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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Monday revealed that the Social Democratic Party, SDP, which opposition leaders are currently embracing, will become stronger than the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Labour Party and other political parties but will fail against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Primate Ayodele said the party will fail because those who are decamping there will be more concerned about their personal interests rather than wrestling power from the ruling party.
In a statement by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, the popular prophet warned the party to be cautious of the influx of members and to avoid giving its ticket to candidates who will lead it to failure.
He said: “SDP will be stronger than PDP and Labour. It will be the party to watch, but greed will make the party fail in 2027. Those who will be decamping there will not be focused on winning power but on enriching themselves.
“The party must be careful because of the large number of people joining, and they must be watchful not to give tickets to failures. They must ensure that sentiment and emotions do not influence their selection process.”
Primate Ayodele emphasized that the issue of the 2027 elections cannot be resolved through a mere coalition with another party but requires a strong alliance involving all opposition parties.
He noted that attempting to defeat President Tinubu will not be easy and that following traditional political party structures will lead to failure.
“The issue of the 2027 presidency cannot be addressed through a mere coalition; it won’t be about just one party but rather a strong alliance. Coalitions can break, but alliances cannot. A coalition may not last or deliver the desired outcome, but a solid alliance can.
“Defeating Tinubu is not a joke; he is very strong, and it will not be easy. Following the usual political party approach will not achieve anything. A new alliance must be formed under a new name, and if this is successfully done, victory will be possible,” he said.
Furthermore, he warned that the opposition should not rely on governors for the alliance, as they will betray it.
He advised that the alliance should be built around the people and mentioned some opposition governors who would not be part of it.
“I also want to warn them not to depend on governors, as they will betray any coalition they try to form. They should build this alliance around the people because some governors are already out of it.
“Some governors, like Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, and others that I will mention later, will not be part of the alliance,” he added.
This comes amid moves by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and former PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to form a coalition.
Veteran actor Jide Kosoko has stated that despite his fame and over 60 years of experience in Nollywood, it hasn’t led to significant wealth.
Featuring on The Honest Bunch podcast, Kosoko explained that he is comfortable but doesn’t consider himself rich by Nigerian standards.
“I have been in this [movie] industry for this long. I thank God that I can eat three square meals. But can I claim to be a rich man by Nigerian standards? No,” he said.
The 71-year-old film star emphasized that piracy has significantly impacted the Nigerian movie industry and called for harsher penalties for pirates.
“The punishment in the copyright law for piracy is still not strong enough as far as I am concerned. Somebody who has been pirating people’s works for years is a billionaire, so how much do you want to fine him?
“Fine him N500 million, and he will just bring it out of what he has sold. But if you attach a 20-year jail sentence to it with no option of a fine, people will refrain from piracy,” he said.
Jide Kosoko began his acting career as a child actor in 1964 in a television production named Makanjuola.
Since then, he has featured in hundreds of Nollywood movies in both English and Yoruba languages.
Famous Nigerian gospel musician, Steve Crown, has announced engagement with his lover.
Steve Crown made the announcement in an Instagram post on Sunday night.
The singer in the proposal video was seen placing a crown on his fiancee’s head as they both hold hands affectionately.
While describing the development as the beginning of his best days, he informed his followers that he has been taken and officially off the market.
“Officially off the market, two hearts fused by God. A walk to forever and the beginning of my best days,” he said.
Watch the video below:
Emergency rule: Fresh Details Emerge On Money Received By Lawmakers Amid Fubara’s Suspension
AFOLABI
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified that he shared $5,000 with members of his committee as a “Sallah gesture” and not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
A Nigerian investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, disclosed this in a post on his X handle.
Jaafar said Betara explained this to him after the lawmaker reached out to clarify that the $5,000 given to lawmakers was merely a “Sallah gesture” and not an inducement.
According to the investigative journalist, Betara said it was part of a long-standing tradition and had nothing to do with the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Jaafar wrote:
“The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 with each member of his committee as a ‘Sallah gesture,’ not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
“According to him, he maintains the tradition—like Santa Claus—every year.
“As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg.”
Media
The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 to each member of his committee as "Sallah Gesture" not an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
— Jaafar Jaafar (@JaafarSJaafar) March 23, 2025
According to him, he maintains the tradition – like… pic.twitter.com/o18kOkURKa
Solid core earnings drive growth in profitability and returns.
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has released its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024, with all its major indicators witnessing significant improvement.
The 2024 financials, filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGx) on Monday, showed an impressive rise in the bank’s profit after tax which went up by 26.14 percent to close the year at N766.6 billion, up from N607.7 billion recorded at the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
The Bank’s gross earnings also grew significantly from N2.08tn recorded at the end of the 2023 financial year to N3.19tn in the period under consideration, representing a 53.6 percent growth.
