NEWS
BCS Excommunicates Four Members over Rebellious Acts, Doctrinal Violation

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star with international headquarters in Calabar has excommunicated four of its members for rebellious acts against the organization and for violating its doctrine.
They also cautioned members of the public against dealing with them as members of the fold.
In a statement by the spokesman of the organization, Patriarch Dr Amah Williams, they gave the names of those expelled to include, Sister Anne Ewa, Bassey Kinsley Asu, Bassey Effiong and Samson Harvey
The four were accused of engaging in rebellious activities, disobedience to hierarchy of the fold, non-adherence to the doctrines, ethics, norms and divine practices of the organization.
They were advised not to portray themselves as members of the fold, cautioning members, too, against recognizing or dealing with them as such.
The organisation further advised their administrators to internally publicize the banishment which takes immediate effect.
Part of the excommunication order states, “The decision to excommunicate the four was reached by the BCS Executive Council in conjunction with members of the Incorporated Trustees after a thorough consideration of all matters regarding the disobedience, rebellious and non-adherence to the doctrines, ethics, norms and practices of BCS as the Universal Spiritual School of Practical Christianity.
“The above named persons’ actions on social media and other misdemeanors fall short of the expectations of a member of BCS and run fowl of their ordination vows
“They have countless times rebuffed several calls and opportunities given to them to retrace their steps.
“This is intolerable within our sacred institution; hence the executive Council had on 30th August 2024 excommunicated the named persons. By this, they have ceased to be members of BCS.”
The first time the organization similarly excommunicated members for acts of rebellion was in 2001.
Reacting, two of those that were excommunicated, Bassey Effiong Orok and Kingsley Asu insisted that they remain members as efforts to reach out to Anne Ewa and Samson Harvey to comment on the matter proved abortive as their lines were not going through.
Health
NCDC Warns of Cholera Surge, Gives Updates on Other Outbreaks

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following a significant surge in cholera cases across 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in nine states.
During a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, expressed concern over the rising number of cholera infections as the rainy season begins.
He warned that the situation posed a serious public health threat.
“As of April 28, 2025, over 1,141 suspected cholera cases and 30 deaths have been reported across multiple states, with Bayelsa, Lagos, Abia, and Zamfara among the most affected,” he said.
Idris attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation, inadequate access to clean water, and widespread open defecation.
He said the NCDC was working in collaboration with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and development partners to strengthen surveillance, improve access to oral rehydration therapy, and promote hygiene education.
On Lassa fever, he reported a decline in weekly cases but warned that the disease remained persistent in endemic states such as Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi.
“We must not relax. The virus is still circulating in the rodent population,” he cautioned.
He also noted continued transmission of Mpox, with recent cases reported in Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“While no deaths have been recorded in the past month, the virus continues to spread through close contact,” he added.
On Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), Idris stated that outbreaks had occurred in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe states, predominantly affecting children and young adults.
He said vaccination campaigns were underway in high-burden areas, supported by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Gavi.
Idris further emphasised the urgent need for the rational use of antibiotics in managing the ongoing outbreaks, warning that misuse, particularly in cholera and Lassa fever treatment, could worsen antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“We must remind our health workers and communities that not every illness requires antibiotics.
“Inappropriate use during outbreaks is a silent pandemic that could undermine our ability to treat infections in the future,” he warned.
He urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as regular hand washing, proper waste disposal, and early medical attention when symptoms of any of the listed diseases were observed.
“Public health is a shared responsibility,” Idris said, calling on the media and civil society groups to support risk communication and community engagement efforts
General News
FRSC Gets New Sector Commander in Osun

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appointed Mr Leye Adegboyega as the new Sector Commander for Osun RS11.1 Command.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adegboyega, who assumed on on May 2, took over from Mr Taofeeq Sokumbi , who has been redeployed.
NAN further reports that the new sector commander until his appointment was the Zonal Head of Operations at Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo.
He was was enlisted into the service of the Federal Road Safety Corps on Nov. 1, 1993, and was appointed as the Personal Assistant to the Director of Operations, a post he held till 1998.
Adegboyega was later redeployed and appointed the pioneer Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the erstwhile Acting Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Mr Danyaro Yakasai.
In 1999, he was redeployed to the then Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRAS) as the Staff Officer (Statistics) and in 2003, he was posted to Imo Sector Command as Staff Officer (Operations).
The new sector commander was in 2005 redeployed to Owo Unit Command in Ondo State as the Unit Head of Administration and Human Resources, a position he occupied until 2009, as an Assistant Corps Commander l.
After several promotions and awards, he was promoted to his present rank of Corps Commander in April 2022.
The new sector commander was redeployed on April1, 2022 to the Federal Road Safety Command and Staff College, Udi, Enugu State, as Director of Coordination, a position he held till July 2023.
In July 2023, he was redeployed to Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo as the Zonal Head of Operations.
Adegboyega was born in Abeokuta on July 25, 1969, to the family of Late Pa Femi Adeleye and Mrs Felicia Adeleye from Ayetoro in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He attended St. Andrew’s Primary School, Ibara, Abeokuta, from 1974 to 1979 and later proceeded to the prestigious African Church Grammar School, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, from where he obtained the West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE) in 1985.
He bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Political Science from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, in the year 1992 and later did his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Enugu with the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Adegboyega received commendations for his outstanding performance and was subsequently given automatic employment by the FRSC Management in 1993.
He is married to Mrs Oluwayemisi Elizabeth and the union is blessed with four lovely children.
JUDICIARY
Court Remands 6 Men Docked Over Alleged Breach of Peace, Unlawful Gathering

A Grade A Customary Court at Mapo in Ibadan has remanded six men standing trial for alleged breach of public peace, following their inability to meet their bail conditions.
The defendants are; Ismail Oladipupo, Ridwan Raji, Biodun Gbadamosi, Usman Mohammed, Samuel Olowu and Sunday Akande.
Due to their inability to meet bail, the Court President, Mrs S.
M. Akintayo, ordered that the six defendants be remanded in Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo.Akintayo had admitted each of the defendants to N200,000 bail after they all pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful gathering and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.
The court also ordered that the defendants should provide two reliable sureties, one of whom must be a community leader.
However, the six men could not meet the bail conditions and therefore were remanded at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town.
Akintayo subsequently adjourned the suit until June 24 for hearing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 14, at 12:45 a.m., at Agbaje Market, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ayeni said that the defendants were arrested after they were caught using various dangerous objects such as cutlasses, broken bottles and stones, daring anybody to confront them.
According to him, the six men by their actions allegedly caused apprehension and fear in the entire community.
He stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 416 and 249 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 vol. II Law of Oyo State 2000