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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has released the International Passport of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

At the day’s proceedings, a motion filed from the Chambers of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja, was moved, seeking the release of the passport of the former minister to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.

In a short ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the release of his passport and fixed October 26 for continuation of trial.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on July 13 arraigned the former minister on a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false information and corruption.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the charges, the ICPC alleged that between August 2023 and October 2025, while serving as minister, Nnaji received ₦29,578,466.67 through a Bank account as salary and allowances, which the commission described as “proceeds of unlawful acts, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

In the second count, the anti-graft agency accused the former minister of using his office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself by receiving the same sum as salary and allowances, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The remaining four counts relate to alleged certificate forgery and the making and use of false documents.

Specifically, the ICPC alleged that Nnaji knowingly presented a forged National Youth Service Corps certificate, numbered A231309, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the documentation process for his ministerial appointment.

The commission further alleged that he submitted a purported University of Nigeria, Nsukka degree certificate in Microbiology/Biochemistry, bearing Certificate No. 004501, knowing it to be false.

The prosecution also accused him of making and using both the NYSC certificate and the UNN degree certificate as genuine despite allegedly knowing they were forged, contrary to Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.

Shortly after the charges were read and the defendant entered his plea, his counsel, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a motion seeking his client’s bail.

Counsel for the ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the prosecution was prepared to proceed with the trial and had three witnesses lined up to testify.

He, however, raised no objection to the bail application, leaving the decision to the discretion of the court.

In a ruling, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the former minister to bail in the sum of ₦20 million, with one surety in like sum.

The judge held that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, who must have maintained a fixed place of residence for at least four years.

The court further directed that the surety should produce evidence of employment, including a letter of appointment and salary slips for the last three months.

It also ordered that the appropriate government authority be notified to verify the surety’s employment status.

Justice Abdulmalik also ordered Nnaji to deposit his international passport and every other travel document in his possession with the court.

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Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani has commissioned Basic Education Schools Infrastructure and Educational Interventions across the 23 local government areas in furtherance of the Government Human Capital Development vision.

Sani who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe spoke at the commissioning held at Sultan Bello Primary School, Unguwan Sarki, in Kaduna North local government.

The Governor emphasized the importance of basic education, arguing that ‘’primary education is where the foundations are laid. It is where a child learns to read, write, count, reason and relate with others.’’

While noting that discipline, curiosity and confidence also begin at the primary school level, he pointed out that ‘’if the foundation is weak, the structure of learning becomes fragile.’’

‘’ This is the very reason why this administration has treated investment in basic education as an investment in the future, rather than simply expenditure on infrastructure. The scale of what we are commissioning reflects this conviction,’’ he added.

Governor Uba Sani recalled that his administration has constructed or rehabilitated 3,267 classrooms, built 2,232 toilet facilities, providing greater dignity and better hygiene, particularly for the girl-child.

According to him, 180 hand-pump boreholes have been sunk to bring clean water closer to pupils and teachers and help to create healthier school environments.

Governor Uba Sani further said that his Government has built 87 science laboratories and provided 29 computer centres to enable students have ‘’the knowledge and skills required in a changing world driven by science, technology and innovation.’’

‘’We have also supplied 81540 sets of furniture, to ensure that children do not have to sit on bare floors while learning. We have also provided project monitoring vehicles to strengthen supervision, quality assurance and accountability across the 23 Local Government Areas”, he said.

‘’In Igabi, Zaria, Kubau and Giwa, four state-of-the-art Bilingual Education Schools have been delivered in partnership with UBEC and the Islamic Development Bank, to provide 192 classrooms with capacity to cater and impact 7680 learners, particularly children who are out of school,’’ he added.

According to the Governor, his administration is not only focused on improving schools for children who are already enrolled, it also aims ‘’to bring more children into the education system.’’

‘’Beyond infrastructure, the substance of learning matters. We have distributed 545,748 teaching and learning materials covering literacy, numeracy, science and other core subjects,’’ he argued.

Governor Uba Sani disclosed that 33,137 teachers, head teachers and School Support Officers have received training in areas, including computer skills, classroom management, literacy, numeracy and school management.

Speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner of Education, Prof Abubakar Sani Sambo disclosed that ‘’to sustain this culture of excellence, the State has ‘’instituted an annual Kaduna Best Teacher of the Year Award, publicly recognising educators who go beyond what is asked of them.’’

Prof Sambo emphasized that the Governor Uba Sani administration has approved a review of the minimum wage for primary school teachers, from N38,000 to N72,000.

According to him, the Governor has resolved the long-outstanding NUT Endwell Scheme dispute, releasing N548,000,000.00 to retired teachers.

‘’Government has further approved a longer runway in service for our teaching workforce, extending the service period from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65,’’ he added.

The Commissioner of Education further advised all stakeholders to take responsibility for the upkeep of every classroom, toilet, borehole and every item of furniture.

In his welcome remarks, the Executive Chairman of Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), Mubarak Mohammed, pointed out that the commissioning ceremony at Sultan Bello Primary School was only the physical setting but the state-wide interventions are spread across all local governments.

The Executive Chairman disclosed that KADSUBEB has distributed 545,748 teaching and learning materials across schools, adding that ‘’today, we are commissioning 1,100,000 Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs), 18 Smart Boards, 55 motorcycles and 3 golf wagons.’’

‘’The Smart Boards are intended to support digital learning. The vehicles and motorcycles will strengthen the ability of our Quality Assurance officers to reach schools, observe classrooms and understand what is happening on the ground, speak with teachers, understand challenges and provide information that allows the system to respond”, he explained.

‘’If we cannot see what is happening, we cannot properly improve it. This matters because providing resources is only one part of improving education. We must also know whether those resources are reaching the classroom and making a difference,’’ he added.

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President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency announced on Monday.

Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before proceeding to Paris, France, where he held official engagements, including meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

The President has continued to receive updates on developments in Nigeria and issue directives on matters of national importance despite being outside the country, according to the Presidency.

Among the decisions attributed to him was the directive for an investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State. The State House confirmed that the President ordered a full and transparent probe into the incident.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has meanwhile been representing Tinubu at official engagements, including the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

With Shettima away in the United States, the Presidency said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, would continue to represent the President at other official functions.

Tinubu’s extended stay abroad has attracted political criticism, including questions from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the President’s absence from the UN General Assembly. The Presidency rejected the criticism and maintained that Shettima was representing Tinubu at the global meeting.

The Presidency also said Tinubu had remained engaged with governance during the vacation, while party consultations and other political activities continued at home. The President’s engagements in Paris included discussions with Bolloré on investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.