Like in the previous years, the banks’ total assets also rose remarkably by 46.8 percent, from N20.65 trillion in 2023, to close at N30.4 trillion in December 2024; signifying a milestone leap for the bank with the largest spread across the continent.
Despite the highly challenging global economic and business environment, UBA recorded a profit before tax of N803.72 billion representing a 6.1 percent increase from N757.68 billion recorded at the end of the 2023 financial year.
Consequently, UBA Group Shareholders’ Funds rose from N2.030 trillion as at December 2023 to close the 2024 financial year at N3.419 trillion, achieving an impressive growth of 68.39 percent.
As a result of the impressive performance and in fulfilment of the promise made by the UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, to shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting, the Bank proposed a final dividend of N3.00 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo, for the financial year ended December 31, 2024. This brings the total dividend in the year to N5.00. The final dividend is subject to the ratification of the shareholders during its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).
UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who expressed excitement at the results, stated that the 2024 financial performance demonstrates the bank’s continued focus on driving earnings growth, preserving asset quality, expanding business operations and deepening market share.
“Our continued investment in our highly diversified global network allows UBA to deliver high quality, consistent earnings. Our businesses have been able to grow product and service income and expand our deposit base, allowing the Group to increase earnings, while maintaining strong spreads and margins,” Alawuba highlighted.
According to him, “With total deposit increasing by 42.03 percent from N17.4 trillion in 2023 to N24.7 trillion and total assets hitting N30.4 trillion from N20.7 trillion, the just released results reflect broad-based growth across all core businesses and were achieved despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges, geopolitical uncertainties, and exchange rate volatilities.”
The GMD expressed excitement at the marked improvement recorded in the bank’s core earnings profile, as he explained that the profit is derived from high-quality income streams from funding intermediation, fees and commissions, thus reflecting strong long-term, sustainable revenues generation capacity.
“Our ex-Nigeria (Rest of Africa & International) operations have expanded significantly over the past five years, now contributing 51.7% of Group revenue, up from 31% in 2019, delivering diversification benefits and further boosting long-term shareholder value. This will continue to grow, as we further explore strategic markets that align with our overall vision. We are currently upgrading our business scope and authorization in France, and considering other viable markets in the short to medium term,” Alawuba noted.
He pointed out the bank’s resolve to invest continuously in technology, data analytics, product innovation, staff training and development, which, according to him, will collectively enhance our customers’ experience.
On his part, UBA’s Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the bank recorded triple digit growth in net interest income, resulting in remarkable improvement in net interest margin from 6.83 percent in 2023 to 9.02 percent, while also recording strong double-digit growth in fee and commission income lines of 91.66 percent.
“UBA Group continues to demonstrate strong capital levels, with shareholders' funds growth of 68.4% to N3.42 trillion and a solid capital adequacy ratio of 31.0%., and as we defensibly position the portfolio to navigate prevailing global and regional macroeconomic upheavals, asset quality improved, with NPL ratio moderating to 5.58%, with strong provision coverage at 81%”, Nwaghodoh noted.
He explained that as the bank navigates evolving risks, its management remains focused on responsible growth, delivering customer-focused value propositions, whilst ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements in all jurisdictions.
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.
Media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has claimed miracles in Nigerian Pentecostal churches are choreographed.
He said he doesn’t believe the miracles in Nigerian churches, stressing that they are for half-witts.
He argued that the miracles performed by Jesus in the bible were verifiable but no Nigerian cleric has been able to carry out their miracles on a public figure.
Speaking in a recent episode of Outside The Box podcast, Daddy Freeze said, “I’m sorry but I don’t believe in any of the miracles in any Pentecostal church. I don’t have a problem with the pastors but I don’t believe their miracles.
“My IQ is 156. I will have to be pretty dumb to be able to [believe in miracles in Nigerian churches]. Christ walked into the temple on a Sabbath and there was a man with a withered hand and Christ healed him. Christ raised Lazarus from death.
“He raised the Pharisee’s daughter also from the death. He healed blind Bartimaeus. Everybody knew blind Bartimaeus. The woman with the issue of blood, there were some very prominent people who we all know we healed by Christ.
“But in Nigeria today, there’s nobody… Dora Akunyili was dying of cancer, every Nigerian G.O prayed for her, they couldn’t heal her.
“Mr Ibu was deteriorating to the point they have to amputate him and nobody could heal him. And then he died and nobody could raised him.
“Don’t tell me you did miracles. I want proofs.”
The Presidency has alleged that militants in Rivers State were on standby, awaiting directives from Governor Siminalayi Fubara to launch attacks on oil pipelines before President Bola Tinubu foiled their plans by declaring emergency rule in the state.
