Senate halts ministerial confirmation of Kingsley Udeh over pending security clearance - Newstrends
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Senate halts ministerial confirmation of Kingsley Udeh over pending security clearance

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Senate halts ministerial confirmation of Kingsley Udeh over pending security clearance

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday suspended the confirmation process for Kingsley Udeh (SAN), a ministerial nominee from Enugu State, citing the absence of a mandatory security clearance.

Presiding over the plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that the chamber could not proceed with the confirmation until the required security report was submitted. “The confirmation of the minister-nominee would have been next on the list, but we need security clearance,” Akpabio stated.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on Tuesday, forwarded Udeh’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation, in accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates Senate approval for ministerial appointments.

Udeh’s nomination comes in the wake of the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down last month amid controversy surrounding his academic credentials. Nnaji’s exit left Enugu State without representation in the Federal Executive Council.

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Following the reading of the President’s letter, Akpabio referred Udeh’s nomination to the Committee of the Whole for screening. However, when the matter appeared on Wednesday’s Order Paper, the Senate President announced a pause in proceedings due to the missing clearance.

Akpabio hinted that a senator had informed him the nominee was en route to the National Assembly with the clearance document. This prompted Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) to caution against breaching institutional protocols. “This is an institution. I have nothing against the young man; I know him. But let’s respect this institution. You can’t wait for the nominee because he’s coming with a security clearance letter. No, that’s not done,” Ningi asserted.

Responding, Akpabio clarified that the Senate would not wait indefinitely. “I don’t even have any intention of waiting for anybody because after screening them, you don’t see them again,” he said.

The Senate President subsequently directed the Senate Leader to move a motion for a closed-door session to deliberate on national issues. The motion was seconded, and lawmakers dissolved into an executive session.

Senate halts ministerial confirmation of Kingsley Udeh over pending security clearance

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Court Remands Man Accused of Impersonating JAMB Registrar in Kuje Prison

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Court Remands Man Accused of Impersonating JAMB Registrar in Kuje Prison
Arinze Nwogba

Court Remands Man Accused of Impersonating JAMB Registrar in Kuje Prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Arinze Nwogba in the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations that he impersonated the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Segun Aina.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that Nwogba remain in custody pending a ruling on his bail application. The court fixed October 7, 2026, for ruling on the bail request and October 19 for the commencement of trial. (Vanguard News)

The case was brought by the Inspector-General of Police in a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/612/2026. The charge was dated September 18 and filed on September 21, 2026.

Nwogba, who was arraigned before the court, pleaded not guilty to all six counts.

The police alleged that Nwogba and other suspects still at large fraudulently impersonated the JAMB Registrar in 2026 by using Prof. Aina’s name and photograph on platforms including WhatsApp, Truecaller and LinkedIn.

According to the prosecution, the alleged syndicate used the identity to approach unsuspecting members of the public with purported offers of government and JAMB-related contracts.

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Investigators alleged that the suspects directed prospective victims to communicate through a WhatsApp number and claimed that the Federal Ministry of Education had approved the supply of 200 HP laptops as part of a digitisation programme.

The prosecution further alleged that victims were asked to pay N900,000 as an initial processing or “handshake” fee, with another N3 million allegedly demanded for payments purportedly meant for senior officials in the Ministry of Education.

Police investigations reportedly led to Nwogba’s arrest in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, in August.

The prosecution told the court that Nwogba allegedly operated under the name Dr Stephen Igwe and provided bank details to facilitate the alleged transactions.

Investigators also alleged that an Access Bank account linked to a deceased person was provided for the payment of the requested money. Police said Nwogba told investigators that the account belonged to his late nephew, who died in April 2026 and was buried in July.

The police further alleged that Nwogba admitted forwarding the account details to a cousin identified as Nnabuife Nwekpa, whom investigators described as the alleged principal suspect in the operation.

Nwekpa remains at large, according to the prosecution, while efforts are reportedly ongoing to arrest him.

The case followed a petition by the JAMB Registrar concerning the alleged unauthorised use of his identity and photograph to deceive members of the public.

At Friday’s proceedings, Nwogba’s lawyer, Christian Ejike, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms. The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that there was a risk that the defendant could evade trial if released.

