By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Senate yesterday took far-reaching decisions on the nation’s worsening security situation, ordering security agencies to track down perpetrators of the latest killings in Benue State while approving a ₦50 million support package for the families of security personnel and teachers who died during the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State.

The upper legislative chamber strongly condemned the killings and destruction of communities in Benue South Senatorial District, directing the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs to immediately deploy all necessary resources to apprehend those responsible and ensure they face justice.

The resolutions followed an urgent motion sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, on the recent attacks on Akpauchi-Ugboju, Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo-Ugboju communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Presenting the motion, Moro said coordinated attacks over the weekend claimed 18 lives in Akpauchi-Ugboju and Otukpo-Nobi, while a fresh assault on Ondo-Ugboju on July 14 left two more people dead, triggering widespread panic, displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

He warned that the sustained attacks appeared to be a deliberate attempt to wipe out affected communities, cautioning that continued insecurity could lead to a breakdown of law and order and worsen food insecurity as farmers abandon their farmlands.

The Senate adopted all prayers contained in the motion, mandating the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation, identify the attackers and prosecute them.

It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to immediately provide relief materials, including food, medical supplies and shelter, to displaced residents and victims receiving treatment.

In addition, the Senate directed its Committees on Police Affairs, Defence, and National Security and Intelligence to engage security agencies on their operational strategies in Benue South and ensure effective implementation of the resolutions.

Speaking with journalists after the plenary, Moro criticised Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia over what he described as a poor response to security challenges, alleging that intelligence about the attacks had been available before they occurred but was not acted upon.

He claimed the Benue State Commissioner of Police had received intelligence a week before the attacks and was unable to brief the governor despite repeated efforts.

Expressing frustration over the recurring violence, Moro warned that if government authorities failed to adequately protect the people, affected communities might be compelled to defend themselves.

Meanwhile, the Senate also approved a ₦50 million donation to the families of five Nigerians who lost their lives during the operation that rescued schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity.

The resolution followed a proposal by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who said the donation was in recognition of the sacrifices made by the deceased security personnel and teachers.

Under the arrangement, each of the five bereaved families will receive ₦10 million.

Akpabio recalled that the Senate had earlier commended President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies for the successful rescue operation and praised the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry of Defence and the President for their roles.

He identified the fallen security personnel as Lieutenant F. A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa and Sergeant Abena John Jerome, while the two teachers who died in captivity were named as Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun.

The Senate President directed the leadership of the upper chamber to present the cheques to the affected families, expressing hope that the financial support would provide some relief and underscore the Senate’s appreciation for the sacrifices of the deceased.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government, ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that Malami, members of his family and companies linked to the properties failed to dislodge the evidential burden placed on them to show that the assets were acquired from legitimate sources of income.

The court dismissed several applications, motions on notice and applications to show cause filed by the respondents, describing them as “Wanting in merit.”

In her judgment, Justice Abdulmalik stressed that the issue before the court was not ownership of the properties but the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire them.

“The issue before the court is not who owns the properties, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” the judge held, adding that the respondents “failed to dislodge the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired by unlawful activities.”

Relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the court granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.

Among the forfeited assets are Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, including its permanent and temporary campuses and the Vice Chancellor’s residence; Rayhaan Radio; several hotels in Abuja and Kano; commercial plazas; luxury residential buildings; factories; filling stations; warehouses; agricultural land; and other high-value properties spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Kano and Kebbi States.

The court, however, discharged the interim forfeiture order in respect of nine properties located in Kebbi and Kaduna States after holding that the EFCC failed to establish sufficient evidence linking them to unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency had in January instituted non-conviction-based civil forfeiture proceedings seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about N212.8 billion, alleging they were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former AGF.

Justice Emeka Nwite had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order and directed the EFCC to publish the order in national newspapers to allow interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.

Following the publication, Malami, his wife Nana Hadiza Malami, his son Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami and several companies challenged the interim order, insisting that the properties were lawfully acquired. They argued that the EFCC failed to establish any nexus between the assets and criminal activities, relying instead on speculation without identifying any predicate offence.

