Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The Benue State Police Command last Tuesday arraigned a 32-year-old man, Raphael Tyokua, over alleged criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, house breaking and theft.
Tyokua was arraigned before a Makurdi Upper Area Court 2.
According to the prosecutor, Mrs Omaye Ujeta, one Kputu Orya, who resides behind ‘E’ Division Police Station, Makurdi, reported the matter at ‘E’ Division Station, Makurdi.
Ujeta quoted Orya as saying that Tyokua, a resident of Anta village, Makurdi conspired with two others still at large, broke into his office at Aggo School, along Abua King Shuluwa Road, Akpehe in Benue, and robbed him.
She further quoted Orya as saying that the accused and his accomplices entered into the office through the ceiling, and stole two hp laptops with their chargers, valued at N110,000 and N45,000 cash.
FCT
An FCT Area Court Judge, Abubakar Sadiq, last Tuesday sentenced a driver, Mubarack Umar, to eight months imprisonment for stealing a tricycle.
The court sentenced Umar, 23 of Galadimawa village, Abuja, after he pleaded guilty to a count charge of theft.
The court, however, gave him N40,000 option of fine.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that on July 4, one Ayuba Musa of Kado Life Camp, Abuja, reported the incident at the Utako Police Station.
Zannah said that Musa reported the matter for proper investigation which led to the arrest of the convict.
According to Zannah, the convict committed the offence on July 3 at about 10 p.m. along Obafemi Awolowo expressway, Jabi.
Gombe
Farmers in Gombe State have commended the state government for its procurement and sale of fertiliser at subsidised rates to farmers in the lead up to the 2017 farming season.
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo recently announced that a bag of NPK fertiliser would be sold at N4,800 and a bag of Urea fertiliser at N5,800, as against their prevailing market prices of N8,500 and N5,800 respectively.
Some of the farmers, who spoke to newsmen in Gombe last Tuesday, expressed delight at the development.
One of the farmers, Malam Bala Garba, said that the subsidy came at the right time, particularly when many farmers were in dire need of fertiliser for their crop to grow.
Garba said that the gesture would boost their productivity and promote the food security of the state and the country at large.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government says it has treated over 29,000 cases of acute malnutrition in children in the last six months.
The State Nutrition Officer, Mr Saidu Umar, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Jos at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s mid-year review meeting.
Reports say that the review meeting organised by the UNICEF Field Office in Bauchi was aimed at reviewing the UNICEF’s activities in various sectors working in Plateau and Jigawa States.
Umar said that the treatment was carried out in 64 Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres in 12 local government areas of the state.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government says it spent N360 million in subsidising farm inputs given to farmers under the N1 billion Agriculture Intervention Scheme.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr Bamidele Adegoke, said this in Ilorin on Tuesday while presenting seedlings and other inputs to members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
He said that the state government would also support farmers in land clearing and ploughing of about 2,500 hectares of land in different parts of the state under its Off-takers Demand Driven Agric Scheme.
The commissioner said the state government was committed to diversifying the state’s economy by creating agro-allied jobs and provision of input for industries.
Lagos
The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NiMet), Prof. Sani Mashi, has faulted calls in some quarters for the creation of a separate and parallel Climate Change Agency (CCA).
Mashi, who made this known while speaking with newsmen in Lagos last Tuesday, said the establishment of such body would amount to a duplication of functions already being carried out by NiMet.
He said NiMet was established by an Act of Parliament in 2003, to provide weather services in marine, environmental and bio-meteorology for climatic and human health activities.
According to him, all stakeholders were in agreement that it had been carrying out this role both effectively and efficiently, and therefore, saw no reason for the creation of a new body with similar functions.
Nasarawa
A 27-year-old applicant, Maria John, was last Tuesday arraigned in an Upper Area Court, Masaka, Nasarawa State, for allegedly aborting a six-week-old pregnancy.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Frank Swem, told court that the accused committed the offence on July 7, at about 6.30 p.m., in Akwango, Masaka.
Swem said that the matter was reported by the accused’s boyfriend, Kingsley Ephraim, at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Masaka, on the same date.
He also said Ephraim told the police that his girlfriend (Maria), who was six weeks pregnant for him, told him that she had aborted the pregnancy.
Niger
A Magistrates’ Court in Minna last Tuesday sentenced a 25-year-old security guard, Musa Isah, to three months imprisonment for stealing N500 from an accident victim.
Isah was arraigned on a count charge of theft, contrary to Section 287 of the Penal Code.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Gunduma Ibrahim, told court that the convict, residing at M.I. Wushishi Estate in Minna committed the offence on July 15 at about 4 p.m.
Ibrahim said the convict went to a fatal accident scene in Minna under the guise of rescuing the victims.
Ogun
The Police in Ogun State last Tuesday brought eight men before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ota, for allegedly belonging to a secret cult called ‘EYE’ Confraternity.
The accused persons were: Adewale Ibrahim (23), Ajasa Olalekan (28), Adams Ahmed (28), Ojeniyi Michael (29), Remilekun Subaru (27), Oyelumade Gbenro (29), Ezra Jackson (24), and Akinyelu Kunle (26).
According to the Prosecutor, Cpl. Mustapha Abdulkareem, the accused persons, with no fixed addresses, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawfully belonging to a secret cult.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons, and others still at large, committed the offences on July 13, at about 3.00 a.m. at Ilogbo, Ota.
Ondo
A 48-year-old security guard, Sola Ikumapayi, was last Tuesday in Okitipupa, Ondo State, discharged and acquitted of the offence of assaulting and injuring his son after hitting him with a glass cup.
An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, however, fined him N20,000.
The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, warned the accused to refrain from committing such criminal act in future.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault brought against him.
Earlier, Police Prosecutor Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 12 at 8.00 a.m. at Akinloye Estate, Okitipupa.
According to Orogbemi, the accused threw a glass cup at his son, who was running away from him following a squabble.
Plateau
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has advised media content managers to be very wary of what they sent out to the public as that would determine Nigeria’s direction.
Mohammed, in a speech at the National Broadcasting Commission’s 2017 Summit, last Tuesday in J0s, said that media content was like food in the body.
“Food is a necessity, but not every food is good for the body.
“It is often said that we are what we eat. Junk food is unhealthy for our health.
“It follows, therefore, that junk information is not good for our health, stability and growth as a nation.
“Content managers must thus be very sensitive; they must always weigh the possible impact of what they broadcast or publish, to the stability and development of our country,” he said.
Sokoto
A committee set up by the Sokoto State Government to verify the actual number of students entitled to its scholarship says it has uncovered 706 “ghost” students.
Its Chairman, Mr Shehu Wurno, announced this on Tuesday in Sokoto, when he presented the committee’s report to Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Wurno said that the committee visited 40 tertiary institutions within and outside the country where it verified and confirmed 14,532 students as qualified for the scholarship.
“We have also confirmed that N544,613,724 is the total cost of students registration for the year 2016/2017 academic session, while N143,560,855 is the allowances to the verified students.
“We have also verified and confirmed that N688,174,579 is the actual amount owed as students registration and allowances for the current 2016/2017 session,” he said.
Tambuwal, who thanked the committee for its efforts, restated his administration’s resolve to give top priority to the education sector.
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.
