The Imo State Police Command has said the 15 students who were declared missing on their way from Onitsha in Anambra State to write the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Okigwe in Imo State have been found and reunited with their families.

The command announced the development on its X handle yesterday while responding to a post on the whereabouts of the students.

The command wrote: “It is true that they made the travel to Okigwe, where they were scheduled to write the UTME. However, their vehicle developed a mechanical fault while at it, but they were secured and have now been returned with their families.

“We appreciate citizens and stakeholders, such as yourself, who raise awareness concerning issues of security. We encourage the spirit.”

Also, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has urged the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to carry out an independent and transparent audit of its examination infrastructure.

Addressing reporters in Abuja on the glitches that hampered this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Kalu faulted what he called the hurried rescheduling of the examination at a time many students were writing the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) which required some of them to travel far distances to write the examination.

According to him, it is only by triangulating internal findings with external audits that Nigerians can ensure that no affected candidate is left behind.

Kalu also urged JAMB to safeguard the educational path of the affected candidates from the Southeast and Lagos, saying they should not be made to face further stress, having borne the brunt of the glitches.

He said: “JAMB must provide a clear, accessible mechanism for remark and appeal, especially for those dissatisfied with the hurried retake or who experienced technical difficulties during the second sitting.

“Furthermore, coordination with WAEC and other examination bodies must continue to ensure that no candidate’s academic progression is impeded by scheduling conflicts.”

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called on the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to design innovative technologies to aid the fight against corruption, assuring the agency of ICPC’s willingness to collaborate in this effort.

Dr. Aliyu made this call during a courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and his team to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Highlighting the critical role of technology in both perpetrating and combating corruption, the ICPC Chairman disclosed that the Commission recently blocked the diversion of approximately N1.6 billion through the deployment of technology-based interventions.

“We cannot fight corruption without being smart. We know the increasing use of technology in committing corrupt acts, but we are also leveraging the same technology to fight back. Because of the deployment of technological tools, we were able to block N1.6 billion that could have been stolen.” Dr. Aliyu said.

The ICPC Boss emphasized the need for strategic partnerships in addressing corruption, especially given its global nature, stressing that the innovative mandate of NASENI and the enforcement mandate of ICPC provide a unique opportunity for synergy that could yield impactful results.

He further assured that ICPC is prepared to use its enforcement powers and lawful instruments to ensure compliance with technology-driven innovations targeted at fighting corruption adding, “If we could work together, we would be able to block some areas where we are having this challenge,”.

Dr. Aliyu outlined specific areas for collaboration between the two agencies. “First, I would like us to collaborate in the tracking of public funds and procurement processes. Seventy to eighty percent of corruption happens in the area of procurement. Second, we need to design a secure whistleblower platform, because we cannot fight corruption without access to information.”

He also offered the Commission’s support in further promoting transparency and accountability within NASENI through the strengthening of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in the agency.

To solidify the collaboration, Dr. Aliyu proposed the creation of a Joint Innovation Task Team (JITT) to identify priority areas for joint action and ensure the sustainability of the partnership through consistent engagement and then the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

In his remarks, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, expressed his commitment to deepening the agency’s collaboration with the ICPC. He emphasized the importance of digitalizing operational processes to prevent issues such as document leakage and pledged NASENI’s readiness to share its technical expertise with the Commission.

Mr. Halilu said, “We are keen to extend our partnership to the ICPC. There is an urgent need to digitalize internal processes to improve security and efficiency, and we would be happy to share our knowledge and experience in this area.”

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared vision of using innovation and collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office confirmed on Sunday.

The announcement follows a series of medical evaluations prompted by urinary symptoms last week.

According to the statement, Biden, 82, was diagnosed on Friday.

His cancer is characterised by a Gleason score of 9, a measure that indicates a highly aggressive form of the disease.

The cancer has spread to the bone but is classified as hormone-sensitive, meaning it may be treatable through hormone therapy and other targeted treatments.

Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team, the statement added.

The diagnosis comes less than a year after Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, following a widely criticised debate performance that fueled concerns about his physical and cognitive health.

In February 2024, his longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, described him as “fit to serve” following a routine medical examination. Another update in July 2024, shortly after he exited the race, described his health as “excellent.”

Despite the prior assessments, Sunday’s announcement reignited debate over the transparency of Biden’s health status while in office, with critics pointing to possible signs of decline that were not disclosed to the public.

