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Sick Enugu chef dies after allegedly rejecting surgery donation on faith grounds

Published

4 years ago

January 12, 2022

Trends Admin

Ogechukwu

Controversy has trailed the death of a chef, Ogechukwu, in Enugu State.

She was said to have died after battling ailments her friends identified as neurofibromatosis and spinal tumour.

The woman had reportedly been sick for over 10 months.

Her death, however, became public knowledge following an online outburst by one of her distraught friends, Can Mbanefo.

The aggrieved friend explained that when Ogechukwu’s health was deteriorating, an appeal was made and N200,000 raised for a minor surgery at the 82 Division Military Hospital in Enugu State, which was done.

According to Mbanefo, the surgery was to drain an abscess to prepare her for the main surgery that would cost about N4m.

Mbanefo said efforts were on to raise funds for the second surgery at the Memfys Hospital, when a Catholic community based in Italy took interest in Ogechukwu’s condition and raised money for the operation.

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However, when representatives of the Catholic community contacted Ogechukwu, whose phone number was attached to the widely-circulated message appealing for funds online, Mbanefo claimed that she declined the offer on the grounds of her faith.

“Oge told them it was against her Jehovah Witness faith to collect money from Catholic Church,” he wrote on Facebook.

The friend explained that he called Ogechukwu and she confirmed that she rejected the offer, adding that efforts to convince her to accept the offer proved abortive.

He stated, “To cut the long story short, when one of the guys from Italy called her again, she still rejected the offer from the Catholic community.

“She then told the brother that he could send his personal money to her instead of sending the donation from the church. Eventually, out of pity and for the sake of humanity, the brother sent something to her from his personal account.

“Meanwhile, it was Oge who chatted me and asked if I could link her up with any NGO. But when NGO came, her Jehovah Witness teachings could not allow her notice them.”

Following Ogechukwu’s death on Monday, January 11, 2022, Mbanefo, who was enraged about the development, made the post on his page.

Pictures of the deceased on her sickbed was attached to the post. Our correspondent observed that she looked frail in the pictures.

Mixed reactions, however, greeted Mbanefo’s account of the events preceding the chef’s death.

While some people expressed disappointment at her reason for rejecting the offer that they said might save her life, others, particularly her relatives, denied the report that she died due to her religious belief.

One Chizoba Okafor, who claimed to be the deceased’s cousin, stated that Ogechukwu’s condition worsened after she received treatment for the wrong diagnosis.

He added, “Jehovah’s witnesses did not kill my sister, plzzz dis is not d time to throw insult on her biko cos going Tru all ur comments it hurts like hell.

“D person dat started dis post forgot to mention dat wen she became sick d hospital dat started treating her was giving her tubaculoses drugs which was way off from wat was wrong wit her.

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“Even wen my mum who worked in d hospital asked d doctor he was not even completely sure of d test dat was run on her and he went ahead to administer tuberculosis drugs on her and those drugs made more damage.”

The deceased’s sister, Amaka, who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday, also refuted Mbanefo’s claim.

She said, “That was not what happened; I know she had been receiving money from people throughout when she was in the hospital. She slimmed down a lot and the doctors said they could not operate on her unless she gained weight.

“She was always in constant pain and was battling a lot of things. She had a spinal cord injury and her lipid shifted from the waist. She had her first operation on December 25, at 81 Division Military Hospital.

“Why she didn’t have the major operation was because she slimmed down a lot; we were trying for her to gain weight before this thing happened yesterday.”

Regarding the offer her sister reportedly rejected, Amaka said, “I am not aware of that. Nothing like that happened.”

Punch

Related Topics:chef dies donation Enugu surgery

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13 Women, 12 Men Arrested as Kebbi Hisbah Cracks Down on Immoral Activities in Hotel

Published

19 minutes ago

July 4, 2026

Trends Admin

13 Women, 12 Men Arrested as Kebbi Hisbah Cracks Down on Immoral Activities in Hotel

Operation part of ongoing push to enforce Shariah moral codes and curb social vices in northwestern Nigeria

BIRNIN KEBBI, Nigeria – Operatives of the Kebbi State Hisbah Board have arrested 25 youths — comprising 13 women and 12 men — during a targeted raid on a hotel in Argungu, as part of an intensified campaign against alleged immoral activities and social vices in the state.

