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Author: Uche Bibilari

  • UniAbuja senate appoints Aisha Maikudi acting Vice-Chancellor

     

    UniAbuja appoints Aisha Maikudi as acting vice-chancellor

    Acting

    By Uche Bibilari

    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 27, 2024 (NAN) The University of Abuja (UniAbuja), has appointed Prof. Aisha Maikudi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic as the acting vice-chancellor of the University.

    This is contained in a statement to newsmen signed by Dr Habib Yakoob, the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, on Thursday in Abuja.

    According to the statement, her appointment was announced following her nomination at the valedictory Senate meeting held on June 26.

    Yakoob quoted the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah as saying that “Maikudi’s appointment was in a temporary capacity effective after the tenure of the current vice-chancellor.

    This, he said was pending the ratification by the Governing Council.

    He said that Na’Allah would round off his tenure on June 30 after a five year impactful and transformational leadership at the University.

    He said that Maikudi in her acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to members of the Senate for the confidence reposed in her.

    “I want to extend my deepest respect and appreciation to you all for the strong support and unwavering commitment that you have accorded me,” she said.

    According to Yakoob, Maikudi was on born on Jan. 31, 1983, the youngest female professor of Law in the Northwestern Nigeria and UniAbuja.

    She attended Queens College, Lagos where she obtained her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    She proceeded to the University of Reading, graduating with LLB in 2004 and LLM from the London School of Economics & Political Science in 2005.

    She later bagged a PhD in International Law in 2015 from the University of Abuja.

    Maikudi joined the service of the University of Abuja on Sept. 4, 2008 as Lecturer II and rose to the rank of professor in 2022.

    She became the first female Deputy Dean, at the University’s Faculty of Law, in 2018 and later the pioneer Director, University of Abuja International Centre in 2019.

    Maikudi has attended several National and International conferences in the UK, U.S., South Africa, Germany, Italy, and Egypt.

    She has conducted several researches on United Nations Law and has written extensively in the area.

    She is a member of several professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    UU/DE/

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    Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru

     

  • Court sentences internet fraudster to 1 year imprisonment

    Court jailed internet fraudster to 1 year imprisonment
    Sentence
    By Uche Bibilari
    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 26, 2024 (NAN) An FCT, High Court in Gwagwalada, on Wednesday, sentenced a 29-year-old internet fraudster, Eke Emmanuel, a.k.a Miller Fulton, to one year imprisonment for swindling his victim of 700 dollars.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had prosecuted the convict before the court on a charge of cheating by impersonation.

    He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for mercy.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, held that the convict was guilty and sentenced to the term in the correctional centre.

    Shafa, however, granted the convict an option of N200,000 fine.

    The judge also granted the application of the Prosecution Counsel, Chiamaka Njoku, that the iphone X cellphone used to commit the crime and the 700 dollars recovered from the convict should be forfeited to the federal government.

    He also ordered that the convict should swear to an affidavit of good behaviour after his term in jail or upon paying his fine.

    Earlier, the convict while pleading for mercy told the court that he was deeply sorry for his action.

    The Defence Counsel, P.E. Egeolu in his   allocutus on behalf of the convict pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

    Egeolu said that the convict, who has no criminal records, was remorseful for commission of the offence.

    Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Njoku said that the convict sometimes in 2023 cheated by impersonation when he assumed the identity of one Miller Fulton, a military personnel from Denver, Colorado.

    She said that the convict fraudulently obtained the sum of 700 dollars from some unsuspecting victims.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provision of Section 321 of the Penal Code, punishable under section 324 of the code.

    By an oral application, Njoku requested that the court should order the  forefieture of  the cellphone and money recovered from the convict to the federal government through the EFCC. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    UU/AOS

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    Edited by Bayo Sekoni

  • Fake senator jailed 2 yrs for defrauding foreigner of 47,000 Euro

    Fake senator jailed  2 yrs for defrauding foreigner of 47,000 Euro

    Sentence
    By Uche Bibilari
    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 26, 2024 (NAN) A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwagwalada, has sentenced a fake senator, Tom Makwe to two years imprisonment for swindling a Spanish of 47, 082 Euros.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had arraigned the convict on two counts of intent to defraud over the internet.

    He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, also gave him an option of fine of N5 million.

    Shafa ordered that the N30 million, and 1,300 dollars recoverd from the convict be forfeited to the victim, Maria Del Rosario san Jose Garces through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria and evidence of forfeiture be filed through the registrar of the court within two weeks.

    He said that the items recovered from the convict which includes; one black Camry 2017 model car, Samsung S 23, Apple iphone 13 cellphone and HP elitebook be forfeited to the government and the proceed of sell be remitted to the victim through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the convict in his plea for mercy told the court that he was sincerely sorry for his misconduct and bad character.

    “I am a changed person and plead with the court to tamper justice with mercy. I will never have anything to do with internet fraud again,” he pleaded.

    The Defence Counsel, Adaji Abel in support of the allocutus by the convict pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.

    Abel said that the convict was a first time offender, has co-operated with EFCC investigation, made restitution and has provided useful information to the investigator to arrest other criminal fraudster.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Deborah Adamu-Eteh told the court that the convict between Dec. 12, 2021 and Nov. 12, 2022 with intent to defraud over the internet pretended to be Fahad Tonny Makwe, Bryan and Senator Tompolo.
    Adamu-Eteh said that the convict claimed to be a white man Diplomatic Solicitor with phone number +34613208672.
    She said that the convict in that assumed character obtained the sum of 47,082 Euros from one Maria Del Rosario san Jose Garces, a citizen of Spain through Bitcoin wallet address which the convict created.

    She said that the convict also, between Jan. 13, 2023 and Feb. 3, 2023 obtained the total sum of 9,853 from his victim a Spanish citizen.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provision of Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.

    The prosecutor had earlier told the court that the convict has restituted the sum of N30 million, 1,300 dollars, one black Camry 2017 model car, Samsung S 23, Apple iphone 13 and HP elitebook.

    She prayed the court that the money and instrument recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    UU/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

  • Uni-Abuja VC charges new students on hardwork

    Uni-Abuja VC charges new students on hard work

    Matriculation

    By Uche Bibilari

    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 25, 2024 (NAN) The Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja (UniAbuja), Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has charged the newly admitted students of the university to work hard and shun cultism as future leaders of Nigeria.

    Na’Allah gave the charge during the matriculation of over 4,000 newly admitted students, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He urged them to be law abiding in relations with their matriculation oath.

    “What we do not accept as a university is a membership of cultism, to which you have taken oath today.

    “This is because if you do cultism, we will show you the way out and hand you over to the police because you are a criminal.

    “We want to train you to be among the solution of Nigeria not among the problems of Nigeria.

    “We frown at any undesirable behaviour even by student to another student; we do not allow bullying or exploitation of any kind. The degree is for learning and character.

    “We insist that you must be of good behaviour, if not the university will show you the way out,” he said.

    The vice chancellor, who warned the students not to buy any books or handouts from lecturers, added that any student caught would be shown the way out of the institution.

    “No lecturer is allowed to sell handouts or books to any student; you can purchase necessary books from the school bookshop.

    “They can recommend books and you go and purchase it from anywhere in the world or look for it in the library.

    “If you buy a book or handout from class governor that aid lecturers to sell handouts, if you are caught you will be shown the way out,” he said.

    He disclosed that the university had completed the sexual harassment policy for the university, which the management approved.

    According to him, the sexual harassment policy is a policy that forbids any form of sexual harassment on campus.

    “No lecturer or staffs have the right to sexually abuse any student. No staff is accepted to abuse any staff sexually.

    “Sexual harassment is not only when they touch you in an appropriate way or when they force you to have sexual emotions with you.

    “It is when they verbally abuse you sexually,” Na’Allah said.

    He warned students that if they did not report such act and the school found out, they would be treated the same way as the perpetuator.

    Na’Allah also disclosed that UniAbuja gives research grants to undergraduate students, to carry out research works and find solutions to national problems and problems of humanity.

    He said that the students could embark on so many researches with the supervision of their lecturers, adding that the university would always support them.

    “The institution has career and counseling services, where students with any form of emotional or psychological problem can get counselling.

    “Our goal is to make you happy and strengthen you, as you carry out your academy programme in the university.

    “We encourage you while engaging in your academic pursuit to also participate in sporting activities. We have different supporting equipment here on campus for your wellbeing,” he said.

    He urged the students to be of good behaviour and conduct in order to make their parents and the institution proud.

    He also said that UniAbuja would continue to provide an enabling environment for their academic pursuit.

    Na’Allah, therefore, congratulated the new students for being admitted into the university out of several candidates that chose the university as their preferred choice.

    Ms Sandra Adejor, one of the matriculants, expressed joy and satisfaction to be in her preferred school and course of choice, adding that she would make her parents and the school proud. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    UU/DE/AMM

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    Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru

     

     

     

  • Cholera: FCT schools take precautionary measures

    Cholera: FCT schools take precautionary measures

    A pupil at LEA Kontangora Estate Nursery and primary school, Gwagwalada.

    Cholera
    By Uche Bibilari
    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 25, 2024 (NAN) Some primary schools in the FCT say they have evolved
    precautionary measures to avoid the outbreak of cholera in the schools.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited some of the schools on Tuesday in Gwagwalada, observed that most schools have water drums and soap at designated places for pupils and teachers to wash their hands.

    The schools said that the move is to ensure constant availability of potable water for the pupils and others.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a total of 1,141 suspected cases of cholera, with 65 confirmed cases.

    The centre also reported 30 deaths across 96 local government areas in 30 states from Jan. 1 to June 11.

    The NCDC listed 10 states that account for 90 per cent of the cholera burden in the country to include: Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos.

    The centre explained that cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by vibrio cholerae, ingested through contaminated water and food.

    It said that water contamination usually result from the faeces of infected individuals, during water collection, transportation, or storage at home, as food can also be contaminated by unclean hands during preparation or consumption.

    The Assistant Headmaster, Administration at Pilot Science Primary School, Mr Ismaila Gishe, told NAN that the Local Education Authority (LEA) recently provided plastic water drum and purifier to purify the water before the pupils could drink it.

    Gishe said the school management has also instructed teachers to sensitise pupils about the importance of personal hygiene.

    He added that “the pupils were taught how to wash their hands before and after eating and after using the rest room.

    “They were also sensitised on the need to cover their food and water to avoid flies, and to wash fruits
    properly with clean water before consumption.

    “We also sensitised them on the dangers of open defecation, and its negative impact to healthy wellbeing.”

    He said that the school has followed all these instructions with action to ensure strict compliance, adding that it has been a huge success.

    On the issue of food vendors in the school, he said the school has a committee that checks the food before it will be sold to the pupils.

    According to him, any food that is not well prepared or noticed to be unhygienic, the committee will send such vendor away.

    He urged parents to ensure maximum safety of their children or wards while at home to avoid any case of cholera in school.

    Ms Amina Ibrahim, the Personal Assistant to the Headmaster, LEA Kontagora Estate Nursery and Primary School in Gwagwalada, Mr Moses Gbemileke, said the school has evolved some precautionary measures to ensure the safety of pupils.

    She said that the school was supplied water drums and tablets to purify the water, adding that the school instructed the pupils to come with their own cups or containers from home for their personal use.

    She added that “we instructed the pupils to bring their containers and cups from home so they could use it personally.

    “These children are young and cannot understand the dangers of poor hygiene but the school has continued to teach and guide them on what to do.

    “The school does not allow any random person to sell food and we ensure that
    teachers taste the food before it is sold.

    “Even the zobo (hibiscus leaves) drink that is sold in the school is prepared by a staff and consumed not only by the pupils, but teachers as well.

    “If it is not safe, we will not encourage it and the teachers will not consume it too”, she said.

    Ibrahim also said that pupils have been taught on the health implications of not washing their hands always, especially after using the toilet or playing.

    She said the school would continue to do its best to ensure proper safety of both pupils and teachers.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    UU/DE/HA
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    Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

  • UniAbuja to construct 9600 bed space ultramodern student’s hostel

    UniAbuja to construct 9600 bed space ultramodern students’ hostels

    Hostel

    By Uche Bibilari

    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 20, 2024 (NAN) The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has commenced the construction of N16 billon 9,600 bed space ultramodern students’ hostels under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to be completed in September 2025.

    Mr Philip Uzouku, the Chairman/Managing Director, Philkruz WA Ltd., disclosed this during the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of the students’ hostels on Thursday in Abuja.

    Uzouku said that the company would build and manage the hostels for over 30 years, recoup their money before handing it over to the university.

    “We have been on this journey for over eight years, pushing through thick and thin.

    “This project will not stop until we finish it, so that by next year September, we will start taking new students to live in it.

    “The 9,600 bed space will cost N16 billion and I have six slots in the university of Abuja that will cost about N48 billion to complete it.

    “The landmark is 10 hecters per slot; each slot is 1600 beds spaces.

    “When we build and manage it for over 30 years and recoup our money before we hand over to the university,” he said.

    He said that the company’s motivation to embark on this project was not only to make profit and enrich their pockets.

    According to him, the motivation was born out of the desire to partner with the university to contribute in their efforts to provide modern, affordable and state of the arts students’ hostels.

    Uzouku appreciated the Vice-chancellor, Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, for giving him the opportunity to be among the investors that have been selected to help alleviate the accommodation problem facing the university.

    On his part, Na’Allah called on wealthy citizens of Nigeria to come and build facilities in the university, adding that public universities should not be a government business alone.

    He said that the university could accommodate any PPP arrangement that would like to come and build hostels, staff quarters, and canteens among others in the university.

    According to him, with enough hostels the university will make a policy that all students’ will be in the hostels, so that anyone who wishes to stay off campus will need to apply for exemption.

    The Registrar, Yahaya Mohammed said that at the moment, the university could only accommodate 6,000 out of the 26,000 regular students.

    Mohammed said that the hostels when completed would be a big relief to the students who were off campus.

    “If there are enough hostels, many students will like to stay as this will help to ease the stress of coming from outside the campus.

    “This will be a good market also for other investors to come and invest as they will recoup their money within a short period of time.

    “It will not be a project that any investors would lose or regret partnering with the university,” he said.

    He said that the university has over 63,000 regular and non-regular students.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UniAbuja and Philkruz signed the hand-over certificate and the project was officially handed over to the company. (NAN) (www.nannews)

    UU/AMM
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    Edited by Abiemwense Moru

     

     

  • Student jailed 6 months for swindling American woman

    Student jailed 6 months for swindling American woman

    Sentence
    By Uche Bibilari
    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 13, 2024 (NAN) A High Court Gwagwala, FCT,  on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old student, Jayeola Goodnews to six months imprisonment for defrauding an American woman of 540 dollars.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Goodnews with one count of fraud.

    He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, gave him an option of fine of N200, 000.

    Shafa ordered that the 540 dollars recovered from the convict be forfeited to the federal government through the EFCC.

    Earlier, the convict had pleaded with the court for mercy, adding that he regretted his action and promise not to engage in such again.

    “I am sorry for committing the crime and I will not do such again, I was introduction into internet fraud by my cousin and I promise not to do that again,”he pleaded.

    The Defence Counsel, Nnamdi Akuneto in support of the allocutus by the convict told the court that the convict has been remorseful and regrets his actions.
    Akuneto pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Daniel Iloakasia told the court that the convict and his counsel had entered and signed a plea bargain on May 22.

    He told the court that the convict sometime in 2023 swindled, Michelle, an American of 540 dollars.

    He said that the convict who presented himself as Lee kwagsoo, an actor, used the google account known as leekwagsoo5-47@gmail.com.

    He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 320(a) and punishment under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 532 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The prosecutor in an application prayed the court to order the forfeiture of the 540 dollars recovered from the convict . (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    UU/SH
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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

     

     

     

     

  • Student jailed 1 year for swindling Chinese woman

    Student  jailed 1 year for swindling Chinese woman

    Sentence
    By Uche Bibilari

    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 13, 2024 (NAN) A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwagwalada, on Thursday sentenced a 21-year-old student, Adakole Peter to one year imprisonment for swindling a Chinese woman of 50 dollars.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had arraigned the convict on two counts of cheating by impersonation and pretending to be a military personnel.

    He pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, also gave him an option of fine of N150, 000.

    Shafa ordered the convict to depose to an affidavit of good behaviour, adding that the Redmi cellphone being instrument used for the crime be sold and, the proceedS deposited in the Federal Government’s account through the EFCC.

    He also ordered that the 50 dollars recovered from the convict be paid into the account of the Federal Government.

    Earlier, the convict in his plea for mercy promised the court that he has realised his mistake and would not repeat such again.

    “I have repented and realised my mistakes, I plead with the court to tamper justice with mercy”, he pleaded.

    The Defence Counsel, Bridget Abang in support of the allocutus by the convict pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.

    Abang pleaded with the court to consider the plea of the convict and his age, adding that he was a first time offender.

    The Prosecution Counsel, I.D Iloakasia, told the court that the convict and his counsel had entered and signed a plea bargain on June 10.

    Iloakasia said that the convict between April and May within the jurisdiction of the court deceived his victim while pretending to be Steve M Marks a military personnel.

    He said the convict carried out an illegal act to which he induced one Ruth Novick, a Chinese citizen to deliver to him the sum of 50 dollars worth of gift cards.

    He said that the convict sold it via the internet at the sum of N20, 000.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provision of Section 321 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation Abuja, 1990 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.

    The prosecutor had earlier prayed the court that the money and instrument recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    UU/DCO/SH
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    Edited by Deborah Coker/Sadiya Hamza

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Scavenger docked for allegedly receiving stolen properties

    Scavenger docked for allegedly receiving stolen properties

    Arraignment

    By Uche Bibilari

    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 7, 2024 (NAN) A 25-year-old scavenger, Suleiman Muhammed, has appeared in a Magistrates’ Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja, for allegedly receiving stolen building materials.

    The police charged Muhammed, who lives in Aco estate Abuja, with receiving stolen properties.

    The Prosecutor, Abdullahi Tanko told the court that Mr Henry Akanda reported the matter at Iddo police station on June 1.

    Tanko said that the complainant reported against his workers Praise Matins and Hope Ibrahim, that sometimes in April they dishonestly stole his iron rods, two vibrators of moulding block machine and iron bending tools.

    He said that the workers sold the stolen items valued N863,000 to the defendant at the rate of N35,000, adding that during investigation, he confessed to buying the items from them.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provision of Section 317 of the Penal Code.

    Tanko in oral application prayed the court not to grant the defendant bail in liberal terms, adding that cases like these have become so rampant in the area.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Olatunji Oladunmoye, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two reasonable sureties in like sum.

    Oladunmoye said that the sureties must reside within the court jurisdiction, adding that one of the sureties must work in a reputable organisation.

    He said that the sureties must have verifiable addresses and adjourned the matter until July 4 for hearing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    UU/AMM
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    Edited by Abiemwense Moru

     

  • Security guard docked for alleged negligent conduct

    Security guard docked for alleged negligent conduct

    Arraignment

     

    By Uche Bibilari

     

    Gwagwalada (FCT), June 7, 2024 (NAN) A security guard, Iliya Yakubu, has appeared in  a Senior Magistrates’ Court in Gwagwalada, FCT, for alleged negligent conduct.

    The police charged Yakubu, who lives in Gwako 2, Gwagwalada, Abuja, with negligent conduct and theft.

    The Prosecution Counsel,  Dabo Yakubu, told the court that the complainant,  Akobi Ikechukwu, of the same address reported the matter at the Police Station on June 5.

    Yakubu said that the defendant was attached to the city top table Water Company as security guard to guard the company’s equipment.

    He said that the defendant negligently allowed an unknown person to enter the company who stole two motor batteries, two surface pumping machines, some motor parts and electrical wires, estimated to cost N1.5 million.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 196 and 287 of the Penal Code.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Senior Magistrate, Munir Sani, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two reasonable sureties in like sum.

    Sani said that the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and one of the sureties must be a well-known person

    The magistrate said the surety must produce a statement of account with a bond of the same amount.

    He said that the other surety must provide a National Identity Card or driver’s license.

    Sani said in default the defendant should be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre.

    He adjourned the case until July 24, for hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    UU/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh