Metro
Mile 2-Apapa expressway: Hold LASTMA, Police, others accountable — Truck drivers
Tankers and trucks for about a week running have blocked the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway from Second Rainbow bus stop to Tin Port following the inability of the joint task force on Apapa-Oshodi traffic gridlock, comprising Nigeria Police Force, Lagos Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA; and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to manage the traffic situation.
The drivers claimed that they have paid all the agencies concerned but the development has led to a total collapse of business activities along the stretch of the road.
it was observed that the joint task force had completely failed to curb the excesses of the tanker drivers for over one week running as the chaotic traffic situation worsened.
The situation came to a height, yesterday, as motorists and other road users spent several hours on one spot due to the double parking and unruly driving by the drivers who refused to take directives from the joint task force officials.
Extortion of truck drivers
The investigation revealed that these officials are only united in extorting truck drivers, allowing them to flout normal road usage standards.
This development gave the drivers undue privilege to flout orders even when some prison officials returning from the court with suspects and Navy Officers returning to their base were denied access to their destinations.
The truck drivers alleged that they had settled the officials and should be allowed to “carry on the way they like by blocking the road without looking back.”
Rehabilitation works
The situation has also been worsened following the rehabilitation work being executed by the Lagos State government on existing roads leading to Kirikiri Town, Ajegunle, Wilmer and Boundary areas.
Though the rehabilitation work seems to have been abandoned, the blockage of the roads has made it difficult for tankers and trucks to struggle for the two lanes available, thereby causing unimaginable traffic gridlock.
State of emergency
A motorist, who refused to disclose his name, told Vanguard that the situation has got to the point that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency along this stretch of road.
He said: “How can someone, who is going to work, spend five hours at a particular spot daily? There was a day I left home around seven in the morning and got to the office in the afternoon.”
Another motorist, Mr Peter Edet, blamed the government for being insensitive to the plight of the people living and doing business along the road while condemning the activities of the task force, which hardly controls traffic but prefers to play games on mobile phones.
Reacting to the development, the Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, at Mile-2, Apapa in Lagos, Mr Godwin Ajuonuma, under whose jurisdiction the traffic gridlock has persisted, went around the area to assess the situation with a Vanguard reporter.
Ajuonuma, an Assistant Corps Commander of the FRSC, urged the task force officials to double their efforts by ensuring that they force the drivers to keep at least a lane for other motorists to access their destinations.
Why we not visible at Mile 2 —LASTMA GM
Reacting to the allegations levelled against the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, its General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, explained why officers of the agency were not visible around the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway axis.
Oreagba explained that LASTMA officers were withdrawn from the axis following a series of allegations of fraud and harassment by members of the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Port Authority, NPA.
He said: “The absence of LASTMA around Mile-2 axis inward of the seaports should be blamed on the management of the NPA, Police, and Maritime union leaders who chased away our men over allegations of extortion and fraud. They were accused of collecting bribes from truckers thereby compounding the traffic gridlock in the area.
“We had to withdraw our men for fear of being attacked because they claimed it’s a Federal Government’s controlled area.
“The NPA and maritime union leaders said our men have no business in the axis as the Call-Up System has been discarded with.
“So, we are still watching the situation for now. We don’t want to risk the lives of our men.
“We will have to convene a stakeholders’ forum to chart a way forward. For now, our men have been withdrawn from the axis. “Though they still operate at Second Rainbow to Fatsgbem Filing Station area for now, we still have to do our job by keeping the traffic moving.”
Gridlock from Tin-can ports—NUPENG
On his part, Deputy President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Kilanko Olujide, absolved members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTDs, of blame, saying taker drivers were also victims of the gridlock.
Olujide said: “The problem is from Tin-can ports. Our members are also victims. They cannot go to the depot located at Ibru jetty, and other tank farms to load products.
COMTUA accuses MWUN of extorting truckers
On its part, the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations, COMTUA, said officials of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, were allegedly extorting truckers.
