Category: PM News

The University of Ibadan (UI) has appointed its first female Bursar, Mrs. Mariam Adetoun Zakariyah (née Adegbite), FCA, as its 10th Bursar.

By this appointment, Zakariyah has made history as the first woman to head the institution’s Bursary Department in its 78 years of existence.

Her appointment was approved on July 9, 2026.

A product of the university staff community at Abadina, Zakariyah joined the University’s Bursary Department on August 29, year 2000, as an officer in the Loans and Advances Unit.

Over the past 24 years, she rose through the ranks, serving in various capacities, including Senior Accountant, Finance Officer in faculties and the Postgraduate School, Chief Accountant and, most recently, Deputy Bursar in charge of Treasury.

Her career has been marked by several financial management reforms aimed at strengthening accountability and improving operational efficiency.

Among her notable achievements are the introduction of a merit-based receipt system that significantly reduced paper usage and blocked revenue leakages, the clearance of longstanding backlogs in financial statements and treasury tax compliance, and improved salary processing through effective monitoring of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

She also played a key role in the university’s handling of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) refund process and contributed to the acquisition of the JOEL JEM 1400 Transmission Electron Microscope.

Balex Events and Tours Limited has led a 145-member Nigerian delegation to an outstanding performance at the 2026 International STEM Olympiad Grand Finals in Rome, Italy, where the students won world titles, Top Three global rankings, and an impressive collection of international medals.

The company, Nigeria’s Official Exclusive Representative of Main Team Organization (MTO), Germany, said the achievement marks another major milestone five years after it began coordinating Nigeria’s participation in the prestigious global competition.

According to Balex Events and Tours, the Nigerian delegation represented seven leading secondary schools and competed against students from 54 countries in Mathematics, Science, Coding, Engineering, AI Prompt Engineering, and the Bridge Challenge.

The company said the students secured multiple Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honourable Mention medals, while several participants earned World Best and Top Three in the World honours.

Among the standout performances, Master Onyedikachi Egejurum emerged as the World’s Best in Grade 6 Mathematics, while Master Okpako-Onyokoko Ovie of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, was named the World’s Best in Grade 11 Mathematics and also finished Third Best in the World in Coding by Codementum.

Balex Events and Tours also announced that The Ambassadors College team comprising Amaechi Udochukwu, Oluwaseyi Odewoye and Obosi-Iyor Inino won the World’s Best award in the Bridge Challenge, demonstrating exceptional engineering, innovation and teamwork.

According to the company, Nigerian teams also finished among the Top Three globally in several categories, reinforcing the country’s growing reputation for excellence in STEM education.

The participating schools included Charles Dale Memorial International School, Jesuit Memorial College, Children’s International School (Lagos), The Ambassadors College, Graceland International School (Port Harcourt), Bishop Okoye Spiritan Secondary School, and Gonzaga Jesuit College.

Balex Events and Tours highlighted the exceptional performances recorded by several of the schools.

According to the company, The Ambassadors College won 15 Gold, nine Silver, nine Bronze, and one Honourable Mention, while Children’s International School (CIS), Lagos, secured 12 Gold, 10 Silver, 13 Bronze, and one Honourable Mention, finishing Third Overall in the World.

The company added that Graceland International School returned with four Gold, seven Silver, seven Bronze, and five Honourable Mentions.

Despite fielding one of the competition’s smallest contingents, Gonzaga Jesuit College won 25 medals, comprising 10 Gold, three Silver, nine Bronze, and three Honourable Mentions. The school also produced two students who finished Second Best in the World in Science: Okeke Somtochukwu (Grade 9) and Nwafor Emmanuel Chinedu (Grade 10).

Balex Events and Tours said medal breakdowns for Charles Dale Memorial International School, Jesuit Memorial College, and Bishop Okoye Spiritan Secondary School would be released separately.

Beyond the medals, the company noted that the Olympiad provided students with invaluable international exposure, enabling them to collaborate with peers from around the world while developing critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Speaking on the team’s achievements, Chief Executive Officer of Balex Events and Tours and Nigeria Country Director for the International STEM Olympiad, Mrs. Blessing Olise, said the competition continues to provide Nigerian students with opportunities to compete on the global stage.

‘The International STEM Olympiad is more than a competition; it is a platform that exposes Nigerian students to global standards, builds confidence, and encourages innovation,’ Olise said.

