Eight Kidnappers Arrested, Others Killed During Rescue Of Oyo Pupils, Teachers
The presidency has confirmed that eight kidnappers were arrested, while others were neutralised during the rescue of all the teachers and pupils abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo state.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced in a post via his 𝕏 handle on Friday.
Onanuga said the arrested kidnappers are currently in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
According to the presidential spokesman, the security agencies will give full details of the account.
The post read, “Updated: in the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised. There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, recently revealed that terrorists responsible for the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security forces attempted to rescue them.
The Minister made the disclosure in a preview of an interview with News Central.
According to him, the bandits are using the victims as leverage to try to secure the release of some of their commanders who are in the custody of security forces.
He said: “For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us, and they feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander.
NANS threatens shutdown of MTN, MultiChoice and Stanbic IBTC Bank
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a nationwide protest against South African interests, threatening to shut down the operations of MTN and MultiChoice while urging Nigerians to close their accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank.
According to the student leader, the planned action is in response to South Africa’s treatment of Nigeria and Nigerians. He said NANS is prepared to mobilise students across the country to ensure the protest is carried out.
“We are going to shut down MTN and MultiChoice. We will force Nigerians to close their accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank,” the NANS President declared.
He maintained that the protest is aimed at putting pressure on South African-linked companies operating in Nigeria, calling on students and members of the public to support the action.
Tony Elumelu to retire as UBA chairman after reaching CBN’s 12-year tenure limit
Billionaire investor and Philanthropist, Tony Elumelu will retire as Group Chairman of UBA on August 21, 2026, after completing the 12-year tenure limit for non-executive directors set by the CBN.
Under his leadership, UBA expanded into a pan-African banking powerhouse with operations in 20 African countries and 4 continents, serving more than 50 million customers.
The Board has named Emmanuel N. Nnorom, a long-serving Non-Executive Director and seasoned banking executive, as his successor.
Accountant-general: PFIPC has no CBN account, received no funds
The office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF) says the presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC) has no operational account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
TheCable reported that the federal government granted a waiver to the controversial PFIPC to recruit 300 members of staff in August 2025.
A review of the 2026 Appropriation Act also indicates that the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council is expressly listed under the presidency, with a total budget of N1,302,978,784.
The allocation includes N802,978,783 for personnel costs, N200,000,001 for overhead expenditure and N300,000,000 for capital projects.
‘NO KOBO HAS BEEN RELEASED’
Responding during the weekend, Bawa Mokwa, director of public relations at the OAGF, noted that neither public funds nor salaries have been paid to the organisation.
Mokwa noted that although an application was made to open a CBN account, the process was never completed because the required documentation to activate the account was not submitted.
“You cannot open an account at the CBN without authorization from the Accountant General. The accountant general will authorise them to open an account at the CBN,” Mokwa said.
He pointed out that Adeniyi Adeyemi, the convener, approached the OAGF and presented an appointment letter, but alleged that the document related to an already existing agency rather than the PFIPC.
Mokwa said that the account-opening process began based on the document that was presented, but the account could not become operational because the names of the officials expected to serve as account signatories were never provided.
He said there was no channel through which the office of the accountant-general could release government funds to the agency due to the absence of an operational account.
He said the agency did not receive any budgetary allocation from the federal government.
“The account, till today, has not seen the light of day. It has not seen one kobo because the account is not completely operational,” Mokwa said.
“That portrays that he has not collected a dime. The AGF has not released a dime to him because they don’t even have a place where the money can be paid.”
He claimed that the agency did not receive any budgetary allocation from the federal government.
He noted that the council funding is expected to operate under the 2026 budget and has not yet reached the stage where it can receive government funding.
The director, however, denied reports that salaries had been paid to workers of the agency, saying it had not recruited any staff through the procedures required for federal establishments.
“Based on our knowledge, he has not employed anybody.”
