FEATURES
A new terrorist group, Mahmuda, has escalated its attacks across Kwara and Niger States, raising alarm in several communities.
On Sunday night, suspected members of the group launched an assault on Ilesha Baruba and Kemaanji, Baruten, and Kaiama local government areas in Kwara State, leaving several dead and others wounded. The violence comes just days after more than 50 farmers were killed in similar attacks in Ukum and Logo local councils.
Reports suggest the assailants, dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, stormed a market square at 9:30 p.m. and opened fire on residents before fleeing the scene. Among the casualties were four Fulani individuals, a vigilante, and a 19-year-old who was hit by a stray bullet. The attack is believed to be part of a series of reprisal attacks by the terrorists targeting local vigilantes.
According to Daily Trust, residents suspect that the motive behind the attacks is to displace local farmers and occupy their land. One local source described how the attackers fired at the Fulani individuals at close range, particularly targeting the vigilante who was armed with a dane gun. The violence also spread to Kaiama, where another vigilante was killed in a similar assault.
Terrorist Group Mahmuda’s Growing Influence
The Mahmuda group has been linked to an increasing number of violent incidents across the region, including kidnapping and killings in villages such as Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, as well as in parts of Yashikira District of Baruten Local Government Area. The group’s activities have extended into the Babana and Wawa districts of Borgu LGA in Niger State, prompting concerns over the spread of terrorism within these areas.
Despite previous claims from the federal government about successes in containing the violence, security experts believe the rise of Mahmuda suggests that more needs to be done to combat terrorism. Some experts have criticized the country’s intelligence system for failing to anticipate and prevent the emergence of such a group.
Governor AbdulRazaq Leads Delegation to Assess Situation
In response to the worsening situation, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led a high-level delegation that included military and intelligence chiefs to visit Kaiama and assess the security concerns. The delegation held a “strategic security interface” with the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, and other key stakeholders. During the meeting, the governor confirmed that the recent attacks were a reprisal targeting vigilantes.
Governor AbdulRazaq assured the public that the state government is collaborating with the military and other relevant agencies to bring peace to the affected communities and dismantle the terrorist group. He expressed confidence that the ongoing efforts will lead to a resolution of the security challenges.
In the wake of the attacks, the Kwara State Police Command reassured residents that adequate security measures were in place to prevent further violence. Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi urged citizens to go about their lawful activities while remaining vigilant and cooperating with law enforcement. She warned that any individual or group attempting to destabilize the community would be dealt with decisively.
Fear and Tensions in Affected Communities
The Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umaru Seriki, expressed growing concern for the safety of his subjects, who are living in fear of the frequent attacks by the Mahmuda group. The violence is not confined to Kwara alone but has spilled over into neighboring Niger State, with incidents like the recent destruction of a security vehicle purchased by locals for vigilante operations.
Experts, including Abdullahi Garba, an intelligence and counter-terrorism specialist, have questioned the failure of Nigeria’s security agencies to anticipate the rise of the Mahmuda group. Garba pointed to the need for more proactive intelligence gathering, urging the Department of State Services (DSS), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to better address emerging threats.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Garba said, “I think the DSS, DIA, and NIA have questions to answer regarding how the new terror group penetrated the country. Why do we have intelligence agencies if we can’t determine this type of scenario in our country?” He emphasized that countering terrorism effectively requires intelligence agencies to be more proactive and thorough in their efforts.
Security Agencies’ Response
While the police spokesperson directed inquiries to the military, a source within the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) confirmed that both the police and DSS are working around the clock to curb the activities of the Mahmuda group.
The source stated, “It is not an external threat; it is already an internal issue, and the police as the lead agency in maintaining internal security have taken over. The results will be obvious soon.”
A group of protesters on Tuesday stormed the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to demand the prosecution of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.
The protesters, under the banner of Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, asked the AGF to conduct a thorough investigation into NNPCL’s transactions over the past five years.
