The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday denied claims that Asar Michael Sesugh died in its custody, insisting that Sesugh, who had escaped from detention weeks earlier, was neither in its custody nor on bail when he died.

The clarification came as questions persisted over the circumstances surrounding Sesugh’s death, prompting the anti-graft agency to give its account of how a suspect who escaped from custody weeks earlier was later found dead after a reported exchange of gunfire with operatives in Makurdi, Benue State.

The position was contained in a statement signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and titled, ‘Setting the Records Straight on the Death of Citizen Asar Michael Sesugh.’

Read Also: EFCC Orders Probe Into Alleged Assault Of UUTH Professor

“The Commission wishes to state categorically that the deceased suspect did not die in EFCC custody and was not on bail at any time,” Oyewale said.

According to the Commission, Sesugh was among 26 suspected cybercrime suspects arrested by operatives of its Makurdi Zonal Directorate on April 28, 2026. The suspects were profiled and remanded by a Magistrate Court pending further investigation.

The EFCC said three of the suspects escaped from custody on May 4 after requesting permission to use the lavatory at the Directorate’s holding facility.

“They cashed in on the opportunity, broke the toilet’s roof and escaped from detention. Several efforts were made to re-arrest them to no avail,” the statement said.

According to the EFCC, fresh intelligence received on May 21 indicated that Sesugh was hiding in the Kanshio area of Makurdi, prompting operatives to move to the location.

“Upon sighting the team, Sesugh and his suspected cult members opened fire on them,” Oyewale stated.

The Commission said its operatives returned fire in self-defence, after which all members of the group, including Sesugh, fled the scene.

The EFCC said Sesugh was later found by the roadside in a pool of blood following the exchange. He was immediately taken to the Police Cottage Hospital at the Benue State Police Headquarters in Makurdi, where he was pronounced dead.

The agency said it subsequently reported the incident to the Benue State Police Headquarters, which has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death and is also pursuing the other fleeing members of the group.

The Commission also said preliminary findings from the police investigation had already been released to the public.

While extending condolences to Sesugh’s family, the EFCC maintained that it would continue to protect its personnel and facilities against attacks and security breaches.

“It will not condone any further attack on its operatives or breach of its internal security by suspects,” Oyewale said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has ordered an investigation into the altercation between operatives of the commission and the staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, which allegedly led to the brutalisation of Professor Eyo Ekpe, a foremost cardiologist in Nigeria.

Doctors and other health workers have embarked on an indefinite strike following the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, May 12, although the Chief Medical Director of UUTH, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, had appealed to the union leaders to return to work for the sake of critically ill patients.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Friday, said the commission was outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital, even though it was yet to see any physical evidence of such brutality in terms of bodily harm or injury to anyone.

Oyewale assured that while awaiting the outcome of the inquiry, any staff member of the commission found to have deviated from the agency’s Standard Operating Procedure would be sanctioned.

Suing for calm, he commended stakeholders who intervened in the matter for its peaceful resolution, urging that fifth columnists should not be allowed to exploit the situation and undermine the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Giving insight into why operatives of the Uyo Zonal Office visited UUTH, Oyewale said, “The presence of the commission’s operatives in the facility on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect an arrest. Contrary to the information making the rounds, no arrests were made and the staff of the hospital who followed our operatives to the zonal command were not detained.

“However, the commission, as a responsible organisation, has ordered an investigation into the incident. While awaiting the outcome of this inquiry, any staff member of the commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the agency will not be spared.”

Activities at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, Akwa Ibom State, were brought to a halt on Tuesday, May 12, following the attempted arrest and eventual arrest of Prof. Effiong Ekpe and three other staff members of the hospital by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Office.

It was gathered that EFCC officials, while attempting to arrest Prof. Ekpe, who is the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, on a court warrant, met resistance from other staff members of the hospital, while the hospital security also locked the gate, barring their exit from the facility.

It was further gathered that the operatives called for backup as the atmosphere became tense before the police arrived.

