Category: Nigerian Tribune

THE Presidency has reacted to conflicting reports on the pending suits before Judge Beryl A. Howell of the United States District Court on the civil records-disclosure dispute under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and an American transparency activist, Mr Aaron Greenspan, seeking records relating to President Tinubu between 1992 and 1993 in the custody of the FBI.

Amidst alleged disclosure and release of redacted documents which found Tinubu guilty of criminal wrongdoing in forfeiture of $46,000 to the United States Government, the Presidency dismissed the report as unfounded as it maintained that no criminal liability was established against President Tinubu.

Checks revealed that an online platform had claimed that the FBI had officially acknowledged that President Tinubu was the subject of a criminal investigation for drug trafficking crimes in the US in early 1990s.

Setting the records straight in a statement on Thursday titled ‘Clarification on the ongoing Freedom of Information Act Case in Washington, DC.’

Bayo Onanuga,

Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, declared that the case before the court concerns access to government records and the proper application of statutory exemptions.

‘For clarity, the matter is a civil records-disclosure dispute under the United States Freedom of Information Act. It is not a criminal case against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, nor has the court found him guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.’

The Presidency which recalled that 23 years ago, the FBI issued Tinubu ‘a clean bill of health’, as it ‘records check found no criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants for then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ noted that the ongoing litigations arising from Mr Greenspan is the insistence by the FBI to apply the contentious Glomar defence which allows the US agencies to shield certain documents or information from public disclosure.

Onanuga, who revealed Nigeria’s president’s role as an intervenor in the court proceedings, maintained that the ongoing ‘litigation is a civil records-disclosure dispute under FOIA. It does not constitute a criminal charge, trial, or judicial finding against President Tinubu. The FBI and DEA have produced records with redactions, and the remaining question is whether those redactions are lawful.’

The statement read: ‘The Presidency has noted recent speculative reports concerning an ongoing Freedom of Information Act case before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

‘For clarity, the matter is a civil records-disclosure dispute under the United States Freedom of Information Act. It is not a criminal case against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, nor has the court found him guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.

‘Here is the background to the case, which comes 23 years after the American Consulate in Lagos, in a letter dated February 4, 2003, informed the then Inspector General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, that an FBI records check found no criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants for then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In 2022, Mr Aaron Greenspan, who is known to work with Nigerian opposition figures including David Hundeyin and Atiku Abubakar, submitted FOIA requests to several United States government agencies seeking records relating to President Tinubu. After the agencies withheld certain records or declined to confirm or deny their existence, Mr Greenspan commenced Civil Action No. 23-1816 before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 2023.

‘The court subsequently permitted President Tinubu to participate in the proceedings as an intervenor.

‘During the proceedings, the Defendants asserted the ‘Glomar defence, a standard defence that US law enforcement agencies invoke from time to time. It simply means the government agency is not ‘in a position to deny or admit’ the existence of an investigation. It protects government personnel and the techniques and sources law enforcement agencies use to investigate and prosecute crimes.

‘Based on the invocation of this defence, the United States District Court granted summary judgment in favour of the CIA, EOUSA, Department of State, Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It ruled that they be removed from the proceedings, leaving aspects of the claims involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration for further consideration.

‘In compliance with the court’s orders, the FBI and DEA produced 399 pages of records, with portions redacted under exemptions provided by United States law. The Plaintiff challenged the FBI and DEA’s decisions to redact portions of the documents produced.

The FBI and DEA, through the United States Department of Justice (USDoJ), pushed back against the Plaintiff’s requests. The FBI and DEA rejected the application to produce the documents without redactions for the following reasons:

‘Some of the documents are protected from being revealed to the public by law, for example, Grand Jury proceedings. The law exempts transcripts of Grand Jury proceedings from public disclosure. The Pen Register Act also protects from disclosure information about certain court order(s) authorising or approving the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device. (FOIA Exemption 3)

2. Some of the documents fall squarely within the attorney-work product and attorney-client privileges. Some documents contain instances where FBI and DEA agents sought and/or received legal advice from USDoJ attorneys. (FOIA Exemption 5)

3. Some of the documents were prepared for law enforcement purposes. (FOIA Exemption 5)

4. Some of the documents contain information which, if revealed, could lead to an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. (FOIA Exemptions 6 and 7(C)).

