The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over reports of fake COVID19 vaccines in the country

The Director-General of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said this during a virtual media briefing today January 15. She warned that fake vaccines have started circulating in the country and urged Nigerians not to purchase such drugs as they can cause COVID-19-like illnesses and can lead to death.

“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has not received any application from Covid Vaccine manufacturers yet and therefore no vaccines have been approved by NAFDAC.

Covid-19 vaccines are new, and the side effects or adverse events must be well monitored, therefore, if NAFDAC does not approve, the public should not use.

There are reports of fake vaccines in Nigeria. NAFDAC is pleading with the public to beware.

No Covid Vaccines have been approved by NAFDAC. Fake vaccines can cause Covid-like illnesses or other serious diseases that could kill.

Vaccines should not be ordered by any company or corporation. The companies that manufacture the vaccines if they are genuine companies know they have to submit their application to NAFDAC.

No government establishment or agencies should order Covid vaccines without confirming from NAFDAC if the vaccine has been approved.”she said

Today January 15, is Armed Forces Remembrance day and as expected, a ceremony held at the National Arcade, Eagle Square in Abuja. The ceremony was attended by President Buhari, Vice President Buhari, and other government officials.

As is the tradition, white pigeons are placed in a cage positioned at the venue of the ceremony and the President will have to set them free, symbolizing unity and peace and security in the country.

However, at the event today, the President opened the cage to set the birds free but they refused to fly even after few attempts to get them to fly into the air.

Watch the video below...

Resumption of all primary and secondary schools in Edo state has been postponed to Monday, February 1, 2021 by the state government. 

Governor Godwin Obaseki made the announcement on Friday January 15 during a press briefing in Benin City. 

Obaseki said the state government will officially carry out an assessment of health facilities across the various schools and ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocol.

United States President-elect Joe Biden has appointed Nigerian-born Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo into his cabinet.

Biden had announced the appointment of Badejo, a lawyer and an alumna of Berkeley Law College in the US, when he named additional 20 members of the office of the White House counsel.

The office of White House counsel advises the president, the executive office of the president, and the White House staff on legal issues pertaining to the president and the White House.

Funmi is the daughter of Prof Zachaeus Olorunnipa from Igbo-Bunu, Kabba-Bunu LGA of Kogi State.

Funmi’s elder brother, Tolu Olorunnipa is currently the White House Correspondent for Washington Post.

Badejo served as ethics counsel in the same office toward the end of the Obama administration.

According to a statement on the Biden-Harris transition website, Badejo was general counsel of the house select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis which was chaired by James Clyburn, house majority whip.

“Her prior government service includes serving as Counsel for policy to the Assistant Attorney-General in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Ethics Counsel at the White House Counsel’s Office and Attorney Advisor at the Administrative Conference of the United States during the Obama-Biden administration,” the statement read.

“Olorunnipa Badejo began her legal career as an associate with the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP and was Legal Counsel at Palantir Technologies Inc. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Florida. Originally from Florida, Olorunnipa Badejo lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and son.”

Biden will be sworn in on January 20 as the 46th US president.

Three persons of Nigerian origin have so far been appointed by Biden.

In December, Osaremen Okolo, a Nigerian-American, was earlier appointed a member of Biden’s COVID-19 response team.

This was after Nigerian-born Adewale Adeyemo was announced as deputy secretary of the treasury department.

The secretive state of North Korea has unveiled a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile, described by state media as "the world's most powerful weapon".

Several of the missiles were displayed at a parade overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, on Thursday in Pyongyang and comes days before the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president, giving the new president fresh foreign policy challenges as Trump's diplomacy with North Korea failed to work.

"The world's most powerful weapon, submarine-launch ballistic missile, entered the square one after another, powerfully demonstrating the might of the revolutionary armed forces," the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The event on Thursday did not showcase North Korea's largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was unveiled at a much larger military parade in October. That colossal weapon is believed to be able to deliver a nuclear warhead to anywhere in the US.

The weapon unveiling also comes after Kim called the US his country's "biggest enemy".

He said that the US was Pyongyang's "biggest obstacle for our revolution and our biggest enemy... no matter who is in power, the true nature of its policy against North Korea will never change".