The state of emergency was declared on March 18. Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the Constitution and appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s sole administrator. The National Assembly approved the emergency rule two days later, despite opposition from some lawmakers.
The emergency rule suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
According to President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, his principal’s intervention prevented threat to the country’s oil production and economic stability.
Onanuga stated this in an opinion piece defending the declaration of the state of emergency in the oil-rich state amidst criticism from different quarters.
According to him, intelligence reports confirmed that militants had been mobilised and were waiting for Fubara’s signal before carrying out the attacks.
Onanuga stressed that President Tinubu’s action was justified by the political crisis between Governor Fubara and the state House of Assembly which had spiraled out of control and grounded governance in the.
“A responsible leader like President Tinubu, who swore an oath to protect the constitution and corporate existence of the country, can not fail to act when a constituent part of the Federation is careering towards the precipice. The political crisis in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly who owe allegiance to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that blew open barely six months into the administration of the Governor has degenerated by 18 March. A chain of events since the war of attrition started 14 months ago among the combatants had indeed paralysed the government of Rivers State to the point where Fubara, copying from the bad book of former Governor Obaseki in Edo, emasculated an arm of government entirely. This reality informed the Supreme Court’s damning verdict about the absence of government in the State as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, as amended. The court also excoriated Fubara for acting like a despot.
“Rivers was in a grave situation, as the combatants refused to allow reason to prevail, even after the Supreme Court judgment, before President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on 18 March. The President took action in the best interest of the people of the State, who had become victims of the warring politicians, the people they elected to serve them. President Tinubu needed to act. He chose prevention over cure,” he wrote.
Onanuga reaffirmed that President Tinubu’s actions were in line with his constitutional responsibility to maintain national stability.
He dismissed claims that the intervention undermined democracy, arguing instead that it was meant to preserve democracy.
“Section 305 of Nigeria’s Constitution empowers the President to act when the nation faces a breakdown of law, order, and economic security —precisely the case in Rivers, a bastion of Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy. Intelligence confirmed militants, told by Fubara to await signals, were already targeting pipelines, risking a collapse in output and a Niger-Delta domino effect.
“Historical precedents, such as the past emergencies in Plateau and Borno and the doctrine of necessity, support the President’s proactive measures to avert disaster. The President’s oath demands he must not fail in his sacred duty to safeguard national stability, not watch idly as partisan strife strangles our democracy and the material well-being of Nigerians, whose prosperity depends on the social and economic interdependence of every part of the country. Rivers State is a significant hydrocarbon economic artery in Nigeria, and any dislocation and politically motivated disruption of the oil industry in the state will have ripple effects on the national economy,” he wrote.
Responding to critics of Tinubu’s action, Onanuga added: “Critics claim the emergency rule in Rivers undermines democracy. Their position misrepresents reality. The intervention is temporary, surgical, and aimed at restoring—not replacing—democratic institutions. The suspension of political actors for six months is no power grab; it is not a permanent removal but a reset to disarm warring factions. Notably, the same critics who assailed the President’s action for suspending the political actors remain silent on Governor Fubara’s refusal to collaborate with the legislature, exposing their partisan bias. Democracy can not thrive amid lawlessness—anarchy.”
Tinubu’s action had drawn criticism from former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.
Jonathan, speaking at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja, condemned the suspension of democratic governance in the state.
He expressed disappointment that elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly, were removed from office.
Jonathan warned that such actions could damage Nigeria’s reputation and deter investment, blaming all three arms of government for engaging in abuse of power.
“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” Jonathan, who was the chairman of the colloquium, said.
“The key actors in Nigeria from the executive to the legislature and the judiciary know the correct thing to do but they are refusing to do it; they are pretending to sleep, and waking such a person is extremely difficult because the person knows the right thing.
“A clear abuse of offices, clear abuse of power, clear abuse of privileges, cutting across the three arms of government — from the executive through the parliament and to the judiciary,” Jonathan said.
Soyinka had also criticised the move in an interview The Africa Report, saying the emergency rule was against the principles of federalism.
He argued that the 1999 Constitution grants excessive powers to the president and called for a national discussion to amend the Constitution to ensure true federalism.
In response, President Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, dismissed the criticisms as personal opinions.
“Professor Wole Soyinka and former President Goodluck Jonathan are respected statesmen. Like many Nigerians that have offered varied opinions on the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the two distinguished Nigerians have also offered their own opinions too.
“President Tinubu has a country to govern, and he has exercised his power under the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“President Tinubu has a duty to preserve the corporate existence of Nigeria. He won’t allow any part of the country or state to descend into chaos.