5. Some of the documents, if disclosed, will reveal the identities of confidential sources or compromise the techniques that law enforcement agencies use in investigating crimes. (FOIA Exemptions 7(D) and 7(E))

President Bola Tinubu, on advice of his lawyers, has also asserted his rights as guaranteed by FOIA Exemption 7(C).

‘The Plaintiff has until September 11, 2026, to file any opposition and reply to the Defendants’ and Intervener’s processes, while the FBI, DEA and the Intervenor have until September 18, 2026, to respond to the processes that the Plaintiff might have filed.

‘The release or withholding of records under FOIA does not, by itself, establish criminal liability. The case concerns access to government records and the proper application of statutory exemptions.

‘The Nigerian media should note that this case is exclusively within the control of Judge Beryl A. Howell of the United States District Court. She will determine its outcome, based on the evidence, applicable law, and the parties’ arguments, not the wishful preference of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or his agent, Mr Von Batten.

‘Recent public commentary by Mr Karl von Batten has inaccurately portrayed him and his client as central to the proceedings. Neither is a party to the case.

The litigation is a civil records-disclosure dispute under FOIA. It does not constitute a criminal charge, trial, or judicial finding against President Tinubu. The FBI and DEA have produced records with redactions, and the remaining question is whether those redactions are lawful.

‘The United States District Court will decide that issue based on the filings and applicable US law, not political commentary.

‘The Presidency therefore urges the media and the public to distinguish verified court proceedings from partisan speculation.’

The Presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 election, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said Nigeria’s security and economic challenges can be resolved with strong political backing and consistent leadership.

Olawepo-Hashim stated this when he appeared as a guest on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s show, Politics Today, where he spoke on his presidential ambition, national unity, and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said his political structure had already commenced extensive grassroots mobilisation across the country ahead of the polls.

‘We have quietly mobilised about one million of our supporters into the Accord Party, and we are still doing so,’ Olawepo-Hashim said.

The Accord candidate reacted to comments reportedly credited to a governor suggesting that the party would not field a presidential candidate in 2027.

Describing the remark as an overreach, he insisted that no individual possesses the authority to determine who becomes Nigeria’s next president.

‘That is an overreach for him. The presidency of Nigeria is too big for anyone to allocate. It is in the hands of God and the Nigerian people,’ he said.

Olawepo-Hashim argued that political actors often make such pronouncements out of fear and political survival instincts within Nigeria’s competitive environment.

‘I know the governor is scared stiff that if he does not go about dancing and declaring support for the incumbent president in a rival party, they would rig him out. But that does not give him the power to allocate the presidency,’ he added.

He maintained that political power ultimately belongs to the electorate and cautioned against attempts to predetermine the outcome of future elections.

‘When power changes hands, those who think they can control it will be shocked and humbled,’ he stated.

On security, the Accord candidate said the recent successful rescue of victims abducted in Oyo State shows that Nigeria’s security forces have the capacity to defeat criminal gangs.

‘We have never doubted the ability of Nigeria’s Defence Forces to secure the country. What has often been lacking is clarity of purpose and unwavering political leadership,’ he said.

He cited the Nigerian military’s record in international peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone under ECOMOG as proof of what the country can achieve with direction.

According to him, the successful rescue in Oriire should serve as a model for a coordinated nationwide campaign against kidnappers and bandits.

‘The same determination that secured the freedom of the Oriire victims must now be deployed across every community where innocent Nigerians remain in captivity,’ he stated.

Olawepo-Hashim reaffirmed his commitment to providing Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative anchored on competence, national unity, economic revival and inclusive development.

He said Accord would offer Nigerians an alternative platform built on grassroots mobilisation and issue-based politics ahead of 2027.

Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, has alleged that National Examinations Council (NECO) examination questions were sold for as little as N3,000 before candidates sat for the papers.

Alausa disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other education stakeholders, as he warned that examination malpractice had become a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.

He said the problem had been tolerated for years, creating an environment where students who prepared for examinations honestly were placed at a disadvantage against those who obtained questions before the scheduled papers.

‘It’s sad. Before she (Minister of State for Education) and I came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare,’ he said.

‘The danger was that the good students would also become bad.’

The minister said the widespread availability of leaked examination materials could also pressure students who had previously avoided malpractice to join the practice in order to remain competitive.

Recounting efforts to tackle the problem, Alausa alleged that examination questions had been obtained and sold ahead of examinations, citing an incident involving former NECO Registrar, Ibrahim Wushishi.

