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.

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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.

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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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Seventeen passengers have lost their lives in a road accident in Zamfara State.

The passengers died when a commercial bus conveying a bride and other wedding guests plunged into a river while attempting to cross a broken bridge between Gwalli village and Gummi town.

On Saturday, the victims were travelling from Fass village in Gummi Local Government Area to Kebbi State to hand over the bride to her husband after the wedding Fatiha.

Eyewitness said the driver, unfamiliar with the terrain, attempted to navigate the damaged bridge, which had been temporarily patched with sandbags and stones by villagers.

The bus slipped off the makeshift passage and overturned into the river, leading to the drowning of the passengers.

Seventeen bodies have so far been recovered, while two persons remain missing.

The bride and a few passengers who had stepped out of the bus before the incident survived.

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Confirming the tragedy, the Zamfara State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that 17 people, mostly women, died in the crash.

In a statement, the FRSC Public Education Officer, SRC Isah Aliyu, explained that the accident occurred along Gwalli Road after a bridge that collapsed earlier in the week gave way.

He noted that residents had tried to create a makeshift passage with sandbags to enable motorists to cross, but the effort failed, leading to the disaster.

The FRSC Zamfara Sector Commander, Aliyu Ma’aji, advised motorists to avoid night travel, desist from overloading, and always seek updated information on road conditions before embarking on any journey.

The Ogun State Government has issued a flood alert, advising residents of riverine and coastal communities throughout the state to evacuate to safer areas between the last week of September and the second week of October in order to mitigate the risks associated with severe flooding events.

Areas particularly vulnerable include communities along the Ogun, Ilo, Iju, Owa, and Yemule Rivers, specifically Isheri, Warewa, Akute, segments of Abeokuta, Ayetoro, Itele, and Iju, as well as coastal regions such as Makun, Oni, Iwopin, Igele, Ifaara in Ogun Waterside, Ebute-Imobi in Ijebu East, Tungeji Island, and Agosasa in Ipokia Local Government Area.

This advisory was articulated in the 2025 Ogun State Midterm Flood Alert Press Statement, which was disseminated on Sunday by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya.

Dr. Oresanya indicated that the anticipated flooding is attributable to multiple factors, including river overflow, rising sea levels, tidal locking, intense precipitation, water inflows from the northern regions of Nigeria and the Benin Republic, as well as potential water releases from the Oyan Dam.

“The overflow, which usually lasts for two weeks, is part of the second phase of flooding that occurs every year between September and November,” Oresanya said.

Citing projections from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Oresanya disclosed that September will witness the highest rainfall with 204mm, followed by October with 190mm, before a decline to 93mm in November.

To mitigate the impact, he assured residents that the State Emergency Management Agency is on red alert for emergency evacuation and relocation to temporary camps. He added that the Ministry of Environment is working closely with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to manage water releases from Oyan Dam.

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The commissioner also cautioned residents in flood-prone areas against using boreholes and wells during this period, warning that water sources are likely to be contaminated.

Fish farmers across the state were advised to urgently harvest their stock to prevent losses, particularly those farming along floodplains in Eriwe, Yemule (Ijebu-Ode), Ilase, and Ayegbami in Yewa.

“Fish farmers must not delay in harvesting to avert their investments being washed away. Likewise, residents should avoid consumption of contaminated water as tidal variations will worsen water quality,” he warned.

Oresanya thanked residents for cooperating with the government on environmental issues, noting that such cooperation in the past six years had helped reduce flooding and its impact statewide.

He pledged the government’s continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

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Residents of Lakowe’s Orita Adeba and Sangotedo communities expressed heightened concern on Saturday following the occurrence of suspected cult-related clashes that resulted in the brutal killings of two young men in separate incidents that are believed to be acts of retaliation.

According to a report by PUNCH Metro published on Sunday, these incidents represent a continuation of a troubling trend of cult-related violence that has claimed numerous lives throughout Lagos State in recent weeks.

