A 31-year-old Nigerian man, Adimabua Chukwuka, is facing a possible life sentence after being charged with the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old homeless man, Mario Ferreira, in Toronto, Canada.

TheNigerian Metro gathered on Tuesday that Chukwuka was arrested last Friday by the Toronto Police Service’s 52 Division following a tip from the public.

It was alleged that Chukwuka attacked Ferreira without provocation, leading to the victim’s death.

According to the report, police responded to a call from University of Toronto Campus Safety Special Constables on March 20 regarding an unconscious man near 144 College St. Officers, firefighters, and paramedics arrived at the scene, but Ferreira was pronounced dead.

Detective Trevor Grieve emphasised the police department’s commitment to justice, stating, “We are committed to bringing justice to Mr Ferreira and his loved ones.”

He urged anyone with information to come forward, adding, “We are asking anyone who may have seen something, no matter how small, to call immediately.”

The report stated that homicide investigators released a photo of the suspect on March 21, and shortly afterward, Chukwuka was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.

Grieve explained that security footage showed the victim lying on a bench near 6 Queen’s Park Crescent around 5:20 a.m. when the suspect armed himself with debris, possibly from a construction site or dumpster.

“Without warning or provocation, the suspect approaches Mr Ferreira, who is lying on the bench, and uses that debris to assault him repeatedly and violently,” Grieve said.

“He then fled the area holding the debris he used to commit the assault,” he added. He noted that investigators continue to gather evidence and review security footage.

“We are continuing to canvas for additional video and information,” Grieve said, urging anyone with relevant footage to contact police.

Meanwhile, according to Section 235 (1) of the Canadian Criminal Code, anyone convicted of first-degree or second-degree murder faces a mandatory life sentence.

The law states, “Everyone who commits first-degree murder or second-degree murder is guilty of an indictable offence and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life.”

It further clarifies that “the sentence of imprisonment for life prescribed by this section is a minimum punishment.”

If convicted, TheNigerian Metro reports that Chukwuka will face life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years.

TheNigerian Metro reports that a 44-year-old Nigerian man, Alex Sualim, who lived in Toronto, has been sentenced to 12.5 years (150 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton.

He was also ordered to pay more than $13m in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The Senate has referred the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, following a dispute over seat allocation in the red chamber.

The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, was given two weeks to investigate Natasha’s conduct and report back on its findings.

The resolution was reached after lawmakers revisited the controversy surrounding the recent altercation between Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary. Lawmakers emphasised the need to uphold parliamentary rules and decorum.

The debate was sparked by Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who, citing Order 1(b) and 10, condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions as “extreme intransigence.”

“From that Thursday, the media was awash with this issue, and I had to work on mending the perception of the 10th Senate. The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions,” he said.

Supporting Adaramodu, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele also weighed in, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to its rules and internal order.

“There is no one who does not have an opinion on this issue, but we are unified by our rules. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable,” he stated, dismissing claims that gender bias played a role in the dispute.

In response, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio directed the Senate Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough review.

He noted that while Senators can sit anywhere, contributions must be made from designated seats, suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions may have stemmed from unfamiliarity with Senate procedures.

“The first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything is wrong with disobeying procedure,” he said.

Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, Akpabio reminded Senators of decorum requirements, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water, or causing disruptions during sessions.

“The rules empower the Senate President to suspend a Senator for infractions for at least 14 days. It’s not me who made the rules; it’s in the rule book,” he added.

The Senate Ethics Committee is expected to present its findings within the next two weeks, after which the Senate will determine the next course of action.

Residents of the Yakoyo community in the Ojodu Abiodun area of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State are appealing to the state government to relocate a dump within the community that has posed a threat to their health and the security of the community.

TheNigerian Metro correspondent who visited the community on Monday gathered that the dump had become a hideout for some hoodlums who now peddle drugs within the area.

Our correspondent also learnt that the dump which had covered a section of the drainage system in the community, now causes flooding during the rainy season.

Speaking with our correspondent in an interview, a resident, Jide Olaniran, emphasised that the dump often oozed bad odour which he feared might cause health issues for the residents.

He added that some miscreants who had taken shelter at the dumpsite had turned it into a hideout for illegal activities.

Olaniran said, “This dumpsite is becoming a problem for us in this community. When it starts smelling, the odour will be everywhere and this is not good for our health. Some miscreants in the guise of cart pushers have also turned the dump into their house and they carry out illicit activities such as smoking in the area.

“The presence of these miscreants has also posed security threats to our community because we are conscious of the threats associated with their presence. The dump has also extended to the drainage and whenever there is heavy rainfall, it usually causes flooding because the water will be stagnant.

Olaniran added that several efforts to get the leadership of the Ifo LGA to relocate the dump have proved abortive while urging the state government to relocate the dumpsite.

“We have appealed and written to the Ifo LGA to help us relocate this dump but they did not yield to our request. We want to urge the state government to come to our aid before the situation deteriorates,” Olaniran said.

Another resident, Chief Olatunde Onipede, corroborated the claims of Olaniran and stressed that some persons were conniving with the cart pushers to continue to dump refuse at the site.

He appealed to the state and LG authorities to relocate the dump.

“I want to say that this dump is becoming an eyesore for the community. It was not like this before but we learnt that some persons are conniving with the cart pushers to dump refuse here.

“There is a church beside the dumpsite that is mostly affected and the houses after the dump become flooded during the rainy season because the drainage has been blocked. Let the government come to our aid.”

When contacted on Monday, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, decried the proliferation of illegal dumps in some parts of the state.

He said that the ministry was working towards closing down illegal dumps pending the full functionality of the state waste management system.

The commissioner assured the community of the state’s commitment to closing the dump.

“We are aware of some illegal dumpsites in the Berger area. The issue is that our waste management system has yet to reach its full potential but we are working on closing down these dumps.

“We will close down the illegal dump,” Oresanya said.

Australia has imposed an immediate ban on the use of DeepSeek across all government devices, citing national security concerns.

The directive, announced on Tuesday by the Department of Home Affairs, required the removal of all DeepSeek products, applications, and web services from government systems.

Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, defended the ban, stating that it was crucial for safeguarding the country’s national interests.

“DeepSeek poses an unacceptable risk to government technology,” Burke said.

“The ban is essential to protect Australia’s national security and national interest.”

However, the restriction did not extend to private citizens, who remain free to use the new AI chatbot developed in China.

Australia joined a growing list of countries raising concerns about DeepSeek’s data privacy and security risks.

Italy’s privacy regulator recently blocked the AI service after its Chinese developers failed to address concerns about their data policies. Taiwan also issued warnings about potential cross-border data leaks, while regulators in South Korea, Ireland, and France have launched investigations into the chatbot’s data-handling practices.

LEADERSHIP reports that DeepSeek gained international attention with its open-source AI platform, which showcased advanced human-like reasoning. In January, it became the most downloaded free app on the Apple Store, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The rise of DeepSeek has shaken the global tech landscape, particularly in financial markets. Nvidia, the leading chipmaker before the emergence of DeepSeek, saw its market valuation plunged by about $600 billion as investors reacted to the Chinese app’s rapid growth.

The development has also drawn attention from the White House. US President Donald Trump acknowledged China’s AI advancements, describing them as a “wake-up call” for American tech firms. He urged the US industry to accelerate innovation to maintain its global leadership in AI.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently confirmed that the US government was evaluating potential national security risks posed by DeepSeek.

A 24-year-old indigene of Osun State, Abolore Lawal, is at risk of life imprisonment following his extradition to the United States over allegations of sextorting and blackmailing a teenager into committing suicide.

TheNigerian Metro learnt from a statement obtained on the US Attorney’s office website on Tuesday that Lawal was extradited to the US on Friday with the assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The suspect was said to have allegedly posed as a young woman on social media to coerce the 17-year-old victim into sending compromising photographs of himself.

The statement noted that after Lawal obtained the photographs, he allegedly used them to blackmail the victim by threatening to leak the photos unless the teenager sent him money.

He was also accused of reaching out to the victim’s family, harassing and coercing them into sending him money.

The Columbia Justice Department noted that the matter came to light after the victim committed suicide as a result of coercion from Lawal.

The statement said, “This investigation was launched after Gavin Guffey, a 17-year-old from Rock Hill, died by suicide in July 2022 after being victimised by Lawal’s scheme.

“Lawal allegedly posed as a young woman on social media and coerced the teen into sending compromising photos.

“He then extorted and sent harassing messages to the teen, threatening to leak the photos and ruin his reputation unless the teen sent him money. Lawal later did the same to members of his family.”

The statement added that Lawal now faces a five-count indictment before a US federal jury which includes “child exploitation resulting in death, the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking resulting in death, interstate threats with intent to extort, and aiding/abetting.”

Though the suspect is considered innocent until proved guilty, the statement noted that Lawal risked a life sentence if found guilty of the offences.

