Latest News
FEATURES
‘N3bn fraud’: EFCC witness narrates how Kogi LG funds were laundered through private accounts
AFOLABI
A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recounted to a federal high court in Abuja how funds belonging to various LGAs in Kogi state were allegedly diverted and laundered through private accounts.
Remigius Egu, the witness, gave the account on Tuesday while testifying in the case against Ali Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, Kogi state governor.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello alongside Yakubu Adabenege, Abba Adaudu and Iyada Sadat on an 18-count charge, bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over N3 billion.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecution counsel, the witness, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, identified documents containing transactions that he said belonged to the second defendant, Adabenege.
According to a statement by the EFCC, “the witness told the court that multiple inflows of large sums of money from several Kogi State LGAs were traced to the account of Korforte Concept Limited on October 4, 2023”.
“These, he said, were as follows: Ogori Magongo LGA: N14,844,640.57; Ibeji LGA: N18,629,944.51; Adavi LGA: N20,887,557.54; Kogi LGA: N17,929.59; Kabba/Bunu LGA: N18,460,569.12; Ajaokuta LGA: N22,764,334.70; Okene LGA: 20,758,710.37; Yagba West LGA: N18,234,063.61; Ofu LGA: N21,368,633.69,” the statement reads.
The witness told the court that all inflows were received on October 4, 2023.
Before the inflows, the witness told the court that the balance in the Korforte Concept Limited account was N7,370 and that on the same day, a transaction of N110 million was made from the account to Adaudu, one of the defendants.
“He further revealed that on October 5, 2018, more funds were funnelled into the same account from additional LGAs that included Igalamela/Odolu LGA: N19,480,651.20; Olamaboro LGA: N19,089,517.01; Dekina LGA: N23,373,201.67; Ibaji LGA: N15,653,631.39; Omala LGA: N16,876,252.03; and Lokoja LGA: N20,591,073.74. He also disclosed that a transfer of N21.9 million to one Musa Omuya was made from the account that same day,” the EFCC statement added.
“Further in his testimony, the witness disclosed that there were more inflows into the account on October 8, 2018, being N17,369,243.52 from Ijumu LGA and N17,471,549.57 from Bassa LGA.
“On October 10, 2018, he said that transactions from the account showed N10 million wired to Musa Omuya and N5.1 million and N5 million, respectively, wired to Adaudu.”
Earlier in the proceedings, the fifth prosecution witness, Oyinkosola Akerele, the managing director of Forza Oil and Gas Limited, testified that the company—which also deals in foreign exchange transactions—received a payment from a customer, Abdul Bashir, for the purchase of US dollars.
Akerele further stated that the procured dollars were transferred to four beneficiaries. Three of them—Fatima Bello, Na’ima Bello, and Zara Bello (all children of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi)—received the funds as payment for their school fees at the American International School (AIS), amounting to $139,000.
Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, adjourned the matter till May 5, 19, 20, and 21 for the continuation of the trial.
A 30-year-old Nigerian woman, Cynthia Oguzie, was reportedly killed after an overhead water tank crashed on her when the ceiling of her room caved in.
A short video seen by PUNCH Metro showed the victim lying on her bed motionless though a woman could be heard saying the victim was still alive at the time.
Another clip captured the fallen water tank alongside the wreckage of the structure, while additional photos showed Oguzie’s lifeless body in what appeared to be a hospital.
Oguzie had reportedly moved into the Lekki, Lagos apartment just two months before the incident.
A Facebook user who identified himself as her brother, Chukwuebuka Nathaniel, shared the incident on his page.
He blamed the tragedy on poor construction, alleging the water stand was substandard.
“Beware of Lekki buildings and their water stands. This is how they sent my sister to her early grave. Thank you, so-called Lekki landlord, and your engineer for doing this type of water stand,” he wrote.
Nathaniel added, “The landlord said he is not in Nigeria, that it’s the engineer who built all the houses and sent him pictures and videos. This is how the story ended.”
Though the Lagos State Police Command has yet to officially confirm the incident, photos and videos of the tragic scene went viral on social media.
A flier outlining the burial arrangements showed that Oguzie’s funeral service will hold on Friday, April 25.
When contacted by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin, said the incident might have not been brought to the command’s attention.
