Mary Habila: Umahi petitions police, insists on autopsy before burial

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, through his team of lawyers have petitioned the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, urging that an autopsy on the late Mary Habila be conducted before her remains are released for burial.

In a letter dated July 15, 2026, and acknowledged by the Ebonyi State Police Command on the same day, the law firm, Roy & Associates, said it was acting on the instruction of the Minister.

According to the petition, Habila, a staff member of the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, who was on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works, died on June 27, 2026, in a staff residential building located within Umahi’s residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The lawyers explained that the deceased did not reside in the same building as the minister. They said the building was designated for members of Umahi’s staff and other personnel working with him.

They further stated that on the night of her death, only Habila and another female occupant, identified as a physiotherapist, were in the building.

The legal team urged the police to ensure that a comprehensive autopsy is conducted by qualified forensic pathologists to scientifically determine the actual cause and circumstances of Habila’s death.

They also requested that Habila’s remains should not be released to anyone, including her next of kin, until the autopsy and all other relevant investigative procedures have been completed.

According to the lawyers, the request is aimed at preserving the integrity of the ongoing investigation, eliminating speculation, and ensuring that the true cause of Habila’s death is conclusively established before her burial.

Bella Shmurda Gets Duped After Paying $4Million for Fake Property

Nigerian music star Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, popularly known as Bella Shmurda, has alleged that he was defrauded after paying $4 million for a luxury property in Lagos that was allegedly sold to him fraudulently.

The singer made the claim during an emotional Instagram Live session on Tuesday, where he broke down in tears while appealing for assistance over the incident.

According to Bella Shmurda, he recently discovered that the mansion he purchased did not belong to the individual who sold it to him, leaving him devastated and uncertain about recovering the huge sum of money.

Speaking during the livestream, the singer said he invested his hard-earned earnings in the property, only to realize he had allegedly fallen victim to a real estate scam.

Bella Shmurda further alleged that the person who sold the property to him disappeared immediately after receiving payment, making it impossible to reach the seller.

“And now the seller has disappeared. Please, help me. Someone step in. I’ve got nothing left,” he said.

Expressing his frustration, the singer added that he had worked for years to accumulate the money and could not afford to lose such a significant investment.

“I worked for years for this. I can’t lose $4 million like that,” he lamented.

The musician disclosed that he had already engaged his legal team to investigate the matter and pursue appropriate action.

“I just contacted my lawyer for further investigation,” he stated.

Bella Shmurda did not reveal the identity of the alleged seller or provide specific details about the property during the livestream.

As of the time of filing this report, the allegations have not been independently verified, and no official statement has been issued by law enforcement authorities or any individual connected to the transaction. An investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged property deal.

Ex-ALGON chairman rejects Aiyedatiwa’s appointment, alleges illegal levies on cocoa farmers

A former Chairman of Akoko South West Local Government and immediate past Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ondo State chapter, Hon. Augustine Oloruntogbe, has turned down his appointment as a member of the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Board, citing personal and professional commitments.

In a letter, Oloruntogbe not only declined the appointment but also drew the attention of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to what he described as the alleged imposition of illegal levies on cocoa farmers in the state.

The former council chairman appreciated the governor for finding him worthy of the appointment, describing it as a privilege and a demonstration of confidence in his ability to contribute to the state’s agricultural development.

His appointment was among those recently announced by the Ondo State Government following the inauguration of the Cocoa Revolution and Management Board, a body established to drive the state’s cocoa sector reform agenda.

While expressing support for the administration’s Cocoa Revolution initiative, which seeks to boost cocoa production, improve farmers’ livelihoods and restore Ondo State’s leadership in cocoa production, Oloruntogbe said he would be unable to accept the appointment because of pressing personal and professional commitments.

According to him, “After careful reflection and consultation, I have decided, with the highest respect, to honourably decline the offer to serve on the Board at this time due to pressing personal and professional commitments that will not allow me to give the assignment the full attention and dedication it deserves.”

However, beyond declining the appointment, Oloruntogbe urged the governor to investigate what he described as the alleged illegal collection of levies from cocoa farmers operating within the Ose Game Reserve in Oka Akoko.

He alleged that farmers had complained that as much as N150,000 was being collected from each farmer into a private account without the issuance of official government receipts.

The former ALGON chairman called on the state government to investigate the allegation and ensure that all levies and payments within the cocoa value chain are transparent, properly documented and remitted into designated government accounts.