Mokwa explained that before any federal agency can recruit workers and place them on the government payroll, it must first obtain the necessary approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the Budget Office and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
He noted that after approval is granted can names of employees be submitted to the office of the accountant general for enrollment on the federal payroll and payment of salaries.
“If they give you a waiver for 200 people, you take the waiver to these agencies and then present the papers to the accountant general,” Mokwa explained.
“He cannot capture even one name without those approvals because once they are captured, payment will come from the budget.”
Mokwa added that none of those requirements had been completed.
Terrorists demand N300m after N40m ransom payment for kidnapped INEC CommissionerPublished on July 1, 2026 By Matthew Atungwu
Terrorists have demanded an extra N300 million ransom from the family of Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, NSIEC, Permanent Commissioner, Ahmed Mohammed, nine months after his abduction.
This is after the family of the victim has reportedly paid N40 million to the kidnappers to secure his release.
Recall that terrorists kidnapped Ahmed along the Mokwa–Ibbi Road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on September 29, 2025, while travelling to Minna for an official assignment.
The incident happened shortly before the November 1, 2025 local government elections in the state, where he was expected to participate in official duties.
According to Daily Trust, a family member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the abductors contacted the family again on Monday and asked whether they were ready to meet the fresh ransom demand.
The family member said the terrorists informed the family that an additional N300 million would be required before Ahmed would be released, but the family said it could not raise the amount.
“They call almost every day. It was only yesterday (Tuesday) that they did not call. They requested for additional N300 million. We are appealing to the Niger State Government to come to our aid and secure his release.
“He was kidnapped while on an official engagement of the Niger State Government,” the family member said.
NYSC Orientation Camp to Be Extended From Three To Six Weeks, New Uniform Introduced
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing sweeping changes aimed at transforming the scheme into a skills-driven, youth-empowering institution aligned with Nigeria’s economic development goals.
Among the key reforms is the extension of the NYSC orientation programme from three weeks to six weeks, with a renewed focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career development.
Some of the landmark reforms include:
1. A technology-driven call-up process.
2. Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
3. A redesigned six-week orientation programme with stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career streams.
4. Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
5. Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
6. Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
7. A new graduation ceremony to replace Passing Out Parade, and redesigned NYSC uniform that reflect professionalism and national pride.
To facilitate implementation, the Federal Executive Council directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin amending the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide the legal framework for the approved reforms.
“His step mother arranged her best friend daughter for Alex, for a wife without Ekubo Okwaraeke family’s knowledge and the marriage was done just like that. We were shocked when we heard that Alex was married. I personally asked, what is going on?
I think I was the only family member that saw his c*rpse and stood my ground to supervise what was going on. Her family members were everywhere as if it was their own. The burial arrangement was rushed as if there was something somebody is trying to cover for us.
Nobody is explaining what really happened to our son. How come the bl**d clot on his eyes? Is bl**d clot part of the cancer?
We also heard that Alex Ekubo was brought to the hospital d*ead. My uncle (father) knew nothing about all this. His death announcement was a sh*ck to me and was buried like that. My uncle is responding to his wife because, he is at his wife’s mercy forgetting that we own him and his son Alex.
Ekubo Okwareke was asked to put on white for a boy of 40 years. I’m not writing this to chase anything. Please take away properties from this.
She channeled Alex Ekubo to her family, while there was nothing we do in Ekubo Okwaraeke family that he will attend or show internet. Alex lost interest in our family to the extent that he attends every single marriages done in her family. There was no intimacy between Alex and Chioma, his own biological sister from the same mother and became too close to his stepmother’s children which I don’t understand.
Alex was s*ck and nobody knew till d*ath. He d*ed. We the family don’t know that our son was s*ck and d*ad till it was announced to the public by his step mother. Alex rejected his biological mother while he was alive and doesn’t want anything to do with her. His biological mother is still alive.
