JUST IN; Govt clears air on threats to ban Traditional Worship– Commissioner
JUST IN; Govt clears air on threats to ban Traditional Worship– Commissioner
Mr Don Onyenji, the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism in Anambra, says it is not true that the state government threatened to ban traditional worship.
Onyenji made the statement at a stakeholders meeting organised in partnership with ASHOKA Africa, a non-profit organsation and social change agent, in Awka on Thursday.
He said that Gov. Charles Soludo only called for the registration of all traditional religious leaders and custodians of shrines in the state.
The commissioner described religion as a collection of social and cultural systems involving core beliefs, practices, morals that were needed in human society.
“The governor wants to have that compilation as a way of discouraging crime. Let’s not forget that some people who do unlawful businesses patronise these places.
“Armed robbers, fraudsters, kidnappers and other criminals go to native doctors and shrines to seek for powers to do evil,” he said.
Onyenji said that the activities of some native doctors and custodians of shrines in the state encouraged criminality.
He said that any native doctor or shrine worshipper found to be preparing charms for robbers or fortifying kidnappers would be prosecuted.
Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the Commissioner for Education, said that the partnership with ASHOKA Africa was aimed at promoting social behaviour reformation among the youth.
Represented by Dr Ify Agbaizu, the Permanent Secretary, Chuma-Udeh said that the correct orientation about core Igbo values should be given to the younger generation in order to put them on the right track.
“We must preach the values of hard work, respect and honesty. This will save the youth from indulging in the social ills that are rampant in the society today,” she said.
She urged youth in the state to imbibe good social behaviours and hard work as they grew in life, saying,” nothing good comes without hard work”
Mr Okechukwu Uzoechina, the Leader, ASHOKA Africa delegation to the meeting, said that the organisation’s “Everyone is a Change Maker”vision was a social transformation tool needed in human society.
“We foresee a world where everyone has the confidence, freedom and support to identify and design solutions for the common good of the society.
“A world where people are equipped to tackle challenges, and to create a better future in both small and bold ways,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting also attracted the attendance students drawn from select secondary schools in the state.
Speaking to NAN, Miss Makuochukwu Umeh, the Head Girl, Anglican Girls Secondary School, Awka, described the engagement as enriching and well thought-out.
“We all are grateful to be part of the programme, we have learnt a lot from the resource persons, if for nothing, I havee learnt that quick and illegal wealth is not good
“I also learnt that farming, craft making and other lawful engagements are good and dignified sources of making wealth,” she said.(NAN)
News
Two men docked for allegedly defiling underaged girl
Two men docked for allegedly defiling underaged girl
The police in Lagos on Friday, charged two men before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling an 11- year-old girl.
The defendants are: Prince Tomnyie, 40, a businessman, who resides at Agege, and Micheal Adenuga, 24, a furniture maker, who resides at Atere Street in Lekki.
They are standing trial on charges of defilement, and had each pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, ASP Adegoke Ademigbuji told the court that they committed the offence sometimes in December 2024, and September 2025, at Langbasa Ajah and Igbara Lekki, Lagos .
The prosecutor alleged that the victim’s father, had taken his daughter for medical check and it was discovered that the minor had been defiled.
The prosecution alleged that the victim had told her father that his friend, Tomnyie, defiled her sometimes ago.
Ademigbuji alleged that the victim also mentioned the second defendant’s name who lives in their neigbourhood.
The offence contravenes the provisons of section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr L. A Owolabi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of of N600,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case until March 5, for mention. (NAN)
News
Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has insisted that bail is free, and called on the public to report any officer asking for money to release a suspect on bail.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Adeh spoke in reaction to public outcry that some police officers were demanding money to release suspects on bail in the territory.
She said the report of the erring officers would serve as a deterrent to others, adding that it was fraudulent to demand for money to release a suspect on bail.
Adeh blamed the yielding to such fraudulent demand on ignorance on the part of the victims who refused to stand on their rights.
“A similar case was reported where an officer demanded money to release a suspect on bail and when the matter was reported, we requested for evidence from the victim.
“The evidence was provided because the money was transferred to the officer’s account and actions are being taken on the issue.
“So, I encourage the public to take advantage of the FCT Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) lines on 08107314192 to report such misconduct with evidence,” she said.
Adeh urged the public to always insist on their rights and refuse any form of payment to release a suspect on bail.(NAN)
News
Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol was on Friday sentenced to five years in prison for obstruction of justice.
The Seoul Central District Court found that the 65-year-old conservative, with the help of the presidential security service, had tried to prevent his own arrest and deleted multiple documents related to the investigation against him.
Yoon shocked the nation by imposing martial law on December 3, 2024, amid a budget dispute with the opposition, plunging the country into a political crisis.
He justified the drastic measure as necessary to protect South Korea’s democratic order and accused the left-leaning opposition of being infiltrated by communists with ties to China and North Korea, though he provided no evidence for these claims.
In a separate trial, prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Yoon on charges of incitement, with a verdict expected on February 19.
While the death penalty remains legally in force in South Korea, it has not been carried out for nearly 30 years.
Yoon’s actions previously alarmed international investors and led to withheld investments, damaging the reputation of South Korea as a political and economic model for the region.
Since last summer, South Korea has been led by President Lee Jae Myung, a left-leaning centrist and long-time political rival of Yoon. (dpa/NAN)
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