PUNCH Metro gathered that family members and friends of the deceased stormed the hotel after learning of his death and demanded an explanation from the management.

The incident disrupted activities at the hotel as the family expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation that Charles fell from the balcony of a two-storey building at the rear of the facility.

The family, however, insisted on seeing the hotel’s CCTV footage to ascertain what happened to the deceased.

As the situation escalated, operatives of the Azikiwe Police Division, Port Harcourt, reportedly raced to the hotel following a distress call and intervened to calm the situation.

The elder brother of the deceased, identified as Obomate, told newsmen that the family was informed of Charles’ death around 5am on Thursday.

Obomate said the family remained determined to obtain the CCTV footage despite the intervention of the police.

He said, “I was at home around 5am when they called me. My younger sister said someone had taken pictures and sent them to her, informing her that my younger brother had died.

“We were told that he fell from the balcony of a two-storey building at the back of the hotel.

“We visited the hotel, but we did not see any trace indicating that he fell from the balcony.

“What we saw were signs suggesting that someone had struggled or possibly engaged in a fight. The area was scattered, and we also saw traces of blood.

“When we got to the hospital, the doctor told us that it was not a mere fall. He said the wound he observed on my brother’s stomach appeared to be a stab wound that had penetrated deeply.

“He also said he suspected that something had been used to hit him on the neck. It appeared that he had been severely beaten, as he also had injuries on his body.”

Obomate called for justice and a thorough investigation into the incident, saying, “My brother cannot die like that. That’s why we want a thorough investigation to know what really happened.”

Meanwhile, the police have shut down the hotel and ordered everyone, including guests, to vacate the premises temporarily.

A source familiar with the incident, who pleaded anonymity, said the police action was likely aimed at securing the scene, preventing the possible tampering with or destruction of evidence, and averting any attack on the hotel.

“As we speak, the hotel has been closed by the police. They asked everybody to vacate the premises. But the family are still there, asking to see the CCTV before they leave and the body is disposed of,” the source said.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, proved abortive as of the time of filing this report on Thursday afternoon.

The deceased’s remains have since been removed and deposited at an undisclosed mortuary by the police.

Adelabu, in a statement released in Ibadan, the state capital, said his decision was not due to a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction, but was taken in the interest of the party’s progress ahead of the 2027 elections.

He explained that the decision followed a meeting with some party leaders and representatives of his loyalists and supporters from across the 33 local government areas and 351 wards in the state.

The PUNCH reports that some Oyo APC governorship aspirants have been at loggerheads with the state and national executive members of the party over the nomination of Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

They alleged that Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was imposed on them.

Adelabu, in his statement, said that as a loyal and committed member of the APC, he had decided not to pursue an appeal within the party or institute legal proceedings over the process at this time.

The former minister said, “This decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction. Neither should it be interpreted as an act of surrender or an indication that my aspiration to serve as governor of Oyo State is a do-or-die affair.

“Rather, I have chosen, in the interest of peace, party stability and the larger future of the APC in the state, not to further escalate the matter through avenues that may deepen existing divisions and undermine the cohesion of our great party.

“More importantly, our respected national chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo, openly acknowledged that there were errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process.

“We believe that an acknowledgement or apology, though important, cannot and should not substitute for the necessary correction where the opportunity to address the grievances still exists.”

He expressed concern that many loyal members had invested years of their lives, enormous personal resources, time, energy and political capital in building the APC.

Many of them, according to him, now felt that their sacrifices, votes and preferences had been disregarded and that candidates who did not necessarily reflect the popular choices of party members had emerged without a transparent declaration of the primary results.

“Their grievances are genuine and must not be dismissed as merely the product of the influence or persuasion of any particular aspirant.

“Indeed, many party members are deeply convinced that their own votes, sacrifices and preferences were disregarded, and some may not readily accept appeals from the aspirants they supported.

“Rather, names of selected individuals were subsequently entered on the INEC electronic portal as the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.

“This development has effectively produced candidates without the transparent publication of the actual results upon which such nominations were supposedly based.

“The concerns arising from this process cut across the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly nominations.

“We agreed that the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results has understandably generated serious concerns about the transparency, credibility and integrity of the nomination process.

“We also affirmed that substantial documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence exist which, in our considered view, raise serious questions about aspects of the process and the eventual outcomes.”

He asked the national leadership of the party to restore confidence, rebuild trust and return cohesion and unity to the party.

“The national leadership of our party must therefore appreciate that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants.

“The APC has important work to do to restore confidence, rebuild trust and return cohesion and unity to the party in the state,” he said.

The former minister urged the national leadership of the APC to urgently initiate a comprehensive, sincere and credible reconciliation process covering all categories of nominations and genuinely engaging all affected stakeholders.

