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The teacher accused of flogging a 12-year-old boy to de@th at a school in Adazi-Enu, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, has voluntarily reported to the Neni Police Station in the same LGA

The Anambra State Police Command disclosed this.

Mrs Dim Ebere, 47, from Adazi-Ani, was earlier said to be on the run after the boy reportedly di£d from injuries allegedly sustained during the flogging.

The police launched a manhunt for the suspect and has now revealed in a statement that she is in custody.

In a statement issued on Saturday, July 18, the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect turned herself in following sustained manhunt operations by the command’s Safe School Protection Squad.

Ikenga said the operation was carried out in collaboration with officers of the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters and through continuous engagement with stakeholders and community leaders in Adazi-Ani.

He said the suspect is currently in police custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, where the ongoing investigation will be concluded.

The statement read, “Following sustained manhunt operations by the Anambra State Police Command’s Safe School Protection Squad, in collaboration with officers of the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters, and continuous engagement with stakeholders and community leaders in Adazi-Ani, the principal suspect, Mrs Dim Ebere, aged 47, has voluntarily presented herself at the Neni Police Station.

“The suspect is currently in police custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, where the ongoing investigation will be concluded.

“The family of the deceased and members of the public are hereby assured that the Command remains committed to ensuring that justice is served.

“The Command further urges members of the public to remain calm, refrain from taking the law into their own hands, and continue to provide useful information that will aid ongoing investigations and other policing efforts across the state.”

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The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT has handed over 18 bags of cannabis sativa weighing about 756 kilogrammes to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The handover took place on Friday at the NNS Beecroft parade ground, Apapa, Lagos State.

The Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, while addressing journalists at the base, disclosed that the illicit consignments were recovered during separate intelligence-led operations conducted within the command’s operational area over the past few months.

He further described the handover as another significant milestone in the Navy’s sustained campaign against maritime crimes.

“Five bags of suspected cannabis sativa were intercepted at Abule Osun on April 7, 2026. Another two bags were recovered at Ikare Island on April 13, while 11 bags were seized at Alpha Beach on July 15, bringing the total recovery to 18 bags weighing approximately 757 kilogrammes,” he said.

Adams-Aliu further explained that the integrated surveillance platform combines long-range cameras, sensors and other sophisticated technologies capable of tracking activities even in areas beyond the physical reach of naval patrol boats.

“These successful operations were made possible by the Nigerian Navy Western Regional Control Centre, popularly known as Falcon Eye, an advanced maritime surveillance system that provides extensive monitoring across Nigeria’s coastal waters.

“It underscores the vigilance, professionalism and operational readiness of personnel of NNS BEECROFT in protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain.”

Adams-Aliu said the achievements further validate the technological transformation championed by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, whose vision prioritises intelligence gathering and advanced surveillance capabilities.

Pledging deeper collaboration with sister security agencies, particularly the NDLEA, he reaffirmed that NNS BEECROFT, under the Western Naval Command led by Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, will sustain intelligence-driven operations against drug traffickers and other maritime criminals.

Deputy Commander, NDLEA Marine Command, Commander Narcotic Luka Yerima, receiving the exhibits on behalf of the Commander, NDLEA Marine Command, Commander Narcotic Morrison Udo, commended the Nigerian Navy for its unwavering partnership in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni on the amended N15.6 billion fraud charges before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja.

The commission re-arraigned him on Thursday before trial judge Jude Onwuegbuzie, following the latest amendment of the charges.

Thursday’s re-arraignment makes it the third time Mr Ayeni has entered a plea to the charges. The

EFCC first arraigned him on 4 May, after which the court remanded him in prison pending the determination of his bail application. It then re-arraigned him on 22 June and again on Thursday.

According to a statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, “The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him.”

The EFCC is prosecuting him on 18 charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of up to N15.6 billion belonging to Skye Bank.

EFCC stated that one of the charges alleged that Mr Ayeni, while serving as chairperson of the board of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, now Polaris Bank Limited, directed the transfer of N3.11 billion from the bank’s suspense account to Misa Limited’s account with Zenith Bank in November 2014.

Another charge alleged that he directed the transfer of about N5 billion from the bank’s suspense account to Greenwich Registrars’ account with Union Bank in December 2014.

The commission alleged that the two transactions amounted to criminal breach of trust and were punishable under the Penal Code.

Mr Ayeni pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the arraignment, the EFCC ‘s lawyer, Abba Muhammed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial and that its first prosecution witness was present in court.

However, Mr Ayeni’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, also a SAN, opposed the immediate commencement of trial. He argued that the prosecution had not filed the summary of the witness’s statement.

The prosecution responded that the summary of the witness’s statement had been filed alongside the second amended charge.

The judge “held that the prosecution had complied with the requirements,” EFCC’s statement said.

Judge Onwuegbuzie subsequently fixed 20, 22 and 23 July for continuation of trial.

Thursday’s proceedings marked the third time Mr Ayeni had entered his plea to the charges.

The serial arraignment of the defendant on the same charges followed EFCC’s repeated amendments of the charges.

Recall that the EFCC first arraigned Mr Ayeni on 4 May on 17 charges alleging the diversion and misappropriation of N15.6 billion belonging to the defunct Skye Bank. He pleaded not guilty.

The anti-corruption agency later amended the charge to 18 counts after filing additional proof of evidence. The amendment led to Mr Ayeni’s re-arraignment on 22 June, when he again pleaded not guilty.

Mr Ayeni served as chairperson of the board of Skye Bank until July 2016, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) removed the bank’s board and management during a regulatory intervention over the lender’s deteriorating financial condition.

Two years later, the CBN revoked Skye Bank’s banking licence and transferred its assets and liabilities to Polaris Bank, a bridge bank established by the regulator.

Mr Ayeni did not continue with Polaris Bank after the intervention.

The EFCC’s case arose from its investigation into transactions allegedly carried out while Mr Ayeni chaired the bank’s board.

The commission alleged that billions of naira were diverted from the bank’s suspense account to companies linked to the defendants in breach of the bank’s operational policies and regulatory guidelines.

Mr Ayeni has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.