Analysts noted it was a previously unseen weapon. "New year, new Pukguksong," tweeted North Korea expert Ankit Panda, using the North Korean name for their submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

Wearing a leather coat and fur hat, leader Kim is pictured smiling and waving as he watched the display in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square, which also included infantry troops, artillery and tanks.

An upcoming Nollywood actress, Sotonye Green, has died.

Her friend and colleague, Debby King, who announced her passing on social media, revealed that Green died on Monday, January 11 after battling COVID19 at the Yaba Isolation center.

A devastated Debby also shared a video where she accused the management of the center of sharp practices while her friend was being treated until her death.

She said

Please if you know anyone who has COVID, they should stay home, self isolate and treat themselves. They should not go to that Yaba Isolation center. They are killing people there so that they can have numbers to count.

Imagine, they would come and take her oxygen, Oxygen that her family bought for her, they will take it and give to other people. It is the people that give them money they give oxygen to. People that bribe them are the people they take care of. They would come and collect her oxygen and give to other people. Lagos state government, please look into this. That place they are just killing people. That Isolation center in Yaba.'' she said

Debby also shared a screenshot of what she claims to be her chat with Sotonye while at the Isolation center.

Debby says Sotonye would be buried today January 15. May her soul rest in peace, Amen.

About 270 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been secured by the African Union (AU) for distribution across the continent, according to AU head South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

All of the doses will be used this year, according to the regional Bloc leader.

The 270million doses is on top of 600 million doses already promised.

Although infection numbers and death rates are comparatively lower across most of Africa, a new variant of Covid-19 in South Africa is causing particular alarm and spreading quickly along the region.

"As a result of our own efforts we have so far secured a commitment of a provisional amount of 270 million vaccines from three major suppliers: Pfizer, AstraZeneca (through Serum Institute of India) and Johnson & Johnson," President Ramaphosa said .

At least 50 million of the doses will be available "for the crucial period of April to June 2021," he said.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa praised the move during an online media briefing on Thursday.

"Covax can only cover 20% of the African population, so it is really wonderful to see the African Union's efforts to secure a provisional 270 million doses by the end of 2021..." said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti.

The African Export--Import Bank will support the strategy by providing advancements of up to $2 billion to the manufacturers on behalf of member states, Raphomasa added.

The African Union and the World Bank are also working together to to allow member states access to $5 billion to purchase more vaccines, according to Ramaphosa

Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez will be performing at the swearing-in for US President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on January 20, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced.

Gaga, 34, will perform the national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, which will be held on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building. On The Floor singer Jennifer, 51, who endorsed Biden, and took part in a virtual chat with the president-elect during the campaign, is also on-board to give a musical performance at the event.

The ceremony will begin with an invocation from Father Leo J. O'Donovan, a longtime friend of Biden and his family, before a poetry reading by Amanda Gorman, who was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate in the U.S. in 2017.

Biden's inauguration will also feature a tie to the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), a union that has long supported Biden, and was the first to endorse him in the 2020 race.

Here's the lineup:

• Invocation: Father Leo J. O’Donovan, a Jesuit Catholic priest who was Georgetown University president from 1989 to 2001.

• Pledge of Allegiance: Andrea Hall, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 3920. She's been a firefighter for more than 20 years in Fulton County, Ga., and was the department's first African American woman to be promoted to captain.

• National Anthem: Lady Gaga, one-of-a kind artist, performer, and trailblazer in beauty and fashion.

• Poetry reading: Amanda Gorman, named first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate by UrbanWord and the Library of Congress.

• Musical performance: Jennifer Lopez, one of the most influential Latin artists in the country.

• Benediction: Rev. Dr. Silvester Beaman, pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Del. He has known the Biden family for 30 years, and is a confidant and friend of the president-elect.

Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Tony Allen said the participants "represent one clear picture of the grand diversity of our great nation."

"They are also committed to the President-elect and the Vice-President-elect’s steadfast vision of a new chapter in our American story in which we are an America united in overcoming the deep divisions and challenges facing our people, unifying the country, and restoring the soul of our nation."

US President, Donald Trump made history on Wednesday night, January 13  as the only US president to be impeached twice, and new reports say he spent the rest of the evening 'isolated and wallowing in self pity' .

