Chinedu Agu, a former secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri branch, was on Thursday arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Owerri, the state capital, by the Imo State Police Command.

Agu, who is being accused of criminal defamation and incitement through Facebook posts critical of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration and the police in the state, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Obinna Njemanze.

Njemanze, according to human rights lawyer Professor Chidi Odinkalu, is also the Deputy Chief Registrar of the High Court of Imo State.

Odinkalu, who confirmed Agu’s arraignment, said the charges were read to Agu, but he pleaded not guilty.

Following his plea, the police team, led by Mr. F. O. Itua, the Officer-in-Charge of the police Legal/Prosecution Unit, applied for Agu’s remand to prison.

“Arguments are ongoing on that application,” Odinkalu said in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

Odinkalu also noted that Agu’s legal team, comprising over 30 lawyers, is led by Miletus Onukoagu Nlemadim, a former Attorney-General of Imo State.

SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday that Odinkalu exposed what he described as “trumped-up” charges brought against Agu by the Imo State government under Governor Uzodinma and the state police command.

In the charge sheet, signed by Barrister F.O. Itua, Officer-in-Charge of Legal/Prosecution Unit at the Imo State Police Command Headquarters, Agu is accused of publishing Facebook posts critical of Governor Uzodinma’s administration and the police.

Count one stated, “That you, Chinedu Agu ‘m’, on the 30th day of August, 2025 and 31st day of August, 2025, at Onitsha Road, Owerri in the Owerri Magisterial District, did use your official Facebook page to send out message posts such as (1) ‘the courts are closed and justice has been kidnapped not by bandits in the bush, but by bandit in government’, (2) ‘this is not government, this is tyranny trapped in sinking bureaucracy’ which you know such messages to be false but posted them for the purpose of inciting members of the public especially among individuals who holds divergent view on the personality of the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma and his cabinet in government with a view to cause a breakdown of law and order in the State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”

Count two read, “That you, Chinedu Agu ‘m’, on the same dates and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did use your official Facebook page to send out message posts such as; (1) ‘until the leadership charges how it sees governance, nothing will change in this abandoned property called Imo State’, (2) ‘Enugu is working, Imo is rotting’ which you know such messages to be false but posted it for the purpose of inciting the good people of Imo State to revolt against the governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma and members of his cabinet and with a view cause breakdown of law and order in Imo State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”

Count three stated, “That you, Chinedu Agu ‘m’, on the same dates and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did use your official Facebook page to send out message post that ‘the Tiger Base Unit of the Nigeria Police Force are Specialist in the Act of Unchecked, barbaric, brutish, savagery and callous human right abuse now assumed the roles of the accuser, judge and Executioner’ which you know such message to be false but posted it for the purpose of inciting members of the public against the Nigeria Police Force, thereby causing a breakdown of Law and order in the State and to revolt against the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force especially those serving in Imo State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”

The fourth count accused Agu of breaching public peace.

The charge alleged that on the specified date and location, Chinedu Agu used his Facebook page to publish defamatory content against the Imo State government and the Nigeria Police Force, an act considered likely to cause a breach of the peace and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

SaharaReporters on September 17, 2025, reported that the NBA strongly condemned the invitation of Agu by the Imo State Police Command over allegations of “criminal defamation” and “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.”

The Association described the development as an abuse of police powers aimed at silencing citizens and intimidating legal practitioners who exercise their constitutional rights.

The legal body emphasized that criticism of government policies, institutions, or officials does not constitute a crime, noting that the continued reliance on criminal defamation charges is a “dangerous relic of authoritarianism” that undermines democracy.

The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, warned that the Association would take every lawful step, both nationally and internationally, to resist attempts to criminalise free speech or intimidate its members.

Also, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) condemned police prosecution of Agu, describing it as a clampdown on free expression in Imo State.

RULAAC emphasized that defamation, even if proven, is a civil matter and not a criminal offence. It accused the government of weaponising the police to silence dissent.

While the abductors of two women who were kidnapped Sunday night in Nasarawa State are demanding N50 million ransom, unsettling reports from Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, reveal that two children of Justice Ibrahim Shekarau of the State’s Judiciary were kidnapped on Tuesday in Lafia.