Led by its convener, Kabir Matazu, the group expressed disappointment that despite President Bola Tinubu’s removal of Kyari and the entire NNPCL board on April 2, 2025, no steps had been taken to investigate the alleged corrupt practices during Kyari’s tenure.
The group highlighted controversies surrounding the rehabilitation and recommissioning of government-owned refineries, alleging that billions of dollars were spent without transparency.
“It is on record that the removal of the erstwhile corrupt leadership of the NNPCL was widely applauded by Nigerians, especially groups like ours that have been at the forefront of demanding accountability and transparency in the management of institutions,” Matazu said.
He further stated, “It is also notable that Kyari’s leadership of the NNPCL was plagued by numerous allegations of corruption due to a lack of transparency. Nigerians are disillusioned that the President has only stopped at removing the former leadership without initiating steps to investigate Kyari and his team’s management of the organisation.
“A key issue is the alleged fraud surrounding the rehabilitation and recommissioning of government-owned refineries. The figures and facts simply do not add up.
“In addition to the billions of dollars claimed to have been spent on refinery repairs, Kyari’s administration also alleged that Matrix Energy Limited invested $400m in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt Refinery, even though the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5bn for the same facility.
“More perplexingly, the NNPCL is now reportedly indebted to Matrix Energy by over $2bn. This debt is being serviced through daily crude oil allocations to Matrix Energy, for which no payments are being made.
“This situation raises urgent questions: Why and how is the Federal Government, through the NNPCL, indebted to Matrix Energy for $2bn? Why is the debt being serviced with daily crude oil supplies? Who were the parties involved in negotiating this deal? Why are Nigerians being kept in the dark about these agreements?”
The group also emphasised that addressing these issues would enable the Federal Government to account for how public resources were used under Kyari’s leadership.
“An investigation into these questionable transactions would help the government identify funds that need to be recovered and from whom, especially considering Nigeria’s dire economic condition,” Matazu said.
“Furthermore, such an investigation would ensure that the current leadership is held accountable and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.”
The group charged the AGF to immediately review all agreements entered into by the NNPCL during Kyari’s administration.
“This investigation should uncover the Federal Government’s financial losses and recommend actionable steps to recover these funds. We demand an immediate judicial review,” Matazu stated.
The protesters vowed to continue demanding accountability and transparency in the management of institutions, emphasising that Nigerians deserve to know the truth about the alleged corrupt practices under Kyari’s leadership.
The United Kingdom has received a total of 22,619 asylum applications from Nigerian nationals between 2010 and 2024, according to figures from the UK Home Office.
Nigerians accounted for one in every 30 asylum claims made in the UK during this period, ranking 11th among all nationalities, based on the Home Office’s recently published year-end Asylum and Resettlement statistics.
In a significant year-on-year spike, asylum claims by Nigerians nearly doubled in 2024—rising from 1,462 in 2023 to 2,841 in 2024.
The UK saw an overall surge in asylum requests in 2024, recording 108,138 applications—a 378 per cent increase compared to 2010.
A majority of these were first-time applicants from South Asia and the Middle East.
Iran topped the asylum claims chart with 75,737 applications, driven largely by “the increasing persecution of dissidents by the Iranian regime.”
Pakistan followed with 57,621 claims, including 10,542 in 2024 alone, a development linked to “post-election turmoil, soaring inflation and a spike in blasphemy prosecutions,” which human rights groups say strengthen grounds for asylum.
Afghanistan placed third with 54,363 applications since 2010. In 2024, 8,508 Afghans applied, reflecting ongoing fallout from the Taliban’s return to power in 2022. That year, 11,358 Afghans sought asylum in the UK, followed by 9,710 in 2023.
Other top nationalities included Albania (50,944), Iraq (45,711), Eritrea (37,687), Syria (34,997), and Bangladesh (31,744), where asylum seekers rose from 5,097 in 2023 to 7,225 in 2024 amid political upheaval following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sudan and India rounded out the top ten with 30,897 and 30,179 claims, respectively.
