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The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede has admitted that human error, not system glitch, caused the mass failure of South East and Lagos Candidates.
He had earlier blamed system glitch for the failure of South East and Lagos candidates.
However, his excuse was condemned by South East senators and House of Representatives members.
The body has been called to cancel the examination and reschedule a new exam for all candidates.
Speaking with chief external examiners, civil society organisations, and tertiary school stakeholders on Wednesday in Abuja, Oloyede said the error did not target any ethnic group.
He, however, agreed that certain individuals had made the error, but refused to reveal their identities.
He insisted that he had taken responsibility on behalf of those who committed the error.
“I’m not interested in the ethnic identity of those who committed the mistake. As far as I’m concerned and to the best of my knowledge, there was no sabotage. There was no glitch. What happened was a human error committed by certain individuals.
“It does not matter to me whether they are Igbo or not. What matters is that they are diligent workers for the service providers. They committed a mistake, and we rectified it. I’ve accepted the mistake on behalf of everybody,” he said
The Federal Government has offered a N5 million cash reward for any information that leads to the recapture of the seven inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesha, Osun State, on Tuesday.
Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS, DCC Abubakar Umar disclosed this in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja.
He said; “In order to encourage public participation, the Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the general public that a reward of N5 million is being offered to anyone who provides useful information that leads to the recapture of the fleeing inmates from the Medium Custodial Centre, Ilesha, Osun State.
“The Service urges members of the public to report any information they may have regarding the whereabouts of the inmates at large to the nearest security agencies. All information will be treated with utmost confidentiality and anonymity.
“NCoS Public Complaint Response Desk: complaintresponsedesk@corrections.gov.ng
“Email: info@corrections.gov.ng or 07087086005, 09060004598, 08075050006”.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin has sentenced 23-year-old serial internet fraudster, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, to 24 months in prison with no option of a fine.
Olalekan, a native of Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was convicted on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 after he was found guilty of the two-count charge of offences bordering on cybercrime, including cheating and impersonation preferred against him by the Ilorin Zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of N124,402,322 (One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, Four Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira) found in Olalekan’s Wema Bank account, a white Mercedes Benz ML350 valued at N30 million, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max used in perpetrating the crimes.
The convict was accused of impersonating many foreign nationals including Joshua Compbell Novak, through fake Gmail and TextPlus accounts between August and December 2024. Through these fraudulent identities, he defrauded victims, including Allisa Motazedi and Brittany Boggess, of $100,000 and $1,000, respectively.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Adebisi Emmanuel Olalekan, between August 2024 and December 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Joshua Compbell Novak via your Gmail account and TextPlus number with the intent to obtain a total sum of $100,000 from Allisa Motazedi, which you did obtain, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.”
Olalekan pleaded guilty to both counts.
Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, led an investigating officer, Paul Aniebonam, in evidence narrating how the convict created fake online profiles to deceive and defraud unsuspecting foreign victims.
Aniebonam confirmed to the court that proceeds of the fraudulent activities were used to acquire the luxury vehicle in October 2024, while over N124 million in his bank account was traced to similar illicit transactions.
He also tendered key exhibits including the bank statement, car documents, mobile device, and four extra-judicial statements made by the defendant.
Justice Awogboro sentenced Olalekan to 12 months imprisonment on each count, to run consecutively. The court also granted the final forfeiture of all traced assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The case originated from a report by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which alerted the EFCC to Olalekan’s cybercriminal activities
Several young Nigerian professionals gathered in their hundreds at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, demanding the deportation of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited Group CEO, Mele Kyari, to face allegations of corruption during his time in office.
The protesters, under the aegis of Young Professionals Forum (YPF), said Kyari’s presence in Nigeria is required in the probe of the financial activities of the national oil company during his tenure as group chief executive officer.
Barrister Sambari Benjamin, who spoke for the protesters, noted that Kyari’s alleged corrupt practices have had far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy, particularly the country’s energy sector.
According to the protesters, Kyari’s tenure was marked by alleged deliberate obstruction of local refining initiatives, disregard for national interests and personal enrichment.
