Abia Court Sentence Only Son to Death by Hanging For Allegedly Stealing Phone in Igbere

—Father Alleges Son Was Framed Over Land Dispute, Appeals to Governor Otti

A High Court sitting in the Igbere Judicial Division of Abia State in 2020 sentenced Mr. Obadiah Mbaonu, the only son of his parents, to death by hanging over allegations of armed robbery involving ‘mobile phones’

The judgment was delivered by Justice Agwu Umah Kalu, who found the defendant guilty.

Speaking recently, the convict’s father, Mr. Mbaonu O. Mbaonu of Ibinaukwu, Igbere, Bende Local Government Area, appealed to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, to intervene, insisting that his only son was wrongly convicted and framed due to a longstanding land dispute.

“My son is Innocent, he was framed up”

Court documents obtained by Promise Uzoma Okoro show that the case, Charge No. HIG/1C/2017, originated from the arrest of Mr. Mbaonu in January 1, 2017, when he was about 20 years old, and his subsequent arraignment .

The prosecution alleged that on January 1, 2017, at Igbere, the defendant, while allegedly armed with a gun, robbed Engineer Kalu I. Kalu of a Nokia Lumia phone valued at ₦120,000 and a Huawei MT7-TL10 phone valued at $600. He pleaded not guilty to the charge on October 12, 2017.

During the trial, the prosecution called five witnesses and tendered four exhibits, including a Huawei phone allegedly recovered from the defendant,

In his 2020 judgment, Justice Kalu held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and pronounced the mandatory sentence, stating:

“I wish I had the powers to pronounce another sentence on the convict other than death… The sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”

Following the judgment, Mr. Mbaonu was transferred from Afara Correctional Centre, Umuahia, to Enugu Correctional Facility. His family alleges that the case file has remained missing since the transfer.

Five years after the judgment, the father continues to seek justice, appealing to Governor Alex Otti to review the case using his constitutional powers, insisting that the conviction was the product of a personal vendetta arising from a land dispute.

JUST IN: 11 Evacuated After Flybird Jet Mishap in Kano

A private jet operated by Flybird on Sunday crash-landed at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

The aircraft, which was coming from Abuja, reportedly crash-landed at about 9:30 a.m. with 11 persons on board, including three crew members.

An eyewitness told newsmen that all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from airport authorities on the incident.

Details later.

BREAKING: Yesterday night around 10PM, armed men struck Rijiyar Tsamiya in Sandamu LGA, Katsina State, firing gunshots and looting shops money & phones. The incident is it first of it kind in Daura Emirate in the whole 2025.

Is this evidence of a broader escalation that demands urgent security recalibration?

HORRIFIC: Graphic footage shows victims lying on the beach during today’s terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

Breaking: Two G¥nmen Open F+re at Bondi Chanukkah Event, 10 D+ad in Mass Sho%ting In Australia

A mass sho%ting at a Chanukkah event on Bondi Beach has left 10 people d+ad, including children and a police officer, after two g¥nmen opened fire in what police believe was a planned, targeted att@ck on the Jewish community.

One g¥nman was sh%t d+ad at the scene, while the other was wounded and taken into custody, receiving medical attention. Authorities are continuing to search the area for possible explosives following an unconfirmed report of a device placed under a pedestrian bridge.

Police have described the att@ck as meticulously planned, raising concerns about the safety of public events. Emergency services remain on high alert as investigations continue.

BREAKING NEWS: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a substantial increase in the Code of Conduct Bureau’s (CCB) budget, raising it from about N3 billion to nearly N20 billion.

The announcement was made by the CCB Chairman, Dr Abubakar Bello, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today in Abuja.

Private Jet Crash-Lands At Kano Airport

Passengers reportedly endured tense moments before being safely evacuated from the jet. No injuries or fatalities were immediately recorded.

A private jet operated by Flybird Airlines crash-landed at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Sunday morning, triggering panic among passengers and airport users.

The aircraft, which flew in from Abuja, was carrying 11 people, including three crew members, when it encountered difficulties and made an emergency landing at about 9:30 a.m., according to reports.

Passengers reportedly endured tense moments before being safely evacuated from the jet. No injuries or fatalities were immediately recorded.

Airport authorities swiftly secured the scene as emergency response teams were deployed to ensure the safety of all passengers and personnel, while investigations into the incident commenced.

I’ve Been Approached by Presidency, Lawmakers to Join APC but I Won’t Defect — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Reveals

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has revealed that she has faced repeated pressure from individuals within the Presidency and her colleagues in the National Assembly to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking during an interview, the senator said she has firmly rejected the overtures, insisting she has no intention of returning to the APC. She also recounted gender-based challenges and intimidation she has faced in politics, urging women to remain resilient and undeterred in pursuing public office.

“Armed Robbery in Uniform”: Borno Ginger Farmer Accuses Police, NSCDC of Illegal Detention and Extortion Over ₦8.9 Million Sale Dispute

A ginger farmer and trader, Babangida Aliyu Kafanchan, has accused officers of the Borno State Police Crack Squad and a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer of unlawful detention, intimidation, and extortion following a commercial dispute over the sale of ginger worth ₦8.9 million. Babangida alleged he was detained for 11 days, threatened, denied access to his phone, and coerced into refunding money despite delivering the goods, which were allegedly resold by the buyer. He further claimed that ₦3 million was collected from his relatives without his consent and that police officers extorted an additional ₦600,000, describing the incident as “armed robbery in uniform.” He has called for an independent investigation into the alleged abuse of power.

