Stop rejecting corps members – Reps caution MDAs

The House of Representatives has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to stop rejecting members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to them for the mandatory one-year national service.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei during plenary on Thursday.

Moving the motion, Ambaiowei expressed concern over what he described as the growing practice by government establishments of rejecting corps members assigned to them, a development he said was denying young graduates valuable opportunities to gain practical work experience and contribute to national development.

According to him, the trend has left many corps members vulnerable to exploitation by private organisations while exposing some to criminal activities due to a lack of proper engagement during their service year.

The lawmaker further argued that the rejection of corps members amounts to a waste of public resources, noting that the Federal Government continues to pay monthly stipends to graduates who are not effectively utilised in their places of assignment.

He warned that the development could undermine the objectives of the NYSC scheme and discourage future graduates from participating actively in the programme.

Following deliberations, the House adopted the motion and called on all MDAs, including the National Assembly, to desist from rejecting corps members posted to them.

Lawmakers also urged the agencies to develop work schedules that would accommodate and effectively integrate corps members into their operations to maximise their skills and potential.

In addition, the House mandated its Committee on Youth Development to liaise with the Director-General of the NYSC to develop a framework for the effective engagement of corps members and ensure their talents are harnessed for national development throughout the service year.

2027: ‘They’ve already lost it, Tinubu will defeat Atiku, Obi, Makinde joined together’ – Jibrin2027: ‘They’ve already lost it, Tinubu will defeat Atiku, Obi, Makinde joined together’ – Jibrin

A four-time member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure re-election in 2027, insisting that the opposition has already lost its chances of unseating the ruling party.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, Jibrin said the current political realities and dynamics favour Tinubu ahead of the next presidential election.

The lawmaker argued that regardless of the opposition’s strategy or choice of candidates, the ruling party remains in a strong position.

He maintained that even if key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, were to unite behind a common platform, Tinubu would still emerge victorious.

Jibrin added that the opposition’s current divisions further strengthened the President’s prospects, predicting that Tinubu would win the forthcoming presidential election.

Jibrin said: “I will say on a general note, on a general scale, and with the reality on ground and all of the political dynamics that we can see, no matter how you analyse it, whether with one presidential candidate you did not imagine, whether with another candidate from Ibadan, emerging, however you look at it, the opposition lost it already.

“I used to say something, even if they come together, the President will defeat them, not to talk about when they’ve split. The president will win this election, I tell you that.”

Stop intimidating bicycle riders on Abia roads – FRSC warns motorists

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Abia State Sector Command has cautioned motorists against harassing cyclists riding on Abia roads, but to give them adequate space and respect.

The Sector Commander of FRSC in Abia State, Ngozi Ezeoma gave the caution on Wednesday in Umuahia during the celebration of United Nations World Cycling Day 2026.

She observed that cyclists struggle to have enough riding space on roads as they were either denied space or disrespected by motorists.

Ezeoma urged governors, local government chairmen and urban planners across the country to prioritize the interests of cyclists by ensuring that roads and the streets are not only designed for the cars, but for the bicycle riders.

Ezeoma, who said that the use of bicycle reduces air pollution and road congestion, said that it enhances good health for the citizens.

“Motorists must give cyclists adequate space and treat them with courtesy and respect.

“I also urge the state governments, LG chairmen, urban planners, and development partners to prioritize cycling-friendly infrastructure as part of sustainable urban development and also to design streets for people, not just for cars”, the Abia  FRSC Sector Commander said.

She, however, said that cyclists must obey traffic rules, wear helmet and reflective clothing to be visible on the roads.

Also in  his speech, Abia State Commissioner for Transport, Chimezie Ukaegbu urged Abia citizens, especially the youths to embrace cycling as a means of transportation, in order to reduce carbon emissions and to reduce dependence on fossil fuel.