The incident triggered widespread outrage and grief online, with many Nigerians calling out the developers for alleged negligence and cost-cutting measures at the expense of safety.
“Those engineers who don’t want to go through the mandatory training—most of them are not COREN certified,” commented Facebook user Felix Amehnawon.
“Chai! What a pathetic way to die. May she RIP,” wrote Amaka Duru.
Another user, Benedict Chinonso, stated, “There are specific pipes you should use for areas like this because of the salty water that rusts pipes over time.
“These people cut corners with cheaper materials just to make more profit. I hope someone pays for this so others will learn. This is sad.”
Charles Newton added, “The welder who fabricated that substandard tank stand needs to have been in jail by now.”
Ochuba Collins wrote, “This is why you should engage your engineer during the finishing of your building. Very painful. May she rest in peace.”
Chisom Nwankwo also shared his thoughts, saying, “Landlords sometimes pay for original materials, but the workers end up buying fake ones just to keep the extra money.”
As of Tuesday evening, the state government was yet to react to the incident.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Tuesday awarded the sum of N100m in general damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence of duty of care which led to the death of a student.
Mr Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim had sued the school for negligence that resulted in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Kamzie,
In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Ikpeatusim alleged that the school’s failure to provide adequate medical attention after Kamzie who fell ill shortly after her admission and resumption in the school led to her untimely death.
Kamzie, who was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017 became severely ill by October 2 and died a few days later.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji, while delivering judgment in the suit brought before the court after awarding the N100m cost, ordered a 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment.
He also awarded an additional N300,000 as the cost of the suit.
Justice Oriji while pronouncing the decision of the court, held that the evidence presented showed the school and its agents acted negligently by failing to attend promptly and adequately to Kamzie’s medical needs.
“The claimant established his allegations of negligence against the school.
“There is no amount of money that can bring back the child to life,” he stated.
Justice Oriji however acknowledged the fact that one significant outcome of the case was the improvement of the school’s sickbay following the incident.
He noted that the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily was a commendable development.
While the claimant had asked the court to order the school to name one of its structures in Kamzie’s name in her honour, Justice Oriji noted that the improvement in the school’s sickbay was sufficient enough to know the school is making amends from its mistake.
“The court thinks that the improvement in the sickbay, ensuring doctors are available twice daily, is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by her family.
“The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through these improvements.”
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted three days of moderate to heavy rainfall across six states in the country.
Naija News reports that the affected states are Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, and Ogun, with rainfall expected between Wednesday, April 9, and Friday, April 11, 2025.
In its heavy rainfall forecast bulletin released on Tuesday, NiMet also predicted light to moderate rainfall in Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Imo, Abia, Ekiti, and a few other states. The agency noted that other parts of the country would experience either very light rain or no rain over the next three days.
NiMet also highlighted the possibility of flash floods due to the anticipated moderate to heavy rainfall. The agency further warned that strong winds could accompany the rains and advised the public to avoid driving through surface runoff waters, as they may have strong undercurrents.
Other potential hazards identified by the agency include slippery road surfaces, reduced visibility during rainfall, which could disrupt road traffic, and the threat of strong winds damaging weak structures, trees, and masts. The public was also advised to disconnect electrical appliances before the rains begin, not during.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians against paying ransom to kidnappers.
He gave the warning on Tuesday when he received over 60 victims recently rescued from captivity in Zangon Kataf, Southern Kaduna, following sustained military operations.
The victims, who had been held for over a month, include a Deputy Director in the civil service and a relative of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
The group, comprising 35 males and 29 females and children, was formally handed over to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, during a brief ceremony in Abuja.
Speaking during the event, Ribadu warned that paying ransom to criminals would end up fuelling the criminal enterprise.
“Let me urge families and communities to stop paying ransom to these criminals.
“We have never paid money to secure the release of any victim. Each payment only encourages them to keep going. The more you give, the more they demand,” Ribadu said.
The NSA attributed the successful rescue of the victims to the efforts and resilience of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies. “Let me specially commend our armed forces and security services. Their tireless pursuit of these criminals is the reason we are here today,” he noted.
Ribadu also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for his consistent support of the nation’s security architecture. “Thanks to the commitment of Mr. President, we are making progress daily. However, the release of victims is not the end. We will continue to pursue these perpetrators and ensure they face justice.”
