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FCT launch school protection squad in Abuja

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of Nigeria Police Force has ahead of school resumption, launched School Protection Squad to avert attacks on both private and public schools in the six area councils of the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh disclosed this while declaring open the ongoing Police Strategic Stakeholders Forum on Security of Schools in FCT and training of the Schools Protection Squad at the Nigeria Police Resource centre, Abuja, with the theme, ‘Strengthening security resilience and integration of host communities in the protection of education’.

He reassured residents of the Territory of the Command’s readiness to protect students and make schools in the FCT safe.

He said: “Security and safety of students and teachers have gained significant attention from government at all levels, following incessant attacks on schools which have created panic in the minds of teachers, students and parents, the act thereby led to the closure of schools.

“The command has mapped out all schools in the Territory to ensure their adequate safety and protection, and the command has not recorded any attack on schools and noted that the command is committed to sustaining efforts towards the safety of the schools especially in the rural areas.”

It would be recalled that the Nigeria Government in its efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children formally launched the Safe School Protection, SPS, initiatives programme in 2022.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, DIG Ede Ayuba, speaking during the event said the Nigeria Police Force is ever committed to preventing attacks on schools across the country, hence the establishment of SPS by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun in all states of the Federation and FCT to compliment the efforts of the Federal government’s desire to achieve a safer and secure school environment in Nigeria.

He said: “Today’s programme is a follow up to similar events held in Kaduna and Niger states respectively on 8th – 9th and 14th to 15th May, 2024 which witnessed massive participation and were equally successful. I have no doubt that we will achieve more participation of relevant stakeholders in the FCT, being the federal capital of Nigeria.

“The forum is amongst others, geared towards fostering effective partnership between the Nigeria Police, sister security agencies, and other relevant stakeholders, in preventing attacks on schools. And it is expected that at the end of it, participants, especially the hosts communities will have better understanding of their roles in safeguarding schools for a secure and effective learning environment for our children.

May I, at this juncture add that the Federal Government makes it top priority to protect schools through the safe schools’ project and secure learning environment for National development. In the same vein, the Nigeria Police Force embraced the project by establishing the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) in all the states of the federation and the FCT, as well as training of State Coordinators and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) nationwide. The Force is also undertaking series of activities in line with safe schools’ national plan to guarantee a safer learning environment.

“The inclusion of critical stakeholders such as the host communities, community/religious leaders, youth organizations, CSOs, sister security agencies and the FCT Administration, is the realization of the important role they play in safeguarding our schools and the reduction of out of school children in the FCT and the nation at large.

“The Police recognizes the invaluable contribution of host communities in schools’ protection hence the need for their support. It is on this premise that I solicit continuous support and cooperation of all, to effectively collaborate and prevent attacks on our schools. The two-day interactive and all-inclusive programme will ensure effective partnership for community resilience to protect our schools.”

For his part, the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike who was represented by the FCT Director of Security, Adamu Buba said the Capital Territory Capital Administration (FCTA), is ever ready to support the efforts of the Police and all other security agencies to ensure that school environment in the capital territory will safe and secure for good learning environment.

Adamu who lauded the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun for the establishment of school protection squad said the DSS and other security agencies will work in harmony with the Police in achieving the set goal.

Appreciating the programme, the FCT Mandate Secretary on Education, Danlami Ihayyo represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Prospect Chukwuemeka Ibe said: “In our quest to provide quality education, ensuring the safety of our Students and Educators remains paramount. Schools should be sanctuaries of learning, free from fear and threat. This initiative by the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the Schools Protection Squad, is commendable and reflects a proactive approach to the challenges we face.

“Your commitment to safeguard our educational institutions is invaluable. As we deliberate today, let us remember that the security of our Schools cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires the active collaboration of all Stakeholders, The Government, Law Enforcement Agencies, Community Leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations, Faith Based Organizations, Development Partners, Parents, and the Students themselves. Together, we must build a resilient security framework that guarantees the safety and well-being of every child in our care. It is indeed a fundamental priority for us all.”

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Man eaten alive by pet lion just days after buying the animal to keep in his back garden

A man was mauled to death and eaten by his pet lion just days after buying the beast to keep in his back garden.

A resident of Najaf, southern Iraq, was horrifically attacked by the predator before it consumed most of his body on Thursday, May 8.

“Today in a garden in the city of Kufa in Najaf, a citizen was attacked by a lion in his own garden and died immediately,” Mufid Tahir, spokesperson for the Najaf Police, told local news site Rudaw.

He added that the lion had to be k!lled because it had eaten a large portion of the man’s body, and refused to leave the remains.

The victim, 50-year-old Aqil Fakhr al-Din, had reportedly been keeping lions and other wild animals in his garden for several years, according to Tahir.

But on Thursday, the predator launched a surprise attack on its trainer before ferociously mauling him to death and devouring him.

One of the victim’s neighbours reportedly intervened and shot the lion with a Kalashnikov rifle, killing it with seven bullets, as per local TV reports.

