Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa, has asked President Bola Tinubu to pay the N45 billion allegedly owed by the federal government to the family of the late MKO Abiola.

Lamido spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the public presentation of his memoir titled ‘Being True To Myself’.

“Before concluding, I appeal to President Bola Tinubu to finally close the June 12 chapter. In his book, Ibrahim Babangida acknowledged Abiola’s victory in that election,” he said.

“When I visited him, he also confirmed Abiola is owed N45 billion. He was doubly punished, denied both the presidency and his due.”

The former governor asked Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, who represented Tinubu at the event, to convey his demand to the president.

“Please tell the president to pay Abiola’s family the N45 billion. That will finally close the June 12 chapter,” Lamido said.

In a 2018 interview, Lamido said Abiola made the debt demand after the death of Murtala Muhammed, former head of state, but the military turned his request down.

He said the debt was for contracts executed for the ministry of communication.

Abiola was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, the then-military president.

Babangida led Nigeria as head of state from 1985 to 1993.

In his memoir released in February, Babangida admitted that Abiola won the presidential election.

Abiola died on July 7, 1998, while in detention after declaring himself the winner of the June 12 election.

In 2018, the federal government recognised the late Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993, election and also conferred a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on him.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has sent out 500 invitations for the Permanent Residency (PR) application.

The invitation followed an Express Entry Draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programme conducted on Tuesday after over three months of waiting.

Recall that Canada paused all programme draws on February 5 to align with its reduced immigration targets and to prioritise candidates who meet specific workforce and integration goals.

The IRCC, however, resumed draws for the CEC programme on Tuesday, inviting 500 out of 250,082 candidates in the pool at a cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 547.

The cut-off score for the recent draw is the highest for 2025.

Also, in January, the IRCC held two Express Entry Draws for CEC.

One was on January 23, when a total of 4000 invitations were sent out, and the lowest CRS score was 527.

The other was on January 8, when a total of 1,350 invitations were issued, at a 542 cut-off score.

There are, however, hopes that the IRCC would consider conducting larger rounds of invitations under the administration of the new immigration minister, Lena Diab, sworn in on May 13, replacing Rachel Bendayan.

Firm counters govt with $110m claims

The federal government has reignited its legal battle against Pan Ocean Oil Corporation (Nigeria) Limited over the alleged non-payment of $49,936,088.31 in oil and gas royalties, concession rentals, and gas flaring penalties.

The plaintiffs in the suit are the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In an amended statement of claim filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos by Akin Akintoye, SAN, the government alleged that Pan Ocean, while operating Oil Mining Lease (OML) 98 under a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), failed to meet its statutory obligations under the Petroleum Act.

These obligations include the payment of royalties, concession rentals, and gas flare penalties.

Despite several demands and Pan Ocean’s written acknowledgment of the debt in a letter dated January 24, 2019, the government claimed the company has refused to pay the outstanding amount.

In the suit before Justice Daniel Osiagor, the government further stated that Pan Ocean’s continued non-compliance prompted the Minister of Petroleum to revoke OML 98.

The plaintiffs argued that the unpaid royalties deprive the government of vital revenue needed for national development.

They emphasised that the case was not about asset ownership or crude oil sales, but about mandatory statutory payments required from all leaseholders.

The government is seeking a declaration confirming Pan Ocean’s liability and an order compelling the company to pay $49,936,088.31 as of March 24, 2019.

It is also requesting interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum from February 1, 2019, until the date of judgment, and post-judgment interest until the debt is fully paid.

In its defence and counter-claim, filed by George Babalola, SAN, Pan Ocean denied most of the government’s allegations.

The company attributed its inability to meet payment obligations in part to NNPC’s alleged seizure of its share of crude oil worth $24,091,674 between January 2018 and March 2019.

Pan Ocean also cited heavy capital investments, including a 3D/4D seismic survey, a 200 mmscfd gas processing plant, and the Amukpe-Escravos crude export pipeline as reasons for its financial strain.

It said it invested $20.87 million in the seismic survey alone, intended to boost the declining production capacity of OML 98.

After the revocation of OML 98, Pan Ocean said it continued to operate the lease as a default operator on behalf of the government until May 2021, when the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) took over operations.

