Anambra State government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.

This was disclosed in a statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.

Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”

According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.

She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings. (NAN)

In a groundbreaking move aimed at redefining youth empowerment in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti has awarded automatic employment to 19 outstanding graduates of the TechRise ICT training programme.

The announcement was made during the programme’s graduation ceremony held on Saturday at the JAAC Secretariat in Umuahia.

The beneficiaries, selected purely on merit, emerged as the best performers across multiple training groups and award categories.

Governor Otti explained that 16 were identified as top performers from their training groups, while three additional award recipients were added to bring the total to 19.

“There are about 16 of you in those three groups. I also saw that there are three of you who received awards now. And that takes the number to 19,” the governor noted during his address.

Governor Otti directed the State Head of Service, Mr Benson Ojeikere, to process the beneficiaries’ employment documentation immediately, with a resumption date set for Monday, May 12, 2025.

Beyond the job offers, the state government also distributed laptop computers to 509 other TechRise participants to support self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

The gesture, according to the governor, is part of a broader strategy to equip young people with practical tools and digital competencies rather than short-term handouts.

“Rather than giving you fish, we want to give you all the necessary instruments and the training so that you can catch fish yourself,” he stated.

He also took a swipe at past administrations, emphasising a departure from previous empowerment models like “keke” distribution in favour of tech-driven solutions.

“Gone are the days of keke empowerment. Today, the empowerment is to use what you have. There is nobody that you can write off,” Otti added.

The TechRise programme, implemented by LearnFactory Nigeria, provided over 500 Abia youths with intensive training over a three-month period in key digital fields such as artificial intelligence, digital animation, and other globally relevant ICT skills.

According to officials, a second phase of the programme is already underway, targeting an additional 850 trainees—50 from each of the state’s 17 local government areas.

To ensure the long-term impact of the initiative, the governor has mandated the Chief Strategy Officer to develop a follow-up mechanism that will track the progress of the trainees and help them connect with relevant institutions and job opportunities in the tech industry.

“The skills that you have acquired today can take you to places. You are not limited to this space because of the knowledge that you have acquired,” the governor said, emphasising the global nature of digital skills.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Nwachukwu, hailed the initiative as transformative. “Abia TechRise is not just a training programme; it is a movement,” he declared.

Engr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, CEO of LearnFactory Nigeria, emphasised that the programme was tailored to meet current industry demands. “The training focused on seven globally relevant digital skills aligned with current tech trends,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Samuel Uchendu, expressed gratitude on behalf of the participants, highlighting the economic potential of the skills acquired. “The knowledge we gained, especially in AI and animation, will definitely enhance our economy,” he said.

The Obidient Movement has flayed the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, for taking potshots at the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi.

Akpabio had, during the Senate’s plenary on Thursday, slammed Obi over his comments on the sorry state of affairs in the country, wherein he lamented that the labour of Nigeria’s past heroes appeared to be in vain.

Obi had spoken while paying glowing tribute to a fallen nationalist and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who died a few months ago.

Akpabio had countered Obi, insisting that the “labour of our heroes past” had not been in vain, accusing Obi of being reckless with these comments.

Akpabio then mocked Obi over the lingering crisis in the Labour Party by telling him to resolve the crisis in his “small party” before he can aspire to join the 2027 presidential race.

But the Obidient Movement, in a statement on Saturday,
accused Akpabio’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), of being behind the leadership crisis in the Labour Party.

The statement, signed by the group’s Director of Strategic Communications and Media, Nana Kazaure, accused the APC of sponsoring rejected LP chieftains to destabilise the party.

The group described the Senate on Akpabio’s watch as the worst in Nigeria’s history, saying that he lacked the discretion and self-control required of a good leader.

“It is well known that the President of the 10th Senate is not particularly renowned for the substance or depth of his public utterances. However, we did not anticipate that he would descend to such an embarrassing low.

“For the benefit of Senator Akpabio, the internal issues within the Labour Party were duly taken before the courts by stakeholders of the party under the leadership of Mr Peter Obi.

“The Supreme Court – the highest court in the land – gave a clear and unambiguous ruling, affirming that the individual currently parading himself as the party chairman is doing so illegally.

“Rather than comply with the court’s directive, this usurper has been emboldened by the ruling APC, which continues to provide him with state security cover. These actions have rendered the Senate President’s insinuation that Mr Obi is overwhelmed by intra-party crises not only disingenuous but also hypocritical,” the group said.