“The Supreme Court ruled that there is no functioning government in Rivers State known to the constitution of Nigeria. President Tinubu won’t fail in his sacred duty to protect and preserve the country,” said Ajayi.
•NNPP yet to decide on alliance —National publicity secretary
THE Patriots, a body of elder statesmen and leaders of thought in the country, at the weekend, explained why it could not be part of the ongoing efforts by some opposition politicians that unveiled a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the All progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidency.
The organisation spoke against the backdrop of the unveiling of the coalition in Abuja last week by former vice president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Other prominent politicians who attended the conference included the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachair Lawal.
In an interaction with the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend, the Secretary General of The Patriots, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi said there was no relationship between The Patriots Organisation on formed by the opposition politicians.
He said the leaders of The Patriots were preoccupied with “bringing about a new Nigeria that works for all as a pan-Nigerian organisation.
According to Olawale, The Patriots, under the leadership of a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, had succeeded in getting the buy-in of other stakeholders on the advocacy for a constitution that would reflect the wishes and aspirations of the diverse people of Nigeria.
In October last year, The Patriots inaugurated Zonal Advocacy Committees across the six geo-political zones to collect the inputs of stakeholders towards the actualisation of what the group called a People’s Constitution for the country.
The national chairman of Patriots’ Strategy and Advocacy Committee on constitutional reform of Nigeria, Professor Anthony Kila and the national secretary of the committee, Dr Bilikisu Magoro, had explained that the political reform advocacy was devolved to the zones, with members from each state and diverse groups in Nigeria.
Comrade Okunniyi referenced the setting up of the zonal committee while speaking to the Nigerian Tribune on the formation of the coalition by the opposition politicians ahead 2027, stressing that The Patriots remained focus on its strategic aim of bringing about a new Nigeria.
“The Advocacy and Mobilisation Committee of The Patriots have already enlisted the commitment of formidable voices in the six geo political zones of Nigeria to mobilise critical stakeholders and the general public to buy into the longstanding advocacy in Nigeria for a new democratic people’s Constitution for Nigeria towards resolving Nigeria’s national democratic and constitutional challenges
“To this end, Zonal Advocacy Committees have been constituted and inaugurated in the six geo-political zones since November last year and these have been holding strategy and consultative meetings and now rearing to launch nationwide outreaches in April this year
“However, the new coalition of opposition forces has no relationship with the Patriots as the Patriots as a body of eminent Nigerians, is a non-partisan, pan-Nigerian intervention group of eminent leaders of thought, statesmen and women, who are only committed to bringing about a new Nigeria that works for all via a popularly agreed Constitution by the diverse stakeholders and citizens of Nigeria. So the Patriots as a group will never entertain or embrace partisan politics.”
While inaugurating the People’s Constitution Strategy and Advocacy Committee of The Patriots in August, the Chairman of The Patriots, Chief Emeka Anyaoku (former secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations) stated that the Advocacy Team Co-Chaired by Senator Shehu Sanni would be reaching out to various sectors of the peoples and citizens of Nigeria for buy-in and support towards actualising a new democratic people’s Constitution for Nigeria as
It would be recalled that The Patriots had earlier visited President Bola Tinubu to make a firm case for a legitimate federal constitution that can make Nigeria work for all.
In the meantime, there are indications that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is yet to make a firm commitment to the coalition announced last week in Abuja by Atiku.
This indication emerged at the weekend following inquiries made by the Nigerian Tribune from the national publicity secretary of the party, Mr Ladipo Johnson, on whether NNPP was a part of the coalition since the party was not represented at the unveiling of the coalition.
He said the party leaders were still holding consultations with other groups for the purpose of broadening the base of a platform capable of challenging the ruling APC in 2027, adding the question of being part of a coalition would come at a most auspicious time.
“The opposition platform is a very wide spectrum in this country. What I can assure you is that the NNPP members are also in talks with various groups and we choose to keep our interactions at this stage under wraps until positive decisions and timely decisions have been taken,” the NNPP spokesman said.
“Furthermore, looking at the opposition coalition announced by Atiku Abubakar, you would agree with me that people, groups or parties can join a coalition almost at any time.
“Some people or parties might decide that they are still in talks with some others. When the others come on board, you might decide that you want to join even a broader coalition or otherwise.
“So, I assure Nigerians that the NNPP is in consultations far and wide to ensure we contribute our bit to bringing about good governance in this country that will improve security; that we are working towards ensuring that the value of the Naira gets stronger, inflation is reduced and we give our youths and women the hope that the economy will improve and they will be able to make positive impacts on their entrepreneurship.
“This is what we believe and this is what we are working towards.”