Nigeria ranked just ahead of Sri Lanka (22,059) and above Vietnam, China, and Turkey. Nations like Brazil, Kuwait, Yemen, Colombia, and Jordan each registered fewer than 6,500 claims.
A Nigerian man, Olufemi Ojaleye convicted of stealing Covid bounce-back loans has avoided deportation from the UK after successfully appealing on human rights grounds due to his children’s special needs.
Ojaleye who played “a leading role in a sophisticated fraud” involving the government’s Covid-era Bounce Back Loan Scheme, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Despite this, a UK tribunal has ruled that he cannot be deported to Nigeria, primarily because two of his children have autism and “very significant additional needs.”
Ojaleye, who first arrived in the UK as a visitor in 2002 and last visited Nigeria in 2004, was targeted for deportation by the Home Office following his conviction.
However, a First-tier Tribunal initially ruled in his favour last November, citing the potential impact on his family.
That decision was challenged by the Home Office, but it has now been upheld by the Upper Tier Tribunal (UTT) of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
Lawyers argued that deporting Ojaleye would have “unduly harsh consequences for his children,” referencing evidence from the specialist school they attend.
The tribunal heard that their autism affects “every aspect of [their] daily life” and that they “need support with even the smallest tasks such as dressing, eating, and toileting.”
While the Home Office maintained that Ojaleye’s deportation would not make a “materially different” impact on the children since he is already in prison, the tribunal disagreed.
According to the court, Ojaleye speaks to his children “where possible on a daily basis” and they visit him while he serves his sentence.
The children’s mother, already emotionally and financially overwhelmed by his imprisonment, told the tribunal that visiting him in Nigeria would be impossible due to their special needs.
She was described as being “drained both emotionally and financially” and struggling with breakdowns.
The Home Office also argued that the tribunal failed to give due weight to “the nature and seriousness of the appellant’s offending” and insisted that the consequences for the children were “simply not harsh enough to meet the high threshold necessary to outweigh the public interest in deportation.”
However, in her ruling, Judge Elizabeth Ruddick stated the original decision “contains no material error of law,” allowing Ojaleye to remain in the UK.
The case, revealed in court documents, is one of several highlighted by The Telegraph where deportation has been halted by human rights claims.
Currently, the UK faces a backlog of 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, many on human rights
grounds—posing a significant challenge to efforts to expedite the removal of illegal migrants.
Legendary musician, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, has shut down swirling rumours of his death, declaring that he is very much alive, healthy and in high spirits.
In a video released on Tuesday morning, the 83-year-old icon appeared energetic and vibrant, countering the false reports with a musical performance.
Singing in a blend of Yoruba, English and Pidgin, Obey-Fabiyi sang: “Hello, my name is Professor Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi. Satan, you don lose o, Satan, you don lose o, you don pafuka. Na lie lie you dey talk, you don pafuka.”
He followed the performance with a statement to his fans and the public: “It is fake news that started a few hours ago claiming that I, Evangelist Obey, have passed on to glory. It is a lie. I am alive, and that is not the word Jesus has written.”
The death rumour, which surfaced on Monday, quickly gained traction online and prompted an outpouring of premature tributes from fans.
However, his personal assistant, Tope Olukole, dismissed the claims in an interview with TVC later that evening.
“Let’s set the record straight: Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi is alive and thriving! He recently celebrated a joyous occasion — the 50th birthday of his second child’s spouse,” Olukole said.
“Rumours of his passing are baseless and entirely unfounded. We’re glad to see him active and well.”
The hoax comes just weeks after the music legend celebrated his 83rd birthday.
Afrobeat superstar Davido has addressed his past relationship with convicted fraudster and socialite Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi.
In a recent podcast interview, Davido acknowledged their friendship but insisted he was unaware of Hushpuppi’s fraudulent activities.
