President, Republic of Gabon, His Excellency Brice Oligui Nguema and Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu, during the conferment of the Gabonese Highest National Honour, Commander in the National Order of Gabonese Merit’ on Mr Elumelu for his contributions to the Gabonese and African economies, by President Nguema in Libreville on Monday

The President of the Republic of Gabon, His Excellency, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has conferred the nation’s honours – the Commander in the National Order of Gabonese Merit – on the Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu.

The distinguished award recognises Elumelu’s enduring contribution to Africa’s economic development, particularly his impact on youth entrepreneurship and infrastructure growth in Gabon and across the continent.

Speaking at the presidential palace while presenting the recognition in Libreville on Monday, Nguema, who was on Saturday sworn in as the newly elected President of the oil-rich country,  praised Elumelu’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Africa, adding that ‘Tony Elumelu is not only a visionary entrepreneur but also a committed friend of our nation Gabon. Through his Foundation and the UBA Group, he has consistently shown that investing in Africa is not just good business – it is the key to our shared future. Today, we honour a man whose actions continue to empower young Africans and inspire nations.”

While acknowledging the recognition, Elumelu, who has made several high-level visits to Gabon in recent months, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the country’s development agenda:

“I am truly humbled by this honour. It is a reflection not just of my personal journey, but of a shared belief – that African-led solutions, African entrepreneurs, and African institutions will shape the future of this continent. Gabon holds enormous potential, and I am proud that the Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA Group can play a role in unlocking it,” Elumelu said.

“This is more than a medal – it is a reminder of what we can achieve together as Africans,” Elumelu stated adding that, “At UBA and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we remain committed to building bridges, not just between nations, but between ambition and opportunity.”

The recognition comes at a crucial time for Gabon, as the country accelerates its economic recovery and prioritises inclusive growth under the new leadership.

Elumelu’s engagement focuses on two key pillars of Infrastructure financing which is essential for long-term economic transformation and Youth entrepreneurship, championed through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which offers training, mentorship, and $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital to young Gabonese and African entrepreneurs each year.

The award also highlights the strengthening of financial  partnership between Gabon and the UBA, which has a strong presence across the continent and is a key driver of financial inclusion and development.

Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, his family owned investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa, through long-term investments in strategic sectors of the African economy, including financial services, hospitality, power, energy, technology and healthcare.

He  is the Chairman of pan-African financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries across Africa, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE and is the only African bank with a commercial deposit taking presence in the United States. UBA provides corporate, commercial, SME and consumer banking services to more than 35 million customers globally. He also chairs Nigeria’s largest quoted conglomerate, Transcorp whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power, one of the leading producers of electricity in Nigeria and Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s foremost hospitality brand.

Tony is the most prominent champion of entrepreneurship in Africa. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy,  empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and driving job creation across all 54 African  countries. Since inception, the Foundation’s flagship programme has identified and catalysed 18,500 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million Africans, as part of a ten-year US$100m commitment to fund,  mentor and train young Africans.

Tony’s businesses and the Foundation are inspired by his economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

In 2020, in recognition of his business leadership and economic empowerment of young African entrepreneurs, Tony was named in the TIME100 Most Influential People in the World, and recognised with Belgium’s oldest royal order.

The Kano State government has allegedly directed each of the 44 local government areas in the state to contribute N15,227,272.72, totalling N670m to the Kano Emirate Council.

The amount is for the repairs and purchase of vehicles for the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.

The directive, contained in a memo from the Ministry of Local Government, with reference number MLG/INSP/LGD/166T/6, dated March 25, 2025, was addressed to all the local government chairmen.

A palace official, who spoke to The PUNCH on conditiion of anonymity for lack of authorisation, confirmed the authenticity of the memo.

“The company has already been contacted, and plans are in motion to bring in the vehicles and begin the restoration of the vintage ones,” the source disclosed.

According to the memo signed by the Director of Local Government Inspection, Abubakar S. Dabo, on behalf of the Commissioner for Local Government, the approved amount would be deducted from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair two vehicles and supply four new vehicles to the Emirate Council.