The children who are said to of primary school age were reportedly kidnapped from their home. Their parents had gone out when it happened.

Although details of the incidents are still sketchy, the Nasarawa state police command has commenced an investigation.

Following the N50 million ransom demand for the release of the women abducted on Sunday, a family source told Vanguard in Lafia that the women have been subjected to severe hardship since they were taken away by gunmen.

One of the victims, the wife of a pastor, was kidnapped alongside a church member. She is a nursing mother with a three-month-old baby and is said to be traumatised due to her health condition, the stress of long treks in the forest, and the harsh treatment from her captors.

“She is seriously worried about her health and the separation from her three-month-old baby. The hostile environment and the inhumane treatment pose a serious threat to her survival,” the source said.

The victim, who was overheard crying, reportedly pleaded: “My baby, my baby… please, who will help me out of this calamity? Somebody please help me out of this forest of pain.”

Her husband and other family members have expressed deep distress over the kidnappers’ insistence on the huge ransom before her release.

Sympathisers have called on security agencies and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and rescue the captives.

In a related development, Dr Muhammed Egye Osolafia, Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Humanitarian Services, who was also abducted on Sunday night, has regained his freedom.

In light of the tragic loss of Mrs. Ndidi Osaemedike Okeke in the Afriland Towers fire outbreak on September 16, 2025, Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam calls on the Nigerian Fire Service to intensify efforts in fire prevention, preparedness, and response.

As a valued member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Okeke’s passing is a significant loss to our community.

We urge the authorities to:

• Conduct thorough investigations into the cause of the fire.
• Enhance fire safety measures in buildings across Nigeria.
• Provide regular training for fire service personnel.
• Increase public awareness on fire safety and prevention.

Let’s work together to prevent such tragedies in the future. May Mrs. Okeke’s memory and all those lost in the fire incident inspire meaningful action🙏.

May her soul rest peacefully with the Lord.

The Ondo State Police Command has warned against jungle justice following the death of a young boy, alleged to have been beaten to death after being accused of plucking cocoa pods in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Vanguard gathered that the young boy was assaulted at Alumni quarters in Akungba by a man who accused him of harvesting his cocoa unlawfully.

After he was assaulted, the victim was brought to the police station unconscious at about 2:30 p.m., and was immediately referred for medical treatment.

He was confirmed dead hours after he was rushed to the hospital.

Contacted, the state police image maker, Ayanlade Olayinka, said police detectives have arrested the suspect.

Ayanlade added that the body of the deceased had been deposited in the hospital mortuary for autopsy.

He said that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, in Akure for thorough investigation to ensure that justice is served.

The police spokesperson condemned the incident and called on residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, describing such actions as counterproductive to societal peace and justice.

A disturbing revelation has emerged from Katsina State after Jamil Mabai, a media aide to Governor Dikko Radda, disclosed that a notorious bandit leader currently engaged in peace talks with authorities was once a university’s best graduating student.

Mabai made the disclosure during an interview with News Central TV, where he argued that systemic neglect, unemployment, and lack of opportunities are driving even the most educated young Nigerians into violent crime.

Read Also: Befriending bandits

“This individual was celebrated as a top graduate, but over time, frustration and neglect pushed him into a life of banditry,” Mabai said. He, however, cautioned that such circumstances cannot justify acts of armed violence, killings, or kidnappings that continue to devastate northern communities.

Read Also: Bandits ambush NSCDC personnel in Katsina, kill one

The revelation adds a fresh dimension to Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity crisis, highlighting how the country’s brain drain and social breakdown extend beyond migration, with some disillusioned youths resorting to crime.

Read Also: 15 dead, three missing as boat capsizes while fleeing bandits in Zamfara

Meanwhile, experts remain deeply skeptical about peace negotiations with armed groups. Despite several dialogue efforts in Katsina and other northern states, violent attacks persist in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna, raising doubts about the sustainability of such deals.

Security analysts argue that while dialogue may temporarily reduce violence, the long-term solution lies in stronger governance, community development, education, and justice for victims of banditry.