The raid, which took place on July 3, 2026, was carried out under the authority of the state’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. It forms part of a broader enforcement drive to promote moral values, ensure public decency, and curb conduct deemed contrary to Shariah principles in the northwestern state.

In a statement released to journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, the Director of Shariah at the Kebbi Hisbah Board, Sirajo Kamba, confirmed the operation and its outcomes.

“On July 3, the Kebbi Hisbah Board carried out a raid at a hotel in Argungu and successfully apprehended 25 suspects allegedly involved in immoral activities,” Kamba said.

“Those arrested include 12 males and 13 females.”

Kamba emphasized that the operation was not only about enforcing religious codes but also about public safety, noting that hotels sometimes serve as hideouts for criminal elements beyond moral infractions.

“The raid in the hotel seeks to ensure the safety of people, as hotels can also serve as a hiding place for criminal elements,” he added.

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The director assured that the board would conduct a comprehensive investigation in line with the law, and that any suspect found culpable would face the appropriate legal process. He pledged that justice would be served after due diligence.

“We will carry out a thorough investigation in line with the law. Anyone found culpable will be subjected to the appropriate legal process,” Kamba stated.

The arrests have reignited public debate over the role and reach of Hisbah agencies in northern Nigeria, where similar operations have been conducted in recent months. In March 2026, the Kano State Hisbah Board carried out comparable raids that led to arrests and fines. In a separate development earlier this month, Kano Hisbah operatives also arrested a man for allegedly attempting to traffic two girls for domestic work abroad.

Kebbi State, like several other states in Nigeria’s northwest, operates a Shariah legal system alongside the secular courts, with the Hisbah board empowered to enforce moral and religious codes. Critics have occasionally raised concerns over due process and individual rights, but board officials insist all actions are taken within the bounds of the law.

As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the arrested individuals have not been released, and it remains unclear whether they have been granted legal representation or bail. The board has not disclosed the exact charges that will be filed, though sources suggest they may include immorality, public nuisance, and violation of Shariah provisions on social conduct.

The Argungu hotel raid marks one of the largest such operations in Kebbi this year, and observers are watching to see whether it signals a more aggressive phase of moral policing ahead of upcoming local events and festivities.

13 Women, 12 Men Arrested as Kebbi Hisbah Cracks Down on Immoral Activities in Hotel

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Defamation Case: Court Rejects Saraki’s Objection, Orders Arraignment

Published

31 minutes ago

July 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Defamation Case: Court Rejects Saraki’s Objection, Orders Arraignment

A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has dismissed a preliminary objection filed by former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, clearing the way for his arraignment in a criminal defamation case instituted over alleged defamatory statements against Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Justice M. O. Folorunsho delivered the ruling on Friday after considering arguments presented by both the defence and prosecution, holding that the court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter and that the charge before it discloses offences recognized under the laws of Kwara State.

The ruling marks a significant development in the legal dispute, which stems from allegations that Saraki made defamatory statements against Governor AbdulRazaq through posts published on his verified social media platforms.

During the proceedings, Saraki’s lead counsel, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), represented in court by T. A. Hammed, urged the court to decline jurisdiction, strike out the charge and terminate the criminal proceedings. The defence argued that the High Court lacked the legal authority to entertain the matter and questioned the competence of the charge brought against the former Senate President.

The prosecution team, led by Chief Rafiu Balogun (SAN) and Chief Taye Oniyinde (SAN), opposed the application, insisting that the court was properly constituted to hear the case. According to the prosecution, the charge discloses offences punishable under the Kwara State Penal Code, urging the court to dismiss the preliminary objection and allow the criminal proceedings to continue.

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In his ruling, Justice Folorunsho considered all 17 issues raised by the defence and found no merit in the application. “The preliminary objection lacks merit,” the judge ruled, dismissing every ground advanced by Saraki’s legal team. He further held that the alleged offences are triable before the court, affirming that the High Court possesses the territorial jurisdiction to hear the case. The judge also ruled that the charge sheet and proof of evidence presented by the prosecution disclose a prima facie case sufficient for the proceedings to continue.

