Wike defends visit to disputed Abuja land, accuses ex-Naval Chief of ‘impunity’ - Newstrends
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Wike defends visit to disputed Abuja land, accuses ex-Naval Chief of ‘impunity’

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and Former Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Awwal Gambo

Wike defends visit to disputed Abuja land, accuses ex-Naval Chief of ‘impunity’

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has defended his visit to a disputed plot in Gaduwa District, Abuja—land linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Awwal Gambo—after a confrontation between ministry officials and a naval officer escalated into a public row.

Speaking before the FCT Executive Council meeting yesterday, Wike said he intervened only after senior officials of the FCTA were allegedly attacked while attempting to stop work on the 2.5-acre site.

“How can I sit as minister when government officials at the level of directors are being beaten up?” he asked.

A viral video recorded shortly after the incident showed bulldozers being moved away from the contested property, which the minister said had been cordoned off pending resolution.

Wike accused Vice-Admiral Gambo of “impunity” and faulted Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, who was at the site during the altercation, for allegedly referring to accompanying police officers as “bloody police.”

“Nobody talks like that,” Wike said. “You’re a commissioned officer, but these same government officials you’re assaulting are the ones who made you what you are.”

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He stressed that security personnel must obey lawful orders and cannot hide behind superior directives to justify misconduct. “If your superior tells you to shoot someone, will you not be charged with murder?” he asked.

The minister noted that land disputes involving the military have previously been resolved through institutional channels, not confrontation, adding that he maintains “the highest respect” for the Armed Forces.

“Whenever there is a matter concerning the military, I know who to talk to—the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs or even the President. This case involved a private individual, so who was I supposed to run to?” he said.

Wike expressed surprise that Vice-Admiral Gambo did not contact him directly, recalling that other senior figures—including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General T.Y. Danjuma—had quietly reached out when facing similar issues.

“They never sent soldiers to attack anybody,” he said. “They simply called.”

He dismissed media reports portraying him as being at odds with the military, saying some narratives were designed to cast him in a negative light. “Report us accurately. Don’t twist facts or take statements out of context,” he cautioned.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing Abuja’s land-use regulations and warned that no individual—regardless of status—would be allowed to violate the FCT master plan.

“Government cannot function in a lawless society,” he said. “If we allow one person to violate the rules because of who he is, others will follow. That is how impunity begins.”

Wike vowed to sustain President Bola Tinubu’s directive to restore order and sanity to the capital.

“As long as I remain FCT Minister, the law will take its course. Abuja must reflect the image of Nigeria—disciplined, planned and lawful,” he said.

Wike defends visit to disputed Abuja land, accuses ex-Naval Chief of ‘impunity’

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UNILAG Lecturer Sexual Assault Trial: Student Testifies in Lagos Court

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UNILAG

UNILAG Lecturer Sexual Assault Trial: Student Testifies in Lagos Court

A 20-year-old student of the University of Lagos has testified before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, detailing allegations of sexual assault against a 53-year-old lecturer, Samuel Obinna Ojogbo.

The case, which is being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government, involves two counts of rape and sexual assault, with the student appearing as the first prosecution witness before Justice Oyindamola Ogala.

According to her testimony, the incident allegedly occurred on August 22, 2025, at the university’s Akoka campus after the lecturer invited her to his office following an earlier interaction during an examination the previous day.

The witness told the court that she had initially attempted to meet the lecturer after her exam but was unable to do so until the following day, when she encountered him again near her faculty and accompanied him to his office.

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She described the office as secluded and said that during their interaction, other students briefly entered but were asked to leave by the lecturer.

The student further testified that after the alleged incident, she left in distress and immediately reported the matter, beginning with a friend and later escalating it within the institution.

She said the case was first reported to a lecturer in her department, who contacted her uncle—also a lecturer—before the matter was taken to the Head of Department. However, she indicated that the initial response raised concerns about lack of evidence.

Despite this, the complaint was escalated to the university’s Servicom office, leading to a medical examination at the school’s health centre.

The witness added that she later reported the case to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which referred her to the police. The case was initially handled at Bariga Police Station before being transferred to the Gender Unit for further investigation. She also underwent further evaluation at WARIF.

She told the court that there were attempts by individuals connected to the defendant to resolve the matter outside court, but the case proceeded to trial.

The defendant has denied the allegations.

Justice Ogala adjourned the case to April 27, 2026, for cross-examination, as the UNILAG sexual assault case continues to draw public attention and fuel conversations around campus safety, sexual misconduct, and accountability in Nigerian universities.

