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The Ebonyi State security council has lifted the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on Amasiri Community of Afikpo Local Government Area.

Briefing newsmen after the the State Security Council meeting, , the Director of DSS Ebonyi State, Mrs Eneh Kolawole who conveyed the Council’s decision stated that, “Minimum security will still be deployed to forestall further breakdown of law and order, while those apprehended in connection with the crisis will be charged to court”.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Odoh also that disclosed the action, followed a series of letters of remorse from Amasiri people which was accepted by the Okporojo people and their various hierarchy of traditional institutions.

On the delisting of Amasiri Development Centre, Dr. Odoh said the bill has been rejected.

“We have persuasion and pleas from the Founding Fathers and Elder’s Council to reject the delisting of Amasiri Development Centre, consequently, a memo will be sent to the State Assembly conveying the rejection and by implication we now have complete 64 Development Centres.

Dr. Monday Uzor, chief press secretary to the Ebonyi State Governor reports that the Head of Service Dr. Rita Mary Okoro was directed to ensure immediate re- opening of schools and Hospitals, stressing “that a memo will be sent to relevant agencies to recall to their previous duty posts all those civil servants who were transferred out of the Amasiri as a result of the crisis”.

While the Commissioner for Information,Barr. Ikeuwa Omebe assured that the Government will remain alive to its duty of protecting lives and property.

Curfew Lifted In Ebonyi Community After Days Of Restriction is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Okeke Ejike Callistus, a fake Bureau De Change operator before Justice D. A. Onyefulu of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Callistus was arraigned on a ten-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing to the tune of N78, 295, 000 (Seventy-eight million, Two hundred and Ninety-five thousand Naira).

Count one of the charge reads: “Mr. Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime on the 2nd of May, 2024, at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N62, 745, 000. 00 (Sixty-two million, Seven hundred and Forty-five thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu trading under the name and style of Leatez Enterprises and thereby committed an offence”.

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime between the 3rd to the 7th of May, 2024 at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N15, 550, 000. 00 (Fifteen million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu and thereby committed an offence”.

The offence contravenes Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 36, Anambra State and punishable under Section 353 (12) of the same Law.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him by the Commission and in view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Rotimi Enitan Ajobiewe prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

However, defence counsel, Hypolite Ohaneche informed the court about a pending bail application before it, moved it and prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

Ajobiewe opposed the bail application on the ground that “there is likelihood of the defendant jumping bail due to the fact that he previously jumped bail granted him by the Commission”.

After listening to both sides, Justice Onyefulu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50million with two sureties. One of them must have a tax clearance certificate. The sureties must be related to the defendant, live within the jurisdiction of the court and have a National identification Number.

The defendant was arrested when a petitioner, Ezeugwu Leonard Chinedu, claimed that he gave him the sum of N78, 295, 000 for onward transmission to his business partner in China.

Instead of remitting the money, the defendant remitted some and sent telex copies of “ABA Bank of Cambodia” for the outstanding amount, which upon presentation to the partner in China, were found to be fake.

During the course of investigation, the defendant admitted receiving the said sum but added that he diverted part of the money for his personal use.

Following the Supreme Court judgment, and in a decisive move to strengthen party administration and ensure constitutional adherence, a two-thirds majority of the 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially appointed and inaugurated an Interim National Working Committee (INWC).

This newly appointed leadership is tasked with managing the party’s executive operations effective immediately.

The Newly Inaugurated INWC Leadership:

1. KABIRU TANIMU TURAKI, SAN, – CHAIRMAN

2. ⁠ARAPAJA TAOFEEK GBOLA-OLADEJO – SECRETARY

3. ⁠ALH. HAMZA AKUYAM KOSHE MEMBER

4. ⁠DR. DANIEL AMBROSE WOYENGIKURO MEMBER  

5. ⁠IHEDIWA RICHARD NNABUGWU – MEMBER

6. ⁠ISA ABUBAKAR – MEMBER

7. ⁠OKECHUKWU OBIECHINA DANIEL – MEMBER 

8. ⁠HON. THEOPHILUS DAKAS SHAN – MEMBER 

9. ⁠COMRADE INI EMEMOBONG mnipr – MEMBER

10. ⁠ARIBISALA ADEWALE IDOWU – MEMBER

11. ⁠BARA’U SHAFI’I – MEMBER 

12. ⁠OGBU ANTHONIA CHINENYENWA – MEMBER 

13. ⁠HON. UMAR DAN AJI – MEMBER

This transition marks a significant step in maintaining the stability and structural integrity of the party.

Taiwo Awoniyi bagged a brace as Nottingham Forest defeated Chelsea 3–1 at Stamford Bridge.

Awoniyi opened the scoring for the Tricky Trees with a superb header from Dilane Bakwa’s cross after two minutes.

The visitors were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute after Awoniyi was fouled inside the box by Malo Gusto.

Igor Jesus sent Robert Sanchez the wrong way to double Forest’s lead.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty late in the first half following a foul on Jesse Derry.

Cole Palmer’s effort was, however, saved by Matz Sels.

Forest netted their third of the game early in the second half, with Awoniyi slotting home from Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross.

The 28-year-old has now scored four goals and registered one assist in 14 league appearances for Forest this season.

