The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has called for a more radical approach to tackling digital examination fraud in the country.

JAMB Bulletin reports on Monday that Is-haq Oloyede, the registrar, made this call recently in Abuja. 

He described the new trend as not only worrisome and sophisticated but also one that is capable of jeopardising the future of education. 

Oloyede said malpractice is adversely affecting learning, research work, and national development in Nigeria.

The registrar said there is a need for urgent action on these new and worrisome discoveries and urged the public not to treat the issue with levity.

While noting that some people, rather than addressing the menace, are dissipating their energies on spreading unhelpful conspiracy theories and hatred, while our future is being jeopardised by this new crop of sophisticated digital fraudsters 

“During the 2025 examinations, further high-level malpractices were uncovered, which led to the withdrawal of some results and the arrest of several culprits across the country,” he said.

Oloyede said these include the collusion of certain CBT centres and school proprietors to hack the networks of targeted CBT centres. 

He said these hackers gain control of candidates’ computers and remotely submit their responses to the relevant local servers of the compromised centres.

Other high-tech digital fraud, Oloyede said, included AI-enabled photo blending of candidates with those of their impersonators, many of whom are current undergraduate students.

He said they also include registration with combined fingerprints through the combination of fingerprints from multiple persons for a single candidate’s registration.

He cited the extension of local area networks from some dubious centres to remote “strong rooms” as well as the pairing of candidates with professional mercenaries to gain access to the examination hall.

The JAMB registrar, while lamenting that many undergraduates were found to be involved in this practice, disclosed that over 3000 candidates have been identified as either accomplices or beneficiaries.

On May 27, the federal government ordered a crackdown on examination miracle centres, with a ban of three years for erring candidates.

The Labour Party National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has accused the Presidency and LP factional chairman, Julius Abure, of orchestrating the ongoing crisis within the party.

The Usman-led committee is backed by former LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

The committee alleged that both Abure and key figures within the Presidency were working to destabilise the LP and weaken Obi’s 2027 presidential prospects.

The party remains divided as the 2027 election approaches, with internal strife threatening to erode the unity it enjoyed during the 2023 polls.

Despite recent defections of prominent LP members to the All Progressives Congress, the Usman committee insisted that Obi remained the strongest contender and would triumph in the next general election.

The spokesman for the caretaker committee, Tony Akeni, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, refuted a statement from the Presidency dismissing Obi’s chances in 2027.

In a recent television interview, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy, Daniel Bwala, claimed that several of Obi’s close associates had either joined the APC or were in advanced talks. 

“Governors are joining us on their own. Some key handlers of Peter Obi from the last election have also come on board.

“One of his media spokesmen is already in discussions. They see our direction is right, and we’re building a national consensus,” Bwala said.

Akeni, however, dismissed these comments, alleging that the defections were the result of a covert alliance between Abure and the ruling APC.

“We are aware of a well-coordinated espionage mission aimed at crippling the Labour Party from within ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Akeni stated.

“They plan to entice Obi’s high-ranking allies—campaign directors, media aides, and trusted associates—to defect.

“The goal is to demoralise Obi, derail the Obidient movement, and diminish the LP’s 2027 prospects,” he said.

Akeni added that regardless of the defections, Obi’s political destiny remained intact. 

“No matter how many fall for the ruling party’s schemes, Peter Obi will still emerge as Nigeria’s most transparently elected president in 2027.

“Those defecting to the ‘food-is-ready’ camp of the APC will wear the badge of shame when Nigerians rise to reclaim their country through the Labour Party,” he warned.

The caretaker committee also expressed concern that Abure continued to parade himself as LP’s national chairman despite the Supreme Court ruling, which it claimed invalidated his leadership.

In response, the Abure-led faction dismissed the allegations as baseless.

In a phone interview with The PUNCH, factional LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Usman and her allies of plotting to destabilise the party.

“It’s laughable that Nenadi Usman, who once tried to hand over the party to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Social Democratic Party, is making such claims,” Ifoh said.

“Even Akeni and others are likely on their way to the APC. We see the signs and encourage them to make their move now so we can rebuild our party without distractions,” he added.

Ifoh also alleged that Usman and her group had promised to transfer the LP structure to another party.

“She said it on live TV—everyone saw it. These people are bent on tearing the party apart.

“But they forget that neither Abure nor Ifoh is contesting in 2027. They are. Let’s see how they intend to win while setting fire to their political platform,” he added.

Blame Obi for your woes, APC kicks

Reacting, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, warned Otti’s camp to leave the ruling party out of their leadership mess.

Arodiogbu argued that the blame for the LP crisis should instead be directed to Obi, who he claimed had failed in his responsibility to unite the opposition party.

He said, “It is the comment of a failed father in a family. You know the role of a father is to create harmony and set a direction. But when he fails in his duty, he will blame other families for his woes.

“That is what LP is doing. It is called the blame game. They can blame the APC for all they care.

“The person they should blame instead is Peter Obi. He does not have the capacity to build. Instead, he will allow any platform he uses to scatter so he can find people to blame for his failures.

“Otherwise, after a party has lost an election, the responsibility falls on him to hold the party together and create unity. He failed to do so. Obi couldn’t consolidate his success ahead of the next election.”

Kano State Government has directed all primary and post primary schools in the state to proceed for the Eid-el-Kabir break from 4th to 15th and 16th June, 2025.

A statement signed by the Director Public Enlightenment Ministry of Education, Balarabe Kiru, directed parents and guardians of students in boarding schools to pick up their wards by the early hours of Wednesday, 4th June, 2025 to resume on Sunday June 15th, 2025. 

Kiru also said all other aspects of the 2024/2025 school academic calendar, including the stipulated public holidays remained valid.

While thanking parents and guardians for their support to the ministry, Kiru quoted the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Ali Makoda to have urged them to ensure their children comply with the resumption date.

“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the usual support and cooperation given to the Ministry by the good people of the state and also wish the students and pupils a successful Sallah break,” the statement read.

Lionel Messi may joins Cristiano Ronaldo following claimed that talks have been opened regarding a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Argentine superstar Messi had the option to move to the Middle East when leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 and told TIME Magazine of ultimately favouring a switch to Inter Miami in MLS: “I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league. I know the country and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future.

“As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I’ve enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition. It was Saudi Arabia or MLS, and both options seemed very interesting to me.”

Messi has claimed more trophies and MVP recognition in the United States, but will see his contract in South Florida expire at the end of the 2025 season. There has been talk of a 12-month extension option being triggered.

No agreement has been reached there as yet – meaning that he could sign for a new club as a free agent from July 1 – and TEAMtalk claims that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) has “reopened discussions” with Messi and his representatives as potential interest is sounded out.

The Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Bayo Onanuga, says Nigerians will soon experience a reduction in the cost of living as the effects of the administration’s economic reforms start to materialise.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday, Onanuga stated that the positive effects of President Tinubu’s policies would soon be felt across all segments of the nation.

Onanuga highlighted that President Tinubu had not only introduced progressive reforms but had also tackled challenges that previous administrations avoided.

He added that two years is an insufficient yardstick to fully measure the administration’s achievements, noting that policy experts typically assess the impact of policies over a period of 10 years to 12 years.

“The president’s years in office began with clear policy directions and implementation.

“A lot of reforms have taken place across sectors.

The President has laid down many fundamentals that would ensure growth,” he stated.

He acknowledged that while the positives of the president’s actions over the past two years were gradually trickling down, a significant paradigm shift had occurred in the economy, addressing many pre-existing problems.

Onanuga, while referring to the situation before the subsidy removal, said, “There was no fuel. Many stations were saying, No fuel, no fuel.

“What was happening at that time was that the NNPC had reached the bottom point. It had no money to import fuel; it claimed that it was owing suppliers about six billion dollars and the government was owing it about four trillion dollars. So, it could not import any more.” 

Addressing concerns about borrowing, Onanuga clarified that it is a common practice globally, with even countries like the U.S. engaging in it.

“Nigeria has abundant resources that we are harnessing, but not as much readily available money as people might think,” he explained.

He stressed that borrowed funds were not squandered but rather used for their intended purposes, citing large-scale projects like the coastal roads that necessitate external financing due to their immense benefits.

Regarding currency devaluation, Onanuga explained that it is a universal economic principle, citing instances where even the UK and the U.S. have resorted to it.

“Even the UK and the U.S. at some point devalued. These are economic principles that are universal and cannot be changed because it is Nigeria,” he asserted.

He added that the government had made tough decisions and simultaneously created opportunities through infrastructure development, noting that many ongoing road constructions were not initially part of the budget.

Onanuga further stated that Nigeria had seen an increase in production and a rise in disposable income.

He pointed to companies like Nestlé and Nigerian Breweries, which initially faced challenges but were now sourcing materials locally and reporting profits.

“This economy has opened up opportunities in many forms for Nigerians. Those who can really exploit it. And they are making money,” he emphasised, giving examples of individuals making profits from exporting agricultural products like cocoa and even Zobo.

According to him, many companies are now investing and producing in Nigeria, and these positive shifts will soon become evident and tangible for all Nigerians.

Onanuga stressed the importance of public understanding of the economic context, saying, “We don’t do our people any good when we keep on pushing stories of gloom and doom without allowing them to see the truth, without allowing them to see the context, and without allowing them to know that there’s actually light at the end of the tunnel.” (NAN)

Famous Nigerian musician, Peter Okoye, has disclosed that he is working alongside former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea legend, Mikel Obi, to secure the signing of Victor Osimhen for the London-based club, Chelsea.

Peter Okoye made the revelation while giving an update about his efforts to convince Osimhen to join the Premier League giant.

Addressing Chelsea fans in a post on X, Okoye assured that he would try to persuade Osimhen to join the club this summer despite a failed attempt in 2024.