At the hearing, the EFCC maintained that investigations showed the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and held through family members and companies acting as fronts for Malami. The commission argued that under the law governing civil forfeiture proceedings, it was only required to establish reasonable suspicion rather than prove criminal guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

In affirming the commission’s position, Justice Abdulmalik held that in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings, respondents must provide credible evidence showing the lawful sources of funds used to acquire disputed assets, noting that mere claims of ownership were insufficient.

The judgment followed the adoption of final written addresses by the parties in May and brings to a close months of legal contest over one of the country’s largest civil asset forfeiture cases.

By David Torough, Abuja

Nigeria’s healthcare sector received a major boost on Friday as Dangote Cement Plc commissioned a multimillion naira hospital in Obajana, Kogi State.

The commissioning ceremony also featured the conferment of traditional chieftaincy titles on the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, the Plant Director of the Obajana Plant, Azad Nawabuddin, Head of Social Performance, Wakeel Olayiwola, General Manager Social Performance, Obajana, Ademola Adeyemi, Head Human Resource and Admin and Dangote Packaging Limited, Bashir Uba.

Pathak was conferred with the prestigious title of Mayegun of Obajana Kingdom, while Nawabuddin and Olayiwola received the traditional titles of Babagunwa and Adeyanju, respectively.

The new hospital is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme designed to improve access to quality healthcare for residents of Obajana and neighbouring communities.

The Bajana of Obajana, Idowi Isenibi, described the project completion as a dream come true, adding that his community will protect the facility and the equipment, and ensure that it serves the purpose.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Panjala Sreedhar, said the project was conceived after extensive consultations and community needs assessments that identified healthcare as a major priority.

He explained that the Cottage Hospital was built to provide comprehensive primary and secondary healthcare services, reducing the burden on residents who previously travelled long distances to access medical treatment.

According to him, the facility is equipped with male, female and children’s wards, private wards, consulting rooms, a meeting room, 19 sanitary facilities, digital blood pressure monitoring devices, a dedicated borehole water supply and other essential medical infrastructure.

He expressed confidence that the hospital would improve maternal and child healthcare, strengthen healthcare delivery and enhance the overall wellbeing of residents in Obajana and surrounding communities.

Sreedhar noted that Dangote Cement has consistently invested in education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment and livelihood programmes across Obajana, Oyo, Iwaa, Apata and Jakura communities through continuous engagement with stakeholders.

He announced that the company has also approved additional projects, including ICT centres for Oyo and Iwaa communities, electrification projects in Jakura, vocational and skills acquisition programmes for youths, perimeter fencing of the Obajana Cultural Heritage Site and fencing of the UBE Secondary School in Apata.

The Acting Plant Director reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustaining strong partnerships with its host communities and creating shared value through impactful development projects.

He also appreciated Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, saying the administration’s support has contributed significantly to the growth of Dangote Cement’s operations in Kogi State.

Speaking on behalf of Governor Ododo, the Special Assistant on Corporate Social Responsibility, Hon. Paul Sunday, commended Dangote Cement for its sustained investments in community development and urged the company to provide medical personnel to operate the facility pending the deployment of health workers by the local government.

Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Council, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu, described the hospital as a major intervention that would improve healthcare access for residents, urging members of the community to make effective use of the facility.

Adamu also appealed to Dangote Cement to sustain its support for local security outfits, particularly vigilante groups operating within the Obajana community, to further strengthen peace and security.

The Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of the Okun Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Oba Solomon Owoniyi, praised the company for delivering the healthcare project, noting that although a general hospital would have been preferable, the Cottage Hospital remained a significant contribution to community development.

The royal father urged the people of Oworo land to take ownership of the facility by ensuring its proper maintenance while pledging the support and cooperation of the host community.

Group Head, Socio-Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Wakeel Olayiwola, said the cordial relationship between the company and its host communities made the project possible, adding that the company had taken note of the observations and requests made by stakeholders.

Olayiwola disclosed that since 2025, Dangote Cement has expanded its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes beyond its immediate host communities, assuring residents that the company would continue to undertake projects that improve lives and support sustainable community development.

General Manager Social Performance, Obajana Plant, Ademola Adeyemi, said the company has several other programmes lined up for execution as CSR and those contained in the Community Development Agreement (CDA).

He appreciated the traditional leaders for the titles conferred on management staff, saying it will spur the company to do more, as it enjoys peaceful relations.