Ekubo Okwaraeke family demand an explanation on our son since she could not explain to us indoor.“
~ Another ‘Ekubo’ calls out #Alexxekubo’s step mother, his wife demanding to know how Alex passed, says Alex
Maiduguri attacks: Court sentences Boko Haram member to death by hanging
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced a Boko Haram member, Alkali Yarima, also known as La’ari, to death by hanging for his participation in the 2015 terror attacks on Maiduguri, Borno State.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also sentenced Yarima to life imprisonment on count six of the charge, bordering on receiving training on arms and weapon handling in preparation to commit acts of terrorism.
While the convict was committed to a 35-year imprisonment in count one, Justice Omotosho sentenced him to a 30-year jail term in count five.
The judge, thereafter, handed down a 10-year imprisonment for Yarima on each of counts two, three and four of the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had, in the charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026, preferred a seven-count charge against the convict.
The charge was dated May 26 and filed on May 29 by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
In count one, which attracted a 35-year jail term, Yarima (aka La’ari), with chest number 1636 of the Lawanti area of the Mafa local government area in Borno, was alleged to have, sometime between 2009 and 2015 at the time of his arrest, professed membership and continued to belong to the Boko Haram group, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The offence is punishable under Section 16 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
In count six, where he bagged a life imprisonment, the convict was alleged to have “engaged in conduct in preparation to commit acts of terrorism when you travelled to an Arab country for training on arms and weapon handling.”
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
The Federal Government, in count seven, which attracted a death penalty, accused the terrorist of committing acts of terrorism when he participated in the attacks on Maiduguri.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 2 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
NAN reports that the trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moved to the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
The AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyers for the prosecution, said the government was determined to stamp out terrorism and its related activities from the country.
The minister said, “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe place for everybody.” (NAN)
SEPARATION IS NOT DIVORCE; COHABITATION IS NOT MARRIAGE
On April 26, 2020, Nigeria lost Dr. Tosin Ajayi, founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Foundation Hospital, one of the country’s most respected private healthcare institutions. His passing was mourned nationally. But within weeks, mourning gave way to litigation.
What followed was not a dispute over medical legacy, but over a much older, unresolved matter: marriage. For the next five years, two women, their children, and the entire Ajayi estate were locked in court. The core question was deceptively simple: Who, under Nigerian law, was the legal wife?
The answer, delivered on March 13, 2026 by Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya of the Lagos High Court, has now become a national case study. It is a verdict that restates, with painful clarity, a principle many Nigerians misunderstand: Separation is not divorce. Cohabitation is not marriage. And sentiment has no weight in probate court.
The Facts: A Marriage Never Legally Ended Dr. Ajayi had separated from his first wife many years before his death. They lived apart.
They built separate lives. To neighbors, friends, and even to Dr. Ajayi himself, the marriage was “over.” But no petition for dissolution was ever filed. No decree nisi was granted. No decree absolute was issued under the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap M7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Believing the union was effectively dead, Dr. Ajayi entered into another relationship and later married a second woman. He had children with her. She managed his home. She was presented socially as “Mrs. Ajayi.” For all practical purposes, she was the wife.
When Dr. Ajayi died intestate — without a will — both women came forward. The first wife returned to claim her position as legal spouse and administrator of the estate. The second woman countered, “Over my dead body. You abandoned him for years and only reappeared after his death to claim what you left behind.”
The Judgment: What the Court Actually Decided After five years of evidence, arguments, and legal submissions, Justice Odusanya delivered a judgment that dismantled three common myths:
Myth 1: “Long separation ends marriage.”
The court held: _“Separation, regardless of how long it lasts, does not automatically dissolve a legally valid marriage under the Act.”_ Under Section 15 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, only a court can dissolve a statutory marriage. Separation may prove “irretrievable breakdown,” but it is the judge’s decree, not the passage of time, that terminates the marriage.
Myth 2: “A registry wedding cures everything.” Evidence showed the second woman was herself legally married to Mr. Davies at the time she allegedly married Dr. Ajayi. The court ruled that her purported marriage to Dr. Ajayi was void ab initio — void from the beginning. Section 47 of the Matrimonial Causes Act states that a marriage is void if either party is already lawfully married. Nigerian statutory marriage is strictly monogamous: one man, one woman. No exceptions.
