General News
Land grabbing allegations: Njoku Family accuses minister, brother of peddling falsehood
The Njoku Chita Family of Umuchima has said the press statement issued by the elder brother to the works minister Engr Dave Umahi , Eze Laz Umahi Nweze was face-saving , irresponsible , distractive and not in sync with the allegations and petitions of land grabbing and threat to lives against the minister .
The family in a statement said it is not against the expansion of the Dave Umahi University of Health Sciences and called on the Minister of works Engr Dave Umahi , his elder brother Laz Umahi and the former Health Commissioner in Ebonyi state, Dr Umezurike Akuma to address the issues and stop playing to the gallery .
In a statement entitled : RE: Community Backs Expansion of David Umahi University, Clears Minister of Land Grabbing Allegations”, the Njoku family said the publication was an orchestrated plan to change the narrative and create misinformation , adding that the works minister has a responsibility to defend himself and clear the air on the various allegations contained in their petition before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Director of Department of State Services , the Inspector General of Police as well as the National Security Adviser .
The statement said : “The attention of Njoku Chita family have been drawn to the face-saving press release organized by the elder brother Minister David Umahi – Eze Laz Umahi Nweze, claiming that the community was responsible for securing lands in favour of the University.
“As a case in point, we are not against the University expanding its lands, but wonder what interest any group of individuals operating under the guise of community leaders will have in using their personal money to pay for land and give to a federal university.”
The family also accused the works minister of forcefully acquiring the land on which the university was first built , “Even at the onset when the University was conceived and built, the land upon which it was built was forcefully taken by then Governor Umahi.
“Another question to ask the elder brother of Minister Umahi and his former Commissioner for health – Umezurike, including his benefactor Nicholas Odii, is when did the Njoku Chita family ever claimed that their complaint against Umahi was for or on behalf of Umuchima village or Uburu Community? The complaint through our lawyer is personal to us, as the land Umahi is grabbing belongs to us, not Umuchima or Uburu. Anyone can plant their family members and loyalist in places of traditional influence for a time like this and it is obvious that they are all working hard to shield the Minister from his own actions that led to our petition.”
“In any case, we have him on audio where he threatened our family of consequence for not allowing him into our land. We can share this audio with the world.
“Apparently, the Police are incapable of securing our lives as our petition has been abandoned because Umahi is a big man, but we will not give up an inch of our land, unless we are all killed as they apparently plan to do. We are aware of the threat issued by Dr. Umezurike during a meeting they called on Monday and his subsequent trespass into our home that night in an apparent show of force.
“It is a shame that those who claim to be community leaders are all out in defense of a big man who placed them there to do his bidding. Shouldn’t a community leadership aim to embark on customary arbitration to resolve the impasse and ensure that no one losses their ancestral land to an insatiable individual? No, this ones are out to defend the offender.”
It continued ,” If the Umuchima village or Uburu as a Community, under this leadership appointed by Umahi has any land to give to the University, they are free to do so. Instead of deceiving people into giving up their lands and giving them stipends through a privately owned company named Black Legend Technologies Ltd. Why should a community buy land in the name of a private company?
“All the people cannot be stupid at the same time.
“Finally, none of us is a politician and we have no political interest whatsoever. Therefore, attempting to paint our legitimate concern as “politically motivated” is disingenuous as our land is not a political property.”
The family further accused Eze Laz Umahi, elder brother to the works minister , the former Health Commissioner Dr Umezurike Akuma and their Kinsmen of plots hatched at a meeting convened by the Eze to use thugs and take over their ancestral land .
They particularly accused Dr Umezurike of providing the strategies and volunteering to lead the mop operation on their ancestral land .
In his response over the alleged invasion , the former Health Commissioner during the Dave Umahi reign as Ebonyi state Governor denied leading thugs to the Njoku family land saying ,” I was there personally . What happened was we want to start clearing the areas that are not in contention and I was there to show them these areas and not to take their land”.
On his part , Engr Umahi’s elder brother , Eze Laz Umahi Nweze earlier turned down a request for his response as the convener of the meeting where strategies were allegedly mapped out against the Njoku family land but moments after he replied through WhatsApp : ” Good morning dear. I am HRH Eze Laz Umahi. I am from Uburu Ancient Kingdom in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State.
“You called me on phone earlier this morning, making inquiry about a meeting Ndi-Uburu held in its Multipurpose Hall few days ago. I have drawn the attention of my Attorney to the interaction I had with you and he asked me to go ahead and help you with whatever information you need regarding the referenced meeting.
“Let’s do it either of these two ways to avoid misrepresentation: Send a questionnaire to me on the information you need.
“Alternatively, if you’d prefer I provide a written statement, that too can works.
“Please let me know how you’d like us to proceed.
Best Regards.”
Barely hours after the Eze addressed a press conference which read in parts: “The people of Uburu community, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have supported the acquisition of more lands for the expansion of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Science(DUFUHS).