Days ago, Sabuwa and Dandume became the latest Local Government Areas to enter into a peace deal with bandits in Katsina State to address incessant attacks, killings, and abductions in their communities.

The peace deal meeting was held on Saturday afternoon at the Kabalawa Dungun-Muazu community, a village bordering both council areas but located in Sabuwa council area.

This brings to nine councils that have entered into peace deals with bandits, with the rest of the councils including Batsari, Kankara, Kurfi, Musawa, Danmusa, Jibia, and Faskari.

The executive chairmen of Sabuwa, Hon. Sagir Tanimi, and his Dandume counterpart, Hon. Bashir Gyazama, who were present during the meeting, were said to have facilitated the peace deal.

During the meeting, which lasted several hours, it was agreed that there should be a ceasefire, with the bandits agreeing to stop attacking or harming the local communities.

It was also agreed that there should be free movement, with the bandits allowed to enter towns or communities for trade and commerce without being harmed by the local communities.

Another issue agreed upon at the meeting is the release of abducted victims by the bandits, while the bandits, on their part, requested the government to release their captured members.

Furthermore, it was agreed that both bandits and community members would work towards maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Several of the bandits who came to the meeting were armed with automatic weapons, with their leaders in attendance, including Idi Muwage, Alhaji Kabiru, Kachalla Rusku, Kachalla Murtala, Kachalla Mai Saje, Kachalla Dawa, Ardo Abdulsalam Fatika, and Alhaji Labi.

Speaking, the chairman of the peace deal, Dr. Salisu Ladan, said the agreement aims to bring lasting peace between the Hausa and Fulani communities, putting an end to killings, kidnappings, and other forms of violence in the area.

“The leaders have assured the bandits of their safety and welcomed them to continue their business activities in the local markets,” Ladan added.

It was also learnt that a cattle market in Dandume, which was closed down due to security challenges, would be opened to allow the bandits to bring in and sell their animals.

The meeting was attended by various dignitaries, including state government representatives, district heads, and council members.

• Watch video of his long convoy

Notwithstanding the controversy surrounding the super long convoy of Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the humongous amount of money required to maintain such a train, while Nigerians groan over dire economic policies and multiple taxes, the tax czar has told Nigerians not to see taxes as punishment but a foundation of sustainable national development.

Adedeji, represented by the Technical Assistant, Broadcast Media, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, made the call in Kaduna on Wednesday at a one-day sensitization programme on The Role of Media in Voluntary Tax Compliance.

He said taxes are the lifeline of every country, as they make it possible to fund hospitals, roads, schools, and social services that directly impact citizens’ lives.

“Taxes are not just government revenue; they are the foundation of growth in our nation,” Adedeji said. “What we need is a culture of voluntary compliance where citizens willingly fulfil their civic duty because they see the benefits and trust the system.”

The FIRS boss noted that many Nigerians still see taxation as a burden or punishment, hence the need for more public enlightenment.

He stressed that, beyond enforcement and penalties, building trust and accountability would encourage more people to pay voluntarily.

Highlighting the role of journalists, he described the media as a vital bridge between government and citizens, capable of simplifying complex tax laws and procedures for better understanding.

“When the media educates, investigates, and holds leaders accountable, it builds trust. A citizen who believes in the fairness and transparency of the system is more likely to comply,” he added.

Aderonke urged the media to see themselves not only as reporters but also as educators, influencers, and watchdogs whose work can inspire responsibility and strengthen the bond between taxpayers and government.

In his paper, Voluntary Tax Compliance: A Pathway to Sustainable Development in Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Adamu emphasised that taxation remains the most reliable source of revenue for any government.

He defined voluntary compliance as the readiness of taxpayers to declare income, file returns, and pay taxes without enforcement action, stressing that it thrives where the tax system is perceived as fair and transparent.

According to him, voluntary compliance reduces enforcement costs, builds trust between government and taxpayers, ensures steady revenue flow, and fosters patriotism.

“Tax revenues fund our roads, schools, hospitals, and security. A compliant taxpayer is a stakeholder in national progress,” Adamu said. He added that voluntary compliance also boosts investor confidence and reduces tax evasion.