‘The Registrar of NECO at the time had a name. His name was (Ibrahim) Wushishi. You would go to Wushishi… I didn’t know that Wushishi meant going to the dark website,’ he said.

‘They bought his question for N3,000. That was it. Before the examination. They called him Wushishi and bought the questions for N3,000 before the examination.’

Alausa also recalled what he described as a difficult experience during the 2025 examination period, when he regularly received examination questions allegedly obtained before candidates took the papers.

He said officials had to verify the materials with examination authorities, with some of the questions eventually confirmed to be those scheduled for candidates that day.

‘During that examination period, during the hardest time of my life, I was always worried, waking up. I would wake up to her text. She would send questions to me… She would say, ‘I just got this question,” he said.

‘It could be English or Chemistry. I was always waking up with trepidation every morning, doing work. I would send it to the HNO and ask, ‘HNO, is this correct?’ And the answer I got was, ‘Unfortunately, that’s the question we’re doing today.”

The minister said tackling examination malpractice required the involvement of more than just students, arguing that parents, schools and examination officials also had a role in preventing access to leaked materials.

‘You might be in that isolated school, but the school system is also involved. In fact, I don’t blame the students that much. Any child can be bad,’ Alausa said.

‘But when we have an ecosystem where parents, schools, teachers, invigilators and principals are in full connivance, the students are the smallest players. The people who should put the deterrents in place are the ones involved.’

Alausa said the Federal Government would continue to strengthen measures aimed at protecting the integrity of public examinations and ensuring that academic qualifications reflected candidates’ genuine learning and merit.

Chairman of the South-East Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and APC candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife, has said the party’s victory in Anambra State will be likened to the biblical David’s triumph over Goliath.

Ekwunife said the APC would work hard to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wins his re-election bid, alongside other candidates of the party across the three senatorial districts of the state.

She spoke on Friday during a meeting with ward and local government leaders, women, youths and other support group leaders from Anambra Central Senatorial District in Awka.

Ekwunife urged party members to return to their various wards and local government areas to mobilise, sensitise and campaign at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections.

She said APC members could not afford to sit back and allow other political parties to defeat the ruling party, adding that President Tinubu had, in her view, performed well through infrastructure and human capital development programmes, youth empowerment initiatives and reforms.

‘We are going into the 2027 general elections to win and ensure there is credible exercise. But there are two key things we just do; hard work and prayers. We must work hard and pray for the victory. We have a President who is doing well in Nigeria,’ she said.

‘The APC is one; the journey has started and we must put in our best. This is a party that has 31 governors, more senators and has done major projects at the grassroots and why can’t it win in an election?’

Ekwunife said the party would intensify its grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election.

‘We will not sit down here and allow other parties to intimidate us. We are going to go from house to house, ward to ward, local government to local government, man to man, woman to woman, market to market, and to make sure we win; our victory will be like that of David against Goliath,’ she stated.

The South-East PCC chairman also urged party members to put aside their differences and unite towards securing victory for all APC candidates at the polls.

She disclosed that the registration of new members was ongoing, adding that the party had opened its registration portal to accommodate more Nigerians.

Ekwunife, however, cautioned individuals working against the interests of the APC in Anambra State to desist, saying the party was determined to strengthen its position in the state and across the country.

The meeting, which attracted a large number of APC members from the seven local government areas in Anambra Central Senatorial District, also featured expressions of support from party leaders and members for Ekwunife’s bid to return to the Senate in 2027.

The ONSA, in a security advisory released in Abuja, warned that Nigerians must remain ‘vigilant and security-conscious amid evolving threats across parts of the country.’

It said the recent setbacks suffered by terrorist and criminal groups ‘could prompt them to resort to isolated attacks designed to create fear and attract public attention.’

The NSA stated: ‘There is a need for heightened alertness, as such groups may seek to carry out isolated acts aimed at creating fear or drawing attention to themselves.’

According to the office in the advisory dated August 27, Nigerians should remain vigilant and security-conscious of threats from parts of the country.

It, however, stated that intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies, working with local and international partners, had intensified intelligence gathering and threat monitoring nationwide.

The office said the advisory was issued against the backdrop of sustained military and security operations across the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions, which it said had recorded notable successes against the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other criminal groups.