Myth 3: “Children from the second union will protect her rights.” The court affirmed that while all children of Dr. Ajayi, whether born within or outside the statutory marriage, are entitled to share in the remaining two-thirds of the estate under the Administration of Estates Law, the second woman herself had no spousal rights. She could not apply for Letters of Administration. She was not entitled to the statutory one-third share reserved for a legal spouse.
Final Orders: The first wife was declared the only legally recognized spouse. She is entitled to one-third of Dr. Ajayi’s personal estate and is the sole person entitled to apply for Letters of Administration. The rest of the estate will be divided among all of Dr. Ajayi’s children.
Why This Matters Beyond One Family: This judgment is not about Dr. Ajayi alone. It exposes a systemic legal blind spot in Nigerian society:
A. The Monogamy Rule is Absolute Unlike customary law, which permits polygamy, statutory marriage under the Act is monogamous. A man cannot be “traditionally married” and then “add” a statutory wife. A woman cannot be “customarily married” and then “upgrade” to a registry wedding while the first marriage subsists. The second ceremony is legally meaningless.
B. Customary Divorce ≠ Statutory Divorce Many Nigerians believe that “returning the bride price” or “family settlement” ends a marriage. For customary marriages, that is correct. But if you later contract a statutory marriage, you must also obtain a statutory divorce. The two systems do not automatically talk to each other. Failing to divorce under the Act means you remain married in the eyes of every bank, court, and probate registry in Nigeria.
C. Intestacy Punishes Poor Planning. Dr. Ajayi died without a will. Under Lagos State’s Administration of Estates Law, an intestate estate is distributed by formula: 1/3 to the legal spouse, 2/3 to the children. A well-drafted will could have made specific provisions for the second woman and her children, reducing litigation. Without a will, the law, not the deceased’s intentions, decides.
The Hard Lesson for Women — and for Men To women: This case vindicates every warning about “marrying a married man under the Act.” No matter how long you cohabit, no matter how many children you bear, no matter how “official” your wedding photos look, if his first marriage was never dissolved by a court, you are not a wife in law. You are a partner. A companion.
A mother of his children. But not a spouse with inheritance rights. When death comes, the court will be clinical. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” will sound less like a maxim and more like a sentence.
To men: You cannot “move on” emotionally and legally at different speeds. If your marriage has broken down, do the hard work of obtaining a decree absolute. Until then, every new relationship you formalize is built on legal quicksand. You risk leaving your children and your partner with nothing but litigation.
Three Protective Steps Everyone Must Take Today:
A. Verify Before You Marry: If a suitor says “I am divorced,” do not accept separation agreements or affidavits. Insist on seeing a certified true copy of the Decree Absolute. It is the only document that proves the first marriage is dead in law.
B. Dissolve Properly Before You Remarry: If you are customarily married and want a registry wedding, first dissolve the customary marriage under native law and custom, obtain evidence of that dissolution, then proceed. If you are statutorily married and want out, file a petition. Separation for 20 years still requires a court order.
C. Write a Will, No Matter Your Age or Status: A will is not for “old people.” It is for anyone with assets and dependents. A will allows you to make specific provisions for all your children and even for long-term partners, within the limits of the law. Without it, the state’s formula overrides your wishes.
Let the Courtroom Be Your Teacher, Not Your Destination.
Dr. Tosin Ajayi’s children will inherit. His hospital legacy continues. But the woman he lived with for years will not inherit as a spouse. That is not cruelty. That is the law.
Let this editorial serve as the warning that casual advice cannot deliver. Before you say “I do,” ensure his “I do” from the past has been legally converted to “I don’t” by a court of competent jurisdiction.
In estate matters, the courtroom does not interpret intentions. It interprets documents. And the only document that ends a marriage is a Decree Absolute. Everything else is just separation.
