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The Managing Director of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Mr Tsenyil Yiltsen, appeared before the Senate on Tuesday to seek approval of the National Assembly for his agency 2025 Budget.

A sum of N140billion was presented before the Senate Committee on NCDC for its endorsement.

Addressing journalists after a closed door meeting with the Managing Director of the Federal Government intervention agency for the North Central region, Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Titus Zam, disclosed that ‘After a careful look at the issues contained in the budget and the eloquent presentation by the MD and his team, the committee has approved the budget of N140 billion as presented by the Commission’.

In his presentation before the committee dissolved into closed door session, the Managing Director of the NCDC said the N140billion was the envelope given them for the fiscal year by the federal government out of which N100billion is earmarked for capital expenditure across the six states in the zone and the Federal Capital Territory and the balance of N40billion for recurrent expenditure covering overhead and personnel cost.

He further clarified that the N100billion for capital was not tied to one specific project but several projects across the six states in the region.

He said, ‘ We have eight thematic areas in terms of infrastructure deployment which are security, Agriculture , mining, environmental degradation , education, health , road construction etc. ‘

He assured the committee that no state in the region would be neglected as he maintained that his leadership would spread projects across each of the six states.

He said, ‘ We will go out for proper needs assessment in all the states and will be fair in the distribution of these projects in all the six states and FCT.’

He added that the bulk of the N40billion earmarked for recurrent expenditure , will be used to pay salaries of proposed 200 staff to be recruited after approval by the office of Head of Service .

The Committee however appealed to the leadership of the Commission to ensure judicious utilization of the N140billion when finally approved by the Senate , particularly the N100billion , earmarked for capital expenditure .

It also urged governments of the benefiting six states in the zone and the FCT to provide office accommodations for branches of the commission in their respective states.

As Nigeria marks its 65th independence anniversary, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on citizens to foster unity and embrace the country’s diversity as a strength for national progress.

The State Director of NOA in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, made the call in Uyo while addressing journalists and stakeholders on the significance of the milestone.

‘Our strength lies in our diversity. With over 250 ethnic groups and an array of languages, Nigeria embodies a unique heritage that should be seen not as a dividing line but as a unifying force that propels us towards progress,’ Mr. Mkpoutom said.

He stressed that as the nation embarks on another year, it was important for citizens to foster a sense of unity and shared purpose by embracing dialogue, understanding, and collaboration in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, addressing pressing issues like poverty, security, education, and healthcare requires collective effort and commitment from all Nigerians.

‘This anniversary should serve as a reminder of the collective strength that lies in every citizen. Let us contribute positively to society and commit to building a prosperous, peaceful, and equitable nation,’ he urged.

The NOA Director further appealed to Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians at large to honour the labours of past heroes while working diligently toward a brighter future for generations to come.

He prayed that Nigeria’s journey ahead would be ‘filled with unity, peace, and progress.’

Gunmen have abducted a commissioner serving in the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NISIEC), Ahmed Mohammed, his driver and former Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Bawa Niworu.

The incident occurred on Monday in the early hours of the day, around the Ibbi National Park along Zugurma-Ibbi to New Bussa road in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The victims were said to be returning from Borgu when the incident occurred, just as an unidentified passersby later spotted their vehicle parked by the roadside, while the victims’ mobile phones were left behind in the vehicle.

It was further gathered that the armed men blocked the road ahead of a police checkpoint, and after the attack along the Ibbi-Bussa road, the Police tactical team were said to have engaged and repelled the hoodlums.

A Police operative allegedly sustained a gunshot injury and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, in a brief chat with journalists, saying, ‘a Police patrol vehicle was damaged with gunshots in the process, adding that they abducted some passengers along the road from about three commercial vehicles.’

According to SP Abiodun, the state police command has mobilised more tactical teams with other security agencies, and vigilante members trailing the suspected kidnappers with a view to rescuing the abducted victims and possible arrest of the fleeing hoodlums.