‘Their achievements in Rome demonstrate the exceptional talent we have in Nigeria and reinforce our commitment to creating opportunities for young people to compete and excel internationally.’

Looking ahead, Balex Events and Tours said it has begun preparations for Nigeria’s participation in the 2027 International STEM Olympiad, reaffirming its commitment to connecting schools and students with world-class academic opportunities.

According to the company, it will continue to promote innovation, international academic collaboration, and leadership development through STEM education while expanding opportunities for Nigerian students to compete successfully on the global stage.

The Police Service Commission has released the names of successful applicants recruited into the Nigeria Police Force as Police Constables, following the conclusion of the nationwide recruitment exercise for 50,000 personnel.

The commission announced this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Torty Kalu.

According to the PSC, the recruitment exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Character Commission, the Ministry of Police Affairs, state career and counselling departments, and the Police Community Relations Committee.

The commission described the exercise as ‘comprehensive, inclusive, equitable and transparent.’

It directed all candidates who participated in the recently concluded written examination to check their recruitment status on the official recruitment portal.

The Commission advised all candidates who participated in the recently concluded written examination to login to the official recruitment portal: npfapplication.psc.gov.ng to check their recruitment status.

‘The portal will be opened by 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, 16th July 2026,’ the statement read.

The PSC said successful candidates would also receive notifications through the email addresses and phone numbers provided during the application process.

It said successful applicants would be required to report to their designated police training institutions on dates to be communicated later for medical examinations and documentation.

‘The successful candidates are expected to report to their designated Police Training Institutions on dates and times to be communicated in due course for medical examination and documentation. Candidates who fail to report within the stipulated time will be considered to have declined the offer.

‘In addition, those who fail the medical examination that would be conducted by the Police Medical Team on resumption of training will be declared unfit and shall be required to leave the training,’ the commission stated.

The PSC directed candidates to report with their training call-up slip, National Identification Number slip, Bank Verification Number slip, original and photocopies of their certificates, as well as other required documents and items listed on the recruitment portal.

The Police have explained how three students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, were abducted and successfully rescued by a joint team of security operatives within 48 hours.

The gunmen also killed a student of the university in the attack on Sunday evening in Ekpoma.

The spokesperson of Edo Police Command, ASP Edo Ikoedem revealed how the students were abducted and rescued while briefing journalists on behalf of the state commissioner of police, Monday Agbonika in Benin on Tuesday.

According to her, report of the gunmen attack and abduction of the students was made at the Divisional Police Office at about 9 pm Sunday.

The gunmen suspected to be kidnappers had attacked at Ujemen G.T. Extension, Ekpoma.

She said police findings indicated that following a distress scream outside a hostel gate in Ekpoma, one Peter Ekpen Adolor, a 24-year-old 300-Level student of Ambrose Alli University, attempted to open the gate to ascertain the situation.

‘In the process, he was shot in the abdomen by one of the armed assailants. He was rushed to Eguaven Hospital, Ekpoma, where he was unfortunately confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

‘The attackers also abducted three persons , all students of Ambrose Ali university before escaping into the nearby bush.

Ikoedem said on receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police immediately ordered the deployment of tactical teams and nearby Police Divisions including Ekpoma Division who were detailed for a joint rescue mission in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), and local hunters.

‘The team subsequently conducted coordinated bush-combing and intelligence-led operations aimed at rescuing the hostages unhurt and apprehending the perpetrators,’ the Edo Police spokesperson said.

She added that efforts of the security operatives paid off in the early hours of Tuesday 14th July, 2026, at about 6:00 a.m., when the joint security team located the kidnappers’ hideout in Erah Forest and engaged them in a fierce gun battle.

The Edo Police spokesperson added that superior tactical response of the security operatives forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee during the gun battle.

This, she said, led to the rescue of the three kidnapped Ambrose Alli University students identified as Favour Okoroje (f) 21 yrs, Balogun precious (f) 19 yrs, Praise Obagbalu (f) 18 yrs

She added that the rescued students were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Ikoedem said the operation also led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles with magazines, 36 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunitions, five mobile phones, two power banks, one red cross bag and one charger

One suspected kidnapper was killed while another was apprehended with serious gunshot injuries.

She said operations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the notorious gang that specialised in kidnapping at Ekpoma and environs thereby ensuring that they are brought to justice.

‘While the Command is pleased with the successful rescue of the abducted students, it remains deeply saddened by the unfortunate death of Peter Ekpen Adolor.