GoldMyneTV
Eight Kidnappers Arrested, Others Killed During Rescue Of Oyo Pupils, Teachers
The presidency has confirmed that eight kidnappers were arrested, while others were neutralised during the rescue of all the teachers and pupils abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo state.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced in a post via his 𝕏 handle on Friday.
Onanuga said the arrested kidnappers are currently in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
According to the presidential spokesman, the security agencies will give full details of the account.
The post read, “Updated: in the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised. There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, recently revealed that terrorists responsible for the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security forces attempted to rescue them.
The Minister made the disclosure in a preview of an interview with News Central.
According to him, the bandits are using the victims as leverage to try to secure the release of some of their commanders who are in the custody of security forces.
He said: “For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us, and they feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander.
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Kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies.
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NANS threatens shutdown of MTN, MultiChoice and Stanbic IBTC Bank
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a nationwide protest against South African interests, threatening to shut down the operations of MTN and MultiChoice while urging Nigerians to close their accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank.
According to the student leader, the planned action is in response to South Africa’s treatment of Nigeria and Nigerians. He said NANS is prepared to mobilise students across the country to ensure the protest is carried out.
“We are going to shut down MTN and MultiChoice. We will force Nigerians to close their accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank,” the NANS President declared.
He maintained that the protest is aimed at putting pressure on South African-linked companies operating in Nigeria, calling on students and members of the public to support the action.
4 days ago | [YT] | 18
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Tony Elumelu to retire as UBA chairman after reaching CBN’s 12-year tenure limit
Billionaire investor and Philanthropist, Tony Elumelu will retire as Group Chairman of UBA on August 21, 2026, after completing the 12-year tenure limit for non-executive directors set by the CBN.
Under his leadership, UBA expanded into a pan-African banking powerhouse with operations in 20 African countries and 4 continents, serving more than 50 million customers.
The Board has named Emmanuel N. Nnorom, a long-serving Non-Executive Director and seasoned banking executive, as his successor.
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Accountant-general: PFIPC has no CBN account, received no funds
The office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF) says the presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC) has no operational account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
TheCable reported that the federal government granted a waiver to the controversial PFIPC to recruit 300 members of staff in August 2025.
A review of the 2026 Appropriation Act also indicates that the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council is expressly listed under the presidency, with a total budget of N1,302,978,784.
The allocation includes N802,978,783 for personnel costs, N200,000,001 for overhead expenditure and N300,000,000 for capital projects.
‘NO KOBO HAS BEEN RELEASED’
Responding during the weekend, Bawa Mokwa, director of public relations at the OAGF, noted that neither public funds nor salaries have been paid to the organisation.
Mokwa noted that although an application was made to open a CBN account, the process was never completed because the required documentation to activate the account was not submitted.
“You cannot open an account at the CBN without authorization from the Accountant General. The accountant general will authorise them to open an account at the CBN,” Mokwa said.
He pointed out that Adeniyi Adeyemi, the convener, approached the OAGF and presented an appointment letter, but alleged that the document related to an already existing agency rather than the PFIPC.
Mokwa said that the account-opening process began based on the document that was presented, but the account could not become operational because the names of the officials expected to serve as account signatories were never provided.
He said there was no channel through which the office of the accountant-general could release government funds to the agency due to the absence of an operational account.
He said the agency did not receive any budgetary allocation from the federal government.
“The account, till today, has not seen the light of day. It has not seen one kobo because the account is not completely operational,” Mokwa said.
“That portrays that he has not collected a dime. The AGF has not released a dime to him because they don’t even have a place where the money can be paid.”
He claimed that the agency did not receive any budgetary allocation from the federal government.
He noted that the council funding is expected to operate under the 2026 budget and has not yet reached the stage where it can receive government funding.
The director, however, denied reports that salaries had been paid to workers of the agency, saying it had not recruited any staff through the procedures required for federal establishments.
“Based on our knowledge, he has not employed anybody.”
