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The Abia State Government, in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), will kick off its 2026 free medical outreach on April 13, 2026. About 25 doctors from the United States are expected to join local medical teams to provide free surgeries and consultations for residents of Abia State.

Announcing the details at a press conference held at Government House, Umuahia, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya, said the five-day mission, scheduled from April 13 to 17, 2026, follows a directive from Governor Alex Otti.

“His Excellency sometime last year instructed the Ministry of Health to get in touch with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) to plan and execute a medical outreach for the Abia people this year.

“This is coming in the wake of the similar exercise that occurred two years ago in 2024,” Ogbonnaya stated.

He explained that the initiative aligns with one of Governor Otti’s 11 pillars in the health sector, which focuses on collaborating with Nigerian physicians, especially those of Abia origin, based abroad.

“Of course, Abia State origin as well, that are resident in different parts of the world, to come back home and work with the local team to extend high quality, affordable care to Ndi Abia.

“This is as a way of ensuring universal health coverage and ensuring that our people enjoy the highest quality of health care, together with all the multifarious activities that are going on in the health sector simultaneously,” he said.

According to the commissioner , the visiting physicians will arrive on April 13, with the official opening ceremony scheduled for 12 noon on April 14 at the Michael Okpara Auditorium. Full medical activities will begin the same day and run through April 17.

Two major facilities have been designated for the outreach: Aba General Hospital will handle general surgeries, while the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Umuahia will manage all eye-related cases and surgeries.

“We have a team of about 25 doctors that are coming from the U.S., and then we also have our local team that will work with them to ensure we have a very robust team.

“They are going to operate and consult on April 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th. It’s going to be a high-volume time, a very intensive time, but our team is prepared to be able to ensure that within this time frame, we’re able to meet our target,” Ogbonnaya said.

The mission aims to deliver at least 1,500 free medical consultations and up to 100 free surgeries. Two ophthalmologists will lead the eye surgeries at the Specialist Hospital.

Prof. Ogbonnaya commended Governor Alex Otti for creating the enabling environment and providing funding for logistics, while noting that ANPA is contributing skills and consumables.

“But the logistics and the other things that are required to make sure that this is a success, His Excellency has graciously approved funds for this to happen, and we want to thank him for doing that,” he said.

Beyond surgeries and consultations, the programme will include sexual and reproductive health education for young people, as well as training for 80 health workers on basic life support. It will also incorporate the Abia Healthcare Rebirth Initiative.

“There is another layer to this. ANPA has it as a policy, anywhere they go for outreach, they want to educate younger people on sexual and reproductive health.

“We’re going to train 80 health workers on basic life support. We need to champion a culture change that helps our health workers to embrace compassionate care, embrace the best practices, and then deliver the highest quality of healthcare,” ,” Ogbonnaya explained.

In addition, the Commissioner announced that the state’s rural emergency medical services would begin today, April 10, 2026, starting with the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovations and Initiatives (MMRII) local government areas.

“As I leave here, we’re going to send three ambulances to the MMRII local governments,” he noted.

Contributing to the briefing, Dr. Uloaku Ukaegbu, Head of the Local Organising Team and Director General of ABSACA, described the mission as a well-planned exercise running from April 13 to 17.

“To be precise, from Tuesday next week to the end of next week, we’re going to be having that mission.

“We have been in communication with the team from America. In the last two months, every week, we have had delegations to ensure that everything that is going to happen next week is well-planned and well-thought-out,” ,” Dr. Ukaegbu said.

She added that free blood screening and other investigations are already underway, with blood provided for patients who need transfusions before surgery.

Young people, especially students from Abia State Polytechnic (Ogbonnaya Onu Poly), are being encouraged to attend for sexual and reproductive health education, and they will receive protective commodities and incentives.

“Like my Commissioner has said, it’s going to provide us an opportunity for skills transfer from those who are coming from the diaspora to our team,” Dr. Ukaegbu stated.

The outreach is expected to significantly boost access to quality healthcare for Abians while strengthening local capacity through knowledge exchange.

Otti Approves Free Medical Mission As 25 U.S.-Based Physicians Arrive Abia is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Three people were killed when an ambulance conveying the corpse of an old woman home for burial ran into a tricycle.

The accident which happened in the Big Gutter area of Aba road in Umuahia on Thursday, claimed the lives of two Keke passengers on the spot while the third victim died in the hospital.

The ambulance which was driven by a woman, was alleged to be speeding when it hit the tricycle that was coming from the Ubakala-Old Umuahia axis.