During the hearing, the prosecution requested the issuance of a bench warrant against Saraki following his absence in court. However, Justice Folorunsho declined the request, holding that the defendant’s physical presence was not mandatory while the court was determining interlocutory applications. The judge subsequently directed Saraki to appear before the court on July 22, 2026, for his formal arraignment and to enter his plea.

The criminal charge is based on an alleged social media publication made by Saraki on April 17, 2026, in which he reportedly claimed that Governor AbdulRazaq did not possess a Secondary School Certificate—a constitutional qualification required for anyone seeking election as governor. According to the prosecution, the statements were subsequently republished by several national newspapers, giving them wider circulation.

Prosecutors allege that the publication was false, defamatory and capable of damaging the governor’s reputation while also creating tension that could lead to a breach of public peace. The alleged offence is said to be punishable under Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.

Following the ruling, Saraki announced plans to challenge the decision. In a statement issued through his media office, the former Senate President disclosed that he had instructed his legal team to immediately file an appeal against the High Court’s decision on jurisdiction. Saraki maintained that jurisdiction is a fundamental issue that should be conclusively determined before any criminal trial proceeds.

He also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s judicial process and urged his supporters to remain calm while the legal process runs its course.

With the preliminary objection dismissed, attention now shifts to July 22, 2026, when Saraki is expected to appear before the Kwara State High Court for his formal arraignment. At the hearing, he is expected to enter his plea, after which the court will determine the timetable for the substantive hearing of the alleged criminal defamation case.

The proceedings are being closely watched because they involve two of Kwara State’s most prominent political figures and could have wider political and legal implications ahead of future electoral contests.

Defamation Case: Court Rejects Saraki’s Objection, Orders Arraignment

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“He Was Dating Our Mother”: Three Brothers Remanded for Killing Mother’s Lover

Published

7 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Trends Admin

“He Was Dating Our Mother”: Three Brothers Remanded for Killing Mother’s Lover

Three brothers from the Hholoshini area in Eswatini have been remanded in custody after appearing before the Mbabane Magistrates Court on charges of murdering a man they allegedly believed was having a romantic relationship with their biological mother. The suspects — Mlondi Mbuli, 25; Sakhelwe Mbuli, 18; and Lindani Mdziniso, 23 — will remain behind bars until July 10, 2026, pending the transfer of their case to the High Court, where murder charges are ordinarily tried. The accused appeared before Principal Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati in connection with the death of Njabulo Ngwenya, whose lifeless body was discovered in the early hours of June 28, 2026. According to police reports, the incident occurred in Hholoshini, within the Hhohho Region of the southern African kingdom. The case came to light when the victim’s mother, Sibongile Motsa, reportedly found her son’s body inside her sister’s residence at approximately 1 a.m. on the day of the incident. She immediately alerted the Royal Eswatini Police Service, prompting an investigation that swiftly led to the arrest of the three siblings.

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Investigators allege that the brothers launched a brutal assault on Ngwenya using bricks, stones, sticks, punches, and repeated kicks, inflicting severe injuries across his body that ultimately resulted in his death. Preliminary findings from police indicate that the attack was allegedly motivated by the brothers’ belief that the deceased was involved in a romantic relationship with their mother. The family-related motive has drawn significant public attention across the country. While the three accused have been remanded, they have not yet entered pleas to the murder charge. Authorities have not disclosed additional details beyond what was presented during the initial court proceedings, as investigations remain ongoing.

During their initial appearance at the Mbabane Magistrates Court, Principal Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati ordered that the three men remain in custody until their next hearing on July 10, 2026. This remand period allows prosecutors to prepare for the transfer of the case to the High Court, which has jurisdiction over serious criminal offences such as murder under Eswatini’s legal system. The case has sparked public discourse across the kingdom, with many closely following developments. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland until King Mswati III officially changed the country’s name in 2018, is a landlocked nation bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. Under the country’s judicial framework, magistrates’ courts handle preliminary hearings before serious charges are escalated to the High Court for trial. The case against the three brothers is expected to follow this established legal procedure.