Abubakar echoed the NSA’s sentiments, praising the security forces and calling for increased public cooperation.
“The security agencies, under the coordination of the NSA, have been working round the clock. I thank Nigerians for their trust and for providing vital information that aids our efforts. We ask for continued support, especially through actionable intelligence,” he said.
A total of 11 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have approached the Supreme Court challenging what powers President Bola Tinubu has to suspend a democratically elected structure of a state.
The suit filed by the governors also challenges the declaration of a state of emergency rule in Rivers State.
While the media previously reported that the suit had been filed before the Supreme Court, the governors suit was actually only filed before the apex court on Tuesday.
This was exclusively confirmed to The PUNCH by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande.
President Bola Tinubu had on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the state deputy governor, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Following the suspension, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the affairs of Rivers State pending the period of the suspension.
Meanwhile, the legislature at the National Assembly, on their part supported the President’s decision to implement the suspension.
Aggrieved by the suspension meted out to one of its fellow party governors, 11 PDP state governors approached the Supreme Court to challenge the suspension, the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state and the appointment of the sole administrator before the apex court in the country.
The governors, in the suit marked: SC/CV/329/2025, predicated the summon on eight grounds.
The plaintiffs in the suit are – Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa states.
The plaintiffs urged the Supreme Court to determine if the President had the powers to suspend a democratically elected structure of a state.
They also asked the apex court to determine if the way and manner the President pronounced the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State was not in contravention of the 1999 Constitution.
Amongst others, all 11 governors in the suit, filed through their state Attorney Generals, prayed the court to determine the following, “Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend or in any manner whatsoever interfere with the offices of a Governor and the Deputy Governor of any of the component 36 States of the Federation of Nigeria and replace same with his own unelected nominee as a Sole Administrator, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in any of the State of the Federation, particularly in any of the Plaintiffs States?
“Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 4(6), 11(4) & (5), 90, 105 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend the House of Assembly of any of the component 36 States of the Federation of Nigeria, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in any of such States, particularly in any of the Plaintiffs States?
“Whether the consequent threat by the first Defendant acting on behalf of the President to the States of the Federation, including the Plaintiffs’ States, to the effect that the offices of the Governor and Deputy Governor of the States can be suspended by the President by virtue of a Proclamation of a State of Emergency, is not in contravention of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 4(6), 5(2), 11(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and inconsistent with the principles of constitutional federalism?
Meanwhile, the respondents in the suit are to within 14 days after the service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of such service, cause an appearance to be entered for them.
The suit filed by the opposition governors ends weeks of speculation of what action they would take following reports that they had earlier approached the apex court to challenge the President’s action.
Before Tuesday, seven PDP governors, specifically from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau and Zamfara states reportedly decided to challenge the President’s action by filing a suit before the Supreme Court.
However, multiple Supreme Court and Ministry of Justice sources told The PUNCH that they were yet to be served with the court papers, following findings by our correspondent.
When our correspondent asked a state counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Abuja last month if the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had been served with the PDP Governors suit challenging Fubara’s suspension, he replied, “We haven’t seen it.”
The PUNCH on March 31, a week after the suit was reportedly filed at the Supreme Court, was also told by another state counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice that the suit had yet to be served on the Federal Government.
The official, who works with the Attorney General of the Federation, spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
He said, “Here at the Ministry of Justice, we have yet to be served with the governors’ suit that they said they filed before the Supreme Court to challenge Fubara’s suspension. Immediately after we heard about the suit, we prepared our response.
“We have our response ready because for three days we started reading books to prepare but we have yet to be served. We are still waiting.”
Last month, while speaking on the Rivers State situation, Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, who is the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, was also silent on the filing of a suit.
Rather, he harped on the call for the Federal Government to urgently reverse the Rivers emergency rule, reinstate Governor Fubara and set up a panel to reconcile Fubara and the state lawmakers.
Buba Galadima Exposes Plot To Impose Emergency Rule In Northern State Without Tinubu’s Approval
AFOLABI
A prominent member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has claimed that there was a plot by certain individuals to destabilize Kano State and push the federal government into declaring a state of emergency in the state.