A crowd of sympathisers who gathered at the scene after the incident, alerted some police officers who arrived the scene and helped in evacuating the injured victims to the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia for immediate attention.

No official statement has been issued by relevant agencies in the state about the accident but some residents who witnessed the incident claimed that it could have been caused by over speeding on the part of the ambulance driver.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, said that the ambulance was conveying the corpse of a 77-old-woman to the Isi Court area of Umuahia for burial when the accident occurred.

When contacted, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Abia State Sector Command, said the incident had not been reported to its office.

Ambulance conveying corpse for burial kills three Keke passengers in Umuahia

Delta North traditional rulers on Friday declared their support for the re-election of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and the return of former Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa to the Senate in 2027.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that royal fathers made the declaration at a high-level meeting held at the palace of Obi Uche Irenuma II, the Obi and Paramount Ruler of Abavo Kingdom.

At the meeting, the traditional rulers passed a vote of confidence in the governor for his leadership and administration’s renewed inclusion, as well as his support for the State Traditional Rulers’ Council.

According to them, the governor’s leadership style has strengthened the relationship between the government and the traditional institution.

They added that the Oborevwori-led government had demonstrated responsiveness to the needs of the people and the traditional institution, thereby fostering peace, stability, and development across communities.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Obi Irenuma II expressed appreciation to the governor for his continuous support and recognition of the traditional institution across the state.

He particularly appreciated the governor for the car presented to the traditional rulers in the state.

He described the gesture as a clear demonstration of partnership and recognition of the important role played by traditional rulers in maintaining peace, unity and development at the grassroots level.

According to him, the governor has shown, through his actions, that he understands the importance of traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in governance and community development.

The royal fathers, who also called on Okowa  to contest the Delta North senatorial seat, said the call was based on recognition of his achievements while serving as governor and his continued relevance in the political and developmental journey of the senatorial district.

They highlighted what they called the numerous milestones recorded by Okowa during his tenure as governor, especially in infrastructure development, health care, education, and human capital development.

The traditional ruler said that Okowa’s administration brought visible transformation and laid a solid foundation for sustainable development across the state.

He also noted that the former governor’s experience in governance, understanding of the people’s needs, and strong legislative background placed him well to effectively represent Delta North at the National Assembly.

Okowa’s return to the state, he said, would further strengthen the voice of the senatorial district and attract more federal presence and opportunities to the region.

The post 2027: Delta North traditional rulers back Oborevwori, Okowa’s return to Senate appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Delta State Police has arrested killed three suspected kidnappers in a gun duel.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Bright Edafe made this known in a post on his X handle on Friday.

He said the arrest followed a distress call received by the command over abduction of two ladies.

According to the post, a total of five million naira ransom collected by the kidnappers were recovered and handed over to the victims.

Edafe wrote, “This is one of the reasons why it is important to quickly alert the police when in distress. Two ladies were kidnapped and a ransom of #5000,000 was collected.

“Acting on available information, operatives of Delta State Anti kidnapping Unit trailed the suspect and after ensuring the victims are safe, swooped in on them, and engaged them a gun duel, three of the suspected kidnappers died as a result of the gun shot injuries sustained, one AK-47 rifle and the ransom money recovered. CP Yemi Oyenisi personally handed the money to the victims”.

Three dead as police engage kidnappers in gun duel, recover N5m ransom in Delta

cautions INEC against partisanship

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA– Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Friday decried what it described as the disturbing involvement of courts in the crisis rocking various political parties in the country.

NBA, the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, said it noted with concern that judges and lawyers have continued to meddle in the internal affairs of political parties, despite clear provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Aside from condemning the indiscriminate granting of interim injunctions in domestic party disputes, the legal body stressed that Section 83 of the Electoral Act stipulates that no court in the country should assume jurisdiction over such cases. 

It added that the law equally precludes courts from issuing interim orders, even when a suit is filed in violation of the Act.

The legal body decried that recent developments—particularly those arising from the interpretation and potential application of provisions of the Electoral Act 2026—raised serious constitutional, democratic, and rule-of-law concerns that require immediate intervention.

“What we now see are situations where actions are not only instituted in Courts by lawyers in clear violation of the Act, but Courts purportedly grant interim and/or interlocutory injunctions in clear contempt of statutory provisions of the law. This does not augur well for our democracy. 

“Democracy will not thrive in a situation where lawyers and courts take actions and decisions that not only negate our laws but also do violence to them,”  the NBA warned.

