News
Court restrains JAMB on age policy
The Delta State High Court in Warri has issued an order restraining the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board from implementing its recent policy requiring a minimum admissible age of 16 years for university admissions in the country pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed against the board.
JAMB, in a statement on October 16, stated that only candidates who will be 16 years old by August 2025 would be admitted to tertiary institutions.
This directive was a follow up to the new policy that the ministry of education introduced which states the adoption of 18 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions.
JAMB, however, made an exception for students seeking admission in the 2024/2025 session.
Dissatisfied with JAMB’s directive, John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former Nigerian Bar Association chairman, Warri branch, dragged the admission board to court.
The sole applicant, Aikpokpo-Martins (for and on behalf of all candidates born on the 1st of September 2009 to the 31st December, 2009, who wrote and passed JAMB exams in 2024), in a suit marked W/311/FHR/2021, sued JAMB and Edwin Clark University as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Akpovi granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant, as confirmed by a Certified True Copy (CTC) obtained by Sunday PUNCH.
The applicant had sought an order of the court restraining the respondents from taking further action on and/or giving effect to the directives contained in the circular of the 1st respondent dated the 16th October, 2024 and captioned “Admission of candidates with minimum Admissible age of 16 years” as signed by Mohammed A. Babaji to all Nigerian Universities pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
The applicant also prayed the court to issue “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from withdrawing the admission given to Angel Aikpokpo Martins and/or restricting her rights and privileges and/or preventing her access to school and all educational facilities of the 2nd respondent institution as a student pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.”
In his ruling, Justice Olotu said, “Reliefs 1 and 2 are hereby granted to preserve and protect the respondents, which is the right of every Nigerian child born on the 1st of September 2009 to the 31st of December, 2009, who wrote and passed JAMB exams in 2024 to remain duly admitted by 1st respondent as it applies to all Nigerian Universities including 2nd respondent and the effect is that the 1st respondent’s circular to Vice Chancellors, Provost, Rectors dated 16/10/24 Ref: JAMB/ADMS/139/V.
“111 is put in abeyance and on hold and the status quo to be maintained is the admission list prior to this circular pending the hearing of the originating motion dated and filed 24/10/24. Reliefs 3(a) and (b) are hereby granted for substituted service by courier service as prayed. Relief 4 for accelerated hearing is also granted.”
News
Police arrest Anambra pastor who converted 75 married women to personal wives
Anambra pastor accused of taking dozens of married women as wives and allegedly compelling members of his church to engage in wife-swapping arrangements, has been arrested by the Police.
The state government confirmed that the cleric, identified as Harrison Charles, founder of Day Spring Assembly in Awada, Onitsha, was arrested by operatives of the state’s security outfit following allegations that surfaced in a viral video, government officials said.
Authorities said the pastor has been handed over to the police as investigations continue into the claims made against him.
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Ejimofor Opara, the arrest forms part of an ongoing crackdown by the state government on individuals accused of operating fraudulent religious ministries.
“Pastor Harrison Charles, owner of Day Spring Assembly in Awada, Onitsha, was arrested by operatives of Agunechemba following a viral video containing several allegations against him,” Opara said.
“He is currently being investigated by the police, in collaboration with the Anambra State Government.”
The pastor has been accused by alleged victims, many of whom are said to be members of his congregation, of persuading married women to leave their husbands and become his wives. Some accusers claim as many as 75 women were involved.
He has also been accused of encouraging wife-swapping among church members, allegations that authorities say are being investigated.
News
Gen. Rabe Abubakar buried, wife still with bandits
The remains of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, has been laid to rest in Katsina.
The former Director, Defence Information, was abducted by bandits alongside his wife, along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, on May 30.
His body was released by the abductors on Saturday afternoon and subsequently taken for burial.
The funeral prayer was led by Imam Kabir and attended by hundreds of sympathisers, family members, friends, and well-wishers.
Mourners openly wept, with many describing his death as a tragic irony for a man who dedicated his life to defending Nigeria.
Residents across Katsina metropolis expressed shock and sadness over the incident, lamenting that insecurity has continued to claim the lives of both civilians and those who once served in uniform.
The Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Faruk Lawal Jobe, led the state government’s delegation at the funeral.
Also in attendance were senior military officers from the 35 Battalion, Natsinta Barracks, Katsina.
Following the burial, a special prayer session was held at Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqqas Mosque, where worshippers prayed for Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and eternal rest for the deceased retired General.
Meanwhile, the abductors are yet to release his wife from captivity.
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News
Bandits kill Nigrrian Army General
A retired Major General of the Nigerian military, Rabe Abubakar, has reportedly been killed while in captivity after being abducted by bandits in Katsina State.
The death of Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, was disclosed by the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu Danmusa on Saturday, according to reports.
Danmusa said, “security authorities had received information indicating that the retired military officer was killed by his abductors” .
However, he noted that security operatives are yet to recover his body as efforts anre ongoing to locate the remains.
Major General Abubakar and his wife were abducted by armed bandits along the Matazu axis of Katsina State on May 30 while travelling through the area.
His abduction had sparked widespread concern, with the Katsina State Government and security agencies previously expressing optimism that he would be rescued alive.
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