Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
The Police in Ado-Ekiti have arraigned seven men in an
Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court on a three count charge of alleged murder, theft and assault.
The police prosecutor, Mr David Erinma, told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 13 at Oke Ayedun-Ekiti. He gave the names of the accused persons as Ojo Kolawole, Owolabi Ojo, Onipede Taiwo, Ogunlusi Yemisi, Abayomi Abiodun, Kupoluyi Sola and Femi Ajiboye.
Erinma alleged that the accused attempted to murder one Mrs Grace Audu by inflicting grievous injuries on her body in a manner likely to endanger her life.
FCT
The Women and Children Economic Development Centre
in Jikwoyi, Abuja, last Thursday said it planned to support 3,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the FCT.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Officer, Mr. Henry Akani, told newsmen that most of the OVC were identified by the heads of the communities where the organisation worked.
He said most of the children were from Jikwoyi, Karu, Karshi, Kurudu and Nyanya communities in the outskirts of the FCT and disclosed that the organisation visited its beneficiaries biweekly at home and in their schools, to support them with their needs.
Kano
The Kano State Government has approved N461 million
for the construction of Hawan Ganji-Badari Road in Gwarzo Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Umar Jibrin, announced this when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting of the state Executive Council in Kano last Wednesday.
Jibrin said that the council also approved N157 million for the erection of street lights on Sharada and Sheikh Jafar roads in the metropolis as well as N53 million for the training of 2,200 traditional birth attendants.
Katsina
Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has sacked two
commissioners in a minor cabinet reshuffle.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Press Affairs , Alhaji Abdulhamid Danjuma, the affected commissioners are those of Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Maikudi, and Women Affairs, Dr Asma’u Abdullahi.
The statement said the governor had also moved the Commissioner for information, Alhaji Gide Sani, to the Ministry for Water Resources while Alhaji Hussaini Garba was moved to Information from Health.
Others re-deployed include commissioners for water resources and that of youth and sports, Alhaji Jamilu Danmusa and Alhaji Mannir Talba, who moved to environment and health ministries, respectively. It also said that the Commissioner for Environment, Aminu Safana, would now be in charge of youths and sports.
Kwara
Six commercial motorcyclists were last Thursday
remanded in prison by an Omu-Aran Upper Area Court in Kwara over alleged destruction of FRSC properties in the community.
The accused were arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy, trespass, mischief, obstruction of public servants from performing their lawful duties as well as assault and intimidation.
Those that appeared in court are Bayo Babatunde, 28; Samuel Adebayo, 32; Kehinde Samuel 19; and Kolawole Lekan, 23. Others are Chinedu Mudekalu, 30; and 25-year-old Oyinloye Kazeem.
The prosecutor,Insp Adeola Adeboye, said the motorcyclists numbering more than 50 and led by Babatunde stormed the office on Sunday and beat up one Fasusi Olamide, an officer of the FRSC.
Adeboye said the offences contravened sections 97, 348, 327, 148, 267 and 397 of the Penal Code.
The judge, Mr Mustapha Adegboyega, ordered the accused to be remanded in Omu-Aran Medium Prison and adjourned the case to October 8.
Lagos
Deputy Editor in-Chief and Head of the Lagos office of the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Dele Bodunde, has commended women as good organisers who could be trusted with leadership positions.
Bodunde spoke while receiving a delegation of women journalists from the Cameroon on a working visit to Nigeria, at the agency’s Lagos office recently
The women journalists were led on the visit by Mrs Dupe Olaoye, chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos Chapter.
He noted that women in NAN had equal opportunities as their male counterparts, and had been trusted with crucial positions, including being the agency’s foreign correspondents.
Earlier, Olaoye said they were in NAN to acknowledge the contributions of the agency and its recognition of the place of women in national development.
Nasarawa
The National Human Rights Commission last Wednesday
said it would partner with the Nasarawa State Government to tackle security challenges in the state.
Director of Conflict, Ethics and Good Governance of the commission, Mrs Tina Nwodu, said this while exchanging views with Mr. Sani Yakubu-Awa, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in Lafia.
She said that the commission was concerned about the loss of lives and destruction of properties taking place in the state, noting that crisis caused all kinds of abuses on law-abiding citizens, with children and women being the most affected victims.
Nwodu explained that the group would meet with the community and women leaders, market associations and youth groups to discuss on peace and unity of the people of the state.
“Crisis does not just erupt, it has traces, and early warning responses will assist to get first hand information for it to be nipped in the bud,” she said.
Niger
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said the
establishment of the new University of Education, Minna, would tackle the dearth of qualified teachers in public schools.
Aliyu made the remark after signing the bill on the State University of Education into law that establishes the new university at the Government House, Minna.
He said the new university would take off from the site of the College of Education, Minna and would produce the needed teachers in the state.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Usman, said the assembly passed 30 bills from 2007 to date.
Usman said the law on the specialised university empowered the government to set aside at least two per cent of its budget for the funding of the university.
Ogun
The Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr.
Suraj Adekunbi, said that the state government would continue to ensure even spread of development projects across the state.
Adekunbi said in Abeokuta last Thursday that government would not discriminate against any senatorial district in the provision of infrastructure, and added that the legislature would continue to support the executive in order to bring the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
“The project at hand is Ogun State project; we have to do our best as legislators to cooperate with the executive without any manipulation. When there is good relationship between the legislature and the executive, the result will be obvious for people to see,” he said.
The speaker urged individuals and organisations in the state to promptly pay their taxes to the appropriate channel to enable the government fulfill its own obligations.
Osun
The police in Osogbo last Wednesday arraigned four
suspected armed robbers in an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly being in possession of firearms.
The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Joshua Oladoye, who gave the names of the accused persons as Adejuwon Ismail, 32, Adebiyi Tunde, 23, Abayomi Adekande, 22 and Onoh Johnson, 25, told the court that the accused were caught with firearms on August 8, at about 12:40 p.m. at Ilesha Breweries area in the Ilesha West Local Government Area of Osun.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, while their Counsel, Ms Modupe Olanrewaju, applied for their bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum. He adjourned the case to October 23 for mention.
Oyo
The Chairman, Iseyin Local Government Council of Oyo
State, Alhaji Saheed Yusuff, said the tuberculosis (TB) centre being built in the area was to tackle the spread of the disease.
Yusuff, who spoke last Thursday on the sidelines of his inspection tour of the centre, said the project would cost the council about N10 million.
He said it, was important for government at all levels to curb the spread of the disease and manage those suffering from it adding that the centre located at Oke-Aro Isalu area of Iseyin metropolis would be one of the best in the country when completed.
The chairman expressed optimism that the centre would not only serve the purpose of treating TB patients, but also develop into a research centre.
Yusuff also said a maternity centre was under construction at Oke-Oja area, adding that it was important to take health- related issues seriously.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