Also, a family member of the former NSUBEB Chairman, Niwero, also confirmed the incident, adding that the victim was kidnapped on Monday.

The source, who pleaded for anonymity during an interview with Tribune Online in a telephone conversation, said the former chairman is still in captivity.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said Nigeria and Russia are poised to strengthen bilateral ties using the platform of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (WBA).

Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated this on Tuesday at the stakeholders’ interactive session during the visit of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

She described the meeting as timely, noting that it afforded a platform for both countries to explore investment opportunities between them.

Though Nigeria and Russia share decades of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity cutting across education, defence, energy, technology, and multilateral diplomacy, she declared that the moment demanded that they go beyond history and look boldly into the future.

The minister acknowledged that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration was charting a new course through the Renewed Hope Agenda and the 4-Ds foreign policy approach, encompassing Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.

She stated that the priorities of the administration involved inclusive growth, youth empowerment, and active engagement with global partners, which, according to her, were principles that resonate strongly with the mission of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu lauded the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for hosting the event, calling her an excellent example of the transformative power of women in shaping societies and building bridges across nations.

Welcoming the Russian delegation, on behalf of the First Lady, the minister said the decision of its Chairperson, Ms. Anna Nesterova, to bring the dynamism of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance to Nigeria was a strong affirmation of her commitment to building inclusive economic partnerships.

It also underlined the central role women were playing in reshaping global business, diplomacy, and investment for the 21st century.

Parts of the minister’s speech read: ‘In this regard, allow me to commend our gracious host, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for her tireless commitment to advancing the cause of women and girls.

Through initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, she has championed women’s empowerment programmes, education for the girl-child, and support systems that enable women to thrive in business, politics, and community development.

Her leadership continues to inspire Nigerian women to break barriers, embrace innovation, and contribute more actively to national progress. It is most fitting that this session, in honour of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, is hosted under her distinguished guidance.

‘The technical session before us offers an invaluable opportunity to explore areas of strategic cooperation. In trade and investment, Nigeria’s vast market, natural resources, and youthful population, combined with Russia’s technological expertise and industrial capacity, present opportunities for win-win partnerships.

In agriculture, collaboration can modernise production and boost food security. In energy, both traditional and renewable, there is enormous scope for cooperation. In digital innovation and education, we can empower our youth with the tools of the future. And across all these sectors, the active participation of women entrepreneurs and leaders will ensure that the gains of our partnership are sustainable, inclusive, and people-centred.

‘I wish to stress that this gathering is more than a symbolic event. It must serve as a platform for actionable outcomes, identifying frameworks for cooperation, establishing joint ventures, and building enduring networks between Nigerian and Russian women entrepreneurs.

Particular opportunities exist in agro-processing, education, creative industries, small and medium enterprises, and technology-driven businesses, sectors where women are already leading and innovating. By facilitating access to finance, knowledge, and markets, we can strengthen the economic pillars of both our nations.

‘Let me conclude by affirming Nigeria’s readiness to work closely with our Russian counterparts, and by extension the BRICS platform, to promote inclusive prosperity.

‘We are confident that the discussions here today will provide a road map for stronger bilateral relations, deeper people-to-people connections, and new opportunities that will uplift the lives of our citizens.’

For her, staying back at home is more honourable than going to school in torn sandals. Halimat’s daily problems stem from mockery, intimidation from peers and distance she had to bear to school in her worn-out sandal, and this disparages her enthusiasm for learning.

‘I am always sad and shy because of the condition of my shoe, and I decide to be at home most of the time rather than going to school,’ Halimat explained.

The likes of Halimat and other students with similar tales continue to quench the flame of education in Nigeria, making education a hard nut, difficult for vulnerable children to crack.

However, Halimat is blameless for her fate, her parents are not the villains in her story either. Abject poverty and economic hardship hinder many parents’ desires to keep their children in school. This situation outlines one of the numerous factors triggering Nigeria’s unenviable status as the country with the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.