The letter, with the caption, “Conveyance of Approval for the Release of Funds,” sighted by The PUNCH read: “I am directed to convey government’s approval for the release of the aggregate sum of N670,000,000.00 at the rate of N15,227,272.72 per LGA from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair 2 No. vehicles and supply 4 No. vehicles to the Kano Emirate Council through Sottom Snergy Resources Ltd as per below:

“Complete refurbishing of engine, body and interior of 1993 Fleetwood Cadillac limousine at N25 million and complete refurbishing and rebuilding of both engine, interior and complete body for Daimler D5 420 1998 at N25m.”

The new vehicles to be purchased are one Toyota Hilux pickup 2024 model at N98 million, one Toyota Hiace Bus at N98 million, one Toyota Land Cruiser VXR full option 2024 model at N268 million and one Prado 2024 model at N156m.”

The letter, which was also copied to the Auditor General, Local Government Audit, Kano State and all Zonal Inspectors, Ministry for Local Government, Kano State, directed them to ensure that all due procedures were strictly adhered to.

Reacting, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Alhassan Yaryasa, slammed the government for approving the money.

He said, “How can the state government approve this huge amount of money while the residents of the state capital and some other major towns in the state are grappling with water scarcity?

“This is a complete misplacement of priority. How can you spend this money on repairs and purchase of new vehicles for the Emir while other sectors need government attention, especially education and health sectors that have suffered neglect?”

Yaryasa, who was the former coordinator of Tinubu Campaign Organisation for Kano South, called on Governor Abba Yusuf to reconsider the decision and channel the funds to areas where they would be needed most.

“Emir Sanusi does not need new posh cars. Where are the ones he has been using since returning? This is a wasteful expenditure and Kano masses will not forgive them,” he said.

In a dramatic courtroom decision, four men-Nafi’u Isah, Haruna Ya’u, Nadabo Mohammed, and Sa’adu Musa-were each slammed with 40 years and six months behind bars for a vicious armed robbery and attempted murder spree that rocked Kunkurawa Village in Kano.

Justice Usman Na’abba of the Kano High Court declared the men guilty on all four counts: criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder, and causing grievous harm—delivering a stinging sentence after the prosecution left no doubt of their guilt.

The convicts, who carried out the 1 a.m. attack on May 1, 2022, reportedly stormed the home of Haruna Shehu wielding guns, cutlasses, and sticks.

They beat Shehu and his family, leaving his son badly injured, before carting away ₦650,000 in cash.

For their crimes, the court handed down 20 years each for armed robbery, 10 years for attempted murder, five years for grievous hurt, and six months for conspiracy—with all sentences to run concurrently.

However, failure to repay the stolen ₦650,000 will earn them an extra five years in prison.

Despite denying the charges, the convicts were nailed by damning testimony from six prosecution witnesses and solid evidence.

The court’s verdict sends a strong warning to criminal gangs terrorising communities in Kano and beyond.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed a disturbing surge in personnel costs, with expenses ballooning by a staggering 104% compared to 2023, according to the bank's recently released audited financial report.

In a concerning development for Nigerian taxpayers, the bank burned through an astronomical N595.9 billion on personnel expenses—more than double the N291 billion spent the previous year. At the group level, this personnel cost explosion was even more pronounced, jumping from N295.4 billion to a massive N608.5 billion.

The financial report exposes an equally troubling increase in total operating costs, which soared by 78% to reach N1.2 trillion, up from N673.4 trillion in 2023. Personnel costs alone devoured nearly half (49.7%) of the bank's entire operating budget, raising serious questions about fiscal responsibility and management priorities.

Despite claims of a "bullish performance," the CBN's deepening relationship with the International Monetary Fund raises red flags about Nigeria's growing financial dependence on external institutions. The bank's debt to the IMF has doubled to a concerning N5.07 trillion, while IMF's allocation of special drawing rights ballooned to N8.07 trillion.

More worrying still is the 37% increase in deposits, climbing from N38.23 trillion to N52.4 trillion—a jump that financial experts warn could severely crowd out private sector activity and stifle economic growth.

The CBN's attempts to paint a rosy picture by highlighting "improvements" in external reserves and cost efficiency ring hollow against the backdrop of these runaway expenses. While the bank touts its "strategic financial management," the numbers tell a different story—one of unchecked spending and questionable priorities during a period of economic hardship for ordinary Nigerians.

Even as the bank celebrates its exit from last year's N1.27 trillion loss to a surplus of N165.7 trillion, taxpayers are left wondering: at what cost? With personnel expenses more than doubling and operating costs spiraling upward, the CBN's financial management appears anything but "strategic" or "efficient."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Nigeria currently has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa and ranks second globally.