‘On behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the officers, men and women of the Edo State Police Command extend heartfelt condolences to his family, the management of Ambrose Alli University, his fellow students, and all those affected by this tragic incident.

‘The Commissioner of Police commends the bravery, professionalism, and resilience of the operatives of @EdoPoliceNG, the Nigerian Army, the Edo State Security Corps, and the local hunters whose collective efforts made this successful operation possible.

‘CP Agbonika also appreciates the continued support of the Edo State Government and members of the public, whose timely and credible information remains invaluable in the fight against crime,’ Ikoedem added.

Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has called on every electorate in Osun State to see their vote as their voice.

Issa-Onilu said this against the background of pervasive voter apathy and vote buying in Nigeria at the town hall meeting with stakeholders organised by the Osun State Directorate of the agency in Osogbo on Tuesday ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election.

He said NOA considered it necessary to continue sensitising citizens on their civic responsibilities and the need to protect the sanctity of electoral process.

The stakeholders engagement focused on three critical threats to free and fair election which are voter apathy, vote buying and election violence.

Issa-Onilu, who was represented at the meeting by Mr Kehinde Ogunkemide, warned that democracy could only thrive when citizens actively participate in the electoral process.

‘Unfortunately, voter apathy has continued to undermine democratic development in our country.

‘Many citizens have become discouraged and now believe their votes do not count. Some others have lost confidence in governance and therefore choose to stay away from elections, we must collectively reject this attitude.

‘Every eligible voter in Osun State must understand that voting is not merely a political activity. It is a civic duty and a patriotic responsibility. The future of our communities, our state and our democracy depends on the choices we make at the polls.

‘I therefore urge all eligible voters to come out peacefully on election day and exercise their constitutional right without fear, intimidation or inducement. Your vote remains your voice,’ the DG said.

On the ugly cultures of vote buying and election violence among politicians in the country, Issa-Onilu described them as bigger threats to democracy.

He noted that, ‘The practice of exchanging votes for money or material gifts destroys the integrity of election and weakens governance. When votes are bought, leadership becomes transactional rather than accountable to the process.

‘Citizens must understand that the temporary financial gains from vote selling cannot compare with the long-term consequences of bad governance, poor infrastructure, unemployment, insecurity and lack of social services.’

He described election violence as a great danger to peaceful democratic transition and urged all players to shun it.

Stakeholders who attended the meeting included traditional rulers, religious leaders, political parties’ representatives, security agents, representatives of youth groups and women organisations, civil society groups and media practitioners.

Gunmen have attacked Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting the principal, a National Examinations Council ad hoc official and four students sitting the ongoing NECO examination.

The attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while the students were writing their examination, the Kogi State Police Command confirmed on Wednesday.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said one of the abducted students had been rescued, leaving the principal, the NECO official and three students still being sought by security forces.

‘During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers,’ Oyiza said.

‘A combined team of the police and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation and is currently on the trail of the assailants.’

Oyiza said efforts were continuing to rescue the remaining five victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Naziru Kankarofi, the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser were reportedly heading to the school for an on-the-spot assessment.

Police said further details would be released as soon as more verified information became available.

The school attack came days after gunmen struck a Hummer bus transporting the remains of a Federal Road Safety Corps official, Augustine Ikwue, from Lokoja to Otukpo in Benue State for burial.

Police said armed men attacked the vehicle along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway on July 9 and forced its occupants into the bush.

Security personnel comprising police officers, soldiers, members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and community policing operatives subsequently launched a rescue operation.

The abandoned bus and casket were recovered, while the remains were deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule.

Police said efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted passengers and arrest their captors.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of more than 40 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, after ruling that those challenging the seizure failed to prove the assets were legitimately acquired.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the judgment on Wednesday, granted the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), holding that the respondents failed to rebut the commission’s reasonable suspicion that the properties were proceeds of unlawful activities.

Before delivering the substantive judgment, the court dismissed several applications, motions and notices filed by Malami, members of his family and companies connected to the disputed assets, describing them as lacking merit.

Justice Abdulmalik held that the central issue before the court was not ownership of the properties but whether the funds used to acquire them were lawfully obtained.

‘The issue before this court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,’ the judge ruled.

She further held that the respondents had failed to dislodge the EFCC’s reasonable suspicion that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities.

The court relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the final forfeiture order.

However, Justice Abdulmalik set aside the interim forfeiture order on some of the properties, excluding them from the final order.