Knocking Akpabio further, the statement said, “It is deeply ironic and unbecoming for Senator Akpabio to publicly highlight a situation his party has played a key role in manufacturing and sustaining. If anything, his comments serve only to advertise his complicity in the artificial and externally driven disruptions to the Labour Party.

“There is, in fact, no crisis within the Labour Party. What persists is the shameless interference of the APC – Senator Akpabio’s party – in facilitating the illegal tenure of Julius Abure, despite the clear ruling of the Supreme Court.”

The Obidient Movement described Obi as a man who has a sterling record of achievements in public office, which it said Akpabio can neither controvert nor diminish.

UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to adopt the Conservative Party’s deportation bill to curb immigration.

In a video posted on her X handle on Friday, Badenoch warned that about two million immigrants could be eligible for automatic British citizenship by next year.

She urged the Labour government to take decisive steps by adopting the Tories’ proposed immigration reforms.

“From next year, two million immigrants could automatically claim British citizenship. That’s nearly twice the population of Birmingham,” Badenoch stated.

“We’ve introduced a deportation bill because we are committed to bringing immigration down.”

The bill, unveiled on May 6, outlines strict measures to reduce immigration.

Among its key provisions are the deportation of all foreign criminals, mandatory age checks, tighter visa regulations, limiting the use of the Human Rights Act in immigration cases, making asylum support repayable, and denying permanent residency to those dependent on government benefits.

“Until that’s law, we won’t fix it. Labour should adopt it now. It’s time to get tough. That’s what the conservatives’ deportation bill delivers. Our country is a home, not a hotel. If we don’t defend it, no one else will,” she said.

Her statement sparked mixed reactions on X, with many users criticizing her stance on immigration as hypocrisy given her own background as an immigrant.

@Ghislaintweet remarked, “An immigrant with so much energy to stop immigration cracks me up so bad. You are a beneficiary.”

@Deanjch wrote, “Could have done something about it a long time ago. But your party bottled it…”

Another user, @sweettalkin53, added, “14 years of Tory rule changed this country forever. Kemi you flooded our borders and will never be forgiven.”

@JamesPGoddard90 commented, “Maybe if your party hadn’t flooded the UK with millions of undesirables we wouldn’t be in this position. Tories are never to be trusted, ever!”

The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, chaired a strategic meeting of the North-West Governors’ Forum in Kaduna State on Friday, May 9, 2025.
According to him, the purpose of the meeting was to enhance regional cooperation.

Naija News reports that the meeting has in attendance the Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and the Forum’s Director-General Hajiya Maryam Musa Yahaya.

This information was provided in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Mohammed, which was shared with journalists late Friday in Katsina.

In his opening remarks, Governor Radda, who is the Chairman of the Forum, highlighted the gathering’s non-partisan and developmental objectives.

“He noted that since the forum’s inception shortly after their inauguration into office, the governors have committed to working together, particularly in the areas of economic development, agriculture, and tackling insecurity.

“This forum has come a long way. We’ve been championing joint efforts across our states and are already seeing impact through partnerships with development agencies and implementation of agreed initiatives,” Radda said.

“He reiterated the importance of unity and cooperation among member states, adding that the forum continues to serve as a platform for shared prosperity across the North West, regardless of political affiliations.

“This is not a partisan forum. It’s a forum of progress—one that prioritises the economic wellbeing and safety of our people,” he added.

“Governor Radda welcomed his colleagues warmly and appreciated the press and stakeholders present. He then called for a closed-door session to allow the governors to deliberate on key issues affecting the region,” the Katsina State Governor added.

A prominent Yoruba socio-political organisation, the Afenifere, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, over serious corruption allegations reportedly coordinated by his aide, Torhile Uchi.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently arrested and interrogated Uchi, a Senior Special Assistant to the President, attached to the office of the SGF.

However, Afenifere claims the case has not progressed, attributing this lack of action to the alleged interference and influence of Senator Akume, who is suspected of attempting to cover up his involvement in the case.

In a strongly worded statement signed by the factional publicity secretary of Afenifere, Bayo Adenuga, the group has called on President Tinubu to demonstrate his commitment to fighting corruption by suspending Akume to allow for an independent and unbiased investigation into the corruption case.

“It is unacceptable that verifiable cases of corruption, such as the one supervised by the SGF and his aide, will be swept under the carpet during the tenure of an administration that has sworn to fight corruption to a standstill,” the statement read.

The group further demanded the suspension of Akume, asserting that it would allow for a full, free, and comprehensive investigation into the corruption allegations, which include the uncovering of an ₦80 billion money laundering scheme allegedly facilitated by Akume and his aide.

