Analysis of data on the admissions conducted for the 2022/2023 admission session in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions of learning revealed that 88 institutions conducted admissions outside of the Central Admissions Processing System popularly referred to as CAPS.

According to JAMB, admissions conducted outside CAPS are illegal, null and void.

JAMB had in 2017 introduced the Central Admissions Processing System where all tertiary institutions upload the admission status of candidates offered admission in the institutions.

CAPS has centralised and automated admission processes between candidates and their chosen tertiary institutions.

In 2020, JAMB warned institutions to stop offering admissions to candidates through their own portals.

The board described the practice as a flagrant abuse of the automated Central Admissions Processing System.

In April 2024, the board noted that it would no longer condone illegal admissions conducted outside of the CAPS.

The board in a bulletin warned candidates to desist from accepting admissions offered by the institutions without going through it.

In the statement titled, ‘Cessation of illegal/irregular admission’, JAMB reiterated that all applications of admissions to first degree, national diploma, national innovation diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into full-time, distance learning, part-time, outreach, sandwich, etc., must be processed only through JAMB.

In a report tagged, ‘Compiled assessment of institutions on compliance with the 2022/2023 admission guidelines’, the board noted that it scored institutions who complied fully with admission guidelines 10 points; those with partial compliance, five points, while those institutions who failed to comply were awarded zero point.

Under the section for the conduct of full admissions on CAPS, our correspondent observed that 88 institutions failed to comply.

Some of the institutions are the University of Uyo, University of Abuja, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yaba College of Technology, Plateau State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Coal City University, Crawford University, Crescent University, Ebonyi State University, Rhema University, Borno State University, Chrisland University, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu University.

The Edo State Police Command has paraded three suspected cultists in Benin City alleged to be members of the Maphite confraternity.

According to a statement by a media aide to the governor, Crusoe Osagie, on Friday, the police commissioner, Funsho Adegboye, paraded the suspects, identified as Eyefia Godbless (30), Imuetiyan Ewemade (30), and Emeka Okpaja (22).

The trio were reportedly apprehended at Ubiaza Community, Off Sapele Road in Benin City, where they were allegedly planning to avenge the killing of a fellow member.

“We have the full backing of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on the fight against cultism and we are not joking with it,” Adegboye was quoted stating.

He added that Governor Godwin Obaseki and his executive team are also supporting the initiative to rid the state of cultism and criminality.

The police recovered several items from the suspects, including an automatic pump action gun, 11 live carriages, three green berets, and a Maphite constitution.

According to the Commissioner, the suspects made confessional statements affirming their membership in the cult group.

Adegboye emphasized the dangerous nature of the weapons seized, stating, “This is an automatic pump action gun which is as deadly as AK 47 which has a bullet that can kill several people, unlike AK-47 which can kill just one person. According to the suspects, the gun was purchased for about N700,000.”

The Commissioner used the opportunity to appeal to the youth, urging them to gainfully engage themselves in profitable and positive activities adding that crime, cultism, and internet fraud do not pay.

In addition to the three cultists, the police reported other recent arrests. These include five suspects apprehended at a cultist hideout along Siluko road, where two pump action guns, two locally made single barrel guns, and 20 live cartridges were recovered.

In a separate incident, one Osayande Tony was arrested with a pump action gun and two cartridges while driving a Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car.

The police also have in custody one Apalobi Daniel from Powerline, Ugbiyokho, Benin City, who allegedly strangled his wife to death during an argument. The suspect is expected to be charged in court soon.

“At same Siluko road, Rapid Response Squad intercepted one Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car with registration number YAB 389 BG, driven by Osayande Tony ‘M’ 48 years and was arrested with one pump action gun and two cartridges,” Adegboye added.

Adegboye further reiterated the commitment of the Edo State Government and the police, in collaboration with other security agencies and the press, to continue sensitising the public about the dangers of cult groups and criminal activities.

A yet-to-be-identified woman and her son, known only as Chukwuemeka, have allegedly beaten a 14-year-old boy named Testimony to death at their home on Delta Street, Ayanre, off Ibiye bus stop, Badagry, Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that the deceased was reportedly beaten for allegedly misplacing N1,000 note given to him by one of the suspects to buy items at the market.

Multiple sources who spoke with our correspondent said that the deceased teenager was allegedly beaten for several hours starting at 11 pm on Wednesday, before succumbing to his injuries around 1 am on Thursday.

One of the neighbours who spoke with our correspondent on Friday said, “This young boy was beaten to death by his guardians, who were not his biological parents. The neighbours tried to intervene, but the doors were locked from the inside.

