MBY UTHMAN BABA- NASEER,MINNA

The newly deployed Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service, to Niger State Command CC Ogunleye Seyi Oladipupo has embarked on the inspection of Correctional Custodies in the State.

The State Controller who assumed duty in the state,on the 15th, April 2026 took over the leadership of the Command from CC Ponyak Nandang who retired from the Service, visited the Minna new and Old Medium Security Custodial centres with a call to officers and men of the two facilities to take proactive step to ensure the security of the custodial facilities in the state.

CC Ogunleye posited that he was at the two major Custodial centres to see the staff and inmates in custody with a view to assessing and evaluating the state of the facilities focusing on their welfare, well-being and also the level of security measures put in place to forestall any security breach or threat.

CC Seyi Ogunleye at a separate visit to Minna Old and New Custodial centres, personally interacted with inmates in their various cells, calling on them to obey and cooperate with the constituted authority to improve their well-being.

He further urged them to be of good conduct and grab the available vocational skills and educational programs opportunities provided by the service so as to become better and self-reliant persons after their discharge.

The newly posted controller who assumed duty in the state barely one week ago took time to inspect kitchens, clinics, ICT centres and other sensitive sectors of the facilities to ensure strict compliance to operational standards.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance and applauded the incharges for their commitment and dedication in maintaining a clean and hygienic environment urging them to sustain the tempo.

Similarly, the controller also inspected the staff barracks to see areas of intervention that will boost their morale for effective and efficient service delivery.

In his interface with the officers and men, CC Ogunleye told them that he is posted to the command by the Controller General of Corrections, (CGC) Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni to implement his policy direction of Discipline, Professionalism and zero tolerance to unethical conduct.

Adding that under the present leadership of the able CGC Sylvester anybody caught indulging in trafficking of illicit items such handsets, hard drugs and other acts capable of jeopardizing the security of our Custodial Centre will face the full wrath of the law. CC Seyi Ogunleye added that every hand must be on deck to ensure maximum safety and security of our correctional formations especially at this time of insecurity that is bedeviling some parts of Niger State. He urged them to be on high alert and ensure they uphold the red zone declaration of all custodial centres.

CC Ogunleye lastly, screened and thoroughly perused all records of correctional books before departing for the continuation of his visit to other Custodial centres under his watch.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer, Minna

The Niger State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal has upheld the lower Judgement of the election petition Tribunal of Suleja local government chairmanship

The three members of the Appeal tribunal led by Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf who ruled that the election should be reconducted the two other members of the tribunal over ruled her decision in a very dramatic and confusing manner.

Justice Usman Ishyaku and Justice Salisu Majindadi in their both decision agreed with the lower tribunal decision striking out the petition as filed by the counsel of the Shehu Abdukadir of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),

Shehu Abdukadir, had approached the Chief Magistrate Maryam King local government election petition Tribunal,challenging the election of Shaibu Bawa Naibi of the All Progressive Congress (APC), claiming that the election was engulfed with irregularities.

The SDP Candidate has approached the tribunal through his Attorney Abdulrahaman Siraj Esq,to challenge the election of Shaibu Bawa Naibi alleging that he did not attend primary school claiming that the primary school Certificate he forwarded to the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) was forged.

While delivering her judgement,the Chairman of the three members tribunal Chief Magistrate Mariam King struck out the petition and dismissed it in eternity for lack of merit.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower tribunal, the Attorney to the petitioner Abdulrahaman Siraj Esq, approached the Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf, Appeal tribunal for further redress in the decision of the Chief Magistrate Mariam King led local government election petition tribunal

However,the three members Appeal tribunal,after the Chairman of the Appeal tribunal Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf delivered her lead Judgement,directing for the reconduct of the election into the office of the Chairman Suleja local government, she nullified the decision of the lower tribunal.

At this point Justice Usman Ishyaku and Justice Salisu Majindadi distanced themselves from her decision and collectively nullified her decision and upheld the decision of the lower tribunal as delivered by Chief Magistrate Mariam King.

A mild drama and confusion erupted after the judgement as both the Attorney of the petitioner and the respondent engaged themselves in a hot argument on the decision of the two members of the Appeal tribunal Justice Usman Ishyaku and Justice Salisu Majindadi describing their judgement as an alien to the Justice system.

It was observed that the Attorney to the petitioner Mohammed B. Adamu Esq,who held brief for Abdulrahaman Siraj Esq,raised some fundamental issues within the ambit of the law,the Chairman of the Appeal tribunal Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf objected to his point and they rose and entered their Chamber.

By Our Correspondent

In its bid to stamp out criminality in Anambra State, the Operatives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP’s Safe School Initiative of the Anambra State Police Command, has arrested one male suspect, Eric Nwombu, for alleged criminal impersonation and unlawful possession of JAMB examination materials.

Among the Items recovered from him at a cyber cafe in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government area, included, 8 JAMB examination slips and an exercise book containing names and examination numbers of students, which he could not satisfactorily account for.

The arrest, it was gathered followed a report of how the suspect was collecting 2026 JAMB examination slips from students who had come to check their examination centers in a Cyber cafe, in Atani.

Upon inquiry, the suspect allegedly claimed to be a JAMB 2026 coordinator in Atani but the Staff of the Computer center, dissatisfied with his response and suspicious of his actions, alerted the Police Operatives in the area.

On sighting the Operatives approaching, the suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended.

According to the state Police Pu LIC Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga, (SP), preliminary investigatio has since commenced, and the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for discreet investigation.

He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, reiterated the Command’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of public examinations and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the Police.