It is estimated that the number of out-of-school children keeps increasing due to poverty and economic hardship. Globally, this puts Nigeria as the country with the highest number of children deprived of education, only behind India and Pakistan.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 2020 Model on out-of-school children published in 2020, states that almost 20 million Nigerian children are out-of-school.

Unarguably, the cost of school sandals in low-income nations is one of the dominant obstacles to educational opportunities for poor and vulnerable students. Yet very few people or government policy often scrutinise this cost through a critical lens.

However, Halimat’s joy knew no bounds, her frail hope was renewed after an initiative visited her school to distribute school sandals which increased her enthusiasm for learning.

‘I am very happy to go to school, now that I have school sandals and feel confident to play around with my colleagues,’ she told this reporter, beaming with joy.

An Initiative’s Response

In Nigeria, a significant number of students including those in government schools attend school without proper footwears. While this is often linked to poverty, displacement, and a lack of resources, particularly in underserved communities, an initiative has emerged and changing the narrative.

In a bid to promote dignity, boost school attendance and empower children of the vulnerable population, Sandal Initiative Project (SIP), a youth-led initiative in Kwara State focuses on distributing pairs of school sandals to students with torn sandals, or none at all.

Born out of the needs to abridge the blunt reality of vulnerable students in public schools across the three senatorial districts in the state, Sandal Initiative Project partners with the Association of shoe manufacturers in the state to address part of the challenges facing the educational system in the country through provision of free sandal, thereby drawing students back to classroom.

Driven by enthusiasm and pertinent role of sandal, Mr Kale Ibrahim Jimoh, the founder of Sandal Initiative Project, who doubles as producer of the school sandal, revealed that footwear plays a crucial role in uplifting children’s potentiality to learn.

He said, ‘As someone who attended public schools, you will understand that proper footwear is more than just a basic necessity, it’s a game-changer for underprivileged kids. It levels the playing field, boosts confidence and unlock their full potential.’

He said the initiative is rendering service for free, emphasising that his skill as shoe producer motivated him more into the task. ‘It is a free collaboration, I am into leather work, so I started inviting some well-meaning youths and we have been doing it wonderfully together till date.’

During one of the outreach, Mrs Ekundayo Ayobami Comfort, a teacher at Isare Opin school in Kwara State, praised the visionary drive behind the initiative and the positive impact it had on their students.

‘The Sandal Initiative Project has made a significant impact on our students’ education, we have seen improved punctuality. It has restored self-esteem, and reduced truancy. We are grateful for the support and pray God will continue to enlarge them,’ she prayed.

How the Response Works

In order to reach a wide range of students, SIP networks with a group of organisations and dignitaries in the state in providing children’s footwear at school. Since its inception in 2020, ‘Sandal Initiative Project’ (SIP) has provided pairs of school sandals to more than 2,000 students in public schools.

The objective of SIP is to reduce the mala-adaptive behaviors among the pupils and put a smile on students’ faces. The initiative serves as an eye opener to the grim reality and challenges students face as a result of non-conforming school sandals.

Mr Kale said, ‘It is saddening and alarming to see high numbers of students in public school going to school without acceptable sandals or with no sandals at all.’

He further assured of their initiative’s resolve to give their best. ‘While we may not be able to reach every child at a go, but, we believe in reaching out to as many children as possible,’ he declared.

More Pairs to School Sandals

Kwara State First Lady, Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, who doubles as the Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, in one of the SIP outreach distributions which she sponsored, asserted the right of every child to access quality and affordable education.

‘Children’s footprints have a significant impact on society as those prints convey them towards a shining future,’ she said, while commending the positive impact and pledging her support for the initiative.

According to her, the initiative is aimed at ensuring comfort for school children where they can joyfully walk to their classrooms, ready to learn and excel irrespective of their backgrounds.