They further alleged that Kyari’s actions as NNPCL boss had crippled national productivity and drained Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. They equally alleged that it has increased the vulnerability of consumers to adulterated petroleum products.
The Young Professionals Forum urged the UAE government to refuse Kyari residency and asylum. The protesters in the same vein requested that Kyari be blacklisted to prevent his escape from justice.
“We believe that Mele Kyari’s actions have brought shame to our nation and our people. His alleged corrupt practices have had devastating consequences for our economy and our people. We cannot stand idly by while those in positions of authority abuse their power for personal gain.
Speaking during the protest, Benjamin said, “We urge the UAE government to refuse Kyari residency, asylum, and to blacklist him to prevent his escape from justice. The Nigerian people demand accountability and transparency, and we will not rest until justice is served.”
The group stressed that granting Kyari asylum would undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for other public officials who might seek to escape accountability by fleeing abroad.
The protesters urged the UAE government to uphold its commitment to international cooperation and justice by denying Kyari refuge.
Benjamin added, “The implications of granting haven—whether directly or inadvertently—to Kyari are manifold. Firstly, it would constitute a direct affront to the Nigerian judicial process, which is on the verge of initiating investigations and possible prosecutions against him and his accomplices.
“More devastatingly, this would obviously send an unfortunate message to the people of Nigeria, most especially the youth and emerging professionals— that accountability is optional, that impunity is mobile, as that justice can be conveniently overridden or circumvented by the elites who can afford the financial prize.
“We, the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria, therefore urge, in the strongest possible terms, that the United Arab Emirates refuse them residency and asylum. Let it not be said that the UAE, a nation of high moral standing, became an escape route for two of the most controversial figures in Nigeria’s contemporary regulatory history.”
Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe has confessed that it is not easy to be a single mother.
She made the confession in an interview on the ‘Real Talk with Kike’ show.
According to her, being a single mother is hard because it is challenging for one person to play the role of two people.
Mercy said she often prays for her kids to have a lasting marriage because she does not wish single motherhood on anyone.
According to the actress, the fear of failure made her tough on her kids while raising them, stressing that she had already failed by being a single mother and did not want to fail as a mother.
The movie star said she did not even want her kids to make mistakes, not realising that it was part of their life journey.
She said, “For me, raising a child as a single mum… shout out to all the single mums out there, you guys are heroes, It’s not easy playing the role of two people. I am very sensitive when I talk about my single mother moment because it wasn’t an easy journey. That’s why anytime I pray for Michelle, I pray for other kids around me that I nurture, that are not my biological kids but they are still my kids. I say to them, especially the girls, that life happens. A lot of us didn’t set out to be like this in terms of our love life but life happens and we hope for the best for our kids. I always tell my children that your first time will be your forever. Because I don’t wish it on anybody, it’s draining.
“I think part of what made me very tough on my kids is that I just didn’t want to fail as a mother because I had failed at this, I didn’t want to fail as a mother. I didn’t even want them to make mistakes, not realising it was part of their life’s journey, I was pushing hard and not giving them a chance to be who they want to be and make errors to gain correction from their errors. I didn’t want people to laugh at me and say a single mum raised them, they can’t do anything good. It’s so draining that financially, emotionally, morally, and mentally you still have to show up.”
The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has sent a message to Nigerian politicians.
He warned them that they wouldn't be taking money to the grave.
Dangote also called on politicians to prioritize job creation for the citizens.
The billionaire businessman stated this on Wednesday at the Taraba International Investment Summit 2025.
He urged leaders to give attention to job creation for the benefit of the citizens.
“Nobody will take a dime to his grave. So if nobody is going to take a dime to his grave, what will give the satisfaction of being human beings is to make sure we impact the lives of other people. Impacting the lives of other people is by massively creating jobs,” he said.
Dangote further pledged that he would continue to invest in Nigeria. He noted that Nigeria is home and all Nigerians have the duty to contribute to its growth.
He stressed that only Nigerians can build their country, adding that he would continue to creat jobs.