…Warns on repercussions of such act
• Oyo commits to provision of clean water
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has decried the neglect of Oyan Dam by successive Ogun State governments to mitigate the challenge of water scarcity in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Obasanjo said that due to the negligence of the dam, residents of Abeokuta had embraced digging boreholes to source water, stressing that repercussions of such could be devastating.
The former President gave the lamentation when the management and staff of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORDA), led by its Managing Director, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, visited him on the occasion of the World Water Day, yesterday.
He, however, called for elimination of wastages of water resources, stressing that it would be impossible to achieve food sufficiency and security without effective water management.
“We cannot de-emphasise the importance or usefulness of water to human life and this is why we do say water has no enemy.
“If we have to only depend on rain for agriculture, we shall not get it right. Rain may come too early or too late, there may be droughts or floods all of which have a telling effect on food production and security,” he said.
He said that the dam was meant to generate nine megawatts of electricity, saying that if the dam could be made to generate such, it would have a profound impact in boosting power supply.
Speaking earlier, Ashiru said that they decided to pay the former President a visit and salute him for his foresight which made him create the 11 river basins 48 years ago.
RELATEDLY, Oyo State Government, through the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), has promised to ensure clean and safe drinking water for residents.
In a statement, yesterday, Chairman of RUWASSA, Babalola Afobaje, gave the assurance that the Oyo State government will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to expand access to potable water, enhance climate-resilient infrastructure, and strengthen policies that guarantee a water-secure future for Oyo State.
[Guardian]
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Disobedience, Disregard To Supreme Court – Peter Obi Condemns Release Of Rivers Allocation To Sole Administrator
AFOLABI
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has condemned reports that the federal government has released Rivers State allocation to the newly appointed Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.
Naija News recalls that the Supreme Court had in a recent ruling ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to release funds to the Rivers State Government until a budget is presented before the State House of Assembly.
But following the appointment of a Sole Administrator and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the federal government released the allocation to Ibas.
Reacting in a post on his social media on Monday, Peter Obi stated that the release of funds to the Administrator is a clear disobedience to the Supreme Court order.
According to him, the federal government move is a brazen disregard for the rule of law and democratic principles.
Peter Obi wrote: “What is happening in the country today as it relates to River State is an aberration, unknown to our Constitution and must be condemned by every discerning mind.
“What we are witnessing in Rivers State is a brazen disobedience and disregard for the rule of law and our democratic principles. The decision to release statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator, despite a standing order of the Supreme Court, is not just unlawful — it is a direct challenge to the authority of the highest court of our country.
“The Supreme Court had explicitly barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing these funds until a properly constituted House of Assembly passes a valid Appropriation Act. Yet, we see a situation where this order is being ignored. This raises serious moral intentions, and questions of what is happening in Rivers State.
“By disregarding the judgment of the Supreme Court, those involved are setting a dangerous precedent. The CBN and AGF, institutions meant to uphold the law, should not be complicit in this disregard for our judiciary. We cannot build a nation where those who swore oaths to uphold our constitution and obey the laws are doing the opposite.
“This is about more than just Rivers State; it is about protecting the very fabric of our democracy, and our existence as a nation.
“A country cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, where the separation of powers is disregarded, and where judicial decisions are treated as mere suggestions. If we continue this way, we are undermining the future of our democracy. We must choose to do the right thing — to respect the law and uphold the principles that bind us as a nation.”
It was a near death experience for 13-year-old Hajara and Hauwa, 11, when they were beaten for illegally plucking 10 mangoes belonging to Muhammed Shettima in Pompomari area, Maiduguri, Borno State.
The video of the incident went viral at the weekend prompting the arrest of Shettima and his wife, who recorded the incident and posted it.
Recounting their ordeals to our correspondent, the two biological sisters, Hauwa and Hajara Goni, said they were on their way to school when they went to Shettima’s house to pluck mangoes.
They said they asked for permission from a boy in the house to pluck the mangoes but the owner who came in soon after plucking the mangoes saw them.
“The boy told us to quickly enter and remove two each but we plucked five each. Unfortunately, the owner of the compound returned home and saw us with the mangoes,” said Hajara.
She said the owner of the mango tree attempted to chop their heads with a cutlass but his wife intervened and gave him canes.
“He locked the gate, brought out a cutlass, threatened to hack us to death but his wife stopped him and brought some sticks for him.
“We were terrified when he cut the head of his chicken with the cutlass, saying he will do the same to us. He later picked the stick, chased us around the house and beat us repeatedly.
“He later opened the gate, but when the wife noticed that I urinated in my trousers, she asked him to beat me more, that’s when I fainted.
“It was one keke napep rider who happened to know our brother that pitied our condition and brought us close to our home,” she said.
The brutal beating of the two school children had triggered outrage on social media.
