Tragedy struck on Tuesday in Akure following the over 24 hours’ rainfall which led to part of a building collapsing and causing the death of a man.

Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the incident occurred at 3.00 pm, at Itedo Eledumare Street, Oba-Ile in Akure North local government area.

Mrs Elizabeth Columbus, a tenant in the collapsed bungalow, said that a section of the building wall collapsed on Mr Titus Adega and his five-year-old son , Kizito Adega, causing the death of the former.

The widow of the deceased, Mrs Margaret Adega, said the wall of the back section of the building suddenly fell on her husband and son, who were outside, during the rainfall.

“I heard the loud cry of my son from deep in my sleep and I rushed outside to discover him under the rubble of the collapsed wall of the building.

“I tried to extricate him and discovered the unconscious body of my husband on top of him. I believe my husband used his body to protect our son when the wall fell.

“I called out to neighbours who assisted me to extricate them from the rubbles and rushed them to the maternity centre in the neighborhood.

“There we were asked to take them to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, but when we got there, he was confirmed dead on arrival.”

The widow said that the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary while their son, who had a fracture on the leg and slight bruises on the face, was receiving treatment.

Margaret Adega said immediately her son was discharged from hospital, her husband’s corpse would be taken to Benue for burial.

Mr Gabriel Folahan, the head of the Children’s Emergency Room, said Kizito Adega was brought in at 4.52 p.m., with bruises on the face and a leg fracture.

Folahan said the child would be referred to the orthopedic ward for traction today

The Adamawa State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed 23 commissioner nominees to form Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s cabinet.

Six of the 23 commissioner-designates are former commissioners and two are women.

The confirmation followed the completion of the screening exercise of the last batch of commissioner nominees in the House.

Speaker Bathiya Wesley, who directed the clerk to communicate the House resolution to executive governor for further action, commended his colleagues for the successful exercise.

Wesley said the exercise was enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, adding that those slated for appointment to serve as members of the state executive council ought to be screened and confirmed by the legislature.

The Assembly earlier screened the first batch of the commissioner Nominees on August 1, 2023 while the remaining batch of the nominees were screened on August 2, 2023 as scheduled by the House leadership.

The exercise was based on the track records, experience and qualifications of the nominees.

The commissioner nominees screened in the second batch include Ibrahim Mijinyawa (Yola North); Barr. Wali Yakubu (Madagali); Musa Mahmud (MayoBelwa); Usman Abdullahi Lamorde (Mubi South); Mrs Wunfe Brina Anthony (Guyuk); Dr Umar Garba Pella (Hong); and Barr. Bello Hamman Diram (Yola South).

Others, who scaled the screening exercise, are chief Felix Tangwami (Demsa); Titus Solomon (Lamurde); Anthony Garba Pindimso (Toungo); Mrs Neido Geofrey kofulto (Numan); Ibrahim Haruna (Shelleng); and Ayuba Audu Tanko (Mubi North)

When money is involved, there should be a contract or a legal agreement binding all the parties even if the parties are Siamese twins, siblings, husband and wife, childhood friends, family members, church members etc. No matter how closely related you are, once there is money involved and parties have to work together, pull their resources together, and invest their time, resources and energy together in other to make money or to earn some profits, there should be a legal contract spelling out the responsibilities and duties of the partners or the parties involved, spell out who contributed what and how the profit or the return on investment should be shared amongst the parties once the profits start rolling in. 

Why it is important to have a legal agreement or a contract drawn up even if you are going into business with your blood relative or long-time buddy because talking from experience, I have seen childhood friends turn into enemies through the course of their business dealing and they started dragging themselves in court over who gets what. Immediately one of the parties feels cheated, it will lead to resentment and sometimes leads to a court battle and it becomes complex to handle when there is no pre-existing contract that spelled out who gets what. 

I have handled a series of briefs where the parties involved were ex-husbands and wives. They started a business together and when their relationship went sour since there was no contract in place regarding the business they started together they engaged themselves in a legal battle as to who gets what. 

There is this popular airline in Nigeria, they have the popularity for being the cheapest airline to fly with currently in Nigeria (I am intentionally leaving out the name of the airline but you should know them). The founders are childhood friends, born and raised in the same village but they are currently dragging each other in court over who gets what in the share and profit of the business. The case has been in court for years now and it’s not looking like it will not end anytime soon. The reason why they are fighting in court is that they placed their existing relationship as childhood friends in front and failed to draw up a legal agreement as to how to pool their resources together, fund the project and how they will be entitled to their return on investment. Their legal battle is having a serious impact on the company and if not resolved soon it will force the airline to be shut down. 

