Killers of Benue Catholic priest sentenced to death

The two surviving kidnappers of a Catholic priest, Fr. John Adeyi, have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Makurdi High Court.

Adeyi, the Vicar-General of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and Parish Priest of Catholic Church, Okpoga, was kidnapped by gunmen in 2016.
The cleric was later killed and his body dumped in a farm near Otukpo.

However, four kidnappers were arrested by the Intelligence Response Team led by ACP Abba Kyari few months after, but two of them later died in custody in unexplained circumstances.

In a verdict on Wednesday, the court found the two surviving suspects guilty and handed them the death sentence.

Reacting to the development, Kyari in a Facebook post noted that justice had been served.

“Glory be to God Almighty, the kidnappers and killers of Rev. Fr. John Adeyi of Otukpo Diocese Benue State, whom we arrested in 2016 after a serious manhunt in Bauchi, Benue and Enugu states have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Makurdi, Benue State. Justice has been delivered to the kidnappers and killers of the innocent man.

“My unit, IRT has recorded her first death conviction since inception in 2015,” he posted.

The family of the late cleric applauded the judgment in a statement, but noted that the development reminded them of the sad loss of their son. It is gratifying, however, to know that the culprits did not go unpunished. May the soul of Fr Adeyi continue to rest in perfect peace with his creator,” the family stated.

700 separated children still in US custody after deadline

The US government said Thursday that hundreds of families it broke up at the border with Mexico have not been reunited as a court-ordered deadline to return all children to their parents elapsed.

A federal judge in California had ordered that all eligible migrant families be brought back together by 6:00 pm (2200 GMT) and officials said in a court filing that 1,442 children aged five and older had been reunited with their families.

 

“The reunification plan outlined to the court… is proceeding, and is expected to result in the reunification of all class members found eligible for reunification at this time by the court’s July 26, 2018 deadline,” the government said.

Suspend recess, approve 2019 polls budget, Presidency begs National Assembly

The Presidency has urged the National Assembly to suspend the ongoing recess and attend to requests by President Muhammadu Buhari pending before the legislature.
The National Assembly was billed to proceed on holiday on Thursday but the lawmakers went on recess on Tuesday in protest against the alleged clampdown on President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
One of such requests is the one asking the lawmakers to vire funds in the 2018 Appropriation Act to fund the supplementary budgets of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Burnley keeper, Nick Pope, suffers shoulder injury

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope faces an anxious wait to learn how long he might be on the sidelines after suffering what manager Sean Dyche fears is a “serious” shoulder injury in the Europa League match with Aberdeen.

The 26-year-old — part of England’s World Cup squad and who made his international debut against Costa Rica earlier this year —  had to go off after a collision with Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove.

“Nick has gone to hospital and it certainly looks more serious than not serious at this stage,” said Dyche.

Keep me in your prayers, Davido tells fans

David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido on Thursday called on his fans to keep him in their prayers.
Davido, on his Twitter handle, @iam_Davido,  said, he may have just recorded the biggest feature of his career. He added that it could literally change his life
He, however, didn’t reveal on whose song he featured.

Defections: APC rules out automatic tickets for lawmakers

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has ruled out the likelihood of offering  the APC’s legislators automatic tickets  as a way of making them to remain in the party.

Oshiomhole said this at a meeting with the APC caucus in the House of Representatives at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

He explained that the best the party could offer in line with its democratic practice was to provide a level playing field for all members to test their popularity.

Igbo Village, Prof Ahaneku, Fr. Prof. BonaChristus, Faculty of Arts Unizik set

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

IGBO LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND FR PROF BONACHRISTUS

Igbo language is one of the four major languages in Nigeria.  Igbo language is a member of the Niger-Congo family of languages. And it is spoken by about 18 million people in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, etc.

Sentencing of Killers of Benue Catholic Priest to Death by Hanging: Bishop Ezeokafor Hails Makurdi High Court

....Expresses Mixed Feelings


   *BY ABUCHI ONWUMELU OF FIDES NEWSPAPERS*


The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has hailed the Makurdi High Court for bringing to book the two surviving kidnappers and murderers of Vicar General of Catholic Diocese of Oturkpo, Benue State, Rev  Fr John Adeyi, PhD.

Okada Ban: I Now Sleep, Wake at My Own Pace - Bishop Ezeokafor

....Applauds S/East Governors' Forum Over Anti-Grazing Reserve Stance

  *Lauds Obiano On Demolition of Shanties

    *BY ABUCHI ONWUMELU FIDES NEWSPAPERS*

The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has commended Governor Willie Obiano's led administration for the courage in banning commercial motorcycle operators otherwise known as Okada in Onitsha and Awka, even as he expressed serious reservations about the timing of the notice.

Men still pester me for love –Salawa Abeni

Waka queen, Salawa Abeni, has said that men still pester her for love despite turning 57 recently.
The veteran musician told Saturday Beats that she has learnt to treat such men with respect while turning them down.
She said, “Men still pester me for love but I am always very careful with them even though you cannot know which one is good or bad from mere appearance.
“I mentioned it in one of my songs that if I laugh too much, they will call me a prostitute, if I frown too much, they will say I am proud. But it is good to be very diplomatic with them and not to be rude to them.”