The National President of COMTUA, Adeyinka Aroyewun, who petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, insisted that the presence of MWUN on the port access road has resulted in severe crises and unfortunate deaths within the industry.
The petition read: “COMTUA firmly believes in the rule of law, fair practices, and the safety of all individuals involved in the maritime industry.
“We are committed to maintaining a conducive environment for the growth and development of our sector. However, the return of MWUN to the port access road represents a clear and imminent danger to these principles.
“We, therefore, request your urgent intervention to prevent another crisis of MWUN to the port access road and to ensure the safety and security of all truckers, workers and stakeholders operating within the area. We kindly ask you to deploy a strong police presence to deter any illegal activities, maintain law and order, and protect the rights and interests of all industry participants.
“Furthermore, we encourage you to collaborate with other relevant government agencies, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, to jointly address this pressing issue. A coordinated effort must be made to safeguard the integrity of the maritime industry and protect its stakeholders from further harm.”
Arrest culprits— MWUN
Reacting to the allegations levelled against MWUN, its President-General, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, urged security agencies to arrest any of its members extorting truckers.
Adeyanju said: “I told the Commissioner of Police that whoever is caught is on his own. Other groups are operating on the road, you have National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO; National Association of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, LASTMA, Police, local government, etc. Why are they always picking on MWUN?
“I have addressed all my members, I was at Tin-can and Apapa, I have no business on the road. The road belongs to the government, so anybody caught still parading himself as a member of MWUN, the law should take its course.
“I said it before the Assistant Inspector General of Police and before the Commissioner of Police that there is no element of truth in the allegation.”
The Enugu State Government has confirmed the arrest of one Ozioma Okonkwo for allegedly defiling his two biological daughters, aged two and five.
Okonkwo, who is a native of Imo State residing in Enugu, was arrested on the night of Saturday, October 25, 2025, after a concerned citizen alerted authorities about the disturbing incident.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development on Sunday.
According to the statement, the suspect is in police custody and will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
The ministry also revealed that the two children have been admitted into a government-approved shelter, where they are receiving medical care and psychosocial support.
Their mother, described as deeply traumatised, will also undergo therapy under the supervision of the ministry’s social welfare and counselling team.
“The Enugu State Government commends the Nigeria Police Force for their swift and professional response, which led to the prompt arrest of the suspect,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy on sexual and gender-based violence, the ministry warned that all offenders would face the full weight of the law.
The ministry also condemned the act, calling it “a heart-wrenching and unacceptable crime against innocence.”
The statement reads, “The Enugu State Government under the leadership of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, remains unwavering in its commitment to protect every child and ensure that perpetrators of such evil acts are brought to justice.
“No child should ever have to endure such trauma, especially from those meant to provide care and protection.”
The government also thanked citizens for their vigilance and cooperation, urging continued support in efforts to safeguard the rights and dignity of women and children across the state.
In 2022, a father, Michake Ogbar, was sentenced to triple life imprisonment for defiling and raping his three daughters of age 10, 20, and 24 years.
Ogbar faced three counts bordering on defilement and rape, offences which violate Sections 137 and 258(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted varying weather conditions, including dust haze and rainfall, across different parts of the country between Monday and Wednesday, urging residents to stay alert.
In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet projected slight dust haze with good visibility over Borno, Zamfara, northern Kaduna, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States on Monday.
The agency added that isolated thunderstorms with light rain were likely in parts of Taraba and Adamawa States during the afternoon or evening hours on Monday.
NiMet forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds over the central region, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms and light rain in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States later in the day.
The statement read, “Cloudy conditions are expected in the southern region on Monday morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
“Later in the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are anticipated in Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
“On Tuesday, NiMet forecast continued slight dust haze in good visibility over northern states, while Taraba and Adamawa may experience isolated thunderstorms and light rain throughout the day.
“Sunny skies with intermittent clouds are predicted in the central region, alongside chances of early morning thunderstorms in Benue and later moderate rain across FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States.”