Senate passes bill to establish Microbiology Council of Nigeria

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has sponsored a bill seeking to establish the Microbiology Council of Nigeria to regulate the practice of microbiology and improve professional standards in the country.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Microbiology Council of Nigeria,” scaled second reading on Tuesday during plenary in the Senate and was referred to the relevant committee for further legislative work.

Leading debate on the bill, Barau said the proposed council would help regulate microbiology practice and address long-standing gaps in the profession.

“The bill seeks to regulate and control the profession of microbiology to enhance the professional conduct of microbiologists,” he said.

He explained that establishing the council would improve competence among practitioners and strengthen the contribution of microbiology to public health, food safety, and environmental protection.

According to him, the absence of a regulatory body has affected the structure and development of the profession over the years.

Barau also noted that the proposed council would serve as a professional regulatory body responsible for setting standards, monitoring practice, and promoting the growth of microbiology in Nigeria.

He added that the council would be self-financing and would not rely on government funding.

Lawmakers who spoke on the bill supported its passage, describing it as timely and important for strengthening scientific and professional development in the country.

After deliberations, the Senate approved the bill for second reading, allowing it to proceed to the committee stage for further scrutiny.

Court Jails  One  for N2.9m  Crypto Fraud in Maiduguri 

 

Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 convicted and sentenced one Bukar Ahmed Shuwa to ten years imprisonment.

 

The convict was arraigned on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one -count amended charge for the offence of cheating to the tune of N2,950,000.00 (Two Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).

 

The charge reads: “That you, Bukar Ahmed Shuwa sometimes in the year 2024 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulently induced one Mahmud Ali to deliver to you the aggregate sum of N2, 950,000.00 under the guise of Crypto Bitget Wallet Coin Investment and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 309 and punishable under Section 310 of the Penal Code Law and Other Matters Connected therewith Law, 2023.”

 

The defendant pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charge when it was read to him.

 

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, A.D Abdulmalik prayed the court to convict him accordingly. While in the same vein, counsel to the defendant, H. Basharu pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy upon him.

 

Basharu further stated that the convict had fully restituted the money to the petitioner and urged the court to sentence him with an option of fine.

 

Thereafter, Justice Kumaliya convicted and sentenced the convict to ten years imprisonment with an option of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.

The convict’s journey to the Correctional facility started when he fraudulently induced the petitioner  to deliver to him the sum of N2.9m under the guise of Crypto Bitget Wallet Coin Investment and diverted the money to his personal use.

Osun guber: REC urges media to combat election misinformation

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called on media practitioners in Osun State to support efforts to curb the spread of fake news ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The appeal was made on Tuesday in Osogbo by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, during a programme titled “The Journalists-INEC Voter Education and Publicity Dialogue on the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election.”

The event was organised by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme in collaboration with the INEC headquarters as part of preparations for the forthcoming poll.

Addressing journalists and media stakeholders, Babalola stressed the importance of the media in safeguarding the credibility of the electoral process through accurate and responsible reporting.

She said the media remained a critical partner in voter education, information dissemination and public enlightenment, particularly as the election date draws nearer.

Babalola warned that misinformation and disinformation posed significant threats to credible elections in the digital era, noting that false narratives and manipulated content could erode public confidence in the democratic process.

“As we move closer to this important date, the role of the media as a partner in voter education, information dissemination, and public enlightenment cannot be over-emphasised,” she said.

She added, “One of the greatest threats to credible elections in this digital age is the spread of disinformation and misinformation. False narratives, fake results, doctored videos, and malicious propaganda have the capacity to undermine public confidence in the electoral process, incite violence, and delegitimise outcomes.”

The REC urged journalists to verify information before publication and actively challenge false reports with factual and balanced coverage.

“We must therefore work together to build a robust defence against these threats. The media must serve as gatekeepers of truth, verifying information before dissemination and countering falsehoods with factual reporting,” Babalola stated.

She also reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to providing timely, accurate and verifiable information through its official communication channels, urging journalists to rely on those platforms and collaborate with the commission in addressing misleading reports.