A resident, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation, reported that one of the victims was attacked with machetes and subsequently left abandoned by the roadside. Furthermore, the assailants reportedly severed the victim’s right wrist and took it with them.

He said, “It is true. It happened yesterday. They left the body at Orita Adeba, opposite the Lakowe Bus Stop. We can no longer sleep at night.

“We learnt that he was killed by the Aye cult group. His wrist was totally cut off. They have been killing each other to count scores for a few weeks now.”

A short video seen by PUNCH Metro showed the deceased, dressed in brown shorts and a white vest, with dreadlocks, lying face-up in a pool of blood as residents and mourners gathered around, lamenting and taking pictures.

Another resident, identified simply as Fatai, lamented that killings had become frequent in Ibeju-Lekki.

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He said, “They just started killing each other. Just three days ago, my neighbour was telling me that someone was also butchered in the same Lakowe.

“It’s over three incidents now within a short time. The boy who was killed is believed to be a cult member also. They are using their lives to count scores.”

While residents linked the Lakowe killing to cult violence, another young man was also found dead by a culvert in the Sangotedo area.

Though the motive was yet to be confirmed, a video shared by the Naija Confra Telegram page showed the victim in a white singlet and black trousers lying lifeless by the roadside.

A senior police officer who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Sunday said he would provide details of the incidents later in the evening.

However, no official response had been received as of the time this report was filed.

Last week, PUNCH Metro reported a similar cult-related clash in Ibeju-Lekki, where two people were killed.

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Images from that incident showed one of the victims with deep machete cuts to the face and severe injuries to the wrist, his body sprawled beside a blood-drenched motorcycle.

The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has cleared the air on the ongoing debate surrounding the Olomoro–Igbide Road, following reports suggesting that the project was a Federal Government intervention under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

Aniagwu, in a statement on Friday, said contrary to claims circulating on social media, the project was neither conceived nor funded by the Federal Government but was duly approved and executed by the Delta State Government under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

He explained that the State Executive Council approved the construction of the Olomoro–Igbide Road in August 2024 as part of Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda on rural infrastructure, and the site was handed over to Lebtech Construction on November 24, 2024.

According to him, the project has since been fully funded by the state government, completed to specification, and now awaits formal inauguration.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Olomoro–Igbide Road is a Delta State Government project. It was approved by the State Executive Council on August, 2024, under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

“The state government provided full funding, and the project has been delivered to the people of Olomoro and Igbide communities in line with specifications,” Aniagwu stated.

The Commissioner recalled several supervisory visits he personally undertook to the project site, including joint inspections with Governor Oborevwori and the State Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh, an illustrious son of Igbide Kingdom.

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“I personally supervised the project at different stages of construction to ensure standards were upheld. On different occasion, His Excellency, Governor Oborevwori, and the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme led members of the state’s project monitoring committee on inspection to ascertain progressive milestones on the Olomoro-Igbide road project”.

“We saw firsthand the quality of work delivered, and I can confidently say this is a state-driven project ready for inauguration,” he added.

Aniagwu was reacting to a report by Tracka, a civic group known for monitoring projects nationwide, which had in a recent Facebook post claimed to be tracking the Olomoro project as a federally funded intervention under the NDE.

The group also alleged that while the Olomoro–Igbide stretch had been asphalted, drainage works were yet to be completed at the Olomoro end.

While commending Tracka for its efforts in promoting accountability, the Commissioner urged the organization to verify facts more diligently before publication to avoid misinforming the public.

“We appreciate Tracka’s role in tracking projects across Nigeria, but in this case, their claim was misleading. The Olomoro–Igbide Road has nothing to do with the Federal Government or the NDE.

“It is purely a Delta State Government initiative under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. Going forward, I urge them to exercise greater caution and courtesy in their reporting so that citizens are not misled,” he cautioned.

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Aniagwu reassured residents of Olomoro and Igbide that the road, which has been fully delivered, will soon be inaugurated even as road users are already enjoying smoother motoring on the road.

The Olomoro-Igbide road and many of such across the state are part of the state government’s ongoing commitment to rural development and inclusive infrastructure growth.