Biden served as the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 and was the oldest person ever elected to the office at the time. He previously served as vice president under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.

Further updates on his condition and treatment plans are expected in the coming days.

Foremost politician and elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, yesterday reflected on the early and preliminary preparations for the 2027 general election.

The nonagenarian, assessing the likely presidential candidates on the various platforms, said none of them has the capacity to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next election.

The special adviser to Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, who is 99 years old, spoke with reporters in Kaduna.

Yakassai spoke on the imperative of ideology in politics, urging defectors to be guided by ideas and ethos.

He also spoke on the challenges of nation-building and development, which should be tackled by the patriotic efforts of Nigerians and foreign support.

The nonagenarian nationalist said in particular, tackling insecurity requires citizens’ commitment and international collaboration.

Yakasai, who advised politicians to shun politics of ethnicity and religion, insisted that President Tinubu would have an edge in the 2027 contest.

Ahead of the 2027 polls, politicians have intensified consultations and mobilisation across the country.

Also, opposition figures are neck-deep in alliance and coalition talks, despite the leadership crises rocking their platforms.

He said: “I haven’t heard anybody making any proposition about the 2027 presidential election from Arewa Consultative Forum. What is tagged the Arewa Consultative Forum or Northern Elders Forum’s position is mere individual opinions, because all sections of the north have not taken stand on this.”

Yakasai said Nigerians should shun speculations and wait until the northerners meet and officially take a position.

He added: ”In Nigeria today, Bola Tinubu is the president. He has his ministers and governors who are backing him. Who else has all what it takes to move into the contest with the kind of stamina and strength to be more successful comparatively with Tinubu?

Yakasai said while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is controlling majority of states, some governors from the opposition parties are also supporting President Tinubu.

He stressed: “We should all wait and see if the picture will change drastically, otherwise for now, the odds are in his (Tinubu’s) favour because I have not seen anything that will prevent him from winning the next election.

“He hasn’t done anything against the North in my understanding and the North alone cannot decide who becomes the president of the country.”

The elderstatesman said the crisis assailing the major opposition parties has further softened the grounds for Tinubu to win in 2027.

But Yakassai refrained from assessing the Tinubu administration in the last two years, saying that he would do so later.

He, however, advised politicians to always have the interest of the masses at the centre of their actions and plans.

Yakassai said: “Our politicians should see politics as a dynamic game and what I will advise is for them to play the game on the basis of ideology and programmes. Let them envision the way they want the country to be and not targeting to be ministers, governors and president.

“After becoming all these and nothing is done in the interest of the country, we will not get better. They should eschew politics of ethnicity and religion because not making our country the focal point of our politics has held us down for so long.”

Yakassai, who would be 100 years in December, attributed the longevity to the grace of God.

Noting that his father died at the age of 107 years and his mother at 100, he said the combined effects hereditary may have contributed to his longevity.

He added: “My children, grandchildren and great grand children are more than 80 and still expanding. I give glory to God for these.”

Yakassai said tackling security challenges requires commitment by Nigerians and international collaboration, stressing that government alone cannot tackle the problem.

He said Nigerians should collaborate with security agencies in terms of intelligence gathering, adding that other countries should assist by checking the sources of arms and ammunition supply and financial backing for terrorist groups.

Yakassai said: “The problems of security in Nigeria has taken a universal dimension. What the government should do is to take a critical review of the problem with a view to drawing more workable plans to tackle the challenges.

“Government should know the number of security personnel, weapons and other logistics they need and even exceed the plan in order to get good results at the end of the day.”

The elderstatesman said since terrorism, banditry and agitations by some sections of the country are driven by different causes, they also require different solutions.

He added: ”Even the United Kingdom, China and India, all have their internal challenges and what is important is patriotism on the part of the citizens.”

On the performance of the 10th National Assembly, he said the lawmakers were doing their best.

He also attributed the gale of defecations at the National Assembly to a feature of the dynamic game.

Yakassai said: “You see how people are changing parties. It started one, two, three and now it’s gathering momentum. They are now in hundreds, leaving their parties and joining others.

“What is important now is for Nigerians to be very watchful and know where the pendulum will eventually swing. The masses should be careful about who to support.”

Yakassai, a disciple of the radical politician, Mallam Aminu Kano, said politicians and political office holders should be guided by ideology rather than personal interests.

He said political parties should be formed by people with the same ideas and thinking.

Yakassai stressed: “The way political parties emerge in this country, especially when you look at the events that followed this democratic dispensation, is not ideal.

“People were not sure of where to go initially. It is only now that things are beginning to take some shape.

“This is a country where we have a federation with East, West and North, yet many politicians don’t consider what should be the interest of their people and the nation at large; rather, all they think is personal gains, as politicians.”

Yakassai attributed the frequent defections by politicians from one political party to another to the dearth of ideologies.

The eminent politician, who described himself as a proponent of rotational presidency, said the idea was the brain-child of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

Noting no group had opposed the principle of zoning, he said that it was a valid proposition for national unity.

He added: “This is a country where we originally had three regions and later 36 states. In the long run, letting key political offices, such as the president, to go round will promote unity.”

Yakassai said it is impossible for Nigeria to return to regional government as practised in the First Republic.

He said: “I am almost 100 years old. I was born in December 1925. I know what is possible and what is not possible. I can’t venture into what is not possible. I don’t think regional government is possible again in Nigeria.

“Read the newspapers; how many people are supporting the call for a return to regional government? Where are those people from the North, West or South?

“That you have few people who are talking about regional government doesn’t translate into the fact that the majority of the country are craving for what is being talked about.

“What the few are talking about could be regarded as their wishful thinking. If government scales their calls and uncovers that it is not what the majority want, they will keep quiet.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 15, 2025, presented its first prosecution witness, PW1, Abdulmajeed Agboola, a staff of Access Bank Plc, in the alleged N5,726,994, 110.23( Five Billion, Seven Hundred and Twenty Six Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, One Hundred and Ten Naira, Twenty three kobo) fraud involving a former employee of the bank, Olajide Ogunmoroti, , Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje before Justice O.O.Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

The defendants are being prosecuted on an amended 10-count charge bordering on stealing, retention of proceeds of crime, money laundering , obtaining credit by false pretence and unauthorized access to computer materials.

One of the charges reads: “ That you, Olajide Ogunmoroti, Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje, sometime in 2023, with a dishonest intent, stole and converted for your own use the sum of N2,253,827,379.23, being property of Access Bank Plc., thereby committed an offence of Stealing, contrary to Sections 280 and punishable under section 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Another charge reads: “ That you, “Olajide Ogunmoroti, Michael Igbomina, David Onyeike and Moses Iruolaje, sometime in 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with a dishonest intent, stole and converted for your own use the sum of N3,473,166,731.00 (Three Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy- Three Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty One Naira) Property of Access Bank PIc., thereby committed an offence of Stealing, contrary to Sections 280 and punishable under section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid L. Tukur, the witness told the court that the first defendant, Ogunmoroti , was the ICT representative of the Abakaliki branch of the bank. He told the court that there was a glitch in the bank’s server, which was traced to the Abakaliki branch during investigations.

According to him, “There was a fraudulent overdraft limit maintained on our customers’ accounts, which enabled them to make withdrawals from the unfunded accounts. We observed those suspicious overdraft limits maintained on customers’ accounts, which allowed them to access funds and transferred to accounts maintained in both Access Bank and other banks. We identified customers whose accounts benefitted from the suspicious overdraft maintenance with total exposure of over N5bn.”

Giving further evidence, the witness said when the CCTV footage was checked, it was discovered that everything had been wiped out.

“During investigations, everything was pointing at the first defendant. He admitted that he used a private laptop in connection with the bank’s server through which they gained access to the bank’s data,” he further told the court.

He, however, told the court that the use of personal laptops wasn’t allowed in the bank’s policy.

The prosecution counsel, thereafter, sought to tender in evidence the petitions from the bank. There was no objection by the defence counsel and the document was admitted by the court.

Justice Fadipe adjourned the case till May 20, 2025 for the continuation of trial

BudgIT, a prominent civic-tech organisation promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public finance, has raised significant concerns over the Federal Government’s 2025 Budget, describing its formulation as legally questionable and lacking adequate disclosure, particularly regarding its revenue framework.

Recall that the Presidency initially submitted a proposed expenditure of N47.9 trillion, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu later revised to N54.2 trillion through a presidential letter citing increased revenue expectations.

The National Assembly further increased this figure to N54.9 trillion, without publishing any accompanying macroeconomic or fiscal analysis to justify the additions.

These changes fall short of the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2007, which mandates that aggregate expenditure must not exceed estimated aggregate revenue plus a deficit of no more than 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Specifically, section 12 stipulates that: “Aggregate expenditure and the aggregate amount appropriated by the National Assembly for each financial year shall not be more than the estimated aggregate revenue plus a deficit not exceeding 3% of the estimated Gross Domestic Product or any sustainable percentage as may be determined by the National Assembly for each financial year.”

Based on the Budget Office’s GDP projection of N338 trillion, total spending should not have surpassed N51.95 trillion. The current appropriation exceeds that limit by more than N3 trillion, raising concerns about fiscal discipline and legal compliance.

Equally troubling is the government’s continued refusal to publish a detailed revenue breakdown for the 2025 fiscal year.

While references have been made to certain revenue sources, no comprehensive data has been released to allow for independent scrutiny.

Compounding the opacity is the fact that the latest available federal Budget Implementation Report covers only the second quarter of 2024, despite formal requests made to the Budget Office of the Federation for more recent updates.

Commenting, BudgIT’s Group Head of Research and Policy Advisory, Vahyala Kwaga, stresses that these patterns signal a regression from the standards of fiscal transparency and accountability that Nigeria has worked to establish over the past decade.

“Transparency is not a favour to citizens; it is a constitutional and moral obligation of the government. The 2025 budget, as it stands, fails the basic tests of legality, transparency, and economic prudence. At a time when Nigeria faces rising debt, inflationary pressures, and critical development challenges, the importance of fiscal clarity cannot be overstated. Citizens have the right to know how public funds are sourced and allocated, and the government has the duty to provide such information,” he said.

These concerns are far from trivial; they point to a worrying shift towards arbitrariness and opacity in the presidency’s fiscal conduct. If left unchecked, such actions risk undermining Nigeria’s significant gains in institutionalising transparency and compliance within its public finance framework.

BudgIT, therefore, calls on the Presidency to uphold the principles of transparency, due process, and legal compliance in the management of public funds.

We also urge citizens, civil society organisations, the private sector, and the international community to collectively demand the immediate publication of the full revenue framework underpinning the Federal Government’s 2025 Budget

Every year, young Nigerians make the bold move to japa — to seek better opportunities, education, and a new life abroad.

But beyond the photos on social media and travel excitement lies a different reality, including culture shock, paperwork, and the unexpected challenges of settling down in a foreign country.

In an interview with Vanguard, Rolake, a young Nigerian lady who has lived in Luxembourg for over three years, shares some eye-opening truths every aspiring “japa” candidate should know before boarding that flight.

Whether you’re heading to Europe to study, work, or start over, consider this your insider guide to surviving and thriving in Europe.

Prioritize self-development and skills:

Rolake emphasizes that potential migrants should not be overly eager to leave Nigeria. Instead, they need to develop their skills and in every aspect they can. She stresses the importance of being prepared, organised, skilled, and educated because many who travel are not well-prepared.

Obtain necessary certificates:

Certificates are required in places like Luxembourg, even for seemingly simple jobs like kitchen assistants or cleaners. Like other European nations, Rolake said Luxembourg is a country that works with papers. While your Nigerian certificates are important, having another certificate that is locally recognised will help and quicken your job search.

Research and Plan Financially, Especially for Housing:

Knowing the housing rents and the cost of living in your intended destination. Rolake strongly advises against relying solely on friends or family for accommodation. She warns that it’s a “big lie” that you can just come and stay with someone indefinitely. She said even close relatives may disappoint you or start asking you to contribute to bills like electricity, water, and part of the rent very quickly, sometimes within weeks of your arrival, whether you have a job or not.'

Have significant savings and be Wary of exploitation:

You should have a lot of savings. She shares a difficult experience where even her brother, who brought her over, used her to make money by charging her full house rent, making her feel like she was working for free. She advises being aware that people might exploit you financially.

Gather Accurate Information:

Have a lot of information about the realities of life abroad. Do not rely on misleading advertisements claiming a country is the cheapest or richest without understanding the associated high costs. Get accurate information about the cost of living and the potential challenges.

Prepare for social adjustment and mental health:

Rolake notes that socialisation in Europe can be very difficult, and this can lead to depression. She describes people in Europe as often acting like “robots,” walking without much interaction, even with neighbors. “They may not even point out obvious issues like your clothes being stained or your bag being open. You need to be aware of this potential isolation”, she said.

Do not become complacent upon arrival:

Don’t relax when you get here. The challenges don’t end just because you’ve relocated. Many people educated in Nigeria and moved abroad regret not adapting or learning further skills suitable for the new environment.

The embattled Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, is set to be deported from South Africa.

This comes after he voluntarily chose to leave the country following his re-arrest a week ago.

According to South Africa Broadcasting Cooperation, SABC, and Newsroom Afrika television, the cleric will be leaving the country today, Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Images broadcast by the stations captured Omotoso chatting with an immigration official at the airport.

It’s yet to be ascertained what time his fight would depart, as he was to leave from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport.

DAILY POST reports that in April, the 66-year-old pastor was acquitted of 32 charges of rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking filed against him, after he had spend eight years in prison.

A few weeks after he was acquitted, the cleric was rearrested by immigration authorities in East London on May 10, 2025.

Tanko Yakasai, the elder statesman and founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum, says President Bola Tinubu remains the most favoured candidate to win the 2027 election. 

Speaking with NAN, Yakasai said there is currently no politician with a stronger backing than Tinubu.

“In Nigeria today, Bola Tinubu is the president; he has his ministers and governors who are backing him,” Yakasai said.

“Who else has all what it takes to move into the contest with the kind of stamina and strength to be more successful comparatively with Tinubu?”

Yakasai said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) controls most states and still enjoys support from governors in opposition parties.

“We should all wait and see if the picture will change drastically, otherwise for now, the odds are in his favour because I have not seen anything that will prevent him from winning the next election,” Yakasai said.

“He hasn’t done anything against the north, in my understanding, and the north alone cannot decide who becomes the president of the country.”

The elder statesman said there is no official consensus yet among the northern political class on 2027.

“I haven’t heard anybody making any proposition about the 2027 presidential election from Arewa Consultative Forum,” he said.

“What is tagged the Arewa Consultative Forum or Northern Elders Forum’s position is mere individual opinions, because all sections of the north have not taken a stand on this.”

He said Nigerians should wait until the region formally takes a position, adding that internal crises in opposition parties have made Tinubu’s path to re-election even easier.

Yakasai declined to assess Tinubu’s performance, but urged politicians to prioritise the interests of the public.

“Our politicians should see politics as a dynamic game, and what I will advise is for them to play the game on the basis of ideology and programmes,” he said.

“Let them envision the way they want the country to be and not targeting to be ministers, governors and president.

“After becoming all these and nothing is done in the interest of the country, we will not get better.

“They should eschew politics of ethnicity and religion because not making our country the focal point of our politics has held us down for so long.”

On Friday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said all political parties in Akwa Ibom have collapsed into a single entity.

He added that the movement will back the re-election bids of President Bola Tinubu; Umo Eno, governor of the state; and himself.

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, has appealed to residents of the state to observe a day of voluntary fasting and prayer on Monday, May 19.

Zulum made the call during a statewide broadcast on Saturday in Maiduguri, the state capital.

He said the aim of the fasting is to seek “divine intervention” over renewed attacks in the state and across the country.

“In light of our current security challenges, I am calling on all residents of Borno State to unite in a collective act of faith and solidarity,” Zulum said.

“This Monday, I am inviting you to join me in a voluntary day of fasting and prayer for peace to reign in Borno State, the Northeast and indeed the entire country.

“Let us come together to seek divine guidance, healing, and peace for our state.”

The governor described the fast as both a spiritual act and communal expression of hope.

“Through prayer and reflection, we can strengthen our unity, renew our resilience, and restore our collective purpose,” he said.

“In recent months, I have held extensive consultations with our federal partners and the leadership of various security agencies.

“I am pleased to inform you that the collaboration between Borno State and the Federal Government is stronger than ever.

“Together, we are working on comprehensive strategies to strengthen our security architecture, enhance intelligence sharing, and equip our security agents with the necessary tools to confront the threats before us.”

Speaking during a high-level security meeting in April, Zulum said the state has suffered significant setback in its fight against terrorism.

He added that the renewed attacks show that Borno is “losing grounds” to insurgents