UNILAG Lecturer Sexual Assault Trial: Student Testifies in Lagos Court

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Grandfather in police net for impregnating granddaughter

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Pregnant teenager

Grandfather in police net for impregnating granddaughter

The Niger State Child Rights Agency says a 65-year-old grandfather, Musa Gado, is detained in Police custody for allegedly impregnating his 16-year old granddaughter (name withheld).

The Director General of the agency, Hajiya Kaltume Mohammed, made this known to newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.

She said that a Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) Test confirmed that Gado, the maternal grandfather of the victim from Mashegu LGA of the state, is the biological father of the four-month-old baby delivered by his granddaughter.

According to the DG, the suspect made several fruitless attempts to abort the pregnancy.

She revealed that the victim’s father, Mr Lawal Nababa, registered a complaint in 2025 for alleged repeated sexual assaults on his daughter by her maternal grandfather.

The director general said at the time the matter was reported at the agency, the victim was six months pregnant and was kept in the agency’s custody until she delivered a baby boy in December 2025.

She said the teenager, whose parents are still alive, was reportedly taken by her maternal grandmother since childhood.

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Mohammed, however, said the suspect had denied responsibility for the act, thus forcing the agency to order the DNA test that was conducted in a laboratory outside Nigeria at a cost of N500,000.

“When the girl was brought to the agency, she was actually six months pregnant. We had to do some medical checkups, and she was kept under the custody of the agency from that time until now.

“She gave birth in December, and we agreed that the only way we could get to the root of the matter and establish the fact was to go for the DNA test, which was agreed by both parties.

“After she gave birth, we waited for her to be strong before we went for the paternity test and within five weeks the result came out, and it was announced that the grandfather was the father of the baby because the result was 99.9999 per cent positive,” she said.

The director general revealed that the suspect, currently in Police custody, would be charged to court after police had completed its investigation.

Mohammed also disclosed that the agency was currently handling six similar cases, including that of a father who had been having carnal knowledge of his biological daughter.

“Child molestation and rape are alarming in the state.

“I assumed office as the DG Niger State Child Rights Agency in November 2025, and honestly, we have had a lot of issues of rape where children were molested by their parents, neighbours and some people within the community.

“Right now, we have six cases we are prosecuting, and the most important one we are handling right now is that of the 16-year-old girl who was impregnated by her grandfather.

“This case was reported to the agency by the father of the girl on 5th October 2025,” she said.

 

Grandfather in police net for impregnating granddaughter

(NAN)

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Rufai Oseni Dismisses Suspension Rumour, Labels It ‘APC Propaganda

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ARISE News Channel’s The Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni
ARISE News Channel’s The Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni

Rufai Oseni Dismisses Suspension Rumour, Labels It ‘APC Propaganda

ARISE News Channel’s The Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has firmly dismissed reports alleging that he was suspended from the international broadcaster, describing the claims as false, misleading, and politically motivated.

The rumour, which gained traction across social media platforms, claimed that Oseni had been suspended from Arise News following an alleged disagreement with a senior colleague. However, the journalist debunked the claim in a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday, where he described the report as “APC propaganda.”

“Rufai Oseni suspended by ARISE News? Lies, APC Propaganda,” he wrote, rejecting the viral narrative.

Providing clarity on his absence from the popular breakfast programme, Oseni explained that he is currently in Berlin, Germany, attending a series of international conferences and professional engagements.

He further disclosed that he is scheduled to appear at the Bundestag, also known as the German Parliament, located in the historic Reichstag building, where he is expected to participate in discussions and engagements.

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Oseni noted that his trip is aimed at gaining insights and experiences that could be beneficial to Nigeria, particularly in governance and institutional development.

The suspension rumour was reportedly linked to a social media post attributed to High Chief Lawrence Igbins Okoro, which alleged that the broadcaster had a confrontation at the station, including claims that he banged his fist on a table during a disagreement.

However, there has been no official statement from ARISE News confirming any disciplinary action against Oseni, further reinforcing his position that the report is unfounded.

Industry observers note that similar rumours have surfaced in the past, often coinciding with Oseni’s temporary absence from television broadcasts due to travel or official engagements.

Known for his fiery and assertive interviewing style, Oseni has built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most outspoken television journalists, frequently engaging political figures and public office holders in robust debates.

His approach has earned him both praise and criticism, making him a prominent voice in Nigeria’s media and political discourse.

Despite the controversy, Oseni remains part of the core three-man anchor team of The Morning Show, one of the flagship programmes on ARISE News.

The latest clarification is expected to quell speculation, as the broadcaster continues his international engagements with plans to return to Nigeria after completing his scheduled appearances.

Rufai Oseni Dismisses Suspension Rumour, Labels It ‘APC Propaganda

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