Zulum donates ₦150m To Families Of Soldiers K1lled By Boko Haram

Governor Babagana Zulum on Wednesday donated ₦150 million to the families of three military officers who lost their lives in recent attacks.

Governor Babagana Zulum on Wednesday donated ₦150 million to the families of three military officers who lost their lives in recent attacks.

A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, disclosed this.

Mr Iliya said the donations were made during a condolence visit to the families of the officers who lost their lives during counter-insurgency operations in Maiduguri.

The spokesperson said that in addition to the military and other security personnel, the governor also extended assistance to families of volunteer forces killed in action, including scholarship programmes for their children.

As part of his efforts to personally identify with the bereaved families, Mr Iliya said the governor also visited the families of the late Umar Farouq, Salihu Iliyasu, and Aliyu Saidu Paiko.

He said Mr Zulum first visited the family of Mr Iliyasu in Abuja, where the deceased’s wives, Na’ima and Rakiya, received him.

The spokesperson said the governor expressed his condolences and paid tribute to the officer’s service to the nation.

“On behalf of the government and people of Borno state, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Late Iliyasu was a dedicated and committed servant of the nation whose contributions will not be forgotten,” Mr Zulum said.

Mr Iliya further stated that the governor then presented a cheque for ₦50 million to the family.

Zulum

He said that Mr Zulum subsequently travelled to Niger and Kano, where he presented cheques of ₦50 million each to the families of Messrs. Paiko and Farouq.

He commended the slain commanding officers for their gallantry, patriotism, and sacrifices in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

He said the governor further announced plans to visit the families of other officers k1lled or missing in action in the ongoing military operations, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to standing by the families of officers and men who paid the ultimate price in defence of the nation.

Senegal’s Energy Minister Visits NNPC Ltd

Energy Minister. Earlier today at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, the GCEO NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari received in audience a delegation from the Republic of Senegal, led by the country’s Minister for Energy, His Excellency, Birame Souley Diop.

During the engagement, the Senegalese delegation highlighted the country’s commitment to strengthen its downstream petroleum sector and expressed interest in leveraging NNPC Ltd’s technical expertise and operational experience in the field.

Senegal’s Energy Minister Visits NNPC Ltd

In response, the GCEO, represented by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Adedapo Segun, pledged NNPC’s support in exploring mutually beneficial opportunities, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in advancing industrial growth and energy security across West Africa.

ICPC Arraigns Former NAQS Acting Comptroller-General Over Alleged Corrupt Enrichment, Age Falsification

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr. Godwin Sunday Audu, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja, over allegations of corrupt enrichment and falsification of age.

Dr. Audu was arraigned on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, before Honourable Justice Binta Dogonyaro on a three-count charge filed by the Commission and marked CR/634/25.

The charges allege that the defendant, at various times between January 1990 and December 2024, abused his office to confer corrupt advantage upon himself and falsified his date of birth to unlawfully extend his tenure in the federal public service.

At the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the defendant, L. O. Ali, sought to raise preliminary objections, contending that a similar matter was pending before another court and alleging that the instant charge was filed in bad faith.

However, counsel to the ICPC, Glory Iroegbu, opposed the application, relying on Section 396 (1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which requires that arraignment be concluded before the hearing of any preliminary objections.

In a ruling, Justice Dogonyaro upheld the position of the prosecution and directed that the defendant take his plea.

One of the counts alleges that Dr. Audu, while serving as Acting Comptroller General of NAQS, used his position to confer corrupt advantage upon himself by procuring the sale of an official Toyota Prado Land Cruiser SUV to himself for the sum of ₦4,000,000.00 without following due process, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The Commission further alleged that the defendant made a false declaration of age in January 1990 to officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development by stating his date of birth as December 3, 1964, instead of July 25, 1960.

According to the charge, the defendant also allegedly continued to receive salaries and emoluments between January 2020 and December 2024 beyond his legitimate retirement period, having relied on the purported falsification of his date of birth to fraudulently extend his years of service.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, defence counsel applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution.

ICPC

Justice Dogonyaro granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5,000,000.00 per count, with two sureties in like sum. The court further directed that the sureties must be property owners within the FCT, with at least one being a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 10. The defendant was also ordered to deposit his international passport and other relevant travel documents with the court registry.

The matter was adjourned to May 14, 2026, for commencement of hearing.

Signed
J. Okor Odey, Anipr
Spokesperson for the Commission