The easiest way to avoid all these is to at least create a partnership agreement. This partnership agreement should contain the following; 

Name of the partnership or the business 

Names of the partners and their details 

Purpose of forming the partnership/ business 

Responsibilities/ job requirements of partners 

Financial contribution of partners 

How and when proceeds or return on investment are to be shared amongst partners (who gets what and when). 

Process of adding a new partner or removing an existing partner

How dispute is to be resolved amongst partners when a dispute arises 

Duration of the partnership and how the partnership will be dissolved of the project is time bound

Agreement as to openness for the acquisition of the business, etc. 

Once there is an agreement containing at least the above information, if there is a dispute or disagreement which is bound to arise, the partners will always refer to the agreement as a rule book, standing as a reference or guide so as see how to navigate the ship during the storm and if the disagreement becomes unresolved amongst the partners and it ends up in court, the court will always refer to the partnership agreement in settlement of the dispute. 

Consult a lawyer today to draw up a partnership agreement or a contract for you and your partners before you invest or join that project. 

Apart from the worn-out reasons of “deteriorating security and poor economic and social governance” given by the coup plotters, other familiar reasons have ranged from jihadist insurgencies to corruption and poverty; and from high birth rate to desertification.

Not only are military coups becoming frighteningly frequent in West and Central Africa, virtually all of them, it appears, also speak French.

For the fifth time in three years in West Africa, soldiers struck again in Niger, Nigeria’s Northern neighbour, where former President Muhammadu Buhari had teasingly longed for refuge from Nigeria’s hostile press.

With the recent turn of events, however, it appears that Buhari’s speed train to Maradi, Niger’s ancient city, may have to find another destination.

It’s the fifth successful military coup in that country since 1960.

Apart from the worn-out reasons of “deteriorating security and poor economic and social governance” given by the coup plotters, other familiar reasons have ranged from jihadist insurgencies to corruption and poverty; and from high birth rate to desertification.

As Nigeria’s president and new chairman of the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, rallies the subregion to confront what is now called “Africa’s coup belt”, he would find that the problem in the region’s largest landlocked country, which shares the longest land border with Nigeria, is far more complicated than it appears.

It is heartening that the UN and the AU have condemned the coup and that the US and France have also lent their voices to the call for the soldiers in Niamey to return to the barracks.

Tinubu would find, however, that beneath the veneer of foreign concern lies a web of vested interests and powerplay involving the US, but particularly France and China, that make other well-known complications in Niger look like small potatoes.

Once upon a time – and that was about one and a half decades ago – it was widely assumed that after multi-party democracy was introduced in that country in 2010 following the coup that removed President Mamadou Tanja, Niger would finally have a chance to reset.

In fact, the man who took office after the brief spell of military takeover, Mahamadou Issoufou, acquitted himself so well after two terms in office that he received the Mo Ibrahim Prize for good governance.

President Mohamed Bazoum, widely expected to build on Issoufou’s fragile record, had only been in office two years before soldiers removed him on July 26.

Tinubu would find, however, that beneath the veneer of foreign concern lies a web of vested interests and powerplay involving the US, but particularly France and China, that make other well-known complications in Niger look like small potatoes

However tempting it is to resist the trope of looking for foreign scapegoats, it’s fair to say that the snake of Niger’s problem has its hand buried in the womb of the unfinished problems of Tanja’s confrontation with France.

That confrontation, which finally left Tanja in bed with the Chinese over Niger’s uranium and mineral deposits and, in fact, also produced a refinery built by the Chinese, became compounded by other factors, a number of which were, sadly, self-inflicted, over the years.

Tanja, a former colonel, was on the verge of serving out his constitutional two-term limit of five years each, when he instigated an extension.

When the process appeared doomed to fail, he not only scrapped the constitutional court that ruled that his attempt was illegal, but also scrapped the parliament. But that’s only part of the story.

The other important part was Tanja’s confrontation with French state-owned atomic energy group, Areva, which had enjoyed a de facto monopoly of the country’s rich uranium, a strategic resource for France’s nuclear power.

Areva’s profit from uranium is twice Niger’s GDP.

In a multi-million-dollar deal with China in which Tanja did not mind cutting Niger’s nose to spite the face of France, he pulled the plug on Francophone Africa’s most significant player, making the French play second fiddle to the new Chinese bride.

When the tables turned following Tanja’s ouster, Paris was more than happy to dance on his political grave. But the story did not end there.

According to Tom Burgis in his no-holds-barred book, The Looting Machine, Niger spent $47 million from the proceeds of the uranium deal on arms to suppress the Tuareg rebels; and when a further $300 million came later from signature payment by China National Petroleum Corporation, to develop an oil block, the question was no longer whether Tanja could afford to make trouble, but how much.

“The military coup against Tanja,” Burgis wrote, “deepens fears in Africa that China’s competition with the old powers for the continent’s resources was giving rise to a new and ruinous rivalry like that of the Cold War which had allowed dictators to play Communist and capitalist suitors against one another.”

With the avalanche of light arms flowing out of the broken North African country, it was not too difficult for power hungry soldiers in Niger to topple Tanja’s corrupt government in 2010, ushering in a brief spell of military rule.

Deposed President Bazoum, who was elected only two years ago, steered Niger back to warm relations with Paris which, obviously, is one of the main grouses of the soldiers.

In a viral statement credited to coup leader, Major General Abdurrahman Tchiani, he accused the president of taking orders from France before deciding what to do with terrorists, without regard for the lives of Nigerien soldiers “falling at the fronts.”

And added, for good measure, that regional leaders with dubious electoral records had no moral right to challenge the coup.

The coup is a huge embarrassment for ECOWAS, yet from its record, the likely failure of the one-week ultimatum to the soldiers in Niamey would only compound the misery of the regional body.

Already, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea, have lined up behind Niger, threatening to quit any regional group that enforces sanctions against Niger.

Apart from Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone and perhaps also in The Gambia, not once in the last nearly 30 years or so has ECOWAS been able to reverse a military takeover in any country.

And sadly, for the region, the Niger coup is coming at a time when its chairman and president of the regional powerhouse, Tinubu, is facing a perfect storm at home: protests by Labour and widespread economic discontent as the president struggles to fix the country.

It does not help also that while ECOWAS is tightening its noose around Niger, the Wagner mercenaries, that French nightmare with Russian roots, is expanding its footprint on the continent, lurking in the shadows and hoping to do for the Nigerien coup plotters what it did for their Malian cousins.

If the regional body manages to chase away the Nigerien soldier kites, it might also have to return to warn the numerous straying democracy chicks across the region, to mend their catastrophically prodigal ways

Of course, ECOWAS must do what is necessary to prevent the contagion of military coups, reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s.

But the coup in Niger also highlights the increasing failure of periodic elections and Western-style democracy to deliver value for the swathes of citizens chafing under flawed elections and corrupt governments.

The swift response of the regional body is commendable as it is a clear message that it would not be business as usual for soldiers.

Yet, with foreign interests prowling the region and waiting to pounce, it is improbable that the soldiers in Niamey would trade off what appears to be fairly widespread support and return to the barracks with their tail between their legs.

French legacy of namby-pamby in Francophone West Africa well past its usefulness, except for France, appears to have come back to haunt Mère France with a fury.

ECOWAS may have to review its ultimatum and adopt a negotiated exit, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s example in Sao Tome in 2003, as guide.

Since ECOWAS was founded in 1975, only one country, Mauritania, has left.

Tinubu cannot afford to be the president that lost three ECOWAS countries in two months.

If the regional body manages to chase away the Nigerien soldier kites, it might also have to return to warn the numerous straying democracy chicks across the region, to mend their catastrophically prodigal ways.

One of Nigeria’s most respected journalists and elder statesmen, Raymond Amos Ekpu, clocks 75 on Sunday, August 6, and I am particularly pleased to send him and his family my felicitations and best wishes. Uncle Ray, as I call him fondly, has been one of my role models for decades. Nationally, he has strong name recognition, and in Akwa Ibom, his home state, he has become a household name and a folk hero. We all grew up reading his articles in The Calabar-based Nigerian Chronicle, a government-owned newspaper, founded in 1971 as a weekly, but became daily the following year. Mr. Moses Ekpo, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, was its first editor. For us in journalism, Uncle Ray has been as an inspiration, exemplar and standard bearer. I am sure that there will be many celebrations around the country to adulate this great writer. Uyo Book Club, founded by Dr. Udeme Nana, one of Ekpu’s protegees, will hold a special reading session on Sunday to honour him. ‘’Ray Ekpu embodies the resilient and courageous spirit of creative writing and journalism, two vocations which are at the forefront of seeking answers to the myriads of developmental questions facing the nation, and who has, fearlessly used his essays, through his columns in national newspapers, to fight for justice, equity, freedoms and good leadership’’, UBC said in a statement early in the week. I hope that the Akwa Ibom State government will also celebrate Mr. Ekpu on this very auspicious moment.

