By Vincent Tyosuugh

After consuming a suspected poisonous herbal concoction allegedly sold to residents of Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, at least four victims have reportedly died.

Reports indicate that as of Friday, several other victims were receiving treatment in different hospitals, with some in critical conditions.

The latest death was said to have occured on Thursday, following the arrival in Oju of the body of a third victim, who reportedly died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Makurdi.

Earlier reports had put the death toll at three.

Witnesses said that the incident began on Monday, November 2, when residents who purchased and consumed the herbal mixture from three male traders identified as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala during Ihiejwo market day started developing similar symptoms.

The witnesses also said that medical experts believed to come from the World Health Organisation (WHO) had arrived in the area to support the response to the outbreak.

According to DailyTrust correspondent, three suspects have been apprehended by the leadership of the Igede Youth Council in collaboration with the Oju Township Youth leadership and handed over to the police.

They said the suspects were later transferred to the Benue State Police Command in Makurdi for investigation.

The Chairman of Oju LGA, Jackson Ominyi, has reportedly confirmed the incident but was yet to establish the exact number of casualties as of Wednesday.

Ominyi said the local government had mobilised its security and health officials to manage the situation, adding that victims were receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Oju, while the health department was providing necessary support.

“I have tried to calm the situation down in my local government. The person selling the herbs has been arrested and sent to Makurdi three days back,” he said.

The chairman said he had directed relevant officials to continue attending to the victims while efforts were being made to establish the full extent of the tragedy.

Meanwhile, the President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade Idoko John-Frank Ozzidi, had earlier called on the Benue State Government to ensure a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice.

Ozzidi said the youths deliberately resisted taking the law into their hands and handed the suspects over to the police, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the deaths must be fully investigated.

He also urged political officeholders from the area to follow up on the matter to ensure justice for the deceased and adequate attention for survivors.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Peter Aondongu, could not be reached on his telephone as of the time of filling this report.

By Felix Umande

In a stunning judgment that has thrown the African Democratic Congress (ADC) into fresh crisis, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday voided the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party and annulled the 2027 presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.

Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Lifu, held that the caretaker committee was illegally constituted, and consequently, all steps taken by it including the nomination of Atiku and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate were null and void.

The court also barred Senator Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

Judgment in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 was delivered barely a day after Atiku staged a large rally in Sokoto, casting fresh legal doubt on his presidential bid.

The suit was instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who contended that upon the resignation of Chief Ralph Nwosu as National Chairman, the party constitution positioned him to assume leadership, and that the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker violated both the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

Defendants in the matter were the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims, declared the Mark-led committee unlawful, and set aside all actions undertaken under its authority.

The ADC has vowed to appeal. Its National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party, said the party will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

Atiku, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ADC, had begun campaigning with a pledge to restore fuel subsidy and reopen land borders. His Sokoto rally featured former Governor Amaechi accusing the Tinubu administration of unprecedented corruption, and former Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, accusing state authorities of frustrating opposition campaign.

The verdict adds to long-running leadership litigations rocking the ADC. In July 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed a Federal High Court order restraining INEC from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Mark-led caretaker.

In a 2-1 decision, with Justices Okon Abang and Donatus Okorowo in the majority and Justice Abba Mohammed dissenting, the appellate court ruled that power to conduct state congresses resided in elected state executives, not caretaker national leadership.

The ADC and Atiku camp at the time argued the judgment concerned only state congresses and the tenure of state executives, not the presidential primary.

Spokesman Phrank Shaibu had said then that “political propaganda can never substitute for judicial pronouncements.”

The new judgment now directly attacks the caretaker’s power to organise the presidential primary, effectively rendering that distinction irrelevant.

For the ruling APC, the development offers reprieve, as Atiku had sought to present the ADC as the main opposition vehicle, accusing the government of anti-people policies and promising economic restoration.

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

Youths have been warned against internet fraud, Ponzi schemes, betting and other get-rich-quick practices by the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, urging them to embrace integrity, financial discipline and legitimate means of earning a livinghe

He gave the warning in his goodwill message on Saturday, October 31, 2026, while speaking at an event organised by the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development in Abuja. The event was themed, “Raising Responsible Leaders, Building Sustainable Nations”.

Olukoyede, who was represented at the event by the Head of the Commission’s Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit, Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, said responsible leadership was fundamental to the fight against economic and financial crimes, noting that leadership failure and corruption were closely linked.

He said no nation could achieve sustainable development on the foundation of corruption, fraud and financial indiscipline.

“No nation can build a sustainable future on the quicksand of corruption, fraud, and financial indiscipline.

“Sustainable nations are not built by natural resources alone, they are built by responsible people, leaders who understand that public trust is not for private gain, that integrity is not negotiable, and that accountability is not optional,” he said.

The EFCC chairman said the Commission had observed that the root of most financial crimes was a failure of values, adding that, “We arrest Yahoo boys who want quick wealth without work, we investigate corrupt officials who divert resources meant for communities, and we prosecute those who see leadership as an opportunity for enrichment, not service. This is why this theme resonates deeply with us.”

He said the EFCC’s mandate went beyond arresting and prosecuting offenders to include public enlightenment and value reorientation, particularly among young Nigerians.According to him, the Commission, through its Public Affairs Department, has continued to establish Integrity Clubs in primary and secondary schools and Zero Tolerance Clubs in tertiary institutions to instil integrity and discourage financial crimes among students.

Olukoyede identified financial responsibility as another critical component of raising responsible leaders, urging youths to embrace legitimate earnings, savings, budgeting and delayed gratification.He warned that the country could not achieve sustainable development if its young population continued to embrace Ponzi schemes, betting and the get-rich-quick syndrome.

The EFCC boss also stressed the need for deterrence, urging young Nigerians to understand that criminal activities such as internet fraud, money laundering and forgery carried consequences that could jeopardise their future opportunities.“A criminal record for internet fraud, money laundering, or forgery will close doors to global opportunities forever. No responsible future is built with a compromised past,” he said.

He reminded the youths that leadership was not restricted to holding public offices, noting that they were already exercising leadership in their homes, schools, social media spaces and communities.“The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders of today,” he said.

Olukoyede consequently urged them to prioritise integrity, diligence and service to humanity over popularity, internet fraud and selfish interests.

“I therefore charge you today: Be the responsible leader Nigeria is waiting for. Choose integrity over popularity. Choose diligence over Yahoo-Yahoo. Choose service over selfishness. A sustainable nation is simply a collection of responsible citizens doing the right thing daily,” he said.