Author: Iduozee Efe Paul

Former Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation under Lucky Igbinedion administration, Hon. Charles Idahosa has passed on at the age of 72. Idahosa passed today, Saturday 20th December, 2025 in Benin City, Edo State capital after a brief illness. He served as former Political Adviser to Adams Oshimhole, when he was the governor of Edo State. Charles Idahosa, known by many sobriquets, the two most popular being Charly Tempo, A.K. A, Akakasiaka, is a man of many parts who comes in different shades to different people depending on which of his side one encounter.

The Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, has charged newly inducted medical doctors of the institution to consciously avoid conflicts of interest and uphold the highest standards of professional ethics. Prof. Ezemonye gave the charge at the 20th Oath-taking and Induction Ceremony of 29 newly qualified medical doctors held at the university in Okada, Edo State. He stressed that beyond clinical competence, doctors must treat patients with dignity and respect, noting that these values are critical to patient safety and the trust reposed in the medical profession. Speaking through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Raphael Adeghe, the…

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday presented a ₦939.85 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill, christened the Budget of Hope and Growth, to the Edo State House of Assembly, outlining an ambitious fiscal roadmap aimed at consolidating gains of his first year in office and restoring public confidence in governance. Governor Okpebholo said the 2026 fiscal plan was designed to build on the foundation laid in 2025 while expanding the reach of government programmes to directly impact the lives of Edo people across all sectors of the economy. According to the governor, the budget prioritises key areas critical to sustainable…

A 49-year-old man has been arrested in Edo State over the alleged murder of his 15-year-old son and the clandestine burial of the boy’s body within their family compound in Uhe Community, Igueben Local Government Area. The Edo State Police Command said the suspect was taken into custody on 6 December 2025 after operatives, acting on credible intelligence, uncovered the shallow grave during a visit to the property led by the Divisional Police Officer. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect allegedly assaulted his son with a stick at about 7pm on Friday, 5 December, an attack police say resulted in…

The immediate-past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has denied leaving behind a debt of N600 billion and has asked the Monday Okpehbolo-led administration to crosscheck with the Debt Management Office (DMO) before coming out with unfounded information.” The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, had in Benin claimed that the immediate past administration in the state left a whooping ₦600 billion debt. Reacting to Afegbua’s claim via video call, Obaseki’s Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, challenged the current administration in the state to visit the DMO to see whether Edo drew such debt. Crusoe, who said no…

Suspected cannabis (Indian Hemp) farmers and traffickers have attacked a team of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigerian Army personnel in Ukpuje town, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, a community notorious for cannabis cultivation. According to a statement issued by Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, the team came under heavy attack from the local cultivators who ambushed them, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. Ofoyeju who commended the bravery of his officers and the army personnel involved, noted that the operation in Ukpuje underscores the ongoing collaboration between law enforcement agencies to…

The Benin High Court presided over by Justice Rita Irele-Ifijeh has adjourned the cyberstalking case against Paul Okungbowa, the Young People’s Party (YPP) governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Edo State after he and his lawyer failed to appear in court. When the matter was called, E.E. Ageloisa announced appearance as watching the brief of the nominal complainant, while Paul Okungbowa was absent and unrepresented. He applied that hearing notice be served on the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the defendant to enable the substantive state counsel to make the necessary application on the…

The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the proposed salary increment by the federal government, describing it as a mere drop in the ocean. The Benin Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, stated that poor pay for lecturers was hindering the desired reversal of the brain drain syndrome currently bedevilling the university education in Nigeria. Igbafen said in a press statement issued in Benin that it was sad that the federal government has demonstrated a clear unwillingness to quickly and holistically resolve all the outstanding issues. He said the federal government should…

Edo State House of Assembly has commenced an investigation into the operations and funding of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA), a project initiated by the immediate past administration. The ad-hoc committee leading the probe began its fact-finding hearing on Thursday in Benin City, offering stakeholders the opportunity to present evidence and clarify their roles. Appearing before the committee, MOWAA’s representative, Olayiwola Afolabi SAN, requested additional time to study documents submitted by his client. The Managing Director of EdoGIS, Tony Ikpasaja, testified that 4.6 hectares of land initially allocated for the Central Hospital were later ceded to MOWAA. He…

Luck favoured two brothers who were abducted by kidnappers along the Adughe-Imoga Road by kidnappers on November 8 have regained their freedom. The brothers, identified as Isaac and Victor Olayere, were taken into the bush as soon as they were kidnapped in Uma/Imoga, into confusion as the kidnappers demanded N22m ransom. While the community was still at a loss over how to raise the ransom, the brother called their father with an unknown number, telling him they had escaped from the kidnappers’ den. The Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye, revealed this to our correspondent on Monday during a…