Speaking on Jigsaw, a political program aired on AIT on Tuesday, Galadima alleged that those behind the plot were doing so without the knowledge of President Bola Tinubu.
“On the Kano situation, because unknown to him, and I can beat my chest that he didn’t know, Tinubu didn’t know what happened, what was arranged,” he said.
Galadima further claimed that the scheme involved setting up both the Kano state government and the Emir to create a situation that would justify the declaration of a state of emergency.
“There was a grand design to set up the Kano state government, including the Emir, such that they could declare a state of emergency,” he added.
He also mentioned that the plan included a high-level meeting in Abuja and the intentional absence of a key individual, who was being positioned to become the Emir of Kano.
“There was a meeting in a senior official of government’s house in this Abuja, and the man that was supposed to be appointed Emir was sent to Umrah, and as I speak to you now, he is in Saudi Arabia,” Galadima said.
According to him, the plot was for the Emir to be detained in Abuja upon his arrival, with the military on standby to declare the throne vacant.
“Their thinking is that once the Emir is invited today, he will be detained in Abuja. Once he’s detained, the military will be put on alert and the throne will be declared vacant,” he alleged.
When asked to name the individual in question, Galadima declined to do so. “No, I don’t want to mention names. Go and find out who is in Saudi Arabia out of the princes in Kano. Everybody in Nigeria knows what is happening,” he responded.
This revelation came shortly after Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), withdrew an invitation to Muhammadu Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, to appear at the police force headquarters in Abuja. The police had earlier invited Sanusi for questioning over alleged killings during the recent Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an order restraining the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), from appointing sole administrators or their equivalents to oversee the 23 local government areas in the state.
Naija News reports that Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed issued the ruling in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu, against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity.
The court, after reviewing the motion ex parte filed on March 28, 2025, granted several reliefs, including an interim injunction preventing Ibas and his agents from making such appointments.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed noted that the applicant’s request for an injunction and other necessary orders was valid, and set April 14, 2025, as the date for the hearing of the substantive matter.
The leadership crisis in Rivers State stems from the expiration of the tenure of elected local government chairmen in June 2023.
These chairmen, originally elected under former Governor Nyesom Wike, had sought an extension of tenure, which was granted by 27 defected state lawmakers loyal to Wike.
When Governor Siminalayi Fubara assumed office, he dissolved the councils and appointed caretaker chairmen. This action sparked a fierce political battle between Fubara’s camp and Wike’s loyalists. The struggle for control over local governments has become a central issue in the state’s political power dynamics.
Despite the ongoing tensions, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) proceeded with local government elections on October 5, 2024.
However, the faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Wike, led by Tony Okocha, challenged the RSIEC’s actions in court.
This legal battle culminated in a Supreme Court ruling on February 28, 2025, which favoured the Wike-backed APC faction.
Following this judgment, Governor Fubara removed the chairmen installed through the now-nullified election and directed the heads of local council administration to assume interim leadership until new elections could be held.
Governor Fubara’s decision was strongly opposed by the APC and the group of defected lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule.
They accused Fubara’s camp of targeting RSIEC officials and attempting to bypass constitutional procedures.
Supporters of Governor Fubara argued that the Sole Administrator was moving to appoint administrators for the local government areas—a move the court has now prevented, maintaining that it would be an unconstitutional act.
The legal battle continues, with the case now adjourned for further hearings on April 14, 2025.
The decision of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to suspend crude supply to the Dangote and other refineries affected the output of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in March.
A Reuters survey found that OPEC oil output fell in March as Nigeria curbed deliveries to domestic refineries.
In March, supply from Nigeria, Iran, and Venezuela fell by 50,000 bpd each, the survey found.
Nigerian supply was said to have declined “due to reduced deliveries to the Dangote refinery, offsetting higher exports.” Reuters stated that Nigeria is pumping slightly above its OPEC quota.
In March, OPEC pumped 26.63 million barrels per day, down 110,000 bpd from February’s total, the survey showed, with Nigeria, Iran and Venezuela posting the largest drops of 50,000 bpd each.
Iranian and Venezuelan supply had dropped on renewed United States attempts to curb the flows.
The PUNCH learnt that NNPC delayed the delivery of seven cargoes of crude oil it allocated to the Dangote refinery last month.