I saw Uncle Ray last in March 2021 at a public function in Port Harcourt. He looked radiant and well. It is gratifying that he’s been keeping well since then despite a recent health scare. May Almighty God continue to keep him in good health. Ekpu has had a distinguished career and held almost every conceivable responsibility and position in journalism since his first job as staff writer/reporter in 1974 at the The Nigerian Chronicle. The paper was one of the influential state-owned newspapers in those days that trained some of the best journalists we have today. Others were The Nigerian Observer in Benin; The Renaissance (later renamed Daily Star) in Enugu; The Tide in Port Harcourt; The Statesman in Owerri; The Herald in Ilorin and Daily Sketch in Ibadan. New Nigerian in Kaduna and Daily Times in Lagos, owned by the federal government, circulated nationally. These were all my regular readings every morning as a secondary schoolboy in the 1970s and they shaped my understanding of public affairs and interest in writing. My school library and the public library in Uyo had regular supplies of these newspapers. What are our kids reading now?

In 1977, Ekpu was promoted editor of The Chronicle after passing a competitive examination conducted by the late Prince Tony Momoh who was then the editor of Daily Times. Momoh was brought by the management of Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Chronicle, to help in conducting the selection process. The GM of the newspaper was Chief Efiong Essien, whom I later met at The Guardian when I joined as a reporter in 1988. He was then a member of its Editorial Board. It was from The Chronicle that Ekpu was hired in 1980 to be the editor of Sunday Times, the largest-circulating weekly newspaper in those days. It was a must read for every person in business, government and academia. He joined the Concord Group, owned by the late MKO Abiola, in 1982 as member of the Editorial Board of National Concord, the daily newspaper in the stable. But it was in 1984 when he co-founded Newswatch magazine that the world came to appreciate his quintessence. The first edition of the magazine was published in January 1985.

Born on August 6, 1948, in Ikot Udo Ossiom village in Ukanafun LGA in today’s Akwa Ibom State, Ekpu is a recipient of several honours and awards, including International Editor of the Year (1987); Outstanding Young Person of the World (1988), Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and Lifetime Achievement Award by Vanguard newspapers. A former President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Ekpu had also served as Chairman, Editorial Board, Concord Newspapers before partnering with the late Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed to establish Newswatch magazine in 1985.

He was also the President of Commonwealth Journalists Association in the 1990s, and has just been named its President Emeritus in recognition of his contributions to the association. The Nation newspaper of Kenya also honoured Ekpu with Lifetime Achievement Award during its 50th anniversary celebration in 2013. The Department of Mass Communication of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, Ikot Ekpene, has celebrated him by naming its mass communication department after him. It is now called Ray Ekpu Department of Mass Communication. Ray Ekpu is currently a columnist at The Guardian; The Sun and Daily Independent newspapers.

Life gives each person his own lemon. It is up to you to make your own lemonade. Uncle Ray has had his own share of vicissitudes practicing journalism during the dark days of military dictatorships in the country. He was detained six times in different prisons and Newswatch magazine was shut down for over six months by the military junta. But it was the dastardly murder of his business partner and friend, Dele Giwa, through a parcel bomb on Sunday, October 19, 1986, during the IBB regime, that shook Ekpu to the core of his being. It is a shame that the military leaders of the time had not been held to account for the heinous crime.

A grandfather with three children and six grandchildren, Uncle Ray is enjoying retirement in peace and absolute gratitude to God. He spends time reading, writing and enjoying quality time at home. He loves playing with his grandchildren and watching football and boxing as well as listening to music. Ekpu is an avid reader. He enjoys reading all sorts of readable stuffs --- books, magazines, columns in newspapers, including agony columns, especially the Bunmi column in the Vanguard. For him, books are repository of wisdom and knowledge. He told me recently: ‘’I am sure that I have up to 10,000 books and pamphlets. These include three sets of general encyclopaedia; computer science encyclopaedia and encyclopaedia of the oceans; science encyclopaedia; social science encyclopaedia and some rare books’’.

In his library also are about 100 pamphlet boxes where all kinds of pamphlets and leaflets are kept as reference materials.