The prosecution also told the court that its witnesses and exhibits were ready and that it was prepared to proceed with the case.

Justice Ibrahim, after hearing arguments from both sides, adjourned the bail ruling to October 7 and fixed October 19 for trial.

The allegations against Nwogba remain before the court, and his plea of not guilty means that the prosecution must prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Court Remands Man Accused of Impersonating JAMB Registrar in Kuje Prison

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Police Identify 27-Year-Old NYSC Graduate Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend

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Police Identify 27-Year-Old NYSC Graduate Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa

Police Identify 27-Year-Old NYSC Graduate Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend

The Enugu State Police Command has identified a 27-year-old woman allegedly killed by her boyfriend as Chinyere Rosemary Ugwu, a graduate of Medical Laboratory Science from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

Ugwu, who recently completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, 30-year-old Okpara Chibuike Emmanuel, in Enugu.

The suspect was arrested after the discovery of Ugwu’s remains at his residence in the Olympic Layout, One-Day area of Enugu.

According to the police, the incident allegedly occurred on September 19, 2026. Ugwu’s remains were reportedly discovered after neighbours became suspicious of an offensive odour coming from the suspect’s apartment.

The police said neighbours forced the door open and found the deceased’s remains concealed in the toilet. Emmanuel was reportedly apprehended by residents before police officers arrived and took him into custody.

The command had earlier alleged that an argument between the couple over claims relating to HIV infection preceded the incident. Police said the suspect told investigators that he struck Ugwu on the head with a pestle during the confrontation.

However, the circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation, and the suspect’s account has not been established as fact by a court.

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Ugwu’s remains were reportedly taken to a mortuary for preservation and autopsy as investigators work to establish the circumstances and cause of her death. The police have not announced the outcome of the autopsy.

In a fresh update, the Enugu police command said investigators had established the identity of the deceased and identified her parents and siblings, who were subsequently interviewed as part of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, also met with members of Ugwu’s family and the suspect. The commissioner assured the family that the command would conduct a thorough investigation and pursue justice in accordance with the law.

The family has also reportedly called for a comprehensive investigation, questioning the suggestion that the alleged killing should be attributed solely to an HIV-related disagreement.

The police said Emmanuel has been interviewed by investigators as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding Ugwu’s death.

The command urged members of the public, particularly women, to remain vigilant in their relationships and when meeting people they know. It advised people to keep trusted relatives or friends informed about their whereabouts and to take warning signs in potentially dangerous situations seriously.

The police said further information would be released as the investigation progresses.

Police Identify 27-Year-Old NYSC Graduate Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend

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Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

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Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured
Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

One person has been killed and three others seriously injured in a road accident on the Lagos Coastal Road inward Eko Hotel in Lagos.

The crash, which occurred on Friday, involved a grey Lexus Jeep 350 with registration number LSD 554 KV.

Preliminary information from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) indicated that the vehicle lost control, crashed into a roadside pole and overturned.

The impact left one person dead, while three others sustained serious injuries. The injured victims were reportedly trapped in the wreckage before passersby assisted in bringing them out.

They were subsequently taken to Duck-Yard Hospital within the Military Zone for medical treatment.

LASTMA officials who responded to the scene secured the area and coordinated the emergency operation. Security personnel from the Victoria Island area also assisted in managing the situation.

The damaged Lexus was later removed from the road to prevent further danger to motorists and help restore normal traffic movement along the affected section.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged motorists to exercise greater caution while using the road.

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He advised motorists to avoid excessive speed, reckless driving and other dangerous practices that could result in loss of vehicle control.

The latest Lagos Coastal Road accident has also renewed attention on road safety along the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly as construction and traffic movement continue on parts of the route.

Federal officials have previously raised concerns about motorists exceeding the recommended speed on the highway. However, authorities have not established that speeding was the direct cause of Friday’s Lexus crash.

The incident follows another fatal crash reported on the Coastal Road in August, when a trailer reportedly lost control and collided with a Toyota mini truck, leaving one person dead and two others injured.

LASTMA urged motorists to remain vigilant and comply with traffic regulations while using the Lagos Coastal Highway. Members of the public were also advised to report road crashes, vehicle breakdowns and obstructions through the agency’s toll-free emergency line, 3367.

Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

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