The Eastern Updates 

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, risk boosting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election chances if they back the former Anambra State governor in the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV on Wednesday, Okonkwo argued that Nigeria’s opposition must unite behind a single platform to stand a realistic chance of unseating the incumbent president.

According to him, a fragmented opposition would only strengthen Tinubu’s position ahead of the next general election.

Read Also: Duke Will Win Tinubu, Obi In Free, Fair Election – Datti Baba

“The reason I said it is that either you’re working for Tinubu directly, in other words, you’re in APC, or you’re working for Tinubu indirectly because when you divide the votes of the coalition and the opposition, you’re still making Tinubu better placed to win,” he said.

Okonkwo also criticised Obi’s reported decision to withdraw from coalition discussions within the ADC, claiming that the former Labour Party presidential candidate was unwilling to participate in a competitive primary process.

“Nobody forced Peter Obi to enter ADC. He entered on his own, and one week to the end of the closure of the time, he left and gave the reason. You can’t compete in a primary, and you want to be a politician. You want to be the president of a challenged country, and you’re running away from challenge,” he stated.

The former Labour Party spokesman further claimed that Senator Victor Umeh had previously advocated a political alliance between the South-East and northern political interests as the region’s most viable route to the presidency.

Okonkwo alleged that Umeh told him Obi was reluctant to embrace such advice.

“I told him, ‘Have you told Obi?’ He said yes, but that Peter Obi is very stubborn. That if you tell him anything, he would not believe but would continue to try,” he claimed.

Maintaining that opposition supporters should weigh their choices carefully, Okonkwo warned: “Let me tell you the truth, in 2027, anybody voting any vote whatsoever to Peter Obi, you’re voting for Tinubu, and don’t say that I didn’t tell you.”

A chieftain of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Datti Baba-Ahmed, says former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, will defeat President Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi in a free, fair and credible election.

Featuring in an interview on Symfoni TV,  Baba-Ahmed described Duke as one of the most qualified political figures in the country.

According to him, Nigerians have not fully appreciated the depth of his national appeal and leadership credentials.

Read Also: You’ve No Moral Authority To Advise Jonathan – PDP Blasts Keyamo

The Eastern Updates  reports that Duke recently emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP.

“In a free and fair election in Nigeria, Donald Duke is the winner,” Baba-Ahmed declared.

He also argued that many Nigerians underestimated Peter Obi before the 2023 election, warning that a similar mistake could be made regarding Duke’s prospects.

The Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has criticised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over his recent advice to former president Goodluck Jonathan on next year’s general elections.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the PDP said Keyamo lacks the moral authority to advise Jonathan.

The Eastern Updates reports that Keyamo had asked the ex-president to shelve the idea of running for president in 2027.

The Eastern Updates 

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of excessive and unrealistic bail conditions being imposed by courts and law enforcement agencies across the country.

In a statement, NBA President Afam Osigwe said bail conditions should not defeat the constitutional purpose of granting temporary freedom to accused persons while awaiting trial.

He stressed that bail is intended to ensure that defendants appear in court and should not be used as a form of punishment before a verdict is reached.

“Bail is neither a punishment nor a mechanism for imposing pre-trial incarceration by indirect means,” Osigwe said.

According to him, the association had observed cases where defendants were required to provide sureties who are senior civil servants on Grade Levels 16 or 17, or present landed properties worth hundreds of millions of naira, before they could be released on bail.

According to the NBA, such requirements effectively amount to a denial of bail because many accused persons are unable to meet them despite being granted bail by the courts.

The legal body cited previous court decisions to support its position. It referenced the case of Suleman & Anor v. Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, in which the Supreme Court held that bail is meant to guarantee pre-trial freedom and should not create impossible hurdles for defendants.

The NBA also pointed to Dasuki v. Director-General, State Security Service, where the Court of Appeal criticised the practice of demanding serving public officers as sureties, describing the requirement as unrealistic and inconsistent with public service regulations.

Osigwe reminded judicial officers that Section 165(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, clearly states that bail conditions must not be excessive.

