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Gunmen Kill Driver, Abduct All Passengers in Benue Road Attack

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night ambushed a commercial vehicle along the Otukpo-Adoka Road in Benue State, killing the driver and abducting all passengers on board.

The attack occurred at about 11 p.m. as the vehicle was travelling from Abuja to Otukpo.

According to eyewitnesses, the assailants opened fire upon sighting the vehicle, fatally hitting the driver, who lost control and veered into nearby bushes. The attackers then abducted all passengers and left the vehicle at the scene.

The body of the driver, identified as a native of Adoka, has been recovered and taken to his hometown.

Military personnel have since arrived at the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.

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Headlines

NJC suspends Wike’s judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, 2 others over judicial misconduct

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Judicial Council has slammed a one-year suspension without pay on three serving judicial officers, including a Justice of the Court of Appeal, for various acts of judicial misconduct.

The disciplinary actions were among several key resolutions reached at the Council’s 108th meeting held on April 29 and 30, 2025, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

In a statement released Wednesday night by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, the Council said Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, was found guilty of breaching Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

The statement said, “Justice Jane E. Inyang was found to have abused his office by issuing inappropriate Ex parte Orders for the sale ofUdeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at the interlocutory stage of the case.

The act of judicial misconduct occurred while His Lordship presided over Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023, at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division, before his elevation to Court of Appeal.”

Similarly, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, was also suspended for one year without pay. In addition, he was placed on the Council’s Watch List and barred from elevation for five years.

“The complaints against Hon. Justice Ekwo arose from Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, wherein His Lordship delivered a ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties,” the statement said.

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“His Lordship ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the Court conducted in the absence of the parties. Subsequently, His Lordship proceeded to deliver a ruling dismissing the charge against the Defendants. Consequently, His Lordship was found to have violated Rule 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it added.

Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division, was also suspended for one year without pay for judicial misconduct.

Meanwhile, the Council has directed the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to reverse the appointment of Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu as Acting Chief Judge of the state.

The NJC stated that the governor must appoint the most senior judicial officer in the Imo State High Court’s hierarchy as the acting Chief Judge, in line with Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The statement stressed that the constitutional provision does not grant the governor any discretion in such appointments.

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Headlines

BREAKING: Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria to award Bachelor’s degrees

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government has officially begun the implementation of the Dual Mandate Policy across all Federal Colleges of Education (FCOEs).

This follows the enactment of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023.

This was confirmed in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.

The legislation, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, empowers FCOEs to concurrently award the Nigeria Certificate in Education and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.

This marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s teacher education reform.

Announcing the commencement of implementation of the policy in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa described it as a bold and progressive step.

Read Also: https://coral-lobster-719298.hostingersite.com/fg-releases-n50bn-earned-allowances-to-university-unions-education-minister/

The Dual Mandate Policy represents not just a reform but a revolution in teacher preparation — enabling FCOEs to offer both NCE and Bachelor’s degrees.

“This initiative empowers institutions, broadens access, and enhances the quality of classroom instruction across Nigeria,” he said.

According to the Act, all FCOEs that meet the National Universities Commission standards are now eligible to operate under the Dual Mandate.

This inclusive policy ensures that institutions, regardless of their establishment date, can participate once the stipulated requirements are met.

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Bolt
Headlines

Nigerian Ride-Hailing Drivers Protest ‘Exploitation,’, Petitions National Assembly

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has petitioned the National Assembly and the Lagos State House of Assembly over what it described as the continued exploitation of ride-hailing drivers by digital transport companies.

The union made its position known during a protest held on Thursday in commemoration of International Workers’ Day (May Day), which also resulted in a 24-hour suspension of ride-hailing services nationwide.

In a statement, Steven Iwindoye, spokesperson for AUATON Lagos, said the petition underscores the “poor treatment” of app-based transport workers operating under platforms such as Uber, Bolt, inDrive, Lagride, and Rida.

“For too long, we have been subjected to exploitation, insecurity, and a lack of recognition,” the statement read. “We have been paid below the cost price of premium services and forced to endure modern-day slavery in the form of technological manipulation.”

The union’s demands include the imposition of a 5 percent cap on commission rates, pricing autonomy for drivers, and formal recognition as key stakeholders in Nigeria’s transport sector.

Iwindoye warned that failure by the companies to meet these demands would lead to further action, including picketing the offices of the app operators.

“If app companies (App sharks) fail to comply, we shall massively move to new indigenous app companies that are ready and willing to comply with drivers’ demands,” he said.

He also revealed that AUATON is collaborating with other stakeholders to develop a driver-led ride-hailing platform that promotes fairer industry practices.