Nemat Hajeebhoy, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF, shared this information on Monday during a media briefing on the 2025 lean season multisectoral response plan targeting Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. The briefing was organized by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

According to Hajeebhoy, an estimated 600,000 children in Nigeria are suffering from acute malnutrition, with about half at risk of progressing to severe acute malnutrition—a condition that makes children nine to eleven times more likely to die.

Also speaking at the event, Serigne Loum, Head of Programme at the World Food Programme (WFP), stated that Nigeria has the highest number of food-insecure people on the African continent.

Their remarks came as OCHA launched an appeal for $300 million in humanitarian funding to respond to the growing food and nutrition crisis in Nigeria’s northeast.

Trond Jensen, Head of OCHA’s Office in Nigeria, said that of the total amount required, $160 million is urgently needed to address issues including food insecurity, nutrition, water and sanitation, health, protection, and logistics during the lean season.

“This is the absolute bare minimum that we need,” Jensen said. “It’s a paradox that while cases of severe acute malnutrition have doubled this year, our ability to respond has been halved due to the freeze in U.S. funding and cuts from other donors.”

As a result of the funding shortfall, OCHA has scaled back its humanitarian target to two million people—half the number supported last year. Jensen called on state governments and international partners to step in and help fill the funding gap.

This appeal comes just weeks after OCHA announced it would begin gradually reducing its presence in Nigeria due to financial constraints.

“Omo, how was your weekend? I saw you wearing Aso Ebi up and down, doing and co? Public intellectual wearing aso ebi.” 

“Family matters. I had a rather busy week. One of my in-laws was burying his mother. There was also this Wema Bank at 80 ceremony. And then we had to attend Papa Adebanjo’s burial in his home town in Ijebu.” 

“Pa Adebanjo. The last of the titans. A true Awoist and federalist. He believed in Nigeria. He loved Nigeria. He promoted the values of justice, fairness and equity. And he was consistent till the last moment. His legacy should endure. The lessons of his life should be imbibed by the younger generation. Loyalty especially. He was loyal in life and in old age. It is unfortunate that in this country today, most people do not stand for anything. Wema Bank has done well too. The bank is a success story.”

“You are right and not right. There are people who stand for their stomach. That is also standing for something. But as for Wema Bank, yes, the bank has done well. And they threw a big party to celebrate. We had fun attending the party at Eko Hotel. My only thing about banks generally is that the big profits that they make should get to us too, we the customers.”

“No, not you. Shareholders and directors. They are running a business, not charity. You bring your money, place deposits, they do business, and they make profit.”

“Without us though, the banks cannot make all that money.” 

“My friend, how much is your money? The people who complain most about banking services actually do not have any money. When I was a banker, one man came to the banking hall and he was making such a big issue about his money, his money and giving lectures about how the bank should be managed. You know I just took the precaution of checking the fellow’s bank account N20, 000 oh! Those are the kind of people who give lectures about banking. The rich ones do not.”

“It is the same thing with journalism. Everybody is now a journalist. They tell you what to do, how to do it, and they seem to know it all. Anyone with a cheap, miserable phone is a journalist. All kinds of experts out there insulting those who are doing a honest day’s work. Democracy and its discontents.” 

“Poverty is a disease. Poor people will always say anything until they get into trouble. By the way, how was the Adebanjo party in Ijebu.”

“It went very well. A lot to eat and drink. A befitting farewell. In fact when we were about to leave, my wife said she wanted to use the loo. When we went out, come and see people they called service providers: a whole stretch, preparing food, delicacies, orisirisi, I was tempted to stay back and taste one or two things. But if I had spoken, she would have said, is it hunger that brought you here?” 

“That would been a right question”

“You are a hypocrite. When you go to a party, and everything is flowing, is it a sin to eat what you like?”

“You should have gone with a nylon bag. That is how Yoruba people behave. When they attend a party and everything is flowing, they will bring out nylon bag to pack food and drinks. Your people have no shame.”

“Are you alright? Pa Adebanjo’s funeral party was a celebration of his life. The children did well. They honoured their father. And he deserves to be honoured. To tell you the truth, if I had a nylon bag nearby, I would have asked them to pack sone barbecued fish for me. The thing enter my eye!”

