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Nigerian Mission, Unions in Italy vow to get justice for murdered lady

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Late Rita Amenze and the Husband
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The Nigerian Mission and Unions in Italy have vowed to get justice for late Rita Amenze, the Nigerian lady who was allegedly killed by her Italian husband on Sept. 10 in Italy.

Pastor Mike Oputteh, the Welfare Officer, National Union of Nigerian Association in Italy (NUNAI) disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Oputteh said the Nigerian Embassy in Italy, headed by Amb. Mfawa Abam, and the Unions have been very proactive on the issue which led to the arrest of late Amenze’s Italian husband.

He said the prompt action of the Nigerian Mission and leadership of the Unions had made the Italian Authority realise that Nigeria cares for her citizens.

“I am the Welfare Officer and when I first heard the news, I called the leader in that region, Noventa Vicentina, I told him to go and get a firsthand report on the incident, down to the police which he did.

“We got there on a Saturday, as at then, the husband had not been arrested. The police said the person in charge of the case was not around and that was when I got angry.

“When he saw my reaction, he realised the gravity. Because,  they had always seen Nigerians in that area like people the government do not care about.

“I told them my Embassy was aware of the case and my ambassador sent me here to find out, it was at that point they rose to the occasion. That was when they said this is what happened, that the girl filed for divorce.

“I said I do not want to hear it, that I am interested in the husband, leave what happened, because there is no amount of justification that will allow anybody to take anyone’s life.

“It was then, the man was arrested the next day. The question is, does it mean that they did not want to work before and were waiting for us to react before they worked?

“So, the Embassy rose up, the unions rose up also and other Italian NGOs and Civil Societies came up to say they will not take it. The man was arrested the next day, even inside his house.

“I told the police that the next phase is that we will follow the case. This new NUNAI Executive led by our President, Roland Ndukuba and our Ambassador, we are leaving no stone unturned in this particular case.

“We are also going to take the case up against the Italian police because there are cases in marriages,

“When a woman says she is no longer interested, it is the responsibility of the police to separate them, give the woman shelter and give a directive of restrictions of 1000 meters to the woman.

“We have cases we are going to use against the police and the man. The Nigerian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been supportive,” Oputteh said.

Oputteh also told NAN that the Nigerian Ambassador, Abam had also pledged to ensure no Nigerian was unjustly treated or falsely detained in Italy.

Oputteh noted that the Italian justice system was effective and commendable, however, szid the unions would ensure they got justice for any Nigerian found illegally detained, most times based on false accusations.

According to him, the Ambassador will lead a team, including the Unions to go round Italian Prisons to ascertain if there are Nigerians illegally detained.

“In a situation where we find out about a Nigerian that was unlawfully detained, we sue for damages and in most cases, we win such cases and damages are paid.

“I know of one or two people, and the last person was paid 65,000 Euros.

“On unlawful detention of Nigerians in Italian prisons, we have gone to three prisons.”

Oputteh said he had been living in Italy for years and the police have never harassed him.

He said recently, the Italian authorities carried out some raids and some Nigerians were apprehended for drugs, and cultism, and someone, a Nigerian and a whistle blower for the Italian police included my name.

“The police did their investigations, listened to my conversations but could not find anything on me, they did not arrest me but they arrested others. They cannot just come and arrest you for nothing, they can’t.

“I have not seen any Nigerian that is unlawfully detained that we have not fought for. And if there are, and we get to find out from the prisons we are visiting, we will fight for them,” Oputteh said. (NAN)

 

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UK Announces Tight Security, Road Closures Ahead of President Tinubu’s State Visit to Windsor Castle

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President Bola Tinubu with King Charles
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Authorities in the United Kingdom have announced road closures and temporary airspace restrictions ahead of the arrival of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a state visit hosted by Charles III.

President Tinubu is expected to begin the visit on Wednesday, March 18, accompanied by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu. An official reception for the Nigerian leader is scheduled to take place at Windsor Castle.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Thames Valley Police said it is working closely with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Royal Household, and other security partners to ensure the visit proceeds smoothly and securely.

As part of the heightened security arrangements, authorities confirmed that the permanent airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle will be extended on March 18 from 7:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of the police force’s Joint Operations Unit said the airspace limitations form only one aspect of a comprehensive security operation planned for the high-profile diplomatic engagement.

“The air restrictions are just one part of our robust security operation for the state visit of Nigerian President Tinubu next week, with many measures you will see and others you will not,” Hall said.

He added that the police have extensive experience managing security during royal events in Windsor, noting that significant planning and preparation have gone into the operation.

Hall also warned that the authorities would strictly enforce the restrictions, stressing that any violation would constitute a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could lead to arrest.

Security deployment during the visit will include specialised police units such as search teams, mounted officers, road policing personnel, and armed officers. These units will operate alongside neighbourhood policing teams and resources from the Project Servator.

Officials said additional safety measures would include Windsor’s extensive closed-circuit television network and hostile vehicle mitigation barriers positioned around key locations.

Authorities have urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity by contacting police through 101 or speaking directly with officers on duty. Emergencies should be reported through the 999 service.

Meanwhile, road closures and parking restrictions are set to take effect from Tuesday, March 17, with temporary traffic disruptions expected in and around Windsor during the visit.

Thames Valley Police added that it is working in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services to enforce the temporary flight restrictions. Individuals with legitimate reasons to operate drones during the restricted period have been advised to seek prior clearance from the police.

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Tinubu Dispatches Delegation to Represent Nigeria at Burial of Rev. Jesse Jackson

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Late Rev Jesse Jackson
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the burial of American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84 in Chicago.

The delegation is headed by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Other members include Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa; Special Presidential Envoy for Global and Pan-African Affairs Brian Browne; and Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye.

According to a State House statement issued on March 4 by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the delegation will formally convey President Tinubu’s condolences to Jackson’s family and associates.

In an earlier tribute, Tinubu described Jackson as “a great friend of Nigeria and Africa,” highlighting his vocal opposition to apartheid in South Africa. The Nigerian leader recalled Jackson’s advocacy for the release of Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the African National Congress, as well as his role in mobilising international support for sanctions against the apartheid regime.

Funeral events began on February 26 with a lying-in-state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago. Additional memorial services have been held in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., including a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse from March 1 to 5.

A “People’s Celebration” is scheduled for March 6 at the House of Hope in Chicago, followed by a private homegoing service on March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

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UK Court Jails Nigerian Man for Life Over Murder of Ex-Girlfriend

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Adedapo Adegbola and his Girlfriend
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A United Kingdom court has sentenced a Nigerian man, Adedapo Adegbola, to life imprisonment for the murder of his former girlfriend, 23-year-old Stephanie Irons, following the end of their relationship.

Adegbola was sentenced on Thursday at Nottingham Crown Court and ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to the charge last month.

The court heard that Adegbola and Irons met as colleagues and were briefly in a relationship, which later ended due to what the trial judge described as Adegbola’s controlling behaviour. Prosecutors said he became fixated on Irons and planned the attack after she broke off the relationship.

On 21 October, Adegbola went to Irons’s residence in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, where she was killed. He fled the scene but surrendered himself to the police in Hull the following day.

During sentencing, members of Irons’s family paid tribute to her, describing her as compassionate and kind-hearted. Her mother told the court she was devastated by the loss, saying her daughter had a warm personality and always sought to make others happy.

Delivering judgment, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said Adegbola’s refusal to accept the end of the relationship ultimately led to the fatal incident.

Detective Inspector Stuart Barson commended the victim’s family for their strength throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that a 40-year-old woman, Mary Onolunosen, has been charged with assisting an offender. She is scheduled to appear before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on March 6.

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