Nation
Female Final Year Student’s Alleged Murderer’s Whereabouts Revealed
The actual whereabouts of the prime suspect, Abdulrahman Bello and his four other accomplices in the tragic death of the female final year student Yetunde Lawal of the Kwara State College of Education Ilorin, has been revealed.
The revelation came to light yesterday, when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Sanusi Mohammed, in Ilorin.
He was brought to the court by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
Earlier reports last week indicated that operatives of the DSS, stormed the Oke-Kura custodial centre and whisked Abdulrahman Bello and his accomplices to Abuja in continuation of the investigation into his case.
However, his appearance on Thursday before the Ilorin Chief Magistrate court revealed that the prime suspect has been in the custody of the state security service.
Chief Magistrate Sanusi Mohammed, after the court session lasting about one hour, eight minutes, ordered the suspects to be remanded in the custody of the DSS for further investigation and adjourned the case till April 9,2025, after arguments and counter arguments from the prosecution and defense counsel.
During the session, the magistrate advised the defendants to feel free to seek legal redress if they were dissatisfied with the order.
All the defendants were present in court, accompanied by their respective lawyers—except for the principal suspect, Abdulrahman Ballo, who is yet to secure legal representation.
The accused individuals include Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu (41) – Zone C, No. 47, Adualere Area, Ilorin, Suleiman Muyideen (28) – Neolife Business, No. 7 Adualere Area, Amilere Milengbe, Ilorin, Jamiu Uthman (29) – Phone repairer, Adualere Area, Ilorin, Abdulrahmon Jamiu (31) – Farmer, Elemere Village, Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State.
The defendants arrived at the courthouse under tight security, transported in a white Toyota Hilux bus by the DSS operatives.
Representing the prosecution, Chief State Counsel, Issa Zakari, informed the court that ongoing intelligence reports had necessitated the transfer of the defendants to DSS custody for further investigation.
“My Lord, after the last adjourned date, we received intelligence reports prompting us to approach your worship to grant an order for the defendants to be moved to the custody of the DSS,” Zakari disclosed.
“As we speak, the investigation is at an advanced stage. We hereby seek an adjournment until a later date when the investigation is completed.”
However, the defence team strongly opposed the prosecution’s request. Barrister A.S. Oseni, representing the 2nd and 4th defendants, argued that the court no longer had jurisdiction since the case had been transferred to the High Court.
“During the last sitting, it was stated that investigations had been concluded. The charge has already been served at the High Court, and a hearing date of April 15, 2025, has been scheduled. This court lacks the jurisdiction to grant such an order,” Oseni declared.
Similarly, counsel for the 3rd defendant aligned with Oseni’s position, labelling the order as “barbaric, null, and void.” He further contended that the prosecution had no legal grounds to request continued DSS custody.
Counsel for the 5th defendant also urged the court to vacate the order in the interest of justice and fair hearing.
In response, Chief State Counsel Zakari dismissed the defence arguments as an attempt to obstruct justice.
“The defendants have not yet been arraigned before the High Court, nor have they taken a plea.The law empowers this court to issue such an order. If the defence is dissatisfied, they are free to challenge it at the Court of Appeal,” he further submitted.
Zakari said: “Justice is a tripartite arrangement, involving Justice to society; Justice to the victim and Justice to the defendants” urging the magistrate to disregard the defence objections and uphold the order.
Following deliberations, Magistrate S.B. Mohammed adjourned the case to Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt recently hosted a- 4 Day programme in conjunction with the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference ( UNOC:3) to mark the World Environment Day, 2025.
The Programme which was supported by the Embassy of French in Nigeria was focused on ocean protection and held from 9 to 13 June, 2025 at the premises of the Alliance Franchise.
The Tide News reports that the week long event was inspired by the Educational booklet “Understand Ocean And Act” created by the French Development Agency (AFD),was free and open for all.
The exhibition adapts complex environmental challenges into engaging educational contents for learners of all ages. It also placed special focus on French Language Learners at the beginner level( A1-A2) and school students.
According to the Director of Alliance Française Mrs Marina Lacal, 130 pupils from six schools in Port Harcourt and additional 60 students from local Universities participated in the guided visit and interactive activities.
Schools that took part in the Programme include Cornerstone International school, Vine, International, Greenoak, Gold gate Montessori, Helm Bridge and Virgo Praedicanda International school.
Others are the University of Port Harcourt,(UNIPORT) Rivers State University (RSU)and the Ignatius AJuru University of Education (AUE)
Mrs Lacal further said that through this initiative Alliance Française Harcourt and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to educating younger generations and promoting global awareness through language, culture and environmental engagement
However, the exhibition witnessed interactive tools such as French-Language game, quizzes, memory challenges, fill-in -the -blanks. It also provides a platform to explore major ocean issues including climate change,biomliversity loss, plastic pollution, sustainable fishing and climate induced migration all through a linguistic and civic lens.