A report by S&P Global said the supply was delayed by the NNPC over the failure of both parties to agree on payment terms.
The report disclosed that the cargoes were to deliver around 245,000 barrels per day in April. This amounts to 7.2 million barrels in 30 days.
“According to trade sources and Nigerian port authorities, NNPC has allocated seven crude oil cargoes to deliver around 245,000 barrels per day to the Dangote site in April but is yet to agree on payment terms,” the report stated.
The PUNCH gathered that the NNPC and Dangote have been embroiled in disputes over payment terms following the seeming termination of the naira-for-crude deal.
Aside from the seeming termination of the naira deal, it was gathered that the credit facilities given to Dangote were withdrawn.
Sources said the refinery is now expected to submit letters of credit before the delivery of crude cargoes.
An NNPC official declined to comment on the matter, saying transactions are not done in the open.
In October 2024, the NNPC began the naira-for-crude deal with the Dangote refinery as part of an initiative to deflate Nigerian fuel prices.
However, according to NNPC figures, the national oil companies delivered roughly 280,000 b/d of crude to Dangote in naira by March 10, falling shy of the 385,000 b/d agreed under the deal, S&P Global said.
As the six-month deal ended yesterday, there are growing concerns that the FG may not renew it, and this has caused a hike in fuel prices after the Dangote refinery announced the suspension of naira fuel sales.
However, in addition to foreign exchange shortages and debt concerns, NNPC is now battling new challenges with instability and pipeline sabotage in Rivers State, clouding its production outlook.
In contrast to government rhetoric, the Dangote executive expressed scepticism over whether a new naira-for-crude deal would go ahead.
“We are not even sure whether it will be renewed,” he said.
Besides challenges for NNPC, he argued that the obligation for Dangote to sell its oil products in naira under the deal had become a drag on its operations.
He said that the refinery was left exposed to price fluctuations by pegging contract prices to dollar-based benchmarks and converting them into naira at the point of sale.
Earlier, it was reported that crude oil grades from Nigeria faced tepid demand in the April trade cycle as ample availability of lower-priced alternatives such as US WTI, Caspian CPC Blend, and other Mediterranean grades enticed European buyers.
The report stated that the trade cycle has since shifted to May, “with as many as 15 April-loading Nigerian cargoes looking for buyers,” according to market participants quoted by Argus Media.
Meanwhile, the African Export–Import Bank, a key investor in oil and gas projects, has earmarked $3bn to finance the purchase of refined products within Africa as part of broader plans to boost refining capacity, a senior executive said.
Africa exports around 80 per cent of its crude oil and 45 per cent of the natural gas it produces, leaving the fast-growing continent heavily reliant on imported refined products, according to the bank and analysts.
According to Reuters, a lack of storage infrastructure and older refineries with relatively small output capacity characterise the energy landscape of sub-Saharan Africa.
In another development, crude prices slipped further on Tuesday as Brent fell to $63.23 per barrel and WTI to $59.82.
Experts said the downward trend of crude oil will impact negatively on the 2025 budget, which benchmarked crude prices at $75 per barrel.
However, it was argued that the crash would result in cheaper fuels at filling stations.
Convocation Lecture: Education Minister, Ganduje, preach patriotism and unity, as LASU VC praises President Tinubu and Education Minister for Curriculum Rejig
Admin
At the Convocation Lecture, the fourth event in the ongoing 28th Convocation ceremony of the Lagos State University, the National chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Chairman of the occasion, and the Minister of Education and convocation lecturer, Dr Tunji Alausa, have reiterated the imperative of unity and patriotism in achieving national development. Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who spoke on “Patriotism, Citizenship, and National Ownership: The Imperative of Collective Responsibility for Nigeria’s Future,” emphasized the need for patriotism and collective responsibility in achieving national development.
Dr. Alausa charges Nigerians to adopt a “redefined” patriotism which should “reflect integrity, civic responsibility and a shared vision for national advancement.” According to him, commitment, political leadership and accountability, and promotion of unity and justice are characteristics of a true Nigerian patriot.
“A true patriot in modern Nigeria is someone who contributes to the nation’s growth in tangible ways, whether through education, entrepreneurship, innovation, or public service. This means working towards economic self-sufficiency, supporting local industries and promoting sustainable development initiatives that uplift your or any community in the country.”