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Tinubu and Chief Olu
Headlines

President Tinubu’s Birthday Tribute To Chief Pius Olu Akinyelure

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

My dear brother, friend and former boss, I congratulate you warmly on your birthday, May 2.

You have lived a remarkable and impactful life as a husband, father, and accomplished administrator. Today, you stand out not just as a fine politician and respectable community leader but also as an eminent figure in our country.

As a professional with extensive experience in finance and management, you had a rewarding career at ExxonMobil, where our paths first crossed.

Our relationship blossomed at Mobil, where you were my Executive Director. From a professional work environment where we developed a special bond, we have become brothers, confidantes, associates, and trusted allies for over 40 years.

I cherish our enduring friendship and brotherhood, which has enriched my life through your wisdom, forthrightness, and steadfast counsel.

Your love for Nigeria is boundless. As a patriot deeply committed to national development, you have embraced the ideals of progressive politics and played pivotal roles in shaping our nation’s future.

You were the National Vice Chairman of our party, the All Progressives Congress, for the South-West at a critical and defining moment in its evolution. You later served on the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, first as a director and as Chairman.

Thank you for your leadership at NNPC Limited, which led to some achievements the state-owned oil company recorded in the last ten years.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank you immensely.

Your wisdom and example as an octogenarian will continue to benefit our country, community, and family.

I pray that Almighty God will continue to grant you good health, happiness, and many more years of fulfilment.

Happy birthday and many happy returns, my dear friend and brother!

Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
May 1, 2025

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FBI
Headlines

FBI, DEA Seek 90-Day Extension to Release Tinubu Drug Case Records

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have requested an additional 90 days from a United States District Court to release investigative documents related to an alleged drug case involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

This request was disclosed in a Joint Status Report filed on Thursday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The case involves allegations linking Tinubu to a drug trafficking network in Chicago during the 1990s. The plaintiff, Aaron Greenspan—an American legal transparency advocate and founder of the platform PlainSite—opposed the extension and proposed a 14-day deadline for the agencies to produce the requested records.

Judge Beryl Howell of the District Court had previously directed the FBI and DEA to provide an update on the search and release of non-exempt documents by May 2, 2025.

Between 2022 and 2023, Greenspan filed 12 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking information related to the Chicago-based drug ring, which allegedly involved four individuals, including Tinubu.

The FBI and DEA had earlier issued “Glomar responses,” declining to confirm or deny the existence of the requested documents. However, the court ruled such responses inappropriate in this case.

In the latest filing dated May 1, 2025, the FBI and DEA cited the need for additional time to complete their searches and process the relevant records.

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Headlines

Tinubu Government Lacks Clear Strategy to Tackle Banditry, Says Amnesty International

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Amnesty International has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of lacking a clear and effective strategy to tackle the growing wave of violence by armed groups.

The criticism follows the brutal killing of the Chief Imam of Maru Jumma’a Mosque in Zamfara State, Alkali Salihu Suleiman, along with his three children.

The human rights organization said the killing, which occurred after the bandits received N11 million of the N20 million ransom they demanded, shows the Nigerian government’s lack of any effective plan to curb mass atrocities that have plagued the country for years.

Threatening peaceful protesters is unlawful, Amnesty International warns FG

According to the organisation, the horrific killing of the 79-year-old Chief Imam and his children serves as another grim reminder that President Bola Tinubu’s administration lacks an effective strategy to end the reign of terror by armed groups.

“Alkali Salihu Suleiman and his children were abducted in March during the holy month of Ramadan. While in the custody of the bandits, they were subjected to almost daily rounds of torture and other ill-treatment. Apart from beatings, they were also made to go long hours without food or water,” Amnesty International said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

15 EndSARS Protesters Still Detained In Lagos Prisons 3 Years After – Amnesty International Reveals

The group also criticized the Nigerian government’s silence and inaction over repeated attacks, saying bandits now act with growing impunity across Zamfara and other states.

Almost daily attacks across Zamfara and other states clearly show that President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that are increasingly having free reign across many parts of Nigeria,” the group added.

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Headlines

Fraud Rocks Student Loan Scheme: N71.2bn Missing from N100bn – ICPC

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, revealed that only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students in various tertiary institutions instead of N100 billion released to the schools.

The anti-graft agency specifically said its preliminary investigations have uncovered that not less than N71.2 billion have been diverted by the management of different universities who had taken custody of funds.

The spokesman of the commission, Demola Bakare, told journalists in Abuja that key stakeholders, including the Director-General of the Budget Office and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been invited.

Bakare also disclosed that senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NELFUND were invited to provide documentation and explanations relevant to the case.

Daily Trust reports that the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, had two weeks raised the alarm that the universities were trying to sabotage the Tinubu-led government on the students’ loan scheme.