“Around 6 am this morning (Thursday), he (the deceased) wasn’t responding to his name, so they rushed him to a nearby hospital. The hospital didn’t have oxygen therapy, so they brought him back home, which aggravated the boy’s condition.

“The woman then called her prayer partners in the church to start praying for miracles to happen before the boy finally gave up the ghost. The police came exactly around 5.10 pm on Thursday to pick up the woman, who was the main suspect in the brutalities shown to the deceased.”

Meanwhile, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the state police command, said he could not confirm the incident when our correspondent inquired about it.

“I cannot confirm that now,” Hundeyin wrote in response to our correspondent inquiry on Friday.

However, a one-minute and 32-second video shared with our correspondent by another eyewitness, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, showed the lifeless body of the boy with severe bruises, covered with a cloth in the apartment.

One of the men suspected to be behind the camera was heard saying, “This is the dead boy with bruises,” while others were screaming in disbelief.

Popular dancer and choreographer, Kafayat Shafau, aka Kaffy, has said that some ladies now use dancing as a cover for prostitution.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, Kaffy said, “Dance is not a hustler’s game, because a lot of girls are disguising prostitution by using dance. They would rather sell the sex side than the skill side. My only consolation is that the industry is growing so big that there is room for those kinds of people. Dance is an art form but sometimes, we cross the line, because of the sensual expression. I also do it, but there is a line I cannot cross, and clothes I cannot wear. One doesn’t need to be naked to be sexy or sensual, unlike what some people think.

“My advice to potential dancers is that they should choose their path, and be true to it. Don’t let pressure push you to a path you never originally wanted. You don’t have to alter your body, and there is more to dance than music videos and clubs. You can be a dance executive, coach, science, dance injury prevention, therapist, and many other things.”

Kaffy also disagreed with the popular notion that women don’t support women as much as men support their ilk. She said, “Women not supporting women is not the situation. Men go to war to fight against their fellow men. Forget ‘bro code’, it is perception and what is popularised that makes it look like men support men more. I think men also tear men down; it is a human thing. Women are just more emotionally expressive, so you can detect when a woman doesn’t like another woman faster than a man who doesn’t like another man. A man could be smiling with his friend until the last minute and stab him in the back. But, once a woman walks into such situation, her energy changes towards the person, and it’s easy to know that something is wrong. Both genders have the capacity to not support one another.”

The Plateau government says 22 people died and 132 were injured in the collapsed building of Saints Academy in Jos, the state capital.

On Friday, the two-storey school building, which is located in the Busa Buji community of Jos north LGA, collapsed while students and teachers were in classes for the third term examination.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, Musa Ashoms, Plateau commissioner for information and communication, said the school had a population of about 400, adding that the section that collapsed was accommodating 200 students.

The commissioner said the collapsed school building was built on a waterlogged area, which did not meet construction standards.

Providing an update on the incident, Ashoms, in a statement, said the incident recorded 154 casualties, out of which 22 have lost their lives.

The Plateau commissioner said 132 victims are currently receiving medical treatment at various hospitals in the state.

“The collapse resulted in 154 fatalities and injuries. Emergency responders are currently at the scene conducting search and rescue operations,” the commissioner said.

“As of 6:00 pm, 154 people have been rescued from the debris. Sadly, 22 individuals have been confirmed deceased. Injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across Jos.

“The Plateau state government activated emergency response protocols immediately upon notification of the incident.”

Reveals how she became an Evangelist

Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor popularly called Mama G, has taken a quick swipe at the root causes of incessant deaths among Nollywood actors, blaming it on the carelessness and negligence on the part of the actors.

The veteran actress made this assertion, while in a chat with our reporter during the week in Lagos.

She also revealed why she broke down in tears at the funeral rites of the late comic actor, John Okafor popularly known as Mr. Ibu, which took place in his home town in Enugu state late last month.

According to Mama G, “ When you are doing something you are enjoying, you wouldn’t bother to take care of your health. Once there is life in you, you keep doing what you are doing. And it’s something that pays back on your body.”

“Some people are so careless that when they are sick instead of going to the hospital for a proper check-up, they prefer to visit a chemist or a pharmacy to buy a pain reliever. It’s no longer safe with me. I don’t know how many people are thinking like myself. That’s why I blamed it on carelessness. We are trying to put smiles on the faces of people while forgetting to take care of our health, “ Mama G added.

On why she broke down in tears at Mr. Ibu’s burial, Mama G said it dawned on her that the actor was gone forever when she went close to his corpse and called him by the name she used to call him, but he didn’t respond.

“At that moment, I broke down in tears. It’s not because I was expecting him to respond, but it was when I realized that this man is gone forever,” she said.