During that period, the company claimed it incurred $65.35 million in operational costs, of which $36 million has been reconciled with the Department of Petroleum Resources (now the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC).

As a result, Pan Ocean is counter-claiming a total of approximately $110 million—specifically, $65,352,399 for post-revocation operations (including the reconciled $36 million and an unreconciled $29.34 million), $20,874,164.40 for its share of the seismic data project, and $24,091,674 as its 40 percent share of crude oil proceeds allegedly withheld.

The company is asserting its right to set off the reconciled costs against the government’s claim and is seeking full reimbursement for all expenses incurred during its stewardship of OML 98.

President Bola Tinubu has said he is open to criticism and would remain committed to addressing the nation’s challenges.

President Tinubu stated this on Tuesday while speaking at the launch of Sule Lamido’s autobiography, “Being True To Myself”.

Dignitaries such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, among others, graced the occasion. The event was chaired by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Represented by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Tinubu said, though tough, his reforms are working.

“The President welcomes constructive criticism at all times in the spirit of freedom of speech and democratic engagement, but he will also never allow himself to be distracted from doing what is right for Nigeria.

“Are we saying that we are where we need to be and that there isn’t room for more work to be done? Certainly not.

“What we are saying is simple: that President Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon audacity and vision to set Nigeria on the path of true growth and development.

“After a somewhat rocky start, owing to the toughness of the inevitable reforms, we are now entering an era of intended beneficial outcomes, underlined by macroeconomic stability,” he said.

On national security, Idris assured that President Tinubu would leave no stone unturned in his efforts to protect Nigerians and the nation’s territorial integrity from terrorist elements.

He also applauded the military and other security agencies involved in the anti-terror war for not disappointing the country.

He said the book presented Lamido’s reputation as a principled and blunt politician and a statesman.

“This is not merely the unveiling of a book. It is the celebration of a life defined by courage, consistency, and commitment to democratic ideals.

“Sule Lamido, though a staunch member of the political opposition and often a critic of the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), remains one of the strong pillars of Nigeria’s political evolution,” he stated.

A former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has stated that the recent defections of lawmakers to the ruling party is not a threat to democracy.

He stated this during an interview on Channels Television while responding to questions regarding the recent defection of three senators to the APC, bringing the party’s total strength in the Senate to 68, edging closer to a two-thirds majority.

He asserted that APC would not eliminate debates or dissent in the National Assembly, noting that lawmakers often vote based on issues, not party lines.

“Whether this is a danger to democracy? No, I don’t think so.

“If you’ve been following debates in the Senate, sometimes you can’t even distinguish who is PDP or APC in terms of the positions people take,” he said.

Oshiomhole added that having an aligned legislature is not unusual in democratic societies, citing the United States as an example.

“The US celebrates when a president has control of both the Congress and the Senate. Every government wants that because democracy, in a sense, is not only a means to an end — it is an end in itself.

“The right to contribute and the freedom to express yourself are part of what defines democracy, not just the number of parties represented,” he argued.

He maintained that his loyalty lies with the national interest over party allegiance.

“If you watch my contributions on the floor of the Senate, the first party is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I’ve argued, and I make no apologies, that the total of all political parties in Nigeria, whether in or out of government, is not equivalent to Nigeria. If I see a conflict between party interest and national interest, I have no difficulty in resolving it in favour of Nigeria.

“I was particularly excited because those who joined us today include co-founders of the APC. When a founder of a house returns to the house, those of us who have been there and missed their absence, it’s a thing of joy,” he said.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to prudent and transparent management of public resources as a strategy to stimulate sustainable development across the state.

Speaking at the 27th Annual Tax Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, which was held at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, Mutfwang described taxation as a crucial component to funding government programmes and activities for the benefit of the people.

Mutfwang’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, in a statement on Wednesday said the governor while speaking on the conference theme, “Taxation for Development: Policies, Laws, and Implementation,” described the event as a timely and strategic platform to interrogate ongoing tax reforms and chart a realistic roadmap for accelerated national growth and development.

He noted that since assuming office, his administration has prioritised the judicious use of public funds to address critical needs, improve the living conditions of citizens, and create a conducive environment to attract investments and development incentives.

“I commend CITN for organising this important conference to reflect on how taxation policies and collection mechanisms can be more effective in fostering national development.