According to her, “the dialogue provided an opportunity for INEC and media organisations to develop creative, culturally sensitive and accessible voter education strategies capable of reaching residents in languages and formats they easily understand.”

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, Dr Akin Akingbulu, called on journalists to uphold their responsibility of educating citizens about their roles before, during and after the election while also scrutinising campaign promises and monitoring the commission’s readiness for the poll.

Akingbulu said media practitioners should not remain passive observers, adding that they must “reflect, interrogate, and rank. And your perspectives will reach further than you may expect.”

Why Anambra will vote for Tinubu in 2027 – Soludo

Governor Charles Soludo has said that Anambra State and the All Progressives Grand Alliance would support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Soludo made the declaration while addressing members of the City Boy Movement, Anambra State Chapter.

The governor said his political decisions are guided by the interests of Anambra people and the Igbo nation, stressing that he believes in what he described as the “politics of evidence.”

He cited the Federal Government’s approval of the state’s proposed aerotropolis as a Free Economic Trade Zone as an example of the benefits of cooperation with the current administration.

According to him, the approval was granted in what he described as the fastest response he had witnessed from the Federal Government.

Soludo also said that although APGA remains a separate political party, it shares progressive ideals with the ruling party and should work with the Federal Government for the benefit of the South-East region.

The governor maintained that progressive political forces must collaborate to advance the interests of the Igbo people and accelerate development in Anambra State.

Soludo said: “You don’t take second position in politics. I don’t play that kind of politics. The Politics I want to play is for the interest of Ndi Anambra, and the Igbo.

“I only play politics of evidence.

“The President in a fastest approval I have ever seen, he designated our aero metropolis as a free economic trade zone. That’s politics.

“Despite the fact that we are in APGA, we understand it that progressives have to work together for the good of Igbo.”

Kaduna NUT laments kidnapping of students, teachers, tasks govt

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kaduna State branch, on Tuesday staged a nationwide solidarity rally over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers, calling on the Nigerian government to urgently treat attacks on schools and the abduction of students and teachers as a national emergecy.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, Comrade Sunday Garba, the state treasurer of the union, said the protest was driven by the pain of repeated attacks on schools across the country. He said they gathered not by choice but because their children, who are supposed to be the future of Nigeria, are in captivity.

He lamented: “Teachers who are saddled with the responsibility of shaping the future of this country have been silenced.”

Garba explained that the rally was triggered by the recent abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, stressing that it was also a response to a pattern of school kidnappings that remains unabated.

The union observed that in April 2014, 276 female students were kidnapped from Chibok in Borno State and that more than 90 are still missing. It added that in February 2018, 110 schoolgirls were abducted in Dapchi, Yobe State, while five were killed.

The union stated that in December 2020, more than 300 boys were abducted in Kankara, Katsina State, and were later released. It added that in February 2021, 27 students were abducted in Kagara, Niger State, while one student was killed.

The union further stated that in February 2021, 317 girls were abducted in Jangebe, Zamfara State, and later released. It also pointed out that between March and April 2021, 39 students were kidnapped from Afaka in Kaduna State, while about 20 students of Greenfield University were abducted, with five of them later killed by bandits.

“In July 2021, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, over 100 students of Bethel Baptist High School were kidnapped and later released in batches. In March 2024, 287 students were abducted in Kuriga, Kaduna State,” he said.

He further recalled that in November 2025, 25 girls were abducted in Maga, Kebbi State, while the vice principal was killed. He also noted that in November 2025, more than 300 students and teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State. In May 2026, 26 children were taken from an orphanage/school in Kogi State, while other abductions occurred in three schools in Oriire, Oyo State.

Garba said that when a child is abducted, every schoolchild loses a piece of their freedom.

“When one teacher falls, every teacher stands afraid. Schools have become targets,” he added.