While vowing to initiate disciplinary action against lawyers who deliberately file actions aimed at procuring judicial interference in intra-party affairs, or who seek interlocutory orders in clear violation of statutory provisions, the NBA warned that the Nigerian judiciary must stay vigilant and resist being drawn into political theatrics.

The NBA called on the National Judicial Council to make regulations that will sanction any judge who knowingly assumes jurisdiction in matters clearly barred by law, grants orders in respect of intra-party disputes in violation of statutory provisions, or lends the authority of the court to partisan political maneuvering. 

It further implored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exercise its expanded supervisory powers with utmost neutrality, independence, and fidelity to democratic values, saying the commission must not be perceived as a participant in political engineering or as an institution whose regulatory authority is deployed in a manner that weakens political pluralism.

A statement the legal body issued through its National President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, on Friday, which was titled “Our laws and Democracy Must Be Protected At All Times,” read: “The Nigerian Bar Association has closely monitored recent political and legal developments as the nation gradually approaches the 2027 General Elections.

 “These developments, particularly those arising from the interpretation and potential application of provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, raise serious constitutional, democratic, and rule-of-law concerns that require immediate intervention.

“We particularly deprecate the disturbing involvement by lawyers and courts in the internal affairs of political parties despite the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which stipulates in Section 83 of the Act that ‘No court in Nigeria shall entertain jurisdiction over any suit or matter pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party.’

“Not only are courts denied jurisdiction to entertain any matter pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party, but they are also precluded from granting any interim or interlocutory injunction even where any action has been brought in violation of the Act. 

“The section further provides that ‘Where such an action is brought in negation of this provision, no interim or interlocutory injunction shall be entertained by the Court, but the Court shall suspend its ruling and deliver it at the stage of final judgment and shall give accelerated hearing to the matter.’

“What we now see are situations where actions are not only instituted in Courts by lawyers in clear violation of the Act, but Courts purportedly grant interim and/or interlocutory injunctions in clear contempt of statutory provisions of the law. 

“This does not augur well for our democracy. Democracy will not thrive in a situation where lawyers and courts take actions and decisions that not only negate our laws but also do violence to them. 

“This emerging trend of subverting the clear letters of the Electoral Act and dragging courts into the internal affairs of political parties through disingenuous litigation, forum shopping, and malafide applications designed to secure undemocratic political advantage, bodes no good for our democracy. 

“Such practices, if not immediately curbed, would directly contradict the clear intendment of the Electoral Act and risk transforming the judicial processes into avenues for political score-settling or electoral manipulation.

“We must reiterate that these provisions were clearly designed to curb abuse of court processes and discourage forum shopping in political disputes.

“This is therefore why the NBA is concerned that the abuse, misapplication, or selective deployment of these provisions may create opportunities for manipulation capable of undermining democratic competition and shrinking the political space.

“Members of the Bar are reminded that they are Ministers in the Temple of Justice and not political agents seeking judicial endorsement of partisan objectives. The filing of actions intended to draw courts into internal political party disputes, particularly where jurisdiction is expressly excluded, constitutes an abuse of court process and a violation of professional responsibility.

“The NBA will take firm steps to deter such conduct. Lawyers who deliberately file actions aimed at procuring judicial interference in intra-party affairs, or who seek ex parte or interlocutory orders in clear violation of statutory provisions, risk facing disciplinary proceedings. 

“We will not hesitate to present petitions before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against any Legal Practitioner found to be engaging in such conduct. This will be pursued decisively to serve as a deterrent and to preserve the sanctity of the judicial process.

“The Nigerian judiciary must stay vigilant and resist being drawn into political theatrics. Courts should firmly decline invitations, no matter how artfully crafted, to intervene in matters the law explicitly bars them from. When statutes limit judicial meddling in party affairs, judges must show restraint, adhere to the law, and focus on cases properly before them.

“We call on the National Judicial Council to make regulations that will sanction any judge who knowingly assumes jurisdiction in matters clearly barred by law, grants orders in respect of intra-party disputes in violation of statutory provisions, or lends the authority of the court to partisan political maneuvering.

“The NBA will not shy away from drawing the NJC’s attention to the actions of any judicial officer found to have acted in a manner inconsistent with the judicial oath, constitutional responsibilities, and the preservation of public confidence in the courts. The NBA will not hesitate to activate its constitutional responsibility to protect the integrity of the justice system.