Despite the controversy surrounding the former Instagram influencer, the ‘Awuke’ singer expressed sympathy and hope for his eventual release from prison in the United States.
“Hushpuppi is coming out soon. He lived life. To me, it is not worth it to be locked up. But let me not make excuses for them (fraudsters). Some people are happy to ball for five years and that is it,” he said.
The “30 Billion Gang” frontman also cited Nigeria’s intense economic struggles as a driving force behind the rise of illegal activities.
“In Nigeria, there is a kind of hardship you would face and you will be like, you know what? Let me ball for two years then I am good,” he explained.
“People are like that. My prayers go out to him (Hushpuppi). He was my friend. I just see him around, I never really knew what he was doing. But he lived a good life.”
In 2022, United States District Judge Otis Wright II sentenced Hushpuppi to over 11 years in prison for conspiring to commit fraud running into millions of dollars. The judge also ordered him to pay $1,732,841 in restitution to two fraud victims.
Hushpuppi pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. He was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in June 2020 and has remained in federal custody since his expulsion from the UAE.
“Abbas bragged on social media about his lavish lifestyle – a lifestyle funded by his involvement in transnational fraud and money laundering conspiracies targeting victims around the world,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada.
Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has responded to widespread online ridicule over his spoken English with a fiery comeback, emphasising legacy over language.
In a now-viral video clip from a recent public gathering, the Lagos transport union boss addressed critics who mocked a slip he made while speaking English, particularly his mispronunciation of “kudos” as “Kundus.”
Rather than apologise or shrink from the criticism, MC Oluomo doubled down, asserting that while English may not be his strength, his life achievements far outweigh any grammatical errors.
“I stayed there and worked hard, but I wasn’t educated. See, they said I said Kundus, is Kundus not my son/ You are educated; what have you done? They should go and compete with my children. I raised my children in wealth. My children are citizens of America, citizens of the UK. I worked hard to get to that level. Kundus, kudos, what’s the difference? What do you want to hear? English is not my mother tongue, Yoruba is,” he said.
MC Oluomo, who rose from being a bus conductor in Lagos to becoming the chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee, used the moment to highlight his journey of resilience.
He credited his success to sheer determination and strategic effort, stating that his lack of formal education did not prevent him from making an impact or securing a better future for his family.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed the nomination and administrative fees for aspirants vying for the different seats in the July 12 local government election in Lagos State.
The fees are contained in the party’s election guidelines, jointly signed by Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and Dr Adeola Jokomba, the APC chairman and secretary, respectively.
The party, in the guidelines released on Tuesday , said chairmanship aspirants are to pay N5 million as a nomination fee and an additional N500,000 as an administrative fee.
According to the party, female chairmanship aspirants are to pay N2.5 million as a nomination fee and the same N500,000 as an administrative fee.
APC noted that aspirants below the age of 40 years would have a 50 per cent discount on their nomination fee but will pay the same administrative fee of N500,000.
The party, however, waived the nomination fee for aspirants with disabilities while charging an administration fee of N250,000.
“For the councillorship position, male aspirants will pay N1 million for the nomination form and N100,000 as an administrative fee, while female aspirants will pay N250,000 for the nomination form and N100,000 as administrative fee.
“Youths aspiring for councillorship positions will have a 50 per cent discount for the nomination form fee, while the administrative fee remains the same.
“Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) will collect the nomination forms free for councillorship seats, while the administrative fee is N50,000.
“There shall not be a separate fee for Vice Chairman. These fees shall be paid by way of bank draft in favour of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State, State”,the party added.
Giving more details, the party said the nomination form for chairmanship position shall be supported by five registered members, who are registered voters in all the aspirants’ wards , local government or LCDA.
It noted that for the councillorship seats, the nomination form shall be supported by 20 registered members, who are registered voters in the aspirants’ wards.
The party said all aspirants must be Nigerian citizens in addition to possessing other qualifications and meeting other conditions for the election.