“Members who feel wounded, betrayed or alienated must be deliberately engaged and reassured, not merely through appeals, but through concrete actions that demonstrate that their loyalty, sacrifices and contributions still matter.

“The implications of the present situation must not be underestimated. Electoral victory cannot be secured merely by entering names on an electronic portal or announcing candidates.

“Elections are won through the trust, enthusiasm, commitment and active participation of party members and supporters, particularly at the grassroots,” he added.

Adelabu insisted that his aspiration to serve as the state governor was driven by a genuine desire to contribute more directly to the development, prosperity and progress of Oyo State and its people.

“My aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State has never been, and will never be, a do-or-die project. By the grace of Almighty God, I have been privileged to serve at the highest levels of both the private and public sectors, and for these opportunities, I remain profoundly grateful.

“However, as human beings, we may propose, but Almighty God ultimately disposes according to His divine will and perfect timing.

“While recent developments may have delayed the realisation of this aspiration, I remain firmly convinced that what may be delayed by human actions cannot be denied by Almighty God. God’s time, indeed, remains the best,” the former minister stressed.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday, Governor Alex Otti said the access road was part of a comprehensive plan to give the state capital a facelift and tackle traffic challenges around the corridor.

He said, “And that’s why it is important that we have this. Because there are a lot of things, like I told you (MD), the last time, what we have in mind.

“And by the time we integrate the mega station into the terminal, it will become a transportation hub.

“So, with the railway station, with the bus terminal, and of course, every other thing that goes with it to be in the same place. And it will look nice. So, now that we have this done, we can go ahead and commence,” Gov. Otti stated.

The governor directed the Commissioner for Transport, Chimezie Ukaegbu; the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti; the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Hon. Kingsley Agomuo, and other relevant officials to work together and deliver the project as quickly as possible.

Otti also urged the Managing Director of the NRC to consider increasing the fleet of trains from Port Harcourt to Aba. He assured the NRC of the Abia State Government’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government so that the state would continue to receive assistance.

“See how we can do that. For us here, I’m sure you may have seen in the news that the new electric buses have come in, increasing the number to 40. Another 30 is on the way.

“So, that will be the bus covering the entire State. So, if we have the railway, including the other one I mentioned to you that I’m thinking about, and we are working with brother Governors in the Southeast to also integrate all our States on a rail network that will not belong to NRC, but will be supported hugely by NRC. That’s the way it works, everywhere in the world,” Gov. Otti stated.

The governor further noted the request for the proper relocation of the existing police station within the railway corridor in Umuahia. He directed the General Manager, UCDA, to effect the relocation to a temporary space within the facility and come up with the design of a new railway station with a police station and share it with the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

He thanked the Managing Director for using Abia as an example to other states and for appointing Mr Francis Ejike from Enugu State as the Regional Head of the Nigerian Railway Corporation in the South-East. He urged Ejike to sustain the good work for which he had been commended by the MD.

“I want to thank you. And I want to congratulate Ejike for doing his job well and getting to the level very quickly where the MD can say, once Ejike is there, the problem is solved,” the governor said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the decision to sign the MoU with the Abia State Government was to facilitate the construction of an access road through the railway corridor in Umuahia.

He explained that the MoU would enable the state government to construct an access road linking Okpara Square through Goodshed and Akanu Ibiam Road to Bende Road, aimed at improving connectivity and easing traffic within the state capital.

According to him, the state government sought the corporation’s approval as part of its vision to transform the transport sector. He said the request was approved after the state met all the conditions required by the Nigerian Railway Corporation for such a project.

Opeifa described the Abia State Government as responsive and responsible, noting that its commitment to due process informed the corporation’s decision to execute the MoU. He praised Otti’s leadership style, saying he frequently cited the governor in many places as a model for transformative governance, and commended his commitment to collaboration and partnership irrespective of political affiliation.

The NRC managing director lauded the governor for the massive infrastructure development across the state.

Opeifa highlighted the recently completed Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal as a top-notch project that reflected the administration’s focus on improving transportation and mobility in Abia.

He also requested that the existing police station within the railway corridor be relocated to a more suitable site and that the architectural design for the new railway station be shared with him.

He expressed confidence that the partnership would further strengthen infrastructure, improve mobility and drive economic growth in the state.

Relationship coach and pastor, Kingsley Okonkwo, has unveiled a Christian matchmaking platform, Mentor To Marry, for singles seeking marriage, with membership plans ranging from N70,000 to N700,000 annually.

Okonkwo, the lead pastor of David’s Christian Centre, unveiled the platform in a series of posts on X on Wednesday, saying it was designed to help serious Christian singles connect with potential partners.

