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The British Council in Nigeria has again increased the fee for the English Language Testing System examinations by 29%.

According to a notice published on the councils’ website, applicants will now pay the sum of N139,000 for the Computer Academic and General Training Modules from February 1, 2024.

The examination is widely accepted globally by non-native English speakers as evidence of their language proficiency.

The council blamed the change in fee on the hike in the costs of conducting the examination.

“We would like to inform you that there has been a review of our IELTS fees. The new price list of the IELTS range of tests offered by the British Council will be effective for registrations on or after 1 February 2024.

“The new prices will be:
IELTS on Computer Academic and General Training Modules: ₦139,000
IELTS on Paper Academic and General Training Modules: ₦134,000
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): ₦149,000
Life Skills: ₦130,000
One Skill Retake (O.S.R): ₦87,570

“The change in price is associated with the increased costs of the delivery of our exams. This will enable us to continue to offer a wide range of services and comprehensive support to enable you to achieve your goals.

“Thank you for choosing the British Council,” the notice read.

This is the second time in five months the price has been jerked.

In September 2023, the Council increased the fee for the examination from between N80,000 to N90,000 to N107,500.

Five of the six sisters of the Al-Kadriyar family who were kidnapped by bandits in the Bwari area of Abuja recently have regained their freedom on Saturday night.

As of the time of filing this report, our correspondent could not independently verify whether the girls were rescued by security operatives or were released after their family paid ransom.

However, an uncle to the girls, Kabiru Aminu, who disclosed the news of their release, posted a video on his X handle @kabiru_aminu, showing the sisters and their relatives jubilating.

“#Najeebahandhersisters are home right now, someone please wake me up!” he tweeted.

“#Najeebahandhersisters. These girls are strong,” he added in a follow up tweet.

The six sisters were abducted recently alongside their father.

The gunmen later released their father, asking him to go get N60m as ransom for the release of her daughters before Friday, January 12.

In a bid to raise money, Nigerians were urged to donate whatever they had into a bank account, but not enough money was gathered.

Unpleased by the development, the gunmen reportedly killed the eldest of the six sisters and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury.

Following the gruesome killing of Najeebah, the Nigeria Police Force said it was intensifying plans to rescue the victims while assuring Nigerians that plans were ongoing to prevent further kidnapping cases across the country.

No fewer than ten children have reportedly been injured in an explosion in Kidandan, Giwa Council Area of Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria.

The incident which occurred on Saturday afternoon is coming barely four days after an explosion rocked Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, that left five dead and over 70 others seriously injured.

The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the latest incident, noting that all the injured children had been taken to hospital for medical treatment.

The command’s spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, who confirmed the incident to TheCable, described the incident as unfortunate.

Hassan said, “We received the information through the DPO (divisional police officer). You know that area is the operational area where the security agencies are conducting a lot of operations in the bush.”

He regretted that those children picked an object and took it to their school and in the process of dismantling, it exploded.
“So, the young boys went to the bush and they saw an object and took it to the school.

“When they got to the school since they didn’t know what the object was, they decided to open it to see. So, in the process, it exploded and left about nine of them injured.”

The affected children are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility, the PPRO said.

He said the command’s EOD has visited the scene to “ascertain the situation and find out whether it was a bomb or what exploded.”

Some kidnappers have allegedly promised to wreak more havoc in Dura, an extension of Rayfield, Jos South Local Government Area, of Plateau State.

They made this known to one of their victims, who shared his ordeal with Peoples Gazette on Saturday.

The victim, who begged to remain anonymous, said he was whisked away on Monday around 7:30 p.m.

“Some small armed Fulani boys, four of them, came and kidnapped me. I just came back from work, and I was about to open my gate when I saw someone with an AK-47 pointing at me. They must have been in the incomplete building close to my house,” he said.

“They took me to an unknown destination in Riyom where they kept me until a ransom of five hundred thousand was paid.

He narrated how they trekked treacherous paths for several kilometres to where he was kept.

“We trekked from 7:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the next day. You’ll think we were on the highway if you see how they navigated the bush. These people know everywhere,” he said.

Narrating how he was treated, he said, “They punched me severally on my face, and my eyes were swollen. I feel better now. I was released the next day, Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.”

When asked if the police were involved in his release, he said, “One of my ogas called the police, but you know, if you involve them, it could only get worse.”

According to him, the kidnappers promised to return to the community.

Speaking to a community leader in Dura, who also begged to remain anonymous, he said he wasn’t aware of the recent kidnapping but claimed he knows the victim.

