News

Man Kills Wife, Daughter, Commits Suicide

Published

7 years ago

June 14, 2018

Eric

A Chicago-based Nigerian pharmacist, Olasunkanmi Esho, has allegedly killed his Cameroonian wife, Bourk Esho, and their eight-year-old daughter, Olivia.

Olasunkanmi, 42, who lived in Ilinois, Chicago, in the United States of America, was alleged to have also shot himself dead after the incident.

It is not clear if the couple had any disagreement prior to the incident.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the Darien Police Department had started investigations into the tragedy which happened in an apartment building on 75th Street, Farmingdale Drive.

The report said the police responded to a call about shots fired, adding that the police found the three family members dead.

The Darien Police Commander, Gerald Piccoli, said the police were following up on the incident.

Piccoli stated that the area had been cordoned off and there was no threat to the community.

Some residents of the building and the neighbourhood said they saw police activity earlier, including an ambulance and unmarked police vehicles, but did not know what happened.

The neighbours, however, reported seeing a vehicle being towed from the apartment building parking lot.

Piccoli said the police towed away a vehicle as part of the investigation.

“The DuPage County Sheriff’s Department gathered evidence at the scene for the police department,” he added.

A friend of Bourk, Lawrence Willis, said she was a student of his at the Chicago State University and a former employee of St. Bernard Hospital and the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Willis explained that the 33-year-old worked in the health information management department at the University of Illinois.

A Facebook user, Djeric Lemessi, who claimed to be a family friend of the couple, said they were survived by two children who were not around at the time.

“Nigerian pharmacist in Chicago shot his Cameroonian wife, their eight-year-old daughter and committed suicide. They are survived by their 13-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.

“This happened yesterday (Sunday) morning in Chicago. The eight-year-old died in the arms of the 13-year-old, who heard gunshots and went to call his mom that he had heard gunshots outside, not knowing that their dad had shot their mom.

“He saw his sister in a pool of blood, carried her to seek help only for her to die in his arms; horrible story. The wife’s parents are from Guzang – Mr and Mrs Mudoh. Good friends of mine,” he wrote.

A neighbour of the couple, Suzanne McCray, said her child and Olivia were classmates.

“This is so sad; I saw at least one of them every evening picking up their daughter from after-school the same time as I.

“You just never know what couples are going through. Just saw the mom on Friday and she smiled and we chatted a bit about how she survived 1st grade; praying for the family,” she said.

The Punch

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.