In line with it’s eco conscious approach , all displayed banners used for the exhibition will be recycled into eco friendly souvenirs such as(key chains) that would be given to participants after the event, to further help reinforce the message that every action counts.
It would be recalled that all snacks and drinks provided during the visit were served with low plastic packaging in line with the environmental message of the event.
The Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) Anti- Bunkering Agency, Amb Wachukwu Adah, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law the Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill, describing the gesture as a right step in the right direction. The operatives of the NFSS are known as forest guards.
Amb Adah, who made the commendation during the official structuring of the Nigeria Forest Security Service Anti-Bunkering team and induction of legionnaires in Omoku Town, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday, described President Tinubu as the best President of Nigeria following his monumental achievements in office.
He said the Local Government Autonomy Bill recently signed into law by the President Tinubu administration has tremendous impacts on the lives of the average Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.
He noted that by this singular gesture, the President had hit the ground running, for the meaningful development of the country.
Amb Adah reiterated that Rivers youths would utilise the opportunity to serve the country to the best of their ability, acknowledging their readiness to do the needful by ensuring that the forests across the nation are adequately secured.
The Deputy Commandant General also applauded the transformation of the Federal Capital Territory by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, saying, the Minister has turned Abuja to London.
He, however, appealed to the Minister to assist Rivers youths to get sensitive positions in the new Nigeria Forest Security Service ,saying, there is need for him and other leaders to assist the youths who are interested in jobs at the NFSS to secure them, as it is done elsewhere.
“ We need your backing on securing the jobs at NFSS”, he said.
Amb.Adah, who represented the National Commandant, Amb Joshua Osatimehia, said the youths are fully ready to contribute to the security, progress and growth of the nation, and emphasised the essence of character, professionalism and quality service delivery at the NFSS.
In his address, the Administrator of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Council, Dr Ndu Ajie assured the security outfit of the total support of the council.
Dr Ajie, who was represented by the Secretary of the council ,Mr.Onyedibia Ndulaka, praised the determination and sacrifices made by the security operatives in ensuring and fostering the peace and security of the State.
On their part, heads of security agencies in the local government area, including the Joint Task Force(JTF); the Police; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC); and the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), commended the efforts of the security outfit in the security of national assets, assuring them of collaboration to achieve common goals.
During the event, the 23 LGA commanders and other ranking officers were commissioned.
Recall that President Tinubu had commissioned the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and a committee to work out modalities on the operations of the NFSS.
The former State Commander of NFSS, Chief Will Wegwu showered encomiums on the Deputy Commandant General for his sacrifices and untiring efforts to keep the flag flying.
Chief Wegwu assured the participants that the officers and men would continue to support the Deputy Commandant General to succeed in his assignment.
The Omoku Police Area Commander, ACP Mahe Mohammed; and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Omoku Police Division, CSP John Landan, were among a host of other security chiefs and personalities that graced the occasion.
Rivers-born business mogul, Chief Clement Anele, has pledged his determination to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies, to reach the unreached and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele, who gave this indication while receiving an Award of Education Ambassador from the Rivers State Postgraduate Students Association in his office in Port Harcourt, said he has a covenant with God to give succour to the needy, especially widows, ,students, clerics and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele ,the Managing Director of Anele Good Heart Foundation,
vowed to continue to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies to reach the unreached, and the vulnerable by providing basic necessities of life to them.
He said, “I cannot be everywhere. I need to partner with students to reach the unreached in the society. The sole aim is to improve the living standard of the vulnerable among us .
It is important we touch lives through the little resources God has made available to us .We don’t expect reward from human beings, but from God.
I feel happy and joyful seeing widows, students and the less- privileged benefiting from the foundation .It was a dream God gave me to assist making the society better. I don’t need anyone to praise me for doing it .It is a divine calling to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable.”
In his speech, the Secretary of the group, Mr Ken Itari, described Chief Anele as an extraordinary individual, who has impacted on humanity, especially the students and widows through his foundation.
He said the honour done to the business mogul by the students was borne out of their desire to partner with him to build a better future for the youths.
He said the students would continue to stand with the philanthropist in his vision to reduce hunger and change the society for the good of all.
He noted that Chief Anele’s scholarships to the students and providing food on the tables of the widows and many vulnerable persons, using his hard-earned resources, show his immense love for humanity, stressing that his reward for the good works he is doing can only come from God.