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Tag: Minna

  • Court remands prime suspect in murder of FUT Minna Professor

    Court remands prime suspect in murder of FUT Minna Professor

    The prime suspect arrested in the murder of an Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Professor Funmilola Adefolalu has been remanded at the Children Correctional Centre in Minna.

    The suspect, 14-year-old Joy Afekafe was arraigned before a Minna Chief Magistrate Court on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and armed robbery.

    The prosecutor told the Chief Magistrate, Fati Hassan Umar that two other suspects in the crime identified as Wallex and Smart are still at large

    The prosecutor pleaded with the court to remand the accused to the Correctional Centre to enable the police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice for legal advice as he pointed out that the Chief Magistrate Court does not have the jurisdiction to try the case.

    Read Also: Tears as murdered FUT Minna lecturer is laid to rest

    When the charges were read to the suspect, she pleaded not guilty to the crime.

    Chief Magistrate Umar directed that Afekafe should be remanded at the Children Correctional Centre because she is 14 years of age before adjourning the case to 11th of December for further mention.

    The Nation had reported that the suspect had been arrested following her involvement in the murder of the deceased Associate Professor who employed her as a housemaid.

    Afekafe during interrogation had said that she led two other suspects who were still at large to the deceased house where she and the others beat up the deceased with the two boys stabbing her with knives.

     The Prosecutor while recounting the case further said that the suspect and her accomplices had carted away $3000, one laptop computer, one mobile phone, two power banks, and a car battery.

  • Tears as murdered FUT Minna lecturer is laid to rest

    Tears as murdered FUT Minna lecturer is laid to rest

    Children, family, colleagues, church members, and friends could not stop tears from flowing when lecturer of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, who was killed by her housemaid, Dr. Fumilola Adefolalu, was laid to rest.

    Adefolalu was buried at the Christian Cemetary at David Mark Road in Minna after a solemn service at the Voice of Mercy Ministry where she was a Pastor. 

    Even though those who attended the internment at the graveside tried to be brave and hold back, the tears came voluntarily when her body was laid down and sand poured on the coffin.

    The words of ‘dust to dust’, and ‘ashes to ashes’ made family, colleagues, friends and church members to start crying.

    During the solemn service, the deceased’s first daughter, Toluwalope Adefolalu-Odogiyon, said her mother gave her all and worked each day as if it was her last.

    “Mummy, my heart was completely broken and shattered by the news of your death. I didn’t know it was possible for a heart to ache with so much pain, literally, and still continue to beat. It still sounds unbelievable. I have so many questions but I know nothing could have prepared me for the agony, immense heartache, overwhelming thoughts, and traumatizing episodes that came with losing you.

    ” My mother lived well and fully, she held nothing back. I am not your Maker but I am somewhat certain you gave your all and you lived fully. I believe you are enjoying the rest you talked about. That I will miss you Mummy is an understatement. We had very good memories and even more plans for the future, this is what hurts the most.

    “I miss our long gists already, your laughter, your prayers and your pampering me. You were there through every milestone and life season, every single one. Missing you is very painful but I am more thankful that I had you as a Mom for the time that I did and grateful for the memories,” she said.

    Her son, Seyi Adefolalu, who read the biography, said it still feels surreal adding that he never felt he would end the year this way.

    “Daddy could not see the man I would become. Now, you wouldn’t see the father I will become. Who shall I take my bride to now? Who shall cry with me when I become a daddy? You only but recently joked about the lady I would marry and now you wouldn’t see that too. This hurts really bad.

    Read Also: Murdered FUT Minna lecturer for burial Saturday

    ” Your voice, how can I forget, u didn’t really like that then but now I know. Your kisses, how can I forget, your hugs, your whippings, and your preachings, how can I forget? Words fail me, tears fail me, and dreams feel real but this can’t ever be real to me this can’t be the way I end this year but God knows. Iya Jesu, the nickname I just gave you. My strong woman. Goodnight. Rest in joy till we meet again,” he said.

    The Senior Pastor of Voice of Mercy Ministry, Rev. Ojo Peters described her as ‘Mama Mercy’ saying that she was very strong and pastored the branch where she was a Resident Pastor very efficiently.

    He said that he preached the shortest message of his life on the day she was found dead in her residence adding that he had several questions which remain unanswered but he believes that God has a reason for everything.

    Peters pointed out that her death remains a mystery that no one can fathom but stated that God understands better than anybody. 

  • 14-year-old girl arrested over murder of FUT Minna lecturer

    14-year-old girl arrested over murder of FUT Minna lecturer

    A 14-year-old girl identified as Joy Afekafe has been apprehended over her involvement in the murder of Dr Fumilola Adefolalu, who was a lecturer with the Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences of the Federal University of Technology, Minna on Saturday, October 28.

    Joy, who confessed to the crime while being paraded at the Bosso Police Station in Minna, Niger state, said that she had gone to the house to confront and beat up the late lecturer for sending her packing.

    According to Joy, she had gone to the deceased residence with two of her classmates whom she identified as Walex and Smart, adding that while beating her, it was discovered that the lecturer would report them when she was left alone which was why they decided to kill her.