According to the Washington Post, a  White House adviser said “everybody’s angry at everyone” inside the White House, with the President being upset because he thinks people aren’t defending him enough.

“He’s in self-pity mode,” the source said.

The view among many close to Trump is “his actions led to here, no one else,” adding, “he instigated a mob to charge on the Capitol building to stop decertification, he’s not going to find a lot of sympathetic Republicans.”

During the last impeachment effort, Trump's allies and Republicans publicly defended him and sent out talking points throughout the impeachment proceeding.

But on Wednesday night, Trump was left alone at the White House, as he released a statement to Fox News denouncing further violence, followed by a five-minute video that struck a very different contrite tone than his first message following the attack on the Capitol last week.

Also, there was no organized effort to send out talking points, unlike his first impeachment. 

Reports also say many White House staffers have left or resigned since the riots, including Trump’s once longtime confidante Hope Hicks.

Another person close to the White House said “he’s been holed up in the residence, that’s never a good thing.

"He’s by himself, not a lot of people to bounce ideas off of, whenever that happens he goes to his worst instincts. Now that Twitter isn’t available God only knows what the outlet will be," the source said.

Reports now say Trump might use his last period in power to world his last powers-  pardons, which could come as soon as soon as Thursday and will distract Americans from the current narrative.

It is yet to be seen if Trump will carry out the extraordinary step of pardoning himself and his children. 

The reports adds that a person close to Trump believes it’s a bad idea for him to pardon himself and his kids especially in the wake of the riots, but that he wants to exercise what remaining power he has.

A Beitbridge couple were reportedly forced to have sex all night after some robbers broke into their bedroom. 

Prosecutor Munyonga Kuvarega alleged that the suspects broke into businessman Edson Moyo’s home on January 5 2021 at around 1 am wielding machetes, axes and logs.

New Zimbabwe reported that while some assaulted Moyo and his wife with an axe handle, others were searching the house for valuables and money. The court heard they stole valuables such as mobile phones, a radio, diamond rings, necklaces, R570 cash and grocery all worth R6 570.

The suspects later forced Moyo and his wife to be intimate while they recorded a video before spraying them with an irritant substance.

One of the suspects, Luzondano Mudenda (31) of Moniff low-density in Beitbridge appeared at the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Courts Tuesday, was charged with robbery and possession of dangerous drugs.

He denied the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Toindepi Zhou, who remanded him in custody till February 16 for trial.

The court heard that on January 9 at 3 pm, Moyo saw Mudenda and followed him at a distance until he entered a certain house. The next day, Moyo made a report to the police leading to Mudenda’s arrest.

Property worth only R20 was recovered from him together with the machete they used to intimidate the victims.

US Olympic swimming gold medallist, Klete Keller has been charged by the Justice Department for participating in the January 6 attack on Congress by supporters of President Donald Trump.

The 38-year-old, who won five Olympic swimming medals, including two relay golds, was filmed as part of the crowd that illegally entered the huge Rotunda hall of the Capitol after violent protesters forced their way in.

Photos from the Capitol show Keller wearing a US Olympic Team jacket and "appears to be one of the tallest individuals," Barofsky writes in his statement of facts. Keller is 6 feet, 6 inches tall.

He was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and obstructing law enforcement engaged in official duties incident to civil disorder, according to documents filed in US District Court in Washington, DC

In a statement, USA Swimming told CNN, "We respect private individuals' and groups' rights to peacefully protest but in no way condone the actions taken by those at the Capitol last week."

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee said it condemned the actions of the rioters.

"We support the right to peacefully protest and express values and viewpoints in a respectful and lawful manner -- that is what makes our democracy strong. Sadly, that is not what happened in this case," the organization said in a statement.

Keller competed in the Olympics in 2000, 2004, and 2008, taking two golds and a silver in the 4×200 metre freestyle relays, and two bronzes in the individual 400 metre freestyle.

Two impatient drivers were pictured struggling to pass the ticketing line at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

The cars ended up getting stuck in the narrow space as no one wanted to allow the other to through first.

Each ticketing line at the Lekki tollgate allows only one car to pass at a time.

