IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Moro Ojomo, a Nigerian-born defensive lineman, played a key role in the Philadelphia Eagles' 40-22 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, securing the team’s fifth NFL title.

Born in Lagos, Ojomo moved to the U.S. at age seven and later excelled in football at Katy High School and the University of Texas. Despite being drafted in the seventh round by the Eagles in 2023, he worked his way into a crucial defensive role.

In the Super Bowl, Ojomo's defensive contributions helped neutralize Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense. His journey from Nigeria to the NFL highlights the rising impact of Nigerian athletes in American football, inspiring young players worldwide. 

The newly appointed Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr. Livingstone Urutugu, disclosed on Monday that the perpetrators behind the gruesome murder of three siblings found inside a refrigerator in Nnewi are residents of the same neighborhood.

During his visit to the grieving family, Urutugu vowed to uncover those responsible and ensure justice is served.

Just hours after assuming office at the state police headquarters in Awka, he traveled to Nnewi, reaffirming his commitment to tackling crime in the state.

“We are here for an on-the-spot assessment of this tragic incident and to console the bereaved family,” Urutugu stated. “Unlike cases of kidnapping or sudden disappearances, this crime is particularly unsettling. We will ensure the culprits are apprehended and brought to justice.”

He praised police officers for their efforts in combating crime and assured them of continued support. He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of Anambra residents and the state government through Operation Udo ga Achi in maintaining security.

Urutugu outlined new strategies for crime prevention, emphasizing intelligence gathering, collaboration with security agencies, and strengthening community policing.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and law-abiding, warning criminals to abandon their ways, as the police would not tolerate any form of lawlessness. 

The Court of Appeal in Akure has reinstated the elected local government chairmen and councillors in Osun State who were previously removed by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the appellate court ordered the immediate reinstatement of the affected officials, all of whom are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has challenged the ruling, filing an appeal against the judgment. The state government has also submitted an application for a stay of execution pending the appeal hearing.

Upon assuming office in November 2022, Governor Adeleke dismissed the local government officials after a High Court had earlier nullified their election, which was conducted by OSSIEC.

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties had approached the High Court, arguing that the election was invalid since only APC candidates contested the positions, and voters were given only a "YES" or "NO" option. 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has registered a total of 420,674 candidates for the 2025/2026 examination as of Monday afternoon.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this in Ilorin during an inspection of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers. He also revealed that 32,435 candidates had registered that same day, while 124,632 candidates had enrolled for the mock exams.

JAMB aims to register up to two million candidates for the exams. However, Oloyede raised concerns about the increasing number of underage candidates, stating that 4,997 applicants under the age of 16 had registered so far. He criticized parents for pushing their children into early education to boost their own status.

“Previously, the number of underage candidates was around 300. Now, just five days into the registration process, we already have nearly 5,000. By the end of today, the figure will surpass that,” Oloyede stated.

He explained that underage candidates are required to sign an indemnity form, ensuring they can meet academic expectations or face sanctions if they fail to perform as claimed.

Additionally, JAMB has permanently blacklisted six individuals involved in exam malpractice, including a senior university official currently facing prosecution. The registrar also disclosed that 10 institutions were caught illegally registering candidates at night.

Following his monitoring visits to CBT centers, Oloyede expressed satisfaction with the ongoing registration process, commending JAMB staff, security agencies, and stakeholders for maintaining high standards. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the dismissed Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, to approach the court and defend himself rather than making unsubstantiated claims in the media.

According to Vanguard, Yunusa-Ari, who reportedly fled the country following the controversy surrounding the Adamawa governorship election, recently criticized his dismissal. He claimed to have evidence supporting his decision to declare the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, as the winner of the 2023 governorship election.

During his trial last year, Yunusa-Ari was said to have gone into hiding, as revealed by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), CSP Moses Jolugbo, in his testimony before the Adamawa State High Court. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Usman Suleiman, who represented him in court, stated that Yunusa-Ari was not in the country but had taken refuge in Niger Republic.

Reacting to his recent remarks, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated that since Yunusa-Ari had returned from hiding, he should present himself in court to answer the charges against him.

"Our attention has been drawn to the interview granted by the former REC of Adamawa State, Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari. There is nothing new in what he said," Oyekanmi stated.

He further emphasized that the 2023 Adamawa governorship election had already been conclusively determined by the judicial process, from the Election Tribunal to the Appeal Court, and ultimately settled by the Supreme Court.

INEC declined to comment on Yunusa-Ari’s conduct during the election, citing ongoing litigation at the High Court in Yola. Oyekanmi added, "Now that he is back in the country, the appropriate place for him to prove his innocence is in court, not through a press conference." 

NLC President Joe Ajaero has stated that governors lack the power to ban labour unions, as union activities fall under the exclusive legislative list in the Constitution. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Lokoja, he criticized governors for residing permanently in Abuja, neglecting governance in their states.

Ajaero’s remarks were in response to former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello’s proscription of labour unions in state-owned institutions. He emphasized that unions are registered nationally and cannot be banned by state governments.

During the visit, the NLC provided 10 CNG buses to ease transportation challenges for Kogi workers. Workers also demanded action on issues such as salary increments, housing, and teacher shortages.

Ajaero stressed that Kogi is important to the labour movement, as both the governor and deputy governor have union backgrounds. He assured workers that their grievances would be addressed.