The platform describes itself as a guided marriage-preparation and matching community for Christian singles seeking intentional, faith-based marriages.

Promoting the platform, Okonkwo said relationships had become increasingly commercialised, making it difficult for some young men to find genuine partners.

He wrote, “I feel for the men of this generation….relationships have been so commercialized nowadays that its almost impossible for a young man to find true love.”

In another post, the pastor said, “When we were young, all you had to get was a girls phone number but now all they want to send is their account number, now you are expected to pay rent, school fees and transport before you are taken seriously.”

He subsequently directed men who wanted to meet “godly well mentored ladies from all over the world” to the platform.

Okonkwo also said the platform was not intended to suggest that all women were interested in relationships for financial reasons.

“I can assure you that not all women are in relationship for business, there are a lot of good women looking to connect with serious godly men on our platform,” he wrote.

According to the platform’s website, Mentor To Marry places mentoring before matchmaking, with members expected to undergo preparation before gaining access to its matching services.

The programme begins with eight weeks of mentoring classes, assessments and guided reflection, followed by recommendations and introductions depending on the membership plan.

The platform says its aim is to help singles develop clarity, maturity and accountability before pursuing marriage.

Its membership is divided into three categories: Regular, Premium and VIP.

The Regular plan costs N70,000 for 12 months and includes eight weeks of mentoring classes, assessments and surveys, access to limited profiles, an accountability system, five weekly chats and access to a country-based matching pool.

The Premium plan costs N350,000 annually and includes the Regular package, unlimited profile browsing, monthly profile recommendations, priority access to coaches, access to global profiles, 10 weekly chats and private groups.

The VIP package costs N700,000 annually and offers everything in the Premium plan, alongside a dedicated matchmaker and coach, priority access to the platform’s founders, 15 weekly chats, off-platform introductions, a profile protection feature and access to global profiles.

The platform, however, states that membership does not guarantee a match, mutual interest or marriage.

Mentor To Marry says it is operated by Love, Dating and Marriage Ministries, a non-profit organisation registered in Nigeria, and is intended for Christians aged 25 and above.

Its statement of faith says members must identify as Christians and agree to its principles on relationships and marriage.

It also states that members must be unmarried, divorced or widowed to participate in its matching services and must provide truthful information about their identity and marital status.

The platform says its matching process is designed around Christian values, accountability, relationship education and preparation for marriage rather than casual dating.

It also has guidelines prohibiting sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, fraud, catfishing, sexually explicit content and financial exploitation.

The platform lists Kingsley and his wife, Mildred Okonkwo, among its founders and says they bring pastoral care and marriage mentoring experience to the service.

The platform’s stated philosophy is that the goal is not merely to help singles meet someone but to help them become ready for the kind of marriage they seek.

It also offers a free singles community for people who are interested in marriage but are not ready to enrol in a paid membership.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has offered whistleblowers between 2.5 per cent and 5 per cent of recovered assets for credible information leading to the recovery of funds and properties allegedly taken abroad by corrupt Nigerians.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede announced the incentive while speaking at the 43rd International Symposium on Economic Crime in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Olukoyede urged anyone with credible information about Nigerian assets suspected to be proceeds of corruption anywhere in the world to approach the commission, promising that successful whistleblowers would receive a financial reward after recovery. “That is an incentive we have put in place to encourage people to come forward to give information about stolen assets,” he said.

According to the EFCC chairman, the reward could potentially turn credible whistleblowers into millionaires depending on the value of assets recovered from their information. “You never know if you give any information here, some of you may leave this place, multi-millionaire in your lifetime,” Olukoyede told participants.

He said the initiative was designed to strengthen the EFCC’s access to intelligence that could help trace assets moved out of Nigeria through illicit means. Olukoyede also disclosed that the commission had secured the forfeiture of more than $500 million in cash and assets to the Federal Government during his first three years in office.

He attributed the recoveries to the professionalism of EFCC investigators, judicial support and access to credible intelligence. The EFCC chairman further highlighted Nigeria’s non-conviction-based asset forfeiture framework, which allows authorities to pursue suspected proceeds of crime without necessarily waiting for a criminal conviction.

He said the system was comparable to mechanisms used in countries such as Australia and Canada and had enabled the government to pursue the forfeiture of assets including an aircraft, a university, estates and houses allegedly acquired with proceeds of crime. Olukoyede cited the recovery of 752 housing units linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.

He also discussed the investigation involving former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), saying investigators traced 57 properties to him and had secured the forfeiture of 48.

“Sometimes last year, I opened investigations upon reasonable suspicion of criminal abuse of office by the immediate past Attorney-General of Nigeria,” he said.