A Kenyan pastor man who raped his two underage daughters and impregnated one of them has been jailed for 140 years. 

Akorino ‘pastor’ John Gichini, 51, was sentenced by a Baricho court in Kirinyaga on Thursday after being convicted of the charges against him. 

He admitted that between June 2019 and August 2020 he sexually abused his daughters aged 14 and 16 years, Nairobi News reports. 

The prosecutor, Patricia Gikunju, told the court that the girls were abused and one of them gave birth to a baby girl who is now seven months old.

During the sentencing, Senior Principal Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi said the pastor destroyed the lives of his daughters and that he deserves heavy punishment to serve as a lesson to other would-be offenders.

The magistrate described the convict as a very bad person whose name should be entered into the register of the convicted and most dangerous sex offenders.

“The accused abused his position as a father and ruined his daughters’ lives. It is a disgrace and taboo and the he deserves a long jail term,” Mr Mwicigi said.

Quoting the Bible, Mr. Mwicigi said the convict is a wicked man whose days are numbered.

“The fear of the Lord prolongs days but the years of the wicked shall be shortened,” he said.

In his defence, Gichini told the court that he was misled by the devil and sought forgiveness from his daughters and the court. 

“The devil reigning on earth and making people to sin. I sinned, but I’m remorseful and I will be very happy if pardoned. It was my first time to commit such a crime in my life,” he told the magistrate.

The convict had been on the run since last December but was arrested in Mbeere South on Sunday and taken to Sagana police station.

They were all travelling to Aba in Abia state when the gunmen attacked them along Lokoja-Okene expressway...

Unknown gunmen in Kogi state have kidnapped 18 traders from Kano state who were on a commercial journey to Abia state.

The victims, all from the popular Kantin Kwari textile market, were traveling to Aba in Abia state to buy goods when their vehicle was attacked by the gunmen and they were taken to the bush.

Daily Trust gathered that the traders left Kano on Sunday with the intention of reaching Aba the following day but met their fate before getting there.

The Managing Director of Kantin Kwari Market Management Board, Alhaji Abba Bello confirmed the incident to Daily Trust.

According to him, "The kidnapped traders are 18, but we have so far confirmed the names of 12, but we suspect that their number could reach 18.

“They were all traveling to Aba in Abia state when the gunmen attacked them along Lokoja-Okene expressway in Kogi state.

“People are saying the victims are up to 20 or even more, but from what we can confirm so far, they are 18,” Alhaji Bello added.

On whether the kidnappers have so far contacted their families for ransom, the MD said he has not officially gotten the information.

However, other sources have reported that the abductors have earlier demanded N50million before they later agreed to collect N27million from their families as ransom.

Traders from Kantin Kwari market, mostly those running small-scale businesses usually travel by road to buy ‘Made in Aba’ yards from Aba, Abia’s commercial city.

US President Donald Trump has been permanently banned from Snapchat, according to a statement by the platform.

The move by Snap to permanently ban Trump from the social app comes after Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, Twitch, and other internet platforms issued similar bans. On Tuesday, YouTube suspended Trump’s channel for seven days for a video violating its policies prohibiting incitement to violence.

"Last week we announced an indefinite suspension of President Trump's Snapchat (SNAP) account, and have been assessing what long term action is in the best interest of our Snapchat community," a Snapchat spokesperson said. 

"In the interest of public safety, and based on his attempts to spread misinformation, hate speech, and incite violence, which are clear violations of our guidelines, we have made the decision to permanently terminate his account."

News of Snapchat’s ban of Trump comes after he became the first American president in history to be impeached twice, over his involvement in inciting a mob of rioters that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The owner of Club Victoria in Lagos, Bruno Owede, who was arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly opening his facility to fun-seekers in violation of the COVID19 safety protocols, was arraigned before the Ebutte Metta Magistrate court on Tuesday, January 13.

The court in its ruling, ordered Owede to undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test and provide the result of the test within a week.

Recall that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had led a team of policemen to raid some clubs on 9th January 2021 at around 1.30am, including Club Victoria, where one hundred and forty-three (143) clubgoers and strippers were arrested and thirty-four cars impounded. The suspects were immediately charged to court same day.

