The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Onatayo Pelumi for money laundering involving funds totalling about ₦132 million.

Pelumi was convicted by Justice Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on five counts bordering on the retention of proceeds of unlawful activities in bank accounts domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Zenith Bank.

The charges alleged that the convict retained various sums of money in the accounts between January 2023 and June 2026, knowing that the funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities.

The court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine, on count One. On counts two, three, four and five, he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine on each count. The terms of imprisonment are to run concurrently.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of two properties and ₦8 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The ₦8 million is domiciled in the convict’s Zenith Bank account

The forfeited properties are:
Half plot of land at No. 23 Michael Ayorinde Street, Abule-Egba, Lagos.
Half plot of land at No. 1 Yisa Street, Meiran, Lagos.

The court further ordered the convict to undertake seven days of community service in connection with the sentences.

The Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has closed Orenda and Opal Schools over alleged victimisation of learners and violation of the Benue State Government’s policy on textbook reuse and purchase.

The Executive Secretary of BEQAEB, Dr. Terna Francis, led officials of the Board’s Directorate of Enforcement and Compliance to the schools, where a court order authorising the sealing of the premises was served on the proprietor before the facilities were locked.

The Executive Secretary expressed concern that, despite repeated sensitisation and directives by the Benue State Government, through the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management and BEQAEB, some school proprietors continued to disregard established policies designed to protect parents and learners from unnecessary financial burdens and unfair treatment.

In a statement issued by the Board’s Information Officer, Jeffrey Adzam,

BEQAED boss explained that the government’s textbook policy, “allows parents to reuse textbooks by passing them from older children to their younger siblings. Parents are also permitted to obtain textbook lists from schools and purchase the required books from bookstores outside the schools”

He posited that the affected schools insisted that, “learners purchase textbooks directly from them, contrary to the government’s policy”

Francis said there were reports that some learners whose parents had paid their school fees but could not purchase the prescribed textbooks were subjected to punitive treatment, “including having their homework left unmarked”

The parent-petitioners further alleged that parents who had already purchased the prescribed textbooks from external bookstores and appealed to the school management to allow their children to use them for the current academic session were dismissed.

According to the complaints, the management insisted that the parents either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere.

The parents also reported that textbooks purchased outside the schools were not permitted in classrooms, leaving some learners demoralised and withdrawn.

Francis described the alleged practices as unacceptable and inconsistent with the protection of learners’ rights and welfare under applicable laws in Benue State and Nigeria.

He explained that the government’s policy was intended to provide flexibility for parents, promote the reuse of textbooks where appropriate and prevent schools from imposing unnecessary restrictions that undermine the interests of learners and their families.

The statement further stated that the Board had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to address the complaints, but they failed to honour the invitation, “Consequently, BEQAEB, through the Attorney-General of Benue State, approached the court and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises”

Francis alleged that, despite having been served with the court order, the proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, led members of staff in a violent attack on the Executive Secretary and his team, “The incident reportedly involved verbal assaults against the officials and the destruction of an official vehicle belonging to the Board”

The Board expressed concern over the alleged assault, stressing that, “compliance with lawful court orders and the peaceful resolution of disputes are essential to the rule of law and the effective regulation of educational institutions”

It maintained that, “disagreements with regulatory authorities should be addressed through lawful channels rather than violence or intimidation”

Francis stated that the schools would remain sealed until the proprietors and administrators satisfied the conditions set by the Board and demonstrated a commitment to complying with government regulations, respecting court orders and safeguarding the rights of learners and parents.

The Board urged parents and guardians whose children experience similar forms of alleged victimisation or violations of government education policies to submit formal petitions to BEQAEB, accompanied by relevant evidence, assuring the public that such complaints would be investigated and appropriate action taken in accordance with the law.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Grand Patron of the North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network, Senator George Akume, has rallied stakeholders across the North Central geopolitical zone to intensify grassroots mobilisation and support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at a strategic meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji A.A. Sule and other political stakeholders and leaders of the mobilisation network on Friday, 2nd October, 2026 in Abuja, Sen. Akume said the initiative was designed to take the campaign for the President Tinubu beyond Abuja and into communities across the North Central, stressing that the real strength of electoral mobilisation lies at the grassroots.