“I want to tell the political leaders here, we are ready, we will not go anywhere and invest, this is home. We want to remain at home, we want to keep invsting in Nigeria, we want to keep creating jobs,” he stated
A newly formed coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform, according to.multiple sources.
The coalition, reportedly established in March under the leadership of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has appointed Dr. Lukman Salihu Mohammed, former Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northwest, to head its secretariat.
It had earlier been reported that the coalition was considering the ADC platform and was in the process of revising the party’s constitution to accommodate incoming members.
ADC National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu announced that he would step down at the party’s upcoming national convention, making way for fresh leadership to better accommodate the coalition’s objectives.
He explained, “Before now, you were required to spend at least two years as a member before contesting, but now, as soon as you join, you will begin to enjoy the rights and privileges of membership.”
A coalition insider told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that a key meeting held Tuesday night finalized the coalition’s structure and confirmed the adoption of ADC.
“The ADC has been unanimously adopted as the coalition’s platform, and Dr. Lukman Salihu Mohammed will head the secretariat,” the source disclosed.
Dr. Lukman’s involvement is seen as a strategic move to weaken the APC’s grip, particularly in the Northwest, where he commands significant influence and grassroots support.
However, managing the diverse coalition has been described as challenging. The source likened it to a “polygamous family,” requiring careful handling of the competing egos and interests within the group.
“Even if the first child of the first wife is 30 years older, all first children are treated as equals. It’s about treating everyone as co-equals,” the source added.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed June 25 for the hearing of a suit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) against Prof. Pat Utomi over his alleged plan to establish what he called “a shadow government” in the country.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after DSS’s counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, moved a motion ex parte to serve court documents on Utomi at his Lagos address by means of courier service.
The development followed the inability of the plaintiff to effect the service of the court papers on Utomi, a professor of political economy and management expert.
The security agency gave Utomi’s Lagos address as “No. 6, Balarabe Musa Crescent, off Samuel Manuwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.”
After Kehinde argued the motion, Justice Omotosho granted the application and ordered Utomi to be served by substituted means.
The judge adjourned the matter until June 25 for a hearing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSS, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, prayed the court to declare the planned shadow government an attack on the constitution.
In the suit, Utomi, the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is sued as the sole defendant.
The security outfit, in the suit filed on May 13 by Kehinde, contended that the move by Utomi was intended to create chaos and destabilise the country.
The DSS argued that not only was the planned shadow government an aberration, but it constituted a grave attack on the constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government that is currently in place.
It expressed concern that such a structure, styled as a “shadow government”, if left unchecked, may incite political unrest, cause inter-group tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which would pose a grave threat to national security.
The plaintiff, therefore, urged the court to declare the purported “shadow government” or “shadow cabinet” being planned by Utomi and his associates as “unconstitutional and amounts to an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
The department also sought a declaration that “under Sections 1(1), 1(2) and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental authority or structure outside the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is unconstitutional, null, and void.”
The plaintiff prayed the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Utomi, his agents and associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a ‘shadow government’, ‘shadow cabinet’ or any similar entity not recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
The plaintiff, in its grounds of argument, hinged its prayers on the fact that Section 1(1) of the Constitution declares its supremacy and binding force on all persons and authorities in Nigeria.
It added that Section 1(2) prohibits the governance of Nigeria or any part thereof except in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
According to the DSS, Section 14(2Xa) states that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, from whom government, through the constitution, derives all its powers and authority.
It contended that Utomi’s proposed shadow government lacked constitutional recognition and authority, thereby contravening the aforementioned provisions.
The plaintiff further stated in a supporting affidavit that it is the principal domestic intelligence and security agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria statutorily mandated to detect and prevent threats to the internal security of Nigeria, including subversive activities capable of undermining national unity, peace and constitutional order.
The DSS added that it is statutorily empowered to safeguard the internal security of Nigeria and prevent any threats to the lawful authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constituent institutions.
It stated that it has monitored, “through intelligence reports and open source material, public statements and interviews granted by the defendant, Professor Patrick Utomi, in which he announced the purported establishment of what he termed a ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet’, comprising of several persons that make up its ‘Minister’.