He urged courts across the country to ensure that bail terms remain fair, reasonable, and achievable, warning that conditions which cannot be met are, in practice, equivalent to refusing bail.

“Conditions that cannot be met amount to a refusal of bail,” he said.

The NBA President further argued that limiting sureties to senior civil servants has no legal or rational basis and contributes to overcrowding in correctional facilities by keeping defendants in custody even after bail has been granted.

The Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has criticised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over his recent advice to former president Goodluck Jonathan on next year’s general elections.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the PDP said Keyamo lacks the moral authority to advise Jonathan.

The Eastern Updates reports that Keyamo had asked the ex-president to shelve the idea of running for president in 2027.

Recall that the factional PDP had affirmed Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The party said it was rather ironic that Keyamo, a man who built his public profile through relentless criticism of governments and public office holders, now seeks to deny others the very democratic space he once occupied with such enthusiasm.

It also recalled that Keyamo who challenged those in power, spoke against perceived injustices and approached the courts in defence of democratic principles.

The party expressed shock that Keyamo now appears very comfortable with the administration’s asphyxiation of the political space against the opposition, while at the same time being totally uncomfortable with citizens and political parties exercising their democratic rights.

The statement read: “Instead of concerning himself with the internal affairs of the PDP, the Minister would do well to devote his energy to addressing the numerous challenges confronting the aviation sector and the wider administration of which he is a part.

“Nigerians are far more interested in solutions to the worsening economic hardship, persistent insecurity, declining purchasing power, and the growing insecurity across the country than in unsolicited political advice directed at President Jonathan.

“A minister who could not effectively implement a simple cashless policy is not the best person to offer advice to a former President.

“Under the APC administration, Nigerians have witnessed unprecedented economic difficulties, repeated collapse of critical infrastructure, rising unemployment, and corruption scandals that continue to raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability in government. These are the issues deserving of the Minister’s commentary and advise to the incumbent president.

“The obvious nervousness that has greeted President Jonathan’s candidacy is understandable, because Nigerians have not forgotten that under his administration, the country enjoyed political stability, sustained economic growth, increased foreign investor confidence, and a more inclusive national atmosphere.

“It is therefore not surprising that many citizens are prevailing on him to return to power to offer stability, national healing and more importantly to reduce the political temperature of the country.

“We can assure Keyamo and the APC that no amount of intimidation, blackmail, or scaremongering can prevent Nigerians from freely expressing their political preferences or supporting leaders they believe can help reposition the country.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the affirmation of former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, following what it described as disruptions to its Special National Convention in Abuja.

In a statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the party’s Interim National Working Committee, on Saturday, the PDP alleged that its planned convention was obstructed through the deployment of security personnel and threats directed at the venue management.

According to the party, it had duly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies of its activities and had secured the A Class Event Centre in Abuja for the convention.

The Eastern Updates 

Mali’s military government on Thursday offered a $3.5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or killing of the leader of Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch.

Iyad Ag Ghaly, head of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), is the region’s most wanted man as the leader of the biggest jihadist force battling the juntas ruling many of the Sahel states.

Read Also: Kanu: US Congress Asks Secretary Of State To Engage FG

Ghaly, a former Malian diplomat and Tuareg rebel, is also on the US terrorist list and the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Since its creation in 2017, his JNIM has been blamed for a number of daring attacks on the military authorities.

In a statement read on national television, the military-run security ministry offered a two billion CFA francs ($3.5 million) bounty for information helping the “capture or neutralisation” of Ghaly and $2.5 million for one of his deputies, Amadou Kouffa. It also offered cash for intelligence on two Tuareg rebel leaders.

“These individuals are actively sought by the authorities for their alleged involvement in the planning, organisation and execution of terrorist acts that have threatened the safety of people and their property within the national territory,” the statement said.

Mali has been confronted by nearly a decade and a half of unrest led by the JNIM and fighters associated with the Islamic State group, as well as by criminal gangs. The country has been ruled by the military since a 2020 coup.