“In a communique signed by leaders of the host community, HRH Lazarus Umahi, Chief Shedrack Onu and Chief Odi Nicholas Enyi, the community said the expansion of the university was a collective agreement of the host community which was endorsed by the Uburu traditional rulers council.”
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
To cushion the harsh impact of rising living costs, the Federal Government has approved a N70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, .
This was one of the outcomes of the conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja on Tuesday, following renewed pressure from organised labour over the rising cost of living, workers’ welfare and outstanding agreements.
The government also approved the payment of peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
The parties did not agree on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, but agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
The resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding signed at the end of the meeting by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The document made public after the meeting was tagged: ‘Resolutions Reached at a Conciliation Meeting Held at Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Between the Federal Government and the Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday, 27th October, 2026’, outlined agreements on minimum wage negotiations, transport support, outstanding allowances, health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
The meeting followed an earlier conciliation session held on October 22, 2026, convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to address disagreements between the government and organised labour.
On the transport intervention, the document stated, “That transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) commencing from November 2026 would be paid across all levels for a period of six months.”
The agreement trails high transportation costs and the prices of other essential goods following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Organised labour has repeatedly demanded measures to ease the economic pressure on workers, including reductions in petrol prices, improved wages and the implementation of outstanding welfare agreements.
The memorandum also noted the NLC leadership’s concerns about the government’s handling of its demands.
Addressing the disagreement, it stated that the NLC leadership “expressed concern over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the above issues.”
It added that the Federal Government, in response, “stated that it fully respects the right of the Congress to advocate for improved working conditions for Nigerian workers, and is genuinely trying to address every aspect of it through a structured intervention.”
On the national minimum wage, the parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
However, the effective date of implementation remained unresolved.
The document stated, “It was agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meeting immediately. It should however be noted that there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation.”
The disagreement leaves a key issue outstanding despite the commitment to begin negotiations without delay.
The national minimum wage became a major issue in 2024 when the Federal Government and organised labour negotiated an increase in the statutory minimum monthly wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The new rate was subsequently enacted into law through the National Minimum Wage Act.
The latest agreement refers to further discussions and the implementation date of the national minimum wage but does not provide details of the specific proposal under consideration or when the parties expect to conclude the negotiations.
The agreement indicates that while the government has approved some financial interventions, other workers’ demands remain subject to further negotiations, administrative verification or decisions by relevant government bodies.
“Trump… Please bring my son back to me. I am begging you for mercy.” And what Trump did when he heard those words… may bring tears to your eyes.
Her name was Malphine. She was 95 years old. A mother who had spent years waiting. Hoping. Praying. And one day… she finally got the chance to meet Trump. And stood before him. With all the strength she had left. And spoke the only words in her heart. Please. Bring my son home.
And Trump looked at this 95-year-old mother. Held her hands. And gave her a promise. I will bring your son home.
And Malphine held on to that promise. The way only a mother of 95 can hold on to something. When hope is all she has left.
Days went by. Weeks went by. And then one morning… the news finally arrived. Her son Marc was coming home. After years away. After years inside a foreign prison. After years of a mother waking up every single day, wondering whether she would ever get to hold her child again.
He stepped off that plane. And returned home. And when Marc’s feet finally touched American soil… Trump was there. In person. To welcome him. To embrace him. To look him in the eyes and say… welcome home. America has not forgotten you.
And in that single embrace…
Trump showed the world something that no speech and no rally could ever truly express: That America cares about its people. Wholeheartedly. Unconditionally. And never gives up fighting for them.
And today… I sat thinking about that story. And remembered every harsh word I had ever spoken about this man. Every judgment. Every doubt. Every moment I chose to look away. And I felt something I can hardly describe. Deep shame.
Because Malphine trusted Trump at 95 years old. With all the hope she had left. And he helped bring her son home.
Today… this is the side of Trump that so many people may never take the time to see.
Not the Trump in the headlines. Not the Trump on the rally stage. Just a man. Who listened to a 95-year-old mother pleading for her son. Worked to help answer her prayers. And personally showed up to welcome him home.
If this story touched your heart today… let God and every American reading this feel your .
And tell me honestly, in your own words — after reading this… can you still speak badly about President Trump? Because I truly find it difficult to do so. Not anymore. Not after hearing this story.
Sons of Liberty. Maga Movement
–Calls for NSCDC reforms, compensation for victims
By Son Tertsea, Abuja
Dehydration was cause of the death of the detained miners, the panel constituted to investigate the deaths of alleged illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, has stated.
The chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, while presenting the report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, , said the miners suffered acute respiratory failure.
He also corrected the earlier reports that 37 miners died in custódy, saying 33 miners were confirmed dead.
He said the miners collapsed after calling for water and were ignored by the personnel of the NSCDC.
He added that the detention room was overcrowded and poorly ventilated.
He said the miners were illegally arrested and detained, stressing that they were all detained beyond the legally allowed period.
Part of the panel’s report called for a total reform of the NSCDC as well as solicited compensation for the victims.
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