Author: The Whistler Newspaper

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of blogger Mark Chidiebere, widely known as “Justice Crack,” in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) following his arraignment over alleged misinformation concerning the welfare and feeding conditions of Nigerian soldiers.

Chidiebere, of Plot 88, Sabo Lugbe, Abuja, is facing a three-count charge filed by the DSS over a viral video posted on his X account in which he made claims about the condition of Nigerian military personnel. He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

Prosecuting counsel Emmanuel Orubo requested a date to open the prosecution’s case and urged the court to remand the defendant in DSS custody.

Defence counsel Marshall Abubakar made an oral application for bail, which the court declined to hear, directing that a formal application be filed instead.

Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Chidiebere be remanded in DSS custody and adjourned the matter to May 25, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

Outside the courtroom, supporters gathered and formed a human barrier in an attempt to prevent DSS operatives from taking the defendant away. Security personnel eventually dispersed the crowd and escorted him from the Federal High Court premises.

Activist Omoyele Sowore and Peter Akah were among those present.

The Nigerian Army said it was aware of online publications in which Chidiebere allegedly shared complaints from soldiers about welfare and feeding conditions, adding that preliminary findings suggested his discussions with soldiers bordered on subversion.

A relative of the blogger alleged that he was targeted after raising concerns about alleged misconduct involving soldiers and the killing of a 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps member, Abdulsamad Jamiu, in Abuja. The claims have not been independently verified.

The Army has previously denied reports circulating online alleging the blogger was abducted and mistreated, including claims of prolonged detention and abuse.

The case has drawn criticism from civil society organisations and press freedom advocates, who have raised concerns over freedom of expression and whistleblowing.

Court Remands Blogger Over Alleged Soldiers’ Welfare Claims is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A Canada-based Nigerian doctor, Arinze Onwumelu, has urged singer Portable to undergo a brain scan following the fierce celebrity boxing match between him and skit maker Carter Efe.

The high-intensity bout took place over the weekend between the two celebrities in Lagos, with Portable losing.

The outcome of the fight, which attracted huge attention from fans and celebrities, generated buzz on social media as the ‘Zazuu’ crooner was defeated.

In a post and viral video on social media, Onwumelu popularly known as Dr Zo, advised Portable to undergo a brain scan, specifically a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to ascertain any potential internal injury sustained during the bout.

According to him, Efe delivered multiple blows to sensitive areas of Portable’s head, so the singer may be at risk of a subdural hematoma, a serious brain injury.

”This is an exhibition match meant for entertainment, not a real fight to harm anyone. The contenders are not expected to fight to that extent.

”Or does it mean Efe didn’t get the memo or wasn’t properly informed? I watched the whole video. The kind of punches he delivered, Portable may never recover from them.

”Anybody who knows Portable should take him to the hospital for MRI and brain test; there may be an artery that might have been damaged.”

The doctor advised organisers of such matches to provide mandatory head guards for participants in the future to avoid sustaining significant head trauma.

Ahead of the fight, Portable had confidently stated he was medically fit and ready to defeat Efe, as he had earlier knocked out rapper Speed Darlington and actor Charles Okocha in similar celebrity boxing.

Celebrity Boxing: Doctor Urges Brain Scan For Portable, Slams Organisers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Joy Ezeugwu, a nurse at Uwani General Hospital in Enugu State, who shared a video of deteriorating conditions at the facility, has been arrested by the Nigerian police.

Joy was reportedly arrested by a team from Police Force Headquarters Annex, Enugu.

An education technologist, Alex Onyia, disclosed the development in a post on his X handle on Monday.

According to the post, the police officers were sent by the administrator of her former school at Ezzy College of Nursing, Ifeyinwa Peace Okwudu.

“Joy Ezeugwu has been arrested this morning by a team from Police Force Headquarters Annex, Enugu.

“They were sent by her former school’s (Ezzy College of Nursing) administrator Ifeyinwa Peace Okwudu.

“Students and staff oppression have now become a norm. We will dismantle it,” Onyia wrote on X.

DAILY POST recalls that the nurse was suspended in April after her viral video highlighted deteriorating conditions at the facility, including the absence of electricity and running water.

The video gained traction on social media and captured health workers expressing frustration over the challenging environment.

Workers in the video were visibly lamenting that the lack of basic amenities was affecting their ability to deliver adequate care, particularly during emergencies.

Following the release of the video, Okwudu, in a letter sighted by DAILY POST, demanded N10 million in damages from Joy Ezeugwu over an alleged violation of privacy rights.

In formal letter issued by her legal counsel, Ikechukwu Davidmark Ene, the administrator claimed that the recording occurred during an internal staff meeting held at her office.

According to the letter, all attendees were instructed before the meeting to leave behind any mobile phones or recording devices.

Okwudu claimed that Joy was specifically asked if she had any such device and allegedly denied having one, claiming she left her phone at home.

The administrator alleged that Joy concealed a mobile phone in her bag and proceeded to secretly record conversations during the meeting without consent.