Joao Pedro reduced the deficit for Chelsea in stoppage time.

EPL: Awoniyi bags brace as Forest stun Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge

The NNPC Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xingcheng (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, for collaboration through a potential Technical Equity Partnership (TEP) in support of the completion and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.

The MoU was signed by the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari; Chairman, Sanjiang Chemical Company, Guan Jianzhong and Chairman of Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, Bill Bi, in Jiaxing City, China.

The potential framework would cover completion of outstanding work at the two refineries, together with operating and maintaining both facilities to achieve best-in-class, sustainable performance.

Planned expansion and upgrades would elevate both facilities to cleaner, more profitable product standards.

The potential collaboration also contemplates expanding the refineries’ petrochemical capacities and harnessing gas and downstream opportunities through the development of co-located, gas-based industrial hubs.

Speaking shortly after the signing, the GCEO of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the MoU execution as a significant milestone, following more than six months of concerted engagement between the technical and management teams of NNPC and the two Chinese partners, Sanjiang and Xinganchen.

“All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria, and the collective weight required for success,” Ojulari noted.

The GCEO further stated that the MoU is an important step on the journey towards identifying potential technical equity partner(s) to restart and expand NNPC’s refineries, and to explore opportunities in co-located petrochemicals and gas-based industries.

The MoU reflects the parties’ shared intent to progress discussions in good faith, with any definitive arrangements to follow in due course and subject to customary approvals.

NNPC, Chinese Firms Seal Deal For Restart Of Warri, PH Refineries is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Chelsea will not be able to finish in the top five places in the Premier League, following their 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday afternoon.

The Blues were looking to end a five-game losing run against the relegation strugglers.

But it was the visitors who took a two-goal lead in the first half.

Taiwo Awoniyi opened the scoring with a towering header within two minutes, before he was fouled in the area.

Igor Jesus stepped up and fired the penalty past Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea missed the chance to pull one back from the spot too, after Cole Palmer’s effort was palmed away by Matt Sels.

Awoniyi added a third from Morgan Gibbs-White’s cutback, before Joao Pedro pulled one back.

Chelsea remain on 48 points, 20 off Aston Villa in fifth spot with three fixtures left.

EPL: Chelsea miss out on top 5 spot after 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest

Nigerian bank consumers have reacted to the kickoff of the new bank charges regime in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive.
Recall the apex bank in a circular released titled ‘Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions’ increased the fee for the issuance of automated teller machines to N1,500 from N1,000.

CBN also directed banks to scrap maintenance fees on Naira-dominated cards and other reviewed charges expected to take effect from May 1, 2026.

Reacting to DAILY POST, Uju Ogunbunka, President of the Bank Customers’ Association of Nigeria, said consumers would suffer more charges with regard to the upward review of the ATM issuance charge.

“Consumers will suffer more charges, but if the intention is to scrap the maintenance charge, which happened to be lower, then it makes the policy not plausible,” he told DAILY POST on Monday.

DAILY POST reports the apex bank announced the directive on new bank charges last week.

Customers react to CBN’s new bank charges in Nigeria

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, May 4, 2026, ruled that the extrajudicial statement made by Henry Omoile, co-defendant to the erstwhile Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, is admissible in court.

Omoile had challenged the admissibility of his statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that it was obtained under oppression and inducement.

This led to a “Trial-within-Trial” to determine the voluntariness or otherwise of the statement.

Omoile is currently facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent, while Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC, bordering on alleged gratification and corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN Governor. 

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.

At Monday’s hearing, C.C. Okezie appearing for the prosecution while Labi Lawal, SAN, appearing for both first and second defendants 

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had successfully proven that the statements obtained on  February 26, 2024 were made voluntarily and not under any form of inducement, threat, or coercion.

“I have carefully considered the evidence presented during the mini trial. The environment was active, and there is no evidence that the second defendant was physically harmed. I am satisfied that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the statement was made voluntarily,” the judge stated.

The court further ruled that the statements made on February 26, 2024, marked as Exhibits 1–3, were not obtained under duress and were therefore admissible as evidence.

Following the ruling, Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to June 26, June 30, and July 6 and 8, 2026, for continuation of trial.

Brazil legend, Cafu has said that Neymar Jr. surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in technical ability.

He praised his fellow countryman and expressed confidence in his participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are commonly acknowledged as the two greatest footballers in history.

They have been competing at the pinnacle of the sport for more than 15 years and continue to perform at a high level.

Many consider Neymar to be the next best player after this legendary pair at his peak.

Nevertheless, Cafu contends that the Santos forward was even superior to them, as he stated to The Times, “In my opinion, Neymar was technically superior to [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi. He has enjoyed an outstanding career.”

When questioned about the likelihood of the Brazilian participating in the World Cup this summer, Cafu remarked, “Any team that possesses a game-changing player like Neymar requires that player. If Neymar is in optimal condition—physically fit, tactically aware, and technically proficient—it is clear that he is a player who can influence matches.

“However, only Ancelotti can make that decision, and only Neymar can determine if he is prepared.”

Neymar has achieved over 200 goals and more than 150 assists during his time with Barcelona and PSG, accumulating numerous accolades.

He is also Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, with 79 goals and 59 assists in 128 appearances.

‘He’s game changer’ – Cafu names player better than Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi