# Governor Chukwuma Soludo has paid glowing tribute to the late traditional ruler of Isuofia, Igwe Col. Christopher Moghalu, describing him as a pillar of wisdom and a father figure to the people of Isuofia.
Speaking during a pontifical Mass held in honour of the departed monarch, Governor Soludo joined dignitaries, traditional rulers, clergy and mourners in bidding farewell to the revered royal father.
The Governor praised the late Igwe’s immense contributions to the peace, unity and development of Isuofia and Anambra State, noting that his legacy of selfless service, humility and exemplary leadership would continue to inspire future generations.
In his homily, Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpalaeke said that a baptized child of God journeys to heaven and does not truly die. He noted that the late monarch embraced a faith that did not fear culture, demonstrating that one could preserve cultural heritage without compromising Christian beliefs.
The Cardinal explained that the Church seeks to purify and elevate cultural values rather than destroy them. He described the late Igwe as a lover of Isuofia who understood that a traditional ruler is not merely an administrator but also the custodian and protector of the people’s identity.
He further stressed that culture goes beyond dances and festivals, encompassing the values that shape personal growth and societal transformation. He reiterated that the Church complements the traditional institution in promoting the common good.
The pontifical Mass attracted a large gathering of community members, government officials, traditional rulers and clergy, who united in prayer to honour the life and legacy of the late Igwe Christopher Moghalu.
# A High Court in Anambra State has sentenced controversial spiritual leader and self-acclaimed prophet, Onyebuchi Okocha, popularly known as “Onye Eze Jesus,” to six years imprisonment and imposed a ₦20 million fine after finding him guilty under the Anambra Homeland Security Law.
The judgment is part of the Anambra State Government’s ongoing crackdown on alleged ritual practices, fraudulent spiritual activities, and the preparation of charms believed to facilitate criminal activities, including kidnapping and internet fraud.
The case arose from the prosecution of several high-profile native doctors arrested during the state’s security operation launched in February 2025.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge held that individuals who falsely claim supernatural powers capable of making people wealthy through prohibited practices or who prepare charms outlawed by the Anambra Homeland Security Law are liable to imprisonment and financial penalties.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, said the sentence was in line with the provisions of the law.
Dr. Mefor described the judgment as a significant judicial test of the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025, stating that the court had affirmed its relevance and effectiveness.
He specifically cited Section 18(1) of the law, which criminalizes the preparation and use of “Okeite” and other harmful practices.
According to him, the judgment sends a clear message that anyone engaging in such activities will face the full weight of the law.
The commissioner urged residents of Anambra, particularly those involved in what he described as criminal idolatry, to abandon such practices and pursue legitimate means of livelihood.
# The Enugwu Ukwu Agunechemba Joint Security Team has intensified efforts to rid the community of criminal elements with a large-scale bush combing operation targeting suspected criminal hideouts in strategic forest locations.
The operation was coordinated by the President General of Enugwu Ukwu, Chief Patrick Nworji, while the Director of Operations, retired Group Captain Chidi Nwenweh, led the security team in the field.
According to a statement by the Enugwu Ukwu Security Council, the exercise was conducted with the approval of the Council and in collaboration with the Council of Village Chairmen and Secretaries.
During the operation, security operatives combed forests stretching from Onungene mainland in Uruekwo Village to the boundary with neighbouring Nise in search of camps allegedly used by kidnappers and armed bandits.
Farmers, construction workers and cattle rearers encountered during the exercise were screened, and those found to be engaged in legitimate activities were allowed to continue their work.
The operation concluded with a show-of-force patrol along major roads within the community. No casualties were recorded.
# Deputy Governor of Anambra, Dr OnyekaChukwu Ibezim Stepped out to salute the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) team in action.
Dr. Ibezim acknowledged the efforts of those road officers and lauded them for their tireless and committed work to keep Ndi Anambra safe on the road.
“In the heat and chaos of rush hour, these men and women are working tirelessly to keep Anambra moving. Directing traffic, saving commuters hours of delay, and keeping our state alive with order. That is not a job; that is a calling” he stated.
The deputy Governor noted that the visionary leadership Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is transforming Anambra from a chaotic landscape into a model of order and efficiency.
# Anambra State is sitting on one of the largest gas deposits in West Africa.
The statement was made by the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Professor Charles Ofoegbu, while welcoming members of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, Awka/Owerri Chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Jerome Udoji State Secretariat, Awka.
Commissioner Ofoegbu, flanked by his Information counterpart, Dr. Law Mefor, said that with the successful incorporation of Anambra State Petroleum and Energy Resources Limited and the undiluted support of NAPE, the state will reap all the benefits accruing from the gas deposit as an oil-producing state, thereby actualizing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s dream.
Speaking, Commissioner Mefor said that Anambra State has all the potential to emerge as an oil-producing state and urged NAPE to assist the state in realizing its full potential in the oil and gas industry.
Earlier, the Coordinator of NAPE Awka/Owerri Chapter, which covers the five Eastern States, Dr. Ifeanyi Chinwuko, stated that the association’s mission is to discover oil and gas. He assured the Commissioner of their readiness to assist Anambra State in uncovering the hidden resources in the gas reserve, and congratulated Professor Ofoegbu on his appointment, describing him as a household name in geophysics.
# Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the design and procurement of two major federal highways in the South-East.
Soludo described the approval as a historic step that will improve road infrastructure in the region and strengthen connections between the South-East, South-South and North-Central parts of the country.
In a statement, the governor expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for approving the projects, saying the President is intentionally working to rebuild the South-East through major infrastructure development.
According to Soludo, he met with President Tinubu on July 1 to discuss important road projects in the region. He said the following day, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, asked him to submit details of the roads they had discussed.
The governor said he sent two road projects for consideration on July 3. They include the proposed dualisation of the 108-kilometre Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road, which links Anambra State to Kogi State, and the 150-kilometre Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube (Okigwe Junction) Road, which connects Anambra and Imo states to the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway and also passes through Abia State.
Soludo revealed that on July 15, Senator Umahi informed him that President Tinubu had approved both roads for design and procurement.
The governor said the two highways would become major transport routes that would improve movement, boost trade and support economic growth across the South-East and neighbouring regions.
He also praised President Tinubu for what he described as his commitment to developing the South-East, adding that the projects would help address long-standing infrastructure challenges in the region.
# The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has dismissed reports linking the institution to a viral video showing a university official allegedly caught in an inappropriate act with a student.
In a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah, the university described the reports as false and misleading.
According to the statement, investigations by the university established that the incident did not occur at UNIZIK and that the man featured in the viral video is not a member of the institution’s staff.
The university emphasized that it upholds the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and discipline, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against any form of exploitation of students.
UNIZIK also condemned the spread of unverified information on social media, warning that the race to break news and generate online traffic has contributed to the spread of misinformation, disinformation and falsehood.
The university urged members of the public, media organizations and online platforms to refrain from publishing unverified information and to retract and correct the false reports. It also reiterated its open-door policy, encouraging journalists to verify facts with the appropriate authorities before publication.
# The Nigerian Navy, through Naval Outpost Onitsha, has handed over a 44-year-old suspect, Mr. Chukwu Ebuka Obas, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Onitsha Area Command, over alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The handover was carried out by the Commanding Officer of Naval Outpost Onitsha, Commander Kabir Yusuf, at the administrative block of the outpost.
According to the Navy’s handover report, the suspect, an indigene of Orsumoghu Community in Ihiala Local Government Area, was arrested on July 15, 2026, during a stop-and-search operation conducted by naval personnel at Uga Junction in Ogbaru.
Items recovered from the suspect reportedly include a sack containing 30 packs of expired Mamagra Viagra 100ml, 100 packs of FIKA Viagra 100ml, herbal roots, and a one-litre plastic bottle containing a liquid substance suspected to be an illicit drug.
Preliminary investigations, according to the report, indicated that the suspect allegedly purchased the expired drugs at Diamond Line in Ogbogwu Market, Onitsha.
# The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has commissioned a solar power system, a potable water project and the newly constructed St. Anthony of Padua Grotto at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nibo, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Speaking during the commissioning, Bishop Ezeokafor described the projects as practical expressions of Christian faith and service, urging the faithful to continue supporting initiatives that meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the people.
The Prelate commended the parish priest, church leaders and benefactors whose contributions made the projects possible, noting that such efforts strengthen the Church’s mission while promoting community development.
According to the bishop, the solar power system will provide reliable electricity for church services and other parish activities, while the potable water project will improve access to clean water for parishioners and residents of the surrounding community.
He also noted that the newly dedicated St. Anthony of Padua Grotto will serve as a serene centre for prayer, reflection and devotion, giving the faithful a place to seek God’s grace through the intercession of the saint.
# The Ifediche Foundation for Women and Youth Empowerment (IFF-WYE), in collaboration with the Eziowelle Improvement Union (EIU), has organised its maiden graduation ceremony for 83 beneficiaries of its Skills Acquisition Programme and Empowerment Initiative in Anambra State.
The programme, sponsored by the founder of the foundation, Mrs. Ify Omeludike, is aimed at reducing unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship, and encouraging self-reliance among women and youths.
Speaking through her mother, Lady Grace Amobi, Mrs. Omeludike said the initiative reflects her commitment to reducing poverty and improving the economic well-being of women and young people through practical vocational training in her community.
To support their transition into business, the graduates received empowerment tools, including solar panels for renewable energy installation, professional toolboxes for technical works, beauty kits for cosmetology, industrial sewing machines for fashion designing, woodworking equipment, and aluminium fabrication machines.
Representing the Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Sports, Mr. Emeka Omatah, described the initiative as a well-structured empowerment programme that aligns with the state government’s vision of equipping youths with productive skills.
He also reaffirmed the government’s readiness to partner with the foundation and the Eziowelle community to expand opportunities for youth development and entrepreneurship.
In his remarks, the President-General of the Eziowelle Improvement Union, Dr. Julian Obiora, described Mrs. Omeludike as a rare philanthropist who has continued to make the community proud.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ugochukwu Ezeude, commended the benefactress for the life-changing initiative and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon her and her family.