In a trending video of the assault, Shettima was seen beating the two girls while his wife was heard encouraging him to ‘beat them more’.
In an interview with Daily Trust, the mother of the girls, Falmata Abubakar, said her heart skipped when she was called to pick up her two daughters dumped outside her house.
“It was like a dream to me. In fact, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It wasn’t more than 10 minutes they left home for school – hale and hearty – but were brought to me in a tricycle, one of them almost lifeless.
“I asked Hauwa, what happened? She lied that they fell from upstairs on their way to school. I rushed Hajara home. Her father quickly boiled water and started pressing on her body.
“He resuscitated her before we rushed her to a nearby clinic. We didn’t even have the money to settle the bills until some of our relatives supported us,” she said.
Falmata said she was attending to the children at the clinic when her husband came to tell her that social media has been awash with brutal beating of their children.
“I shed tears when I saw the kind of sticks he used on my daughters. I’m sure my daughters were afraid to tell me what happened to avoid my punishment, but what he did was inhumane,” she sobbed.
The father of the girls, Muhammad Goni, said the children had to receive three days’ treatment before they recovered from pains of the merciless beating.
“After spending two days treating the children, the state government and human rights groups had to take them to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for more treatment. They spent 24 hours in the trauma centre,” he said.
He called on the state government to help him ensure that justice is served to his two children.
How video triggered outrage
However, the video of the brutal beating has reignited calls by parents, government officials and advocacy groups for swift justice and measures to prevent such abuses.
Executive Director, Women in the New Nigeria and Youth Empowerment Initiative (WINN), Comrade Lucy Dlama Yunana, said the incident was so traumatic.
She thanked the Nigerian police for arresting and detaining the suspect, adding that criminal charges would be pressed against him.
“The Nigerian constitution does grant children the right to protection on inhumane treatment and degrading punishment and it also protects them from mental or emotional injury, “she said.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Borno State Command, said the couple were apprehended with the assistance of concerned citizens and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno State Command.
“On 19th March 2025, an 11-year-old girl, Hauwa Mohammed Goni, a Primary 5 pupil of Bolori Primary School, Federal Low Cost, entered the residence of one Mr. Muhammad Shetima 33yrs, in Pompomari to pluck mangoes. In response, Mr. Shetima and his wife, Mrs. Aishatu Abubakar 23yrs, accosted the child and subjected her to severe flogging.
“During the assault, Mrs Aishatu Abubakar recorded the incident and shared the video on social media.
“Concerned citizens and civil society organisations, including a petition filed by Potential Attorneys, swiftly raised the alarm, leading to the couple’s arrest.
“They were apprehended with the assistance of concerned citizens and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno State Command.
“The victim has since been taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for medical attention and she is responding to treatment.
“The suspects are currently at the Gender Unit, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Maiduguri as investigations are ongoing before prosecution.
“The command assures the public that the case will be thoroughly investigated, and the suspects will be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Child Protection Law and the Borno State Penal Code Law.
“For accountability and transparency, the command will continue to provide updates on the progress of the case,” the statement read.
The Borno State government has also taken legal action against Mamman Sheriff and his wife.
The Attorney-General of the state, Hauwa Abubakar, assured that justice would be served to the victims.
Also, relevant ministries that include, the ministry of women Affairs and Social Development, the Ministry of Education, have provided support to the families in different ways.
Meanwhile, the forum of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) to Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the brutal act on the victim, calling for a thorough investigation and punishment to the perpetrator(s) if found guilty.
The secretary of the forum, Hon. Yusuf Sawa in an interview described the incident as “barbaric, inhumane, child abuse and contrary to societal norms and values.
“We the entire SSAs and SAs Forum to His Excellency, Governor Babagana Zulum, watched the viral video with utmost shock.
[DailyTrust]
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has rejected Governor Ademola Adeleke’s nomination of ex-Finance Commissioner, Wale Bolorunduro, as a Director of Osun-owned Living Trust Mortgage Bank.
The Nation reports Adeleke appointed Boluwaduro, who served under the administration of Ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the Director and Chairman of Living Trust Mortgage Bank in 2024.
But the CBN in a letter obtained by The Nation with reference number: OFI/SG2/CON/PLI/018/171 dated March 21st 2025 titled: “Re: Resolutions Reached At The Settlements Helf on August 28, 2024 In Relation to LivingTrust Mortgage Bank PLC” declined the nomination of Boluwaduro.
The letter signed by the Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, Oluwasola Ajewole of the apex monetary authority approved the nomination of 10 others nominated as Managing, Executive, Non-Executive, Independent Non-Executive Directors.