He described the North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network as a platform established to mobilise support and votes across the zone for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

The SGF outlined three major activities planned by the network to drive its mobilisation campaign. These include: North Central Grand Rally, scheduled for October 10, 2026, in Lafia, Nasarawa State; a comprehensive medical outreach programme to be implemented across states in the zone; and a North Central Grassroots Advocacy Tour and Town Hall Meetings covering the 19 senatorial districts across the six North Central states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the planned medical outreach is intended to complement the political mobilisation with humanitarian services for people at the grassroots.

He listed comprehensive eye screening and treatment which comprise refraction and prescription of spectacles, cataract assessment and selected cataract surgical services where facilities permit, glaucoma screening and diabetic eye screening among the services to be provided.

Sen. Akume further said the advocacy tour and town hall meetings would provide an opportunity for direct engagement with communities across the North Central, allowing stakeholders to communicate the policies and programmes of the administration while listening to issues and concerns at the grassroots.

He said the initiative, put together by the National Coordinator of the network, Arch. Sonny Echono, his team and other stakeholders, has the endorsement of the APC National Secretariat.

Akume urged political leaders, ministers, governors, party stakeholders and grassroots actors to approach the assignment with commitment, unity and confidence, stressing that the North Central has an important role to play in the 2027 electoral process.

He expressed confidence in the capacity of the region’s political structures and grassroots stakeholders to effectively organise and mobilise support for the President across communities in the zone.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda stated that the North Central stakeholders, comprising governors, government appointees and other critical political actors from across the North Central zone, have resolved to mobilise substantial support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

The stakeholders affirmed their commitment to working collectively across the six states of the North Central and the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and demonstrate their solidarity with the President.

As part of the mobilisation strategy, Prof. Yilwatda announced the stakeholder plans for a mass rally scheduled for October 10, 2026, in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

He said supporters and members of the APC would be mobilised from across the North Central to participate in the rally and publicly demonstrate their support for the President, with plans for a medical outreach programme in selected communities across the zone.

He also disclosed that the stakeholders further resolved to establish a reconciliation committee to address grievances and promote unity among party members and political stakeholders across the North Central. They said resolving internal differences would strengthen the mobilisation effort and enable stakeholders to work together ahead of the 2027 election.

The group is expected to reconvene next week to intensify preparations for the Lafia rally and coordinate the broader grassroots mobilisation programme across the zone.

The National Coordinator of the North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network and the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch. Sonny Echono said the mobilisation programme is aimed at uniting the North Central as a cohesive bloc while demonstrating the zone’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

They said the programme would commence with public communication of the planned activities, followed by sustained media engagement and grassroots mobilisation across the zone, with the overall objective of strengthening political participation and mobilising substantial electoral support for the President in the forthcoming election.

He described the 2027 general election as an important opportunity for the geopolitical zone to strengthen its collective voice and advance its common interests within Nigeria’s political landscape.

They said the political dynamics surrounding the election underscore the need for greater unity and coordination among stakeholders across the zone, adding that efforts would be directed towards building a common front, identifying shared priorities and reconciling differences that could undermine collective objectives.

In his goodwill message the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed assured the stakeholders of strong media support for the planned mobilisation activities, noting that effective communication would be critical to the success of the programme.

He, however, called for broader reconciliation efforts across the North Central, saying that those grievances should be addressed through internal dialogue and engagement.

The Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi A. Sule commended the SGF and the coordinator of the North Central mobilisation initiative for bringing stakeholders together toward ensuring the victory of the party in the forthcoming elections.

He stressed that the party has a political advantage to deliver for the APC with six states now under the APC and with a supportive Federal Capital Territory administration, noting that the presence of the APC National Chairman and the SGF also provides additional institutional strength for the mobilisation effort.