The advisory further noted: ‘The NSA said the operations had resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorist and bandit commanders, including Abubakar Al-Mainok, alias Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, as well as the disruption of camps, hideouts and other criminal strongholds in various locations.

‘It, however, warned that the setbacks suffered by terrorist and criminal groups could prompt them to resort to isolated attacks designed to create fear and attract public attention.

‘There is a need for heightened alertness, as such groups may seek to carry out isolated acts aimed at creating fear or drawing attention to themselves,’ the advisory stated.

The ONSA called on members of the public to maintain vigilance at all times and pay close attention to their immediate surroundings.

‘It also urged citizens to report unusual or suspicious persons, objects, vehicles and movements promptly through appropriate security channels.

‘The advisory further called on state and local governments to take a proactive role in strengthening community vigilance and supporting preventive security measures.

‘They were also urged to ensure timely information sharing with security agencies to facilitate early response to emerging threats.

‘The NSA stressed the importance of cooperation between citizens and security agencies in preventing security incidents and protecting lives and property, while reassuring the international community.

‘The advisory assured the international community that the Nigerian government remained committed to maintaining a safe and stable environment for citizens, foreign nationals, diplomatic missions, investors and development partners.

‘It added that the government would continue to work with the international community through intelligence sharing, security cooperation and coordinated preventive measures to tackle evolving threats and strengthen collective security.’

Kano State Police Command has said that 250 newly trained officers will be deployed to border Local Government Areas in the state to strengthen security presence, improve rapid response to distress calls and enhance the protection of communities in frontline areas.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, disclosed this during the passing-out ceremony, held at the parade ground of the No. 9 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Hotoro, Kano.

He said the command completed 250 officers in a one-month intensive combat and weapon-handling training aimed at strengthening their operational readiness, professionalism and capacity to tackle security challenges.

Bakori said the training was conducted simultaneously at the No. 9 PMF, Hotoro, and the No. 52 PMF, Challawa, as part of efforts to enhance the operational preparedness of personnel in line with the strategic policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

He stated that the officers underwent training in combat drills, rifle stripping and assembly, weapon handling, tactical manoeuvres, marksmanship, human rights, the use of force and firearms, intelligence-led policing, police-public relations, improvised explosive device (IED) recognition and response, as well as community-based policing.

The commissioner said the 250 officers will be deployed to border Local Government Areas in the state to strengthen security presence, improve rapid response to distress calls and enhance the protection of communities in frontline areas.

Bakori charged the officers to remain vigilant and professional in the discharge of their duties, and to be firm but fair and respect the fundamental rights of citizens.

He stressed that the officers must confront criminal elements in the confines of the law while exercising restraint and professionalism in their dealings with members of the public.

The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to continuous capacity building through in-house refresher training, saying such programmes will ensure that officers continually acquire the skills needed to serve the people effectively and safely.

He commended the training instructors, the commanding officers of the No. 9 and No. 52 PMF, the Department of Operations and other members of the training team for their dedication to the programme.

Bakori also appreciated the Kano government, led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for providing an enabling environment for police operations, as well as residents for their continued support and partnership with the command.

Earlier, the Commanding Officer of the No. 9 PMF, ACP Oyekan Afeez, said the participants were trained in modern weapon handling, marksmanship, combat tactics and tactical manoeuvres.

Afeez added that the officers were trained on Force Order 237 and the principles guiding the use of firearms, including proportionality, legality, accountability and necessity.

The ceremony featured combat parades and other activities, while outstanding participants received awards and commendations for their performance during the training.

The internal crisis within the Oyo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) reached a climax on Friday as Chief Saheed Oladele, claiming to be the party’s governorship candidate in the state, instituted legal proceedings against the party leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the handling of its governorship candidate nomination.

The suit, filed by Mr. Akinlolu Oyebamiji of AOC Chambers on behalf of Oladele, challenges the submission of Mr. Michael Okunlade’s name to INEC as the party’s consensus Oyo State gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 general election.

Speaking outside the courtroom, Oyebamiji argued that the substitution and nomination process breached statutory requirements, specifically citing alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.

The legal team maintained that Okunlade, who currently serves as the Oyo State chairman of the party, did not obtain the requisite expression-of-interest and nomination forms before the deadline set by the commission expired.

‘We are before the court to challenge the decision of the Social Democratic Party to present Mr. Michael Okunlade as a consensus candidate.