The letter reads partially; “Dr. Adewale Bolorunduro’s approval is declined due to his involvement in the board crisis as ascertained in the investigation carried out by the CBN Examiners as at May 31, 2024.
“The OSSG will be required to replace him with a neutral person to ensure stability on the board.
“However, you are required to forward the following additional documents in respect of the below appointees within three months from the date of this letter. Failure to do so would nullify the approval of the appointments of Mr. Afolabi Olanrewaju Olatunji and Mr. Ogungbile Adeola Olusola.”
The letter directed that Olatunji should provide letter of undertaking that he would make good the non-performing loan with Prudential Mortgage Bank while Ogungbile should make available a Executed Code of Conduct form for Directors of Other Financial Institutions.
“Also, note that Mrs. Olaitan who had served on the board between 2018 to date, has only four years remaining as an Executive Director, In line with Section 2.5 of the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks.
” Likewise, Mr. Michael Omolaja who had served between 2016 to 2023, has only one year remaining as an Independent Non-Executive Director in line with Section 2.5 of the Revised Guidelines for Primary Mortgage Banks in Nigeria,” the CBN added.
[TheNation]
•IPMAN slams depot owners for stockpiling product, FG, Dangote resume talks today
Following the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s suspension of the sale of petroleum products in naira, some filling stations have started stockpiling Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, The PUNCH reports.
The retailers are storing the product to ensure they have enough to sell at a higher rate, having projected that the price of petrol would go up soon as a result of the failure of the Federal Government to continue the sale of crude oil to the Dangote refinery in the local currency.
However, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria warned these retailers to stop panic buying as they may run into heavy losses.
Last week, the Dangote refinery announced that it had temporarily halted the sale of petroleum products in naira as the naira-for-crude talks between it and NNPCL appeared to have failed.
The 650,000 barrels per day capacity refinery lamented that there was a mismatch between its sales proceeds and its crude oil purchase obligations, which it said are currently denominated in US dollars.
“Dear valued customers, we wish to inform you that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has temporarily halted the sale of petroleum products in naira. This decision is necessary to avoid a mismatch between our sales proceeds and our crude oil purchase obligations, which are currently denominated in US dollars.
“To date, our sales of petroleum products in naira have exceeded the value of naira-denominated crude we have received. As a result, we must temporarily adjust our sales currency to align with our crude procurement currency,” the firm announced.
Immediately after the announcement, the cost of loading petrol at private depots in Lagos jumped to about N900/litre. It was less than N850/litre before the announcement.
In an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, said depot owners were profiteering even as some owners of filling stations were in a rush to stockpile fuel.
According to him, the demand for PMS has risen since Wednesday, when Dangote made the announcement. As a result, depot owners were said to have raised their prices to make more profit.
It was observed that players in the downstream petroleum sector have been left to continue speculating on the prices of petroleum products as the Federal Government had kept mute since the announcement made by the Dangote refinery.
Five days after the announcement, the refinery has yet to tell marketers how the dealers will buy PMS going forward.
Private depot owners wasted no time in jerking up their prices in anticipation of a possible hike in petrol prices. Although owners of filling stations have yet to increase their prices, they are already buying to sell for more gains when the price goes up later.
But Ukadike condemned depot owners for profiteering from the impasse between the Federal Government and the Dangote refinery, saying that is not good for the economy.
He warned marketers not to panic-buy because the Dangote refinery may crash the price.
“Some depot owners are already increasing the price. But we are also asking our marketers not to panic-buy. Because definitely when the Dangote refinery comes back and reverses the price, it will be a huge loss for these marketers. Depot owners are using this opportunity to profiteer. This is not good for the economy.
“Some marketers are also stockpiling PMS in a bid to increase the price based on the suspension of naira sales by the Dangote refinery. They speculate that the price will go higher and they will make more money from the fuel they are buying now. It may not be so. This issue will be resolved,” Ukadike stated.
He warned all marketers against buying large volumes of petrol to avoid running into debt.
“We, the independent marketers, are asking our members not to buy so much goods because when they buy so much volume of fuel at a higher rate from the depot owners, at the end of the day, it might result in losing a lot of capital.
“Dangote may crash the price and most of them with high volumes of PMS will run into problems. So, all marketers should be careful to avoid losses,” he advised.
The IPMAN spokesman disclosed that the Federal Government and Dangote refinery are resolving their misunderstanding to allow the resumption of the naira crude sales. He stated that stakeholders are waiting to hear the conclusion from either party.
“I have gathered that the Federal Government and Dangote refinery are almost resolving this matter.
“The two of them are reviewing the naira-for-crude deal to continue the sale of crude oil in naira to the refinery again. But the official statement has not come out. We are waiting for the official statement,” Ukadike revealed.