Speaking with this reporter, Mrs Ibrahim Saadat Maimasa, who is a teacher at Halimat’s Dada LGEA primary school, expressed her admiration for the initiative.

Saadat described the demeaning condition of children without school sandals as a threat to their health and self confidence.

‘We were always worried about the way some of our students used to walk barefoot to school though we do send them back home. Some of these children used to get diseases due to walking barefooted to school and this also deterred them from mixing with their other colleagues in school,’ she added.

She expressed her belief that the vision of Sandal Initiative Project to return out-of-school is achievable, adding that, ‘Now they are complete as students because their uniforms are good already with proper school sandals.’

The Initiative’s Challenges

Despite the successes recorded in less than five years, the SIP is without a challenge as an initiative.

Mr Shafihi Abdulrasheed Oladimeji, director of media and publicity for project SIP, explained that the initiative faces challenges in the course of providing sandals for vulnerable children, especially funding and distribution of sandals.

As a humanitarian initiative, most of its services come from donations from members of communities and dignitaries. However, the initiative believes funding is still a major challenge preventing the initiative from its full exhibition.

‘Our main challenge is funding. Though, members who identified with this initiative contribute their quota in every edition. We also receive support from philanthropists within the state. Those who believe in giving back to society,’ he explained.

As the initiative reaches its peak capacity with rendering its service, SIP demands surveillance from people and members to extend their services. ‘We approached potential sponsors for our production numbers to be increased, thereby benefiting more vulnerable students.

‘Sadly, few people turned up. Hence, financial constraints are one of the challenges we faced. But we are never deterred, we always keep the ball rolling because we could see the joy on the faces of beneficiaries,’ he added.

Following the assertion by a former Minister of Information and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan will run on the platform of the party in 2027, the former South-East spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh has affirmed that former president Jonathan is eligible to run and highly welcome to challenge President Tinubu in his second term bid.

According to Onoh, it is up to Nigerians to decide who leads them, just as he promised that the Tinubu administration will not infringe on any opponents’ right to contest.

Onoh, who spoke to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Tuesday believed that Jonathan’s eligibility under constitutional term limits is already a settled legal precedent that was established through unchallenged judicial rulings.

His position on the issue pertaining to the views expressed by Professor Gana on that Jonathan will contest came barely 24 hours after a PDP presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim said there would be no automatic ticket for the former president.

Expatiation on his position, Onoh asserted that Jonathan’s qualification to contest future elections had been settled legally, rendering further litigation unnecessary and untimely.

He advised him to guide against betrayal by anyone telling him otherwise.

He equally urged Tinubu to be wary of the antics of the few that may be playing double standard, whereas they are wolves in a ship clothing.

‘It was exactly how Jonathan’s inner cabal during the build up to 2015 elections deceived him to believe he was invisible, Nigerians love him, to the extent he was too carried away that he felt invisible and never saw you coming. ‘You Mr. President was the invisible magician that cast the spell that led to his loss at the poll. Don’t fall in the same trap by the voices that surround you now. The one major sincere voice you should listen to is your wife, the first lady if the federal republic of Nigeria. Many will betray you in the coming months,’ he warned.

Onoh further stated that had obtained a certified true copy of a binding and unappealed judgment in May 2022, of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State (Suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022) affirming that the court delivered a definitive ruling in a case brought by All Progressives Congress members: Andy Solomon and Ibidiye Abraham against Jonathan, the APC, and INEC.

He stated that in the document, Justice Isa H. Dashen held that Jonathan is ‘constitutionally eligible to contest the presidency again.’.

The court, he argued, reasoned that: ‘Jonathan’s assumption of office on May 6, 2010, following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was not an ‘election’ under Section 137(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It was a succession to complete Yar’Adua’s unexpired term, invoking the ‘doctrine of necessity’ and not counting toward the two-term limit for elected mandates.

‘Jonathan was ‘elected only once’-in the 2011 presidential election-serving a full four-year term until 2015. His 2015 bid was a legitimate reelection attempt, defeated at the polls, but it did not exhaust his constitutional allowance.