Afenifere has also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the EFCC to update the public on the progress of the investigation. Failure to do so, the group warns, will lead to nationwide protests from the Yoruba nation and all anti-corruption advocates.

“An ₦80 billion crime of money laundering uncovered by the EFCC using taxpayers’ money cannot be allowed to slip away like that. We demand accountability,” the statement continued.

Afenifere reminded President Tinubu that, compared to the case involving the former SGF Babachir Lawal, whose scandal was relatively minor, Akume’s involvement in this large-scale corruption case required swift and decisive action.

The group warned that this case is a litmus test for the EFCC, stressing that the agency must not be seen as a “toothless bulldog that barks without consequences.” It also emphasised that Nigerians are watching closely to see how the case unfolds.

Afenifere concluded by reaffirming its support for President Tinubu’s administration and its anti-corruption agenda. However, the group emphasised that the President must not appear to condone corruption among his aides and appointees, as this could tarnish the credibility of the administration’s fight against corruption.

“Let us remind you, Mr. President, that as a group that supports your administration’s anti-corruption drive, we owe you a duty to always cooperate with you to prosecute corrupt elements, no matter how highly placed they might be,” the statement concluded.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says a blind candidate hired another visually impaired person to sit the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on his behalf.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB registrar, provided updates on the conduct and outcome of the 2025 UTME.

Oloyede said the incident occurred during the examination of blind candidates under the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), which facilitates inclusive testing for candidates with disabilities.

He said a total of 501 visually impaired candidates were successfully examined at 11 centres nationwide.

 

“Sadly, one of them was also involved in impersonation by recruiting an undergraduate student who is also blind to come and write for another blind candidate,” he said.

The registrar expressed disappointment over the development, noting that it shows desperation for access to tertiary education.

He said JAMB refunds the registration fees of blind and other challenged candidates and covers transportation, accommodation, and feeding during the examination period.

He reiterated the board’s commitment to supporting candidates with special needs.

“The board remains committed to providing the necessary support for persons with disabilities aspiring to pursue tertiary education,” Oloyede said.

“The Prof. Peter Okebukola-led JEOG continues to demonstrate exceptional dedication in ensuring that these candidates are able to sit examinations, regardless of their challenges.”

The results of the 2025 UTME were released on Friday, with over 1.9 million candidates receiving their scores.

However, the results of 39,834 candidates have been withheld.

Ahead of the release, JAMB said over 40 individuals had been apprehended for their involvement in examination malpractice.

A Nigerian televangelist recently acquitted of multiple rape charges has been rearrested on immigration offences, South African police said on Saturday.

Read Also: How my mother’s lover raped me — 12 year old victim narrates ordeal

Timothy Omotoso was released last month, nine years after he was jailed to be tried on charges of raping and sexually assaulting several young women from his church.

His acquittal drew anger across South Africa after the judge found that, while the pastor’s explanations appeared improbable, state prosecutors had mishandled the case against him.

Immigration authorities and police arrested Omotoso in the town of East London on Saturday morning, “just after church”, police commissioner General Fannie Masemola told journalists.

“He will be facing charges related to violations to the Immigration Act and he will appear in court on Monday,” he said.

The 66-year-old pastor at the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church based in South Africa was arrested in 2017 on 32 charges, including rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Several young women, some of whom were still in school at the time, testified that they were handpicked by Omotoso, who would pray for forgiveness after each encounter with them.

In April, Eastern Cape High Court judge Irma Schoeman criticised the prosecution’s handling of the case, saying the state had not proved beyond reasonable doubt its case against Omotoso and two assistants, who also faced charges.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape and gender-based violence in the world.

Over 42,500 rapes were reported in the 2023-24 financial year, according to police statistics, amounting to more than 116 rapes per day.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged to investigate allegations of financial misconduct involving Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defense, following a petition submitted by the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance (APC-YLA).

The allegations accuse Matawalle of embezzling over N528 billion during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State. 

The assurance came during a protest held on Friday at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where APC-YLA Convener, Mohammed Ireji, and other demonstrators demanded the reopening of the corruption case against Matawalle.

Ireji questioned the delay in probing the former governor, citing previous petitions submitted to the EFCC, including those by the APC Akida Forum on May 3, 2024, and a follow-up on September 30, 2024.

While receiving the petition, the EFCC’s Acting Director of Security, Idowu Adedeji, said, “We have received your petition and we will submit it accordingly.”