“An aspirant must be educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent, and a higher qualification will be an added advantage.
“For council and LCDA chairmanship, the aspirant has to attain the age of 30 years, while for councillorship, the aspirant has to attain the age of 25 years.
“All aspirants are to submit evidence of membership of the party. Aspirants are to submit demonstrable evidence of active party support.
“Aspirants must provide a portfolio of loyalty to the party. All aspirants must sign the party’s Code of Conduct.
“Only aspirants cleared by the Screening Committee shall be eligible to stand for election at the party’s primaries,” the party said.
According to the party, any party officeholder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of election or party primary.
It said that all aspirants “shall comply with constitutional provisions and requirements applicable to the public office they seek to contest for.” (NAN).
AMID the public outcry, the Presidency has defended the Federal Executive Council’s approval of N10 billion solar energy project for the State House.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the clarification on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, following media reports questioning the necessity of the project, especially in light of Nigeria’s current economic realities.
Onanuga contended that transitioning the State House to solar power aligns with global best practices, noting that the White House in Washington, D.C., also uses solar energy as part of its power supply.
“The White House in Washington D.C. uses solar power,” he wrote, implying that the adoption of renewable energy for high-level government facilities is not unprecedented and reflects a commitment to sustainability.
The presidential spokesman backed up his point with video of a similar project executed for the American number residence, which explains the reasons the US Presidency opted for the solar alternative.
The proposed solar system, it was gathered, would provide stable electricity for the President’s residence, administrative offices, and other essential buildings within the State House complex, enhancing energy efficiency and long-term cost savings.
While some Nigerians have applauded the environmental benefits of the initiative, others have raised concerns about its price tag and whether such expenditure is prudent at a time when many citizens are grappling with economic hardship.
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano and Executive Director of Finance at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Illiyasu Musa Kwankwaso, has stated that former Political Adviser to Vice President Kashim Shettima,
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, and staunch opposition figure, Buba Galadima, have lost their political relevance.
According to him, it is impossible for the duo to stop the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking via a statement released on Tuesday, the APC stalwart said that Baba-Ahmed and Galadima “lack moral courage” to comment on the President’s governance, describing them as having “nothing to offer.”
“The two personalities lack moral courage to talk about the Tinubu administration because they lack the moral rectitude to do so,” Kwankwaso said.
He accused Baba-Ahmed of being among those who “allegedly cheated the North through their long service in government,” but have nothing to show for their time in office.
“Baba-Ahmed is among those who allegedly cheated the North by their long service in governments but have nothing to show as their contributions to the region they are today so called defending,” he said.
On Galadima, Kwankwaso described him as “the worst northern politician who cannot even show the location of his ballot box in Yobe State.”
He accused Galadima of being a “parasite” who had leached off various political figures without contributing anything substantial.
“All his years with General Buhari, what did he contribute? Instead, he was so parasitic that Buhari only won elections when Galadima deserted him. He did the same to Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, and now he is with Kwankwaso. Therefore, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso should be wary of him if he wants to make it in life,” he said.
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The police in Rivers State said they have recovered the corpse of a popular Port Harcourt-based fashion designer, Hope Georgewill, who was abducted by suspected pirates along the Cotton Channel, Bakana River in December local government area of the state.
Recall that Georgewill was kidnapped alongside two other boat passengers on March 26, 2025.
The kidnappers killed Georgewill despite payment of N2m as ransom.
The state Police command, however, said four of the suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Georgewill who is the Chief Executive of HMG Attitude Ltd were killed during a shootout with its operatives.
The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko disclosed this in a statement sent to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command has made significant progress in an earlier report regarding the unfortunate kidnap and subsequent murder of one Hope Georgewill, the Chief Executive Officer of HMG Attitude Ltd, who was abducted alongside two others on March 26, 2025, along the Cotton Channel, Bakana River, by a gang of notorious sea pirates led by one Preye Ngian-Ngian, a native of Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State.
