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Ekwulumili erosion site By Madu Obi Severe gully erosion has swept away 15 houses and some farmlands In Ekwulumili community in Nnewi South local government area of Anambra State, with the affected people calling on the state government to save them from further devastation. According to the people, the erosion has also cut off some major roads in the area, thereby threatening their existence and livelihood. One of the gully erosion sites is about 50 metres away from the Oba-Nnewi-Uga-Okigwe expressway, which is a strategic route for travelers. They lamented that in spite of their cry for over 30 years since the erosion became massive, the state government was yet to intervene. In the interim, the community said it had combated some of the sites with concrete work and tree planting, lamenting, however, that the menace has continued to expand, especially during the rains every year. A stakeholder in the community, Mr Chinedu Anyaso said that because of the erosion, many families have been forced to flee their ancestral lands. Anyaso, who is the chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Enugu Depot, listed the most affected villages as Umudim, Urueze and Isigwu, adding that the gully erosion was caused by floods that came from Igboukwu, Oraeri and other upland communities, as well as increased human activities. He said the road linking the community to Amichi through Ugwuochi had been cut off by the gully erosion there by reducing the access of the people to social and economic activities. “We are losing our community to gully erosion and about 15 houses have been lost to this gully. Families have been displaced, countless number of economic trees and large areas of farm lands have been washed off and the federal road that passed through here is about being cut off. We are calling on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to declare a state of emergency on Ekwulumili gully erosion. We are also calling on the Federal Government and international community to intervene. As a people, we have carried out control and remedial measures like planting of trees, construction of drainage and creation of catchment pits to reduce the impact, but we are facing flood from about four communities from the upland flowing into our community." Also speaking, Chief Clement Ezeifedikwa, a former President General of the community said government officials had visited the various sites a number of times and gave assurances, adding that nothing had been done to mitigate the disaster or assist the people.

Roving Reporter Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a FCT High Court Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja on Monday sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging. Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased (his wife) on April 8, 2022. The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty. Osinachi passed away in April 2022 after allegedly being beaten by her husband, Peter Nwachukwu. While initial reports claimed she died from cancer, testimonies from family, church members, and neighbours revealed that she was a victim of domestic violence. Witnesses stated that Nwachukwu kicked her in the chest prior to her death. This led to Nwachukwu’s arrest, and he was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, representing the Federal Government. He faced a 23-count charge, including culpable homicide (punishable by death), criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, spousal battery, and other offences. The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court. The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence. Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel, Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment. Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated. Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.

Information Commissioner, Law Mefor addressing the people at the cattle market By Madu Obi The Anambra State government has taken its anti- drug abuse campaign to the Amansea Cattle Market in Awka North local government area of the state. The exercise which is in partnership with cattle dealers in the area was part of a sensitisation campaign against drug abuse and addiction among the inhabitants and traders. The event, themed, 'Operation Stop Drug Abuse and Addiction', drew attention to the dangers of substance abuse and encouraged youths to pursue productive endeavours. Speaking during the campaign, the state Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, described the cattle market community as a strategic partner to the Soludo government in the development of the state, urging them to avoid drugs to succeed in life. According to Mefor, drug abuse leads to financial loss, poor decision-making, and potentially mental degeneration up to the point of schizophrenia. He assured the youths of the state government's interest in their welfare and offered to support the rehabilitation of those suffering from drug dependency and addiction. "The state government decided to do this programme with the Amansea Cattle Market because it is interested in the youths here and everywhere in Anambra State. The way we came here is how we will go to other places – markets, churches, mosques and all. We need to talk to our young people so that nobody will say, 'I didn't know.' Now you know. The decision is yours. If you are wise and willing to change your life, Soludo’s government will help you," Mefor said. He highlighted various initiatives of the Soludo government, including the One -Youth ,Two -Skills programme, as well as free education designed to empower youths, and encouraged interested individuals to take advantage of these opportunities. The Commissioner also assured that his Ministry would liaise with the Secretary to the State Government to get Governor Soludo to look into the issue of facilitating the movement of the cattle market to the permanent site, even as he urged them to remain good citizens. Earlier, the Chairman of the Anambra Cattle Market, Amansea, Alhaji Bello Magari, observed that drug abuse and addiction are serious problems in the country today, which, he added, was why they deemed it important to hold the campaign in order to sanitize those who patronize the cattle market. While stating their commitment to continue partnering with the governor in making Anambra better, Alhaji Bello drew attention to the issue of their permanent site. "We need a place where our customers can drive in and drive out to purchase their goods. Where the government gave us is not on the roadside. Though they promised to construct the road for us and build it as a well-deserved cattle market, nothing has been done yet, not even the approval for the land," he said.