She, however, advised her colleagues to learn to go for regular check-ups and curtail some of the things they do that are detrimental to their health. 

Speaking further, Mama G, who’s currently an Evangelist, recalled how she had an encounter with her maker, who transformed her life and asked her to work for Him.

Narrating the encounter, she said ‘It was in 2016 when God called me to work for Him. Then, I used to be a teacher in the church, but I didn’t climb the pulpit. It’s not something I can explain, God asked me to separate myself so that He wants to talk with me. I thought somebody was talking to me, but I discovered it was a voice coming from somewhere. It took me time to accept to submit myself for 21 days and it was extended to 30 days. My son reminded me that the owner of my life is asking me to separate myself for 21 days and I didn’t want to yield to his call and that He may make it 100 days.

“At that point, I quietly went in, and by the time I came out from those 30 days, I became a changed person. And how I knew He was the one who called me, he created a platform for me to appear on stage to give a testimony of What He did with me for 30 days. While I was giving the testimony, people started falling under the anointing.

And after the encounter, other pastors and evangelists started inviting me to their programmes. That’s how I became an evangelist,” she narrated.

Resurgence of suicide attacks political — Middle Belt Forum

Until last Saturday, the country had forgotten that suicide bombers once held the northern part of the country hostage. For some years, suicide bombing was almost a daily occurrence as terrorists carried out suicide attacks using women and children even as the military continued to engage them until the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari declared that it had technically degraded the terrorists’ capabilities. Suicide bombing then ceased.

However, last Saturday, multiple suicide attacks were carried out in Gwoza community, Borno state leaving more than 30 persons dead and 100 others injured. Concerned northern elders and other stakeholders in the region have expressed

Resurgence of suicide bombing has brought fear, confusion —Rev Hayab

According to Rev John Joseph Hayab, the immediate past chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), “the resurgence of suicide bombing at the time of serious pains and hunger in the country has sent fear and confusion in many quarters in our region. The death toll of that incident itself shows that the perpetrators took time to plan before executing their evil agenda. We are back to the era of our worst nightmare. How will our people cope with poor leadership, hunger in every home and every city with the fear of suicide bombers also.

The Federal Government and our security agencies must triple their effort before citizens are pushed to the wall.

A hungry man is known to be an angry man but what will happen if his anger and hunger are further threatened by serious security threats? Northern Elders and religious leaders must also come out to mobilize the people to support government and security agencies to fight evil in the region. We should not only be specialists in mobilizing our people to vote for the candidates of our choice during elections and not mobilizing them to double their efforts to make our region safe and peaceful.

Northern Youths should not only form associations to attack political opponents of their favorite candidates, they should be seen and heard to be exposing evil elements amongst them and helping government and security agencies to track down sponsors and promoters of the evil that is ravaging our region.”

Gwoza incidents shattered our hope —Shettima

Similarly, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the President General of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum ( AYFC), said “suicide bombing has been a devastating and horrifying tactic used by extremist groups for many years, causing tremendous loss of life and spreading fear and uncertainty in communities around the world.

In recent years, many believed that suicide bombing was becoming less prevalent, as security measures and counter-terrorism efforts seemed to be making progress in preventing such attacks. However, the last incident in Gwosa, Bornu state, shattered hope when multiple suicide attacks occurred, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others injured. Suicide attacks not only disrupt the daily lives of residents but also hampers economic growth and development in the affected areas.

Businesses may be reluctant to invest in regions prone to suicide bombings, leading to unemployment and poverty among the population. In the long term, this can contribute to social unrest and instability, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates the conditions conducive to terrorism. In addition to addressing the immediate security concerns, Northern leaders and elders must also focus on long-term solutions to permanently discourage suicide bombing.

Building resilience within communities and promoting social cohesion are key factors in preventing individuals from being radicalized and recruited by extremist groups.

This can be achieved through grassroots initiatives that empower local leaders, religious figures, and community organizations to promote tolerance, inclusivity, and peaceful coexistence. By fostering a sense of belonging and identity, communities can become more resistant to the influence of extremist ideologies.”

Resurgence of suicide bombings in Gwoza political —MBF

On its part, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has alleged that the recent Gwoza suicide bombings in Borno State could have political undertone. The National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu noted that the fact the incident came when efforts were in top gear by the Federal Government to return the over 120,000 Gwoza indigenes taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon created much room for suspicion.

