IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The parents of four-year-old Zina Ugwu, who was allegedly murdered in her sleep by a suspected drug addict, Chukwuemeka Nweke, in Nsukka, Enugu State, have appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure justice is served.

According to the grieving parents, the tragic incident occurred on August 18, 2024, when Nweke, allegedly under the influence of illicit drugs, stormed their residence along Orba Road, Nsukka, around 11:30 p.m.. He reportedly broke into their apartment, grabbed the sleeping child, and slit her throat in the presence of her mother, Lovet, and her siblings.

The victim’s father, Dr. Ndubuisi Ugwu, who was away at Federal University Oye-Ekiti, where he lectures, lamented that the police have been demanding excessive amounts of money from him while failing to properly prosecute all those involved.

He expressed frustration over how the police granted bail to their landlord, Emeka Onyeishi, and his wife, whom he accused of directing the suspect to their apartment. Ugwu further claimed that after committing the crime, Nweke publicly stated that the landlord had paid him ₦1 million to carry out the murder.

“The landlord knew about Nweke’s criminal activities and even provided him with accommodation in his house. He later attempted to bribe me with ₦500,000 to drop his name from the case,” Ugwu alleged.

He called on the Inspector General of Police to re-arrest the landlord, his wife, and other alleged accomplices for a thorough investigation, stressing that justice must be served without further delays.

“We are pleading for swift and fair justice for our innocent daughter,” Dr. Ugwu and his wife urged. 

The Anambra State Government is enforcing the Anambra Homeland Security Law, which mandates hotel operators to collect and submit identification details of all guests, including government-issued IDs, to the President-General of the community. These documents will be forwarded to local and state authorities. Hotel owners who fail to comply face penalties, including forfeiture of their facilities.

However, many locals are concerned the law will harm the hospitality industry, as guests may be discouraged from checking into hotels due to privacy concerns. A hotel owner expressed fears that it would drive business away, with Anambra residents already seeking accommodation in neighboring Asaba. 

Lawyers in Owerri, Imo State, have called for a one-week suspension of activities at the Justice Oputa High Court due to safety concerns. 

The Owerri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by Barrister Chris Ihentuge, raised alarms about vibrations in the court building, which has faced structural problems since its construction under former Governor Rochas Okorocha. Judges, including Justice Onyeukwu, have reported vibrations during court sessions, with one judge also expressing concerns about the building’s safety.

Ihentuge called for a temporary halt to court activities until experts can assess the building’s safety, emphasizing that the risk to life is unacceptable. He also criticized the ongoing absence of a Chief Judge in the state for nearly three months, attributing it to the growing challenges within the judiciary. 

The court’s poor infrastructure, including inadequate lighting and ventilation, further exacerbates the situation. Allegedly, the building was originally intended as a hotel before being converted into a court, contributing to its structural defects. 

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced the distribution of over 2.1 million bags of fertilizers to farmers and food aid to flood-affected communities as part of efforts to boost food production. Kyari emphasized the need to shift Nigeria’s agriculture from feeding the population to generating wealth, focusing on research, climate-resilient seeds, soil health, and smart agriculture.

He also introduced a biometric-based farmer registration system in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission to ensure targeted interventions. Kyari is addressing challenges in onion production caused by substandard seeds, with a 40% shortfall being investigated. His proactive efforts are expected to enhance Nigeria’s role as a major global player in onion production, where it ranks 7th worldwide and 3rd in Africa. Experts support his initiatives to promote sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.

President Donald Trump has threatened the BRICS countries with 100% tariffs if they move away from using the US dollar for international transactions.

Trump issued the warning via his Truth Social platform, stating, “The idea that BRICS nations are trying to abandon the Dollar, while we stand by and watch, is over. We will demand a commitment from these countries to not create a new BRICS currency or back any alternative to the US dollar. If they refuse, they will face 100% tariffs and lose access to the US economy.”

BRICS, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in early 2024 with the addition of Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the UAE, and Indonesia joined in January 2025. The group seeks to counterbalance the influence of the G7, the leading Western economic powers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the US dollar’s dominance and is pushing for a new payment system within BRICS to lessen Russia’s dependence on the dollar, especially in light of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Trump, known for imposing tariffs during his first term from 2017 to 2021, emphasized that the US would not tolerate challenges to the dollar’s supremacy. 

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has called on Nigerians to report loan apps and businesses that engage in harassment over unpaid loans. The commission emphasized that no consumer should live in fear due to aggressive debt recovery tactics.  

This follows ongoing complaints about unethical practices by some digital lenders, including threats, blackmail, and unauthorized access to customers’ contacts. The FCCPC has been working to regulate online lending platforms and has previously sanctioned several operators for violating consumer protection laws.  

Nigerians facing harassment from loan apps are encouraged to report such cases to the FCCPC through official channels to ensure appropriate action is taken.