‘The foundation of candidate nomination requires adherence to statutory procedures. In this instance, no nomination form was obtained, nor did our client execute any instrument of withdrawal or consent as required by law,’ Oyebamiji stated.

The applicant also contends that subsequent efforts by the state party executives to introduce external contenders, including the recent unveiling on August 17, represent an unlawful attempt to trade the governorship ticket with third parties.

Among the reliefs sought by the applicant is a judicial declaration that the imposition of Mr. Michael Okunlade as the SDP consensus candidate in Oyo State, without the consensus or consent of the only participating aspirant during the INEC nomination window, is null, void and without legal effect.

Oladele is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Okunlade from presenting or parading himself as the Oyo State gubernatorial candidate of the party for the 2027 elections.

Other reliefs include an order restraining INEC and the national executives of the SDP from recognising Okunlade as the validly nominated candidate; an order directing the party and the electoral commission to recognise Saheed Oladele as the sole governorship candidate for the Oyo State gubernatorial election; and a court order directing INEC to upload Oladele’s name onto its candidate portal for the upcoming election cycle.

The court is expected to fix a date for the hearing of the plaintiff’s preliminary applications.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over reports of young Nigerians allegedly selling their kidneys to cope with the country’s rising cost of living.

Atiku, in a post on X on Friday, said the reported development reflected the severity of the economic hardship confronting young people in Nigeria.

He cited reports that some young Nigerians were allegedly selling their kidneys for as little as ?1.7 million, describing the situation as a disturbing consequence of desperation caused by increasing living costs.

Reacting to the reports, Atiku said young Nigerians should be using their talents, ideas and innovation to build their futures rather than being driven to consider selling body organs as a means of survival.

He linked the situation to the increasing cost of essential goods and services, including food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity.

Atiku argued that Nigeria’s existing laws against commercial organ sales and organ trafficking would not, on their own, address the economic conditions that could leave vulnerable people exposed to exploitation.

He said economic policies should be assessed not only by their broader reforms but also by their impact on the daily lives of Nigerians, particularly young people.

He wrote, ‘I have heard disturbing stories about the extent to which young Nigerians are being driven simply to survive. Perhaps the most horrifying are the growing reports of young people selling parts of their bodies: kidneys in particular, in desperate attempts to raise money.

‘Young people should be selling dreams, ideas and innovation, not their body organs.

‘Yet when the cost-of-living crisis becomes unbearable, desperation begins to make the unthinkable appear like an option. That should offend the conscience of every Nigerian.

‘In Tinubu’s Nigeria, almost everything required to live with dignity is becoming more expensive by the day: food, transport, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity.

‘Yet young Nigerians are reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ?1.7 million. That should break the heart of a nation.

‘Young Nigerians should be building careers, starting businesses, raising families and pursuing their dreams, not calculating how much parts of their bodies can fetch simply to stay alive.

‘When young Nigerians begin to see their kidneys as emergency savings, we are no longer talking about ordinary economic hardship. We are talking about desperation at its most frightening.

‘Nigeria already has laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and organ trafficking. But laws alone cannot cure the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable young people easy prey for criminal networks.

‘No government should celebrate ‘reforms’ while young Nigerians are being reduced to selling parts of themselves to eat, pay rent, settle school fees or survive.

‘Economic reform must have a human face. It must mean affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs and renewed hope for the next generation.

‘Our young people should be selling their ideas, talents and innovation to the world and not their kidneys for ?1.7 million just to survive at home. This is the human cost of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis.

‘Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again. -AA.’

His comments came amid a recent police investigation into alleged illegal organ harvesting in Nasarawa State, where four suspects were arrested during a sting operation.

The operation was conducted on August 19 at Auta Balifi in the Karu Local Government Area of the state.

Those arrested were Emmanuel Ode, 23; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48, a nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja; Dr Daniel Otukpa, 53, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at Wellington Hospital; and David Idoko, 25.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, alleged that Ode confessed to recruiting victims under false pretences.

According to the police, one victim was allegedly lured to Wellington Hospital in April 2026, where his kidney was harvested after he was paid $1,250.

The police also alleged that another victim underwent a similar procedure in 2022.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has busted a child trafficking network operating across several states, rescuing 15 minors and arresting three suspected buyers.

The operation was carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) as part of efforts to tackle crime, corruption and the destruction of critical national assets.

The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday made available to newsmen in Abuja.

According to him, the investigation followed a petition over missing children in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and led operatives to a suspected trafficking syndicate allegedly headed by one Anderson Archibong.

Afolabi said Archibong allegedly posed as an official of a non-governmental organisation operating a ‘Back to School Project’ under the name ‘National Council of Child Rights Advocate’ to gain the trust of low-income parents.

He said the suspect allegedly took 16 children in January 2026 and sold them to buyers in different parts of the country for ?2 million each.

‘Through intelligence-led operations across transit routes, 15 of the 16 children were successfully rescued in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other eastern transit corridors,’ the statement said.

The NSCDC spokesman added that three suspected buyers identified as Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus were arrested and allegedly confessed to their involvement in the trafficking operation.

He said efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining child and apprehend other members of the syndicate.

In a separate operation, the CG’s SIS also uncovered the diversion and illegal sale of NSCDC firearms, leading to the arrest of serving personnel and other suspects.

Afolabi said an investigation into a missing AK-47 rifle at the NSCDC National Headquarters led to the arrest of CAII Igah Ameh James, a serving officer attached to the CG’s Crack Squad.

According to him, investigations revealed that James allegedly stole the assigned rifle, identified as Bridge No. 02028, deserted his post and transported the weapon to Otukpo, Benue State, where he allegedly sold it to Abakpa Simon Anthony for ?700,000.

Anthony allegedly resold the rifle to another suspect, Sunday Akor, also known as IBB, for ?800,000. The rifle and two empty magazines were subsequently recovered by the operatives.

Similarly, an armoury audit at the Adamawa State Command led to the arrest of ASCI Peter Ardo, a former Head of Armoury, and CCA Boniface B. Lawyer over the alleged illegal diversion of two unserviceable G3 service rifles.

The rifles, with breach numbers 10S838 and 69112944, were allegedly removed from the armoury between 2018 and 2024 and sold by Ardo to Lawyer for ?210,000 and ?220,000 respectively.

The NSCDC said Lawyer allegedly resold the weapons to a civilian, while Ardo was also accused of altering physical inventory registers to conceal the diversion during routine checks.

The Corps said both suspects were in custody after allegedly making full confessions.

In another operation, the CG’s SIS dismantled a syndicate allegedly involved in the vandalism and theft of telecommunications infrastructure in Delta and Kano states.

Afolabi said operatives arrested Henry Dennis while allegedly in possession of 12 vandalised telecommunications panels from an IHS tower site in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

Further investigation, he said, exposed a wider network allegedly involving a scrap market owner and financier, Yusuf Musa, who reportedly funded the theft operations and resold stolen telecommunications components.

He said financial tracing also uncovered suspicious transactions allegedly routed through digital payment platforms, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.

The NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, commended the CG’s SIS for what he described as tactical coordination and operational efficiency.

The Corps said internal administrative and disciplinary proceedings against implicated personnel had been concluded, while its Directorate of Legal Services had been directed to commence prosecution of the arrested suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction.

The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens, securing critical national infrastructure and ensuring integrity within its ranks.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered to support the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with biometric verification technology to help secure the integrity of the Board’s examinations.

The offer was made on Friday, when the JAMB Registrar, Prof Segun Aina, and his management team paid a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Prof Aina said JAMB approached INEC because of its proven expertise in biometric verification.

He noted that the Board was looking to enhance its examination processes and was aware that INEC has biometric verification machines that may no longer be in active use.

He therefore appealed to the Commission to make the equipment available to JAMB.

Welcoming the delegation, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, commended JAMB’s role in national development, describing it as critical to the education and advancement of Nigerian youths.

Prof Amupitan was joined by the National Commissioner in charge of Outreach and Partnerships, Prof Abdullahi Abdu-Zuru, and directors of ICT, Human Resources Management, and Voter Education and Publicity, as well as his Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola.

The INEC Chairman cited the Commission’s recent conduct of the Anambra, FCT Area Council, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, and bye-elections across the country.

He said the polls were widely commended by observers, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the UK High Commission, for their credibility and peaceful conduct.

He directed the Director of ICT to carry out a proof-of-concept assessment to determine the availability and suitability of INEC’s biometric verification equipment for possible use by JAMB.

‘Both agencies must work together to advance national development,’ Prof Amupitan said, adding that INEC was willing to explore further areas of cooperation with JAMB.

Prof Aina thanked the INEC Chairman and management for the reception accorded his team.