Four Delta environmental marshals arrested for extortion of residents

The authorities of the Delta State Environmental Taskforce have arrested four environmental marshals involved in illegal night extortion of residents of Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were apprehended on Friday along Summit Road in Asaba, the state capital.

The task force team, led by Chief Agbari, recognised the marshals engaging in unauthorised activities and contacted Comrade Adim Dikedi, the Supervisory Officer on Environment for Oshimili South, for clarification regarding the marshals’ actions.

Upon receiving the call, Supervisor Dikedi ordered the immediate detention of the four officers at a police station until he could address the matter personally.

It was revealed that one of the apprehended marshals was impersonating the current Supervisor on Environment, prompting further concern about corruption within the ranks.

Dikedi emphasised his agency’s commitment to eradicating corruption among environmental marshals.

He expressed that any form of misconduct would not be tolerated and reaffirmed a directive issued in January, prohibiting marshals from operating beyond 4:00 pm.

He said the incident underscored the challenges of overseeing environmental enforcement and the need for accountability within such an agency.

Dikedi said ensuring transparency and integrity among environmental officers is crucial for maintaining public trust, especially when allegations of extortion are involved.

Supervisor Dikedi expressed commitment to a stricter policy, indicating a proactive approach to preventing similar incidents in the future, reinforcing operational guidelines for environmental personnel.

He stressed that the incident had raised awareness about the importance of ethical conduct in governance and the effective management of environmental resources.

Dikedi noted the popular Ogbegonogo Central Market in Asaba is the only market, he officially authorised environmental marshals to operate in the evenings to assist in the decongestion of the traffic jam always occurring there.

He warned that henceforth any Oshimili South environmental marshal caught operating at odd hours should be arrested with immediate effect and taken to the nearest police station.

Senior lawyer, magistrate, others suggest ways to enhance criminal justice system

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, and other criminal justice sector stakeholders have suggested ways to enhance the effectiveness of the system in the country.

They stressed the importance of continuous reforms and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders as a measure to ensure improved service delivery within the criminal justice system.

Akinseye-George, who is the President of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), and the other stakeholders spoke in Abuja at a capacity building workshop on the emerging trends in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJA/ACJL).

The event, attended by senior officials from relevant criminal justice sector agencies, was organised by the CSLS, in partnership with the Rule is Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme.

Among the other stakeholders who spoke were Mrs. Idayat Akanni (Director of Magistrates at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT); Mrs. Muinat Adeleye (Deputy Director, Prosecution and Legal Services at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA), and Abdullahi Danjuma, a senior official with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

Akinseye-George noted that since the ACJA came into existence about 10 years ago, the criminal justice system has witnessed some positive trends, which are reflected in the enthusiasm exhibited by key stakeholders.

He added that the leadership of the criminal justice sector, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Supreme Court, ‘has demonstrated a very positive attitude towards the implementation of these laws.’

Akinseye-George, however, expressed concern about emerging negative trends, which he said were beginning to work against the objectives of the laws.

He said, apart from the fact that the AGF has constituted a National Working Group to oversee the implementation of the ACJA/ACJLs, he also recently conducted a stakeholders’ forum to review the ACJA amendment bill 2023.

Akinseye-George disclosed that ‘efforts are currently being made to finalise the final draft of that amendment bill.

‘We have been assured that once works are completed on the bill, it will be forwarded to the National Assembly within the next few days.

‘We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, to promptly set in motion the legislative processes required for the passage of the improved ACJA,’ he said.

Akinseye-George said the negative trends noticed in the implementation of the laws are associated with identified important gaps which are inherent in, among others, the existing weak pre-trial case management system.

Akinseye-George added, ‘It is because of the weakness of the pre-trial case management system that many of our courts have continued to adjourn criminal cases for more than 14 days, which is the minimum standard provided for in the ACJA.’

He noted that although the current position of the law is that no court has the power to grant a stay of proceedings in criminal cases in the country, some judges were still doing so and also deploying the trial-within-trial procedure to delay proceedings.

Akinseye-George urged the trial courts (both Magistrates and the High Courts) to do away with the practice where applications for objection to the admissibility of confessional statements lead to a prolonged trial-within-trial that often results in delay in the actual trial.

