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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.

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The wife of John Olaleye, one of the two teachers k!lled by terrorists after the abduction of pupils, students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has appealed to the Federal Government and Governor Seyi Makinde to help recover his remains for a dignified burial.

The deceased’s wife and his elder brother and widow made the appeal days after the rescue of the 39 pupils and five surviving teachers who spent 56 days in captivity.

One teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the terrorists in captivity.

It was after the rescue that authorities confirmed that Olaleye was also k!lled, bringing the number of teachers murdered in captivity to two.

In a video sighted online, Olaleye’s widow is seen dancing and praising God when she was informed about the rescue of the abducted teachers and pupils, unaware her husband has been k!lled.

In a video posted online, Olaleye’s widow appealed to the government to recover her husband’s body and assist the family.

“I was heartbroken when I heard that my husband was not among those released,” she said.

“My plea to the government is that they should please, in the name of God, release my husband’s corpse to me.”

She also appealed for educational support for their three  children and assistance to help her cater for the family.

“He left three children behind. My appeal is that they should support us concerning these children, especially with their education.

“As for me, I am the one solely responsible for taking care of everything in the house. I am begging the government to have mercy on us and help us in whatever way they can.”

In a separate video, the deceased’s elder brother said the family only learnt of his d3ath through the state government’s broadcast announcing the rescue operation.

“I am John Olaleye Olayinka’s brother, one of the teachers k!lled during the Oriire abduction. We never knew he was k!lled until we listened to the broadcast (by the governor,” he said.

He pleaded with the authorities to recover the body, even if only skeletal remains could be found.

“We are appealing to the government… if they can release his remains, even if it is just his bones, so we can see them, for the sake of the children’s future,” he said.

He also appealed for support for the teacher’s widow and three children.

“His wife, if they can help us secure a job for her, it would be highly appreciated. He left three children behind. If they can help provide them with an education scholarship, we will be grateful,” he added.