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Ex-Rep Rita Orji Faces Renewed Calls for Probe in WAEC Certificate Case Ex-Rep Rita Orji Faces Renewed Calls for Probe in WAEC Certificate Case

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WAEC Certificate Forgery: Petitioner Faults Police Silence on Former Rep Member Rita Orji’s Case

Hon. Rita Odichinma Orji

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The controversy over the alleged forgery of a West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Rita Odichinma Orji, has resurfaced, with petitioner Uche David Esomonu decrying what he described as the police’s silence on the matter.

Hon. Orji, who represented Ajeromi–Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State from 2015 to 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arrested by the Nigeria Police on November 24, 2024, over claims she presented a forged WAEC certificate during her tenure. After her initial statement, little has been heard about the investigation, sparking fears the case may have been deliberately stalled.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr. Esomonu expressed shock that, despite what he described as “overwhelming evidence” against the former lawmaker, the case appears to have been swept under the carpet. He accused the police of selective justice and called for renewed action to restore public confidence in the institution.

“I wonder why this case has been swept aside despite clear evidence. The Nigerian Police must restore their dignity by reopening the case file and pursuing it to its logical conclusion. I will not relent until justice is served,” Esomonu stated.

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It will be recalled that a High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, had earlier ruled that Hon. Orji has a case to answer. Delivering judgment, Justice Kawu Bello held that the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to investigate petitions brought before it, in line with Section 200 of the Constitution. The court consequently dismissed Orji’s attempt to halt police investigation and ordered her to make herself available for questioning.

The petitioner noted that, while the police had swiftly handled other cases involving certificate forgery and impersonation, the Orji matter had curiously stagnated. He cited the recent case of one Engineer Chukwubuike Azubuike, who allegedly paraded himself falsely as the “Obi of Lagos” while attempting to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of N1.5 billion under the guise of building a palace and hosting a new yam festival. Esomonu argued that if such cases could receive prompt attention, the matter against Hon. Orji should not be treated differently.

Court records indicate that Orji, upon being petitioned, initially resisted police invitations for interrogation. Instead, she approached the High Court seeking an order to restrain the police from investigating her, citing the need to protect her fundamental human rights. However, the court dismissed her suit and directed her to cooperate with law enforcement.

Despite these legal pronouncements, the petitioner insists that no meaningful progress has been made since her arrest. He warned that silence on the matter could encourage impunity and erode trust in Nigeria’s justice system.

As the controversy lingers, public interest in the case remains high, particularly within Ajeromi–Ifelodun, where Hon. Orji once wielded significant political influence and even contested again in the last general elections. Stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the police will revive the investigation or allow the matter to fade into obscurity.

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Lagos Re-Arraigns Evans For Alleged Murder Of Two Policemen

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The Lagos State Government has re-arraigned convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, on a fresh murder charge involving the deaths of two police officers.

Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were re-arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala on a five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

The case was transferred from Justice Adenike Coker, and according to the charge, Evans and his co-defendant allegedly killed two policemen, Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi, on August 27, 2013, around 10 p.m. at Festac Town, Lagos.

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The offences violate Section 221 of the Lagos Criminal Law, 2011.

At the proceedings, State Prosecutor A. O. Azeez confirmed the transfer of the case and requested a fresh arraignment despite Evans’ earlier plea bargain applications before the former judge.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count amended charge.

The court adjourned the matter to November 19, 2025, for hearing and issuance of witness summons.

Evans has already been convicted before another court and is currently serving sentences for two of his five criminal cases.

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‘Taking Nigeria’s Situation to God’ Peter Obi’s Message After Visit to Rome

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After his visit to Rome, Peter Obi the former presidential Candidate of the Labour party in 2023 general election write what he did while in Rome.

Read below 👇

My Visit to the USA, Rome: Taking Nigeria’s Situation to God.

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After my 2-day trip to the United States – where I addressed the Friendship Club on Saturday, 4 October, and spoke at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington on Sunday, 5 October – I departed that same night for Rome, arriving on 6th October to join my dearest wife, who was already in Rome waiting for me.

This year marks a Jubilee Year, an event celebrated every twenty-five years, and my dearest wife and I chose to dedicate our prayers to Nigeria. With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over sixty-five years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation – a rare and profound blessing for which we remain deeply thankful.

