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Ododo approves N8bn infrastructural projects for new Kogi varsity
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo has approved the disbursement of N8 billion for several infrastructural projects at the newly established Kogi State University, Kabba (KOSUK).
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lokoja.
Jones said the approved fund would cover the construction of the Senate building, Faculty of Science as well as male and female hostels at the university.
He said that contractors had been mobilised to move to sites, adding that construction works would commence within the next two weeks.
The commissioner maintained that the Gov. Ododo-led administration remained committed to consolidating on the solid education foundation laid by his predecessor, Alh. Yahaya Bello.
“Kogi State Government has been servicing education very monumentally, and the present administration of Gov. Ahmed Ododo is resolved to maintain and surpass the budgetary allocation of 30 per cent to education.
“Ododo being part of former Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration, is fully committed to giving topmost priority to the education sector in the state,” he said.
Jones further said that the governor had approved N316m as bursary award for 8,750 out of over 40,000 Kogi indigenous students in tertiary institutions across the county.
According to him, 201 Law students would receive N300,000 each while the remaining students would get N30,000 each.
He explained that the 8,750 students were those who had completed the upload of the required documents for verification out of the 40,000 that applied online.
The commissioner also said that the governor recently approved the disbursement of over N600 million as WAEC fees for 18,734 students in public schools, saying that the final verification and disbursement process were ongoing. (NAN)
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its operatives have intercepted an undeclared $1.1 million and 135,900 Saudi Riyals at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
In a statement on Thursday, Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS spokesperson, said the undeclared currencies were found concealed in packs of palm dates during a physical examination of the passenger’s luggage.
Maiwada noted that the passenger, who arrived from Saudi Arabia on a Saudi Airline flight No. SV401, was convicted after being charged in court and ordered to forfeit the foreign currencies.
“In line with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currencies have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and necessary legal action,” the statement reads.
“Subsequently, the court convicted the defendant as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the Federal Government in line with provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.”
The NCS spokesperson added that the seizure reflects customs’ commitment to enforcing monetary regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
He urged travelers to comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations and ensure they declare their cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.
“Non-compliance with these regulations constitutes a violation of Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties. The service, therefore, urges the public to adhere strictly to these requirements to avoid legal consequences,” Maiwada said.
“Under the leadership of the comptroller-general of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, the service remains resolute in its enforcement efforts to combat smuggling, illicit financial transactions, and other transborder crimes.
“This latest seizure highlights the service’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.”
In a significant development, the Rivers State House of Assembly has officially launched an investigation into the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, amid serious allegations of age falsification.
The decision was made during a plenary session on Thursday, where lawmakers unanimously voted to invite the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a thorough inquiry into these claims. This resolution, passed by a voice vote, underscores the assembly’s commitment to accountability and transparency in the judiciary.
As the investigation unfolds, details regarding the specific allegations and supporting evidence are anticipated to be released to the public. The DSS is expected to initiate its inquiry promptly, shedding light on this pressing issue.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of blogger, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), for “criminal defamation” of a Gospel Artist, Mercy Chinwo.
The magistrate ordered the Nigeria Police Force, together with other law enforcement agencies, to arrest VeryDarkMan and produce him to court to answer to the criminal allegations levelled against him.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025 when VeryDarkMan failed to appear before the magistrate followed a court summons on March 5, 2025 for him to do so.
Although lawyer to VeryDarkMan, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the Magistrate to rethink the bench warrant and that he would personally produce his client in court, the Magistrate rejected the appeal and insisted that VeryDarkMan be produced in court by security agencies.
The bench warrant stemmed from alleged defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the purported diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
In support of her claims, Chinwo furnished the court with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to substantiate that VDM’s allegations were not only entirely false but damning and injurious to her public image and reputation.
The complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, Chinwo said the alleged actions of the defendant are contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
Chinwo’s counsel had also dragged VDM before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking N1.1bn damages against the blogger.
The lawyer sought an order compelling VDM to delete, retract, and issue a public apology for all allegedly false and defamatory statements made against Chinwo and her brand.