According to him, the neighbourhood where the victim was kidnapped has a very weak security architecture.

“The security around where you say he (the victim) was kidnapped is very weak. We had an arrangement with them, but they frustrated our efforts, so we had to make alternative plans here at Dura new layout,” he said.

He blamed some of the leaders for being complacent.

“Some of their leaders there will collect money and not want to account for it. That’s how we had issues with the Mai Angwa (community leader), and they chased our Civil Defence guys from the area. Now we have to rely on local hunters for our security,” he said.

When asked if he was aware that kidnappers vow to return, he said, “Certainly” and cited an instance of the kidnapping of a woman and her child in Dura.

According to him, “They will always say they will return, especially when they know that your security is weak.

“The guns our security men have cannot match the AK-47 these people carry around,” he said.

Another community leader, Martins Obidah, said he was also unaware of the recent kidnapping, except for a church member’s relative who was kidnapped a few days ago behind the Court of Appeal in Jos.

According to Mr Obidah, the heightened level of insecurity in the state has been the reason why the community leadership has been stressing the need to take this issue seriously.

“This is why I had to remind residents of the community during our burnfire about paying their security levy. We have noticed improvements even though some people act like they don’t care.

A ransom of N30 million has been requested for the release of Barrister Cyril Adikwu’s wife and his two in-laws, who were abducted from the Army estate in Kurudu.
The Nation had reported how kidnappers invaded the estate on Thursday night at about 10 pm and took away his wife and two in-laws.

Adikwu, who had escaped when the kidnappers came to his residence in the estate, said he was in communication with the kidnappers and they had demanded a ransom of over 30 million naira within a time frame.

He said: “It all happened on Thursday night at about 10:00 pm when a vehicle containing those who were kidnapped drove into my compound, and then all of a sudden, the kidnappers followed the vehicle into my compound.

“I was upstairs and heard strange sounds, so I peeped through the burglary door upstairs and saw one of them who was kidnapped on the floor. I asked what was going on there, and she said, ‘I don’t know, these men are asking me to go down, then it occurred to me they were kidnappers.

“Then I started screaming ‘Kidnappers help” at the top of my voice, at this point, they started shooting at me upstairs; I was able to escape and then they started shooting guns in the air while they took the three of them away.

“There were about 8 of them, and they walked through the bush path over the hill to the other side, not up to 40 minutes later, they left; I was called to provide a ransom, I don’t want to mention the amount because already false information is everywhere in the media about the whole incident, but I can assure you it’s more than 30 million.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele faced a barrage of charges today as he pleaded not guilty before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Dressed in an ash-coloured pair of trousers and a dark jacket, Emefiele, flanked by his legal team and a few aides, confronted the 20-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges include allegations of corrupt practices and forgery.

Initially facing six counts related to N1.2bn procurement allegations, the EFCC amended the charges with the court’s approval. Emefiele’s plea of not guilty sets the stage for what promises to be a high-stakes legal battle.

Trial judge Hamza Muazu swiftly adjourned the case to February 12 and 13, 2024, signalling the beginning of what is expected to be a closely-watched and protracted legal process.

In a pivotal legal development, the Supreme Court has officially upheld the election victory of Ogun State’s governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The appellants, Ladi Adebutu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sought the court’s intervention to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in 99 polling units where elections were allegedly cancelled.

Following a split decision by the Appeal Court, Lagos Division, on November 24, 2023, affirming Abiodun’s re-election, the Supreme Court delivered a decisive majority judgment. Justice Joseph Ikyegh dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, as pronounced in the lead judgment by Justice Tijani Abubakar.

This judicial seal not only solidifies Abiodun’s continued leadership but also marks a resounding rejection of the PDP’s plea, emphasizing the stability and legitimacy of the electoral process in Ogun State.

In an unprecedented turn of events this Friday morning, the Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict that not only upheld Sheriff Obovevwori’s electoral success but also shattered the challenge posed by the All Progressives Congress (APC). The dynamic decision solidified Obovevwori’s position as the rightful governor of Delta State, marking a resounding triumph for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The apex court, in its groundbreaking ruling, dismissed with authority the petition filed by Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC candidate in the fiercely contested March 18, 2023, governorship election. The court declared the opposition’s claims as lacking in merit, cementing Oborevwori’s leadership and affirming the PDP’s dominance in Delta.

This Supreme Elevation not only celebrates the legal victory but also underscores the resilience and strength of Delta’s political landscape. Oborevwori emerges as the undisputed leader, and the resounding rejection of the APC challenge adds another chapter to the triumph of democracy in the state.