With advanced age, Uncle Ray has modified his lifestyle. He doesn’t drink any longer (cognac was his thing); doesn’t take salt in his food (during the civil war when the commodity was so scarce, he used to walk some 30 kilometers to Ikot Abasi from his village fetch and evaporate sea water to obtain it) and socializes sparingly (parities were his favourite pastime in those days). But his love for journalism, which he studied at the University of Lagos, is undying. I am pleased that Uncle Ray is writing his memoire. I love to read memoires and I’m always disappointed when a newsmaker fails to write one. Ekpu has a lot to tell and I can’t wait to read it. As a whet, I asked him to reminisce about journalism of his days and compare it to what we have now. He chuckled gently: ‘’The practice of journalism today has been improved by advanced technology. With a smart phone you can record interviews and pictures; you can make phone calls and send text messages. Materials could be delivered to your office from long distances in no time. Reseach is just a click away. But there is the down side. It has made many journalists lazy because they rely on unverified stories in the social media. When this happens, they end up publishing fake stories in their traditional media which ought to be the major source of authentic stories’’.

Uncle Ray has some affection for me. He took me under his wings when I joined The Guardian newspaper in January 1988 as a Finance reporter. When I came out of my own three-month detention in November 1988, he sent a reporter from his magazine to interview me. He later received me at his Ikeja home lavishly.

Happy birthday, Uncle Ray!

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embrace accountability in all forms, but especially concerning financial discipline and in the active promotion of top-level women and youth participation in the day-to-day operations of the party.

He stated that this would strengthen the APC and firmly establish its stability as a governing party.

The President made this charge on Wednesday during the National Caucus meeting of the party, which took place at the State House Conference Centre.

In a statement to journalists by the President’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu noted that the future of the party belongs to Nigeria’s young people and women, considering their proven dedication and demonstrable prowess in election matters.

The APC national leader said: “As a party, we must handle our finances very well. I hope the financial audit recommended by the National Working Committee (NWC) will help us strengthen our finances better. I thank our governors who contribute generously to the wallet of the party. These times are tough. We are challenged. Please continue to support the party.

“Our party also needs to be more gender friendly, and we need more participation from the youths because they own our tomorrow. Let’s get more youths and women involved. They are very dedicated election masters.”

While intimating the party leaders in attendance, which included the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, former National Chairmen, Bisi Akande, John Oyegun, as well as serving governors, former governors and National Assembly members, the President detailed decisions he has taken so far to reform the country’s economy.

Tinubu reiterated that Nigeria cannot continue to sustain the treasury-depleting fuel subsidy and losses incurred by the past foreign exchange management regime.

“We can’t continue to play poker with our economy. That is why I took the decisions I have taken so far,” he said.

In his welcome address, Acting APC National Chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari commended President Tinubu for the steps he has taken so far to reposition the economy for greater productivity and future prosperity.

The Acting National Chairman presented two memos to the National Caucus; Appointment of External Auditors and filling of vacant party offices.

The two major party positions which the Caucus considered are that of the National Chairmanship and National Secretary seats that will be filled by the National Executive Council (NEC) at its next scheduled meeting for Thursday, August 3, 2023, at, the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted the second batch of his ministerial nominees containing 19 additional names.

Recall that the list was submitted on Wednesday to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

On the list are five former Governors, Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).

Here are the profiles of the nominees:

Maryam Shetti (Kano)

Maryam Shettima famously known as Maryam Shetty was national leader of #WeBelieve, an APC support group.

She is a social activist and qualified physiotherapist. Born into the Kano royal family, Ms Shettima started her early education in Kano and went to Federal School of Physiotherapy in Bayero University, where she finished her Bsc with distinction.

She worked briefly with Dala Orthopedic and Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospitals in Kano before she went to London to further her education.

She obtained her Masters Degree from the University of East London, Stratford where she majored in sports physiotherapy.

She was on the medical team of the London Olympics where she worked with top-tier athletes including world record holder, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt.

Bosun Tijani (Ogun)

He was born on 20 July, 1977. He is an entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), the leading Pan-African innovation and technology centre.

Tijani is widely acknowledged as a pioneer and industry leader in the African technology ecosystem and was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People on the continent by New Africa Magazine.

He initiated the first visit of Mark Zuckerberg to Nigeria in August 2016 as part of efforts to place Africa on the global technology map. He has also hosted other global technology leaders in Nigeria, including former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2019[6] and most recently in June, 2023, hosted a fireside chat with Microsoft founder and co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates.

In 2019, under his leadership, CcHUB acquired Kenya’s iHub and launched the CcHUB Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda in the same year.[9] He has also expanded CcHUB’s Pan-African footprint into Southern Africa by opening CcHUB Namibia, the main tech hub in Windhoek, Namibia in 2023.

Tunji Alausa, M.D (Lagos)

Alausa is the Executive Chairman & Chief Medical Officer

Dialysis Care Centre in Homer Glen, Illinois, United States

The Epe-born Nephrologist studied Medicine at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and was Assistant Professor & Attending Physician Rush University Medical Center – Cook County Hospital.