He added, ‘We appeal to our courts to adopt the new approach, which allows the prosecution to front-load its evidence in support of the voluntariness of the confessional statements.

‘And when the prosecution’s evidence is front-loaded, the defence is given the opportunity, when presenting its case, to also present counter-evidence to support its position that the statements were not made voluntarily.

‘There is no need to conduct a separate trial from the main trial, just because of the disagreement about the voluntariness or otherwise of the said confessional statements.

‘The judge can simply resolve this issue while reviewing the entire case at judgment to determine, from available evidence, whether or not the statements were made voluntarily and decide whether or not to rely on such confessional statements,’ he said.

Akanni stressed the need to continue to reform the criminal justice system and the applicable laws to ensure their continuous relevance.

She said, ‘We are living in a rapidly evolving society, a society shaped by technological advances, shifting social norms, rising demands for transparency, and an increasingly informed public that seeks justice not just as a concept, but as a lived reality.

‘In such a dynamic context, the laws that guide our justice system must not stand still. For when laws fail to adapt, they risk becoming tools of delay, and in time, instruments of denial.

‘Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads, where tradition must engage innovation, and where the legal system must continue to balance the scales of justice with both wisdom and foresight,’ Mrs. Akanni said.

Danjuma stressed the need for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to address existing challenges in the system to ensure effectiveness.

He also called for improved adoption of the non-custodial option as a way of decongesting the various correctional centres.

Uti Nwachukwu reacts to BBNAIJA’s Faith’s disqualification

Media personality Uti Nwachukwu has weighed in on the altercation that led to the disqualification of Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate Faith.

According to Uti, both parties could have handled the situation better.

He argued that it’s narcissistic to label the person who triggered the conflict as a victim and the one who reacted as an abuser.

In his view, both the trigger and the reaction are equally significant, and both individuals share responsibility for the escalation.

Uti emphasised the importance of learning to respond appropriately in such situations, particularly for young adults.

He noted that their 20s are a time for growth and learning, and encourages viewers to reflect on the situation and draw valuable lessons.

Uti clarified that his analysis is based on what he witnessed live, and he’s not taking sides but rather offering a nuanced perspective on the incident.

He wrote: ‘Saw this and ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS FAITH. In his own words – IT TAKES TWO. Could she have acted better – YES! Could he have handled it better – YES!

‘A TRIGGER is just as grave as a REACTION. it is incredibly Narcissistic to label the one who triggered/created/fueled the situation a VICTIM and then Label the one who reacted (without hitting the other) – an Abuser.

‘However, the onus is on us to learn to respond appropriately. Las las we are all human and our 20s is for Adulthood learning.

‘This is not defending anyone. It’s analysing what we all watched live not internet clips. Learn the lessons and dead sentiments – this is 2025 , Let’s be guided.’

Erumusele named 268th Global Tech Hero

Erumusele Francis Onotole has been announced as the 268th Certified Global Tech Hero, a recognition that celebrates a career forged at the intersection of engineering, analytics, cybersecurity, and supply chain transformation.

This induction honours more than two decades of sustained professional excellence, a trajectory that began in the technical trenches of industry and matured into leadership that blends rigorous technical competence with pragmatic, outcome-driven innovation.

From his early roles in technical stores and inventory management to strategic responsibilities in import planning, logistics, and operations analysis, he has repeatedly turned complex operational challenges into measurable business advantages, improving supply continuity, reducing variability, and strengthening organizational resilience.

Across a career that began with a highly competitive appointment at a leading manufacturing concern, his progression through roles of increasing responsibility demonstrates a sustained focus on outcomes. He has applied Lean Six Sigma principles and data-driven process improvement to tighten inventory control, optimize import planning, and enhance logistics planning, delivering improvements in service reliability and cost efficiency.

His work has emphasized predictive analytics and real-time operational visibility, approaches that have materially reduced risk exposure and lead-time uncertainty in environments where supply reliability is critical. Importantly, he has consistently woven cybersecurity and forensic technology considerations into operational design, recognizing that modern supply chains are cyber-physical systems requiring integrated defenses and forensic readiness.