“IMF and the World Bank are right then. There is serious poverty in this country. More and more Nigerians are becoming poor. You will go to a party and you will carry nylon bag to pack food. It is called multidimensional poverty.”

“Leave IMF and World Bank. I don’t know how they arrived at the conclusion that Nigerians are getting poorer. Let their experts go to any part of Nigeria from Thursday to Sunday. Every event centre is fully booked. People are gaily dressed, and musicians and comedians are making good money. To have a party in this country, be it a funeral or a birthday party, you have to plan six months ahead otherwise the event planners, the venue managers, the MCs would tell you that they are fully booked.  Is that a sign of poverty?” 

“No please. Please, you don’t measure poverty using that kind of index.”

“I am using the evidence of my eyes. It is the most reliable index. Tell me, I am wrong, and I will tell you to open your eyes.” 

“You should not believe everything that you see. Some of those lavish pash parties are make believe.”  

“Please. Even if you don’t attend social parties, don’t you see Nigerian women on social media? One woman’s appearance head to toe could be about N50 million. The following week, she will not repeat the same dress or jewellery. Is that poverty?”

“This is why I have taken a solid decision never to marry, or even have a girlfriend. It is a frightening thing to do. Too expensive. The women of today are only interested in glitter and glamour.” 

“My friend, go and marry and stop giving excuses. Just choose wisely. If all these artificial wig-wearing girls, AI Lagos girls are too expensive for you, go and get a village girl. You can win the love of those village girls by just buying them suya and Mr. Biggs.”

“In Tinubu’s Nigeria, even those village girls have become very smart. They have moved from Suya joints to Chinese Restaurants!”

“Go and become a Pope then. You don’t want to marry. They are looking for a Pope at the Vatican” 

“No. No. No. That is not for me. It is President Donald Trump who wants to be the next Pope. He even published an image of himself dressed as a Pope”

“It is not funny. It is an insult to the Catholic Church. He owes the Church an apology.”

“The way my mind is working, I think it is an idea that can be considered. The world will be a safer place if it were possible to make President Trump the Pope. He will not control divisions. He will not impose tariffs. He will not be in a position to threaten anyone.”

“Please stop. Trump who does not go to church? He probably does not even know what a Bible looks like. I will be shocked if he can recite the Lord’s prayer. The next Pope will be chosen from among the Cardinals. This is about tradition and the institution of the Papacy.”  

“They can change the rules.”

“The Vatican is not America. They don’t run an America First policy at the Vatican City”

“Pope Trump. It has a nice ring”

“It sounds very bad. Do not offend people unnecessarily. Trump ko. Trump ni.”

“But let us give the man his flowers. He has a way of dominating public discourse. He always finds a way of making Trump and America the subject”

“He is a very inconsistent man with a special gift for causing confusion, chaos and uncertainty.”

“Watch what you say. You are talking about the President of the most powerful country, and the largest economy in the world. Trump is this and that, but do you know that even President Tinubu is now beginning to copy Trump? I won’t be surprised if he admires him.” 

“How?”

“Are you aware that there was a Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting in Abuja yesterday, presided over by President Tinubu?”

“Yes. Omo Ologo according to Dauda Rarara.” 

“Leave that. I told you Nigerians are poor. They will say anything to get money. When you see a Fulani singer speaking Yoruba by force, you must know what that means. What I am telling you is that President Tinubu is also now saying Nigeria First.” 

“Yes. Naija no dey carry last.”

“The President has directed that goods that can be produced locally in Nigeria must not be imported into the country, and that all these expatriates coming into Nigeria to take jobs that Nigerians can do should be stopped henceforth, except there is an enabling justification.”

“Bros, you dey make me laugh oh! Hey, come on. Talk is cheap. What does Nigeria produce?”

“We produce many things”

“Bandits, insurgents, 419, con men, scammers. you can add to the list.”

“We are doing better than that. Don’t join the people who are always running down the country.” 

“You are not getting my point. I don’t believe in this idea of banning things as a policy of industrialization. It has never worked. It will never work. If the Federal Government wants to industrialize Nigeria, it must place the right emphasis on productivity. This is simply not a productive economy. We cannot even produce toothpick. We import toothpick for God’s sake! No water. No electricity. Over 40% of the people are in darkness.” 

“The President is going to meet the GENCOS to discuss the over N4 trillion that they are being owed.” 

