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NSCDC Boss Tasks Officers on Protection of Nation’s Assets
The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has tasked officers of the Corps on the need to protect the nation’s assets.
In a statement signed by the National Director, Public Relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu, the NSCDC boss further charged the Anti-vandal Squad to be dogged and resilient in the fight against vandalism of petroleum pipelines and other oil installations, oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, illegal oil refinery and other illegal dealings in Petroleum products.
Dr Audi gave this stern directive during an inspection tour of Rivers State where a large amount of arrest of Vandals and seizures of items suspected to be illegally refined petroleum products and instruments for the illegal operation was made by the Command in furtherance of his administration’s renewed fight against nefarious elements and vandals of the nation’s critical infrastructure and assets.
He hinted that his visit is predicated on the order of the Mr President to speak the language vandals and other criminals elements in the country understand by launching a formidable and aggressive action to rescue our economy from the hands of all economic saboteurs and other enemies of the Nigeria.
The CG reiterated that the service will continue to deal decisively with any individual or group of persons intending to tamper with our collective wealth, assets and infrastructure while also working in synergy with other sister security agencies and law enforcement agencies to restore the hope of Nigerians in the current administration effort to provide security for all and sundry.
While parading the suspects,the CG commended the existing synergy and collaborative efforts of the NSCDC, the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and other sister agencies in the arrest of 40 suspected oil thieves, 10 Trucks, 9 Boats, 69 Jerry Cans / Drums 100 Petroleum Pipes and 83 Sacks filled with suspected adulterated petroleum products in different parts of Rivers State.
He commended the officers and men of the state for their levelheadedness, dedication to duty and comportment; stating that the number of arrests made so far is highly and equally charged them not to relent in the fight against vandalism and illegal dealings in petroleum products.
“The war against oil thieves and economic saboteurs cannot be compromised because oil is the mainstay of our economy, we must remain firm and resolute in Safeguarding all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure. Do not be detered; the nation is loosing a lot by the nefarious activities of these saboteurs; the war must therefore be taken to their camps and we must overcome” Dr Audi said.
He added that other items recovered from the suspects includes: Seven (7) Pumping Machines, Seven (7) 40HP Yamaha engines, One (1) 90HP Yamaha engine and several hoses used for syphoning AGO. The arrested suspects are currently undergoing thorough investigation and would soon will be appropriately charged to court.
The CG therefore charged every good spirited Nigerians to report any strange movement, suspicious individuals and activities to the nearest security agency for prompt action so that the country can be rid of all dangerous elements amongst us.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned social media personality and self-acclaimed relationship adviser, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO was arraigned on Friday before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and alleged theft involving N36 million
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly obtained the money from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the pretext of securing a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos — a claim prosecutors said she knew to be false.
During proceedings, defence counsel P.I. Nwafor informed the court that the defendant had refunded N24 million to the complainant and requested a short adjournment to allow discussions over the outstanding balance.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million.
“We are asking for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance. The nominal complainant agreed that if the balance is paid, they can prevail on the EFCC to drop the case,” the lawyer said.
However, prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman opposed the request, insisting that the commission was not involved in any private settlement arrangement.
“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea, as that is the business of the day,” he argued.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Dipeolu held that settlement talks could continue independently but would not stop the arraignment process.
“The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not affect the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ruled.
One of the charges alleged that between July 14 and 17, 2024, Blessing CEO fraudulently obtained N36 million from the complainant over a purported property lease in Lekki.
Another count accused her of unlawfully converting the money to personal use, contrary to provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, the prosecution asked the court to commence trial and remand her in a correctional facility, while the defence requested that she remain in EFCC custody pending bail arrangements.
Justice Dipeolu subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter to June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has narrated how his principal almost sacked him because of Lagos State House of Assembly member, Desmond Elliot.
He said he almost lost his job during the Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa impeachment saga.
Recall that lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly had said that Obasa was impeached to save the integrity and sanctity of the House of Assembly and Lagos State.
The lawmakers, while jointly addressing journalists at the Assembly Complex, said: “It’s just a change of baton. It is only death that is constant, so change is inevitable.”
However, with President Tinubu against the impeachment, the Speaker was restored and peace returned to the Assembly.
Addressing members of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday, Gbajabiamila said, “I almost lost my job as Chief of Staff last year because of Desmond Elliot. Mr President called me to his house in Abuja during the Lagos Speaker Obasa saga.
“He said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy, the one we gave you,’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir. He is one of the people causing problems in the Lagos House of Assembly.’
“Immediately, I told the president that Desmond wasn’t part of them, but the president replied and said that, from the intelligence he received, Desmond was part of them.
“After that meeting, I called Desmond and told him what the president said, and asked him to leave the group if he was part of them. Three days later, the DSS DG called me and said there was a problem.
“He said your name is being mentioned, that you’re the one behind the impeachment saga and that you’re supporting Desmond.
“I spoke to the DSS DG and told him I had spoken to Desmond and he denied being part of the group. I then asked Desmond to make a public statement denying his involvement in the impeachment saga, but till today, he hasn’t done it.”
By Eric Elezuo
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has announced the kickoff of the 2026 West African Second-term School Certificate Examination, saying it would be computer-based, and decrying the decline of male participation as against their female counterparts.
The Council made the disclosure on Monday, while addressing the media at its National Office in Yaba, Lagos, on steps so far taken to ensure a hitchfree 2026 Examination.
In his address, the Head of National Office, Mr. Jacob Josiah Dangut, remarked that the 2026 computer-based WASSEC, started on April 21, 2026 with practical test papers, stressing that the nitty gritty parts of the exercise will kick off on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, therefore the reason for the sensitization of the Nigerian public on the exams.
He noted that nearly two million candidates registered to sit for the examinations.
In his words, “A total of 1,959,636 candidates from 24,207 schools enrolled for the examination.
“Of this number, 958,564 candidates (48.92%) are male, while 1,001,072 candidates (51.08%) are female. This reflects an increase in female participation and a decline in male participation compared to last year.”
Dangut called on policy formulations to take the matter serious so as to reinvent the urge for education among the malefolks.
Meanwhile, Dangut informed the public that candidates are being tested in 37 subjects across 97 papers, supervised by about 29,000 senior secondary teachers nominated by state ministries of education.
Dangut said the rise in computer-based entries followed the successful debut of the format in 2025, with more schools and offshore institutions adopting it for its efficiency and alignment with global standards.
The 2026 exercise will run through to June 19th.