Sources from the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources had earlier confirmed that the Technical Sub-Committee on the Naira-for-Crude Policy would reconvene today (Monday) to deliberate on the matter.
It was gathered that the committee had mandated the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to come up with options that would be reviewed by the panel as it struggles to return the naira-for-crude deal.
The insider familiar with the workings of the naira-for-crude said the transaction would not be halted permanently. The source, who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, pointed out that NNPCL had issues with crude availability.
Industry experts and oil marketers warned that the halt in naira sales by the Dangote refinery could increase the pressure on the foreign exchange market, as dealers would now have to access the United States dollars in large amounts to buy petroleum products.
This came as multiple industry sources familiar with what prompted the failure in the naira-for-crude talk decried the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s humongous forward sale of crude.
They stressed that the national oil company had used large volumes of its yet-to-be-produced crude oil to acquire loans from various international financial institutions, making it tough for the oil firm to have enough crude to supply the domestic market.
Earlier, the NNPC spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, announced that it had initiated fresh negotiations with the Dangote refinery over the renewal of the naira-for-crude agreement, as talks were underway in anticipation of the expiration of the first phase which started in October 2024 and ends this month.
Soneye said 48 million barrels of crude had been supplied to the Dangote refinery since October.
The Dangote refinery’s suspension of the sale of petroleum products in naira means marketers would have to source dollars before buying petrol from the facility.
The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said there could be pressure on the naira, and it would lose the stability it had gained lately.
Experts have said that the naira-for-crude deal emboldened the Dangote refinery to lower the prices of PMS repeatedly, forcing the NNPC to do so even when it was affecting its margins.
The PUNCH reports that fuel importers lost billions of naira with the repeated reduction of fuel prices by the $20bn facility.
At a point, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, which once commended Dangote for the price slashes, kicked against it, asking the regulator to make it mandatory that prices should only be slashed after six months.
Meanwhile, industry sources said stopping the naira-for-crude deal might be a calculated attempt to reduce the influence of the Dangote refinery, which some players in the downstream accused of planning monopolistic tendencies.
Reacting, domestic crude oil refiners argued that the halt in crude supply in naira was the latest ploy to frustrate the Dangote refinery and bring back the full importation of refined petroleum products.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria, Eche Idoko, disclosed that suspending the deal defeats the efforts of all stakeholders in the sector to achieve energy security.
The PUNCH reports that seven vessels carrying imported Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, were expected to berth at seaports along the nation’s borders between March 17 and 23.
According to a document obtained from the Nigerian Port Authority on Thursday, these vessels carrying 115,000 metric tonnes representing 154.22 million litres of PMS will bring in products through three seaports to improve fuel supply nationwide.
An analysis of the document from NPA showed that the commodities landed at the Tincan port in Lagos, the Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos, and the Calabar port in Cross River State.
The document also revealed that the Dangote refinery imported 654,766 metric tonnes of crude oil within the same period.
Fuel crisis
Recall that the Dangote refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, was greeted by crude challenges when it began operations last year.
The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had cried out, saying some international oil companies were planning to sabotage the investment by refusing to supply crude.
The Dangote Group had alleged that the IOCs insisted on selling crude oil to its refinery through their foreign agents.
It said the local price of crude would continue to increase because the trading arms offered cargoes at $2 to $4 per barrel, above the official price.
The group also alleged that the foreign oil producers seem to be prioritising Asian countries in selling the crude they produce in Nigeria.
Despite the intervention of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in July, the group insisted that the IOCs were still frustrating the refinery.
The Vice President, Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Devakumar Edwin, said, “If the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation guidelines are diligently implemented, this will ensure that we deal directly with the companies producing the crude oil in Nigeria as stipulated by the Petroleum Industry Act.”
Edwin insisted that IOCs operating in Nigeria had consistently frustrated the company’s requests for locally-produced crude as feedstock for its refining process.
He highlighted that when cargoes were offered to the oil company by the trading arms, it was sometimes at a $2 to $4 (per barrel) premium above the official price set by the NUPRC.
The issue escalated and drew angry reactions from many Nigerians when the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Farouq Ahmed said local refineries were producing fuels less in quality than imported ones.
Concerned by the controversies, President Bola Tinubu, during a Federal Executive Council meeting on July 29 proposed the sale of crude to local refineries in naira.
The Federal Executive Council adopted the proposal by Tinubu to sell crude to the Dangote refinery and other upcoming refineries in the local currency.
FEC approved that the 450,000 barrels meant for domestic consumption be offered in naira to Nigerian refineries, using the Dangote refinery as a pilot.
A media aide to the President, Bayo Onanuga, said in July that “the exchange rate will be fixed for the duration of this transaction.”
[Punch]