The mans was immediately transferred to Al-Sadr Medical City Hospital in Najaf but did not survive due to the extent of his injuries.

Grisly images showed the man covered in blood as he laid on a hospital bed and an official investigation has also reportedly been opened into the circumstances of the incident.

A clip of the dead lion in the garden is also making rounds on social media, raising concerns about how al-Din was able to keep the wild animal on his property.

According to local reports, the victim had purchased the lion just days before the tragedy, with the intention of raising and taming it at home.

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Court jails T-dollar, TobiNation for spraying naira notes

The duo of Babatunde Peter Olaitan (T-Dollar) and Tobilola Olamide (TobiNation) have been sentenced to six months imprisonment each for mutilation of the Naira notes.

They were jailed by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The convicts were arraigned on a separate one-count charge of tampering with the Naira notes and spraying, to which they each pleaded “guilty”.

The charge against Olaitan reads: “That you, BABATUNDE PETER OLAITAN, on 8th April 2025, at 23, Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N200 (Two Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying it, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

The charge against Olamide reads: “That you, TOBILOLA OLAMIDE A.K.A TobiNation, on 8th April 2025, at 23 Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N200 (Two Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying it, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie and H.U.KofarNaisa, respectively, reviewed the facts of the cases through Ibrahim Bukar, an investigative officer with the EFCC.

In his evidence, Bukar specifically told the court that the Commission, on April 10, 2025, generated an intelligence-driven investigation on TikTok, where Olaitan, also known as T-Dollar, was seen spraying Naira notes.

He also told the court that “Upon the approval of the intelligence by the Zonal Director, a letter of investigation was sent to the defendant, requesting him to make a statement regarding the video.

“The defendant reported to the Special Operations Team, SOT, on May 5, 2025 and his statement was recorded under caution.

“He stated that he went to a night club on April 8, 2025 and met some of his fans sharing money.

“He also said that a fan, in the process, gifted him a bundle of N200 notes, which he sprayed on some of his other fans.

“He was shown a video of him spraying the money and he made a statement regarding it.”

Consequently, the defendants’ extrajudicial statements and video recordings were rendered and admitted in evidence by the court.

Okozie and KofarNaisa, therefore, respectively prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Justice Owoeye convicted and sentenced both Olaitan and Olamide to six months imprisonment each, with an option of fine in the sum of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).

The convicts’ road to the Correctional Centre started when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for Naira abuse. T

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Alleged N33.2bn arms procurement fraud: Re-arraignment of businessman stalled

The re-arraignment of Olugbenga Obadina, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Almond Projects Limited, on Monday, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suffered a setback.

Obadina is being prosecuted over his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of N33.2billion meant for the purchase of arms by retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA).

The matter, which was fixed for hearing before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, could not proceed because the amended charge, claimed to have been filed by the EFCC, was not in the court record.

Upon resumed hearing, the prosecution lawyer, Ibrahim Buba, informed the court that he had an amended charge filed on May 2 and served on the defendants.

But Justice Omotosho could not see the amended charge in the court record after a thorough search.

“Counsel, I do not have that charge before this court and I have checked our ledger and I do not see it there,” he said.

The judge said the amended charge might have been mistakenly taken to another court at the instruction of the anti-graft agency’s lawyer during the filing of the process.

Buba, who admitted that the amended charge might have been taken to Court 8, instead of Court 7 where the trial judge presides, tendered an apology for the mixup.

Adeola Adedipe, SAN, who appeared for the defendants in the case, also apologised to the court on behalf of the prosecution.

Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter until June 26 for re-arraignment of the defendants.

“This matter is adjourned to June 26 for arraignment of the defendants for the amended charge that is not before this court as a result of the prosecution given wrong number of the court at the Process Unit,” the judge said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obadina, alongside his company, was earlier re-arraigned on Jan. 13, 2024, by the anti-corruption commission on eight-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2.17 billion before Justice Omotosho.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and the judge ordered his remand in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

NAN reports that Dasuki, a former NSA during the President Goodluck Jonathan government, was accused of criminal diversion of funds to the tune of 2.1 billion U.S. dollars.

The money was allegedly part of funds earmarked by the Federal Government to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.

The EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/142/2016, sued Obadina and Almond Project Limited as 1st and 2nd defendants, following their alleged link with Dasuki’s misappropriated funds.

They were formerly being prosecuted before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a sister court before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

In court three of the charge, Obadina and Almond Projects Ltd were alleged to have, on April 3, 2014 directly took possession or control of the sum of N 648,000,000.00 (Six Hundred and Forty Eight Million Naira) paid into the account of Almond Projects Ltd with Zenith Bank Plc Account No: 1010921116.

The money was allegedly to have been paid from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria without contract award.

The agency said the fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Dasuki (rtd) and the offence is contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

NAN reports that Justice Dimgba had, on July 4, 2024, adjourned for adoption of final written addresses after the EFCC had closed its case with four witnesses and the defendants called two witnesses before he was elevated to the Appeal Court.(NAN)