“The ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet’ is an unregistered and unrecognised body claiming to operate as an alternative government. contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The defendant (Utomi), through public statements, social media, and other platforms, has announced the formation of this body with the intent to challenge the legitimacy of the democratically elected government of Nigeria.
“While inaugurating the ‘shadow cabinet’, the defendant stated that it is made up of the Ombudsman and the Good Governance portfolio to be manned by Dele Farotimi; the Policy Delivery Unit Team consisting of Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo and Obi Ajuga; and the council of economic advisers.
“Based on the intelligence gathered by the plaintiff, the activities and statements made by the defendant and his associates are capable of misleading segments of the Nigerian public, weakening confidence in the legitimacy of the elected government, and fuelling public disaffection,” it said.
The DSS said in the discharge of its statutory duties, it had gathered intelligence confirming that the defendant’s actions pose a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
“The defendant’s actions amount to an attempt to usurp or mimic executive authority, contrary to Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), which exclusively vests governance in institutions duly created under the constitution and through democratic elections.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has made several efforts to engage the defendant to dissuade him from this unconstitutional path, including statements made by the Minister of Information, but the defendant has remained defiant.”
The agency said that it would be in the interest of justice, national security and the rule of law for the court to declare the existence and operations of the defendant unconstitutional and illegal
…Bank charges exploitative – Customers
…Excessive deductions discourage financial inclusion – Erhirhie
…Charges necessary to offset operational expenses – Banker
A growing number of bank customers in Nigeria have voiced concerns over multiple and excessive charges on their transactions by commercial banks. BENJAMIN SAMSON reports on how the development is threatening the country’s financial inclusion drive of the government and what should be done to halt it.
Nigerians at home and abroad are lamenting their experiences in the hands of commercial banks, who they accuse of exploitative tendencies. Their concerns range from excessive deductions in bank charges for card maintenance and electronic payments to double deductions of stipulated charges.
Unending charges
Our correspondent gathered that the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawal charge introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is just one of many deductions that Nigerians face daily.
Most banks deduct between N50 and N100 monthly for account maintenance. Interbank transfers attract charges ranging from N10 to N50 per transaction. Customers are also charged between N6 and N15 per SMS alert on transactions, while using a bank’s short service code incurs a charge of N6.95.
Additionally, a N50 deduction applies to transfers above N10, 000, while ATM card replacements attract fees ranging from N1, 000 to N2, 000. Some of these charges also include a 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax, further increasing deductions.
Nigerians groan
Speaking with this correspondent, a bank customer, Mrs. Grace Ajaka, who described the idea of deducting from customers’ accounts as exploitative, said that she could not fathom why customers had to lose their money for choosing to save in banks.
She said, “From SMS alert charges to charges on automated teller machines and online transfers, to account maintenance charges and other charges that I don’t understand, all to make abnormal profits from customers’ accounts.
“Saving gives one a way out of the uncertainties of life and provides you with an opportunity to enjoy a quality life. But this is being defeated by continuous deductions of customers’ money kept in the bank. At times, one is charged for unsolicited messages received.
“All these unreasonable charges should stop. Every customer by right should know why any amount is being deducted from his/her accounts. The current administration should please look into this.”
Another bank customer, a student, Ocheneyi Oisi, said that it was frustrating that his bank deducted from his monthly pocket money, adding that he could not fathom why he had to lose his money for choosing to save in banks.
“Why should banks who encourage people to save money be deducting the money saved? For me, as a student, these unreasonable charges are insane. How do you want me to survive? I’m considering closing my account and God help them. They put me through trouble when I want to close it, that is when they will know the agony they have been putting me through. Some of my friends are having similar experiences and are also ready to close down their accounts. We keep money in banks for safety but I don’t think it is secure any longer,” he said.
Likewise, a tiller, Mr. Olusola Lasisi, said, “The risk of keeping money in the shop or in the house is the reason I go to the bank. Otherwise, there is nothing they offer that is spectacular. I get monthly deductions by way of account maintenance charge. Then, they send another notification that they have deducted VAT on account maintenance charge.