The 2018 constitutional amendment (via the Fourth Alteration Act), which added Section 137(3) to bar anyone ‘sworn in twice’ from further contests, does not apply retroactively to Jonathan. As the amendment postdated his tenures (2010-2015), it cannot retroactively disqualify rights accrued under the pre-amendment framework. Onoh stated that Ex post facto laws are impermissible in Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, a principle reinforced by precedents like the Court of Appeal’s 2015 ruling in Cyriacus Njoku v. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2015) LPELR-24496(CA), which similarly excluded his 2010 oath from term-counting calculations.’

Onoh asserted that the 2022 judgment was ‘never appealed’ by the plaintiffs or any party, despite the 90-day window under the Constitution and relevant electoral laws. Over three years later (as of September 2025), the ruling stands as final and binding under the doctrine of res judicata-barring relitigation of the same issues between the same parties. Hence i urge Mr. President not to listen to anyone who comes to spin him with legal possibilities of Jonathan’s eligibility because Nigerian jurisprudence, including Supreme Court decisions like Marwa v. Nyako (2012) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1296) 200, upholds such precedents to ensure legal certainty and prevent endless challenges to settled rights.

Onoh claimed that It’s too late for the aggrieved to challenge the judgment.

Onoh said that the Supreme Court has consistently ruled against ‘stale’ claims that could have been appealed timely (e.g., A.G. Federation v. A.G. Abia State (2001) 11 NWLR (Pt. 725) 689).

– Precedent from 2013: An earlier Federal High Court ruling (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/231/2013, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi) cleared Jonathan to run in 2015, also unappealed, forming the bedrock for the 2022 decision. This chain of unassailed judgments creates an impregnable legal shield.

Onoh said that in his opinion, ‘eligibility is a settled constitutional right, not open to political conjecture. I’m aware many critics in the past have framed opposition as a ‘risk’ for parties fielding him, will face a disqualification, acknowledging the unresolved tension with the 2018 amendment-but the 2022 ruling resolves it in Jonathan’s favor.

In essence, the matter is not pending a ‘jury’ (or judiciary) trial; it was conclusively decided. Suggesting otherwise risks undermining judicial authority by implying courts must revisit final verdicts at political whim, eroding the stability essential to Nigeria’s electoral process. I owe Mr. President the truth before he’s betrayed again by politicians waving successful statistics around him without any knowledge of how Nigerians truly perceive your administration which isn’t encouraging at the moment but it’s within your powers to change the narratives to your favour.

To honor the rule of law If Jonathan enters the 2027 race, I advise President Tinubu to engage on visions for economic revival, security, and unity, this elevates the conversation, respecting Jonathan’s cleared path while focusing on voters’ priorities. Nigeria’s democracy thrives when legal finality frees space for ideas, not recycled litigation.

Zamfara Police Command has succeeded in the arrest of notorious bandit Mohammed Dankani popularly known as ‘Akki’, and recovered arms and ammunition in the state.

Briefing newsmen while addressing men and officers on the achievements recorded on Tuesday at the police command headquarters in Gusau, the commissioner of police Ibrahim B. Maikaba commended all operatives involved in the operations for their exceptional bravery, professionalism, and commitment.

According to him, the notorious bandit was apprehended in Funtua, Katsina State, following credible intelligence linking him to numerous kidnapping cases across the state.

‘On 17th September 2025, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested Muhammadu Dan Kani 57 years old, popularly known as ‘Akki’ from Kuraje in Bungudu LGA.

‘During the investigation, the suspect confessed to having been part of the kidnapping gang terrorizing Tsafe, Yandato, and Yanwarin Daji.

‘He further admitted to being an active member of the Kachalla Dan Goggo Gang, a criminal syndicate known for orchestrating high-profile kidnappings within Damba, Mareri, and Saminaka areas all in Gusau Local Government Area in the state.’