“The NBA calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission to exercise its expanded supervisory powers with utmost neutrality, independence, and fidelity to democratic values. The Commission must not, under any circumstances, be perceived as a participant in political engineering or as an institution whose regulatory authority is deployed in a manner that weakens political pluralism.

“The Chairman of INEC, being a distinguished Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is uniquely positioned to appreciate the constitutional implications of these developments. The NBA expects that the Commission, under his leadership, will ensure that its actions reflect independence, fairness, and strict adherence to democratic norms. 

“The Bar is closely watching the conduct of the Commission and expects that its regulatory role will strengthen, not diminish, confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

“The Bar will deploy all lawful mechanisms, engagement, advisory opinions, strategic litigation, and disciplinary processes, to ensure that lawyers do not weaponize the legal process so that the judiciary is not misused.

“Lawyers must remain officers of the court, not architects of procedural manipulation. Nigeria’s democracy must not be weakened by legal maneuvering, institutional capture, or the misuse of judicial authority. The courts must remain arbiters of justice, not instruments of political advantage. Electoral institutions must remain neutral umpires, not participants in political contests.

“The electoral institutions must operate within the bounds of constitutional democracy,” the statement further read. 

The post 2027 Polls: NBA slams courts over roles in crisis rocking political parties appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Federal Government has extended the application deadline for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters under Project BRIDGE to deepen stakeholder participation and strengthen communication around Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

The new deadline, now set for April 27, 2026, was announced by Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, via his official X handle.

The extension, according to the minister, is a direct response to heightened interest and engagement from universities and research institutions across the country, an indication that government efforts to drive a research-led digital economy are gaining traction.

From a communications standpoint, the move reflects a strategic effort by the Federal Government to broaden awareness, encourage inclusive participation, and ensure that critical stakeholders have sufficient time to align with the programme’s objectives.

Valued at N12bn, the research clusters initiative was first unveiled in November 2025 as part of the government’s wider plan to position Nigeria competitively in the global digital space through evidence-based innovation.

Tijani urged Vice-Chancellors, research leaders, and academic institutions to utilise the extended window to review the programme guidelines and submit their Expressions of Interest (EOIs), emphasising the importance of active institutional engagement in shaping policy outcomes.

“The level of response we have seen underscores the importance of effective communication in driving national initiatives,” the minister noted, adding that the programme is designed to harness local expertise and data-driven insights.

The National Digital Economy Research Clusters is a flagship component of Project BRIDGE Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth a government-backed initiative aimed at expanding Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem.

Backed by World Bank financing, Project BRIDGE includes ambitious plans to deploy over 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone nationwide, a development expected to significantly improve connectivity and support a modern digital economy.

The research clusters programme also serves as a communication bridge between policymakers, academia, and industry, ensuring that Nigeria’s digital policies are informed by local realities rather than external assumptions.

Eligible institutions are required to submit EOIs under one or more of six thematic areas: Connectivity and Access, Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Skills and Inclusion, Digital Economy and Jobs, Trust and Online Safety, and Artificial Intelligence. Each cluster has an indicative budget of $1.5m.

Applications are to be submitted in written form either via email to Projectbridge@fmcide.gov.ng or delivered physically to the Ministry’s designated address.

The government maintains that sustained investment in knowledge sharing, research communication, and innovation will be critical in building a resilient and inclusive digital economy for Nigeria.

FG Expands Window For N12bn Digital Research Clusters is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Abuja Federal High Court for selling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists.

The politician was convicted on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu on a one count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism in the country brought against him by the Federal Government.

Habeeb, a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, had upon his arraignment on the one count charge admitted guilt of selling fuel to the terrorists.

He however claimed that his fuel station attendants may have been responsible for the sales.

The politician while kneeling down in the dock for almost one hour his trial lasted, pleaded passionately with Justice Peter Lifu to be lenient with him.

He claimed to have two wives and six children and that he had not been allowed to see or communicate with any member of his family since more than 10 years he had been in detention.

The Federal Government lawyer, Mr David Kaswe vehemently opposed the plea of the convict for leniency, adding that the logistics support accorded the terrorists had led to death of several people and rendered others homeless.

Kaswe admitted that the convict had spent more than 10 years in detention and insisted that he should be given 20 years imprisonment.

The lawyer maintained that Boko Haram would not have been able to use their motorcycles to launch attacks on innocent people and escape into the bush if no one had sold fuel to them

In his judgment, Justice Peter Lifu held that there was no evidence that the convict was a member of Boko Haram or trained on weapon handling, adding that the sole accusation against him was the sale of fuel to the terrorists.

