Akwa Ibom PUNCH Correspondent Patrick Odey Buried Amid Tributes
Tears, tributes and expressions of grief filled Mbube community in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State on Saturday as the remains of The PUNCH Akwa Ibom State Correspondent, Patrick Odey, were laid to rest.
Odey, aged 62, died recently and was survived by his wife, six children and grandchildren.
At the funeral service, the management of PUNCH Nigeria Limited paid tribute to the deceased journalist, describing him as a valued member of the organisation whose dedication to journalism and contributions to the newspaper would remain memorable.
The condolence message from the Board and Management of PUNCH Nigeria Limited was delivered by the Cross River State Correspondent of the newspaper, Emem Julius.
“On behalf of the Board, Management and entire staff of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, we extend our heartfelt condolences to this family on the passing of your beloved husband and father, Mr Patrick Odey, who served as our Akwa Ibom State Correspondent,” the message stated.
The management prayed for strength and comfort for Odey’s family, colleagues and associates as they mourned his passing.
Also mourning the journalist, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, described his death as a loss to his family and the state.
The governor’s condolence message, read by his Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Essien Ndueso, noted that Odey played a role in documenting the story and development of Akwa Ibom through his journalism.
“His contributions to journalism and our state will be remembered and will be greatly missed.
“On behalf of the Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State, I commiserate with his family, the management and staff of The Punch newspaper, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, and the entire media community, and pray that God Almighty grants everyone affected by this painful loss strength and fortitude to bear it,” Eno said.
The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State, Bassey Anthony, also described Odey as a peaceful and humble colleague who was committed to promoting excellence in journalism.
Anthony led other members of the chapel to the funeral and noted that Odey’s burial marked the second time in two years that the chapel had lost a member.
He recalled that the chapel had also buried Vanguard correspondent, Chioma Okonna, last year.
Anthony prayed for comfort for the bereaved family and protection for journalists in the course of their professional duties.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Uyo branch, was also represented at the funeral by its Chairman, Prof Opeyemi Olajide, and the ASUU National Financial Secretary, Prof Happiness Uduk.
The union leaders described Odey as a godly man whose life, they said, was worthy of celebration.
In his exhortation, Rev. Offiong Eyo of Assemblies of God, Afaha Oku, urged Christians to live lives worthy of their eternal reward.
Eyo described death as an important moment in the Christian faith, marking the end of earthly life and the point at which believers receive their reward from their Creator.
He said Odey had devoted himself to serving God and prayed that God would grant his wife, children and other family members the strength to cope with his death.
The funeral brought together family members, colleagues, journalists, academics, friends and associates who gathered to honour Odey’s memory and pay their final respects to the veteran correspondent.
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Journalists, family members and associates gathered in Mbube, Cross River State, on Saturday to bid farewell to The PUNCH Akwa Ibom Correspondent, Patrick Odey, who died at 62. Colleagues and public officials paid tribute to his contributions to journalism and Akwa Ibom State.

A 71-year-old man who spent 41 years on death row in the United States has been released on bail after newly analysed DNA evidence failed to link him to the murder for which he was convicted.

Douglas Stewart Carter was convicted of killing Eva Olesen in Provo, Utah, in February 1985 and sentenced to death.

Carter, who has consistently maintained his innocence, was released on Monday after a judge granted him bail pending a new trial.

He will, however, be required to wear a GPS monitoring device while the case continues.

Prosecutors had opposed the release, while Olesen’s family also expressed concerns about Carter being allowed to leave custody.

The development followed fresh DNA analysis which prosecutors said excluded Carter as a possible contributor to blood found on a doorknob at the crime scene and genetic material recovered from the handle of the knife believed to have been used in the killing.

Olesen was stabbed multiple times and shot in the back of the head at her home. She was the aunt of a local police chief.

Carter, who was originally from Chicago, was living with his mother in Utah when Olesen was killed.

Police suspected him of carrying out the murder during a robbery, but court records showed that there was no physical evidence directly connecting him to the crime scene.

His conviction was largely based on a confession he signed during police interrogation and testimony from two witnesses who claimed Carter had bragged about killing Olesen.

Carter later argued that the confession had been coerced.

The credibility of the two witnesses was also challenged years after the conviction.

In 2011, both reportedly said they had been instructed to lie during the trial, given cash and gifts by police and threatened with deportation if they refused to testify against Carter.

Carter’s lawyers further argued that other witnesses had reported seeing a white man fleeing the scene.

The defence also alleged that investigators suppressed evidence that could have pointed to Olesen’s husband, Orla Olesen, as a possible suspect.

Orla Olesen, who died in 2009, had told police that he discovered his wife’s body inside their home.

