An Ikeja High Court has sentenced a domestic staff, Joseph Ogbu, to death by hanging for killing his employer, an 89-year-old woman, Ajoke John and her daughter, Oreoluwa in Lagos State.

NAN reports that Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay held on Monday that the prosecution had sufficiently proven the 3-count charge bordering on murder and armed robbery against the convict.

Nicole-Clay held today that the defendant confessed to the crime as he self-confessed living with the deceased and he was the only witness of the incident.

Nicole-Clay said, “He killed Adejoke by strangling her and Oreoluwa by stabbing her to death as defence didn’t raise objection to the admissibility of the confessional statement, there’s no doubt that the defendant confessed to the crimes.

“The defendant couldn’t give an explanation as to what he was doing with all the stolen items he was found with at about 2 am on the date he was arrested.

“This court has found Joseph Ogbu guilty of these heinous crimes and you’re hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy on your soul.”

The convict, while gesticulating, begged the court for mercy.

He said in pidgin English, “the mama no die for my presence. I beg for mercy.”

Zimbabwean Actor Jerome Galiao who played Dr Nyasha Mugari in “scandals” has been arrested for beating his wife. 

H-Metro reported that the 38-year-old actor was taken into custody on Monday, March 27, at Linden Police Station in Randburg. His case is under reference number CAS 280/3/2023, and he is expected to make a court appearance today, March 28, on charges of domestic violence.

A source told the publication;

“Jerome is in police custody in Randburg. He was arrested last night for domestic violence. He is in the cells and will appear in court on Tuesday (today). You can contact SAPS for more information. This is not the first time he has bashed her.”

When Jerome’s wife, Nerissa Mema, was contacted, she declined to comment, insisting that she needs some privacy.

Nigerians across various sectors have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, in the few days left for his administration, strive to leave a legacy of a functional system where there is respect for the rule of law and all actors act only in full compliance with the Constitution, Acts of the National Assembly and all other laws of the country.

Delegates from 158 Anti-Corruption Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations, faith-based groups, youth and community-based organisations, who gathered in Abuja at a one-day national conference on Sunday, said the anti-corruption efforts of the Buhari administration would eventually be assessed by the conduct of key officials, especially those saddled with the responsibility of taming corruption in Nigeria.

After exhaustive deliberations by the expanded gathering with keynote address by the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Prof. Wasiu Ademola Oyedokun-Alli,
and presentations from speakers, including the Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, among others, the Conference adopted a communique, which specifically expressed concern that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, under the leadership of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, had allegedly become a cesspool of internal corruption, among other diverse issues.

While congratulating Nigerians on the outcome of the various elections, the Organisations faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission for not keeping strictly to the promises made to Nigerians.

They, however, condemned what they described as the various attempts by some politicians and people of vested interests towards pushing the country dangerously to the edge of the slope, particularly the promotion of ethnic and religious divisions among Nigerians.

The communique said, in line with genuine concerns among informed Nigerians, “Conference restates that a convict, as Mr. Bawa is seen to be currently, according to the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction,  which has not been vacated, cannot continue to preside over an important law enforcement agency like the EFCC established to fight corruption.”

Delegates from the 158 organisations also alleged that Bawa’s actions as a public officer had been high-handed, prejudicial, contemptuous of Nigerian courts and oppressive to the human rights of persons under the EFCC investigation, while also condemning, in its entirety, his “deliberate disobedience of court orders.”

“Conference expressed gross dissatisfaction with the Naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria which in the last three months has crippled economic activities and put Nigerians under unprecedented and untold hardship due to the scarcity of the local currency as well as the incessant failure of the online banking system,” the communique stated, adding that there must be consequences for the needless hardship Nigerians were made to contend with in the face of a policy that was not well thought out.

On anti-corruption efforts, the communique said,
“Corruption undermines growth, erodes trust in governments, fuels support for extremism and hinders the fight against poverty and inequality. Therefore, we as Nigerians, have a responsibility to prevent, detect and expose any form of corruption. In fighting corruption, we cannot, but also be mindful of the dictates of our laws, as a country under a democracy.

“The war against corruption in the country, particularly under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, has its milestones, prospects and challenges, hence, the need for us to consciously review same, while also setting an agenda for the incoming administration in the country. The subject of corruption and the war against it is of crucial importance to us, as stakeholders, in the Nigerian project.”

The organisations also demanded that states and other tiers of government must set up genuine machinery towards cooperating and consolidating the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the various security challenges presently facing the country.

They admonished the incoming administration to work hard to ensure that Nigerians remain united in peace and justice to all.

The National Conference was convoked to discuss the State of the Nation, covering several fundamental issues, especially as they affect education, security, corruption challenges and other general interests.