News
NAPTIP Arraigns Abuja Hospital and Its Four Staff for Organ Harvesting
NAPTIP Arraigns Abuja Hospital and Its Four Staff for Organ Harvesting
By: Michael Mike
An Abuja based private hospital, Alliance Hospital and Service Ltd and four of its staff have been arraigned National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) on an 11-count charge bordering on alleged involvement in organ harvesting
They were all charged in contravention of Section 20 (3), of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
Reading their charge at their arraignment on Monday, Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, said that between February and May of 2023, the accused allegedly played a part in the harvesting of the kidneys of three young males including two minors.
In their plea, the defendants, Emmanuel Muyiwa Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, Dr Christopher Otabor, Dr Aremu Abayomi, and Alliance Hospital pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge preferred against them.
Upon taking their plea, the trial judge, Keziah Ogbonnaya, granted the defendants bail ahead of commencement of trial on May 6th.
Among the bail conditions is that all four defendants report at the Abuja office of NAPTIP daily from Tuesday 19th March, except on days of hearing of the matter. They are also ordered to deposit their travel documents.
Counsel for NAPTIP and Director Legal and Prosecution, NAPTIP, Hassan Tahir did not opposed the defendants bail application by their counsels, he however, prayed the court for accelerated hearing to lay the matter to rest, a prayer which the judge granted.
Tahir, who later spoke to journalists, said: “Everybody is entitled to bail and it is a bailable offence so we don’t want to waste time opposing bail, it will be unnecessary for us to waste time opposing bail.”
He added that: “We have filed an 11 count charge against the defendants including the hospital and their plea has been taken and the matter has been adjourned to another date which is 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th so we applied for accelerated, hearing and the court graciously granted that application.”
NAPTIP Arraigns Abuja Hospital and Its Four Staff for Organ Harvesting
Security forced arrested three over illegal arms dealings in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Three men have been arrested for allegedly engaging in illegal weapons dealings in Bauchi State, security sources said.
The suspects, identified as Peter Pama and Saleh Monday, both of Iburu, and Sunday Makama of Kasuwan Magani, were apprehended on Feb. 17 following intelligence on illicit arms activities.
Zagazola gathered that one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle and one fabricated pump-action gun from the suspects.
Investigations into the case are ongoing as security agencies work to determine the full extent of the arms network.
Security forced arrested three over illegal arms dealings in Bauchi
Joint troops repel bandit attack in Katsina, neutralise two and recover motorcycle
By: Zagazola Makama
Joint troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have repelled an armed bandit attack in Gida Soda Village, Katsina State, neutralising two attackers and recovering a motorcycle, security sources said.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 17 when suspected bandits stormed the village. Troops, acting promptly in coordination with local police and Civil Watch Patrol Teams, engaged the attackers in an intense gunfight, forcing the criminals to flee.
During the operation, two of the bandits were neutralised, and a Boxer-brand motorcycle belonging to the group was recovered.
Tragically, one resident, Hassana Muhammad, 30, was reportedly fatally shot during the attack. She was rushed to Dansoda Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel.
Sources said efforts to track fleeing bandits and secure the area are ongoing.
Joint troops repel bandit attack in Katsina, neutralise two and recover motorcycle
AACIS’26 Set to Open $40 Trillion Africa-Caribbean Market
By: Michael Mike
The 2026 edition of the Aquarian Consult’s Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS’26) will focus on boosting trade, investment, and private sector partnerships between Africa and the Caribbean, targeting a combined market valued at $40 trillion across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas.
The Chief of Staff of Aquarian Consult Ltd, Serumun Ubwa, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja, ahead of the summit scheduled for March 23–28, 2026.
She described AACIS as a strategic platform designed to connect African businesses with Caribbean partners, attract foreign investment, and promote sustainable economic collaboration across key sectors.
Ubwa highlighted that the inaugural AACIS in 2025 achieved landmark outcomes, including the establishment of the first direct flight from Africa to Saint Kitts and Nevis, the signing of Memoranda of Understanding in agriculture and cultural exchange, and a $40 million deep-water port agreement. She said these successes set the stage for the 2026 summit, which will expand opportunities for trade and investment.
She revealed that the 2026 summit will introduce two specialized events: the Afri-Caribbean Agriculture and Food Security Summit (March 23–24) and the Afri-Caribbean Health Summit (March 26), running alongside the main Investment Summit from March 25–28.
“By focusing on agriculture and healthcare, we aim to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance food security, open new export markets for African producers, and support policy frameworks that reduce import dependence in the Caribbean,” Ubwa said.
She added that the summit will feature structured Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) matchmaking sessions, an Investor Deal Room managed by investment promotion agencies, and sector-specific engagements in agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, tourism, digital technology, and the creative economy.
Ubwa added that over 2,000 participants are expected, including current and former heads of government, sovereign wealth funds, multilateral institutions, and private sector leaders. She emphasised that AACIS seeks to strengthen South-South cooperation and increase Africa-Caribbean trade, which currently represents less than one per cent of total trade between the regions.
Interested participants are expected to register for the summit at www.aquarianconsult.com/AACIS.
AACIS’26 Set to Open $40 Trillion Africa-Caribbean Market
Bandit attack in Zamfara leaves one dead, three abducted
Security forced arrested three over illegal arms dealings in Bauchi
Joint troops repel bandit attack in Katsina, neutralise two and recover motorcycle
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