His words: “On the Gwosa suicide bombings I can tell you that up till now there are a lot of the insurgents on top of the Gwoza hills who have not been flushed out. The fight against insurgency is being stalled by political interests who put pressure on military commanders not to do anything. And these boys are from one particular tribe mainly, they are called Duwhade and the majority of them are butchers. It is the people from this tribe that are mainly insurgents on top of the Mandara mountains which is an extension of the Gwoza hills. Because of insurgency, as we are talking, about 120,000 people from Gwoza Local Government, mainly behind the hills have found refuge in Cameroon as refugees.

There are serious efforts, especially when this government came on board, to bring these people back to their ancestral land as promised by the President. But some political interests, who believe that the people will not vote for them because they are predominantly Christians, do not want them to return home. And I believe they are creating this unnecessary insecurity through attacks and suicide bombings so that these people will not be brought back to Nigeria to their ancestral land.

“So the political leaders particularly the Governor and the Senator from Southern Borno should explain why these things are happening at a time when there is objection to the coming back of the people for political reason. Efforts to bring back IDPs and refugees to their ancestral homes by the Federal Government are being undermined and I believe that what has happened in Gwoza was purely political.

“On the issue of suicide bombings, I don’t believe somebody would blow himself up because of religion, no. I believe the criminals would tie explosives on the people and tell them you either do what we have directed you to do or we deal with you and the victims would go in fear and somebody somewhere may be the one detonating the bombs. So, it may not be that the bomb carrier wanted to commit suicide and blow others up”.

The terrorists merely went underground to regroup — Anthony Sani

Former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr Anthony NZ Sani, said “the resurgence of suicide bombing in Borno state underscores the fact that the immediate past administration merely tamed the terrorists but did not exterminate them permanently. As a result, they merely went underground to regroup.

This resurgence also vindicates the view that military might alone cannot exterminate terrorism permanently. Only by addressing the underlying causes can we permanently put them to rest.

The causes are poverty which comes with ignorance and unemployment. So, to defeat terrorism permanently, the government should apply both punitive and preventive measures. The punitive measure is the provision of enough and properly equipped security personnel who are well motivated to secure the nation while the preventive measure is the prioritization of education and health of the people.

This is because the current out-of-school children, if left unchecked would become terrorists of tomorrow. This requires a long-term commitment from all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism and build a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.”

Economic opportunities provide viable alternatives to joining extremist groups —Northern Elders Forum

Also, Mallam Suleiman Abdul-Azeez of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), said, “This alarming trend has reignited concerns among Northern leaders and elders, who recognize the urgent need to address the root causes of suicide bombing and the general and pervasive insecurity to prevent future attacks.

The attacks in Gwosa have highlighted the need for improved coordination among law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and military forces in detecting and preventing such attacks.

I believe one of the key factors driving suicide bombings in the region is the lack of economic opportunities and widespread poverty.

Many of the individuals recruited by terrorist groups are motivated by financial incentives or promises of a better life. To combat this, it is essential to create sustainable economic development opportunities that provide viable alternatives to joining extremist groups.

Improving security and intelligence capabilities is another crucial aspect of addressing the threat of suicide bombing. Furthermore, it is important to strengthen border security to prevent the infiltration of terrorist groups and the smuggling of weapons and explosives. Fostering community resilience is also essential in preventing future attacks.

This involves building trust between communities and security forces, as well as empowering local leaders and organizations to play a proactive role in countering extremism.

By promoting dialogue and cooperation among different ethnic and religious groups, communities can become more resilient to the divisive tactics of terrorist groups. Engaging with religious leaders and institutions can be a powerful tool in combating the misuse of religion for extremist purposes.

Interfaith dialogue and collaboration among different religious communities can also foster mutual understanding and respect, strengthening social harmony and countering divisive ideologies. 

Promoting social cohesion is another important strategy in preventing the spread of extremism. By addressing underlying grievances and promoting inclusivity and tolerance, it is possible to reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies.

By working together to address the complex and interconnected challenges posed by suicide bombing, Northern leaders and elders can help create a safer, more secure, and more prosperous future for their communities.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has lamented the leadership situation in Nigeria, submitting that the country is being led by “kakistocrats” – a government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens and “kleptocrats” – government by people who use their power to steal their country’s resources.

Ndume added that though President Bola Tinubu himself may have good intentions, those around him do not mean well.

The Borno federal lawmaker made the submission during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday.

He said: “The government is also populated by kleptocrats, but unfortunately that is not what the president is up to; he really meant renewed hope, but you can only do that when you have people around you that are on the same type of thinking.”

Ndume expressed concerns that the citizens are faced with the challenges of hunger, poverty and rising inflation, with the country facing a dangerous trend.

Speaking about the recent government policies, such as the cybercrime levy, which faced public opposition, the lawmaker said, “When the president realised that he had not heard about it, he quickly suspended it.”

He highlighted the significant challenge of hunger and food scarcity, mentioning that inflation has risen to 40%.

“In some places, even with your money, you won’t find the food items you want to buy, which is very dangerous.”

He noted that the growing challenges of food crises and food insecurity, which have made the United Nations (UN), and World Food Programme rank Nigeria as a hotspot, is a thing of concern.

“For people like me, I have to be scared because I’m 64 years old with 10 children, 20 grandchildren, and I don’t have a passport or visa to anywhere,” he said.

Ndume also criticised the limited access to the president, stating that even some ministers and ranking lawmakers have no access to Tinubu. He contrasted this with former President Obasanjo’s administration, where any senator could see the president within 24 hours.

“I’m the chief whip, and if the chief whip can’t have access to the president, the new senators won’t have access either,” he said.

He expressed concern that the president is “caged in” whereas, “The president needs people who will realise his dream and tell him when something is wrong.”

The Senate Chief Whip, who expressed support for the fuel subsidy removal of the Tinubu government, however expressed concerns about its implementation. He recounted sending messages to people in the presidential villa about public anger, only to receive responses blaming the opposition.

“When people in power start responding like that, then I’m worried for the president and myself; there’s a problem out there,” he concluded.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome said the Federation Account Allocation Committee will not send money to Caretaker Committee Chairmen of local government areas by the virtue of the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Council Autonomy on Thursday.

Ozekhome stated this in an interview with Channels Television on Friday.

He said, “The judgement of the government is clear. If you want to receive funds from the federation account, then conduct an election.”

Speaking on the next steps for local government areas with caretaker committees, Ozekhome said, “If what you have in place is a caretaker committee as local government chairman, be sure that it will not have money from the federation account.”

Ozekhome also stated that with Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling, local council development areas (LCDAs) created by Lagos and some other states are not qualified to receive funds from FAAC.

“What this law is saying is that if you are not a democratically elected local government council, you cannot have this money under section 162 subsection 5 and 6 of the 199 Constitution.

“So, what it means is that money should now be ploughed to those local governments that are in existence democratically.”

After the funds are paid to the recognised LGAs, Ozekhome believes the funds can be shared with the local council development areas.

“That is their internal business, nobody can control that one. But, for now, the money can only go to those local government areas named in the constitution. Don’t forget they are even named in the constitution, 774 local governments.

“If you want money from the federation account, such councils must be democratically elected,” he said.

Recall that the Supreme Court in a judgement on Thursday, ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account.

The seven-member panel of justices declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold onto funds meant for Local Government (LG) administrations.

The Supreme Court also barred governors from dissolving democratically elected Local Government councils in the country.

It ordered that the Federal Government should withhold allocations of LGAs governed by unelected officials appointed by the governor.

Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher are officially married.

The Oscar nominee, 63, and the Australian model, 44, tied the knot after first getting engaged in September 2018. The two also share an 8-year-old daughter, Izzy Oona, and a 5-year-old son, Max Charles.

Murphy and Butcher got married on Tuesday, July 9 in Anguilla during a small private ceremony in front of family and close friends. Butcher wore a corseted gown adorned with lace designed by Mira Zwillinger, while the groom wore a white Brioni suit.

This marks the second marriage for Murphy and the first for Butcher.

The news of their nuptials comes less than a month after Murphy and Butcher stepped out together during the Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premiere in Los Angeles on June 20. At the Netflix event, the two were joined on the red carpet by his daughters, Bria, 34, Shayne Audra, 29, and Bella Zahra, 22 — whom he shares with ex-wife Nicole, 56.

Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop costar, Judge Reinhold, recently told PEOPLE, “He’s crazy about his kids and his family. He’s a family guy at heart. Truly is. He really is.”

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In 2012, Murphy and Butcher began dating. The pair welcomed their first child together, Izzy, on May 3, 2016. The couple then welcomed their second child, Max, on Nov. 30, 2018, two months after getting engaged.

While Butcher doesn’t often do interviews, she spoke about her then-fiancé on the red carpet at the 2020 Golden Globes.

When asked what he whispered to her on the red carpet, Murphy told Extra, “I told her how wonderful she looks.” Butcher then chimed in, saying, “He actually says that kind of stuff all the time. He’s very, very sweet and romantic.”

Three years later, Murphy thanked Butcher, along with his children for their “love and support,” when he was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the same award event.

Murphy, who is a father of 10, is also a parent to Eric, 34, Christian, 33, Myles Mitchell, 31, Zola Ivy, 24, and Angel Iris, 17.