He wrote; “Dear ChelseaFC fans, last summer, both Mikel Obi and I made every effort to secure the signing of Victor Osimhen for Chelsea. Including engaging in a three-way call right up until the transfer deadline. I want to reassure all of you that we remain steadfast in our pursuit and will continue our efforts this summer. Fingers crossed.”

An online publication reports that Peter Okoye, who is a passionate Chelsea fan, is also known as one of Osimhen’s close associates. 

Recall that Osimhen joined Turkish club Galatasaray in 2024, on loan after a failed transfer deal to Chelsea.

His performance as the top goalscorer in Turkey’s professional football league, ‘Super Lig’, has made him more sought after by top clubs in the English Premier League.

The Federal High Court (FHC) Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), on Monday, locked out judges, lawyers, staff and litigants from accessing the court following the indefinite strike declared by its national body.

A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the FHC headquarters located along Shehu Shagari Way in Abuja revealed that all the entrance gates into the high-rise building were under lock. 

Judges, staff, lawyers, litigants and members of the public were denied access as business activities in and around the court were paralysed.

NAN reports that JUSUN national body had, on May 30, in a circular by its acting national secretary, M.J. Akwashiki, asked all its chapters’ chairmen to, effective from midnight Sunday, June 1, direct all their members to stay at home.

It said that, “This directive follows unfruitful meetings in the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, who was conciliating on our matter.

“We believe that, as directed by the organs of the union, National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Council (NEC) of our great union, the action will continue until further notice.

“Our demands are for the government to pay us 5 months wage awards, implement the 70.000% National Minimum Wage, and provide the 25/35 per cent salary increase. Solidarity forever.”

Efforts to have a chat with some of the executive members of the union were unsuccessful, as they were said to be in a meeting.

Although there were reports that some chapters of the union had backed out from the industrial action, as of 9:48am, the Federal High Court gates were still under lock and key. (NAN)

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has criticised the ratings of President Bola Tinubu’s performance in the last two years by some prominent members of the opposition parties.

Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), who stated this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said the ongoing move by the leaders of the opposition parties to join forces against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general elections will fail.

He said the likes of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election Peter Obi, and the former governor of Kaduna state Nasir El Rufai and others should not waste their resources on the already failed project but rather join Tinubu’s quest in the ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda for the country.

“Over the last seventy years, the Nigerian political landscape has witnessed numerous attempts at coalition-building, often driven by a desire to consolidate power and challenge dominant parties.

“However, history has consistently shown that these coalitions rarely succeed. So, forming a successful alliance in Nigeria requires more than shared opposition.

“it demands unity, strategic compromise, and long-term cohesion. The motives must be altruistic, not parochial or selfish, and they must embrace the management of peace and conflict, which are paramount and essential.

“But critically looking at the ongoing coalition against the president, those involved are only interested in using the platform to revive their failing political careers”, he said.

A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that the problem with Nigeria is not the elites but the masses.

Amaechi said this while commenting on the state of the economy during an event organised to mark his 60th birthday anniversary.

He lamented that there were no capitalists in the country and doubted Nigeria’s production capability.

The former minister said, “Nigerian elites are not the problems of Nigeria. The problems of Nigeria are the followership. There are no capitalists in Nigeria; capitalists are those with capital to invest for production. Do we produce here? I look at Nigeria and ask what are we doing here? Do we really want to be a country? What is important is how do we change this country?

“We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I’m. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power.

“In Nigeria, there are no capitalist ideas among the politicians; it’s about sharing.”

Citing instances when he joined protests in the past, Amaechi said with the help of the opposition, Tinubu can be removed from office during the 2027 presidential election.

He said that Nigerians are the problems because they “do nothing” when government policies truncate the standard of living, referencing the time fuel prices went up despite citizens’ protests.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged the people of the South East to partner with President Bola Tinubu in the country’s development and to vote en bloc for him in the 2027 election.

Naija News reports that Ganduje made the call in Bende, Abia State, on Sunday during the inauguration of Renewed Hope Partners by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

Ganduje, who was represented by the South East zonal chairman of APC, Emma Enukwu, appealed to the people of South East to give 99 per cent of their votes to Tinubu.

According to him, the zone stands to gain more projects and experience more economic advancement if President Tinubu is re-elected.

He said, “You can see that all the governors of South South are collapsing into APC. Come let us join hands to make sure that 99 per cent of the votes cast in the South East are for Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu.” 

Also speaking at the inauguration, Kalu said Tinubu deserves the votes of the South East because of the projects he has given and the more he will do.

According to Kalu, the President has reintegrated the Igbos into the schemes of things in Nigeria by giving them control of waterways and the oil and gas sector through the appointment of an Igbo man as Chief of Naval Staff, among other measures, despite the poor votes he received in the zone in 2023.

Kalu promised that more projects would be executed in the South East if the zone gives its votes to President Tinubu in 2027.