According to court records, the knife believed to have been used in the attack came from the couple’s kitchen and was found near Olesen’s body.

The firearm used to shoot her was never recovered.

The Utah Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Carter last year, citing misconduct by investigators.

At Monday’s bond hearing, Theresa Olesen, Eva Olesen’s daughter-in-law, said the family had serious concerns about Carter’s release and wanted him to remain in custody until the new trial.

“By golly we were hoping for a concrete match,” she said of the DNA results, adding that the findings did not necessarily prove Carter was not present at the scene.

Carter’s defence lawyer, Neal Hamilton, however, urged prosecutors to dismiss the case entirely.

He argued that Carter would likely have been executed years ago if not for the discovery of alleged misconduct surrounding his conviction.

Carter’s release comes after more than four decades in custody and leaves the 1985 murder case awaiting a fresh trial.

The case highlights the role of DNA testing and the review of potential investigative misconduct in challenging convictions reached decades earlier.

The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg has condemned the deaths of three Nigerians in separate incidents across South Africa within four days, describing the development as deeply troubling and raising fresh concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.

The Consul-General, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the three incidents occurred between September 18 and 21, 2026.

The victims were identified as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.

According to the Consulate, Igwemmadú died on September 18 after allegedly jumping from a building while attempting to escape what it described as police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in the Central Business District of Bloemfontein.

The Consulate said, “On 18th September 2026, a Nigerian national, Kenechukwu Christopher IGWEMMADU, allegedly jumped to his death while trying to escape police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas street, Central Business District (CBD), Bloemfontein.”

Two days later, Olatunde was shot at Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, where he worked as a security guard.

The Consulate said the incident followed an altercation between Olatunde and a South African customer who allegedly attempted to leave the premises with a cup belonging to the club.

According to the statement, the customer pulled out a firearm during the confrontation and shot Olatunde, causing serious injuries and severe blood loss.

The alleged shooter reportedly fled the scene but later returned after realising that several witnesses knew his identity.

The Consulate further alleged that the suspect threatened witnesses who might report the incident or identify him to the police.

Olatunde was taken to Mamelodi Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Doctors confirmed his death on the morning of September 21.

Nigerian allegedly tortured to death
The third victim, Nnaemeka, allegedly died on September 21 following an encounter with South African politician and investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo and members of his content creation team in Primrose, Ekurhuleni.

The Consulate said the incident occurred during an operation conducted by members of Khumalo’s Sizok’thola team.

According to the Consulate, the encounter allegedly involved assault and torture.

It alleged that the team arrested and assaulted Nnaemeka despite reportedly finding nothing incriminating on him.

The statement further alleged that Nnaemeka attempted to escape by jumping over a fence but later collapsed from injuries and exhaustion.

He was subsequently taken to a hospital, where he was reportedly pronounced dead on arrival.

The Consulate also recalled the February 9, 2026, death of another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, who it said was shot dead by Khumalo’s reality television crew in Windsor East, Randburg.

It expressed concern that no arrests had been made in that case, while alleging that Khumalo was currently seeking election as Mayor of Ekurhuleni.

Consulate demands investigation
The Nigerian Consulate said the deaths of the three Nigerians in quick succession raised concerns about what it described as a possible pattern of attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

It called on relevant South African authorities to conduct thorough investigations into the incidents and ensure that anyone found responsible is prosecuted.

The Consulate also stressed that allegations of criminal conduct cannot justify extrajudicial action, noting that suspects should be dealt with through established legal processes.

It said, “In cases where allegations may exists, no matter what the allegations may be, there are processes and steps to justice.

All should be presumed innocent and granted fair hearing in a court of law. No one should take laws into their own hands.”

The mission appealed to Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious amid what it described as ongoing xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, threats, insecurity and alleged ill-treatment of vulnerable black African foreigners.

Fani-Kayode says 12 Nigerians killed in 2026
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, also condemned the latest deaths.

Fani-Kayode said the three latest incidents had increased the number of Nigerians killed in South Africa in 2026 to 12.

He said, “It has been brought to my attention by the Nigerian Consul in Johannesburg that 3 more Nigerians have been murdered in three separate incidents in South Africa in the space of 4 days this month alone.”

The High Commissioner further claimed that 112 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa since 2022, including 32 who he said were killed by members of the South African security forces.

He also alleged that none of those responsible for the killings had been brought to justice or convicted.

Fani-Kayode appealed to South African authorities to protect Nigerians living in the country and ensure that those responsible for the deaths are prosecuted.

The Consulate-General extended its condolences to the families of the three deceased Nigerians and reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and fair treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.

It said it would continue to engage relevant authorities on matters affecting the safety and rights of Nigerian nationals in the country.