Owede was charged to court on a 4 count charge according to the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State,  CP Hakeem Odumosu, has vowed to consistently go after violators of COVID-19 protocols including club owners who remain recalcitrant to obey the laws. He has warned the general public against the violation and/or disregard for the preventive measures/protocols being put in place by the government to halt the spread of the pandemic in the state. 

In December 2020, the Lagos state government placed a ban on club activities in the state as part of measures to contain the second wave of the pandemic.

Nigerian man, Dele Bandele, who was declared missing by his friends and family on Tuesday, January 12, has been found dead.

Bandele, an advertising agent, was last seen at Omole Phase 2 and his last location was the 3rd Mainland Bridge. 

Sadly, his body has been found.

Hours before his disappearance, Bandele left an apparent suicide note on his Instagram page in which he detailed his struggles with depression, He stated that he had battled with depression for seven years and was about to go find peace. He asked for forgiveness from anyone whom he might have offended.

He asked for everyone to pray for him to find rest and peace. Read his post below

Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi, the wife of Ugandan Musician cum politician, Bobi Wine was tortured and stripped in the presence of their son by some police officers before she was allegedly arrested.

Her husband, who is currently serving as a Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency is hoping to unseat President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, as Uganda head to the polls on Thursday, January 14. 

In a video shared on Twitter by Anyamah Douglas, a Ugandan National, a woman believed to be the wife of the presidential candidate Bobi wine, can be seen being led away by some security officers 

At one point, she is seen struggling with the police officers before she was stripped to her underwears in front of her son after being pushed to the floor.

Watch the video below...

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A post shared by Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial)

There has reportedly been an increase in gun sales in the United States, days after the Capitol riot which has received condemnation from different corners. 

US publication, TMZ reached out to gun shops in 20 U.S. cities this week and half of them reported a substantial increase in sales of firearms and ammunition since pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol Building on January 6.

It was further gathered that the clientele has been a pretty even mix of Republicans and Democrats with different businesses reporting different tidbits of interesting info.

Paulie's Pistols near New Orleans told the publication that its sales are up 400% this week compared to last week. While it always has a steady influx of Republican customers, the shop says this week they've sold to a surprising number to Democrats who purchased a firearm for the first time.

Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte said it completely sold out of ammo and rifles this week and has very little product left after a surge of both Republicans and Democrats coming in and stocking up. Hyatt also revealed that while Democrat customers expressed concern about the aftermath of the Capitol riots, the Republicans said they're worried Joe Biden is going to try to take their guns away.

Shops like Ray's Hardware & Sporting Goods in Dallas, and Ammo AZ in Phoenix said their customers told them they are buying guns to "prepare for whatever is next" after the riots regardless of their political affiliation.

The publication gave a breakdown of the sales as follows; 

Shooters World in Tampa -- Up 100% this week compared to Christmas week. People are buying every pistol in stock, and they're running very low on AR's and shotguns.

Recoil Firearms in Detroit -- Up 50% this past week compared to the week before. They have sold out of Glocks and AR's.

Ray's Hardware & Sporting Goods in Dallas -- Up 200% this week compared to the week before. People are stocking up on handguns and AR's.

Paulie's Pistols Gun Shop near New Orleans -- Up 400% this week compared to the week before. Completely sold out of ammo. Most customers are buying handguns.

Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte -- Sales up 20% this week compared to the week before. Sold out of ammo and rifles, and very little product left.

Ammo AZ in Pheonix -- Up 50% this week compared to the week before. People are mostly buying AR-15's and whatever ammo they can get.

Controlled Pair Munitions in Las Vegas -- Up 50% this week compared to the week before. Sold out of ammo, customers mostly buying handguns and shotguns.

Mid America Arms in St. Louis -- Up 20% this week compared to last week, but would be higher if they hadn't run out of product. Sold out of ammo and most handguns.

Green Mountain Guns in Denver -- Getting 100 calls a day asking about gun inventory. Currently sold out of every handgun.

Guns Direct in L.A. -- Up 40% this week compared to last week. Customers buying mostly handguns.