“Despite a ransom payment of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) made to the kidnappers, the body of the deceased was later recovered and deposited at the morgue.”
The command said following credible intelligence on April 3, 2025 men of the Anti-Cultism Unit in Emohua, in collaboration with intelligence gathered from two earlier arrested suspects in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, launched a tactical operation on the kidnappers’ hideout located in a creek off the Bonny Waterway.
It stated, “Relentless investigative efforts and intelligence-led policing, on April 3, 2025, at about 0730hrs, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit, Emohua, in collaboration with intelligence gathered from two earlier arrested suspects in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, launched a tactical operation on the kidnappers’ hideout located in a creek off the Bonny Waterway.
“Upon arrival at the hideout, the operatives came under heavy gunfire from the hoodlums.”
It continued, “The team responded with decisive force, and in the ensuing exchange, two of the suspects were fatally wounded, while others fled the scene with varying degrees of injuries.
“The two initial suspects who led the team to the location attempted to escape during the melee but were later apprehended with gunshot wounds.”
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police said while operatives were combing the creek, they recovered several arms and ammunition as well as one operational speed boat.
Other exhibits recovered, she said, were one 80-horsepower and one 70-horsepower outboard engine, respectively; one live cartridge, food supplies used by the kidnappers.
The statement added that the late Georgewill’s mobile phone was recovered but that the miscreants had removed the SIM card.
It added, “All four wounded suspects were immediately transported to the Police Clinic for emergency treatment.
“However, upon arrival, the attending medical officer confirmed them dead. Their remains have since been deposited for autopsy.”
Speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju commended his men for their efforts, describing the felling of the suspected pirates as a ‘significant breakthrough.’
Adepoju vowed that the command will make the state uncomfortable for criminals to operate, saying they will rid the waterways and communities of criminals.
According to the state Police image maker, “Further investigations are ongoing, and the public will be updated with any new developments.”
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, has called on former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the PDP to boost his chances in the next presidential race.
Sowunmi, a former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign, made the call during an appearance on Seun Okinbaloye’s ‘Mic on podcast’, on Saturday.
He said, “Looking ahead to 2027, the PDP of Nigeria will open its processes, announce when the forms are available, and anyone who feels confident enough to contest should step forward and do so.
“If I were Peter Obi, I would return to the PDP and make a strong case for the presidential ticket. I believe he should come back to the party. This party was originally conceived in the bedroom of (the late) Alex Ekwueme; so, I don’t understand why the Igbo, along with southern leaders and other influential figures within the PDP, can’t come together and say, ‘Alright, we recognise this – here’s the ticket.’”
Sowunmi argued that Obi, who garnered over six million votes in the 2023 presidential election without the backing of governors or significant party machinery, could significantly amplify his impact if backed by a major political structure.
“We’ve covered every region, but we have not gone to the South-East yet. Still, Obi is free to make his own decisions. If his numbers and the animated energy that is following him were to follow him into the PDP and he is the presidential candidate, I can guarantee you he would take the South East, South-South, the Christian North and North Central,” he added.
Sowunmi, however, clarified that his suggestions were hypothetical and not indicative of any ongoing negotiations between Obi and the PDP.
We welcome criticism,but you crossed the line — senate replies Tunde Bakare over emergency rule, ‘rubber-stamp’ comment
AFOLABI
The senate leadership says Pastor Tunde Bakare’s recent remarks on the national assembly’s role in the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state and suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central senator, are misleading.
On Sunday, Bakare, the serving overseer of The Citadel Global Community Church, condemned the senate’s suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu, and subsequent ratification by the national assembly.
“It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to turn Nigeria into a mafia state,” Bakare had said.
“The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality Olympics are the executive and the legislature.”
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Yemi Adaramodu, chairman of the senate committee on media and public affairs, said the red chamber was compelled to respond to Bakare’s comments, describing the remarks as “crossing the line”.
“The attention of the senate of the 10th national assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been drawn to recent public remarks made by Pastor Tunde Bakare, which included sweeping generalisations and disparaging commentary aimed at the institution of the national assembly,” the statement reads.
“While the senate respects the right of every citizen — regardless of station — to express views on the state of the nation, we are constrained to respond when such commentary crosses the line into unwarranted invective and misleading assertions that risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions.”
Describing Bakare as a cleric and political voice, Adaramodu said the senate acknowledged the cleric’s past contributions to national conversations but noted that his latest statements were laced with “contempt and unsubstantiated claims”.
“Pastor Bakare, a cleric and political voice in his own right, has previously contributed to national discourse in ways that have spurred reflection and debate,” the senate spokesperson said.
“However, his most recent statements veer away from constructive criticism into rhetoric, unfortunately laced with contempt and unsubstantiated claims.
“We view his corrosive criticisms of the national assembly as a biased and political ecumenical homily.”
While acknowledging his stature as a cleric, Adaramodu said Bakare’s political and legal background must be taken into account when assessing the implications of his remarks.
“While he remains a respected cleric, his role as a prominent political figure cannot be discounted when assessing the lens through which his comments are made,” he said.
“His position as a political leader influences the context of his statements, which are not only reflections of personal views but also carry significant political implications.”
He added that the senate expected Bakare, as a trained lawyer, to know the constitutional limits of public commentary, especially on issues that are sub judice.
“Pastor Bakare is not only a cleric and political figure but also one with a legal background,” he said.
“He is, therefore, well aware of the constitutional boundaries that guide public commentary — particularly on matters that are sub judice.”
He maintained that the senate would not engage in matters already before a court, out of respect for the rule of law and judicial independence.
He also addressed suggestions that the national assembly should engage in open hostility with the executive arm, calling such displays performative.
“While some may attempt to portray an unnecessary adversarial dynamic between the national assembly and the executive arm of government as a marker of virility in checks and balances, we must clarify that such tension, though it may entertain some, does not necessarily equate to effective legislative oversight,” he added.
“The true test of institutional maturity lies not in performative hostility but in principled engagements and results-driven processes.”
He dismissed Bakare’s reference to the “infamous third-term agenda” as a flawed benchmark, stating that the 10th national assembly has never been approached with any unconstitutional request by the executive.
“To cast aspersions on the entire institution based on personal frustrations, ideological differences, or as positioning ahead of possible future political alignments is not only unfair but also counterproductive to our collective democratic journey,” he said.
Adaramodu noted that Bakare had also been critical of previous assemblies, which he now praises.
“We are confident that, in time, with a nuanced review of the performance of the 10th national assembly — within the context of the exigencies of this time and season — Pastor Bakare may, at some point in the future, commend us for acting in the best interest of the people of Nigeria, in line with our constitutional mandate,” he added.
Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, has expressed her frustration over Nigeria’s electricity tariff band system.
Naija News reports that the movie star, in a post via ? on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, described the current tariff band category as a huge fraud, pointing out the disparity between the high electricity tariffs and the actual supply received by consumers.
She lamented that, despite being in band A, which should guarantee over 20 hours of power daily, she is lucky to get just two hours a day.
The award-winning actress questioned the logic behind the billing system, stating that consumers are being forced to pay exorbitant rates for electricity that is barely available.
The thespian further compared the electricity billing system to the recently collapsed Ponzi scheme ‘CBEX’, stating, Is that not CBex-ing of the people?
She said, “This banding of electricity is a huge FRAUD! I said it before, and I repeat it again..
“”Band A” is supposed to get 20 hours of electricity at an exorbitant tariff, but if you get 2 hours, to God be the glory. A huge FRAUD…. KMT. See?!!! That estimated billing na daylight robbery with bazooka guns!!! I said what I said!!!
“When they know they can’t generate enough energy to supply the people, you raise tarriff and still drop the supply! Is that not CBex-ing of the people??”