We also sought forgiveness for our national transgressions and implored God to intervene in the suffering of the Nigerian people. We prayed for the injection into our political landscape selfless and compassionate leaders whose hearts He God would touch—leaders who would be truthful in word and deed, altruistic in service, and committed to using public resources for the common good. Leaders whose decisions would reflect competence, capacity, character,  and commitment to the welfare of all. Leaders who understand that they were not created to live in isolation but in community with others, and must ensure that actions are for the benefit of the community.

On Tuesday, the 7th of October, as part of our pilgrimage, we passed through three Holy Doors of the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome, praying at each that God would open the door of His mercy to Nigeria. At St. Mary Major, we prayed, passed through the Holy Door, and reflected at the grave of the late Pope Francis. From there, we journeyed to the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where Cardinal James Harvey warmly received us, led us through the Holy Door, and shared the basilica’s rich history and the deep significance of the Jubilee Year. Our third stop was the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, dedicated to Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, where, together with other pilgrims, we passed through the Holy Door and joined in prayer. We then proceeded to the Scala Sancta – the Holy Steps which Jesus ascended before Pontius Pilate – where we prayed with profound reverence, completing a day of deep spiritual reflection at some of Rome’s most sacred sites.

On Wednesday the 8th of October, we rose early for the Papal General Audience at St. Peter’s Basilica, where we were blessed to hear the Catechesis of His Holiness on hope, perseverance, and steadfast faith in times of hardship. Afterwards, we passed through the final Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, praying and reflecting deeply on God’s mercy, thus completing our pilgrimage through the four doors with hearts filled with gratitude and renewed faith.

At St. Peter’s, we were privileged to be received in audience by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex, to whom we humbly appealed for prayers for our beloved country, Nigeria.

Along the way, we met several Nigerian pilgrims: men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s divine mercy and in the promise of a renewed and better Nigeria.

I believe fervently in the power and providence of God. Yet, as we lift our nation before Him in prayer, we must not surrender to fatalism. Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; rather, it calls us to action. As Nigerians, we must each continue to do our part – with honesty, diligence, and love – for the healing and progress of our country.

A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

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VIDEO: Lagos Govt demolishes Ola of Lagos showroom

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The Lagos state government has demolished the car showroom owned by popular auto dealer and influencer, Olaoluwa Osunkoya, widely known as Ola of Lagos.

The demolition took place in Lekki after authorities found that the structure was built directly beneath 33kV high-tension power lines, a violation of safety regulations.


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Maryam Sanda, Convicted Of Killing Husband, Receives Tinubu’s Presidential Pardon

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President Bola Tinubu has pardoned Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in Abuja.

Bello was the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Haliru Bello.

Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in January 2020.

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She would receive the pardon after spending six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre..

This was revealed in a statement released on Saturday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said, “Her family pleaded for her release, arguing that it was in the best interest of her two children.”

”The plea was also anchored on her good conduct in jail, her remorse, and her embracement of a new lifestyle, demonstrating her commitment to being a model prisoner,” the statement read.

READ ALSO: Details of The Presidential Pardon and Clemency

According to Onanuga, the gesture was made on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN).

It also stated that the convicts were considered for clemency based on factors such as remorse, good conduct, old age, and rehabilitation through education or vocational training. Some inmates were recognised for their enrolment in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), while others had demonstrated notable behavioural reform.

Others who recived presidnetial pardons include, llegal miners, white-collar convicts, remorseful drug offenders, foreigners, Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, capital offenders such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the other Ogoni Eight were among the 175 convicts and former convicts.

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President Tinubu Departs Abuja for Aqaba Process Meeting in Rome to Address West Africa Security Crisis

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President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday, October 12, for Rome, the capital of Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting, with special focus on the security crisis in West Africa.

The meeting, which will begin on October 14, will bring together Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials from African countries, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to discuss the evolving security challenges in West Africa.

The Aqaba Process Meeting is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015. It is co–chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government.

It recognises the complex security challenges confronting West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing crime-terror nexus and the increasing overlap between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and the maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

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At the meeting, participants will exchange assessments of the current security landscape in West Africa and foster collaboration between regional and international partners to address cross-border security challenges. Participants will also develop strategies to counter the terror threat on land and the sea.

The meeting will discuss ideas on how to coordinate efforts to combat online radicalisation and disrupt digital networks that facilitate terrorist propaganda and recruitment.

In addition to attending the plenary sessions of the Aqaba meeting, President Tinubu will hold bilateral talks with other leaders to explore ways of addressing the rising security challenges across the subregion.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu–Ojukwu, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and other senior government officials.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
October 11, 2025

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