A Nigerian-born man, Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme that stole $1.4 million in taxpayer and donor money intended for vulnerable preschool children.

According to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Michigan, Dr Ezeh was also sentenced to a concurrent prison term of 60 months for evading income taxes.

Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, who imposed the sentence, characterized Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” described the scheme as “brazen and widespread,” and noted that Ezeh stole money intended for some of West Michigan’s most vulnerable children. Judge Jarbou ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution to the victims of the fraud and $390,174 to the IRS. Judge Jarbou also remanded Ezeh directly to prison to begin serving her sentence immediately.

“Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond reprehensible,” VerHey said. “She stole taxpayer and private-donor dollars meant for low-income children in our community. Instead of helping kids, she spent that money on herself. The stolen money could have supported hundreds of West Michigan children and their families. Judge Jarbou’s sentence was perfectly appropriate.”

Ezeh – the 2018 West Michigan Woman of the Year, a two-time appointee to the State of Michigan’s Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s Executive Committee, and a tenured professor of education – founded Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), a West Michigan nonprofit funded by the Department of Health and Human Service’s Early Head Start program, the U.S. Department of Education, and private donors. It provided meals, transportation, funding, advocacy, and other services to children in preschools located in underserved communities.

As a result of the fraud, ELNC had to close its doors in 2023, many West Michigan preschools lost funding, and needy children lost valuable resources. ELNC also had to lay off its 35 employees without any notice. Sharon Killebrew, ELNC’s former bookkeeper and Ezeh’s co-conspirator, was sentenced in November 2025 to 54 months in federal prison for her role in the scheme.

In a sentencing memorandum, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said that Ezeh used the stolen money to fund her lifestyle, pay for a family member’s wedding, and to travel to Hawaii, Europe, and Africa. She placed her family members on a ghost payroll that caused ELNC to pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars for little or no work, and she used money mules to wire hundreds of thousands of dollars of stolen money to her family in Nigeria.

The revelation by the national chairman of Proples Redemption Party, PRP, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, that the party rejected attempt by Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwakwanso to join them before the fuo moved to National Democratic Congress, NDC, has continued to generate public reaction.

Baba Ahmed made the statement in a report that was published on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

This is coming after the former governor of Anambra state and the former governor of Kano state defected from the African Democratic Congress, ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

In the report that surfaced online, the PRP Chairman said he blocked Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from joining the party because they demanded for the ticket of the party.

“But for you to come even before a decision is made and ask us to guarantee you the ticket without opposition. If you are truly strong contenders, then why fear competition?”.

The National Human Rights Commission has expressed deep concern over the recurrent incidents of military airstrikes reportedly resulting in significant civilian casualties across different parts of the country, describing the development as troubling and incompatible with established human rights and humanitarian law standards.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN, who  stated this in a statement on Wednesday, said while the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other forms of insecurity remains a legitimate responsibility of the Nigerian State, such operations must at all times be conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, international human rights obligations, and international humanitarian law principles.

According to the statement which was signed by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Ojukwu said repeated reports of civilian deaths and injuries, including women, children, and other vulnerable persons, arising from aerial bombardments raise serious concerns regarding the protection of the right to life, human dignity, and the obligation of State actors to exercise precaution and proportionality during security operations.

The Commission therefore calls on the Nigerian Air Force to provide a comprehensive explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding these incidents and the measures being taken to prevent further loss of innocent civilian lives.

“Nigerians deserve to know why this has become a recurring decimal, in April and May alone we have recorded the following casualties, in April Jilli market Yobe, in May Shiroro market Niger, again in May Tumfa market in Zamfara, for how long will this continue?” The Chief Human Rights Officer asked.

The NHRC Cheif emphasized that the principles of distinction, necessity, proportionality, and accountability are fundamental obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and must guide all military engagements, particularly in conflict-affected communities.

Dr. Ojukwu noted that civilian lives must never be treated as collateral damage and urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, operational safeguards, and accountability mechanisms in order to minimize harm to non-combatants during military operations.

He further called for prompt, transparent, and independent investigations into all reported incidents of civilian casualties resulting from airstrikes, with a view to ensuring accountability, justice for victims, and adequate remedies, including compensation and psychosocial support for affected families and communities.

The NHRC reiterated that national security objectives and human rights protection are not mutually exclusive, stressing that sustainable peace and public trust can only be achieved where security operations are carried out within the bounds of legality, accountability, and respect for human dignity.

Ojukwu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to monitor the situation closely and engage relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of all persons in Nigeria.