“This is crucial, as taxation remains a key driver for funding government programmes,” Mutfwang stated.

He emphasised the need for transparency, accountability and inclusivity in the implementation of tax reforms to ensure they yield the intended outcomes for all Nigerians.

“To test the validity and credibility of the current tax reforms, those charged with their implementation must embrace transparency and inclusiveness. This is the only way to achieve equitable dividends of development,” he said.

The governor also expressed his readiness to collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, and the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure efficient tax administration across all levels.

“At the sub-national level, we are committed to prudent resource management. On the Plateau, we believe that you cannot tax poverty; you can only tax wealth. That’s why we are focusing first on stimulating economic activity and wealth creation before expanding the tax base,” he emphasised.

Mutfwang revealed that Plateau State’s internally generated revenue has seen a remarkable increase from N800 million to N3 billion monthly since the inception of his administration, attributing this progress to strategic reforms and investment in the economy.

Reiterating Plateau’s hospitality, he extended an open invitation to the CITN leadership to consider hosting future editions of the conference in the state, known as the “Home of Peace and Tourism.”

In his remarks, the President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Samuel Agbeluyi, welcomed delegates to the conference and urged members to contribute meaningfully to the robust discussions aimed at propelling Nigeria’s economic advancement.

The Plateau contingent was led to the conference by the Executive Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Jim Pam Wayas.

Mali’s military junta has dissolved all political parties in the country.

A statement read on state television on Tuesday said the country’s military leader, Assimi Goita, validated the decision.

Last month, a national conference of political actors in Mali recommended the dissolution of all political parties and the naming of Goita as president with a five-year mandate.

The recommendation led to protests in Bamako on May 3 and May 4, with several hundred critics carrying placards displaying messages calling for multi-party elections.

They also chanted slogans like ‘Down with dictatorship, long live democracy’.

Ahead of another protest planned for May 9, Mali suspended political activities across the country.

The move forced opposition groups to cancel the demonstration.

The dissolution of political parties coincides with reports of disappearances of opposition figures, as human rights groups said several politicians have disappeared in recent days.

On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was arrested by “masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes” on May 8.

The group also said on the same day, “unidentified men” seized El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, in the town of Kati outside Bamako.

Goita first seized power in August 2020 amid escalating attacks from armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS), and al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022.

AFP

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will on Thursday review the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination following what it described as “unusual” public complaints.

A notice seen by The PUNCH in Abuja confirmed that the review meeting would bring together vice-chancellors, provosts, rectors, school principals, examiners, and technical experts to scrutinise the examination process and address the widespread dissatisfaction expressed by candidates and stakeholders.

This development comes in the wake of mounting protests from candidates and parents over the results released last Friday, with many alleging technical glitches and inconsistencies during the exam.

According to the official notice, the review panel, which includes members from the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, the Educational Assessment and Research Network, and top officials from Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, will evaluate the conduct and outcome of the 2025 UTME.

“In furtherance of the commitment of the board to earn public confidence in its processes, the management of the board has approved your participation to be part of the review panel constituted to appraise the conduct of the examination with the mandate to identify challenges, if any, and proffer relevant recommendations to prevent a recurrence,” the notice reads in part.

It added that the panel’s assignment will be at no cost to the board. 

The UTME is a critical prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It tests candidates in four subjects, including the compulsory Use of English, with the other three drawn from their proposed field of study.

Of the 1.9 million candidates who sat the UTME, over 1.5 million reportedly scored below 200 out of the maximum 400 marks, raising concerns across the education sector.

According to the examination agency, a total of 1,955,069 results were processed, out of which only 4,756 candidates (0.24 per cent) scored 320 and above, considered top-tier performance, while 7,658 candidates (0.39 per cent) scored between 300 and 319, bringing the total for those who scored 300 and above to 12,414 candidates (0.63 per cent).

Also, 73,441 candidates (3.76 per cent) scored between 250 and 299 while 334,560 candidates (17.11 per cent) scored between 200 and 249.

A total of 983,187 candidates (50.29 per cent) scored between 160 and 199, which is widely regarded as the minimum threshold for admissions in many institutions.

