In a village in Mbano, Imo State, a woman named Sani Shukurat Oluwatosin bravely speaks out against a harmful and outdated cultural practice that has plagued her community for generations. The practice in question is female genital mutilation, a tradition that every female child in the village is forced to undergo.

Tragically, Sani’s first child, Bimbo, fell victim to this brutal practice and lost her life due to the unbearable pain and trauma inflicted upon her. Witnessing the devastating impact it had on her beloved daughter, Sani is determined to protect her second child, Aminat, from the same fate.

Driven by a mother’s love and a fierce desire to safeguard her child’s well-being, Sani is now seeking asylum abroad. Her goal is to escape the confines of this harmful tradition and provide a safe and secure future for Aminat, free from the shadows of the past that haunt her village.

Mother, son, docked for allegedly stealing patient’s phone at UCH

A 41-year-old mother, Mrs Oluwalani Akintola, and her son, Mofeoluwa Olutayo, 23, on Monday, appeared before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing a patient’s phone.

The duo, whose addresses were not provided, are being tried for alleged charges of conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on April 25, at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Amusan told the court that Olutayo allegedly stole a Samsung Galaxy phone, worth N65,000 and belonging to a patient, Mr Rasaki Adejumo.

According to the prosecutor, Olutayo allegedly gave the stolen phone to his mother, Akintola, who works at the UCH as a contract staff.

Amusan alleged that Olutayo had stolen the patient’s phone while pretending to be one of her relations.

He told the court that the people around, however, sighted Olutayo committing the alleged theft without his knowing.

Amusan said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Court’s President, Mrs Moji Aworemi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each and one surety each in like sum.

She thereafter adjourned the case until for hearing.

By Adeyanju Esther

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has made significant strides in its fight against drug trafficking with the recent conviction of two notorious drug kingpins, and the apprehension of several individuals involved in drug-related activities across Nigeria.

The journey towards justice began with the arrest of Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian, a 43-year-old businessman, in March 2022. Uwaezuoke was intercepted at the Abuja International Airport with 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms.

Despite being granted bail after pleading not guilty, he absconded, only to be rearrested in August 2023 at the Lagos International Airport under a different identity.

Uwaezuoke attempted to export 1.822 kilograms of cocaine to India. Upon conviction on October 18, 2023, he paid a fine of N1,500,000.00 but was subsequently transferred to Abuja to face charges for the initial offence. Despite pleading guilty, Uwaezuoke was sentenced to life imprisonment on March 20, 2024, for his involvement in the international cocaine trade.

Agbo Chidike Prince, aged 42, faced a similar fate. Arrested in October 2023 at the Abuja International Airport with 49 wraps of cocaine weighing 998.73 grams, Prince pleaded guilty to the charges. Despite the plea for leniency, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on April 15, 2024, underscoring the severity of drug-related offences.

In a separate incident, NDLEA officers apprehended Yahaya Danjuma Oturah at the Lagos airport on April 26, 2024, attempting to smuggle 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg to Italy. Oturah confessed to being hired as a courier for a fee of 700 Euros, highlighting the pervasive nature of drug trafficking networks.

Meanwhile, in Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives arrested 28-year-old Jennifer Iliya for producing and distributing cannabis-laced cakes. With 1.5 kilograms of the drugged cakes recovered, the arrest underscores the agency’s commitment to tackling drug-related activities at every level.

Additionally, NDLEA operations across Nigeria led to the arrest of individuals involved in the distribution and possession of illicit substances. Notable seizures included pentazocine injection and cannabis in Kaduna and Adamawa states, as well as significant cannabis seizures in Lagos, Kano, and Edo states.

These operations signify the NDLEA’s unwavering dedication to combatting drug trafficking and abuse, safeguarding communities, and upholding the rule of law in Nigeria.