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Nine miners have died after a mining pit at Zurfi Mining Company in Nahuta Village, Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, was flooded following heavy rainfall.

The incident reportedly occurred at Pit Three of the mining site on September 25, 2026, while contract miners were working underground.

The Bauchi Police Command spokesman, SP Nafiu Habib, confirmed the incident, saying the miners were trapped when water from the heavy downpour entered the pit.

Habib said one of the victims, identified as Abner, was electrocuted during the incident and taken to General Hospital, Kashere, in Akko Local Government Area of neighbouring Gombe State, where he was pronounced dead.

He said the Divisional Police Officer in Alkaleri led a team of detectives to the site, where they deployed three water-pumping generators to drain the flooded pit and support the rescue operation.

According to him, eight other miners were later brought out of the pit and rushed to the same hospital, but they were all pronounced dead by doctors.

The deceased were identified as Hamidu Ali, 40; Saidu Abubakar, 29; Olije Abdulrazak, 25; Musa Abdullahi, 29; Abdulrahman Mu’azu, 23; Jafar Abbas, 24; Jose Ukese, 28; and Haruna Alkali, 30.

The victims were from Nasarawa, Kogi, Bauchi and Kebbi states.

Habib said the bodies were released to their relatives after post-mortem examinations for burial according to Islamic and Christian rites.

He added that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident was ongoing.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law a fresh amendment extending implementation of the 2025 federal budget to December 31, 2026, giving Ministries, Departments and Agencies another three months to complete ongoing capital projects.

The President assented to the Appropriation (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill, 2025, following its passage by the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 29.

The latest amendment shifts the expiration of the 2025 budget from September 30 to December 31, effectively allowing implementation to continue until the end of the current calendar year.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the presidential assent in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the Presidency, the extension is intended to prevent disruption to critical projects and programmes for which funds had already been appropriated.

It said the additional implementation period would give federal MDAs sufficient time to complete ongoing capital projects and ensure that appropriated funds are fully deployed for their intended purposes.

‘The extension gives Ministries, Departments and Agencies more time to complete ongoing capital projects. It ensures that funds already appropriated are fully put to work for Nigerians, without disrupting critical programmes,’ the statement said.

The extension is the latest adjustment to the lifespan of the 2025 appropriation, whose implementation has continued alongside the 2026 fiscal framework.

Earlier in April, Tinubu signed legislation extending implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, with the Presidency saying at the time that the measure was designed to enable MDAs consolidate ongoing works and improve project completion rates.

The Federal Government has maintained that extensions to appropriation laws are backed by legislative authorisation and are intended to ensure the effective utilisation of funds already approved for projects and programmes.

Tinubu also commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what the Presidency described as their prompt consideration and passage of the amendment.

He said the speedy legislative action reflected continued cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature in addressing national priorities.

The National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, has said Nigeria does not need too many seaports, but should instead focus on developing an efficient deep seaport capable of handling the country’s cargo and transshipment business.

Amiwero said the proliferation of seaports without adequate infrastructure and cargo destinations was contributing to inefficiencies in the nation’s maritime sector.

He spoke during the unveiling of his achievement nomenclature on interventions in various national economic issues, organised to mark his 73rd birthday in Lagos.

The customs agents’ leader called for the establishment of a committee of maritime experts to review the country’s entire port system, including the Lagos Port Complex, Tin Can Island Port, Lekki Deep Sea Port and Calabar Port.

He said the review was necessary to address the challenges confronting the ports and develop a system that would enable Nigeria compete effectively with other countries in the West and Central African sub-region.

‘There is need for us to really set up a committee to look at the whole thing Lekki Deep Sea Port, Apapa Port, Tin Can, Calabar Port so that we can redesign our port system,’ he said.

Amiwero said Nigeria was losing transit and transshipment cargo to neighbouring countries, including Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire.

He said the country had a large share of cargo within the West and Central African sub-region but was not benefiting adequately because of inefficiencies in its port system.