    The suspect who is an SS 2 Student of Day Secondary School, Gidan Kuka, said that Smart and Walex first hit the deceased with a stool before stabbing the deceased with knives repeatedly and leaving her dead.

    She stated: “It was Walex who said that she would recognize us if we left her alive, so they started stabbing her with the knife we brought, I then struggled with the knife with them which made Smart enter her kitchen and take a knife there and they continued stabbing her.

    “They stabbed her in her stomach, her hands, her legs and she was just shouting Jesus, Jesus. After all that, they took her phone and laptop and her car battery before we left the house in the motorcycle we came in.”

    Joy said she had been living with the deceased for three weeks, adding that the deceased who was supposed to sponsor her education sent her packing because she could no longer bear her misdeeds.

    The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abiodun Wasiu while parading the suspect, said that the police are on the trail of Joy’s friends, Walex and Smart, saying that the investigation is ongoing as the case is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.

    The church where the deceased was a pastor, Voice of Mercy Ministry, has demanded swift justice following the arrest of the principal suspect in the murder of its Pastor, Dr. Fumilola Adefolalu.

    The church, while commending the efforts of the law enforcement agencies in apprehending one of the principal suspects, said that they hoped the arrest would lead to the arrest of other perpetrators who were involved in the wicked act.

    The statement signed by the Head of Media and Communications, Pastor Bolaji Olanipekun read: “The Voice of Mercy Ministry is deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic and senseless murder of our beloved Pastor, Dr Mrs Fumilola Adefolalu. This heinous act has left a profound impact on our congregation, and we are united in our resolve to seek justice for our dear pastor.

    Read Also: Principal suspect of murdered FUTMinna lecturer in custody

    “We call upon the security operatives and every law enforcement agency involved in this case to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice. We urge them to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, ensuring that all evidence is diligently examined and all leads are followed.

    “As a church, we stand on the path for truth and justice and declare that everyone involved in the murder of our Pastor faces the full wrath of the law. We are seeking justice for her untimely and unjust demise. We trust that the law will ensure that those responsible for this horrific crime are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

    The church stated that the loss of Pastor Fumilola Adefolalu has left an indelible void within our church adding that her unwavering faith, compassion, and dedication to serving others will always be remembered.

  • Niger partners U.S varsity on Minna study centre

    Niger partners U.S varsity on Minna study centre

    Niger State and Kent State University in Ohio, United States have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).

     This agreement encompasses student and lecturer exchange programmes, scholarships, vocational and executive education, and institutional capacity enhancement for educational establishments, among others.

     Furthermore, the state intends to establish a Niger State – Kent State University Study Centre in Minna.

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     This centre will offer a platform for students and faculty to participate in academic and cultural exchanges to augment educational prospects.

    Governor Mohammed Bago said the MoA marks a milestone in the drive to set the benchmark for education in Nigeria.

     In another meeting in Kent, Ohio, Bago engaged Nigeria-USA Chamber of Commerce.

     The chamber presented opportunities for collaboration in agriculture, value chain enhancement, exports, and mining with the government

  • FUT Minna students protest over death of 200L student

    FUT Minna students protest over death of 200L student

    Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna blocked the ever-busy Minna-Bida road on Sunday, September 10, when a truck killed a 200-level student and injured two others.

    The accident occurred in front of the gate of the main campus of the University at Gidan Kwano on the outskirts of Minna.

    It was learned that the deceased was a 200-level student of Electrical Engineering identified as Abdulazeez while the identity of the other two are currently unknown.

    The students were said to have been on a motorcycle from their residence in Gidan Kwano to the school campus when the truck that was trying to overtake another vehicle at its front allegedly lost control and rammed into the three students.

    The other two students are receiving treatment in Minna General Hospital while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary.

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    The students in their protest stated that several demands have been made to the school authority to put speed bumps on the road so that any vehicle approaching the school gate would slow down but the school has yet to put in the measure.

    Some students in the department of the deceased disclosed that the deceased student had lost his mother last week.

    The Niger state Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kumar Tsukwam confirmed the incident, saying that it was a fatal crash where one person died and two others were injured.

    He said that the crash was a fatal and multiple crash caused by overspeeding and wrongful overtaking adding that it involved a truck that was heading to Bida and a Bajaj motorcycle that was conveying the three students coming from Gidan Kwano to the school campus.

    Tsukwam said that the truck and the motorcycle are currently under police custody

    As at the time of filing this report, the police were shooting teargas in an attempt to disperse the students from protesting.

  • Man electrocuted trying to steal transformer cables in Minna

    Man electrocuted trying to steal transformer cables in Minna

    A yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man was electrocuted while attempting to steal transformer cables in the premises of the Niger State Printing Press in Minna.

    The man was said to have jumped through the fence to gain access to the printing press and had succeeded in cutting the ammo cable before he was electrocuted.

    The deceased was found dead on Friday morning, September 8, inside the transformer by security men of the state printing press, holding two of the wires suspected to have electrocuted him.

    Read Also: Four arrested for stealing 500 goats in Minna

    The security men who discovered him had to call officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) who took him away.