“Lawal faces up to life in prison, and mandatory minimum prison sentences on multiple counts. Child exploitation resulting in a death count carries a mandatory 30-year sentence.

“He also faces mandatory restitution, where the court may order Lawal to pay for losses incurred by the family as a result of his scheme.”

The statement acknowledged the role of the Federal Government through the Attorney General’s Office and the EFCC.

“Nigerian law enforcement provided critical assistance in the identification, investigation, arrest, and extradition of Lawal.

“The U.S. Attorney Boroughs and SAC Jensen extend their appreciation and thanks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigerian Attorney General’s Office – Ministry of Justice, and all other involved Nigerian authorities for their important partnership in this case,” the statement concluded.

The United States Government says it has successfully extradited a Nigerian, Enorense Izevbigie, who was among a seven-man syndicate arrested in South Africa for alleged involvement in cybercrime activities and now risks a 20-year jail term if found guilty.

This was announced in a statement by the US Attorney, Phillip Sellinger, which TheNigerian Metro obtained on Wednesday.

Recall that TheNigerian Metro reported on February 21, 2024, that a Cape Town Magistrate Court approved the extradition of Izevbigie and six other co-conspirators who were alleged Black Axe syndicate members to the United States after Magistrate Ingrid Arntsen determined sufficient evidence for prosecution.

The court, according to the Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority, had acknowledged the validity of the US-issued certificate and found ample evidence against the accused.

The seven suspects, all Nigerians linked to the alleged romance scam, are: Perry Osagiede, Enorense Izevbiege, Franklin Edosa Osagiede, Osariemen Eric Clement, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, Musa Mudashiru, and Prince Ibeabuchi Mark.

Announcing the extradition of Izevbigie, Sellinger noted that the suspect was charged in a Trenton federal court on two counts bordering on wire fraud and money laundering on December 16, 2024.

The statement read, “A leader of the Cape Town Zone of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” who was extradited from South Africa to the United States on wire fraud and money laundering charges, had his initial appearance today (December 16, 2024) in Trenton federal court.

“Enorense Izevbigie, aka “Richy Izevbigie,” aka “Lord Samuel S Nujoma,” 49, originally from Nigeria, is charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy, spanning from 2011 to 2021.

“He had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court and was detained pending trial.”

The suspect was alleged to have committed the offences between 2011 and 2021 alongside other members of the syndicate by using several tactics to defraud some unsuspecting US citizens in a coordinated romance scam.

The statement added that court documents indicated the suspects’ tactics as comprising false narratives about a traveller who needed money for several unforeseen situations.

It continued, “From at least 2011 through 2021, Izevbigie and other conspirators worked together from Cape Town to engage in widespread internet fraud involving romance scams and advance fee schemes.

“Many of these fraudulent narratives involved claims that an individual was travelling to South Africa for work and needed money or other items of value following a series of unfortunate and unforeseen events, often involving a construction site or problems with a crane.

“The conspirators used social media websites, online dating websites, and voice-over-internet protocol phone numbers to find and talk with victims in the United States while using many aliases.”

The statement, while acknowledging that the suspect is presumed innocent until found guilty, indicated that a guilty conviction could land the suspect in a 20-year jail term and a fine of $750,000 for both counts.

“The wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greatest.

“Izevbigie, along with six named co-defendants, were arrested in South Africa in 2021. The six named co-defendants are awaiting extradition to the United States,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the NBM had in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr O. Dickson, and published on its website, suspended the suspects.

The NBM noted that the actions of the suspects contradicted “Section 2(8) of the constitution of NBM of Africa which forbids involvement in any form of social vice nay crime. Section 2 of the constitution of NBM of Africa is too important to be interfered with.

“After carefully analying and considering the situation and alleged actions of Mr Richy Enorense lzevbigie, Mr Perry Osagiede, Mr Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, Mr Egbe Anthony Iyamu, Mr Osariemen Eric Clement, Mr Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, Mr Musa Mudashiru and Mr Prince Ibeh Mark and the effect on members in Cape Town Zone; Such acts being inimical and against the provisions of the Code of conduct of NBM OF AFRICA; Mr Richy Enorense Izevbigie, Mr Perry Osagiede, Mr Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, Mr Egbe Anthony lyamu, Mr Osariemen Eric Clement, Mr Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, Mr Musa Mudashiru and Mr Prince Ibeh Mark are to proceed on an indefinite suspension pending the determination of their cases,” Dickson said.

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