The protesters called for immediate action, highlighting the commission’s previous successes in investigating and prosecuting other high-profile figures, including former Minister Betta Edu, former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, and former Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State.

The allegations against Matawalle include the misappropriation of N290 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), N133 billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), and an unexplained N105 billion loan taken during his governorship.
Ireji emphasized that these were not mere speculations but backed by concrete facts and figures.

“We are here today to formally request that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the State Minister for Defense. We have gathered facts and figures regarding Bello Matawalle’s alleged embezzlement of billions of Naira,” Ireji said during the protest.

The protest highlighted the growing concerns about selective justice and political interference in the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts. Ireji challenged the commission

“If all these former governors and ministers were not above the law and the EFCC, who would shield Matawalle from investigation?” he asked.

The APC-YLA lauded the EFCC’s past achievements but urged the commission to demonstrate the same determination in probing Matawalle.
“We have lauded the performance and resilience of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leadership in its fight against corruption without bias many times,” Ireji noted.

•Identifies alleged stolen child during immunization

•Accused doctor opposes claimants’ request for DNA test, enjoys cover from police

When she was told sometime in April 2021,during her ante-natal registration at Divine Rain Maternity Clinic, that she was carrying a twin pregnancy,32-year old Mrs Eunice Bright Ekwok’s joy knew no bounds.

For,she only paused momentarily to contemplate how she would be able to cope in raising the expectant babies with her husband, Bartholomew Bright Ekwok, who had no stable income job.

Since she has been told her fate,Mrs Ekwok demanded for a copy of the scan result to take home but the doctor,Timothy Zeje blatantly turned it down, He told her the rule in the hospital forbids that, insisted that the result can only be put in her file in the hospital.

She got home and disclosed what she had been told in the hospital by the doctor to her husband. At first,the husband wanted evidence for what he had just heard and so,he asked the wife to present the scan result. When she could not present it and instead told her husband the rule of the hospital, the 34-year old wanted to rush to the private medical facility to meet the doctor for an explanation. But his wife’s insistence that it wasn’t necessary to pursue the scan result made him suspend his action. They later prayed about the doctor’s disclosure and resigned to fate. With this,Mrs Ekwok started preparing herself towards the day she would give birth.

Each time she went for a follow-up check at the hospital, located at Sauka area of Abuja,the expectant twin mother would engage the medical doctor of how she was happy for the news he broke to her earlier about the status of her pregnancy. She had no inclination that she would unknowingly share her twins with the doctor who had been married for years without a child in the union. Ahead of hospital plans,he told Mrs Ekwok that her wife was pregnant and she could have conceived almost the same time with her.

When the pregnancy was due,Mrs Ekwok gave birth in the hospital through a cesarean section,though in an unconscious state. Neither the husband nor any of her relatives was in the labour room during the session,it was only the doctor and the hospital’s nurses.

The middle age woman,narrating the heart-rending experience,said some hours after she regained consciousness,she was only handed one baby instead of two since she was carrying a twin pregnancy. When she requested to see her other child,she was informed by the doctor that the other twin didn’t survive birth.

“I told the doctor that I would like just to see how the dead child look like or his bones but he refused, They told me that my baby is dead and scattered. Okay, where are the pieces and where are the bones? I asked but they couldn’t give me an explanation. Instead, they were saying why would I not be grateful for the one that survived birth and rather be asking for another baby when we were a poor couple and could barely take care of the one we have. We let go the issue at the time,”she said,sobbing.

When Mrs Ekwok went back to the hospital for check on there wound that arose from the cesarean section, she requested to see her file but she was told her File had since been burnt even as she was seeing a heap of patients’ files in one of the offices.

“When I told them I wanted to see where it was burnt and the ashes since they claimed it was just few days they did it, they asked me to go behind the building and when I got there, there was nothing suggesting that they had burnt anything. I returned to ask them why should it be only my file they would burn out of the many others in tne hospital? They couldn’t say anything.

As God would intervene for the couple to see one of their alleged lost twin sons,on one faithful day she had gone to a nearby general hospital for a routine immunization,Mrs Ekwok met her alleged son in someone’s care.

She explained that as she made to return home after being attended to, she saw the wife of the medical doctor of the hospital she gave birth coming into the facility for immunization. When she approached her for greeting,Mrs Ekwok saw that the baby the doctor’s brought was a spitting semblance of her own baby-same dreadlock and everything! She couldn’t identify between her child and the one the doctor’s wife brought in for immunization except how they were dressed.

