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Alleged N4.478b contracts fraud: Eight firms indicted

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UBEC

Eight companies which got N4.478 billion to supply 104 Unity Colleges Science Kits disappeared with the cash, The Nation has learnt.

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to admit that the kits were not supplied.

The anti-graft agency is probing top UBEC. officials for alleged diversion of a huge chunk of the N20 billion voted for contracts.

One of the contracts is the supply of science and technical equipment and books.

The movement of about eight suspects has been restricted to the country following the seizure of their passports.

UBEC conducted an audit of the items supplied by the eight companies.

In a March 1, 2018 letter to the EFCC, signed by an Assistant Director for Procurement, Benjamin A. Smart, UBEC confirmed that there was fraud in the contracts.

The letter said: “The total cost of items not delivered by the eight companies is N4,478,683, 300”.

The worth of the undelivered items and the companies allegedly involved are: L’enfant Enterprises Limited (N837,944,500); Callandar Investment (N639,474,000); Broomley Technologies (N533,516,500); Broomley Laboratories (N313,933,100); Benfield Nigeria Limited(N397,058,600); Adeyinka Ventures Limited (N764,671,300); Taiso Global (N565,179,800);  and Aristocrat SPC (N426,904,500).

The companies could not be reached for comments last night.

An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “UBEC wrote us based on documents collected from over 104 Federal Government Colleges and other schools.

“We discovered that most of the contracts awarded to at least seven of these eight companies were not bidded for. There was alleged violation of due process.

“We have pleaded on the accounts of the affected companies in line with the ongoing investigation.

“Apart from UBEC, our detectives invited the principals of the 104 schools and their store officers to give account of the quantity of the items supplied. Some schools received about 30% of their equipment, some got 40% and some 50%.

“About three to four schools in the Northeast, particularly those sited in Boko Haram insurgency axis, did not receive any science and technical equipment.

“When we discovered that these equipment were not supplied, EFCC investigators decided to track the money paid by UBEC.  The detectives discovered that about N5 billion was paid out to some individuals with a strong suspicion that it might have been diverted and used for the 2015 general elections.”

The source added: “We will soon release our findings on the textbook contracts awarded by UBEC within the same period.

WHO GOT WHAT

•L’enfant Enterprises Ltd (N837,944,500)
•Callandar Investment (N639,474,000)
•Broomley Technologies (N533,516,500)
•Broomley Laboratories (N313,933,100)
•Benfield Nigeria Ltd (N397,058,600)
•Adeyinka Ventures Ltd (N764,671,300)
•Taiso Global (N565,179,800)
•Aristocrat SPC (N426,904,500)

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JUST IN: Court Rejects “Terrorists’ Negotiator” Tukur Mamu’s Third Bail Application

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a fresh application for bail filed by detained alleged terrorists negotiator, Tukur Mohammed Mamu.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Wednesday, noted the health complaint by Mamu and held that the detaining authority, the Department of State Services (DSS) should not release him but take him to an appropriate health facility where he would be adequately attended to.

Justice Umar noted that, by the history of the case so far, the prosecution has exhibited diligence in it handling of the case and exhibited diligence in prosecuting the case.

The judge said one of the reasons for granting bail is where the prosecution is not diligent, noting that since the prosecution in this case is diligent, the application for bail cannot be granted.

He subsequently ordered that the defence lawyer should choose the health facility comfortable to the defendant, to which he should be promptly taken.

He also asked the DSS to allow the defendant access to members of his family.

The ruling on Wednesday is the third time the court will reject his application for bail since his was arraigned on March 21, 2023 by the Federal Government on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, among others.

Mamu was arrested on September 7, 2022 by Egyptian security officials at the Cairo International Airport, on reasonable suspicion of financing Boko Haram terrorism activities.

He was alleged to have convinced the terrorists to discuss ransom payments with individual families of the hostages of the train attack instead of the Chief of Defense Staff Committee set up by the Federal Government for his personal financial gain.

He was said to have been nominated by the terrorists that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train sometime in March 2022 which took scores of persons hostage.

Mamu was alleged to have collected ransoms on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorists from families of hostages, confirmed the amount and facilitated the delivery of same to the terrorists.

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BREAKING: ASUU suspends two-week warning strike

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike.

The National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known in an ongoing press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Piwuna, the decision stemmed from the meeting of the National Executive Council meeting which was held overnight and ended by 4:00 am on Wednesday.

Piwuna noted that the union decided to embark on the strike due to the failure of the government to meet its demands on time.

“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. However, we are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike.

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Update : police tracks down mastermind of railway vandalism, recovers load of stolen Materials in Plateau, Says Opeifa

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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had a major breakthrough recently it its efforts to apprehend the vandals of its critical assets across the country.
Towards this end, the Corporation’s police Command has arrested one Musa Abdullahi, aka Major aged 32, a notorious receiver and kingpin of vandalized railway materials, in Kaduna.
The arrest was a major success recorded by the Corporation in its campaign against the vandalisation and theft of railway materials, just as it intercepted a trailer loaded with railway components In plateau State.
In Kaduna, operatives of the Nigerian Police, Railway Command, arrested the suspect around the Rigasa area.
His arrest followed intelligence reports on the vandalism of electrical installations along the Mando–Rigasa corridor on Tuesday,14th October 2025.
Investigation is ongoing, and the case will be charged to court on conclusion.
In Plateau State, operatives of the Nigeria Police, Railway Command, intercepted trailer conveying large quantities of railway materials along KM 822–823, Foromaxis, in the early hours of Tuesday, 14th October 2025.
The truck, which was abandoned by its driver who fled the scene, was successfully towed to the Jos Railway Police Station on Wednesday, 15th October 2025.
Investigation is on going to uncover and apprehend all individuals connected to the theft.
The Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, commended the Nigeria Police for their professionalism, intelligence-led operation, and swift action in handling both incidents.
He described the arrests and recovery as clear evidence of the renewed synergy between the Corporation and security agencies in protecting critical railway infrastructure across the country.
Dr. Opeifa reaffirmed the Corporation’s resolve to strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security formations to ensure that vandals, receivers, and collaborators are brought to justice.
He emphasized that such criminal acts amount to economic sabotage, warning that the NRC Management will continue to pursue zero tolerance for vandalism through enhanced surveillance, community engagement,and intelligence sharing.
Opeifa further appealed to residents of communities hosting railway facilities to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movement around rail installations.
He noted that the railway system remains a major driver of national development and urged the public to view its protection as a shared responsibility.

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