He was named America’s Best Physician in 2007 & 2012 and served as Chief Medical Resident Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL.

Tanko Sununu (Kebbi)

He represents Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency. He was a Member of Board of Management Federal Medical Centre Katsina (2013), Member of Board Management Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto (2018).

The trained Obstetrician and Gynaecologist was born on 02/02/1967.

Ishak Salako (Ogun)

Dr Ishaq Kunle Salako is a medical practitioner and former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State. He’s the Co-ordinator, Ogun West Stakeholders Forum.

Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun)

Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola CON was born on 29th of September, 1954. He served as governor of Osun State from 2018 to 2022.

Oyetola was born in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area. He started his secondary education at Ifeoluwa Grammar School, Osogbo and graduated in 1972.

Oyetola proceeded to the University of Lagos and graduated with a Bachelor of Science honours degree in Insurance in 1978.

He proceeded for his mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Potiskum, Yobe State, where he lectured at the Staff Training Centre between 1978 and 1979. He obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos in 1990.

He contested for the Osun gubernatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 2018 gubernatorial election and won.

Oyetola was the Chief of Staff to Rauf Aregbesola, his predecessor.

Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi)

Abubakar Atiku Bagudu CON, was born on 26th December 1961. He is the immediate past Kebbi Governor. He served as the Senator for Kebbi Central.

He obtained a BSc (Economics), Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Msc (Economics) University of Jos and M.A. (International Affairs). He is married to Zainab Bagudu.

Bagudu succeeded Adamu Aliero when he won the by-election for the Kebbi Central Senatorial seat following Aliero’s appointment to become the Minister for FCT.

BELLO MATAWALLE (Zamfara)

Bello Muhammad was born on 12th February 1969, known as Bello Matawalle and is the immediate past Zamfara Governor.

He obtained First School Leaving Certificate from Maradun Township Primary School in 1979. He graduated from VTC Bunza in 1984. He attended Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and later went to Thames Valley University, London.

After briefly serving in the Abacha-era House of Assembly and Commissioner from 1999 to 2003 in the Ahmad Sani Yerima administration in the Fourth Republic, he first won an elected office in 2003 as a member of the House of Representatives for Bakura/Maradun and retained the office until 2015 first as a member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before switching to the People’s Democratic Party in 2011.

Between 1999 and 2003 he served as Zamfara Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

Matawalle was elected into the House of Representatives by his constituents Bakura/Maradun in May 2003 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Matawalle was re-elected in 2007 still on the platform of the ANPP only to defect to PDP on which platform he was re-elected for a third term in 2011.

Four years after losing his Bakura/Maradun Constituency seat in 2015, Matawalle became the 2019 PDP gubernatorial nominee and won the office after a Supreme Court ruling disqualified the original winner. In 2021, he defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress after a defection rally in Gusau alongside most Zamfara State elected officials.

Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe)

Ibrahim Gaidam is a Senator from Yobe East Senatorial District. He handed over to Governor Mai Mala Buni on 29 May 2019.

Gaidam was born on 15 September 1956 in Bukarti village, Yunusari local government area in the old Borno, now Yobe state. He attended the Borno Teachers’ College (BTC), Maiduguri from 1974 to 1979 where he obtained a Teachers’ Certificate. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1981 and 1983, earning a Diploma in Accountancy.

Later he returned to Ahmadu Bello University, earned a BSc in Accountancy Degree in 1990 and became a member of the Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria.

In April 2007, Ibrahim Gaidam was elected Deputy Governor of Yobe State on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform and was sworn in on May 29, 2007. He was sworn in as Governor on January 27, 2009, following the death of Governor Mamman Bello Ali in Florida of a liver problem.

Geidam was elected as senator representing Yobe East in 9th NASS on 23 March 2019.

Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau)

Simon Bako Lalong CON, born on 5th of May 1963, served as governor of Plateau State from 2015 to 2023.

After his elementary and secondary school education in Shendam Local Government Area, he proceeded to the School of Preliminary Studies (S.P.S) Keffi, passing out in 1986.

He then continued to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Law.

This was immediately followed by the Law School in Lagos, where he was also called to the Bar. He later obtained a master’s degree in Law from the University of Jos, in 1996.

In October 2000, he became Plateau Speaker, occupying that position until 2006, following a political upheaval within the House. The seven years which he served as the speaker made him the longest serving speaker of the House in the history of Plateau State. During that period he was two times (2001–2002) elected as the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of the 36 states of Nigeria.