Shocked, Mrs Ekwok,paused and reflected. She remembered that she had delivered of her child in a hospital owned by the woman’s husband. She also did not forget that she had twin pregnancy but saw only one baby after delivery. Although she was told the other child ‘scattered ‘ during birth. She became curious to know more about the child in the hand of the doctor’s wife.

“That faithful day, I went for immunization at AMAC Hospital at Besan. After they gave my baby the injection, I wanted to go home,so I was trying to put my baby on my back and immediately saw the wife of the doctor where I gave birth coming into the hospital with one of her brothers. They were bringing their children for immunization. When I saw the baby they brought, I was like, what is happening here?

The baby in my hand looked exactly like the one in their hand. I said ‘I’m so confused.’ I didn’t even know what to do again,so I greeted them and she sat down. And since it was a heat period, I asked her to remove the baby’s cap because the heat was too much. She removed the cap,I became confused the more because of the spitting semblance of the child and my baby. They have same leg, same face, same dada (dreadlock, same everything. I said ‘what is going on here’ to myself. I now concluded that my earlier intuition that my twin baby was taken away at birth and not dead as told by the doctor,”she narrated.

But instead of raising alarm alerting people at the immunization facility to her claims that she had found her missing child, Mrs Ekwok took to a Plan B option. She would find out the home of the couple in possession of her ‘twin baby’ and become a regular visitor there.

How would she do it perfectly? She confided in her husband and they hatched a plan. Following this, she went tto the doctor’s home with two of her wrappers (clothes),pretending that things had not been fine with them financially and begged that they buy the material from her as their way of assisting her family. Mrs Ekwok became a regular visitor to the doctor’s house unknown to her host that her guest was on a mission to uncover the truth about their supposed baby.

But this was when peace began to elude the doorstep of the Ekwoks,because in several attempts to find out more about the child’s origin, she and her husband have been taken to police stations and detained,taken to court and sent to prison and even openly tortured and accused of attempting to steal a child.

In all the places they have been taken to,they continued to lay claim to the parenthood of the child, insisting on conduct of a DNA to prove their case but the police allegedly, through the influence of the doctor and his wife,have blatantly turned down their request and instead, been trying to prosecute them in court for theft.

“Insisting that the child who is over two years now is theirs,the couple,called on authorities and the public to intervene so their request for a DNA can be conducted for the child in contention.

Contacted to speak on allegation by Mrs Ekwok, the accused, the doctor refused, explaining that his action was because the case was already being handled by the police, adding that it had been taken to court.

He,however, directed Vanguard to the Force Intelligence Department Abuja for more details.

“The case is already being handled by the police and it has been taken to court. If you have to investigate more about the matter,the best place to go is the Force CID,”he said.

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA,an umbrella body of practicing medical practitioners said even as the allegation was raised over a year ago, it had not been formally brought to its attention.

Spokesperson of the Abuja branch of NMA, Dr Bature Mannir,told Vanguard that he had just heard about it ,asking for time to confirm from the chairmen if such a complaint had been brought to his table. But at the time of filing this report, he was yet to respond.

Think Cross River calls for justice,vows no son of the state ‘ll be hijacked by anybody

Reacting to the development, Think Cross River, an initiative that aims to forster unity,responsibility and collective ownership among Cross Riverians, has called for justice to prevail.

The group vowed to pursue the case to its logical end ,ensuring that the child was reclaimed by his alleged biological parents.
The initiator of Think Cross River, Papa Dom Cklamz Enamhe, told Vanguard that no child of the state’s origin would be allowed to be taken away by anybody under any guise.

Enamhe, who is also the convener of Who is Who platform of Northern Cross River,said:” Mr. Bartholomew Bright-Ekwok is from Cross River State. We just got to know about the story and we have moved in.”

The elder statesman said:”We will not allow any child of Cross River extraction go out. We will not stand and watch anybody intimidate any Cross Riverian. I have briefed the governor and he is on his foot on this. The senators from Cross River State extraction are all on the same case.

“No one child of Cross River extraction will be taken anywhere. We will get back the child. We will have DNA. We will go to court. We will do the right things. We, as a community, have resolved that this matter will be sorted out properly.

“Our child will return to the immediate family and will be back home. Poverty is not a crime. No Nigerian has a right to intimidate anybody because he is richer or because by any means, he is a professional.

“If I come to your hospital to give birth, I didn’t commit a crime. If you say one of the twins was missing or dead, where are the features? And we are taking two years and 11 months and you are still ignoring just a DNA test? We will afford it. We can afford it.
We will go through the processes.”