Adamu identified key drivers of compliance as fairness in tax administration, taxpayer education, transparency, and accountability.

He praised initiatives like FIRS’ TaxPro Max platform, amnesty programmes, and taxpayer service units as steps in the right direction.

In another presentation, Additional Tips on Voluntary Tax Compliance, Senior Manager, Tax, Kaduna Government Business Office, Ishaku Ankuma, highlighted registration, proper record-keeping, timely filing of returns, prompt payment, and remittance of withholding taxes as essential elements.

He warned that failure to comply attracts heavy fines, interests, possible criminal charges, and damage to reputation, adding that tax compliance certificates are now prerequisites for many financial transactions.

Ankuma also stressed the importance of taxpayer education, automation of tax processes, and youth-focused initiatives like Catch Them Young programmes in schools to build a tax culture early.

“Voluntary tax compliance is not just a legal requirement but a civic responsibility and patriotic act,” he said. “By adhering to tax regulations, individuals and businesses avoid penalties while contributing directly to national growth.”

The sensitization ended with a charge to journalists to help demystify taxation, highlight its benefits, expose evasion, and shape public perception in favour of building a culture of compliance.

Guinness World Records (GWR) has rejected a controversial plan by Nigerian content creator, Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, better known as Mandy Kiss, to ‘take in 100 men in a single day’.

The controversial attempt has sparked widespread attention online, with many expressing shock and disbelief at Mandy Kiss’ audacity to want to ‘sleep with’ 100 men in a single day.

In response to the attempt, GWR stated: “This is not a record we monitor.”

Mandy Kiss had revealed on Monday via Instagram that she planned to carry out the controversial attempt on October 30.

She also shared a flier bearing the GWR logo, which claimed the event would be held in Ikorodu, Lagos, though no specific venue was disclosed.

According to the flier sighted by Vanguard, the target was to engage with “100 men” within 24 hours.

Mandy Kiss, often referring to herself as the “President of Olosho,” has drawn public attention for her bold and controversial lifestyle choices.

This is the terrifying moment a huge wall of water smashed through a hotel reception as Super Typhoon Ragasa continues to lash Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan.

In footage shared on Facebook, an enormous surge of water dramatically demolished the glass doors of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, immediately flooding the lobby.

People can be heard screaming, swearing, and clinging onto furniture in a desperate attempt to not be swept away by the water, which completely destroyed the hotel’s interior.

Click here to continue reading.

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a housewife, Rabi Nuhu, from Magama Gumau in Toro local government area of the state for allegedly brutalising her five-year-old stepdaughter for bedwetting.

The latest case of child brutality comes days after a seven-year-old girl was allegedly tortured by her brother’s wife, Suwaira Ibrahim, who reportedly burnt the child’s private part with a hot knife after accusing her of witchcraft. 

The victim, whose name is withheld, lost her mother about a year ago and has since been living with her father, Mohammed Umar, and his new wife.

A human rights activist, Kabiru Mohammed Abdulkadir told Journalists in Bauchi on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 that the child had reportedly endured repeated violence at the hands of her stepmother.

According to Abdulkadir, the abuse had gone on for about five days before it came to light.

“To avoid issues with the stepmother, her father bought a separate mattress for the child, but the violence continued. The girl later confided in her uncle, saying that her stepmother had burnt her private part because of her bedwetting habit. It was the uncle who escalated the matter and reported it to the Police,” he said. 

Kabiru further alleged that the suspect often vented her frustrations with her husband on the child.

Speaking with journalists, the victim’s father, Mohammed Umar, who works with an online television station, admitted that his wife frequently complained about the child’s bedwetting.

He said he initially believed her explanation that hot tea had spilled on the child when he noticed burns on her body.

The spokesperson of the command, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, who confirmed the incident, said the case was reported on September 13, 2025, around 3 pm.
 
“The victim sustained burns on her lower abdomen, thighs, and buttocks,” Wakil stated.
 
The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani Omolori Aliyu, has ordered the immediate arrest of the suspect and directed that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation