By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that National Examinations Council examination questions were previously sold for as little as N3,000 before candidates sat for the examinations.

Alausa described the scale of examination malpractice in Nigeria as “mind-boggling” and warned that the practice was capable of destroying confidence in the country’s education system.

The minister spoke on Thursday during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other education stakeholders. He called on parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students to support efforts to protect the integrity of public examinations.

According to Alausa, examination malpractice had become deeply entrenched over the years, creating an unfair environment for students who prepared honestly for their examinations.

He said the situation could also encourage hardworking students to engage in malpractice because of the pressure to compete with candidates who obtained examination materials in advance.

Alausa said, “It’s sad. Before she (Minister of State for Education) and I came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare,” adding that the “danger was that the good students would also become bad.”

Recalling his experience in efforts to tackle examination malpractice, the minister alleged that some examination questions were openly obtained before the scheduled examination dates.

He said, “The Registrar of NECO at the time had a name. His name was (Ibrahim) Wushishi. You would go to Wushishi… I didn’t know that Wushishi meant going to the dark website.

“They bought his question for N3,000. That was it. Before the examination. They called him Wushishi and bought the questions for N3,000 before the examination.”

The minister also recounted what he described as a difficult experience during the 2025 examination period, when he allegedly received examination questions before candidates were due to sit for the papers.

According to him, the situation led officials to repeatedly verify the circulated questions with examination authorities, with some of the materials later confirmed as the actual questions scheduled for the examinations.

He said, “During that examination period, during the hardest time of my life, I was always worried, waking up. I would wake up to her text. She would send questions to me… She would say, ‘I just got this question.’

“It could be English or Chemistry. I was always waking up with trepidation every morning, doing work. I would send it to the HNO and ask, ‘HNO, is this correct?’ And the answer I got was, ‘Unfortunately, that’s the question we’re doing today.’

“So, that was a more aggressive intervention because we were seeing the question and confirming from the other side.”

Alausa said the problem could not be blamed on students alone, stressing that examination malpractice involved several actors within the education system.

He maintained that parents, school authorities, teachers, invigilators and principals must all take responsibility for preventing examination fraud.

Alausa said, “You might be in that isolated school, but the school system is also involved. In fact, I don’t blame the students that much. Any child can be bad.

“But when we have an ecosystem where parents, schools, teachers, invigilators and principals are in full connivance, the students are the smallest players. The people who should put the deterrents in place are the ones involved.”

The minister said the Federal Government would intensify measures aimed at preventing examination malpractice and ensuring that academic certificates reflected students’ actual knowledge and abilities.

He linked the reforms to President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to improve standards across the Nigerian education sector.

Alausa said, “This is a country with the rule of law. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is transforming this country in a way that’s never been transformed before. This is Nigeria’s renaissance that we’re building to be sustainable into the future.”

He said the country could no longer continue to tolerate practices that undermine its educational standards.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, urged private school proprietors and other stakeholders to support the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen examination standards.

Ahmad said tighter examination controls could initially reveal gaps in the academic preparation of some students who had become accustomed to gaining access to examination questions before the actual tests.

She explained that the introduction of serialised examination questions would make it more difficult for candidates to benefit from leaked materials and encourage students to prepare adequately.

The minister also urged schools to complete their curricula within the required timeframe and encourage students to maintain regular study habits.

She assured private education stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to engage them as the reforms are implemented.

The Federal Government’s renewed campaign against examination malpractice comes amid persistent concerns over question-paper leakages, impersonation, collusion and other forms of unauthorised assistance during public examinations.

The government says its efforts are aimed at restoring credibility to public examinations and ensuring that students who prepare and compete honestly are not disadvantaged.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The presidential ambition of President Bola Tinubu cannot be guaranteed by the All Progressives Congress’ control of more than 30 states, according to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Kwankwaso made the remark on Thursday in Port Harcourt at a town hall meeting with voters, where he and the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, responded to questions about the 2027 general elections.

The former Kano State governor cited the 2015 presidential election as evidence that control of several states does not automatically translate into victory at the federal level.

He recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, under which former President Goodluck Jonathan contested the 2015 election, controlled about 20 states before the poll. Jonathan, however, lost his re-election bid to the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

According to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Jonathan secured victory in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while Buhari won 21 states. Eleven of the states won by Buhari were under PDP control at the time.

Tinubu, who defeated Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, is seeking another term on the APC platform. The party currently controls about 31 states.

Kwankwaso therefore dismissed the argument that the APC’s control of numerous states would secure Tinubu’s re-election.

“Jonathan was the sitting president and he lost the election. Those who think that because they have over 30 governors they cannot lose are making a very big mistake,” he said.

‘This Is The Time To Get It Right’

Kwankwaso also criticised the performance of some state governors, particularly those in the northern part of the country.

“The trend is that those governors and their parties have performed woefully. It is difficult for many of them to even come out and campaign because, from top to bottom, they did absolutely nothing,” he stated.

The NDC vice-presidential candidate further argued that some of the individuals seeking the presidency lacked the experience required to effectively govern Nigeria.

He said the country needed “a committed, strong and vibrant president” who could confront its challenges.

Kwankwaso also warned voters against making another political decision that could have serious consequences for the country in 2027.

“This is the time to get it right. Anything to the contrary, if people make a mistake, they will regret making that mistake because it will be too costly for the people and the country,” he said.

The NDC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, also addressed the gathering.

Lulu-Briggs praised party members in the state for their patience, resilience and commitment to the political movement.

He expressed confidence that the NDC would build “a Nigeria that works” and assured the party’s national leadership of the continued support of its members in Rivers State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged inability of Corporal Yusuf Aliyu to access his salary for two years.

Aliyu, identified as F/No. 524180, had reportedly announced his resignation from the Nigeria Police Force on social media while alleging that he had been unable to access his salary during the period.

In a statement issued on September 3, 2026, the Command said Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu had directed a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the matter.

The police said the investigation was ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged restriction placed on the officer’s bank account.

“Furthermore, preliminary findings indicate that the officer’s salary has been paid promptly and consistently by the Police authorities. The observed difficulty is attributable to a discrepancy in his Bank Verification Number (BVN), as the name linked to the BVN differs entirely from the name on his salary account, thereby resulting in the restriction.”

The Command also faulted the officer for taking his grievance to social media instead of using the internal channels available to police personnel to seek redress.

According to the statement, the action violated the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy and was viewed as an attempt to discredit the Command and the Force.

“The Command notes with concern that the officer resorted to the use of social media to ventilate his grievance and announce a purported resignation, rather than exploiting the established internal mechanisms for redress. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy and amounts to an attempt to discredit the Command and the Force at large.”

The police, however, assured personnel that complaints concerning their welfare would receive attention under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police.

“The Commissioner of Police wishes to reassure all officers and men that their welfare remains a topmost priority of the Command under his leadership and the Force, and no genuine complaint will be left unattended.”

The Command further directed its personnel to comply with the Force’s social media rules and use the appropriate administrative channels whenever they have complaints or grievances.

“In addition, the CP enjoins all personnel to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Force Social Media Policy and to channel all complaints or grievances through the appropriate administrative procedures for prompt attention.”

The Bauchi Police Command said it remained committed to discipline, professionalism and the welfare of its personnel while carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Nigerian Presidency has issued a statement clarifying the nature of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act case before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, emphasizing that it is a civil records dispute and not a criminal case against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement released Thursday by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency addressed what it termed “speculative reports” concerning the legal proceedings.

The case originated in 2022 when Aaron Greenspan, described by the Presidency as someone who “works with Nigerian opposition figures including David Hundeyin and Atiku Abubakar,” submitted FOIA requests to several US government agencies seeking records relating to President Tinubu. After agencies withheld certain records or declined to confirm their existence, Greenspan commenced Civil Action No. 23-1816 in 2023.

President Tinubu was subsequently permitted to participate in the proceedings as an intervenor.

The statement provided background to the case, noting that 23 years ago, on February 4, 2003, the American Consulate in Lagos informed then-Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun that an FBI records check found no criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants for then-Governor Tinubu.

During the proceedings, US government agencies invoked the “Glomar defense,” a standard position where agencies neither confirm nor deny the existence of records. The court granted summary judgment in favour of several agencies including the CIA, Department of State, and IRS, removing them from proceedings.

The FBI and DEA subsequently produced 399 pages of records with redactions, which the plaintiff challenged. The agencies defended their redactions citing exemptions including grand jury proceeding protections, attorney-client privileges, law enforcement purposes, personal privacy, and protection of confidential sources and investigative techniques.

President Tinubu has also asserted his rights under FOIA Exemption 7(C), according to his legal team.

The plaintiff has until September 11, 2026, to file opposition, with responses due by September 18, 2026.

The Presidency stressed that “the release or withholding of records under FOIA does not, by itself, establish criminal liability,” and that the case concerns “access to government records and the proper application of statutory exemptions.”

“Recent public commentary by Mr Karl von Batten has inaccurately portrayed him and his client as central to the proceedings. Neither is a party to the case,” the statement added.

The Presidency urged media and the public to “distinguish verified court proceedings from partisan speculation,” noting the case remains exclusively within the jurisdiction of Judge Beryl A. Howell.

By Anwar Usman

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has instructed the operatives of the DSS not to arrest anyone over civil matters.

The DG stated this in a media interview on Thursday, explaining that the directive was part of measures to strengthen compliance to the rule of law and improve the agency’s human rights record.

The DSS boss said that since assuming office, he had introduced reforms across five broad areas: law enforcement, inter-agency synergy, accountability, respect for human rights and infrastructural and administrative reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency.

Ajayi further revealed that, the reforms had also brought about a clearer distinction between civil and criminal matters within the agency.

He said his career experience had shown that the DSS previously conflated the two areas, stressing that the use of force was inappropriate in civil disputes.

“You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters. Even some criminal matters don’t require force,” he said.

The SUN reported that, Ajayi cited the case involving political economist, Prof Pat Utomi, over allegations relating to an attempt to establish a “shadow government”, saying the DSS opted to seek judicial interpretation rather than arrest him.

“Rather than arrest him, we sought judicial interpretation. And the Court ruled that his adventure was unconstitutional, illegal, and a threat to national security,” he added.

He also referred to a case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, saying the organisation approached the court over allegations that two DSS operatives invaded its premises.

Ajayi said the matter was pursued in court without any arrest, adding that the court eventually awarded more than N100m in favour of SERAP.

Asked whether the DSS now resorts to the courts in civil matters, Ajayi replied, “Yes. I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case. And I’m sure you have found out that, even in cases involving journalists, we would rather approach the court because we do the same job.

“I call you guys our professional colleagues. The only difference is that, while you inform the public, we inform the Government. And because we inform the Government, our information is classified until we declassify it.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi l

The Kano State Police Command has arrested 79 suspects and recovered dangerous weapons and illicit drugs during security operations conducted across the state during the 2026 Takutaha celebration.

The celebration took place on Tuesday, September 1, with security personnel deployed to various locations to maintain public safety and prevent disturbances.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the peaceful outcome of the event was the result of coordinated, intelligence-led and proactive policing.

“The 2026 Takutaha Celebration held on 1st September 2026 was observed peacefully across the state,” the command said.

The suspects were arrested during operations conducted by the Anti-Daba, Anti-Kidnapping and VCRU tactical units, alongside personnel from several police divisions, including Ungogo, Sharada, Bachirawa, Rijiyar Lemo, Mandawari, Kwalli and Gwale.

The Command said the operations also resulted in the seizure of dangerous weapons and illicit drugs.

“All suspects are currently undergoing investigation and will be charged to court upon completion,” the Command said.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, praised residents for their cooperation and orderly conduct throughout the celebration.

The Command also recognised the support provided by the Kano State Government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community stakeholders, other security agencies and vigilante groups.

However, the police disclosed that another incident involving a casualty was recorded during the period. It said the matter was under investigation.

The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with timely and credible information about suspicious individuals and activities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Christian Association of Nigeria has cautioned politicians and their supporters against invoking the name of Jesus Christ in partisan political arguments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The association said it had taken note of recent comments by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, in which she referred to Jesus Christ while making a political argument concerning Peter Obi and the 2027 elections.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the organisation understood that political discussions could generate strong emotions. However, he urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to exercise caution when referring to Jesus Christ during political debates.

“Jesus Christ is not a political candidate, a campaign slogan or a weapon to advance one politician against another,” the apex Christian association said.

“His name is sacred and should not be dragged into partisan contests in ways that elevate human beings, however popular or admired, to a place that belongs to God alone.

The association stressed that Christians have the right to support or oppose any political candidate. It, however, warned against allowing political loyalty to undermine the reverence accorded to Christ.

“We are free to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other candidate. We are equally free to criticise them. But our political loyalty must never become so intense that we begin to speak of politicians in terms that diminish the reverence due to Christ.

CAN urged Nigerians to focus political arguments on issues such as the competence and character of candidates, their policies, performance and plans for the country.

“Let us argue about competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria. Let us disagree passionately if necessary, but let us leave Jesus Christ out of our partisan quarrels.

The association also warned against presenting politicians as saviours or equating political victories with spiritual salvation.

“No politician is the Messiah. No political party represents the salvation of the human spirit that Christ epitomises. And no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to His name.

With the 2027 elections approaching, Archbishop Okoh called on political actors, their supporters and Nigerians at large to maintain responsibility and restraint in political discussions.

“As we approach another crucial electoral season, I urge politicians, their supporters and all Nigerians to conduct our political conversations with responsibility, restraint and respect for what we hold sacred.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

More than 1,400 schools have been destroyed across Nigeria’s North-East, while 2,295 teachers have lost their lives and about 19,000 others have been displaced as a result of prolonged insurgency and conflict in the region.

The Borno State Government also disclosed that approximately three million children are in urgent need of emergency education support due to the impact of the crisis.

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, disclosed the figures in Maiduguri while representing Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at a two-day National Dialogue on the Psychosocial Impact of Conflict on Children in Nigeria.

Kadafur said the statistics showed the severe consequences of years of conflict on children, particularly its effects on their mental health, education and prospects for the future.

He explained that the effects of insurgency often continued after active fighting had stopped, with many children experiencing trauma that affected their behaviour, relationships and ability to trust others.

“Trauma does not end when the guns fall silent. It embeds itself in their developing brains. It alters their cognition, behaviour, and their capacity to trust,” he said.

The deputy governor warned that failure to address trauma among affected children could create bitterness and alienation. He also cautioned that vulnerable children could become targets for recruitment by violent groups.

Kadafur said military operations alone could not resolve the long-term effects of insurgency. He called for mental health and psychosocial support to become part of recovery and security programmes in conflict-affected communities.

He advocated the establishment of a national mental health framework for children affected by conflict. He also called for more mental health professionals in affected communities, alongside increased investment in education and community-based interventions.

Professor Andrew Zamani, who also spoke at the dialogue, described the psychological effects of conflict as a national emergency. He warned that untreated trauma could transform grief and anger into a desire for revenge.

The Director of Medical Intelligence, Dr Patience Omokri, who represented the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said child trauma should be regarded as a national security issue.

She noted that children exposed to insurgency, terrorism and communal violence had experienced the loss of parents and homes, displacement, abduction and other forms of exploitation.

“A traumatized child is not only a victim. If left unsupported, they can become a vector of instability,” Ribadu said in the message.

The UNICEF representative, Francis Otuochi, disclosed that 270,864 children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe require mental health and psychosocial support under the 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan.

Otuochi urged governments to incorporate mental health and psychosocial support into child protection, healthcare, education and social welfare programmes to address the needs of children affected by conflict.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Residents of Kebbe town in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State have been thrown into fear after suspected bandits reportedly demanded N40 million from the community and threatened to attack if the money was not paid.

The gunmen allegedly issued a deadline for the payment and warned that residents could be killed and the town set ablaze if their demand was not met.

According to information shared on X by Crisis Reporter Bakastine, the bandits communicated their demand through a farmer who delivered a telephone handset to the District Head of Kebbe, Mallam Lawal Labbo.

The attackers reportedly initially gave the community five days to raise the money. The deadline was later extended to seven days after residents appealed to them.

The telephone handset was subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in the area for security authorities to monitor the situation.

The bandits also allegedly instructed that the telephone should remain charged and accessible. They reportedly threatened to attack the community if their calls were not answered.

The development was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, who said the police had received information about the threat and had begun taking steps to address it.

“We are aware of the information and we, together with our Anti-Kidnapping Unit, AKU, are already working on the information,” Rufai said.

The police spokesperson further confirmed that the suspected bandits had given the community an ultimatum to raise N40 million.

The reported deadline has heightened anxiety among residents, with fears of a possible attack if the demand is not fulfilled.

Security authorities are expected to intensify efforts to prevent any attack on the community and protect residents from the threat.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has released a preliminary report that links 12 organisations and 58 bank accounts to Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the director-general of the council.

The committee, chaired by Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, presented its findings on Wednesday. The investigation followed public concerns over the appearance of the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Bill despite questions about the legal status of the organisation.

According to the report, evidence obtained from witness testimonies, official documents, financial records and submissions from government institutions formed the basis of the panel’s preliminary conclusions.

The lawmakers said their investigation found no law enacted by the National Assembly or presidential directive that established the PFIPC.

The committee also stated that information obtained from the State House showed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration never appointed Adeyemi as director-general of the council.

In addition, the panel said it found no proof that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, endorsed Adeyemi’s appointment letter.

“The Committee therefore preliminarily finds that the purported appointment letter was fabricated and falsely attributed to the Presidency,” the report reads.

“Such conduct, if established through the applicable criminal process, would constitute a grave assault on the integrity of the Office of the President and the official identity of the Federal Government.

“The unlawful creation or deployment of a document calculated to represent that the President or the Chief of Staff had authorised the appointment of a person to head a non-existent federal institution cannot be treated as a mere administrative irregularity.

“It is a matter deserving the most serious investigative and prosecutorial attention.”

The report identified several organisations allegedly connected to Adeyemi. They include the Confederation of United Nations Youths, FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership, FCT Investment Promotion Council and Public-Private Partnership, Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, United Nations Youth Global Agency and United Nations Youth Global Foundation.

Others listed by the committee are the World United Nations Youth Global Foundation, World Entrepreneurship University Limited, World Enterprise University Limited, FCT Investment Promotion Act, FCT Promotion Agency and the Olubadan of Ibadan Foundation.

Lawmakers also reported that about 58 bank accounts were traced to the organisations.

The committee further disclosed that investigators discovered a letter dated November 7, 2024, which was allegedly forged and presented as an official communication from the State House to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

According to the report, the document sought the creation or issuance of an administrative code for the PFIPC. The letter was reportedly signed by one Akambi Adewale, a person the committee said does not appear in State House records.

The panel criticised both the OAGF and the Budget Office of the Federation over what it described as procedural failures in their handling of matters relating to the PFIPC.

The report stated that the OAGF acknowledged that its response to the forged correspondence should have been transmitted through an officially verified channel rather than released directly to Adeyemi.

“The office (OAGF) further acknowledged that the response ought not to have been released to Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi or any other unauthorised person but should have been transmitted through a properly authenticated official channel,” the report reads.

“The committee considers it a serious administrative and security lapse that official correspondence addressed to the State House could allegedly have been collected by a person connected with the forged originating request.

“The committee is therefore investigating whether the circumstances arose from negligence, failure to observe elementary verification requirements, breach of established correspondence procedures, wilful disregard of due process or deliberate facilitation.

“No officer will be condemned without fair hearing. Equally, no proven breach of public duty will be overlooked.

“The Budget Office made extensive submissions regarding its interaction with the purported organisation.

“While preliminary evidence indicates that the Office was presented with documentation purporting to establish the organisation as a federal institution, the Committee considers that verification of the legal existence of an institution is a fundamental prerequisite to its recognition within the Federal Budget Framework.”

The committee said further investigations are ongoing as it continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC and the roles played by various individuals and government agencies in the matter.