From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Executive Secretary, Ebonyi State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr Emeka Ovuoba has urged relevant authorities to strengthen support for the State Gender Based Violence team to intensify efforts in curbing the rising cases of GBV.
Ovuoba made the call while declaring open, a two-day workshop organised by the Gender Based Violence Department of the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, Whisper To Humanity.
The event, which took place in Abakaliki, attracted different Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, and other groups in the state.
He maintained that there had been consistent and practical commitment to tackle the problem and commended the wife of the governor, Mrs Mary Maudline Nwifuru, and other GBV stakeholders for their concerted efforts to tackle the ugly menace.
He also appealed to participants to take the workshop seriously and focus on workable solutions to GBV related cases
The Head of Gender Based Violence Department in the Ministry of Justice, Faith Nwanchor appreciated Whisper To Humanity for its contribution to the state’s response efforts.
She described the workshop as a timely wake up call, adding that the two-day session would involve an intensive review of strategies aimed at reducing GBV cases across the state.
The leadership of Whisper To Humanity, led by Mary Jacob Okwuosa, urged participants to remain bold and proactive.
Court Frees Welder Accused Of Stealing Wheelbarrow
Chief Magistrate Court in Life Camp, Abuja, yesterday discharged a 26-year-old welder, Friday James, accused of stealing a wheelbarrow.
The police charged James of Tipper Garage, Gwarinpa, Abuja, with theft.
Chief Magistrate Musa Jobbo discharged him, following an application by the prosecuting counsel, Mrs Charity Nwachukwu to strike out the case for lack of interest by the complainant, Faruk Umar.
Jobbo, therefore, struck out the case.
“The defendant is hereby discharged, and the First Information Report, FIR, is withdrawn,” he said.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail.
Nwachukwu blamed Umar and his sole witness who reported the matter at Gwarinpa Police Station since September 26, 2025, but had refused to appear before the court to testify.
According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that the defendant criminally made away with his wheelbarrow valued at N31,000 kept at the frontage of Bashir Aliyu’s shop in Tipper Garage, Gwarinpa.
The complainant alleged that the defendant was caught in the process of taking the said wheelbarrow away and it was recovered from him.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 287 of the Penal Code.
