馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Blogger retracts fabricated stories about Anambra State Governor Soludo and son, cites financial gain
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Ejike Ofoegbu, owner and publisher of Igbo Times Magazine and News, has issued a public apology and full retraction for a series of false stories he published about Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his son, Ozonna. Ofoegbu admitted that these reports were entirely fabricated to generate online traffic and financial gain. The retracted claims included allegations that Governor Soludo had disowned his son, that Ozonna described his father as a drunkard, and satirical posts about the governor. Ofoegbu also confessed to publishing other false reports involving Governor Soludo and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, including claims about Obi defeating Soludo in an election. He stated that these stories were not based on verified facts or credible sources and expressed deep regret for his actions, taking full responsibility for spreading false information and damaging reputations. Ofoegbu apologized to Governor Soludo, his family, associates, readers of his platforms, and the people of Anambra State, committing to correct his mistakes and prevent future incidents.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The National Industrial Court in Abuja has mandated the deployment of at least one police lawyer to every police station across Nigeria, in line with the Police Act 2020. Justice O. Y. Anuwe issued this order while ruling on a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA against the Police Service Commission and others. The court also prohibited police officers not employed in the Specialist Legal Cadre from representing the Nigeria Police Force in civil proceedings. The NBA had argued that many police officers with law degrees were not converted to the Specialist Legal Cadre but continued to provide legal services and represent the police in court, which violates Rule 8 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. The court affirmed the NBA's legal standing to institute the suit, adopting a liberal approach to locus standi in public interest litigation. Justice Anuwe stated that deploying police lawyers to stations would enhance legal oversight within the Force and improve compliance with human rights standards during police operations. The NBA, in a statement, hailed the judgment as a significant step towards strengthening the rule of law and institutional reforms within the Nigeria Police Force, promoting professionalization of police legal practice, and improving access to legal advice at police divisions.
Must ReadNigeria's Flamingos secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup by defeating Benin's Amazons 5-3 in Lom茅, achieving an 8-5 aggregate victory. Coach Akeem Busari's team built on their 3-2 first-leg win in Ikenne with another strong offensive performance. Mary Dustan opened the scoring for Nigeria in the sixth minute, but Benin quickly equalized. Ester Stephen then put the Flamingos back in front in the 15th minute, followed by Queen Joseph extending the lead to 3-1 in the 20th minute. Benin managed to score twice to narrow the gap, but Nigeria added two more goals to seal the 5-3 win. The aggregate triumph highlighted Nigeria's attacking prowess, with eight goals scored across both qualifying matches. Coach Busari praised his players' determination and attacking spirit, stating they showed resilience and deserved the qualification. The FIFA U-17 Women鈥檚 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, from October 17 to November 7.
Five people, including four children, died in Ikot Anwatim Community, Calabar Municipality, Cross River, following landslides caused by 48 hours of heavy rainfall. The landslides also destroyed two houses and injured two residents, according to the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency CR-SEMA. CR-SEMA Director-General, Mr Efa Nyong, led an assessment team to the affected community, conveying the Cross River Government鈥檚 condolences and assuring victims of support through humanitarian interventions. Nyong emphasized the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters and urged residents in prone areas to report land cracks and obey evacuation directives. The assessment team recommended immediate humanitarian assistance, sustained medical care for the injured, a comprehensive geotechnical assessment, and intensified public sensitization on landslide risks, including potential relocation for those in high-risk areas. An affected resident, Mr Bassey Patrick, commended the prompt response and appealed for urgent emergency assistance for the bereaved and displaced families.