory comments, resulting in consequential harm to the governor.

While insisting that the allegations were wholly false and a calculated attempt to damage the governor’s hard-earned reputation, the governor’s legal team stated that Governor Okpebholo has been adjudged by all well-meaning Edo indigenes and Nigerians in general, as one of the few state governors who is doing excellently well and managing the state funds prudently.

They said before becoming the governor of Edo State, the governor was a senator, where he performed his legislative duties impeccably without blemishes, hence he was nominated by the APC as its candidate for the governorship of Edo State, a position he now occupies.

The pre-action notice read: “Our client has not been arrested, charged or convicted for financial impropriety or any offense whatsoever in Nigeria or elsewhere and our client has never and will never engage in bribery or any other financial impropriety.

“It is hard to understand why our client’s name should feature in what seemed to be your attempt to address an issue regarding the decamping of lawmakers from your own political party due to their dissatisfaction with how the affairs of your party are being run.

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Police recover bodies of father, son after mysterious death

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Police recover bodies of father, son after mysterious death

Authorities in Ebonyi State have recovered the remains of a man and his son who were found dead under unclear circumstances in the Ebebe Junction area of Abakaliki.

State Police Command spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the evacuation to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

Ukandu said the deceased, identified as Mr. Light Nwodor and his son Miracle, were found lifeless, prompting swift action by officers in the area.

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“When I was called by an individual about the incident, I quickly called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area,” he said.”They swung into action and the dead bodies have been evacuated.“The police have launched investigation into the matter.”The command will definitely inform the general public on completion of investigation.“Right now, nobody knows what caused their deaths,” he added.

He also noted that no updates had been received from the DPO regarding any arrests linked to the case.

Initial unconfirmed reports circulating online suggested that the deaths may have resulted from eating food prepared by a woman who is allegedly now at large.

Police recover bodies of father, son after mysterious death

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Many missing, one killed in Ebonyi community clash

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Ebonyi State Police Spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu

Many missing, one killed in Ebonyi community clash

One person has been shot dead, two injured and many people missing in Ndiagu Amagu, Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following a leadership tussle. The deceased, Nwoyika Ugbaloke and Thomas Ngaragu were reportedly attacked by some gunmen, but Ugbaloke couldn’t survive the attack.

Many people are said to be missing in the attack.

It was gathered that trouble started when a faction in the community imposed N40, 000 level on all the adults in Nduche Umuomara in the community, which did not go down well with another faction in the area.

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It was also gathered that the faction that imposed the N40,000 levy on the adults was also selling lands belonging to the faction that opposed the levy.

A son of the deceased, Nwoyika Kingsley Emeka, lamented the killing of his father and called for arrest of his killers. He said the killers were moving freely in the community, sealing people’s farmlands with palm fronds and warning them never to set their feet on the farms until the fines were paid.

He alleged that the perpetrators were being protected by some highly placed persons in the community.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu said he had not received any report on the incident.

Many missing, one killed in Ebonyi community clash

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EFCC declares four persons wanted over CBEX scam

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EFCC declares four persons wanted over CBEX scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared eight suspects wanted in connection with the alleged loss of approximately N1.3trillion to Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX).

Apart from two of the suspects based in Ibadan, the rest six were said to be from Idimu-Egbeda Road in Lagos.

But the EFCC has held on to two suspects it earlier arrested.

According to a notice by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, all the suspects are wanted for “fraud allegedly perpetrated on an online trading platform called Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX).”

The first set of suspects, who are Nigerians, include, Oloyede, Emmanuel Uko, Adefowora Oluwanishola and Adefowora Abiodun Olaonipekun.

The foreigners are Johnson Okiroh Otieno, Israel Mbaluka, Joseph Michiro Kabera and Serah Michiro.

The Adefoworas and Michiros are suspected to be couples.

The statement described the second set of suspects as “foreign accomplices wanted by the EFCC. “

The statement added: “The public is hereby notified that the persons whose photographs appear above are suspected foreign accomplices wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud allegedly perpetrated on an online trading platform called Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX).

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“Anybody with useful information as to their whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, llorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: info@efcc.gov.ng or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”

Asked about those two earlier arrested, a source in EFCC said: “They are still in custody. “

The Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama has said CBEX is unregistered with it.

He said the commission cannot be of help to the victims.

He said: “There is nothing the commission can do”.

“We are worried that this went on for long without anyone drawing our attention to it. That is why we are doing more enlightenment and asking people to come forward to report this for early detection.”

SEC said preliminary investigations revealed that  CBEX, which also operates under the corporate identity of ST Technologies International Ltd, Smart Treasure/Super Technology, had held itself out as a digital asset-trading platform, offering high returns to investors in Nigeria.

It said: “The Commission hereby clarifies that neither CBEX nor its affiliates were granted registration by the Commission at any time to operate as a Digital Assets Exchange, solicit investments from the public or perform any other function within the Nigerian capital market.”

 

EFCC declares four persons wanted over CBEX scam

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