‘We have almost 78 per cent of the cargo within the West and Central African sub-region. Where are we benefiting? We have a lot of ports,’ he said.

Comparing Nigeria’s port system with that of Ghana, Amiwero said the West African country had fewer ports but was attracting cargo because of efficiency.

‘How many ports is Ghana having? Just one. The other one is fish port. Their throughput is higher than Nigeria because of efficiency,’ he said.

He argued that Nigeria should concentrate on developing one major deep seaport that could serve as a transshipment and load centre, rather than establishing several ports that lack the infrastructure and cargo to operate efficiently.

‘If you don’t build seaports, in a country like Nigeria, you only need one seaport. One deep seaport, which is a transshipment centre, a load centre, so that that seaport can now accommodate Nigerian goods,’ he said.

Amiwero also raised concerns about the infrastructure at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, particularly its rail connectivity and capacity to handle the largest container vessels.

He said Nigeria needed to engage professionals and maritime experts, rather than politicians, in addressing the challenges facing the port industry.

‘We must bring in experts, not politicians, to change the narrative of the port industry. Our port is suffering because of lack of procedures that are not properly enhanced,’ he said.

The NCMDLCA president also advocated increased transshipment activities at Nigerian ports, saying the country would benefit economically from attracting mother vessels.

He said the failure to attract such vessels meant Nigeria was losing the associated freight and other economic benefits to neighbouring countries.

‘Which of the countries benefits from the mother vessels? Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire,’ he said.

Amiwero further criticised what he described as political interference in port and customs operations, urging the government to ensure that the maritime sector was administered according to clear laws and professional standards.

He also called for clarity on port concession and lease arrangements, particularly where agreements had expired.

According to him, Nigeria must harmonise the activities of relevant stakeholders and develop a legally grounded framework for managing the country’s ports.

He said the concentration of cargo in Lagos was also linked to the location of major manufacturing companies and markets, arguing that simply developing ports in other parts of the country would not guarantee cargo unless there were industries and destinations to support them.

‘Lagos is the market. You have the manufacturing sectors here. Most of the companies you are talking about are here,’ he said.

Amiwero said his interventions in Nigeria’s economic affairs over the years were documented in the books unveiled at the event.

He said the publications covered issues involving importers, licensed customs agents, manufacturers, government agencies, finance, budget, transport, trade and investment, customs, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Shippers’ Council and maritime labour.

He added that his interventions over the years were extensive and could not be fully captured in a few publications.

Nigerian actress Nkechi Blessing and BBNaija winner Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, known as Phyna, are set to go head-to-head in the first female celebrity fight of Chaos in the Ring on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at The Balmoral, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

The four-round bout, which includes a rematch clause, is expected to attract a new audience to boxing, with the rivalry between the two entertainers adding further excitement to the event.

The feud between Phyna and Nkechi began after Nkechi publicly challenged Phyna on Instagram over a movie role and online conflicts.

At Tuesday’s face-off heralding the bout, Blessing and Phyna clashed in a fierce war of words, each vowing to completely dismantle the other in the ring.

Nkechi claimed Phyna disrespected someone close to her and promised to beat her up for being rude.

‘I am 100 per cent prepared for the fight. I will beat her with my first blow and she won’t stand a chance after that,’ Blessing said.

Phyna fired back, mocking Blessing’s age and promising a devastating second-round finish.

‘She is an old woman, and I will continue to disgrace her. I will beat her in round 2,’ Phyna responded.

Phyna also said she wants to pursue a career in boxing after the fight.

The event also featured a tense face-off between content creator Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, known as Carter Efe, and rapper Darlington Okoye, known as Speed Darlington.

Chaos in the Ring founder and Balmoral Group Promotions, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, stated: ‘This is our 5th event in the past year, themed the Independence Edition. It’s a real boxing match; expect a war in the ring.’

Meanwhile, Warri-born boxer Godday Appah has vowed to destroy Ghanaian fighter Seth ‘Freezy Macbones’ Gyimah as he aims to defend his WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship on Independence Day.