Mokwa explained that before any federal agency can recruit workers and place them on the government payroll, it must first obtain the necessary approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the Budget Office and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
He noted that after approval is granted can names of employees be submitted to the office of the accountant general for enrollment on the federal payroll and payment of salaries.
“If they give you a waiver for 200 people, you take the waiver to these agencies and then present the papers to the accountant general,” Mokwa explained.
“He cannot capture even one name without those approvals because once they are captured, payment will come from the budget.”
Mokwa added that none of those requirements had been completed.
Credit: TheCable
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Terrorists demand N300m after N40m ransom payment for kidnapped INEC CommissionerPublished on July 1, 2026 By Matthew Atungwu
Terrorists have demanded an extra N300 million ransom from the family of Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, NSIEC, Permanent Commissioner, Ahmed Mohammed, nine months after his abduction.
This is after the family of the victim has reportedly paid N40 million to the kidnappers to secure his release.
Recall that terrorists kidnapped Ahmed along the Mokwa–Ibbi Road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on September 29, 2025, while travelling to Minna for an official assignment.
The incident happened shortly before the November 1, 2025 local government elections in the state, where he was expected to participate in official duties.
According to Daily Trust, a family member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the abductors contacted the family again on Monday and asked whether they were ready to meet the fresh ransom demand.
The family member said the terrorists informed the family that an additional N300 million would be required before Ahmed would be released, but the family said it could not raise the amount.
“They call almost every day. It was only yesterday (Tuesday) that they did not call. They requested for additional N300 million. We are appealing to the Niger State Government to come to our aid and secure his release.
“He was kidnapped while on an official engagement of the Niger State Government,” the family member said.
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NYSC Orientation Camp to Be Extended From
Three To Six Weeks, New Uniform Introduced
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing sweeping changes aimed at transforming the scheme into a skills-driven, youth-empowering institution aligned with Nigeria’s economic development goals.
Among the key reforms is the extension of the NYSC orientation programme from three weeks to six weeks, with a renewed focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career development.
Some of the landmark reforms include:
1. A technology-driven call-up process.
2. Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
3. A redesigned six-week orientation programme with stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career streams.
4. Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
5. Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
6. Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
7. A new graduation ceremony to replace Passing Out Parade, and redesigned NYSC uniform that reflect professionalism and national pride.
To facilitate implementation, the Federal Executive Council directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin amending the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide the legal framework for the approved reforms.
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“His step mother arranged her best friend daughter for Alex, for a wife without Ekubo Okwaraeke family’s knowledge and the marriage was done just like that. We were shocked when we heard that Alex was married. I personally asked, what is going on?
I think I was the only family member that saw his c*rpse and stood my ground to supervise what was going on. Her family members were everywhere as if it was their own. The burial arrangement was rushed as if there was something somebody is trying to cover for us.
Nobody is explaining what really happened to our son. How come the bl**d clot on his eyes? Is bl**d clot part of the cancer?
We also heard that Alex Ekubo was brought to the hospital d*ead. My uncle (father) knew nothing about all this. His death announcement was a sh*ck to me and was buried like that. My uncle is responding to his wife because, he is at his wife’s mercy forgetting that we own him and his son Alex.
Ekubo Okwareke was asked to put on white for a boy of 40 years. I’m not writing this to chase anything. Please take away properties from this.
She channeled Alex Ekubo to her family, while there was nothing we do in Ekubo Okwaraeke family that he will attend or show internet. Alex lost interest in our family to the extent that he attends every single marriages done in her family. There was no intimacy between Alex and Chioma, his own biological sister from the same mother and became too close to his stepmother’s children which I don’t understand.
Alex was s*ck and nobody knew till d*ath. He d*ed. We the family don’t know that our son was s*ck and d*ad till it was announced to the public by his step mother. Alex rejected his biological mother while he was alive and doesn’t want anything to do with her. His biological mother is still alive.