However, in his opening address, the APC national chairman and Chairman of the event, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, tasks Nigerians to utilize ethnic diversity in contributing to the nation’s progress.
“There is no doubt Nigeria is blessed with many ethnic nationalities and, sociologically, each ethnic nationality in Nigeria has some inherent traits; if properly harmonized, Nigeria will be greater than what it is in the moment. I have this hope that going forward there shall be a renewed national patriotism, sense of belonging, from the north to the south; from the east to the west, and by this Nigeria will rise again.
“We should rise to the responsibilities of true citizenship and restore the glory of our nation’s founding fathers because, ultimately, our most promising path to national awakening is to begin to think less of ourselves as individuals and tribesmen but rise collectively through the responsibilities of true stewardship,” the former governor said.
Delivering the Welcome Address of the 28th LASU Convocation Lecture, on the 8th of April, the Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, advocates for patriotism and good citizenship, which should be done in both words and deeds.
“The emerging leaders of this nation, you are the ones who must rise to the occasion; who must safeguard this nation in the face of threats to its unity, peace and progress. Yes, our nation has its challenges—our fault lines are visible, but let us not forget our nationhood runs deep, woven through our history, our culture and our shared dreams. We are more than our divisions.”
The Vice-Chancellor decried the extinction of history in the Nigerian education curriculum while acknowledging its consequences on Nigeria’s vibrant youths.
"I would also like to touch on one thing I consider a disservice to our sense of patriotism and collective responsibility: the removal of History from the curriculum in our primary and secondary schools. When we lack a sense of the past, then our future is endangered. So much harm has been done to our young generation, the group that we call the Gen Z, who pass through schools at a time when history was expunged from the curriculum. Some of such harms are evident in the even dangerous narratives that avail the social media space. The ethnic-induced abuses, trolling and verbal attacks on individuals and groups have become the hallmark of social media engagement amongst others.
"And it is on this note that I salute President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education for the bold decision to return the teaching of history to schools. This is a crucial step towards healing these generational wounds and ensuring that our young people understand the rich, complex story of our nation. A story that will empower them to engage with one another and with Nigeria’s future in a more informed, respectful and united manner.”
The 28th convocation lecture of the third most sought-after Nigerian university was commemorated in grand style as distinguished personalities permeated the scene. In attendance were the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr Femi Pedro, LASU Chancellor, Gbolahan Elias (SAN), Executive Secretary of Tetfund, Emeritus Professor Sonny Echono, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr Tolani Sule, amongst others.
The convocation ceremony is expected to continue until Thursday when the University conferred honorary doctorate degrees on the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd) and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro.
More...
3rd April, 2025
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), CFR
Administrator,
Rivers State,
Government House,
Port Harcourt.
Dear brother and Admiral,
OUR DEEP CONCERNS OVER TEARING DOWN OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN RIVERS STATE
I have thought it important and quite pertinent to write to you to raise a matter of serious concern to all watchers of event in Rivers State and particularly leaders of various groups in the South-South of the country. This is as it pertains to what we observe to be a systematic tearing down of various structures, which are important for the continued building and consolidation of democracy in Rivers State right now taking place under your watch.
2. Before I proceed, let me express my regret that I did not, as expected, send felicitations to you on your appointment
to this office. I must say that this has nothing to do with my esteem for you and our joint participation in national service in which God graciously took we both to the very peak of our chosen careers. Conversely, at my last count, I congratulated you both on your appointment as Chief of Naval Staff in 2015 and thereafter as Nigeria's High Commissioner to the Republic of Ghana in 2021.
3. On this occasion of your most recent appointment, I could not extend same brotherly felicitations on account of the fact that I still cannot come to terms that a state of emergency was declared in Rivers State just one week after our most revered leaders had audience with Mr. President on 11th March 2025. On that occasion, he requested leaders of South-South under PANDEF to go and continue with peace building in Rivers State and report back to him. Alas, there was no chance for that. Besides, I have been close enough in government, having worked closely with at least 3 former Presidents to know that the decapitation of democratic institutions in times of emergency rule is alien and repugnant to our current democratic structure.