During the Face Off event on Tuesday, a confident Seth ‘Freezy’ declared: ‘It’s going to be ‘Freezy Time’ on the night. I will beat him (Appah) and punch him hard in the face. I am the face of African Boxing, and Appah must respect that.’

Appah, maintaining his composure, pledged to uphold Nigerian pride.

‘I’m not chasing clout; I’m fighting for our country. Freezy is my friend, but I will beat him and make Nigeria proud. The pressure isn’t on me; it’s on him.’

Other bouts on the professional card include Basit ‘Jokerboy’ Adebayo against Fatiu Jomoni, Eworitse ‘Ezra’ Arenyeka against Lekan ‘The Engine’ Muibi, Yusuf ‘Swaggu’ Adeniji against Tagoe, and Israel Makinde against Abiodun Muyideen.

SuperSport and DAZN will broadcast the event across Africa and worldwide, aiming to create a platform that blends sport, entertainment, and African culture.

Leading fintech company in Nigeria, Opay, in partnership with Google and the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, has announced the top 10 teams advancing to the next stage of its National Innovation Challenge, an initiative under the expanded OPay Scholars Programme.

The programme is among the company’s initiatives to empower young Nigerians with the skills, opportunities, and support needed to build solutions for real-world challenges.

OPay’s call for applications for the programme had attracted over 11,000 students and 2,200 teams, reflecting strong interest and a growing appetite among young Nigerians to develop innovative solutions to challenges across sectors. Following a rigorous selection process, 48 teams were shortlisted to participate in a six-week employability Webinar designed to strengthen their knowledge, build workplace-relevant skills, and prepare them for the next stage of the challenge.

At the end of the Webinar stage, 10 outstanding teams were carefully selected as the top teams of the National Innovation Challenge, which will advance to an intensive Boot Camp. At the Boot Camp, the teams will work with experienced mentors and industry professionals to further develop, test and refine their solutions ahead of the final stage of the challenge.

Speaking on the challenge, OPay’s CSR Manager, Itoro Udoh, said the programme is focused on creating practical pathways for young Nigerians to turn their ideas and skills into opportunities.

‘Beyond the challenge, our goal is to equip young Nigerians with practical skills, mentorship and pathways to opportunities that can create lasting impact,’ he said.

With a total prize pool of N18 million, the National Innovation Challenge goes beyond recognising innovative ideas. It provides participants with opportunities to gain practical experience, strengthen their solutions and engage with professionals within the innovation and technology ecosystem.

The initiative also creates opportunities beyond the competition. Students who score exceptionally well during the Webinar stage will be considered for the OPay Futures pipeline, providing access to potential three-month internship opportunities with OPay and other partner organisations.

Through the National Innovation Challenge, OPay is strengthening its commitment to supporting education, skills development, innovation and employability among young Nigerians.

As the top 10 teams advance to the Boot Camp, they move one step closer to transforming their ideas into solutions that can address real-world challenges and create a meaningful impact.

The Top 10 Teams of the OPay National Innovation Challenge are: Lyrclip – Miva Open University; ResearchFlow – Olabisi Onabanjo University; CampusCheck – Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; Veripay – MOAUM, Benue State University; CoursePass – Lagos State University of Science and Technology; Teamcobuild – Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Verified Hands – Ahmadu Bello University; SkoolConnectNG – Yaba College of Technology; Thrifty – Ahmadu Bello University; and Team Paye – Adeleke University.

For more information, visit www.opayweb.com/innovation-challenge/ and follow OPay on LinkedIn, @OPay_NG on X, and @opay.ng on Instagram for updates.

About OPay

OPay was established in 2018 as a leading fintech company in Nigeria with the mission to make financial services more inclusive through technology. The company offers a wide range of payment services, including money transfers, bill payments, card services, airtime and data purchases, and merchant payments, among others. Renowned for its fast and reliable network and strong security features that protect customers’ funds, OPay is licensed by the CBN and insured by the NDIC with the same insurance coverage as commercial banks.