Police arrest Enugu nurse, Joy Ezeugwu, over video depicting poor conditions in hospital

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Thursday, according to the Vatican’s public calendar, in what officials and observers describe as an effort to ease tensions between Washington and the Holy See.

The private meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. local time. A Vatican official confirmed the talks, describing them as part of ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two sides.

The visit comes after weeks of strained relations following criticism from Pope Leo XIV of U.S. foreign policy rhetoric concerning Iran.

The pontiff previously described elements of the language used as “unacceptable,” prompting a sharp response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called the pope “weak” and “terrible” on foreign policy matters.

Trump also suggested that the pope’s election was influenced by political considerations, writing on social media that Leo would not have been selected “if I wasn’t in the White House.”

The dispute has also had diplomatic spillover. The U.S. administration recently ended a decades-long contract with a Catholic Church-affiliated programme in Miami that provided care for migrant children, a decision the Archdiocese of Miami linked to broader tensions with the Vatican. The White House has not publicly confirmed any connection.

Rubio, a practising Catholic, is also expected to meet Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Italian officials during his visit to Rome.

The diplomatic friction has drawn commentary from analysts in Italy. Vatican commentator Marco Politi said the visit reflects concern within political circles over the impact of public disputes between U.S. leaders and the Catholic Church ahead of upcoming elections in the United States.

The Vatican has not issued an official statement characterising the meeting beyond confirming that it is taking place.

Pope Leo To Meet U.S. Secretary Of State is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, has arrested six suspects with different quantities of illicit substances believed to be narcotics.

The Commander of the NDLEA in Kano, Mr Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, on Monday in Kano.

He said that the arrests were made during a raid on some hot spots in and around the Bayero University, Kano, Old campus site.

Yahaya-Lawal said that the raid was part of “Operation Sharar Mafaka”, following a formal complaint from the university’s management.

The commander said that the suspects were apprehended for trespassing and engaging in the sale and consumption of illicit substances within and around the university premises.

He added that items linked to the illegal activities were impounded and subsequently destroyed to render them unusable.

“This action demonstrates our commitment to ensuring a drug-free environment where students, staff and their families can live and work in safety.

“We will not relent in our efforts to dislodge all drug joints under Operation Sharar Mafaka,” Yahaya-Lawal said

The commander noted that the success of the operation was due to effective collaboration between the agency and the university authorities, whose timely report enabled a swift response.

He warned that the agency would not tolerate the use of government or educational facilities for drug-related activities.

Yahaya-Lawal also urged members of the public and institutions to report suspicious activities to support ongoing efforts to eliminate drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

NDLEA Raids Kano Drug Joints, Arrests 6 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by ex-Senate President Adolphus Wabara, has appointed a 13-member interim National Working Committee, NWC, for the party.

Wabara, who announced this on Monday, said the move was in line with the PDP constitution.

He insisted that the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the nullification of the Ibadan National Convention created a leadership vacuum in the party.

The decision was taken at a National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting held by the Tanimu Turaki bloc of the PDP at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

BREAKING: PDP crisis: Wabara-led BoT appoints 13-member NWC

Stakeholders under the aegis of Niger Delta Integrity and Democracy Network, NDIDN, have called for a forensic probe of the finances and projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, over the management’s links to to former Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva.

Sylva is said to be involved in the alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s government.

He is named as the seventh defendant, “still at large,” in a 13-count treason and terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government against the alleged plotters.

NDIDN, in a statement signed by Comrade Francis Edafe, its National Coordinator, noted that the management of the NDDC has deep ties to the former governor. According to the group, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Managing Director, is a well-known political loyalist of Timipre Sylva and reportedly served as his Chief of Staff during his governorship.

“It was this godfather relationship that secured his appointment to head the NDDC,” the statement said, adding the brother of Sylva’s wife is believed to be serving as Personal Assistant to Ogbuku.

“This is not a loose association — it is a tight family and patronage network embedded right at the top of the NDDC.

“Such infiltration raises serious questions about whose interests are being protected: the suffering people of the Niger Delta or a network linked to anti-government activities,” Edafe said, noting that the NDDC has not lived up to its responsibilities.

It noted that despite huge sums at the disposal of the commission, oil producing communities continue to endure environmental pollution, abandoned projects, and youth unemployment.

The statement further highlighted allegations of financial ties between NDDC contracts and the alleged coup financing.

It pointed to reports that agencies such as the NFIU and EFCC traced suspicious large sums, including claims of up to ₦45 billion in NDDC-related funds to the plot.

Even as the NDDC management has denied the claims, NDIDN stressed the need for a forensic audit to get to the root of the matter.

“A comprehensive forensic audit of all contracts, projects, and financial transactions must be launched without delay by the EFCC and security agencies.

“All influences traceable to the Sylva network within the NDDC should be thoroughly investigated and purged,” the statement added.

The stakeholders urged traditional rulers, youth groups, elders, and stakeholders across the Niger Delta to support this call.

