Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State, on Tuesday, announced the adoption of 95 orphans as his children.

The announcement is contained in a statement issued in Kano by his Spokesman, Sanusi Bature, and made available to newsmen.

According to Bature, the governor announced the gesture during a special lunch he had with the 95 children to commemorate the country’s 64th independence anniversary.

The children have been under the care of the state orphanage home since they lost their biological parents.

“I want to announce that we have assumed full responsibility of all the 95 orphans domiciled in this facility.

“We will take care of their education from primary to tertiary, healthcare services, feeding and other social needs throughout my tenure,” Bature quoted the governor to have said.

Yusuf further gave assurance that the orphans would be treated as very important personalities with full benefits, care and privileges.

He added that the State Government would give opportunity to the children to reach their full potential in life.

“You are now my children, I will take care of you as my own, you will begin to feel the good side of life Insha Allah,” the governor reportedly told the children.

The statement added that the governor donated food items worth millions of naira for the care and wellbeing of the orphans. (NAN)

The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)  Mr Haliru Nabana has said that Mr Idris Okuneye, a cross dresser popularly known as Bobrisky, served his jail term in correctional facility in Lagos state.

Nababa stated this while addressing the House of Representatives Committee investigating alleged bribery and misconduct against the NCS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Monday.

Report says that Bobrisky was convicted for mutilating the naira and was sentenced to six months in jail.

Our correspondent reports that Mr Vincent Otse, social media influencer and human rights activist known as Very Dark Man (VDM) published an audio recording which captured Bobrisky allegedly saying that he spent his jail term in a private apartment.

The audio also captured Bobrisky allegedly saying that he paid N15 million to EFCC officials to drop charges of money laundering against him.

Nanaba, however, explained to the committee that Bobrisky was convicted and was incarcerated from April 12 to August 13, 2024 in the facility.

He said that there was no time when Bobrisky was allowed outside the correctional facility saying that there are records of his activities in jail to show that he was in the facility.

He, however, said that as a result of special features such as mammary gland and curvy hips which portrays Bobrisky like a women, he kept in a private cell away from other inmates.

According to him, this is inline with international best practices as it is to protect his human right and to protect him against violation by other inmates.

NaAbba also said that for security reasons, Bobrisky was at a point, moved from Medium Security Custodian Centre to Maximum Security Custodian Centre all within the correctional facility.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede said that no money was received to drop charges against Bobrisky.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Michael Nzekwe, Olukoyede said that in April, 2024, Bobrisky while undergoing investigation, in his extra-judicial statement made a confession.

He said that Bobrisky was alleged to have failed to submit to Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) a declaration of its activities of his firm, Bob Express.

According to Olukoyede, this is contrary to Section 6(1) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022

“Notwithstanding the unequivocal confession of the now ex-convict admitting the essential ingredients, the prosecution in total fidelity and candor to its oath and strict adherence to professional practice of not only disclosing exculpatory documents to the defense.

“We received a report of the investigation activities from SCUML which showed that Bob Express is not a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP),

“We then decided to drop the charge in the interest of justice and fair hearing, without any inducement or prompting of any sort from the defense, and in line with the mandate of the Special Task Force against Naira abuse,” he said.

Earlier, VDM told the committee that he was in possession of more evidence yet to be released to the public saying that he would continue to fight corruption.

He said that while other Nigerians are in jail for offenses committed, Bobrisky should not be given any form of special treatment.

“Nigeria is not for the godfathers, I will not allow corruption, if I see a secret about you, I will tell, I am being very honest, I will not fear anybody because Nigeria is going down.

“I will implore you people to do the right thing because the judiciary system is been messed up so bad, you people have to to save your face,” he said.

He, however, tendered some part of the evidence to the committee and promise to release more as the investigation progresses.

He told the committee to ensure Bobrisky appears before it and not to tolerate any further  disrespect from him.

In his ruling, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Ginger Onwusibe (LP-Abia) said that Bobrisky must appear in person in their next hearing.

He demanded video footage of the activities of Bobrisky through out his terms in the correctional facility.

The chairman said that the accounts provided by VDM into which the allayed money for bribe was paid into will be investigated.

The hearing was then adjourned to a further date to announced.

NAN reports that Bobrisky was absent at the hearing and his counsel who came to represent him was not recognised to speak as he had no letter or approval to speak on his behalf.(NAN)

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Benedictine Order Academy with students population of 942 located in Nyiman area of Makurdi, the State capital has be sealed off over its inability to meet approved standards and for operating in an environment that is unfit for academic activities.

The Director General (DG), Bureau for Education Quality Assurance (BEQA), Dr Francis Terna disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi.

He stated that his office decided to shut the school because they were operating in an uncompleted hotel building and do not have curriculum, lesson plan, scheme of work and qualified teachers.

According to him, the school was also operating three different schools within the uncompleted building and without government’s approval.

“Government will not allow any sub-standard school to exist in the state for the safety of the children and quality education.

“We  have identified 2,416 illegal schools in the state and have already issued all the necessary notices to the proprietors to either meet the required standard or shut down,” Terna stated.

On his part, the General Manager, Benue Urban Development Board, Ternongo Mede said the uncompleted three-storey building was not habitable for a learning environment.

Mede said every building must pass fitness test of the desired purpose and urged the government to seal the school.

However, the founder, Benedictine Order of Peace and Unity Academy Foundation, Rev Fr Elias Torugh said they were working hard to meet the state educational requirements for operating the school.

“We are in the building for only two weeks following eviction at Staff Development Centre by the state government and we are fully aware that the school does not have a conducive learning environment but we are planning to stay at the uncompleted hotel building for only this term,” the proprietor said.

He said they were members of the Catholic Church and the school was owned by the Benedictine Order which he said is not under any Catholic diocese in the country.Torugh said that the school which has nursery, primary and secondary schools has 942 children.