Students in Ekiti State have taken their campaign for a cleaner environment to Ado-Ekiti residents, urging them to stop indiscriminate waste disposal and take greater responsibility for protecting their communities.

Students from various institutions participated in an environmental awareness campaign and sanitation exercise organised under the Ekiti Students Skill Up with YOMA Initiative, a UNICEF-funded project implemented in partnership with the Ekiti State Government, to commemorate World Cleanup Day 2026.

The students engaged market women, commercial motorcycle operators, community leaders, residents and other stakeholders, educating them on responsible waste disposal, tree planting, pollution prevention and the need to protect the environment.

Speaking with journalists during the exercise, Project Lead Modupe Adetiba said the campaign aimed to show that environmental protection should not be left to government alone.

Adetiba said the students were also using the initiative to show that young people can identify challenges in their communities and help find solutions.

She urged residents to dispose of waste responsibly and avoid practices that worsen environmental degradation, while encouraging them to plant trees and protect existing vegetation.

‘Climate action and environmental protection are a collective effort. It is not only the government that should do it. It is every one of us as citizens and as people who should nurture nature,’ Adetiba said.

She added that the students’ participation was intended to inspire young people to become active contributors to solving community problems rather than merely identifying them.

‘Ekiti students are not just problem-seers; they are also solution providers,’ she said, urging residents, community leaders and other stakeholders to join the campaign to keep the state clean and green.

A representative of the Ekiti State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Olasehinde Oloniyo, said the programme focused primarily on youth development and capacity building, with environmental protection as an important component.

Oloniyo said the initiative was designed to equip young people with relevant skills, training, and opportunities to improve their employability and contribute to the state’s development.

He urged residents to complement government efforts by adopting responsible environmental practices, including proper waste disposal, tree planting, and protecting vegetation.

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged elected public officials to spend their vacations within Nigeria.

He argued that domestic holidays would force leaders to witness the severe socio-economic hardships and systemic neglect confronting everyday citizens.

Obi made the call after concluding his two-day consultation visit to Sokoto State, where he met with diverse stakeholder groups to discuss pressing national issues, including rampant insecurity, the rising number of out-of-school children, endemic poverty, youth unemployment, and drug prevalence across the region.

‘This is why I continue to say that the President’s and political office holders’ holidays must be within Nigeria, so that they can see first-hand the difficulties faced by these fellow Nigerians, whose vulnerability has been worsened by the failure of government to prioritise critical areas of development,’ Obi stated.

The final leg of Obi’s outreach involved a visit to the Ramin Kura Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Sokoto North Local Government Area, which currently shelters over 1,000 displaced persons within the Sokoto metropolis.

Describing the living conditions at the facility as deeply distressing, Obi noted that citizens are crammed into makeshift shelters and thatched structures, with single rooms accommodating up to 10 people.

The facility also lacks basic amenities, including adequate toilet facilities, a primary healthcare centre, and basic educational infrastructure for children.

He said: ‘I have always insisted that as long as even one Nigerian lives in an IDP camp, we are all internally displaced.’

Marking his 12th visit to IDP camps across the nation, Obi reaffirmed his personal commitment to continuously supporting displaced citizens for as long as necessary.

He emphasised that while the current administration must act assiduously to make temporary accommodations humane and dignified, the primary responsibility remains tackling the root security challenges that caused the displacements, enabling citizens to return safely to their ancestral homes.

Obi concluded his statement with a direct plea to the federal government and humanitarian agencies for immediate intervention, reiterating his political mantle that ‘A New Nigeria is Possible and will be OK’.

The Lagos State government has ended the manual processing of building and physical planning approvals as part of efforts to deepen digital governance and advance its smart city ambition.

The state said all applications for planning permits must now be submitted and processed exclusively through the Electronic Physical Planning Processing System (EPPPS), bringing to an end the paper-based approval process.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this at a public sensitisation programme organised to engage built-environment professionals on the implementation of the electronic planning approval system.

Olumide said the directive, which took effect on April 1, 2026, was designed to eliminate the delays, multiple human interfaces and other challenges associated with the manual processing of planning approvals.