“Please, what is it that they are maintaining in my account? Does my money require any maintenance? I just don’t understand. I used to ignore the amounts deducted, but I have recently developed interest in knowing what happens to my account. Apart from the maintenance charges, they also deduct SMS alert charges and others that I can’t remember very well. When I confronted them recently, they said it was because I was withdrawing more than three times from my account.”
Diaspora Nigerians too
Nigerians in the Diaspora have also taken to social media to narrate their experiences. A UK-based Nigerian medical doctor, Harvey Olufunmilayo @Harvey, lamented the state of banks in Nigeria in comparison with banks in foreign countries.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has confirmed a coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
El-Rufai made the confirmation while speaking on Wednesday at the Arewa TechFest event in Katsina.
He said, “Yesterday at 8 PM, there was a very important meeting of the coalition we’re putting together to ensure that President Tinubu goes back to Lagos.”
POLITICS NIGERIA reported earlier that a high-stakes meeting on Tuesday culminated in the trio’s adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the official platform for the emerging opposition coalition. The coalition’s strategy reportedly includes a broad-based alliance aimed at consolidating support across geopolitical zones and mobilizing civil society groups, technocrats, and disgruntled political blocs.
“They have adopted the African Democratic Party as the coalition party, all of them (Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai) are working together. They came to the conclusion last night up till the early hours of this morning,” a source revealed.
El-Rufai added, “Though we will still keep Bosun Tijani, we will still keep the minister because he is doing good work.”
The alliance marks a mending of political fences between the former rivals, whose division before the 2023 presidential election was widely viewed as a major contributor to President Tinubu’s victory. Collectively, Atiku and Obi secured significantly more votes than Tinubu’s 8.7 million, indicating that a united opposition could present a formidable challenge in the 2027 race.
The development coincides with a recent remark by Chairman of ADC’s Board of Trustees, BoT, Mani Ahmed who said the ADC will be the party for the coalition.
“I can categorically inform you that the African Democratic Congress is the coalition party in Nigeria. What remains is merely dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s,” he said at a press conference
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will assess the performance of his ministers on May 29 as his administration clocks two years in office, presidency sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The scorecard review, coordinated by the Central Results Delivery and Coordination Unit (CDCU) under the Presidency, will present a detailed evaluation of each ministry’s achievements for the first quarter of 2025.
Sources disclosed that ministries submitted evidence of their projects and programmes through a secure portal last month, with verification now completed by the CDCU. The final report is expected to be delivered to President Tinubu before the anniversary date.
“Officials of the various ministries have uploaded the reports of their activities and projects on the portal provided by the CDCU,” a presidency insider said. “These are based on deliverables that the ministries themselves have set.”
The assessment follows Tinubu’s directive during the November 2023 Cabinet Retreat, where he made it clear that ministers would be held accountable based on performance.
“If you are performing, nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us,” the President had said.
Insiders say some ministers, particularly in critical sectors, are already under scrutiny as Tinubu prepares to make informed judgments on his cabinet’s effectiveness.
Immediate reshuffles are, however, not expected
![Osun Prison Break: FG releases Names of Escaped Inmates [PHOTOS]](/media/k2/items/cache/64c30f6315fc26bddce725f8fc4af83a_XS.jpg)
The Federal Government has released the names of the seven inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, following a jailbreak that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed that the escape was triggered by a heavy downpour, which compromised a section of the facility’s perimeter fence. Authorities say the breach allowed the inmates to break free under the cover of darkness.
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Security around the prison has since been tightened. When our correspondent visited the scene on Tuesday afternoon, armed personnel from the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were visibly stationed at strategic points around the premises.
An officer who spoke anonymously disclosed that the damaged part of the fence has been repaired. “We’ve fixed the breach and have heightened surveillance. All agencies are now working together to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
In the wake of the incident, a manhunt has been launched to track down the escapees. However, the Osun State Police Command said it had yet to receive a formal complaint from the Correctional Service.