The judge also held that the claim of spending more than 10 years in custody by the convict was not debunked by the prosecution.

Justice Peter Lifu subsequently sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment.

He however ordered that the jail term should start from the date of the arrest and detention of the convict.

The judge ordered that the convict be immediately released upon signing of his release warrant to enable him go for extensive rehabilitation.

Ex-senatorial candidate jailed 10 years for selling petrol to Boko Haram

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said that Enzo Fernandez remains dropped for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City despite apologising for comments that cast doubt over his future at Stamford Bridge.

The Argentina midfielder, linked with Real Madrid, fuelled speculation by telling a podcast during the recent international break that he would like to live in the Spanish capital.

It followed remarks he made last month casting doubt about whether he would still be at Chelsea next season after the club’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Fernandez, 25, who has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2032, was dropped for last week’s thumping 7-0 win against Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals and this Sunday’s home Premier League fixture against City.

“He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club,” Rosenior told reporters on Friday.

“It’s a serious meeting about something very serious,” he added. “I said every single step along this way, I’m not questioning Enzo’s character, I’m not questioning who he is as a person.

“I believe people make mistakes, and you can’t overstep the punishment for the mistake.

“I think we’ve made a sanction, we made a decision, I made a decision, and what I want for Enzo is for him to go on here and have an outstanding career.”

Rosenior said that the internal club sanction would remain in place despite the apology from Fernandez, who is the club’s vice-captain.

“He won’t play on Sunday but hopefully after that he’ll be a massive part of the group moving forward,” he said.

“There’s still a few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into. But at the same time I want every player really, really focused now on a huge run-in.”

Rosenior denied that the club, currently sixth in the table, were hurting themselves by omitting Fernandez against City, who are second in the Premier League.

“Football is a team sport, it’s not about individuals,” he said. “It’s not about shooting yourself in the foot.

“There are certain values and cultures that I believe in, that this club believes in, that makes the team stronger if you get that right.”

Chelsea have not beaten Pep Guardiola’s City since the two teams met in the 2021 Champions League final, when Thomas Tuchel, who is now the England boss, managed the Blues.

But Rosenior said that he was confident his men could win as they push for a top-five finish, which would guarantee Champions League football next season.

“We’re a very good team, we’ve gone through a difficult run, even though in that run we were punished for mistakes,” he said.

“There were good moments. When I actually analysed the games that we’ve had, we’ve caused every team we’ve played against problems, but haven’t had the results for that.”

The post Fernandez remains out despite apology – Chelsea boss Rosenior appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to set aside N135.22 billion for anticipated election-related court cases ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The organisation described the allocation as worrying and questioned the government’s priorities in managing the electoral process.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of CHRICED, Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, on Friday.

According to the group, the allocation appears within the Service Wide Votes in the revised 2026 budget and represents about 15.48 per cent of the total election budget.

CHRICED expressed concern over what it described as a lack of transparency surrounding the decision, noting that the purpose and management of the funds were not clearly explained.

“This development raises urgent questions about Nigeria’s electoral direction and the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and credible democratic processes,” the group said.

It further argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) already has legal departments across the country, making such a large litigation fund unnecessary.

“The sudden appearance of this budget line raises serious red flags about transparency and intent,” CHRICED stated.

The group also warned that the allocation sends a negative message about the country’s electoral system.

“Budgeting such a huge amount for election disputes suggests an expectation of electoral failure rather than a commitment to preventing it,” it said.

CHRICED questioned whether the government was indirectly preparing for post-election legal battles instead of strengthening the electoral process to reduce disputes. The organisation also cautioned that the development could weaken public trust in democracy at a time when many Nigerians are already facing economic hardship. It noted that funds of such magnitude could be better used to improve voter education, electoral logistics, technology systems and staff training to reduce election disputes.

CHRICED added that the same resources could also support key sectors such as health, education, agriculture and security if properly redirected. It therefore called on the federal government to explain the rationale behind the allocation and ensure full transparency in its use.

It also urged authorities to prioritise electoral reforms that prevent disputes rather than spending heavily on resolving them after elections: “Nigeria cannot continue to institutionalise electoral dysfunction or normalise budgeting for its consequences. The integrity of elections must be protected at the source, not negotiated in court after the fact. The time has come to restore credibility, rebuild trust, and ensure that democracy truly reflects the will of the Nigerian people.”

FG’s N135bn election litigation budget ahead of 2027 poll faulted