Atlanta -- No increase

Boston -- No increase

Chicago -- No increase

Nashville -- No increase

Louisville -- No increase

New York -- No increase

Philadelphia -- No increase

Oklahoma City -- No increase

San Diego -- No increase

Baltimore -- No increase

34-year-old Aaron Mostofsky identified as the 'guy wearing animal fur and parading around with a policeman's shield' during the insurrection at the US Capitol last week, has also been identified as the son of a prominent judge in Brooklyn. 

Mostofsky was arrested Tuesday January 12 and brought before a Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Shlomo Mostofsky (not his father). He was released on $100k bail with strict conditions.

The son of the Brooklyn Judge who is facing four counts of theft of government property, illegal entry into a restricted area, illegal entry with intent to impede government functions, and disorderly conduct, was released to the custody of his older brother and was ordered to stay in NYC (unless given permission) and wear an ankle monitor.

He was also forbidden from communicating with his co-defendants, cannot participate in any political gatherings and has to steer clear of all state capitals.

TMZ reported that Mostofsky's attorney said his client is aware of the seriousness of the charges against him, but insists he was just "caught up" in the moment. He is scheduled to appear virtually before the judge later this month.

A distraught father identified as Solomon Akuma, has narrated how his pharmacist son Emmanuel Akuma has been allegedly detained by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja for about nine months. 

The senior pastor of Truevine Evangelical Mission based in Delta State, told Premium Times that the police ‘deceived’ him to get his son who is a pharmacist intern with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) arrested on April 2, 2020, in Aba, Abia State.

Solomon said his son was arrested for tweeting that he will “pay a Russian sniper to eliminate Buhari and Kyari”, apparently referring to President Muhammadu Buhari and his then Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari who later died of complications attributable to COVID-19 in 2020. This was reportedly Emmanuel's response to a Twitter post asking respondents what their next move would be if they got $1 million.

Recounting how his son was arrested, Solomon said; 

"I  received a call from a person who disguised to be a person seeking to reward him for praying for him in the past.

“It was me they used as bait to get to my son. They used me as their link. Someone must have dug up my profile and they found out that I was a pastor.

“Someone called me that I had prayed for him at a place. He said he wanted to honour me and that he and others would be coming on a particular date.

“They also said that they would visit me and give me an honorarium. I said I was not really aware of what they were talking about.

“They said I should not bother that they knew me as a pastor. I said, okay, no problem. They said I had once ministered in their church.

“I was not around at the time because I went for burial in my hometown. So I lodged in my in-law’s place.

“I said no problem, but something ministered to me that those guys were not what they said they were and as it turned out to be, they were policemen."

He said he reluctantly agreed to meet with them and took them to his in-law’s place, where they “arrested everybody and collected all our phones at gunpoint, and marched us into a red jeep they parked outside.”

Solomon said the policemen later used his phone number to call his son “telling him that his father lost the phone”. The cleric said when his son arrived at the scene, the men immediately arrested him.

He added; 

“In fact, because of all the weapons they had I couldn’t react because I could not ascertain who they were. 

“So, at that point, they gave us back our phones, and they took him to the police station, down to Umuahia, to Enugu and the next day, they went to Abuja,"

The Pastor said he initially took them for kidnappers until after two days when his son called to inform him that he had been detained at the FCID at Area 10 in Abuja. He said he had to defy the COVID-19 lockdown that was in place at the time to travel to Abuja the following day.

Solomon said his son was reportedly detained at the FCID in Abuja for about three months before being arraigned before a federal high court in Abuja on charges of terrorism, sedition, criminal intimidation and threat to the life of the President. 

He further said he is yet to come to terms on how his son who is a 2018 graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Port Harcourt could be accused of such offences.

Recalling how it's been hard to cope with the absence of Emmanuel who is his only son among three siblings, Solomon said the trial was being delayed by the police ”who have continued to keep his son in custody since April 2020”.

He added that his son sent out the tweet after being frustrated over the circumstances surrounding his mother’s death in 2017.

The cleric said; 

“I would say that it was his annoyance against the Federal Governments that made him write what he wrote, because the government had been owing the mother since her retrenchment from the federal service.

“She worked at the Nigeria Airways and the workers had been retired since 2002, and they didn’t pay them until my wife fell sick for four years.

“We spent everything in our hands until she died in 2017. So, it pained my son so much.”