By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Nigerian Defence Academy has announced that its Screening Test for the 78 Regular Course will hold on Saturday, 13 June 2026 across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement issued on its X handle on Tuesday and signed by the Academy Registrar, the institution said the exercise is open only to candidates who scored 180 and above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in April 2026, and who selected the NDA as their first-choice institution.

According to the NDA, eligible candidates will receive an email on 20 May 2026 directing them to select their preferred state for the screening test.

The academy noted that this step is necessary for the allocation of examination centres nationwide.

The statement added that candidates must complete their selection of preferred test location no later than 24 May 2026.

The NDA advised applicants to choose their state of residence as their examination location, emphasising that the screening exercise will be conducted simultaneously across the country.

It further stated that candidates will later be informed of their assigned centres in the first week of June 2026.

“The selection of location (State) of choice for the test is to be done latest by 24 May 2026,” the statement read.

It also assured candidates of timely communication and further instructions via email, stressing that the Academy remains committed to fairness and equal opportunity for all qualified applicants nationwide.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a fleeing former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in Rigasa area of Kaduna State.

Mamman was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, May 19, 2026 following weeks of intensive surveillance and intelligence gathering by operatives of the Commission.

Addressing journalists on the arrest, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that the former minister went underground after he was convicted by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on corruption charges.

“On May 7, 2026, Justice James Omotosho found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts bordering on diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects. The court convicted him in absentia after agreeing with the Commission that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.

“For us, getting the convict to serve his jail terms is extremely important in view of the seriousness with which we are tackling corrupt practices. It is this resolve that made us deploy intelligence to tracking and arresting the convict. We will process his transmission to the Correctional Centre accordingly”, he said.

Justice Omotosho had, in his judgment, held that the EFCC successfully established that Mamman and his associates diverted not less than N22 billion meant for the execution of critical power projects. The court further held that the defence failed to present credible evidence capable of discrediting the prosecution’s case.

The judge condemned the diversion of public funds earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects, describing the act as a gross abuse of public trust. He also noted that the convict deployed proxy companies and associates to siphon and benefit from funds meant for critical national infrastructure.

Mamman, who served as Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, supervised Nigeria’s power sector and major hydroelectric projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects.

Following his conviction, the court ordered that he be arrested and produced before it on May 13, 2026, for sentencing. However, the convict failed to appear in court on the scheduled date, prompting the court to proceed with sentencing in his absence.

Justice Omotosho subsequently sentenced Mamman to seven years imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine. He was also sentenced to three years imprisonment on Count 4 with an option of N10 million fine and two years imprisonment on Count 5 without an option of fine.

The court further ordered that the sentences run consecutively, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.

Apart from the conviction, Mamman is also facing another corruption trial before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, over alleged N31 billion fraud.

On May 11, 2026, Justice Maryanne Anenih issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear for proceedings in the matter involving him and seven others.

Former Minister of Defence, retired General Theophilus Danjuma, on Tuesday donated N3 billion during the public presentation of the autobiography of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, in Abuja.

Also lending strong support to the event was Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, who contributed N500 million toward the book launch.

Several prominent business leaders and dignitaries also made notable commitments through the purchase of copies of the book. Among them was Abdul Samad Rabiu, President of the BUA Group, who purchased copies worth N25 million.

The event marked the unveiling of Gowon’s 20 chapter autobiography titled, “My Life of Duty and Allegiance.” It drew an audience of high profile guests, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and top military officers.

The memoir was reviewed by Matthew Kukah, the Catholic cleric, author, and social commentator who has served as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto since 2011.

Danjuma, who served as Chief Presenter at the ceremony, was represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, retired General Martin Luther Agwai.

Beyond his financial contribution, Danjuma also directed that 12 copies of the autobiography be purchased and distributed to the libraries of each of the 20 universities that have awarded honorary doctorate degrees to Gowon over the years.

In a glowing tribute, Danjuma described Gowon as Nigeria’s foremost living statesman, an international icon, and a wartime commander whose leadership helped preserve the country’s unity during one of its most difficult periods.

“Gen. Gowon is not only a household name in Nigeria but also a globally acknowledged leader with an impeccable record in leadership, nation-building and military strategy.

”His well-recorded slogan of ‘no victor, no vanquished’ after the civil war set the tone for an effective post-war policy of reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation,” Danjuma said.

Reflecting on their longstanding relationship, the retired General revealed that his friendship with Gowon spans more than seven decades, dating back to their childhood in the Wusasa area of Zaria. He described the autobiography as a “treasure trove of history” and a gift to the world.

In the same vein, Mansur Ahmed, representing Dangote, announced the purchase of 25 copies of the book for N500 million in honour of the former Head of State.

Ahmed, a Senior Adviser to Dangote, noted that the billionaire industrialist was only a 10 year old primary school pupil when Gowon was steering Nigeria through one of its most turbulent eras.

According to him, Gowon’s leadership and efforts to keep Nigeria united laid the foundation for the stable environment that enabled Dangote to grow and eventually build a pan African business empire.

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