In the same vein, 488,197 candidates (24.97 per cent) scored between 140 and 159, 57,419 candidates (2.94 per cent) scored between 120 and 139, 3,820 candidates (0.20 per cent) scored between 100 and 119, and 2,031 candidates (0.10 per cent) scored below 100.

Over 75 per cent of all candidates (1.5 million) scored below 200, average score seeing as the examination is graded over 400. 

 Some affected candidates threatened to initiate a lawsuit against JAMB.

Responding to the controversy, JAMB’s spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, on Monday said the board was accelerating its annual post-examination system review, which typically assesses the registration, examination, and result phases months after the exercise.

“We are particularly concerned about the unusual complaints originating from a few states within the federation,” Benjamin stated.

“We are currently scrutinising these complaints in detail to identify and rectify any potential technical issues.”

According to the statement, the board is scrutinising these complaints in detail to identify and rectify potential technical issues.

JAMB said the annual review encompasses three key stages: registration, examination, and result release.

It explained that during the examination, JAMB ensures that every candidate is afforded the opportunity to sit the test, and should any technical issues arise, the board reschedules the examination for affected candidates.

JAMB said experts have been engaged to assist in the review.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while reacting to the results said that the performance statistics for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination are in line with results recorded over the past 12 years.

He emphasised, however, that such results are not unusual and align with historical patterns.

“This is not peculiar to this year. The performance statistics are consistent with those of the last 12 years,” he said.

In 2024, 76 per cent of candidates who sat the UTME scored less than 200 points.

In 2022, 1.3 million candidates out of 1.7 million – or 78 per cent – who sat the 2022 UTME scored below 200, according to JAMB.

In 2021, only 803 candidates out of 1.3 million – or 0.06 per cent – who sat the 2021 UTME scored above 300. 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, while also reacting to the results, said the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures were yielding results, especially within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system.

Meanwhile, the JAMB board assured that any candidate affected by technical disruptions during the examination would be given another opportunity to write the test, in line with its established procedures.

Commenting on the performance outcome, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, maintained that the results reflect the federal government’s strengthened efforts to combat examination malpractice and ensure integrity in the admissions process.

But candidates and parents have continued to allege discrepancies in the released results with some calling on the Board to release the modalities with which it scored each candidate.

Some candidates have rejected their results, insisting they do not reflect their actual performance.

A group of candidates, numbering over 8,000, reportedly submitted complaints regarding technical glitches experienced during the examination.

A social media user, @Pennyfabz, who scored 156 expressed concerns, saying she had previously scored 285 in the previous edition of the UTME.

“Dear @JAMBHQ, Something is wrong with my result. I’m very confident that this is not what I’m meant to get. Please look into this matter. I’m seriously comforting myself that everything is okay. Please listen to our plea. I can’t go from 285 to 156,” the candidate posted on X.

A parent also called for a review, saying, “We demand a remark from JAMB. These are exceptional students scoring below 200. Many complained of incomplete questions and other technical issues. JAMB has said nothing. This cannot be swept under the rug.”

Meanwhile, it was not all about protests against the results as history was made with Afolabi Ayodeji, a 15-year-old student from Icons Comprehensive College in Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State, scored 370 out of 400 maximum marks obtainable, setting a landmark record in the 2025 UTME result.

A breakdown of his scores, according to JAMB, indicates: Mathematics — 98, Physics — 98, Chemistry — 94 and Use of English — 80, highlighting his exceptional grasp of both the sciences and language subjects.

Ayodeji’s 370 score is the highest recorded in over a decade, marking a noteworthy milestone in Nigeria’s education sector in over a decade.

According to data from JAMB, no individual has attained a score of 370 since the inception of the board’s computer-based test in 2013, making his feat the highest in this era.

“I didn’t set out to break any record; I just wanted to give my best. I thank God, my parents, and my teachers for believing in me,” Ayodeji said after his feat.

• Come to our rescue, protesters beg Ibas

Aggrieved women of the Bille community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have stormed the Government House, Port Harcourt, to protest the abductions of eight candidates of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The students were kidnapped by suspected pirates on their way from Port Harcourt to Bille to write the external examinations

It was gathered that they were among those abducted on May 6, when the sea robbers hijacked three passenger boats and goods worth millions of naira.