CP Maikaba explained that Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the Gang and determine the full scope of their operations.

Meanwhile, on 15th September 2025, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command while on routine patrol along Gummi-Sokoto Road, intercepted a Toyota Corolla car. When a search was conducted the following recoveries were made; Four (4) AK-47 rifles,200 rounds of PKT ammunition, 28 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and four (4) empty AK-47 magazines.

‘The items were concealed in a sack of oranges belonging to one Nasiru Dawan Jiya, who confessed to transporting the weapons to bandits in Gurusu Village investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to arrest other accomplices and dismantle the entire supply chain.

‘Similarly, on 19th September 2025, at about 1630 hours, while on intensive patrol along the Gusau-Sokoto Highway near the Gada Biyu area, operatives successfully intercepted and apprehended two male suspects riding on motorcycles. Both suspects were found in possession of 18 fabricated firearms.

‘On 14th September 2025, based on credible intelligence, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested Alhaji Shehu Aliyu in Gurusu Village. He was found with nine (9) sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.’

He disclosed that Aliyu is a known and repeated drug dealer with a criminal record spanning over six years and is currently in custody as investigations continue.

CP Maikaba maintained that the achievements recorded reflect the ongoing transformation and renewed vigor within the Zamfara State Police Command.

He assured the good people of Zamfara State that the Police Command remains steadfast in its determination to eliminate criminal activities and ensure the safety of all residents.

He urged members of the public to support the Police by providing timely and actionable information saying public cooperation is invaluable in the fight against crime in the state.

As part of efforts to reposition the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has met with the newly called-to-Bar personnel of the Force.

Addressing the officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Egbetokun urged them to uphold integrity, professionalism, and discipline as they assume dual responsibilities as law enforcement officers and legal practitioners.

The IGP charged the 98 police officers, who were recently called to the Bar after completing the Nigerian Law School programme, to always ensure that every action they take is grounded in the law.

According to him, the Nigeria Police Force is not just an enforcement institution but also the frontline defender of law and order in the country. He stressed that the Force cannot effectively discharge this duty without officers who deeply understand the law and can apply it with clarity.

He said, ‘Your success, therefore, is not for yourselves alone, it is an asset for the Force and for Nigeria. Let me congratulate you on your successful completion of the Nigerian Law School programme and your call to the Bar. I have also been informed that one of you graduated with First Class Honours, a rare and outstanding feat. You have made the Nigeria Police Force proud, and for that, I thank you.

‘Policing is about enforcing the law, and no Force can do this effectively without sound legal knowledge. The Police require officers who are not only courageous in the field but also competent in the courtroom and clear in their interpretation of justice.

‘Every action we take must be grounded in the law. Every power we exercise must be backed by the law. And every responsibility we bear must be judged by the law. This is why your achievement matters.

‘You return to this institution not just as police officers, but as custodians of legal knowledge. That knowledge must not be idle. It must be put to work, to strengthen the Force and to serve the people of Nigeria.

‘Your success comes at a defining moment. The Nigeria Police Force has recently been upgraded in status and has now become the Force Directorate of Legal Services, under the command of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police. This elevation is not symbolic; it is strategic. The Directorate must now deliver sharper legal direction, ensure that our prosecutions are watertight, protect the Force against legal vulnerabilities, and shape policy at the highest levels. You are entering at this turning point, and the responsibility to make this Directorate excel rests heavily on your shoulders.’

While charging the lawyers, Egbetokun emphasised that the Nigeria Police Force does not need lawyers in uniform for decoration but officers who will add value. He said: ‘We need lawyers in uniform who will defend this institution with skill, with courage, and with integrity.

‘As young officers, I charge you to: Strengthen prosecutions, ensure that our cases are tight, professional, and beyond compromise. Uphold integrity, let your conduct be above reproach; compromise and corruption must never stain the Directorate. Advise with authority, your legal opinion must be clear, practical, and reliable, such that commanders can trust it without hesitation.