The union therefore called for the immediate release of all students and teachers in captivity, insisting that the issue should be treated as a national emergency.

Insecurity: We are in trouble, but DSS can do a lot if properly equipped – Ughegbe

Activist and public affairs analyst, Dr. Lemmy Ughegbe, has said the recent arrest of five suspected terrorists, including two foreign nationals, by the Department of State Services (DSS) demonstrates that Nigeria’s security agencies are capable of delivering significant results when adequately equipped and supported.
Ughegbe stated this during an interview on Wednesday on Arise News while discussing the country’s security challenges and the role of citizens in addressing them.

According to him, Nigeria must acknowledge the seriousness of its security situation, noting that even President Bola Tinubu has publicly expressed concern about insecurity.

“We are in trouble as a country; we must admit that,” Ughegbe said.

Despite the challenges, he argued that the DSS operation should inspire confidence in the country’s security institutions.

“This very remarkable feat by the DSS shows that the agency, when allowed to do its job, properly equipped and properly motivated, has the capacity, not just the potential, to generate credible and actionable intelligence,” he said.

Ughegbe said the operation demonstrated the ability of security agencies to infiltrate terrorist networks, intercept intelligence and disrupt the movement of weapons among criminal groups.

“Being able to capture these five terrorists, including two foreign nationals, speaks volumes to the fact that we can be hopeful, even though there is still a lot of work to be done,” he added.

He stressed that intelligence gathering depends heavily on cooperation from members of the public, urging Nigerians to report suspicious activities within their communities.

“DSS officials are not spirits, they will not get information unless citizens provide it. If you have people living within your community whom nobody knows, there should be a way of quietly passing information to the authorities,” he said.

Ughegbe also blamed part of the security challenge on public complacency, saying many residents pay little attention to unfamiliar individuals living around them.

“Many of us live in areas where we do not know our neighbours. Yet terrorists and criminals can live within those same communities,” he said.

The analyst further urged political leaders and opposition figures to avoid politicising security issues, arguing that national security should take precedence over partisan interests.

“If we are all concerned about the state of affairs in Nigeria, then we must put the country first, there cannot be elections without citizens being safe,” he said.

Drawing comparisons with responses to major security incidents in other countries, Ughegbe called for greater unity in tackling insecurity.

“We need to get to a stage where we drop politics and focus on securing our country. Before politics, our citizenship and our safety must come first,” he added.

Alleged impersonation of EFCC Staff: Defendant faces judgment June 15

Justice A. I. Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory, High Court, Kubwa, Abuja, on Monday, June 1, 2026, slated June 15, 2026 for judgment in the case of criminal impersonation of  officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and extortion by one Salifu Olije Mustapha.

At Monday’s proceeding, the EFCC presented its First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Stanley Ujilibo against the defendant.

The witness, an investigator with the EFCC, disclosed that the Commission received intelligence on how the defendant and two others, identified as Haruna Mamuda Adamu and Abubakar Umar Hamisu- who are currently under arrest and investigation by a security agency-on several occasions kitted themselves with fake operational uniforms of EFCC and set out in the defendant’s Toyota Corolla, with registration number KTU-399-GT to extort money from unsuspecting youths around Sherif Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.

He further disclosed that the defendant’s share of the proceeds of their criminal activities is usually paid into his account with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, adding that EFCC’s investigation team had to write Moniepoint for the statement of the defendant’s account as well as his account opening package and certificate of identification.

Documents, including video evidence, recorded by eyewitnesses during one of the gang’s unlawful activities, tendered in evidence by prosecution counsel, R.U. Adagba were admitted by the court and marked Exhibit A to D.

On his part, counsel to the defendant, John Ainetor, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him review the evidence and cross-examine the witness.

The defendant is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a four-count charge, bordering on criminal impersonation to which he pleaded guilty upon arraignment.

Justice Akobi adjourned the matter till June 15, 2026 for continuation of cross-examination and sentencing of the defendant.