The protesters, who were dressed in black, under the auspices of  Concerned People of Bille Kingdom, carried many placards and sang in solidarity to draw the attention of the authorities to their plight.

Addressing the women, the Camp Commandant, Rivers State Government House, O. I. Gabriel, commended them for their peaceful disposition and assured that actions would be taken immediately.

Gabriel said: “The Sole Administrator gave instruction to the Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff now instructed me as the Camp Commandant to come and address you. 

“And that I should collect the letter from you for immediate action to be taken in respect of the letter.”

• Three Kebbi senators defect

Yesterday’s defection of three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators from Kebbi State into the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken the ruling party’s majority to 68 members in the Red Chamber.

The three senators – Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) – dumped their party for the APC at plenary.

The trio on Friday visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Villa in Abuja to finalise the defection plan. 

But the PDP in Kebbi State chapter said the exit of the senators would in no way affect its fortune in the Northwest State.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State has said that the defection of the senators will not reduce its strength or prospects in the state.

They are the latest lawmakers to dump the main opposition party for the APC.

The defections reduced the number of PDP senators to 30.

Trailing the PDP is the Labour Party (LP) with five senators, Social Democratic Party (SDP) with two members. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have one senator apiece.

Two seats from Edo and Anambra are vacant following the election of Monday Okpebholo (Edo Central) as governor and the demise of Anambra South Senator Ifeanyi Mbah.

Aliero, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and onetime governor of the state, in a letter read on the floor of the Senate, said his decision followed “deep reflection, extensive consultations and careful assessment” of the political and socio-economic realities of the country and his constituency.

“I have made the decision to formally resign my membership of the PDP and rejoin the APC, of which I was a founding member.

“Politics must never be about personal loyalty to a platform. It will always be about service, solutions and results. 

“The PDP has become disconnected from the aspirations of the very Nigerians it seeks to lead,” he said, blaming the party’s internal divisions and lack of ideological clarity.

He expressed renewed confidence in the APC’s leadership, describing it as “a more viable platform through which I can effectively serve my constituents.”

Senator Abdullahi, former Senate Leader and Senator Maidoki echoed similar sentiments. 

Abdullahi in his letter, described his return to the APC as a “homecoming,” noting that the issues that led to his initial exit from the party in 2022 had been resolved by the current the governor.

“I believe it is in the best interest of the constituency that I represent to take this step. It is politically imperative for me to join President Bola Tinubu by providing my legislative knowledge and experience to support the efforts that the President is making in reinventing Nigeria.”

Reacting to the defections, the leadership of the Senate dismissed arguments that members of the opposition were moving to the ruling APC to avoid prosecution or for other sinister interests.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole, in their separate comments, noted that such defections are not strange in a democratic setting.

Bamidele said: “No one is being coerced. If anyone will be coerced, definitely it is not Senator Aliero, it is not Prof Yahaya Abdulahi that will be coerced. Neither is it Senator Maidoki who had also made a mark at the private sector before he came into politics to replicate the same feat.”

The Deputy Senate President who congratulated President Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was present at the Red Chamber to witness the defections, described the influx of defectors into the ruling party as an indication that both the President and the party chairman are working well. 

He said: “Let me congratulate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for this very big gain by the ruling party. Congratulation also goes to the national chairman of the party for this gain. Of course, he and the President have been working together and we have seen the results in the number of people coming to the party.

“It’s just a sign that the government is doing well and that’s why people are attracted because of the performance of the government.

“So, all we need to tell Mr. President is that we commend what he’s doing. We also commend the government of Kebbi State the presence of your governor here shows that you are working in harmony with your people.” 

Oshiomhole, who reacted to the defection on a television programme last night, dismissed concerns that the APC’s two-thirds majority in the National Assembly poses a threat to democracy.

He emphasized that the influx of defectors will not in any way stifle robust and objective parliamentary debates.

The former Edo governor said: “Whether this is dangerous for democracy, I don’t think so. If you follow debates in the House, sometimes you can’t distinguish between PDP or the APC. It depends on the position people take. The diversity of Nigeria is better served at the national level because every interest is represented.”

With Ganduje to witness the defections were Kebbi Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris; former Kebbi governor Saidu Dakingari; Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu; Senator Uche Ekwunife; Farouk Lawan and the Secretary to the Kebbi State Government among others.