He argued that addressing the allegations would not only protect cocoa farmers from exploitation but also strengthen public confidence in the implementation of the state’s Cocoa Revolution Agenda.

The letter read: “This recognition is deeply humbling, and I commend Your Excellency’s bold Cocoa Revolution Agenda aimed at repositioning agriculture, boosting farmers’ livelihoods and restoring Ondo State’s leadership in cocoa production.

“After careful reflection and consultation, I have decided, with the highest respect, to honourably decline the offer to serve on the Board at this time due to pressing personal and professional commitments that will not allow me to give the assignment the full attention and dedication it deserves.

“In the spirit of supporting the success of the Cocoa Revolution, I also wish to respectfully bring to Your Excellency’s attention a matter of urgent concern raised by cocoa farmers in Oka Akoko who farm within the Ose Game Reserve.

“There are allegations of the collection of huge sums amounting to N150,000 per farmer into a private account, without any official receipt being issued.

“I respectfully urge the state government to look into this matter and ensure that all levies and payments within the cocoa value chain are properly documented, transparent and channelled through official government accounts.

“This will protect our farmers and strengthen trust in the reforms your administration is driving.”

Rescued Oyo principal reveals why she asked about her car after rescue

 The principal of Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has explained why one of the first things she asked after regaining her freedom was about her car, saying she believed the police had recovered it before discovering that her abductors had burnt it.

Alamu spoke on Monday after she and the rescued teachers and pupils were formally handed over to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

Her explanation came after many people reacted to a remark she made shortly after she was rescued, when she asked about the vehicle she was driving on the day she and dozens of pupils and teachers were kidnapped.

“What actually happened is I thought they left the car there. The police would have towed the car to their office.

“But somebody showed me the car where it was burnt, and that was not the part we took. So I thought… I think they drove it to that point before it was burnt.

“That was not the way we took,” she said.

Asked if the traumatic experience would affect her teaching career, Alamu said she hoped she would recover with time but admitted she was unsure about returning to the same school because of the long distance and what she had been through.

“With time, I’ve worked for 28 years, so I have four years. With time, maybe I can get over it.

“But going that far, the distance between that place… is far already. So I sacrifice a lot when it comes to transportation. Now coupled with this, I don’t know what will happen,” she said.

Earlier on Monday, Alamu also recounted the victims’ 56-day ordeal in captivity. She said the kidnappers beat the children to keep them quiet, chained and blindfolded the male teachers, and forced the captives to make dangerous night journeys through the forest to avoid security operatives.

The victims were abducted by gunmen at Ahoro Esinle School on May 15, 2026. They spent 56 days in captivity before security agencies secured their release.

The Federal Government announced their rescue on Friday. The rescued pupils and teachers were taken to the Military Hospital in Ibadan, where they received medical treatment and psychosocial support before they were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government on Monday.

Alleged death threats against Seyi Tinubu: Sowore offers to help DJ Chicken get out of prison

African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has offered to support controversial disc jockey and TikTok personality, Ademola Abiodun, popularly known as DJ Chicken, following his arraignment over alleged threats against Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.

Sowore made the offer in a post shared on his X handle on Monday, saying he was willing to advocate for the content creator and assist in challenging what he described as “burdensome charges.”

“If anyone knows how to reach DJ Chicken’s family or relatives, I will be happy to advocate for him and help him challenge the burdensome charges brought against him by the jobless @PoliceNG,” he wrote.

The former presidential candidate criticised what he described as the Federal Government’s prosecution of young Nigerians, insisting that DJ Chicken should not be behind bars.

“I want to help get DJ Chicken out of prison because I do not believe he deserves to spend a day behind bars; he is entitled to his liberty under the law.

“Young Nigerians need opportunities, guidance, and justice, not persecution and endless incarceration,” he added.

PUNCH Online reported that DJ Chicken was on Friday arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos, on a three-count charge bordering on alleged threat to kill, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and offences under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

The charges stemmed from a viral video in which the content creator, while commenting on the 2027 presidential election in Yoruba, allegedly threatened to kill Seyi Tinubu if President Bola Tinubu won re-election.

Following widespread backlash, DJ Chicken released another video retracting the statement, describing it as a joke intended to attract attention and insisting that he had no intention of harming the President’s son.

He pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

The trial magistrate, M.F. Onamusi, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum and ordered that he be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The case was adjourned until August 3, 2026, for further proceedings.