Speaking with journalists, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said: “It is our duty to go after all criminals within the nooks and crannies of Osun State. If you are asking specifically about the inmates, we are still waiting for the Correctional Service to make an official complaint at the nearest police formation. We are fully prepared to act once that is done.”
Meanwhile, the NCoS has released the names and details of the escaped inmates as part of ongoing efforts to mobilize the public for support in their rearrest.
FULL LIST OF ESCAPED INMATES:
Kabiru Oyedun
Offence: Murder
Case Year: 2021
2. Eze Nweze
Offence: Armed Robbery
Case Year: 2023
3. John Michael
Offence: Armed Robbery
Case Year: 2023
4. Olalekan Ajofoyinbo
Offence: Armed Robbery
Case Year: 2021
5. Ninalowo Yusuf
Offence: Breaking In and Stealing
Case Year: 2025
6. Matthew Ogunjimi
Offence: Illegal Possession of Firearms and Armed Robbery
Case Year: 2018
7. Tobi Akin
Offence: Illegal Possession of Firearms and Armed Robbery
Case Year: 2018
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has raised serious concerns over what she describes as clear bias by the Nigeria Police Force in the handling of multiple petitions she filed against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
In a formal letter dated May 19, 2025, and addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the senator, through her legal counsel, Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, accused the police of showing preferential treatment towards Akpabio while neglecting her own petitions.
“Our client submitted numerous petitions to the Nigeria Police against Senator Akpabio,” the letter reads. “These petitions were clearly stated and submitted between March and April 2025, yet no meaningful steps have been taken to impartially investigate them.”
According to the letter, the petitions include a March 25 report alleging threats to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s life, a March 31 complaint over the sudden and unauthorized withdrawal of her police security detail, and an April 4 petition accusing Akpabio and Yahaya Bello of conspiracy to assassinate her.
All three petitions, the letter noted, were acknowledged by the police between March 26 and April 5. However, her legal team says that since then, the police have failed to invite witnesses, conduct interviews, or move the investigations forward.
West-Idahosa pointed to the high-ranking political position of Senator Akpabio as a likely factor in the apparent reluctance to act. “It is obvious that this unwillingness to thoroughly and impartially investigate the petitions may be due to the high political office occupied by Senator Godswill Akpabio,” he said.
The letter also emphasized that Yahaya Bello, no longer a sitting governor, is not protected by constitutional immunity and should be fully subject to criminal investigation.
What has heightened concerns for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and her legal team is the contrast in how quickly the police responded to a counter-petition filed by Akpabio. On April 3, Akpabio accused her of making false allegations, criminal defamation, and incitement. Within days, Akpoti-Uduaghan was invited by police investigators, made a statement under caution, and reaffirmed her claims—providing names of witnesses and submitting supporting documents.
Yet despite her cooperation, West-Idahosa said her original petitions and evidence were not included in the case file regarding Akpabio’s complaint. He further revealed that her legal team was recently informed that the police had already concluded their investigation into Akpabio’s petition.
“Our client is concerned that investigations into her petitions have been severally and unjustly stalled in what appears to be a discriminatory executive action,” he said.
The letter described the police’s actions as a breach of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constitutional rights and called for immediate intervention from the Attorney General. Her lawyers are urging him to invoke Section 105(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which empowers the Attorney General to request case files from the police for review.
President Bola Tinubu has said that no part of Nigeria can thrive in isolation.
The president said every region of the country has its specific role to play in national development.
Speaking on Wednesday, May 22, at the Taraba International Investment Summit in Jalingo, the president said food security and regional economic inclusion are Nigeria’s gateway to long-term stability.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the president said investment in agriculture is of vital importance to Nigeria’s economic growth.
“Food sufficiency is the first currency of national stability. This is why we have prioritised agriculture as the anchor of our national strategy,” Tinubu said.
He further commended the governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, for his vision in creating an environment for development.
“Our ultimate awakening as a nation begins with this realisation that no part of this country can thrive in isolation.
“What Taraba offers the nation is more than its breathtaking mountains or fertile valleys; it is a strategic contribution to our shared prosperity,” he said.