‘Advance reforms, help align the Force with constitutional standards, human rights obligations, and international best practices. Inspire others, be role models to officers coming behind you. Prove that police officers can wear the uniform and the lawyer’s gown with distinction.

‘Your call to the Bar has doubled your responsibility. You are now accountable to the Force, to the legal profession, and to the Nigerian people. You cannot afford to fail in any of these. Remember this: the uniform you wear is not ordinary. Combined with the authority of the lawyer’s gown, it places you in a unique and demanding position. You must carry yourselves with humility, discipline, and loyalty to the Force.’

Egbetokun also advised them not to misuse their legal knowledge for personal advantage.

He added: ‘Channel it into service. Let your competence strengthen this Directorate. Let your integrity inspire this institution. Excellence will be recognised and rewarded. Mediocrity will not be tolerated. You have brought pride to this Force. But pride is not enough. This institution has invested in you. Now, you must justify that investment.

‘Step into the Directorate of Legal Services with confidence, but also with duty. The nation is watching. The Force is depending on you. Your work will determine not just your future, but also the standing of the Nigeria Police as a professional institution of law enforcement.

‘Make no mistake: this achievement is not about the gown you will wear in court. It is about the standard you will set in this uniform. The Police, at this time more than ever before, do not just need lawyers who carry titles-it needs officers who will make the law work for justice, for discipline, and for Nigeria.’

The Malala Fund has commended the collective education activism in Nigeria, particularly noting the crucial role of local education activists and young women and girls in driving change.

During her visit to Nigeria, Malala Fund Co-founder Malala Yousafzai expressed her admiration for the tireless efforts of these individuals.

Malala said, ‘I’m so honoured to be in Nigeria once again. Nigeria is a very important part of the Malala Fund’s projects.’

‘We know that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children, and girls here have the same dream and determination as girls everywhere else to be able to learn and have a future for themselves.’

‘The Malala Fund works closely with local partners to understand the complex challenges facing girls’ education in Nigeria. We believe that education is the best solution, education is the best investment in their future,’ Malala stated.

Malala also outlined the organisation’s focus on education as a solution against child marriage and forced marriage, re-enrolment of girls in schools, and policy change to guarantee 12 years of education for every girl.

‘Our activists have made many achievements in many states of the country in securing better policies, gender-responsive policies for girls,’ she added.

The Malala Fund team are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that policies are implemented and financed to bring real change to girls’ education in Nigeria.

‘I met the girls, I met the education activists here in Nigeria, and I am more determined than ever that change is possible, and we will see it happen in our lifetime when every girl in Nigeria will be able to have her right to a complete and quality education.’ She said.

Also speaking, the Malala Fund’s Chief Executive in Nigeria, Nabila Aguele, explained the organisation’s impact in the country, citing a decade of investment and activism that has yielded significant results.

‘We have had a presence on the ground for 10 years, and have invested about eight million dollars over that time. But impact cannot only be measured in dollars and time.’

‘Just last year, one of our partners working with the government of Adamawa state supported that state in launching their first-ever education policy, which was gender-responsive and spoke to the needs of girls and broader communities.’

Aguele underscored the importance of local activism and expertise in driving change for adolescent girls’ education. ‘Our problems are not being solved by outsiders.

‘That’s why I’m proud to lead an organisation that invests exclusively in local activists, local experts who work to inform policy as well as community, and who do so with the voice and the power of the girl in mind.’

‘The Malala Fund has focused its efforts in specific states, including Kaduna, Kano, Adamawa, Borno, and Oyo.

‘We have selected these states because they have a high need for girls’ education, as well as a robust civil society ecosystem and political will,’ Nabila explained.

Aguele pointed out the work of local partners, including Bridge Connect Africa in Kano, which is working on gender-responsive budgeting with the state government, and the Centre for Girls Education in Kaduna, which is pioneering safe spaces for adolescent girls.