Nigeria Arrests Notorious Drug Supplier Linked to Banditry in Niger State as NDLEA Seizes Over 470kg of Cannabis in Nationwide Crackdown

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug supplier, Mohammed Sani, also known as Gamboli, accused of supplying illicit drugs to armed bandits terrorising communities in Niger State. The 33-year-old suspect was apprehended in Shiroro Local Government Area after weeks of intelligence-led surveillance, weeks after evading an earlier raid where officers recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk. The arrest formed part of a sweeping nationwide operation that led to multiple drug seizures and arrests across several states, highlighting NDLEA’s intensified efforts to cut off drug supplies fueling terrorism and banditry in Nigeria

“I Relocated to My Village in Mangu With My Children, But Bandits Keep Calling and Threatening Me” — Plateau Widow Cries Out Over Insecurity

A widow in Plateau State, identified as Nanbam, has raised alarm over continued threats from bandits despite relocating with her children to her village in Mangu after her husband was killed in Mushere community. She revealed that the attackers have persistently called and intimidated her, causing fear for her family’s safety. Although she changed her SIM card on relatives’ advice, the threats resumed, leaving her psychologically distressed and struggling to care for her children. Her ordeal highlights the growing insecurity and emotional toll faced by victims of banditry in Plateau State.

Terror Attack at Bondi Beach During Hanukkah Celebration in Sydney Leaves Multiple Injured, Police Make Arrests

A Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, turned chaotic as gunmen opened fire on the crowd, leaving multiple people injured and some feared dead. Police confirmed that two suspects are in custody, while the operation to secure the area continues. Social media footage shows a bystander confronting and disarming one of the attackers. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area. The attack has sent shockwaves through the city, occurring during the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

UK Conservatives Pledge to Scrap Petrol and Diesel Car Ban If Returned to Power, Warn of Industrial Risk

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, announced that a future Conservative government would cancel the planned ban on petrol and diesel vehicles, calling the policy “economic self-harm.” The ban, scheduled for 2030, requires all new UK cars to be electric or hybrid to meet net zero targets by 2050. Badenoch warned the mandate risks weakening domestic car manufacturing while benefiting foreign competitors, particularly China. She emphasized a transition based on affordability, practicality, and technological progress, rather than rigid deadlines. The Labour government continues to support EV adoption through grants and proposed mileage-based charges.

Breaking: Armed Bandits Kidnap Man in Okunran as Insecurity Surges Across Kogi State Communities

Residents of Okunran in Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State, were thrown into panic on December 13, 2025, when armed bandits stormed the community and abducted a Hausa man. This incident highlights a rising trend of kidnappings and attacks in Yagba East and West, including recent abductions from farms and religious institutions, where victims faced ransom demands. Locals are appealing for urgent security reinforcement as repeated raids continue to threaten safety and heighten tension in the region.

Two Killed, Nine Injured in Shooting at Brown University Ivy League Campus; Police Launch Massive Manhunt for Suspect

A lone gunman opened fire inside the Barus & Holley engineering building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two students and injuring nine others during exams. Over 400 law enforcement officers, including the FBI and ATF, were deployed in a massive manhunt as the suspect, described as a masked male in his 30s wearing black, remains at large. Authorities ordered a lockdown and shelter-in-place, while hospitals treated seven of the injured in critical condition. The motive remains under investigation, and city security has been heightened as police comb through surveillance footage.

SERAP Urges Tinubu, AGF Fagbemi to Publish Names of Officials Indicted in N6 Trillion NDDC Scandal, Calls for Immediate Enforcement of Court Judgment

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded that President Bola Tinubu and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi comply with a Federal High Court ruling to publicly release the names of individuals implicated in the alleged misappropriation of N6 trillion meant for 13,777 NDDC projects between 2000 and 2019. SERAP highlighted that the delay undermines Nigeria’s Constitution, the rule of law, and international transparency obligations, warning that non-compliance could lead to contempt proceedings. The organization emphasized that enforcing the judgment would restore public trust and reinforce accountability in the management of Nigeria’s resources.

IPOB Celebrates ESN at Five, Hails Group for Defending Biafraland and Securing Southeast Forests

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has marked the fifth anniversary of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), praising the group for defending rural communities and reducing attacks across Nigeria’s South-East. IPOB said ESN was formed in 2020 to fill a security vacuum and has remained resilient despite military pressure and losses.

Controversy as Kwara Government Includes SUBEB Chairman’s Wife in Singapore Debate Delegation

The Kwara State Government is facing criticism after the wife of the KWASUBEB chairman was included in an official delegation to Singapore for the 2025 Asia Parliamentary International Debate Competition. While the PDP alleges nepotism and abuse of office, the state government insists her participation was based on professional expertise and was not funded by public resources, sparking broader debates on ethics and transparency in public service.

Influencer ‘Senator JP’ Accuses Nsukka LG CSO Of Leading Brutal Attack Over Criticism Of Council Chairman

A Nigerian social media influencer, Chijinkem Ugwuanyi (Senator JP), has alleged that operatives of the Nsukka Local Government neighbourhood watch, led by the council’s Chief Security Officer, brutally attacked and stabbed him in broad daylight at a fuel station in Enugu State. He claims the assault was in retaliation for his online criticism of the Nsukka LGA chairman and is demanding accountability from authorities.

BREAKING NEWS: Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has directed that an autopsy be carried out on his late deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to medically determine the cause of his d€ath.