The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Nigerian Billionaire, Oba Otudeko, to take a plea in the charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The order was given by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Monday.

This comes after the anti-graft commission had filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko, who doubled as Chairman of Honeywell group and three others over an alleged N30 billion loan fraud

At the hearing of the matter, the judge said Otudeko must take his plea before an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction on the case can be decided.

Justice Aneke subsequently adjourned the case to May 8.

Meanwhile, Otudeko last month refuted allegations against him.

On January 20, Bode Olanipekun, counsel to Oba Otudeko protested the charges against his client in Lagos Court.

The Imo State Police Command has responded to the crisis that erupted in Umusi/Olokwa Community, Owerri West LGA, which claimed the life of the Youth Leader-elect, Stanley Nwoke, two months after he was declared the winner of the Community Youth general election.

In a press statement, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has condemned the killing and vowed to apprehend those responsible.

Okoye revealed that the attack, which took place on 15 March 2025, left four siblings of the murdered youth leader injured and led to the burning of nine houses.

He further stated that preliminary investigations indicated the violence erupted following the youth election held on 3 January 2025. After Nwoke was declared the winner, a faction allegedly led by Chinaza Nwachukwu and others—who are currently at large and suspected to be behind the attack—rejected the outcome.

The command’s spokesperson explained that, in response to the incident, CP Danjuma, alongside his management team, visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment, where he commiserated with the bereaved families and those whose houses were destroyed.

Okoye added that the Police Commissioner assured the community of the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice and preventing future violence.

He confirmed that four suspects have already been arrested and are currently under investigation, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend other fleeing suspects.

Okoye further stated that the deceased’s body has been deposited in the morgue, and the injured victims are receiving medical care in the hospital.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police assures the public that normalcy has been restored in Umusi/Olokwa Community, with security measures in place to prevent further unrest. CP urges all stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding, emphasising that violence is not a solution to disputes. He also calls on community leaders to adopt peaceful conflict resolution strategies to prevent future occurrences,” he stated.

The command’s spokesperson used the opportunity to reaffirm the Command’s commitment to the safety of all residents.

He encouraged members of the public to provide credible information that could aid the ongoing investigation by contacting the police via its emergency lines 0803 477 3600 and 0814 802 4755.

Kokrajhar (Assam) [India], March 16 (ANI): AssamChief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) will be transformed into a region of peace and progress.

“The BTR would be transformed into a region of prosperity, peace, and progress,” he said.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the 57th Annual Conference of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) at Dotma in Kokrajhar in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma highlighted the pivotal role of ABSU in the advancement of the Bodo community. He emphasised that since its establishment, ABSU has remained dedicated to the holistic development of the community.

Paying tribute to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, Dr Sarma noted that under his leadership, the Bodo community pursued the vision of self-governance.

“In alignment with this vision, a peace accord was signed in 2020 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, bringing together ABSU, NDFB, and representatives of the Bodo community,” he said.

Sarma further said that since the signing of the accord, the government has undertaken sustained efforts to promote the welfare and development of the Bodo community.

The Chief Minister announced that the government is taking necessary steps to transform Kokrajhar University into a full-fledged university, which would provide fresh intellectual impetus to the Bodo community. He also stated that a new campus of Bodoland University would be established in Udalguri. Additionally, he assured that work on a new medical college in Udalguri would commence within the next three years.

Referring to the proposed railway line between Gelephu and Kokrajhar, the Chief Minister stated that this connectivity project would bring significant socio-economic transformation to the Bodoland region.

He further mentioned that in consultation with ABSU, steps are being taken to introduce the Bodo language as a medium of instruction at the higher secondary level, with plans for future extension to the undergraduate level.

Reiterating an announcement made in the AssamLegislative Assembly, he stated that 35 high schools in the Bodoland region would be upgraded to model high schools.

Additionally, he announced that in October this year, a grand cultural showcase featuring Bagrumba and Bardoisikhla dance forms would be organised at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, with the participation of 8,000 to 10,000 young men and women to promote these traditional dance forms globally. He also highlighted the government’s continued efforts towards the socio-economic development of the Bodoland Territorial Region, including the establishment of a new 1,200 MW power generation plant.

The Chief Minister stated that as per the request of ABSU, the birth anniversary of Bodofa Upendranath Brahma has been observed across the state as Chatra Divas on March 31. Furthermore, he announced that the state government has taken a decision to recognise Bodofa’s burial site in Dotma as a state-level memorial, with plans for its beautification and development.

Additionally, he stated that the Assam government and the BTR administration would observe May 1 every year to commemorate the death anniversary of Bodofa Upendranath Brahma.

Dr Sarma reiterated the government’s commitment to the full implementation of the Bodo Peace Accord. He said that following the accord, new villages have been incorporated into the Bodoland Territorial Region.

He also mentioned that a Directorate for Bodo Language has been established and for Bodos residing outside the BTR, the Bodo-Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council has been formed. Measures are also being taken to grant land rights to Bodos in districts such as Sonitpur and Biswanath, he added.

Highlighting a historic milestone, CM Sarma stated that on February 17, for the first time, a session of the Assam Legislative Assembly was held in Kokrajhar. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring self-governance and upholding the rights of the Bodo people.

Minister of Agriculture Atul Bora, Minister of Handloom & Textiles U G Brahma, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ashok Singhal, AssamLegislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council Pramod Boro, BJP Assam Pradesh President and MP Dilip Saikia, MPs Joyanta Basumatary and R.G. Narzary, Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang, ABSU President Dipen Boro, Bodo Sahitya Sabha President Surat Narzary, and other distinguished dignitaries were present in the conference. (ANI)