A US judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Donald Trump administration from deporting an immigration activist whose detention in Colorado this week outraged state Democrats and immigration rights advocates.

US District Judge Nina Wang ruled that the 53-year-old Jeanette Vizguerra, a Mexican national who made headlines during President Donald Trump’s first term by moving into a church to avoid deportation, cannot be moved out of Colorado without further court action.

The judge has, therefore, scheduled a hearing on March 28.

According to a post on X from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, Vizguerra was arrested in Denver on Monday.

She has filed petitions in both federal district court and a US appeals court challenging her detention order as invalid.

The Trump administration has implemented a wide-ranging immigration crackdown since he took office in January, following a campaign in which he vowed to institute mass deportations and sharply reduce illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border.

Vizguerra’s arrest prompted a protest outside the ICE facility where she is being held.

Meanwhile, several Colorado Democrats have criticized her detention, noting that she has several children who are US citizens and has never been accused of a violent crime.

“This is Soviet-style political persecution of political dissidents under the guise of immigration enforcement.

“This is a mom of American citizens who works at Target and has started a community non-profit,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said following the arrest.

The Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of two suspsects, Ridwan Bello and Fatai Adeleke, in connection with the possession of human body parts.

The command made this known in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, and made available on Friday.

According to him: “On Tuesday, 18 March 2025, at about 02:30 hrs, detectives from the Iyaganku Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on a tip-off, conducted a search at the residence of one Ridwan Bello, 35, male, also known as Asalailu, located in the Muslim area of Ibadan.

“During the search, a female human torso and other dismembered remains, including severed limbs and dried bones, were recovered from bags and a paint bucket.

“In his confession, Bello claimed to have exhumed the corpse from a cemetery in Awa-Ijebu, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, and admitted to selling the body parts to ritualists. He later led detectives to the cemetery, where his claim was verified.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Fatai Adeleke, 70, male, an accomplice who purchased human body parts from the suspect for ritual purposes. Adeleke also admitted his involvement in the illicit trade.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Fatai Adeleke, 70, male, an accomplice who purchased human body parts from the suspect for ritual purposes. Adeleke also admitted his involvement in the illicit trade.

“The case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, as efforts are being intensified to identify and apprehend all those involved.

“The command urges cemetery managers to increase surveillance and prevent further incidents of corpse exhumation by ritualists.”

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has pleaded not guilty to a 7- count bordering on alleged acts of terrorism in a fresh arraignment before a new Judge of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

The proceedings which was conducted by Justice James Omotosho under tight security saw a sober Nnamdi Kanu who dressed in his signature white sports attire apologizing for his previous attacks on Judges and other judicial officers in the course of his trial.

Led by his new lawyer and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi SAN, Kanu denied the 7-count charges read out to him, which included threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence and operating an illegal radio station to broadcast Biafra messages.l.

After his plea was taken, the prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), informed the court of his readiness to proceed with the trial in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court for a fresh trial.

Awomolo subsequently requested an adjournment to gather his witnesses and also sought an accelerated hearing, which was approved by the court.

Following the prosecution’s request and without any objections by the defence counsel led by Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), Justice Omotosho fixed April 29 and May 2 and 6, 2025 for trial.

Nnamdi Kanu has pleaded pleads not guilty to 7 count charge of alleged Terrorism before a new judge.

He was arraigned on Friday before Justice Omotosho who granted accelerated hearing of his case.

Meanwhile, the court has adjourned further trial to 29th April, 2nd and 6th May.

Before the commencement of the proceedings, the IPOB leader formally apologised to the Federal High Court, Justice Binta Nyako, and Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, over his misconduct at the last proceedings of his trial on terrorism charges.

He pleaded passionately for forgiveness and promised to be of good conduct throughout the duration of his trial.

Kanu’s apology was contained in a lengthy prepared speech delivered by his lead counsel and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Kanu Agabi.

emotion-laden speech, Kanu specifically begged Justice Nyako and Awomolo to forgive and forget his outburst and attacks against them in open court.

Agabi said that Kanu had cause to be angry but ought not to have spoken when anger overwhelmed him.

In expressing his anger, he attacked the Federal High Court, he attacked Justice Binta Nyako, he attacked the prosecutor, and he attacked his own lawyers.

“I hereby apologise to Justice Binta Nyako. She did not deserve the unjust attack. I apologise to Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN. He deserves the highest respect. He was castigated without reservations.

“I appeal for forgiveness. Kanu is a good man, but all of us cannot be of one mind. He is not perfect but is defending the cause of the Igbo people, who are resilient, fearless, and use their God-given talents to give a good account of themselves.

We may have misgivings, but we must seek forgiveness. In resolving our differences, let us employ peace and not violence,” he pleaded.

In a brief remark, Awomolo, SAN, said he was moved by the plea and has forgiven Kanu for all he said against him.

The senior lawyer said he was not a persecutor but a prosecutor and that they work to ensure the quick resolution of the charges.

Kanu, who was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya, was expected to take his plea as the case begins afresh (de novo).

The Chief Judge (CJ) of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, had, in a letter dated March 4 and addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, communicated the re-assignment of the case from Justice Binta Nyako to Justice Omotosho.

The re-assignment followed the demand by Kanu and his team of lawyers for the transfer of the seven-count terrorism charge to another judge, after alleging bias.

Justice Nyako, on September 24, 2024, withdrew from the case and sent the case file to the CJ of FHC for re-assignment.

The judge said she could not proceed with a trial where a defendant lacked confidence in the court.

However, the CJ sent Kanu’s case file back to Justice Nyako for adjudication, insisting that a formal application must be made by the defence before the recusal could be accepted.

But Kanu and Ejimakor, on February 10, insisted that Justice Nyako no longer had jurisdiction to preside over the case after her recusal (withdrawal) from the matter, prompting the judge to adjourned the case indefinitely (sine die).

Justice Ahmed Mohammed (who has been elevated to Appeal Court) and Justice Tsoho (before becoming the CJ) had presided over Kanu’s trial before it was assigned to Justice Nyako, following the defendant’s rejection of the two judges.

Daily Sun