By Francesca Hangeior

Thousands of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, in Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state on Monday protested the high level of insecurity and police brutality, declaring that they are no longer saved.

The protesters led by the student union president, Geoffrey George, converged at the institution’s main gate around 8:15am chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards of various inscriptions

Some of the placards read “End Police brutality now”, “protect, save, don’t abuse”, “This Extortion Must Stop” among others.

Speaking with journalists at the school entrance on Monday, George recalled how students have suffered at the hands of police and hoodlums within the community.

“Last week, there was a trending video on social media where a student of the institution was beaten and dragged on the ground by policemen.

“Students face extortion by policemen in Ikot Ekpene. We are not safe especially those students living in the communities within the school environment.

“Hoodlums snatch phones from students and even kill them. We have buried more than five students in the last one year. They were killed by thieves who broke into their houses, collected their phones and killed them while police looked the other way, ” George stated.

One of the student activists who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the protest must continue to draw government attention to the plight of students in the institution.

“The Rector called SUG Executives this morning and warned that the protest should not continue but we say no because our students are in danger.

“Nobody will stop us. We must cry out for the world to know that the police are not helping us here. Our colleagues are dying while they are busy extorting money from poor students.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, has invited the student to a meeting to resolve all issues affecting them.

“The Commissioner of Police Baba Azare has invited the students to a meeting this morning. We are waiting for them to come. There would be no protest.

“Those students you saw at the school gate this morning are preparing to come for a meeting with the Police Commissioner,” John said.

By Francesca Hangeior

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a woman identified as Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri.

Ugwu was arraigned on charges of fraud amounting to N6.8 million.

The arraignment, which occurred on Monday, March 17, 2025, stems from allegations of a romance scam perpetrated by Ugwu.

Ugwu faced a four-count charge, including obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, and cheating by impersonation. According to the EFCC, the defendant defrauded Emmanuel Ani by falsely claiming to be his fiancée, “Miss Chinansa.”

The EFCC, in a statement posted on their official X handle, detailed the core charge. “That you Catherine Ijeoma Ugwu between the period of June, 2023 to August, 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the aggregate sum of N6, 710,300.00 (Six Million Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Three Hundred Naira) from Emmanuel Ani into your bank account: 1778806195 domiciled with Access Bank plc. under the pretence that same is meant for the upkeep of his purported fiancee, one Miss Chinansa, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006.”

Upon the charges being read to her, Ugwu pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution counsel S.O Saka and Faruku Muhammad requested the court to set a trial date and remand Ugwu to a correctional centre. Justice Kumaliya granted their request, adjourning the case until April 8, 2025, for the commencement of the trial. Ugwu was subsequently remanded in a correctional centre.

The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Ugwu allegedly obtained N6.8 million by impersonating and pretending to be Ani’s fiancée. When confronted by the petitioner, Ugwu was unable to account for or return the money she had collected.

The EFCC statement added, “Ugwu’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when she obtained the sum of N6.8million by impersonating and pretending to be the fiancée of the petitioner. When contacted by the petitioner, the defendant can neither account for or return the money she collected.”

The case underscores the EFCC’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens from fraudulent activities, especially those involving online deception.

By Francesca Hangeior

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to address a four-point demand concerning workers’ welfare and the alleged victimization of labor leaders.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that all WAEC offices nationwide would be shut down starting Monday, March 24, if the management fails to meet their demands.