The United States Congress has asked the country’s Secretary of State to engage the Nigerian government on the trial, conviction and imprisonment of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

The development followed a resolution passed by the Congress on May 22, 2026. A copy of the resolution was obtained by The Eastern Updates on Tuesday.

The resolution, numbered H.Res. 1321, followed a motion by Congressman John James. James, in the motion, asked the Congress to call on the Government of Nigeria to ensure that all legal proceedings involving Kanu are conducted in full accordance with Nigeria’s constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments.

Read Also: Red Line Crossed: Tinubu Gets 30-Day Kanu Ultimatum

Kanu was on November 20, 2025, sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court presided by Justice James Omotosho, following his conviction on terrorism charges filed against him by the Nigerian government. The IPOB leader is currently serving the life sentence in Sokoto prison.

Kanu and his lawyers had kicked against the judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho in the terrorism trial, arguing that his conviction was based on repealed laws.

The pro-Biafra activist had filed an appeal to challenge his conviction but hearing in the suit is yet to commence.

In the resolution adopted by the Congress, US lawmakers asked the Nigerian government to ensure that Kanu’s trial is conducted in compliance with constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments.

The US Secretary of State was asked to engage the Nigerian authorities on the matter, as well as issues relating to Kanu’s detention conditions.

Kanu and his representatives had frowned at his detention in the Sokoto prison, citing the distance to Abuja, where the appeal is expected to be heard. They argued that the distance could undermine the preparation and presentation of the appeal. Concerns were also raised about the IPOB leader’s safety in the prison located in the seat of the caliphate.

The US Congress specifically asked the Nigerian government to consider a report on Kanu’s detention by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and take appropriate action on the findings.

The Eastern Updates 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in an open letter to the Russian leader Thursday, saying he was also ready for a “full ceasefire”.

The letter marks one of the few times Zelensky has appealed directly to Putin since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine have been stalled for months, as US-led negotiations remain effectively frozen due to the Iran war.

Read Also: Zelenskyy Offers To Drop NATO Bid For Security Guarantees

Previous rounds of negotiation between the two sides in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Geneva failed to yield a breakthrough on the key issue of territory in a post-war settlement.

“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky said in the letter, which was published on the Ukrainian presidency’s website.

“Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations,” he added.

Zelensky also proposed an all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war, saying this could be a “good prologue to ending the war”.

There was no immediate comment from Putin, who was wrapping up a meeting with foreign journalists in Saint Petersburg when the letter was published.

Zelensky has repeatedly called for a meeting with Putin, saying only face-to-face talks will yield an agreement on territory.

Putin has suggested he would only meet Zelensky once a peace agreement was ready.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday voiced readiness to drop his country’s bid to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees, but rejected the U.S. push for ceding territory to Russia as he held talks with U.S. envoys on ending the war.

Zelenskyy sat down with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Ukrainian leader posted pictures of the negotiating table with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sitting next to him facing the U.S. delegation.

Responding to journalists’ questions in audio clips on a WhatsApp group chat before the talks, Zelenskyy said that since the U.S. and some European nations had rejected Ukraine’s push to join NATO, Kyiv expects the West to offer a set of guarantees similar to those offered to the alliance members.

“These security guarantees are an opportunity to prevent another wave of Russian aggression,” he said. “And this is already a compromise on our part.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cast Ukraine’s bid to join NATO as a major threat to Moscow’s security and a reason for launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine renounce the bid for the alliance membership as part of any prospective peace settlement.

Read Also: EU Leaders Gather To Discuss Another Massive Loan To Ukraine

Zelenskyy emphasized that any security assurances would need to be legally binding and supported by the U.S. Congress, adding that he expected an update from his team following a meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. military officials in Stuttgart, Germany.

The U.S. government said in a social media post on Witkoff’s account after the five-hour meeting that “a lot of progress was made.”

Washington has tried for months to navigate the demands of each side as Trump presses for a swift end to Russia’s war and grows increasingly exasperated by delays. The search for possible compromises has run into major obstacles, including control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, which is mostly occupied by Russian forces.

The Eastern Updates