NiMet also projected cloudy skies across the southern states, with moderate rainfall over Rivers, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom in the morning, intensifying later in the day.
The agency warned of possible flooding in parts of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States, urging local authorities to activate emergency response measures where necessary.
For Wednesday, NiMet anticipated sunny skies across the northern region, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain expected later in the day, particularly over parts of Taraba State.
“The central region will experience sunny skies with patches of clouds, while isolated thunderstorms with light rain are likely over Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.
“In the south, cloudy conditions are expected in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains later in the afternoon and evening across Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom,” it stated.
NiMet reiterated a high risk of flash floods, urging motorists to exercise caution when driving in rain and for authorities in vulnerable areas to implement flood response measures immediately.
The agency also advised individuals with asthma and respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure due to dust particles suspended in the atmosphere over the northern parts of the country.
Airline operators were urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for flight planning, while the public was encouraged to follow updates via the agency’s website and communication channels.
NAN
Justice Rahmon Oshodi of a Lagos State High Court has ordered the remand of an accountant, Oguibe Nwachukwu, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged theft of N200m, to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The EFCC, in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, disclosed that the defendant, alongside his company, is facing 13 counts bordering on stealing.
According to the EFCC, Nwachukwu, in 2020, allegedly converted the sum of $36,000, which was entrusted to him by his former employer, Travelstar Web Logistics Limited.
The EFCC added in another count that the suspect had also allegedly converted the sum of $156,000 belonging to the same company for personal use between January and July 2018.
The statement read in part, “That you, Oguibe Promise Nwachukwu, being the alter ego of Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited and Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited, being a company incorporated in Nigeria sometime in March, 2020 in Nigeria, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of $36,000 property of Travelstar Web Logistics Limited entrusted to you, being the custodian as an accountant to the Travelstar Web Logistics Limited, thereby committed an offence stealing, contrary to Section 280(1) (b) and (2) (f) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you, Oguibe Promise Nwachukwu, being the alter ego of Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited and Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited, being a company incorporated in Nigeria sometime between January 29, 2018 and July, 2018 in Nigeria, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of $156,000 property of Travelstar Web Logistics Limited entrusted to you, being the custodian as an accountant to the Travelstar Web Logistics Limited, thereby committed an offence Stealing, contrary to Section 280(1) (b) and (2) (f) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
The defendant was said to have pleaded not guilty when the charges were read against him.
The EFCC noted that following his plea, the prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, prayed the court for a trial date and that the suspect should be remanded in the EFCC’s custody.
The statement noted that the defendant’s attorney argued there was a pending bail application and requested the court to remand his client in EFCC custody.
“The defence counsel, Kelvin C. Uzozie, informed the court of a pending bail application on behalf of his client and also pleaded that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC custody.
“After listening to both parties, Justice Oshodi adjourned till October 17, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application and also ordered the remand of the defendant at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos,” the statement concluded.
The EFCC has in recent times prosecuted high-profile financial fraud cases involving public officials.
PUNCH Metro reported on January 17 that the EFCC arraigned an ex-Accountant General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nnabuoku, for alleged fraud amounting to N1.9 billion.
Similarly, in April 2025, the EFCC arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State for alleged fraud totalling N8.3bn.
These cases highlight the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to tackle large-scale financial crimes involving custodians of public resources.
The Punch
A prolonged family dispute concerning the extensive estate of the late Chief Harrison Jefia has intensified, resulting in a criminal trial.
Joseph Jefia, the ninth child of the deceased and a cleric, is currently facing allegations of forgery and fraudulent claims to inheritance.
He is appearing before a Federal High Court in Abuja to address these charges.
The case with next hearing date fixed for October 23, is under charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/501/2024, where the Federal Government is the complainant and Joseph Jefia is the defendant.
Mrs. Onoriode Lyn James (née Jefia), the United Kingdom-based eldest child of the late Chief Jefia, had petitioned the Pastor-in-Charge of Region 23 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, where her half-brother, Joseph Jefia pastors a church, accusing him of illegally taking control of the family’s assets shortly after their father died in 2003.