According to him, the transition to EPPPS is not merely a technological upgrade but a fundamental reform aimed at making the planning approval process more transparent, efficient and user-friendly.

He said the system would reduce complaints associated with physical interaction between applicants and officials while enabling applicants to submit documents, monitor their applications and receive updates electronically.

‘The government has created timelines and simplified the procedures to make the system user-friendly. We are appealing to the public and professionals to embrace the platform because the manual process, with its bulky paperwork, has been outlawed,’ he said.

Olumide, however, warned applicants against submitting false information or forged documents, saying inconsistencies would be detected during the electronic processing of applications and could result in delays.

‘If you submit a doctored survey plan or fail to meet requirements such as the stipulated setbacks and other necessary documentation, your application will be delayed until you comply. The system is designed to identify such inconsistencies,’ he said.

The commissioner said the EPPPS had achieved full operational readiness, with all relevant personnel trained and computer systems and internet connectivity deployed across the district offices.

He added that applications submitted outside the electronic platform would no longer be recognised as valid planning applications.

‘All applications must now go through the EPPPS platform exclusively. Anyone processing planning permits manually from this date is engaging in an illegal activity,’ Olumide said.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Wasiu Olayinka, said the reform was intended to make the process of obtaining building approvals easier for Lagos residents and prospective property owners.

He said applicants would no longer need to make repeated physical visits to government offices, as the digital platform would enable them to apply for approvals from their homes or offices.

According to Olayinka, the full implementation of the EPPPS represents a major step in the state’s effort to modernise physical planning and improve service delivery.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Taxation, Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi Ogungbo, said the electronic system would strengthen transparency, accountability and data-driven planning in the state.

Ogungbo urged residents, developers and built-environment professionals to make full use of the platform, noting that applicants could track the progress of their applications and receive notifications without having to visit government offices.

He said the system would also help the government move away from a planning environment characterised by physical files, long queues and missing documents.

‘We are aggressively moving away from the era of dusty files, long queues and missing documents. This software will strengthen the integrity of our land records and help boost investor confidence,’ he said.

The guest speaker, Prof. Timothy Nubi, however, said digitising the approval process must be accompanied by broader reforms in the real estate sector if the industry was to contribute more significantly to economic development.

Nubi lamented what he described as the failure of real estate to attain its full potential in Nigeria, arguing that weak infrastructure, inadequate investment and policy challenges had constrained the sector.

He said secure land titles remained critical to unlocking the economic value of property, noting that untitled assets represented a significant pool of dead capital globally and in Africa.

‘When real estate begins to play its proper role in the economy, the sector will become healthier. Without title, you cannot create wealth in the way we see in countries such as the United States and Dubai,’ Nubi said.

He cited estimates putting global dead capital held in untitled assets at about $9.3 trillion, with more than $1 trillion reportedly locked in Africa.

Nubi also questioned claims that a large proportion of properties in Lagos lacked proper titles, linking the problem to the continued development of estates without the necessary government approvals.

He urged the state government to examine why people invest substantial sums in land and properties only to commence construction without obtaining planning approval.

While commending the transition to digital processing, Nubi called for the new system to be genuinely seamless and free from unnecessary bureaucracy.

He said an efficient approval process would not only improve compliance but also encourage investment and help unlock greater economic value from Lagos’ rapidly expanding real estate market.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Temitope Ajayi, for what he described as diligent and consistent efforts to communicate the policies and programmes of his administration as the presidential aide clocks 50.

Tinubu, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, particularly acknowledged Ajayi’s incisive, in-depth essays on major government policies, as well as his sustained engagement across different segments of the media.

Ajayi, whose role as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity is also reflected in State House publications, has written extensively on government policies and economic issues.

The President congratulated the media aide on the milestone, describing him as an accomplished journalist, entrepreneur and media and communications professional.

Before joining the Presidency, Ajayi worked in mainstream journalism and held strategic positions across the publishing, advertising and public relations sectors.