Issa-Onilu alleged that no fewer than 51 tertiary institutions were implicated in illegal deductions and exploitation related to the NELFUND scheme, while calling on the anti-graft agencies to unravel the fraud and halt it.

Similarly, reports from the media also alleged that these institutions were said to have made unauthorized deductions ranging from N3,500 to N30,000 from each student’s institutional fees received through the loan fund.

Giving an update on the issue, the ICPC spokesman explained that the commission had since swung into action following the alarm, adding that those found culpable would be brought to book.

Bakare said, “The Commission confirmed that its Chairman’s Special Task Force immediately swung into action upon receiving the report.

“The ICPC confirmed that a clear case of discrepancies has been established in the administration of the student loan scheme and announced that its investigation will now extend to beneficiary institutions and individual student recipients.”

He said the commission would from time-to-time provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

“Comprehensive investigations into the alleged discrepancies surrounding the disbursement of students’ loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has commenced,” he stated.

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Headlines

Governor Otti Moves to Seal Landmark Deal with Israeli Investors to Revolutionize Agriculture in Abia

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Governor Alex Otti has announced plans to partner with Israeli investors to boost agriculture in Abia State. Find out what the deal includes and why it could change everything.

In what appears to be a major leap toward economic transformation, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has signaled his administration’s readiness to partner with Israeli agricultural investors in a groundbreaking collaboration that could redefine the state’s food production and agribusiness sector.

The Governor made this known on Monday, April 29, 2025, during a strategic meeting with the Managing Director of ONIDA Development, Mr. Kidron Israel, an Israeli-based agricultural expert, and his delegation who visited him at the Government House, Umuahia.

Governor Otti, visibly impressed by the presentation made by the Israeli firm, expressed his eagerness to see the immediate takeoff of the proposed agricultural investment, stressing that the government is willing to offer land as its equity contribution to accelerate the partnership.

“Watching the presentation and listening to you, I could see that we are going to work together,” Governor Otti stated.

“So, I am in a hurry to see that you begin to implement this initiative to boost productivity in the State. The land belongs to the government, and we are willing to provide land. Because we are involved, even if you have to pay anything, it will be insignificant. The land can be our equity to the investment.”

The Governor tasked the Israeli team to immediately meet with members of the state’s agricultural and economic team to work out actionable steps to fast-track the commencement of the project. He recommended that the investment should kick off with fish and vegetable production, while other areas such as poultry and mechanized farming could follow.

Describing Abians as naturally enterprising people who thrive when provided with the right environment, Governor Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating the necessary conditions for businesses to succeed.

Abia people don’t depend on government handouts. All they need is an enabling environment. That is what we are doing—making the state investor-friendly. We welcome everyone who has value to offer.”

Earlier, the MD of ONIDA Development, Mr. Kidron Israel, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating that what the Israeli team required from the state was land and enabling policies to commence operations. He assured the Governor that his organization has the right international financing contacts to execute the project efficiently.

“We chose Abia because of your visionary leadership. Your proactive approach and the positive transformation your administration is delivering made Abia an ideal partner,” Mr. Kidron noted.

Also speaking, Mrs. Florence Osuji, National Coordinator of the Nigeria-Israel Forum, emphasized that their visit was to introduce Israeli agricultural technology and innovation to support Nigeria’s food security. She highlighted key areas of interest, including fish production, vegetable farming, and poultry.

Present at the meeting were key members of the Abia State Executive, including the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze; Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu; and the Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer to the State Government, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu.

With this move, Governor Otti has once again positioned Abia State as a leading destination for foreign direct investment and a hub for agricultural transformation in Nigeria.

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Zulum
Headlines

Governor Zulum Raises Alarm Over Renewed Boko-Haram Attacks in North-East

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum and Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has expressed concern over the resurgence of insurgent attacks across the region, warning that the development could undermine the progress made in the fight against terrorism.

Speaking on Thursday at the opening of the 11th meeting of the Forum in Damaturu, Yobe State, Zulum commended the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces but urged them to intensify operations to bring the insurgency to a conclusive end.

“The recent re-emergence of attacks by the insurgents is a matter of serious concern capable of undermining the successes already recorded in the theatre of war,” Zulum said.

He also called on the military to revisit and strengthen its operational strategy to adopt a more offensive approach.

In his welcome address, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, emphasized the need for increased collaboration between state governments, the Federal Government, and security agencies to counter the resurgence of insurgency.

Buni also highlighted the importance of youth employment, noting that failure to provide economic opportunities could leave young people vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups and involvement in other social vices.

He urged fellow governors in the region to take swift action to consolidate gains made in security, peace, and socio-economic development over recent years.

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