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Nigerian professor jailed 70 months in US for $1.4m fraud

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Nkechy Ezeh. Photo: westmichiganwoman.com
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A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian-born former nonprofit chief executive, Dr Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison for orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.

The sentencing was announced in a press release on Wednesday by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

The sentencing was delivered by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, who also imposed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion and ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution and $390,174 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Ezeh, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, was the founder and former CEO of Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, a West Michigan nonprofit that provided early childhood services in underserved communities.

She is also a former Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education Program at Aquinas College.

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She was immediately remanded into federal custody after sentencing.

During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” adding that the scheme was “brazen and widespread,” and involved funds intended for some of the region’s most vulnerable children.

US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, said Ezeh diverted money meant for low-income children for personal use.

“Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond reprehensible.

“She stole taxpayer and private-donor dollars meant for low-income children in our community. Instead of helping kids, she spent that money on herself.

“The stolen money could have supported hundreds of West Michigan children and their families. Judge Jarbou’s sentence was perfectly appropriate,” VerHey said.

According to court filings, Ezeh used stolen funds to finance personal expenses, including travel to Hawaii, Europe and Africa, as well as a family wedding.

Prosecutors also said she placed relatives on a “ghost payroll,” enabling them to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for little or no work.

She was further accused of using intermediaries to transfer stolen funds to family members in Nigeria.

The nonprofit, ELNC, was funded by US federal programmes including Head Start, the Department of Education, and private donors. It provided meals, transport and support services to children in low-income communities.

Following the fraud, ELNC shut down in 2023, leading to the loss of funding for several preschools and the layoff of 35 employees.

A former bookkeeper at the organisation, Sharon Killebrew, who was identified as a co-conspirator, was earlier sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.

US authorities said the case highlights the abuse of federal grants and its impact on vulnerable communities, particularly children in low-income neighbourhoods.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation unit, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case.

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Mbah orders impartial Police Probe into Enugu political violence, vows accountability

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Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has called for a thorough and impartial police investigation into the recent violence surrounding a political gathering in the state, assuring that anyone found responsible will face the law regardless of political affiliation.

Mbah, in an address to the people of Enugu State, expressed concern over reports of violence, particularly a shooting incident that left a citizen injured.

The governor said his immediate concern was the welfare of those injured, residents who experienced fear during the incident, and families affected by the violence.

He assured the victims and affected residents that their safety and well-being remained a priority for his administration.

“I know how much our people value the peace and security we have worked so hard to establish in Enugu. Incidents such as these cause anxiety and deserve our full attention,” the governor said.

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Mbah stressed that every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, must be able to exercise their political rights without fear, intimidation or violence.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting lives, upholding the law and ensuring that justice was served without favour.

The governor also stated that, in view of the preliminary findings regarding the incident, he expected the police to conduct a comprehensive and impartial investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence and identify those responsible.

According to him, anyone found culpable would be held accountable through the appropriate legal process, irrespective of their political connections.

“The Enugu State Government has made its position clear regarding allegations of involvement in this violence,” Mbah stated, reaffirming his administration’s responsibility to maintain peace and security across the state.

The incident has raised concerns over political tolerance and the safety of citizens participating in political activities in Enugu State.

The governor’s call for an impartial investigation underscores the need for the relevant security agencies to establish the facts surrounding the shooting and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

He concluded his address by thanking the people of Enugu State and praying for God’s continued blessings upon the state.

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Enugu APC demands NDC apology over minute’s silence

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Enugu APC urges NDC to apologise for observing a minute silence

All Progressives Congress (APC) has picked holes in the reaction of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to the position of the Enugu State Government on the airport and party secretariat incidents involving the NDC at the weekend.

The party said that “persons and institutions that lay claim to integrity should be able to admit their mistakes, confess their transgressions, and apologise to the people.”

The Enugu NDC had, at a press conference addressed by its State Party Chairman, Emmanuel Chukwujekwu Nebo, in Enugu faulted some of the positions of the Enugu State Government on the weekend incident as were marshalled by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Sunday.

Principally, the NDC claimed that it had only planned an airport reception for its governorship candidate, Chinyeaka Ohaa, not a ‘Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off’ at the airport as stated by the government.

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The party added that it notified various law enforcement agencies of its plans and made payments to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

On the alleged shooting at NDC’s state secretariat, the party said that the NDC was “still verifying the final medical status of all injured persons.”

However, responding to NDC, the state Publicity Secretary of Enugu State chapter of the APC, Chief Uche Obute, insisted the NDC must tender unreserved apologies to the people of Enugu and Nigerians in general “for lying to them for political gains.”

“The question is: since the NDC was still verifying the final medical status of person or persons injured in their party fracas, how come they declared and observed a minute’s silence to mourn the living?

“The answer is simple: it was true to the factionalised Enugu NDC’s pattern to orchestrate violence among themselves and attribute it to Enugu APC to extract cheap political capital.

“It is also a validation of the commonly held view among the people that the Enugu State NDC and their governorship candidate, Chinyeaka Ohaa, would stop at nothing in their quest for power,” Obute said.

The party’s spokesman equally faulted NDC’s claim that it only planned to hold an airport reception, not a mega rally.

Supporting the party’s position with a screenshot of a Facebook post by NDC’s governorship candidate, Chinyeaka Ohaa, Obute said, “Promotional materials and posts by Ohaa clearly read, ‘Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026. Date: Saturday, 10th October 2026; Venue: Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; Time: 9:00am,’” he added.

The party commended the Governor Peter Mbah Administration for upholding the freedom and democratic rights of the good people of Enugu State, irrespective of political affiliation.

“Rather than stoking political tension to undermine the security and peace built by the Mbah Administration, we advise the Enugu opposition parties to present their manifestoes and campaign on them,” he stated.

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Enugu Governor’s Aide, Lucky Chukwu is dead

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Hon. Chief Barrister Lucky Chukwu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, has died

His death was announced in October 2026 by the office of his younger brother, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District.

Lucky Chukwu was an elder brother of the late Labour Party senatorial candidate, Oyibo Chukwu, and Senator Kelvin Chukwu, a former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly.

He was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor Mbah in August 2026, having previously been involved in political activities in the state.

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Following his elder brother’s death, Senator Kelvin Chukwu suspended his political activities and engagements for one week to mourn the loss.

The senator’s office announced the temporary suspension in a statement issued on October 11, 2026.

The death is another loss for the Chukwu family, which had earlier lost Oyibo Chukwu, who was the Labour Party’s candidate for the Enugu East Senatorial District in the 2023 general election before he was assassinated during the campaign.

Following Oyibo Chukwu’s death, Kelvin Chukwu emerged as the Labour Party’s replacement candidate and went on to win the senatorial election.

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