He is a graduate of Literature in English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and obtained a Master’s Degree in Literature in English from the University of Lagos in 2005.

Tinubu said Ajayi’s contributions to explaining and promoting the administration’s policies had remained notable, especially through his analytical writings and engagement with traditional and digital media.

The President joined Ajayi’s family, friends, associates and members of the State House media department in celebrating him on his golden jubilee.

He urged the presidential aide to sustain his commitment to service and wished him many more years in good health and renewed strength.

Tinubu also encouraged Ajayi to ‘keep up the good work’ as he continues to serve the country.

Relatives of four convicted kidnappers wept uncontrollably yesterday as an Edo State High Court sentenced them to death, bringing an emotionally charged end to the first kidnapping case publicly tried by the state’s Special Court for Cultism and Kidnapping Cases.

The courtroom was filled to the brim as Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu handed down the sentences, a crowd gathered outside the court premises to catch a glimpse of the convicts as they were led away.

The atmosphere evoked memories of the sentencing of notorious armed robber Lawrence Anini and members of his gang in the 1980s, whose case and subsequent execution became one of the most dramatic criminal justice episodes in the state.

The four convicts – Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27 – were sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection for their roles in the abduction of Precious Oseghale at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City.

The case was the first kidnapping matter to be concluded by the special court, established by the state judiciary in June, to facilitate speedy trials of cultism and kidnapping cases.

The kidnapping of Oseghale in broad daylight at the market happened in July.

Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier vowed to sign the death warrants of kidnappers and cultists convicted under state laws and have them publicly executed.

The administration has also demolished houses allegedly belonging to suspected cultists and kidnappers.

The four defendants had pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge involving kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

They were tracked down and arrested.

Other victims who testified during the trial included Lawani Alex, Nosa Blessing and Idehen Owenaze. They told the court that they were abducted by the gang and paid ransom before being released.

The prosecution said the gang collected N8 million and jewellery worth N15 million from Precious, while other victims paid N12.4 million and N5.5 million in ransom.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Roland Otaru, who led the prosecution, closed the case after calling seven witnesses and tendering video evidence, including CCTV footage of the Vegetable Market kidnapping.

The defendants did not call witnesses but testified in their own defence.

Delivering judgment, Justice Momodu held that the prosecution proved the 11 counts beyond reasonable doubt.

He said there was no successful objection to the exhibits tendered, including the defendants’ confessional statements.

The judge rejected the defence claim that the statements had been obtained through coercion, describing it as an afterthought. He also rejected the alibi defence raised by the defendants, noting that it was not raised during police questioning.

Justice Momodu found Marvellous guilty on all 11 counts. He sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on count one, 10 years on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11, while imposing the death sentence on counts two to nine.

Wisdom was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death on counts two to nine. He was discharged and acquitted on counts 10 and 11.

Rufus was sentenced to seven years on count one and death on counts two to nine. He was, however, discharged and acquitted on counts four, five, eight, nine, 10 and 11.

Gift, the only female defendant, was discharged and acquitted on counts four, five, eight, nine, 10 and 11. She was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death on counts two, four, six and eight.

Before pronouncing judgment, Justice Momodu said the law constrained the court, adding that the defendants had the right to appeal.

He commended the owners of the CCTV system that captured the Vegetable Market kidnapping and urged residents and the state government to install surveillance cameras in homes and public places.

A human rights lawyer, Olayiwola Afolabi, said the convicts had 90 days within which to appeal the judgment.

‘The governor cannot order execution of the convicts. It is only when they fail to file an appeal within the required 90 days.

‘I know the Attorney-General will not advise the governor to carry out the execution when the 90 days have not expired,’ he said.

The special court was established by the Chief Judge of Edo State following a request by Okpebholo on June 19, for a mechanism to accelerate the trial of kidnapping and cultism cases.

The governor had, while advocating the establishment of the court, vowed that convicted kidnappers and cultists would face execution.

‘We are going to set up a special court to prosecute kidnappers and cultists.

‘Within two weeks, the court will be done with proceedings. I will sign your execution,’ he had said.