By Isa Abdul

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, held that EFCC had successfully established that the properties linked to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The EFCC, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, secured the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to the former Attorney general and minister of justice.

Delivering judgment, she held that they were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were not acquired with lawful sources of income.

By Nick Ibe

Nigeria is set to overhaul its border security system by shifting from manpower-driven patrols to a technology-based Smart Border Management System (SBMS) powered by drones, artificial intelligence and real-time intelligence sharing.

The move follows a proposal presented by Rear Admiral S.S. Lassa (Rtd), at the National Boundary Commission (NBC) High-Level National Workshop on “Border Security, Resilience and Cross-Border Cooperation” in Abuja.

Citing the Broken Windows Theory by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling, Lassa warned that neglected border areas and weak enforcement create opportunities for serious crimes, including smuggling, terrorism, arms trafficking and illegal migration.

He said Nigeria’s vast borders, spanning over 4,454km of land boundaries with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, as well as its maritime domain ,require a modern security approach.

The paper revealed that while Nigeria has 364 approved international border control points, there are nearly 1,497 illegal and unmanned routes exploited by criminal networks.

Lassa said conventional border patrols and checkpoints alone can no longer effectively tackle emerging threats, advocating drone systems equipped with thermal cameras, radar, LiDAR and other intelligence sensors to provide continuous surveillance.

“Drones provide Nigeria with the practical, cost-effective and technologically advanced means of monitoring vast and inaccessible border areas,” he said.

The proposed SBMS will integrate drones, satellites, biometrics, artificial intelligence, geospatial data and command centres to improve threat detection and response.

The submitted a recommendation on National Border Data Fusion and Intelligence Centre to unite information from immigration, customs, military, police and intelligence agencies.

It also called for a National Boundary Geospatial and Drone Unit, stronger drone regulations, indigenous drone production, public-private partnerships and the appointment of a National Border Coordinator to harmonise border operations.

Lassa stressed that Nigeria must move from a reactive border control model to an intelligence-led system capable of protecting territorial integrity, boosting trade and curbing transnational crimes.

–Framework To Tackle Quackery, Enforce Construction Standards Coming

By Isa Abdul

The federal government is set to overhaul the regulation of Nigeria’s built environment with a new policy framework to end the recurring incidents of building collapse, eliminating quackery and enforcing strict compliance with construction standards nationwide.

This was made known by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma. He added that the proposed framework would establish a coordinated regulatory regime for the construction industry, improve public safety and promote the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

Speaking in Abuja receiving the leadership of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), led by its President, Prof Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, the minister described effective regulation of the industry as a key priority of his administration.

He disclosed that the ministry would, before the end of July, present the draft framework to stakeholders for consultations ahead of its submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.

According to Darma, the proposed policy will harmonise the roles of professional bodies within the built environment and ensure strict adherence to building regulations and professional standards.
He lamented that weak regulatory oversight had allowed unqualified practitioners to thrive, resulting in poor-quality construction and frequent building failures across the country.

“We cannot continue to have an industry of this magnitude without effective regulation. Every practitioner must operate within established codes and standards. We are determined to sanitise the sector and restore professionalism,” the minister said.

Darma added that his ministry was committed to delivering a safer and more efficient built environment, urging COREN and other professional bodies to play active roles in the ongoing stakeholder engagement process.
He noted that engineers remain central to the government’s drive to improve construction quality, protect lives and raise confidence in the nation’s housing and infrastructure sectors.
COREN President, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, congratulated the minister on his appointment expressing confidence in his resolve to reposition the housing and construction industry through stronger regulation.

Abubakar also invited the minister to the 34th Engineering Assembly, expected to attract between 8,000 and 9,000 engineering professionals, technologists, technicians, craftsmen and artisans from within and outside Nigeria.

He said the 2026 Assembly would focus on public safety, regulatory compliance and enforcement, while considering a new sanctions framework that would combine preventive measures, disciplinary actions and prosecution in line with international best practices.