“The NDDC belongs to the people, not to any godfather’s proxy. President Tinubu must act decisively to sanitise this vital institution and demonstrate zero tolerance for compromised leadership,” Edafe added.

NDIDN vowed to sustain public advocacy and explore all lawful avenues until concrete action is taken to protect public resources and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

Niger Delta stakeholders demand forensic probe of NDDC finances

A power outage has plunged several parts of Enugu metropolis into darkness.

The development followed a heavy rainfall and strong winds that damaged electricity infrastructure on Sunday.

This was confirmed on Monday by MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, MEDL, in a public notice.

MEDL attributed the blackout to a wire cut on Emene Industrial Lines 1 and 2.

According to the notice, the incident also affected a distribution tower, disrupting supply to key 33kV feeders at the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, switch yard in New Haven.

The affected feeders include Trans Ekulu, Thinkers Corner, Ituku-Ozalla and Ugwogo lines, resulting in power loss across multiple communities.

Areas currently without electricity include Trans Ekulu, Emene, Thinkers Corner, Emenite, Airport, Alo Aluminium, Akpuoga, Nkwubor, Ugwuomu, Abakpa Nike, Nike Lake, Ugwogo and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The company said its technical team has commenced repair works and is working to restore power as quickly as possible.

MEDL expressed regret over the disruption, describing the outage as an unforeseen development caused by severe weather conditions.

Blackout hits Enugu as rainstorm wrecks power lines

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has been picked as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus governorship candidate for Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decision followed an intensive three-week consultation and political screening process involving party stakeholders, elders, and all 11 governorship aspirants under the PDP platform in the state.

According to party sources, the exercise brought together key figures including former Governor, Samuel Ortom, Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, the State Working Committee led by Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji, lawmakers, and influential party blocs such as the G-14 and G-9 elders’ groups.

At the end of the process, Aondoakaa reportedly emerged as the consensus choice, with all 10 other aspirants accepting the outcome in what party leaders described as a “unified and disciplined decision.”

Some of the aspirants, including Prof. Dennis Ityavyar and Rt. Hon. Dominic Ucha, were said to have accepted the process despite expressing reservations on zoning expectations, but pledged full support for the party’s direction.

Other notable aspirants and stakeholders, including Revd. Tor Uja, Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, Dr. Tersoo Loko, Engr. Tor Tiv Ato, and others, also reportedly aligned with the consensus arrangement and pledged loyalty ahead of the polls.

Speaking after the process, Chief Ortom commended the aspirants for what he called rare political maturity, urging them to remain united ahead of the 2027 elections and focus on unseating the incumbent administration.

Senator Abba Moro also praised the outcome, describing it as a difficult but necessary step toward strengthening the PDP’s chances in the state.

In his acceptance speech, Aondoakaa pledged to consolidate unity within the party and mobilise all stakeholders into what he described as a “formidable force” ahead of the elections.

He also expressed appreciation for the trust placed in him.

He assured party members that PDP would be repositioned for victory in 2027, stressing commitment to delivering what he called the “mandate of the Benue people.

”The PDP leadership says the consensus arrangement is aimed at reducing internal divisions and strengthening its electoral competitiveness in the coming general elections.”

Former AGF emerges Benue PDP consensus candidate for 2027 governorship race

Four of South Africa’s largest law firms are in court this week seeking to strike down new government rules requiring them to significantly increase Black ownership, even as Black lawyers within those firms allege persistent barriers to advancement.

Norton Rose Fulbright, Bowmans, Webber Wentzel and Werksmans are challenging the Legal Sector Code, published by Trade Minister Parks Tau in September 2024, arguing that the targets are “irrational” and the implementation timeline unrealistic given the experience typically required to reach partnership level. The Gauteng High Court is hearing the case from May 4 to 8.

The firms argue that the requirement to reach 50% Black ownership within five years is unrealistic, saying the path to equity partnership is lengthy and must remain merit-based.

They also contend that the code unfairly excludes Black non-lawyers, including chief financial officers, IT executives and HR professionals, from management control scoring despite their senior roles within firms.

But the legal challenge has also drawn attention to longstanding concerns from Black legal professionals within the industry. At least 13 current and former employees from the firms described experiences ranging from unequal access to high-value cases to being overlooked for promotion in favour of white colleagues.

Industry figures reflect the disparity. While Black lawyers account for about 59% of associates in leading firms, they make up only around 25% of partners. The Johannesburg Society of Advocates also found that two-thirds of junior advocates who left the bar over the past five years were Black.

“The only conclusion we can reach is that there is a ceiling that these firms believe Black people should have,” said Christine Qunta, chairperson of the Legal Sector Charter Council, which oversees enforcement of the code.

The case comes amid wider scrutiny of affirmative action policies, partly fuelled by criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk.

The firms deny systemic discrimination and say internal procedures exist to address workplace complaints.

South African Black Lawyers Allege Discrimination, Law Firms Challenge Govt is first published on The Whistler Newspaper