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 ABIA EMERGES CHAMPIONS AS MAIDEN SOUTH EAST OPEN SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS IN UMUAHIA  The maiden South East open scrabble championship has been concluded in Umuahia with Abia State emerging champions with 18 wins and one draw from 22 games to clinch the title. Anambra State secured second place with 16 wins and a draw, while Imo State finished third with 14 wins.  Enugu and Ebonyi States placed fourth and fifth respectively, missing out on podium positions. Declaring the championship closed that Abia State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development Nwaobilor Ananaba represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Jane Igwe, thanked governor Alex Otti for unwavering commitment to sports development and for supporting the hosting of the tournament. Ananaba also appreciated the participating States for comporting themselves throughout the three day event and expressed the hope that the players were returning home with improved knowledge, skill, and more determination to do...

 WORLD MALARIA DAY: FIRST LADY CALLS FOR UNITY IN PURPOSE TO FIGHT THE SCOURGE  Nigeria's First Lady Oluremi Tinubu says achieving a malaria-free world begins with having a people united in purpose. In her message marking 2026 World Malaria Day with the theme 'United Against Malaria' , she reaffirms  commitment to ending malaria and protecting the health of every individual. The First Lady highlighted the urgent need for sustained collaboration, increased investment through domestic financing, and innovative solutions to overcome challenges such as drug resistance. The First Lady also harped on the need to strengthen prevention efforts, support life-saving interventions, and ensure that every community, especially the most vulnerable, has access to the materials needed to prevent and treat malaria.

 A millionaire big game hunter has been trampled by elephants, the very animal he had hunted many times before.  75-year-old Ernie Dosio was at the Lope-Okando rain forest in Gabon, hunting yellow back duiker with a professional hunting guide, when they two surprised 5 female elephants with a calf on Friday April, 17th. As a result, the startled elephants charged and ultimately trampled both Dosio and his guide.  Ernie Dosio lost his life in the attack, and his guide has been left severely injured and fighting for his life. Ernie Dosio is from Lodi, California, and is a well-known and accomplished big game hunter. Dosio amassed his fortune as a vineyard tycoon. He was the owner of Pacific AgriLands Inc. and had 12,000 acres of wine growing terrain in Modesto, California.  He had reportedly put his money to good use as a conservationist and donated to many charitable organizations.  Ernie Dosio was also a Great Elk, which is a patriotic organization that supports...

 A South Carolina man, who was recently released from prison, took the life of an innocent man loading his car up for a birthday trip with his girlfriend.  Authorities in Rock Hill, South Carolina, describe the actions of 30-year-old D'Aaron Colston as "hunting for a victim".  Police say that Colston hid behind a tree before jumping out and ambushing 33-year-old Brandon Swilling. Brandon was packing his car on April 17th, for a special birthday trip to North Carolina with his girlfriend when "Colston ambushed him". Colston rushed up to the unarmed and unsuspecting man. He shot Brandon in the abdomen and head, ultimately taking the life of the unsuspecting victim.  Brandon's girlfriend heard the gunshots and called 911 before discovering him deceased in the driveway. Brandon would have turned 34 tomorrow, on April 25th, had his life not been stolen in this senseless act of violence.  As detectives described the fatal encounter in Colston's first court app...

 PRESS RELEASE GOVERNOR SOLUDO CONGRATULATES OBI GIBSON NWOSU, EZE UZU II OF AWKA, ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, on behalf of the Government and the good people of the State, extends his warmest felicitations to the Traditional Ruler of Awka Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Obi (Dr.) Gibson Nwosu, Eze Uzu II of Awka, on the occasion of his 90th birthday. In a tribute marking this milestone, Governor Soludo described Obi Gibson Nwosu as a quintessential monarch, a symbol of peace, and a custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Awka people. The Governor noted that reaching the nonagenarian milestone is a profound blessing from God and a testament to a life lived with purpose, discipline, and dedication to the service of humanity. The Governor further acknowledged the Eze Uzu’s distinguished career prior to his ascension to the throne, particularly his service as a pioneer aviator, which brought immense pride to the nation...

 EFCC Arrests Cameroonian for Alleged N1.5bn Bank Fraud in Lagos Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ikoyi, Lagos, have arrested a Cameroonian businessman, Bekono Marc Eric, for allegedly defrauding a first-generation bank of about N1.5bn. The 47-year-old suspect, a member of a trans-border syndicate that specialises in credit card fraud, was arrested on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos. Investigations revealed that members of the syndicate open bank accounts in Nigeria, obtain Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and PINs, and then move to neighbouring countries where they use the cards to carry out fraudulent transactions on accounts belonging to customers with high balances. The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Alleged ₦80.2bn Kogi Fraud: Court Dismisses Defence  Counsel's Objection, Hears Further Testimony on Cash–Dollar Transactions The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Friday, April 24, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the court dismissing an  objection by the defence counsel and allowing the prosecution to proceed with its case. Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88. At the resumed hearing on Friday,   Justice Nwite gave a ruling on an objection raised by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, at the previous sitting. The judge held that the objection lacked merit. Daudu had objected that the prosecution team was attempting to contradict its own witness and suggested that the witness should have been declared hostile.  The argument was turned down by lea...

 POLICE RECRUITMENT: WRITTEN EXAMINATION HOLDS 28–30 APRIL AS PSC WARNS AGAINST SCAMS The Police Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has scheduled 28th to 30th April 2026 for the conduct of the written examination for applicants seeking enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force as Police Constables, covering both General Duty and Specialist cadres. The exercise will be held at designated centres across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Only candidates who successfully passed the physical and credentials screening are eligible to participate in the examination. Qualified applicants are required to log on to www.npfapplication.psc.gov.ng ( http://www.npfapplication.psc.gov.ng/ ) from Friday, 24th April 2026, to print their Examination Invitation Card, which contains details of their specific date, time, and venue. Candidates are to present the following items at their respective examination centres:  1 A...

 Monrovia, Liberia — The Government of the United States has deported nine Liberian nationals to Liberia following their convictions for various criminal offenses committed during their residence in the United States. The individuals arrived in Liberia on Thursday, April 23, 2026, and were received by officers of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) at Roberts International Airport. Their deportation follows the completion of prison sentences related to a range of offenses, including robbery, weapons violations, sexual assault, aggravated assault, kidnapping, burglary, driving under the influence (DUI), fraud, resisting arrest, and larceny. According to the LIS, additional offenses committed by the deportees include domestic violence, drug trafficking, identity theft, and making false statements. Authorities noted that deportations of this nature are typically conducted via chart

 Anambra Community Calls for Security Beef up Following Multiple Explosions during  Mass Burial Residents of Lilu town in Ihiala Local government area of Anambra state have appealed to federal and state governments to beef up security in the area to end the reign of unknown gunmen. The community made the call following claim that  three bomb explosions occured during a mass burial to at Eziorsu and Umuezeala areas of the town.  According to an account of the incident shared by Okwulora Lilu on a popular community Facebook page, 'Lilu GA Adịrịrimna TV', no casualty was recorded during the attacks said to be carried out by unknown gunmen.  The statement read: "Despite grave danger, courageous Lilu men today took the risk to ensure their beloved ones were buried at Eziorsu and Umuezeala wards, as the community conducted another round of mass burial.  "The burial process was shaken by three separate explosions, believed to be the work of unknown gunmen still te...