Nigerians, especially the body of Christ, have been admonished to renew their hope in God as there is life after the death of their relatives, particularly those who died in Christ, rather than blaming the death as the handiwork of some enemies or some evil people, especially when such relatives died at relatively young ages.
Reverend Obadiah Dakut of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Church and the officiating Priest at LCC Kiffong village, Pushit District, Mangu LGA in Plateau State gave the charge at the Funeral service for the late Mr. Pan'an Mathew Jwuantu, a former Niger State Correspondent of Standard Newspaper, over the weekend.
Rev. Dakut, whose theme at the funeral service was taken from the Book of Psalms 34:18, added that the essence of his sermon was that people have different perceptions about death, saying that people, especially Nigerians and some Christians, no longer look up to God because whenever there was any death of their relatives or friends, they accused people or witchcraft of being responsible for it.
The Cleric stated further that the essence of his preaching was to draw the attention of Christians to the fact that no matter their conditions, they should not despair but rest their hope and believe in God, emphasising that death is inevitable while there is time to be born and time to die.
"Whenever a Christian dies in the Lord, irrespective of his or her age, the relatives and friends on earth will start weeping for the person because they are feeling a sense of loss, but if such a person was a strong believer when alive, the Angels will be rejoicing over the departed soul on his or her arrival in heaven as a new-born Baby in their midst", he said.
He therefore enjoined the families of the deceased journalist, especially his aged Parents, wife, and children, not to lose hope over the death of their breadwinner, stressing that there is hope after death, and praying that God should raise a provider for the family in a miraculous way that they never expected.
Aged 39, the late Mr. Pan'an Mathew Jwantu is survived by his Parents, Mr. Mathew Jwantu (Sr.) and Mrs. Halima Mathew Jwantu; Wife, Mrs. Mercy Pan'an Mathew Jwantu; and four children.
The remains of the deceased Journalist who died recently during a brief illness was buried shortly after the funeral service at a Private Cemetery on rocks within the village in the presence of his relations and friends from far and near, some of whom were the representatives of the Leadership of the Niger State Council of NUJ, led by the Council's Vice Chairman, Comrade Uriah Gana, in conjunction with the state chapter of NAWOJ, led by it's Treasurer, Ruth Gana and their counterpart, members of the Correspondents Chapel of NUJ, Niger led by Adelowo Oladipo of the Nigerian Tribune and Chinwe Nnadozie, Secretary of the state chapter of SWAN and state Correspondent (Niger) Daily Independent Newspapers.
Others included Rev. Luka Elisha from COCIN, LCC Minna, Niger State, and Mr. Joshua A. Mufla, Secretary Mapjoval, Doloiass (Jos, Plateau State Socio-Cultural Association) Minna branch Niger State, among others.
The Anguwan Daji Senior Magistrate Court in Minna, Niger State, has ordered the remand of a 58-year-old man in a correctional facility until September 11, 2023.
The presiding senior magistrate, Hafsat Abdul Bawa Wuse, who ordered the remand, stated that the offence for which the defendant was standing trial was grievous in nature, hence his remand in a correctional facility.
Yau Ibrahim, of Kundu village in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, was arraigned in court on two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, sexual abuse, and exploitation.
According to Police Prosecutor Inspector Aliyu Yakubu Kuta, the offences contravened sections 26 (2) and 27 (2) of the Niger State Child Right and Protection Law of Niger State 2021, as amended.
The police First Information Report (FIR), made available in court and obtained by this reporter, explained that one Abdullahi Dauda of Kundu village in Rafi local government had reported to the Kagara Divisional Police Command that the defendant of the same address lured his six-year-old granddaughter to his room and sexually abused her.
During the police investigation, the 58-year-old defendant confessed and admitted to the police that he had sexual intercourse with the six-year-old child in his room.
When the charges were read to the defendant by the presiding senior magistrate, Hafsat Abdul Bawa Wuse, he pleaded guilty to the two-count charges and pleaded for leniency.
However, the police prosecutor told the court that, because of the heinous nature of the offences, he objected to the defendant's summary conviction.
Responding to the oral application of the police prosecutor, the presiding Magistrate Hafsat Abdul Bawa told the prosecutor that she aligned herself with the submission of the prosecutor.
"I really agreed with you. We need some witnesses, including the investigating police officer and possibly the victim.
"Convicting him summarily would not serve the deserving punishment. We need to commence a full trial to enable the court to arrive at giving him the real punishment that will serve as a deterrent to others," she pointed out.
She then adjourned the case to September 11 for the commencement of the hearing and the taking of witnesses.
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