News
Court Frees Adeleke’s Co-Accused In Alleged Exam Malpractices Suit
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday discharged and acquitted four persons accused alongside a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Nurudeen Adeleke, in the alleged examination malpractices suit.
Justice Ekwo freed the defendants from the seven amended count charge while delivering ruling in their no-case submission against the suit.
The police had in 2018 arraigned Adeleke along with Sikiru Adeleke (who is said to be the senator’s relative), Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (the school principal), Gbadamosi Ojo (a school registrar) and Dare Olutope (a teacher) on a four-count charge bordering on examination fraud.
However, the court had last year freed Adeleke from the charges after it was withdrawn by the police.
The police predicated their action on the grounds that Adeleke had failed to make himself available for the trial since he was granted leave to travel abroad on medical grounds on May 19, 2019.
The police then prayed the court to sever the charge to exclude Adeleke from the trial and arraigned the remaining four on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy.
After calling five witnesses, the police closed its case which led to the filing of a no-case submission by the defendants.
In his ruling on the no-case submission, Justice Ekwo held that the prosecution failed to establish prima facie case having not proved the ingredients of the charge.
Ekwo further held that the burden of proof rests on the prosecution, which according to him, failed woefully in discharging the burden by not calling relevant witnesses.
“No witness was called from the National Examination Council (NECO) to testify throughout the trial. To worsen the situation, no eyewitness was called from the school where the alleged malpractices was perpetrated,” Ekwo held.
Besides, the judge said that there was no iota of the ingredients of conspiracy supplied to the court by the police to establish that the four defendants conspired to commit the alleged malpractices.
“In all, the evidence of the five witnesses were so discredited during cross- examination and so manifestly unreliable to warrant the defendants to be called upon to enter their defence in the charges against them.
“In conclusion, since the testimony of the prosecution is insufficient to warrant the defendants to open defence, I have no difficulty in upholding their no-case submission and discharge and acquit them from the charges. The suit is hereby dismissed,” the judge held.
In the charge, Ademola and Sikiru were accused of fraudulently, through impersonation, registering as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro, Osun State to enable them sit for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017.
The other three defendants were accused of aiding the commission of the alleged offence, in the charge filed in the name of the Inspector General of Police (IG).
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, issued the directive during an unscheduled visit to the facility on Sunday.
He also revealed plans to launch a nationwide emergency care training programme aimed at standardising and improving response capacities across public hospitals.
The visit came in response to a viral video showing victims of an accident allegedly left unattended at the hospital’s emergency unit. The footage, which sparked outrage and allegations of negligence on social media, prompted the government to set up an investigative panel to probe the incident.
Dr. Salako said he received the panel’s report before arriving at the hospital. During the inspection, he engaged with frontline medical staff, assessed infrastructure, and reviewed the facility’s operational readiness to handle emergencies.
“You are in the eye of the storm, responsible for saving lives. Even if you’ve done one million things right, one mistake is what the public will remember,” Salako told the staff during the visit.
As part of immediate corrective measures, the minister ordered the hospital management to increase the number of casualty officers per shift from two to at least four, aimed at improving response time and ensuring newly recruited health assistants are fully integrated into clinical operations.
Salako also identified infrastructure gaps within the emergency unit, calling for urgent upgrades to complement recent improvements in electricity and water supply. “These improvements must be ongoing and focused on patient needs,” he stressed.
On security concerns, hospital officials told the minister that the facility is working with private security firms and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to regulate access to the emergency area.
Salako emphasised the need for enhanced surveillance systems, noting that CCTV footage has proved critical in previous investigations.
Responding to the minister’s inquiries, Head of the Emergency Unit, Dr. Timothy Sama’ila, admitted existing challenges such as limited space, high patient volumes, and staff shortages.
The minister’s visit underscored the government’s renewed commitment to ensuring that all Nigerians have access to prompt and quality emergency care services.
Former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has joined millions of Nigerians in mourning the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a statesman whose leadership embodied integrity, patriotism, and an unwavering commitment to the ideals of national unity and progress.
In a solemn tribute, Ambode recounted the personal and institutional support Buhari extended to Lagos State during his administration, emphasizing that the former president’s actions reflected his deep appreciation for the state’s strategic importance.
“President Buhari was a strong and ardent supporter of Lagos State,” Ambode stated. “During my tenure as Governor, he granted us significant concessions, including the permission to upgrade the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road to a multi-carriage highway and the handover of several federal properties like the Presidential Lodge in Marina.”
He noted that Buhari’s decisions were not merely political gestures but signs of visionary leadership anchored in fairness, equity, and a desire to see every part of Nigeria thrive.
“President Buhari led with dignity, calm resolve, and a fear of God. His belief in the promise of our nation and his deep sense of responsibility to the people defined his time in office,” Ambode said.
While extending condolences to the Buhari family and the nation, Ambode prayed for peace for the departed and comfort for those left behind. “On behalf of my family and myself, I offer our deepest condolences. May Almighty Allah accept his good deeds and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus.”
Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, is widely remembered for his firm stance on anti-corruption, discipline in governance, and national cohesion.
As tributes continue to pour in, Ambode’s message highlights the enduring legacy Buhari leaves behind, a legacy of service, principle, and commitment to Nigeria’s unity.
…Paperwork Ongoing For Release Of Buhari’s Body In London
Former President Muhammadu Buhari would be buried on Tuesday and not today, as earlier reported.
He died on Sunday afternoon in a London clinic.
A presidential delegation arrived London on Monday morning to repatriate his body home, The Nation had earlier reported.
Katsina Deputy Governor Lawal Jobe announced the postponement of the burial to reporters on Monday afternoon in a chat with reporters..
Jobe arrived the Daura residence of the former President by 11.27am to inspect the site for the final burial.
Meanwhile, the paperwork to perfect the release of the remains of former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari from a hospital in London has begun.
It was disclosed that the remains of the late Nigerian former president would be released once the documentations were perfected.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other top government functionaries are in London to bring Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria.
Channels Television reported that Shettima and other Nigerian top government officials are helping to facilitate the final paper works for the release of Buhari’s remains.
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