4. I recall vividly that during the time of President Goodluck Jonathan, the then Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, was man enough and had the fear of God to tell the then President that even though the parts of the country, i.e., Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe were under foreign invasion, a state of emergency cannot result in pulling down the institutions of democratic governance we are still nurturing after long years of military rule.
5. It was therefore difficult for me, despite the fact that you are a man with a good service record and also one of our proud sons, to endorse you. Because your presence in Rivers State is an embarrassing aberration to all men of goodwill and good conscience.
6. However, PANDEF will work with you to ensure your peaceful tenure and early exit from the scene in Rivers State. That is why we have continually urged our people, particularly the youths and political actors of Rivers State, to accord you maximum cooperation. The more troubling scenario that has emerged from your assumption of office is the unbelievable level of dismantling, disassembling, and raising down all the institutions of democracy that have been in existence in the state. These are many, and I may not be able to exhaustively recount all of them, but the mention of a few will suffice.
7. First is the removal of the photographs of the elected governor from all offices when he has not yet been removed from office. This I saw first-hand at the Port Harcourt International Airport, where I often pass through and was told this was at the behest of your administration. On enquiry, I was told that this has happened in all other government offices around the state. Beyond that, is your most recent decision to suspend the boards of existing statutory institutions such as State Independent Electoral Commission, Governing Councils of Tertiary Institutions, and even the revered Traditional Rulers Council.
8. I do not claim to be an expert on constitutional matters but as one who has been atop in the country's bureaucracy and from best global practices around the world which I know too well from my diplomatic career of nearly half a century, the duties of a sole administrator as a placeholder are:
i) Making decisions in an interim manner regarding the management and day to day administration of the state;
ii) Financial control, especially receiving money, making payments, and ensuring transparency;
iii) Managing personnel and ensuring other human resource functions; and
iv) Taking measures to ensure peace, particularly using the office to intermediate and bring back peace to the realm in question; in this case, Rivers State.
9. It is against this backdrop that I have been in great pain to write this letter to you and take the liberty to caution that in this complex national assignments which you find yourself enlisted to carry out, you must be timorous enough to not find yourself taking decisions that pale in the sight of best and acceptable standards of decency. This is more so as I have thoroughly read the Gazette dated 19th March, 2025 appointing you as Administrator as well as extracts of National Assembly Proceedings of Thursday, 20th March, 2025 and do not find the kind of wide and sweeping powers being deployed by your office.
10. In conclusion, may the good Lord use you as a dispassionate instrument of peace, and may you have the courage to undo some of your actions that have so far proven to be over the bar.
With my regards.
Signed
Godknows Boladei Igali
National President
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai have been urged to perish their ambitions for 2027.
The call was made by the National Vice Chairman (North West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress. APC, Garba Datti Muhammad.
Datti, a lawmaker, who hails from Kaduna State and served as a member of the House of Representatives representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency for 16 years, stated this in an open letter to Atiku.
He asked the 2023 PDP presidential candidate to perish the thought of another presidential contest and remain the statesman that he is, noting that he has been contesting for the presidency since 1993.
“As we approach the next general elections, you are at it again. However, this time around, having sensed that your party, the PDP may not cede the presidential ticket to you, you are now considering joining forces with some aggrieved politicians to form a coalition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.
“For you, Alhaji Atiku, our former Vice President, my freehearted advice is, in your best interest and the interest of Nigerians, it is better you drop the idea of contesting for president in 2027, by which time you would have already turned 80 years.
“Wazirin Adamawa, you should rather remain the elder statesman that you currently are. Methinks you shouldn’t waste your time and resources. At least, you should take your cue from another former Vice President, Arc. Muhammad Namadi Sambo, who has been operating in the background and remains an elder statesman since he left office in 2015,” he said.
Hon. Datti said Atiku should not listen to some politicians such as El-rufai who, according to him, are dangling the carrot of a coalition to him ahead of 2027.
Turning to El-rufai, the Kaduna lawmaker urged the former Kaduna State governor to reconcile with the APC as he is a founding member of the party who toiled to see its success.
According to him, it is on record that he was part of the founding members of the APC, adding that having worked for the party tirelessly and served as governor under its platform for eight years, it is rather worrisome that he decided to leave APC at this critical point.
chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has alleged that there are ongoing efforts to fabricate falsehoods against the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in a bid to prevent his return to office.
Eze made this claim in a statement issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, condemning what he described as an attempt by allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to discredit Fubara through misinformation.
He pointed to a recent press briefing by the former Head of Service of Rivers State, George Nwaeke, claiming that Nwaeke had been pressured to make damaging statements against the Governor.
During the press briefing, Nwaeke alleged that Governor Fubara was responsible for the fire that engulfed the House of Assembly Complex, orchestrated through his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, and former Obio/Akpor Council Chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo.
He also accused the Governor of fueling the state’s political crisis and praised President Bola Tinubu for imposing emergency rule in Rivers State.
However, in a twist, Nwaeke’s wife publicly dismissed her husband’s statements, claiming he had been coerced into making them.
She revealed that he had been invited to Abuja by Ogidi, a loyalist of Wike and a Commissioner at the National Population Commission.
She later clarified in an interview that her husband had resigned from his position as Head of Service after refusing to sign a document falsely implicating Governor Fubara in an alleged $15 billion fraud.
Eze, in his statement, accused Wike of actively working against reconciliation efforts in Rivers State, despite President Tinubu’s directive for stability.
He asserted that the FCT Minister’s main agenda was to ensure that Fubara remained out of office indefinitely.
“An interest that runs antithetical to democratic norms and the collective stance of Rivers people,” Eze stated.
He further alleged that the Sole Administrator had been given a fresh mandate to create a wave of false accusations against Fubara, with full media backing, as part of the effort to block his reinstatement.
“With the unhealthy vendetta of George Nwaeke against the Governor, facts abound that the Sole Administrator has a new mandate; to concoct a floodgate of falsehood against Gov. Fubara with full media support, in a bid to stop the Governor from coming back to the Brick House. This will be a shame to us all if we keep quiet and allow this evil to sail through,” he warned.
Eze commended Nwaeke’s wife for speaking out in defense of her husband’s integrity and protecting her family’s reputation.
He called on President Tinubu to uphold the truth and resist the “false narratives and cocktail of lies” being peddled by those seeking to undermine democracy for personal gain
2027: ‘APC Governors Pleaded With Buhari To Stop Malami, Nwajiuba, Others From Dumping Party
AFOLABI
Fresh developments have emerged following the visit of state governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence on Monday.
The governors, led by the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, held a closed-door meeting with Buhari, where they praised his achievements during his tenure.
Naija News reports that the APC governors expressed their appreciation for Buhari’s legacy, noting that his leadership laid a strong foundation for future development in Nigeria.
However, the visit, officially framed as a Sallah courtesy call, had an underlying purpose. According to sources close to the meeting who spoke with Vanguard, the governors also sought Buhari’s help in preventing his loyalists from defecting to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The governors’ concern arose from the growing speculation that key figures within the APC, particularly those from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the bloc that formed the backbone of Buhari’s political base were considering defection.
The CPC is seen as the largest faction within the APC, and the governors feared that the loss of this bloc could deal a significant blow to the party’s future prospects.
Reports indicate that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was the first high-profile figure to defect, claiming that he had Buhari’s blessing to leave the APC for the SDP.
Other former ministers who served under Buhari, including former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and former Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, were said to be planning to join the SDP as well.
The governors expressed concerns that the defection of prominent figures such as El-Rufai, Malami, and Nwajiuba could severely weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
They urged Buhari to speak to these figures, especially Nwajiuba and Malami, and advise them against leaving the APC.
Buhari’s Response And Speculation
However, sources revealed that Buhari appeared to distance himself from the situation, stating that individuals like Nwajiuba and Malami should have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding their political affiliations.
He reportedly declined to interfere with their choices, reflecting his longstanding stance of not imposing his political will on others.
While Buhari’s response may be seen as a reflection of his commitment to individual autonomy, it has sparked fresh speculation about the potential defections and their implications for the future of the APC.
This development comes at a crucial time for the party, which is already grappling with internal disagreements and external pressures as it prepares for the 2027 general election.
The APC has been dealing with internal conflicts, including disagreements over the selection process for its presidential candidate.
In 2022, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) adopted indirect primaries to elect its presidential candidate, rejecting a consensus arrangement, which caused friction, particularly among those from the CPC faction