In Edo State, 12 persons lost their lives and 14 others were injured in a fatal crash that occurred over the weekend at Egono community along the Auchi–Ewu–Benin expressway.

The accident happened when a speeding truck conveying passengers and goods attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, lost control, and overturned.

The spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Edo State, Patricia Onwochei, confirmed the incident, attributing it to wrongful overtaking.

She added that one of the victims had been buried, while 11 bodies were deposited at the St. Lazarus Hospital mortuary.

In a separate incident in Taraba State, seven persons, including two children and two women, died in a crash that occurred at about 4:40 pm on Tuesday in the Garbabi area of Gashaka Local Government Area.

The accident involved a commercial vehicle carrying 11 passengers from Bali to Serti, the headquarters of Gashaka LGA.

An official of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Bali branch, Haruna Lukman, said the vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming trailer while negotiating a sharp bend near Kabarin Baturi village along the Bali–Serti road.

He stated that all occupants died on the spot, adding that officials of NARTO, police officers, and bystanders evacuated the bodies and injured victims to Bali General Hospital.

Lukman further noted that the vehicle, which was meant to carry six passengers, was often overloaded due to rising fuel costs and alleged extortion by security operatives.

The former governor, who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

During the resumed hearing, DSS counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that an amended five-count charge was filed on April 13, requesting that it replace the earlier three-count charge.

Defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), confirmed receipt of the amended charge and did not oppose its substitution. Consequently, the court struck out the earlier charge and proceeded to read the amended counts to the defendant, who again maintained his not-guilty plea.

One of the counts alleged that El-Rufai “intentionally and without authorization intercepted the communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.”

Another count accused him of deploying technical systems that allegedly compromised public safety and national security while also creating “reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians.”

The prosecution also requested that the identities of two witnesses be protected, seeking to replace their names with pseudonyms due to security concerns. However, the defence objected, arguing that such a request violates the defendant’s constitutional right to know his accusers.

The defence further opposed the prosecution’s request for consecutive hearing dates, citing concerns that El-Rufai’s access to legal counsel could be hindered due to his custody under the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Counsel also informed the court of a pending bail application, noting that a missing affidavit had been located.

Although the defence sought to quash the amended charge and demanded disclosure of proof of evidence for proper preparation, the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the applications, describing them as unmeritorious.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to May 18, 19, and 20 for further hearing.