    The Head of the Legal Unit at the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Aminu Ubandoma said that the company had been receiving several reports of transformer vandalism, saying they are working with security agencies to reduce the rate of vandalism on electricity infrastructure across the state.

  • FUT, Minna matriculates 4,944

    FUT, Minna matriculates 4,944

    From Justina Asishana, Minna

    The Federal University of Technology, Minna has matriculated 4,944 students with a caution to them to always dress decently in line with the university dress code to avoid embarrassment by the security.

     Its Vice-Chancellor, Pro. Faruk Adamu Kuta, who gave the charge during the 35th matriculation ceremony of the institution, assured the new students of having a worthwhile experience during the period of their study in the university.

     According to him, 16,556 candidates applied for admission to the university through Direct Entry/Post-UTME, out of which 6,877 sat for post-UTME and 6,053 candidates were offered admission.

     He added that only 5,165 accepted the admission offer and 4,944 were duly registered as at the time of the matriculation.

    Read Also; ‘Education minister’ll not disappoint Nigerians’

     Kuta urged the students to register and use the University Health Services on both of its campuses and avoid going on self-medication or consulting quack doctors.

     He also said that the university is alive with academics, socials, sports, students’ politics and religious activities for the overall development of the students, urging the new students to make adequate use of the facilities at their disposal such as libraries, laboratories workshops and Information Technology Services (ITS) to enhance learning and research.

     The vice chancellor also advised the students to keep away from any acts contrary to the rules and regulations of the university and avoid associating with people of questionable character and integrity.

     He then called on the students to be security conscious at all times, urging them to report any suspicious movement and objects to relevant authorities.

  • FUTMinna matriculates 4,944 students

    FUTMinna matriculates 4,944 students

    The Federal University of Technology, Minna has matriculated 4,944 students with the caution to the new students to dress decently in line with the University dress code to avoid embarrassment by the security.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university,  Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, who gave the charge during the 35th matriculation of the institution, assured the new students of having a worthwhile experience during  their stay in the university.

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    According to him, 16,556 candidates applied for admission to the University through Direct Entry/PostUTME, out of which 6,877 sat for post-UTME while 6,053 candidates were offered admission, adding that only 5,165 accepted the offer and 4,944 had registered.

    Kuta urged the students to register and use the University Health Services at its campuses and avoid self-medication or consulting quack doctors.

    He also said the University is alive with academics, socials, sports, student politics, and religious activities for the development of the students urging the new students to make adequate use of the facilities at their disposal such as libraries,  laboratories workshops, and Information Technology Services (ITS) to enhance learning and research.

    The Vice-Chancellor also advised the students to keep away from any acts that are contrary to the rules and regulations of the University and avoid associating with people of questionable character and integrity.

     He called on the students to be security conscious.

     urging them to report any suspicious movement and objects to relevant authorities.

  • Kidnappers’ hideouts, arms discovered in Niger

    The Niger state Police Command has discovered some buildings that serve as hideouts for kidnappers in Minna, Niger state.

    The Nation confirmed that three of such buildings in Bosso area in Minna, discovered following tip off by some members of the community, have been sealed up by the Police as security operatives have been drafted to the area.

    The Nation learnt that when the police raided the houses, seven people were arrested while some AK47 rifles were recovered. Efforts made to get information from the Police have proved abortive.

    When The Nation called the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Muhammad, he said he was out of the town for a course but was able to confirm knowledge of the buildings.

    Read Also: Police arrest three suspected kidnappers, 119 others in Kano

    He, however, said any information given out now may jeopardize their investigation saying that investigation is ongoing. However, the police spokesman said once investigation is concluded, journalists would be called and adequately briefed.

    “We are already investigating the matter when we finish our investigation we will let you know the details”, he said. Efforts made to get to the houses were not possible as security men did not allow anyone to go close to the houses.

    The police commissioner, Adamu Usman, told some newsmen that they were tampering with their investigations warning them not to get close to the houses. However, residents around the vicinity where the houses were discovered confirmed the raid by police saying a number of persons were arrested but could not ascertain the number.

  • Court remands painter for ‘raping’ girl, 17

    A Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday ordered that a painter, Zubairu Apaila, be remanded in prison, for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.

    The police charged Apaila, 23, with three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child; exposure of a child to narcotics and prohibition of a child from attending and remaining in school.

    Magistrate Mariam Kings ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison, due to the gravity of the offence.

    Kings adjourned the case till June 11, for further mention.

    Prosecuting Inspector Aliyu Yakubu had told the court that the mother of the victim, Mrs. Talatu Manga of Rafin Yashi, Minna, reported the matter at the Child’s Rights Agency, which later referred the matter to the police on May 17.

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    He said the complainant alleged that the defendant lured her daughter, 17, into his room at Tudun Fulani and raped her.

    Yakubu noted that during police investigation, the police discovered that from January to date, the defendant had introduced the girl to smoking cigarettes.

    He alleged that the defendant also stopped the victim from going to school during the period.

    The offence, he said, contravened sections 18 (2), 14 (2) and 17 (3) of the Child Rights Law of Niger State 2010.

    The prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment to enable police complete investigations into the matter.

    Apaila, however, pleaded not guilty.