The EFCC had commenced the civil forfeiture proceedings in January, seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about ?212.8 billion, alleging that they were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former justice minister.

On January 16, during the Federal High Court’s annual vacation, Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order over the assets and directed the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national newspaper, inviting anyone with an interest in the properties to appear before the court and show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The affected properties are located across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna states.

Following the publication of the interim order, Malami, his wife, Nana Hadiza Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, and several companies linked to the properties challenged the forfeiture.

The respondents argued that the assets were lawfully acquired and contended that the EFCC failed to establish any connection between the properties and criminal activity. They also maintained that the commission relied on speculation rather than credible evidence and failed to identify any specific offence from which the assets were allegedly derived.

In response, the EFCC insisted that its investigation revealed the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and held in the names of individuals and companies acting as fronts for the former Attorney-General.

The commission also argued that under the law governing civil forfeiture proceedings, it was only required to establish reasonable suspicion, not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

After hearing final arguments from both parties in May, Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment. The ruling, initially scheduled for July 6 and later postponed twice, was eventually delivered on Wednesday, culminating in the forfeiture of more than 40 of the disputed properties to the Federal Government.

Taskforce seizes mining equipment, arrests two in Taraba gold site raid

By Fibemi Emmanuel Gashika

The Taraba Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce on Monday arrested two suspected illegal miners during a raid on a gold mining site at Mayo Kam in Gantu village, Bali Local Government Area of the state.

The Chairman of the taskforce, Mr Emmanuel Jamu, told newsmen in Jalingo that the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering.

Jamu said security operatives traversed difficult terrain to reach the remote mining site for the raid.

He explained that most of the suspected illegal miners fled into nearby forests before the arrival of the operatives but two suspects were arrested while attempting to escape.

The Chairman also said the taskforce recovered several items allegedly used for illegal mining, including pumping machines, digging equipment, generators and mineral processing materials.

‘We want to send a clear message. Whether they are there or not, we will keep trying. They can run today, but they cannot run forever. They will face the full weight of the law,’ he said.

He appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to support the taskforce with credible information that would lead to the arrest of other suspects still at large.

Jamu said the two suspects were currently in custody and the taskforce would continue operations in other identified high-risk areas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Taraba Government on June 19, suspended all mining activities across the state over security concerns and subsequently constituted the Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce to enforce the directive.

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of withholding important information from a visiting British Government delegation while alleging political violence against opposition leaders.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi.

The APC was reacting to Adeleke’s reported request that the British delegation consider economic sanctions and visa restrictions against some political figures over their alleged involvement in violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The delegation was led by Senior Political Adviser Wale Adebajo.

According to the APC, none of the people named by the governor has been convicted or indicted by a court or commission of inquiry for aiding or abetting political violence in Osun.

‘If we may ask, which court or commission of inquiry indicted the APC chieftains as being responsible for aiding and abetting political violence in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election?’ the party asked.

The APC alleged that Adeleke did not inform the delegation about claims that wanted political thugs were being harboured inside the Government House.

It also claimed that more than 30 of its members and supporters were killed before the 2022 governorship election.

The party further alleged that some of the governor’s aides were standing trial in connection with the killing of former Irewole Local Government Chairman Remi Abass.

It also referred to the recent killing of four APC members in Ilesa, which it blamed on thugs allegedly connected to the Accord Party.

The APC urged the British delegation to disregard Adeleke’s allegations against its leaders and members.

‘We want to inform the visiting British Government delegation to Osun State to disregard the accusations against our chieftains and members of aiding and abetting political violence in Osun State,’ the party stated.

The allegations and counter-allegations come as political activities intensify ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.

Adeleke had reportedly called for sanctions and visa restrictions against several political figures he accused of aiding political violence.

Those reportedly named included Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola; Osun East Senator Francis Fadahunsi; APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji; and campaign council Director-General Wole Oke.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced Muhammad Sani, an associate of Danranmi, a notorious bandit who supplies arms and ammunition to kidnappers and bandits, to 20 years imprisonment.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, convicted Sani, who was arrested and prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), for concealing information that could have led to the arrest of Danranmi.

The judge committed him to a 20-year jail term each in counts one and two without an option of fine.

Justice Nwite, ordered that the sentencing must run concurrently beginning from Jan. 11, 2023, the date of his arrest,.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSS had preferred a four-count charge bordering on terrorism-related offences against Sani.

The offence is contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 16(1)(b)of the same Act.