Ekubo Okwaraeke family demand an explanation on our son since she could not explain to us indoor.“
~ Another ‘Ekubo’ calls out #Alexxekubo’s step mother, his wife demanding to know how Alex passed, says Alex
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 29
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Maiduguri attacks: Court sentences Boko Haram member to death by hanging
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced a Boko Haram member, Alkali Yarima, also known as La’ari, to death by hanging for his participation in the 2015 terror attacks on Maiduguri, Borno State.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also sentenced Yarima to life imprisonment on count six of the charge, bordering on receiving training on arms and weapon handling in preparation to commit acts of terrorism.
While the convict was committed to a 35-year imprisonment in count one, Justice Omotosho sentenced him to a 30-year jail term in count five.
The judge, thereafter, handed down a 10-year imprisonment for Yarima on each of counts two, three and four of the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had, in the charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026, preferred a seven-count charge against the convict.
The charge was dated May 26 and filed on May 29 by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
In count one, which attracted a 35-year jail term, Yarima (aka La’ari), with chest number 1636 of the Lawanti area of the Mafa local government area in Borno, was alleged to have, sometime between 2009 and 2015 at the time of his arrest, professed membership and continued to belong to the Boko Haram group, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The offence is punishable under Section 16 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
In count six, where he bagged a life imprisonment, the convict was alleged to have “engaged in conduct in preparation to commit acts of terrorism when you travelled to an Arab country for training on arms and weapon handling.”
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
The Federal Government, in count seven, which attracted a death penalty, accused the terrorist of committing acts of terrorism when he participated in the attacks on Maiduguri.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 2 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
NAN reports that the trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moved to the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
The AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyers for the prosecution, said the government was determined to stamp out terrorism and its related activities from the country.
The minister said, “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe place for everybody.” (NAN)
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GoldMyneTV
SEPARATION IS NOT DIVORCE; COHABITATION IS NOT MARRIAGE
On April 26, 2020, Nigeria lost Dr. Tosin Ajayi, founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Foundation Hospital, one of the country’s most respected private healthcare institutions. His passing was mourned nationally. But within weeks, mourning gave way to litigation.
What followed was not a dispute over medical legacy, but over a much older, unresolved matter: marriage. For the next five years, two women, their children, and the entire Ajayi estate were locked in court. The core question was deceptively simple: Who, under Nigerian law, was the legal wife?
The answer, delivered on March 13, 2026 by Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya of the Lagos High Court, has now become a national case study. It is a verdict that restates, with painful clarity, a principle many Nigerians misunderstand: Separation is not divorce. Cohabitation is not marriage. And sentiment has no weight in probate court.
The Facts: A Marriage Never Legally Ended
Dr. Ajayi had separated from his first wife many years before his death. They lived apart.
They built separate lives. To neighbors, friends, and even to Dr. Ajayi himself, the marriage was “over.” But no petition for dissolution was ever filed. No decree nisi was granted. No decree absolute was issued under the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap M7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Believing the union was effectively dead, Dr. Ajayi entered into another relationship and later married a second woman. He had children with her. She managed his home. She was presented socially as “Mrs. Ajayi.” For all practical purposes, she was the wife.
When Dr. Ajayi died intestate — without a will — both women came forward. The first wife returned to claim her position as legal spouse and administrator of the estate. The second woman countered, “Over my dead body. You abandoned him for years and only reappeared after his death to claim what you left behind.”
The Judgment: What the Court Actually Decided
After five years of evidence, arguments, and legal submissions, Justice Odusanya delivered a judgment that dismantled three common myths:
Myth 1: “Long separation ends marriage.”
The court held: _“Separation, regardless of how long it lasts, does not automatically dissolve a legally valid marriage under the Act.”_ Under Section 15 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, only a court can dissolve a statutory marriage. Separation may prove “irretrievable breakdown,” but it is the judge’s decree, not the passage of time, that terminates the marriage.
Myth 2: “A registry wedding cures everything.”
Evidence showed the second woman was herself legally married to Mr. Davies at the time she allegedly married Dr. Ajayi. The court ruled that her purported marriage to Dr. Ajayi was void ab initio — void from the beginning. Section 47 of the Matrimonial Causes Act states that a marriage is void if either party is already lawfully married. Nigerian statutory marriage is strictly monogamous: one man, one woman. No exceptions.