Beyond role-based impact, he has contributed to the body of professional knowledge through scholarly publications addressing supply chain innovation, artificial intelligence, blockchain, predictive analytics, and cybersecurity. These contributions signal a practitioner who does not merely apply existing techniques but helps refine and disseminate them, advancing practice across industry and academia.

External recognition for his leadership and innovation, including honours from legislative and academic institutions, evidences a wider influence that extends beyond immediate organizational metrics into community and thought leadership.

A defining element of his nomination for Global Tech Hero status is the creation of ChainNovaS?, a next-generation decision-making model and AI-powered toolkit designed to build supply chain resilience in an age of systemic shocks. ChainNovaS? reframes resilience by integrating predictive scenario modeling, end-to-end visibility, sequential contingency playbooks, sustainability measurement, and human-centered coaching into a single, adoptable framework.

By combining predictive resilience with transparent flow mapping, adaptive playbooks, sustainability tracking, and team alignment practices, the toolkit helps organizations anticipate disruption, maintain operational continuity, and balance resilience with competitive cost structures. The practical orientation of ChainNovaS?, designed for ease of adoption and measurable outcomes, epitomizes the sort of applied innovation of solutions that are proven frameworks that can be operationalised across sectors.

‘Erumusele’s work is a reminder that effective technological leadership is never just about devices or code; it is about building systems that protect people, secure value, and ensure continuity under pressure. His ChainNova TM framework delivers a rare combination of analytical rigor and human-centred design, equipping organisations to anticipate disruption and act decisively. This kind of practical, scalable innovation is precisely what we celebrate,’ said the founder of The Connected Awards, reflecting on the significance of this induction.

This induction recognises an individual whose career exemplifies disciplined interdisciplinary thinking, measurable operational impact, and the ambition to translate insight into scalable practice. As the 268th Certified Global Tech Hero, Erumusele Francis Onotole joins a lineage of practitioners honoured not only for exceptional personal achievement but for demonstrable contributions to the resilience and advancement of the global technological ecosystem.

BBNaija Winners: Katung to Kellyrae, who will claim Season 10’s crown?

The Big Brother Naija Season 10 finale is set to take place on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

After a nail-biting evictions show in Lagos, the top nine finalists have been confirmed following Faith’s disqualification on Thursday evening.

They include Kola, Imisi, Isabella, Sultana, Jason Jae, Mensan, Koyin, Kaybobo and Dede.

These finalists will compete for the coveted title of champion, with the winner joining the esteemed list of BBNaija stars that began with Katung Aduwak in 2006 and most recently saw Kellyrae take the crown in 2024.

The grand finale promises to be an electrifying conclusion to the season, with alliances tested and strategies exhausted.

Host Ebuka Obi Uchendu bid farewell to Mide, Zita, and Rooboy, who were evicted during the last live show.

Now, all eyes are on the remaining contestants as they vie for the top prize.

Katung Aduwak, Season 1 (2006)

Michael Efe Ejeba, Season 2 (2017)

Miracle Igbokwe, Season 3 (2018)

Mercy Eke, Season 4 (2019)

Olamilekan ‘Laycon’ Agbeleshe, Season 5 (2020)

Hazel ‘Whitemoney’ Onou, Season 6 (2021)

Ijeoma ‘Phyna’ Otabor, Season 7 (2022)

Ilebaye Odiniya, Season 8 All Stars (2023)

Kingsley ‘Kellyrae’ Sule, Season 9 (2024)

As Season 10 draws to a close, the big question remains: who among the top nine finalists will step into the spotlight and join this list of winners.

Woman found dead near River in Niger

An unidentified elderly woman was found dead by the river close to Agaie Water Board, the headquarters of Agaie LGA of Niger State.

Residents, including the staff of the social welfare department of Agaie LGA, said the lifeless body was discovered on Tuesday morning, but no one could identify the deceased.

One of the residents, Bala Umaru, said the remains were buried according to Islamic rites on Wednesday by the Agaie LGA Welfare department after efforts to identify her family proved unsuccessful.

NIGERIA DAILY: How AI-Generated Images Are Reshaping The Future Of Photography

Nano Banana AI, the image model behind Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, is gaining massive attention in Nigeria, allowing people to generate realistic portraits with just a simple prompt.

This trend is reshaping photography culture, as many Nigerians now prefer AI images for birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, leaving studio owners who invested millions worried about low patronage.

The big question remains: is Nano Banana AI a revolution or a threat to the future of photography in Nigeria?

Join us in this episode of Nigeria Daily to find out?

2Baba debunks London arrest rumours, alleged dispute with Natasha

Music icon 2Baba has debunked reports of his arrest in London following an alleged altercation with wife, Natasha Osawaru.

In a video shared online, he explained that his absence from a scheduled UK tour performance on October 2, 2025, was due to a medical emergency, not a domestic dispute.

He expressed gratitude to fans who attended the event despite the circumstances.

The singer assured that he would regroup and make something beautiful happen.

According to him: ‘First of all, I want to say everyone that came out, I appreciate you. We had a medical emergency, it was tough. To the organizers and everyone that came out, we go regroup and make something beautiful happen’.

Frustrated by the baseless allegations, 2Baba implored people to verify facts before sharing them publicly, saying, ‘If una no sabi something, make una no talk abeg. This allegedly, I don tire’.

25 years after the Ejigbo C-130H tragedy: Families’ reflection, resilience

On September 26, 25 years ago, Nigeria was shaken by one of the deadliest air disasters in its military history. A C-130H Hercules aircraft, carrying about 158 officers from various arms of the Armed Forces, took off from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Within three minutes, the plane crashed into the swamps of Ejigbo, Lagos, ending all lives on board.

For the families left behind, the tragedy was more than a headline. It was a moment when time stood still. One of the families recalls the day vividly: ‘When the news broke on the 9 o’clock Network News, our home fell into sudden silence. Those who understood cried out in anguish. The grief was so heavy it spread like fire, leaving us overwhelmed and broken. At first, we were sad because our mother was sad. But soon, we realised why – the last time we saw our father was the last time we would ever see him again.’

In the days that followed, sympathisers poured into homes across Nigeria. Some sat in silence, offering comfort through presence. Others shared words of encouragement. And there were those whose cries were louder than the bereaved themselves. Eventually, burials were held, sympathisers dispersed, and families were left to face the harsh realities of life without their loved ones.

A quarter of a century later, survivors and families of the fallen reflect not only on their loss but also on their resilience. ‘Grief and sorrow did not win,’ one family member says. ‘We learned to laugh again because we had cried too deeply. We learned to value abundance because we once knew want. We learned to treasure life because we had felt the sting of death.’

The tragedy left scars, but it also forged strength. Many acknowledge that grief has a way of blinding people to the blessings they still possess. Yet, through faith and resilience, families of the fallen officers overcame despair.

Remembering the Fallen The Ejigbo crash remains a national tragedy – not just for the Nigerian Armed Forces but for the nation as a whole. Husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and friends were lost, leaving behind grieving wives, children, parents, and siblings. ‘In the end, we found victory over grief,’ the family reflects. ‘We lost earthly fathers, but we discovered the presence of a higher Father – ever-sufficient, ever-victorious. RIP Dad, we miss you always.’ As the nation remembers, the story of the Ejigbo crash is not only one of sorrow but also one of resilience, faith, and the power to rise above grief.

Amidst low turnout, vendors express mixed feelings at Abuja’s 20th trade fair

For the past 20 years, residents of Abuja have had the opportunity to patronize businesses from across the country and the world through the Abuja International Trade Fair (AITR).

The fair has been an avenue to purchase a variety of products at a cheaper price as well as expose businesses to potential customers from outside of their base.

Even though the economic downturn in the country has affected the purchasing powers of Nigerians, this has not discouraged many residents to buy and feast their eyes with many products on display in open stalls at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, where the fair often takes place.

From big brands like Dangote to petty traders hawking sachet water, the fair has been a colosseum for entertainment and trade.

A boisterous atmosphere greeted our reporter who visited the fair ground as local music blaring from huge speakers to attract customers filled the air.

To attract more visitors, the organisers made entry to be free against previous years of paying entrance fee.

Vendors were provided with the option of open and indoor stalls to display their wares with products like local perfumes, Adire, kitchen wares, solar devices, dairy products, cosmetics among a host of other products available for purchase.

Government agencies were not left out as their stalls were prominent for visitors to enquire about their services.

Also, states like Plateau and Nasarawa had space to advertise products peculiar to their domain. Nasarawa had its ‘Day’ yesterday and a cultural troupe performed local dances to endear visitors.

Residents also used the holiday to bring their children to the venue with many seen escorting their parents with excitement glaring on their faces.

The high commission of Ghana was also allocated a stall where fabrics and other adornments worn in Ghana sold.

Vendors seek more publicity

Sally Ameh, who sells hair products from the stall, said it would be her first visit to Nigeria to sell her products at the fair.

Sally, while stating that that patronage at the fair is not forthcoming, was optimistic that sales would pick up before the end of the fair on October 6.

‘It is my first time in Nigeria and I am still looking around to understand the system. I will be willing to come back next year.’

She added that the organisers need to do more on the visibility of the fair for more people to get aware of it, saying ‘what they did for me is not enough as I expected people would be trooping in to buy our products.’

Another Ghanaian, Mary Otoo, recalled that the Abuja trade fair used to be booming unlike recent years where few people visit to purchase goods.

Mary, who said she has had over 10 years’ experience bringing fabrics to be sold in the fair although, few people are coming to the fair, she is expecting larger patronage at the last minute.

‘People believe that when they come on the last day, they will get cheap things to buy but now it is not going to be all that cheap because of the exchange rate, still we have unique things here that will be relatively cheap but the truth is that it is not booming like before.’

She urged the organisers to bring down the price of the stalls as they are expensive, adding that more publicity needs to be done as a lot of people do not know the fair is going on.

‘They should do more advertising for people to know we are around. This time around they tried as they are not collecting entrance fees which is also very good.’

Samuel Ayew said sales have been picking up since the slow start of the fair.

‘Today we expect a lot of people due to the independence holiday. It has been a wonderful experience and the organisers have done a good job and I think there is room for improvement. What I feel they can do is to make sure the first day things pick up faster than they usually do as most times, on the first day people are still constructing their space.’

Also, Joseph Terry who came from Lagos and operates Sunny Kitchen Made in Japan, also confirmed that sales are a bit slow, attributing it to the situation of the country. He said the company has been using advertisements through TV stations and social media to make its customers in Abuja know they are in the fair.

He also urged the organisers to do more advertising because a lot of people don’t know that the trade fair is ongoing.

‘Also, they should cut down the prices of stands because we understand that this land was given to them for free. The rate we are paying is expensive, for instance, 72 square meters costs close to N2m so our advice is for them to look into the price.’ He lauded the initiative for free entrance, stating it has been encouraging for customers to come free and buy.

On whether the kitchen wares he is selling are cheaper, he said there is a 30 per cent discount on them as the purpose of the trade fair is to sell at lower price.

A food vendor, Tolu Williams, said she chose to participate in the trade fair because it brings together different people and goods.

‘If you walk around, you will see different companies that bring a variety of different businesses into one place where you can view. It also serves as a place to make long term connections as your products are exposed to people you might not meet on a regular basis.’

Okechuwu Christian, who sells solar powered devices, however said he has experienced large sales since the fair started.

While disclosing that he has participated in the fair for over six years, he praised the organisers for fixing the event at the month where visitors still have their salary to purchase goods for their families.

Eme Paul, a civil servant who came to the fair with her family, said it provided her the time to have fun and explore the products available.

‘My excitement about the trade fair is that it gives us an opportunity to encourage locally made products. So, I came here to patronize Nigerian made products and create jobs for Nigerians. Also, people can negotiate great deals and it is a great way to stimulate economic activities.’

On his part, Chris Akamiran said he used the opportunity of the holiday to see if he could get some products he needed.

He said the fair is a good initiative to bring hard to reach products nearer, he, however, said the high cost of living is bringing it to a halt with fewer vendors in the fair.