These assets include more than 100 housing units, a mansion in Effurun, multiple country homes, large tracts of land, cash in various banks, and a road contract valued at N1.2 billion.
According to Mrs. James, Pastor Jefia and his siblings allegedly broke into their late father’s residence while the patriarch was on his deathbed, taking possession of all personal and business documents.
Investigations by law enforcement and forensic experts revealed that the document was fraudulent and unregistered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in violation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
The police subsequently charged Pastor Jefia for presenting the forged document in defense of his actions during a dispute involving his half-sister, whom he allegedly harassed during a visit to the family property in Effurun.
Court records show that the family had already shared the landed properties of the late Chief Jefia based on traditional arrangements and legal proceedings.
Despite this, Pastor Joseph is accused of continuing to collect rent from properties not allocated to him and allegedly selling plots of land belonging to other heirs.
The matter, which has spanned more than 22 years, has now reached a turning point with criminal charges brought against the pastor. The trial continues this month, with court dates scheduled for October 23.
Mrs. James has called on the leadership of RCCG, where Pastor Jefia is said to have served in various regions including Kolokolo/Enerhen and PTI, to intervene and uphold the church’s moral standards.
“Our father left enough for every one of his children to prosper. But Joseph’s greed, enabled by forged documents and disregard for family and tradition, has robbed us of justice for over two decades,” she said.
A Magistrate Court in Kano has ordered the remand of popular TikTok user, Ashiru Idris, popularly known as Mai Wushirya, at a Correctional Centre for posting indecent videos involving a dwarf woman whose name was undisclosed on social media.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Halima Wali of Court No. 7, ordered that the TikToker be sent to a correctional centre for two weeks before the hearing continues.
It was reported that officials of the Kano State Censorship Board arrested Mai Wushirya last week after clips showing him in a shirtless state engaging in what authorities described as “immoral and demeaning acts” with a dwarf woman went viral online.
The Board maintained that the circulated videos were in direct violation of the state’s Censorship laws which prohibit the distribution of obscene or sexually suggestive materials.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Censorship Board, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, disclosed that the court has directed the appearance of the woman involved before the next hearing.
“The court has also ordered his partner to appear in court before the hearing continues. Even before we arraigned him, we tried to get him to cooperate with us in helping us locate her, but he refused. However, now that the court has ordered it. I’m sure we will be successful in bringing her,” Sulaiman revealed.
Sulaiman also revealed they have received reports that the woman featured in the videos has since escaped to Zamfara State but efforts continue to ensure her return to Kano to face trial alongside the TikToker.
Leadership
In a landmark move to boost rural entrepreneurship and support women in creative industries, the Delta State Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency (DEMSMEDA), in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady, Deaconess (Mrs.) Tobore Oborevwori, is set to host the M.O.R.E. CAP-UP Grant Disbursement Ceremony on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
The event will take place at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, with the official ceremony kicking off at 11:00 a.m. prompt, while accreditation for beneficiaries will begin at 9:00 a.m.
The M.O.R.E. CAP-UP program (an initiative under the MORE Agenda of the Oborevwori administration) is aimed at empowering women across the three senatorial districts of Delta State by providing financial support to 320 women engaged in various creative sectors.
These women were carefully selected from rural communities to ensure equitable participation and impact at the grassroots level.
Her Excellency, Deaconess (Mrs.) Tobore Oborevwori, Wife of the Executive Governor of Delta State, will personally oversee the grant disbursement during the ceremony, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to gender inclusion and rural development.
Dr. Godwin Adolor, Executive Secretary/CEO of DEMSMEDA, in a statement, emphasized the importance of supporting rural women in creative industries, noting that the initiative aligns with the state government’s drive to promote inclusive economic growth through innovation and enterprise.
“All are cordially invited to attend this event as we celebrate and support women who are shaping the creative economy in our rural communities,” the statement concluded.
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