National
Navy Distributes Free Education Materials To Primary Schools In Rivers
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder has distributed free education materials to pupils of three primary schools in Rumuolumeni community, Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State.
The schools are Community Primary School, Nkpor-Rumuolumeni, Community Primary School, Mgboshimini-Rumuolumeni and Community Primary School, Mgbuduohia-Rumuolumeni.
Speaking during the presentation of tbd education materials, Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, said the gesture was an initiative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
Igbo, who stated that the Nigerian Navy identified the fact that education is very important to the future of children, said the target of the project tagged: “Free Education Rhapsody” is to reach no fewer than 2,000 pupils.
He said: “This is yet another effort of the Chief of Naval Staff and the entire Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder behind the educational pursuit of the host community.
“We are supplying educational materials to three primary schools in Rumuolumeni because the Nigerian Navy identified and recognized that education is very important, especially when the youths, the children are involved because they are the future of this great nation, Nigeria.
“So, the Nigerian Navy identified this maxim that says ‘the young shall grow’ and that is why today, we have deemed it necessary to supply these primary schools with educational materials. The target is almost 2,000.
“This is the wish of the Chief of Naval Staff and in fact, the Nigerian Navy that our children will have a brighter future because if our children have a brighter future, our nation will be great. This is the essence.
“Rumuolumeni is a host community to Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder. You can also recall that about two months ago, we distributed medical materials and also treated almost 2,000 inhabitants of this community.
“We are going to do more. We are just starting with these three schools in Rumuolumeni and will extend to other communities very soon.”
In his speech, the traditional ruler of Rumuolumeni Community, King Chukwuemeka Okocha-Olumeni, than the Chief of Naval Staff and the Nigerian Navy for the gesture extended to the community.
Okocha-Olumeni said: “I want to express appreciation to the Chief of Naval Staff and the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder for this initiative. Last year, I realized that Nigeria is battling with high number of out of school children of over 20 million. One of the reasons why the number is high is because support to education is not that much.
“Here we are today to distribute education materials to support our children. They may not be our biological children but they are all ours because the future belongs to them.”
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kogi-born political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, in Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out on the directive of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Video footage obtained by Elanza shows heavily armed security operatives storming Okai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory before taking him away.
While no official reason has been given for his arrest, sources suggest it may be connected to his outspoken criticism of the Kogi State government.
Okai, a well-known opposition figure, has frequently condemned the administration’s policies and governance.
His wife, speaking to reporters, claimed that the DSS operatives did not present an arrest warrant before detaining him.
“They came to arrest him at our home in Abuja without a warrant,” she said.
“They ransacked our house, forced their way inside, and took him away. I asked for a warrant, but they had none.”
She further alleged that Okai’s personal gadgets were confiscated during the operation.
As of the time of this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement regarding Okai’s detention.