Myth 3: “Children from the second union will protect her rights.”
The court affirmed that while all children of Dr. Ajayi, whether born within or outside the statutory marriage, are entitled to share in the remaining two-thirds of the estate under the Administration of Estates Law, the second woman herself had no spousal rights. She could not apply for Letters of Administration. She was not entitled to the statutory one-third share reserved for a legal spouse.
Final Orders: The first wife was declared the only legally recognized spouse. She is entitled to one-third of Dr. Ajayi’s personal estate and is the sole person entitled to apply for Letters of Administration. The rest of the estate will be divided among all of Dr. Ajayi’s children.
Why This Matters Beyond One Family:
This judgment is not about Dr. Ajayi alone. It exposes a systemic legal blind spot in Nigerian society:
A. The Monogamy Rule is Absolute
Unlike customary law, which permits polygamy, statutory marriage under the Act is monogamous. A man cannot be “traditionally married” and then “add” a statutory wife. A woman cannot be “customarily married” and then “upgrade” to a registry wedding while the first marriage subsists. The second ceremony is legally meaningless.
B. Customary Divorce ≠ Statutory Divorce
Many Nigerians believe that “returning the bride price” or “family settlement” ends a marriage. For customary marriages, that is correct. But if you later contract a statutory marriage, you must also obtain a statutory divorce. The two systems do not automatically talk to each other. Failing to divorce under the Act means you remain married in the eyes of every bank, court, and probate registry in Nigeria.
C. Intestacy Punishes Poor Planning.
Dr. Ajayi died without a will. Under Lagos State’s Administration of Estates Law, an intestate estate is distributed by formula: 1/3 to the legal spouse, 2/3 to the children. A well-drafted will could have made specific provisions for the second woman and her children, reducing litigation. Without a will, the law, not the deceased’s intentions, decides.
The Hard Lesson for Women — and for Men
To women: This case vindicates every warning about “marrying a married man under the Act.” No matter how long you cohabit, no matter how many children you bear, no matter how “official” your wedding photos look, if his first marriage was never dissolved by a court, you are not a wife in law. You are a partner. A companion.
A mother of his children. But not a spouse with inheritance rights. When death comes, the court will be clinical. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” will sound less like a maxim and more like a sentence.
To men: You cannot “move on” emotionally and legally at different speeds. If your marriage has broken down, do the hard work of obtaining a decree absolute. Until then, every new relationship you formalize is built on legal quicksand. You risk leaving your children and your partner with nothing but litigation.
Three Protective Steps Everyone Must Take Today:
A. Verify Before You Marry: If a suitor says “I am divorced,” do not accept separation agreements or affidavits. Insist on seeing a certified true copy of the Decree Absolute. It is the only document that proves the first marriage is dead in law.
B. Dissolve Properly Before You Remarry: If you are customarily married and want a registry wedding, first dissolve the customary marriage under native law and custom, obtain evidence of that dissolution, then proceed. If you are statutorily married and want out, file a petition. Separation for 20 years still requires a court order.
C. Write a Will, No Matter Your Age or Status: A will is not for “old people.” It is for anyone with assets and dependents. A will allows you to make specific provisions for all your children and even for long-term partners, within the limits of the law. Without it, the state’s formula overrides your wishes.
Let the Courtroom Be Your Teacher, Not Your Destination.
Dr. Tosin Ajayi’s children will inherit. His hospital legacy continues. But the woman he lived with for years will not inherit as a spouse. That is not cruelty. That is the law.
Let this editorial serve as the warning that casual advice cannot deliver. Before you say “I do,” ensure his “I do” from the past has been legally converted to “I don’t” by a court of competent jurisdiction.
In estate matters, the courtroom does not interpret intentions. It interprets documents. And the only document that ends a marriage is a Decree Absolute. Everything else is just separation.
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