In the March 9 2019 Plateau gubernatorial election and March 23, 2019 Plateau State supplementary Gubernatorial Election, Lalong won re-election as governor of Plateau State, having polled 595,582 votes against his rival, General Jeremiah Husseini of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 546,813 votes. He was re-elected as the governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2019.

In the 2023 general election, Lalong contested for the seat of the senate to represent Plateau South senatorial zone in the National Assembly but lost the election to Napoleon Bali who won under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.

Lola Ade John (Lagos)

Lola Ade John is a seasoned Information and Technology expert and a leader in designing, integrating, deploying, and managing core systems for global banking institutions.

She studied Computer Science at the University of Ibadan. She has worked with Access Bank, United Bank of Africa, Ecobank and Novateur Business Technology.

Her experience spans in the areas of leveraging and managing technology to drive strategic business results, structure efficient and effective implementation and support of technology to benefit small, medium and large-scale central and distributed working environments.

She has led the integration and implementation of systems focused on facilitating corporate change management, increasing technology service delivery, and the strategic advantage of businesses while at the same time reducing business operating risks.

Shuaibu Abubakar (Kogi)

Abdulrahman Shuaibu Abubakar FCNA, FNIM, FCMA was born on 5th of July 1965. He holds the titles of Talban Mubi and Ebubedike Ndigbo of Mubi. He is an accountant, businessman, philanthropist and lawmaker.

He represents Mubi North/Mubi South/Mahia federal constituency of Adamawa state in the House of Representatives, and is a member of the country’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abdulrahman was born in Digil, Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa State on 5 July 1965, to the family of Alhaji Shuaibu Liman Difil. He is the second of 15 children.

His education began at Demonstration Primary School, Mubi, where he was a pupil from 1972 to 1973. In 1974, he moved on to Digil Primary School, also in Mubi, and obtained a primary school leaving certificate in 1978. His secondary education took place at the Federal Government College, Maiduguri, from 1978 to 1983.

From 1983 to 1984, he attended the School of Basic Studies in the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, then proceeded to study accounting at the Institute of Administration (also in ABU, Zaria), and graduated in 1987. He also obtained a certificate in computer and computer operation.

He has two master’s degrees from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, the first in Business Administration (Banking and Finance; awarded in 1998) and the second in Economics (awarded in 2002). He also attended several additional courses at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, the Lagos Business School and the Manchester Business School.

Tahir Mamman (Adamawa)

Tahir Mamman OON, SAN is a Professor of law, Senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Educational administrator and the Director-general of the Nigeria Law School from 2005 to 2013.

Mamman was born in 1954 at Michika in Adamawa State. He holds a LL.B degree at the Ahmadu Bello University in 1983 and call to the bar in the Nigerian Law School in 1984. He earned his masters from the University of Warwick England in 1987 and his PhD in 1990 University of Warwick, Warwickshire England.

He is the Vice chancellor of Baze University Abuja and member governing board of Niger delta development commission NDDC.

He is a recognised member of the Body of Benchers. In 2010 he became a board member of the International Association of Law Schools based in Washington DC.

In September 2015, he was conferred as a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In recognition of his efforts, the Federal Government of Nigeria bestowed him with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

Professor Tahir Mamman joined party politics in 2014 after completing his tenure as Director general of The Nigeria Law School. He ran for Adamawa state Governorship election on the platform of the APC in December 2014 along with three other aspirant.

In June 2020, the All Progressive Congress national executive committee appointed and inaugurated him as a Member representing the northeast geopolitical zone/ acting national vice chairman north east in the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the All progressive congress APC.

Aliyu Sabi (Niger)

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi CON, was born on 10th of January 1967, He was a Senator from Niger North Senatorial District of Niger State at the Nigerian 8th National Assembly and 9th National Assembly. He was also the deputy chief whip at the Nigerian 9th National Assembly.

Abdullahi participated in the March 28, 2015, Niger North Senatorial District Election and was announced as the Winner.

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Alkali Ahmed (Gombe)

Ahmed Alkali, born on the 12th of February, 1969 was elected as Senator for the Gombe North senatorial district of Gombe State, in August 2010 by-elections after the death of Senator Kawu Peto Dukku.

He was re-elected in the 2011 General elections, running on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform, also in the 2015 and the 2019 General elections under the platforms of APC.

Sen. Alkali lost Gombe North Senatorial seat to Former Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo in the 2023 general elections

He holds the honorary title of Sarkin Gabas Dukku. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics, and became a public servant. Alhaji Alkali was formerly commissioner of information in the administration of Governor Danjuma Goje.

Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)

Heineken Lokpobiri, born on 3rd of March 1967, was elected Senator in April 2007 on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform in Bayelsa State, for the Bayelsa West constituency.

He was also the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Lokpobiri received an LL.B (Hons) in 1994 from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, BL February 1995. Expert in Environmental Rights and Environmental Law, holds a Doctorate degree Ph.D. from Leeds Beckett University, UK in 2015.

Uba Maigari (Taraba)

Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu was a former Deputy Governor of Taraba state.

He was impeached under controversial circumstances shortly after the 2003 elections.

Zephaniah Jissalo (FCT)

Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, born on April 3rd, 1970. He is from the Abuja Municipal/Bwari Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.

Hon. Jisalo began his education at Garki Primary School, Abuja and graduated with a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC).

He proceeded to the Government Secondary School, Karu, Abuja where he obtained a General Certificate of Examination (GCE) and West African Senior Certificate (WASC).

He had his tertiary education at the University of Jos, Plateau State and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.

The organised labour which consists of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has reacted to the decision of the Federal Government to sue the unions following the protest held on Wednesday.

Naija News had earlier reported that FG on Wednesday filed a contempt case against organised labour for allegedly defying an order restraining the unions from embarking on industrial action.

The organised labour in reaction to the action of the federal government stated that all workers in the private and public sectors across the country will appear at court proceedings in a contempt case.

A statement by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, and President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, notified Nigerians that the unions had “just received a court summons purporting to charge us with contempt of Court”.

The statement read, “To further show our collective resolve, All Nigerian workers will resume at the Courts wherever they may be across the nation on the days of the Court sittings to hear the contempt proceedings against the leaders of trade unions.

“The Airports, the Seaports, the Hospitals, Schools; all public and private sector workers will all appear in Court across the nation in response to the Contempt Charges.”

See the full statement below:

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service, said it intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle loaded with 15 bulletproof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives, and 20 pieces of pistol pouches at Ijebu-Ode checkpoint in Ogun State.

A statement by the command on Wednesday said the driver of the vehicle was arrested and the controlled wares seized.

In the statement, the acting Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Hussein Ejibunu, said importation of any form of bulletproof items required an end-user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser.

The statement read, “Within July, our officers intercepted smuggled 15 bulletproof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives, and 20 pieces of pistol pouches inside a Toyota Sienna bus in Ogun State at Ijebu-Ode Checkpoint.

“The driver of the vehicle was arrested with the seized controlled wares. It is pertinent to know that the importation of all forms of bulletproof materials such as vests, ballistic materials, and vehicles, as well as parts and accessories for all military armaments and hardware such as guns, arms, and ammunition of all kinds; lethal and non-lethal requires an end-user certificate.”

Ejibunu said a total of 50 seizures were made and 13 persons were arrested in connection with different seizures in July.

“Notable among the seizures made were, 5,642 bags of foreign rice 50kg each equivalent to nine trailer loads, 18,925 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 20 pieces of pistol pouches, 15 pieces of bulletproof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives, 49 cartons of children school shoes, 181 parcels of Indian Hemp 87 kg each, 357 kegs of vegetable oil five litres each, one unit of Honda Motorcycle, two used (Tokunbo) vehicles, among others,” he said.

He also said that the duty-paid value of the seized goods stood at N463m.

According to the statement, the acting FOU boss handed over three suspects and cannabis sativa with a net weight of 7.73 kg to officials of the Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, for further investigation and prosecution.

Air Peace on Wednesday said a passenger on board one of its flights allegedly stole N1m from another passenger’s bag but was caught.

The airline’s spokesperson, Stanley Olisa, said in a statement in Lagos that the incident took place onboard Abuja-Port Harcourt flight P47192 on July 27.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there have been reported cases of theft onboard aircraft involving different airlines operating in the country in recent times.

Olisa said the suspect stole the amount contained in a brown envelope but was caught by the owner of the money, with the intervention of the airline’s staff.

He explained that during the flight, the suspect took another passenger’s computer bag from the overhead cabin.

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“He, thereafter, took the brown envelope containing the money, put the computer bag in another luggage compartment and moved to an empty seat at the back of the aircraft,” he said.

Olisa added that the suspect was one of the first few to disembark despite the announcement of a proper disembarkation sequence by the crew.

He said the suspect was eventually caught and the money retrieved from him, with different currencies in different denominations found on him.

Olisa said the suspect was handed over to the security operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria for onward transfer to the police for further investigations.

He said the police later confirmed to have released him on bail.