News

Abia Lawmaker Ikwechegh threatened to pay N50m to people to kill me – Bolt driver narrates ordeal

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed the arrest of an Abia State lawmaker, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, for allegedly assaulting a Bolt driver. The police statement, issued by spokesperson Josephine Adeh, reveals that Ikwechegh is currently under interrogation at Maitama Police Station.

The altercation reportedly began when Bolt driver Stephen Abuwatseya, was delivering a package to Ikwechegh. According to the police, “Preliminary investigations indicate that Mr. Abuwatseya was delivering a package to Hon. Ikwechegh when a dispute arose concerning the method of delivery. During this altercation, Mr. Abuwatseya was reportedly physically assaulted.”

Further highlighting the lawmaker’s dismissive attitude, police cited a troubling statement attributed to Ikwechegh. After allegedly slapping Abuwatseya, Ikwechegh reportedly remarked, “You can go ahead and call the Inspector General of Police.”

This comment, perceived as undermining the authority of law enforcement, has intensified public outcry. Olatunji Disu, Commissioner of Police in the FCT, mandated a comprehensive investigation to ensure accountability.

“The Command is committed to conducting an impartial investigation and ensuring justice in all cases. Upon completion of the investigation, appropriate legal action will be taken,” the statement assured.

The incident mirrors a recent assault case involving British Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who was suspended after being recorded allegedly assaulting a man. The similarity has drawn attention to growing concerns over officials’ conduct both locally and abroad.

In a conversation with social media personality Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, Abuwatseye revealed that Ikwechegh threatened to pay fifty million Naira to individuals to kill him.

He explained that this threat prompted him to record the incident. Abuwatseye also mentioned that he is unwell, noting that the lawmaker hit him several times on the chest.

Parts of his statement:

“You Common Bolt Driver. You Are a Poor Man. You Have Pride in Your Poverty. Do You Know Who I Am?”, Alexander Ikwechegh told me.

Victim’s Account:

“I said, ‘So the problem you have now is that a poor man should not speak. I am a Nigerian and should not be treated as a foreigner in this country. I am from Delta State, and I cannot have you treat me like a foreigner in my own country.

“The honorable member was not detained when he came to the station. He was calling me names. I was mute and sat at an edge. My car is still at the station.

“I brought snails for him. When I got to his estate gate, I called him and told him I was at the gate. He asked me to give the phone to the security personnel, who later directed me to his house. When I arrived at his house, I saw a man seated close to where I parked my car.

When I got out, I greeted him twice, but he didn’t respond. So I thought he wasn’t the one. The next thing I did was call the number on my phone, and his phone rang.

“What I heard was, ‘Are you stupid? Are you mad? Are you a fool? Bring my stuff for me!’ I was not happy with the way he spoke to me because I was just doing my professional job. So I told him, ‘Oga, this thing you are saying to me—we have not gotten to this. Normally, I am not even supposed to bring this to you. You are supposed to come and pick it up yourself.’ That was the only thing that got him angry.

“So he replied, ‘You are asking me to come to your car to pick my stuff? Are you okay? Do you know whom you are talking to?’ He hit me on my chest several times. I am not feeling well. He hit me on my chest repeatedly while I just looked at him. But when he became more of a threat to me, I had to record him because I didn’t go there with the intention of fighting him. If I had gone there with a different motive, I would have recorded him from the beginning.

“I started recording him when he became a threat and said he would pay fifty million naira, and they would ‘delete’ me. He was calling me all sorts of names. He claimed he would pay 50 million naira to people, and they would kill me, and nobody would say anything. When I noticed that this situation was escalating beyond what I ever expected, I quickly took out my phone and started recording.”

News

Former Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan dies at 71

Former Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has died at 71 after a period of illness, with his family announcing his death on Monday. Uduaghan died this morning, Monday, October 19, 2026, at a hospital in Abuja, according to Channels Television, which cited a family member.

His death was announced in a statement signed by his son, Toju Anire Uduaghan, on behalf of the family. The family expressed profound grief over his passing, describing him as a beloved father, brother, uncle, and patriarch whose life and public service touched many people across Delta State and Nigeria.

“His passing has left us devastated. Words can hardly express the depth of our sorrow at the loss of a man who meant so much to our family and whose life and service touched countless others across Delta State and Nigeria,” the statement said.

The family also thanked God for his life and contributions to public service, while praying for comfort for relatives, friends, associates, and former colleagues mourning his death.

Uduaghan governed Delta State from 2007 to 2015, serving two consecutive terms. He succeeded James Ibori as governor and remained active in politics after leaving office.

Before becoming governor, he served as Delta State Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003. He later served as Secretary to the State Government from 2003 to 2007. A medical doctor by profession, Uduaghan held several public offices in Delta State before rising to the state’s highest political office. His death comes three days before his 72nd birthday, which would have been on October 22. The family has not announced funeral arrangements in the reports reviewed.

News

FG confirms Ebola case in FCT, begins 44 contact tracing

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said laboratory tests confirmed the infection. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Pate said the patient is a woman who recently travelled to Uganda in East Africa. She returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7, which worsened four days later before tests confirmed Ebola.

The minister said the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat, and other agencies are working together to stop the virus from spreading.

He said health officials had started tracing and monitoring people who might have been exposed to the patient. He urged those contacted, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the requested information and follow health officials’ instructions.

Pate also asked hospitals and other healthcare facilities nationwide to watch for suspected Ebola cases and report them quickly. He advised health workers to identify and isolate suspected patients promptly and follow strict safety measures.

He added that anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before going to a hospital. The minister also warned Nigerians against spreading unverified information or stigmatising people who might have been exposed to the virus. He urged the public to rely on updates from official health authorities.

Lifestyle

Mo Abudu Opens Ebony Life In London

Mo Abudu has opened a London cinema dedicated to African and Black films, saying her experiences growing up in England inspired her to help change perceptions of Africa.Abudu opened EbonyLife Place London on Thursday, 8 October, in south-west London near Nine Elms, with a 160-seat auditorium for films, performances and cultural events. AFP describes it as the UK’s first cinema dedicated exclusively to African and Black films. London Mayor Sadiq Khan joined the opening. The centre will also showcase African food and fashion.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Africa shared on X on Friday, Abudu recalled that when people were asked what came to mind at the word Africa, the answers she heard were “poverty” and babies with flies on their faces. She said those images came largely from what people read in newspapers and saw on television.

Growing up in England, she said, she found herself acting as an ambassador for everything African or Nigerian and was often asked “the most pathetic questions.” She said people sometimes said hurtful things and she learned to swallow them and move on. Racism is real, she said, and the way to deal with it is to offer a different narrative.

She described the cinema as a permanent, round-the-clock home for African and Black films, food and fashion. She stressed that it isn’t meant to keep those films off other platforms, but that because the community is underrepresented, it needs spaces where it feels safe and can share its own content while inviting the rest of the world in. The only way to do that, she said, is to be in charge of the narrative.

Membership will be open to everyone, with no ethnic or nationality restrictions, though details of the scheme have not been announced.

The programme is still being finalised, but Abudu has said it will include films from across Africa and movies that celebrate Black actors and storytelling, alongside the centre’s own productions and the next Black Panther film. She told AFP she would like to open a similar space in Paris, possibly through a partnership.