NEWS
Court Adjourns Trial Of Renowned Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Anu
The Federal High Court in Lagos postponed the adoption of written addresses in the trial of surgeon Anuoluwapo Adepoju, charged with evading investigation into a failed plastic surgery.
The scheduled adoption, set for Tuesday, was adjourned to November 20.
Recall that the defendant, surgeon Anuoluwapo Adepoju, faces charges from the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Alongside her clinic, MedContour Services Ltd, she is on trial for five counts related to refusal to cooperate with an investigation into post-body surgery complications and failure to produce required investigation documents.
The re-arraignment took place on July 17, 2020, before Justice Mohammed Liman.
She entered a plea of not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognizance. Despite Justice Liman’s transfer from the Lagos division, he continues to preside over the case through a fiat. The trial is underway, and the FCCPC has already concluded presenting its case.
The defense on its part submitted a no-case argument, contending that the prosecution failed to establish a case necessitating the defendant to present a defense.
However, Justice Liman, in a ruling on April 7, 2022, dismissed the no-case submission by the defendant.
Justice Liman ruled that the presented evidence sufficiently meets the elements of the criminal charges against the defendant. Subsequently, the court instructed the defense to begin presenting its case.
The case experienced multiple adjournments for various reasons. On May 5 of this year, the defense initiated its case, calling the defendant as the sole witness.
Following examination and cross-examination, the court adjourned proceedings until June 21 for the adoption of written addresses.
However, the court did not sit on June 21, leading to subsequent adjournments to July 17 and then to the present date, October 24. The next hearing is scheduled for November 20.
The prosecution, in the five-count charge against the defendants, alleges that the first defendant, surgeon Anuoluwapo Adepoju, did not appear before the FCCPC concerning an investigation into a reported failed plastic surgery.
The accusation states that the defendant failed to comply with the commission’s summons dated April 15, 2020.
The prosecution further contends that, without valid justification, the first defendant refused and neglected to furnish documents as mandated by the commission’s investigation notice dated April 14, 2020.
The accusation includes that the defendant obstructed and impeded the commission from conducting its inquiry into the reported matter. These alleged offenses contravene sections 11(1)(a), 33(1)(a), 110, 113(1)(a), and 159(4) of the FCCPC Act, 2018.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is intensifying its campaign against substance abuse by proposing mandatory drug integrity tests for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and individuals preparing for marriage.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), explained the rationale behind the proposal during a meeting with the NYSC leadership in Abuja on April 23, 2025.
Speaking to NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, Marwa clarified that the tests are not intended to be punitive but are part of a broader strategy to curb drug abuse and intervene early in cases of dependence.
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“It is always better to detect drug use early before it gets to addiction, which eventually could get to psychiatric problems, and it becomes a danger to the user and society,” Marwa stated.
While welcoming the new NYSC chief, Marwa commended the scheme as “a national treasure and a veritable instrument of national unity.”
He highlighted the alarming rate of drug use in the country and called for collective efforts in tackling the challenge.
“The drug scourge has continued to devastate our kids, families, and communities everywhere. There’s nowhere you go in the country that you don’t have a drug abuse problem,” he said. “One in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 uses drugs.”
Marwa emphasized that while NDLEA is working hard to restrict access and availability of drugs, reducing demand is equally important.
He urged NYSC to play a more active role in this regard.
“You have mentioned our efforts to cut off access and availability of these drugs but beyond that, we have to work with all stakeholders, including NYSC to ensure drastic reduction in the demand for drugs by our youths, and one of our strategies to address this is through our drug integrity test, which we’re advocating that NYSC should embrace for corps members.”
He also praised the introduction of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in NYSC camps, describing them as a positive development, while calling for further collaboration in areas such as prevention, counseling, and rehabilitation.
“This is a major drug demand reduction effort. In the same way we said, if you are getting married, both the bride and the groom should bring a drug-free certificate,” he added.
According to Marwa, early detection remains key to managing substance abuse and preventing it from evolving into more severe health or social issues.
Residents of Istanbul were jolted by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, which struck the Marmara Sea near the city’s western fringes, prompting widespread concern but causing no immediate casualties.
The quake, which occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time (0949 GMT), originated in Silivri, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
“An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude occurred in Silivri, Marmara Sea, Istanbul,” he confirmed on X, formerly Twitter. Yerlikaya also noted that tremors were felt in nearby provinces.
READ ALSO: Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Myanmar, Shakes Southeast Asia
Following the initial tremor, Turkey’s disaster management authority, AFAD, reported three more earthquakes ranging from 4.4 to 4.9 in magnitude.
The seismic activity sent people fleeing onto the streets, with many seen anxiously checking their phones or making calls.
“I just felt earthquake, I’ve got to get out,” said a decorator who dashed out of a fourth-floor apartment near Galata Tower. He declined to give his name, visibly shaken by the experience.
Despite the intensity, there were no reports of injuries or building collapses in the city of approximately 16 million people.
“Until now, we have no information about any buildings collapsing,” the governor’s office stated, urging residents to avoid entering structures that may have sustained damage.
Reassuring citizens, the Istanbul municipality also confirmed, “No serious cases have been reported so far following the earthquake in Istanbul,” in a post on X.
Tremors from the quake were reportedly felt as far as Sofia, Bulgaria, according to AFP journalists in the capital.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks persist and damage assessments are conducted across the region.
As violent attacks and killings continue to plague parts of Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia has ruled out the need for a state of emergency, insisting instead on immediate and absolute support from the Federal Government to combat the crisis.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, Governor Alia said the security situation, though dire, is not beyond the capacity of his administration to manage.
However, he emphasized that increased federal assistance is crucial to fully restoring peace to the troubled state.
READ MORE: No Safety Guarantee For Unscheduled Visitors To Benue – Gov Alia
“What we need is emergency help for now. We need absolute support,” the governor stated. “The federal government is supporting — they sent two armoured tanks that came in. Our situation had changed. We had a better narrative, but what we need to do is to get our people back home, to drive out the invaders… Calling for any emergency does not occur here.”
Alia blamed the persistent violence on armed herders, many of whom he claims are non-Nigerians. According to him, the assailants have displaced local farmers and occupied ancestral lands, creating a humanitarian and security crisis that needs urgent attention.
The governor also pointed to progress made under his administration, noting a reduction in the number of local government areas under attack from 17 to just six.
“We couldn’t have trimmed it from 17 local governments in the front lines of the attacks to nine and then now to six, which means we have the capability to do this — but we need help. And that is a fact,” he said.
Governor Alia reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the people of Benue and restoring displaced communities, but stressed that federal collaboration remains vital to achieving lasting peace in the state.
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