‘The Malala Fund engages with a range of stakeholders, including policymakers, traditional rulers, and community leaders, to ensure that girls have access to 12 years of quality education.

‘This work cannot be done by any one actor. It needs to be owned and driven by government, but also by community.’

Aguele noted that systems change, capacity building, and partnership are crucial in ensuring that policies are informed by the realities and needs of girls.

‘We need to ensure that whatever is being done by policymakers is informed by the realities and the needs and the wants of the girls.’

‘That’s where we find the disconnect. It’s not always about whether there’s intent or interest. It’s about policies being developed and implemented without the right people at the table.’ She said.

The Board Member, Pearl Uzokwe, disclosed that the Malala Fund recognises the crucial role men and boys can play in promoting girls’ education and the organisation is working to engage men and boys in this effort.

‘We have to carry them a lot, so they have to have a community entr,y and then you’re buying it,’ Pearl said. ‘How are you doing it? What have been the efforts in terms of engagement as mobilisers for your children in education?’

‘Malala Fund is collaborating with men in different spaces to promote girls’ education. ‘Just as you’ve said, we’ve come to realise that if we are going to achieve the goals and the aspirations that we have for girls, then we are going to have to think about boys and men as allies,’ she said.

She noted that fathers often love their children but may not understand the value of girls’ education due to societal norms.

‘If we don’t tackle the issues of the social norms that prevent them from understanding the true value, economic and otherwise, of girls being in school, then we are going to have a challenge in our hands,’ she said.

The first prosecution witness (PW1) in the ongoing trial of the immediate past governor of Taraba State, Architect Darius Ishaku and one other before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ismail Oluwadamilare Lawal, on Tuesday told the court that he did not know the total amount of the former governor’s earned allowances he collected on his behalf from the Government House, Jalingo.

Ishaku and a former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a 15-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/ 792/2024, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.

The former governor and his co-defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed hearing in the case today, Lawal, who was a personal assistant to the former governor, told the court under cross examination by counsel for the former governor, Paul Ogbole SAN, that he collected cash on behalf of the first defendant but did not know the total amount and the dates he collected the money.

‘I collected the first defendant’s earned allowances and distributed them based on his instructions. But I don’t know the total amount I received on his behalf. I also don’t know the dates,’ the witness told the court.

He told the court that he too was paid allowances for working with the former governor, adding that he was paid N20,000 allowance per day anytime he travelled with his principal.

Lawal informed the court that he was paid N130,000 monthly salary and had a poultry farm at Kubwa, Abuja, with 6,000 birds while working with the former governor.

‘The birds were 6,000 then but as of today, they are 2,000. The capacity has diminished. As of then, the poultry’s value was about N5million. It is being run by my father and me,’ he said.

When shown the notebook he made entries of allowances he collected earlier tendered as exhibit by the prosecution, the witness told the court that the entries were not counter signed by those he collected money from.

He further said that the notebook was neither a government record nor banking record, adding that the recording he did in the notebook was between him and the former governor.

Answering other questions, Lawal told the court that he was asked to go to Lagos by the first defendant and informed that he lodged in hotels, paying N20,000 daily, amounting to N600,000 per month.

According to him, ‘I was asked to go to Lagos by His Excellency (Ishaku). That was not the first time I had been to Lagos; I have friends and relatives there.

‘I stayed in hotels in Lagos. I paid bills for the time I stayed there at N20,000 per day, totalling N600,000 per month. I spent one and seven months there.’

He, however, said he did not tender any hotel receipts, adding that EFCC operatives that arrested him in his hotel room in Lagos carted away some documents, including some of the receipts.

The PW1 told the court that he was taken to EFCC Lagos office when he was arrested and was brought to Abuja from there same day. He added that he made statement to the anti-graft agency in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Justice Oriji has adjourned the case to October 20 for the continuation of cross examination of the PW1.