“Nothing will come out of it. Is it not the same Presidential Villa where they are abandoning the country’s main supply of electricity and shifting to solar power?”

“There must be light in the Villa for security reasons.” 

“There must be light in every Nigerian home, in every barber’s shop, every salon, because we are all Nigerians and our security and welfare is the primary responsibility of government.” 

“You must have hope. Renewed Hope. There is pain even in Spain. The other day, there was power outage in Spain, Portugal and Andorra.  This thing called electricity, anything can happen. With hope, everything will be right and proper.”

“Please stop that. Which hope? I hope nobody will come back to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections and start talking about hope all over again. Please find another line. What hope have we seen since 2023? By May 29, it would be two years since the President Tinubu came to power, we are waiting to hear what he will tell us. The coalition of opposition leaders will, talk too. We are waiting.”

“Forget those ones. Which coalition? You will be surprised that some of those coalition leaders will join the APC before 2027. People who are trying to negotiate, you are quoting them as if they have any capacity to change anything”

“I won’t be surprised. This is Nigeria. And these are Nigerian politicians.”

“They are just talking.”

“They are right on one score though. This economy is not working. Nigeria was better off in the 60s and 70s.” 

“You are quoting Akinwunmi Adesina. Has he too joined the coalition?” 

“No. He is a technocrat, not a politician.”

“Na so dem dey start. His tenure as President of the African Development Bank will soon end. He may be testing the waters. Did you see the sharp rebuttal by Mr. Bayo Onanuga. A very quick and sharp back hand.”

“But I agree with Dr. Adesina. Mr. Onanuga is the one talking politics. Adesina is the one who knows Economics.” 

“You will support anybody who condemns government. Everybody knows you people”

“What do you mean you people? Dr. Adesina did not condemn government. He said Nigerians are worse off today than they were in 1960. Simple, accurate point.”

“Well done, accurate time keeper. But Mr. Bayo Onanuga has since replied to say that Adesina is wrong and that you cannot compare Nigeria GDP per capita in 1960 and 2025.”

“With due respect Mr. Onanuga is not an economist. Adesina is an economist. He was even speaking at a forum with which the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy is well connected. He was not talking politics, but facts. They should stop attacking him. He is not part of their war. He has not said anything different from what the World Bank has said. The World bank says 75.5% of rural Nigerians now live below poverty line. UNICEF says Nigeria has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa, the second highest in the world! In fact, I will add my own: 1960 is too far away. Nigerians are worse off today than they were in 2011. Se o tan? Argue with that.”

“Whether you people like it or not, Tinubu will get his second term as President.”

“I believe that. After all, Faure Gnassingbe is preparing to be President for life in Togo. His family has ruled that country for 58 years. He has now been sworn in as President of the Council of Ministers. The position has no term limits, and it is the highest office in the country. Gnassingbe changed the constitution to end presidential elections and has now introduced a parliamentary system in Togo. Faure Gnassingbe has been President since 2005, and he does not want to go.” 

“That cannot happen in Nigeria. Never.” 

“Please. What do you mean that can never happen in Nigeria? All it takes is for a Nigerian President to change the Constitution and that is it. I no longer join people to say it cannot happen here. Anything can happen in this country, please.”

“There is hope, that’s all I can say.”

“Leave that matter!”. 

A prominent group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Conference of Professionals in the PDP (CP-PDP), has declared that there is no retreat on the move to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from the party over alleged anti-party activities.

In a statement on Monday, CP-PDP dismissed media reports claiming that PDP governors had struck a deal with Wike regarding the party’s leadership and internal decisions.

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The group, through its Protem National Coordinator, Barr. Obinna Nwachukwu, said it had “carefully and professionally investigated” the reports and found them to be “incorrect and misleading.”

“These reports are being peddled by desperate anti-PDP elements who are alarmed by the growing loss of influence by Chief Wike in the PDP as the decisive May 27, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting approaches,” the statement said.

According to the CP-PDP, these elements are attempting to “mislead the media and sow confusion within the party” out of fear that Wike could be expelled for openly working against the PDP.

The group cited the FCT minister’s public alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his declarations of support for APC victories in upcoming elections, and his repeated public criticism of the PDP.,

“Their apprehension is further fueled by the uncertainty surrounding Wike’s future in the APC, where his acceptance is not guaranteed,” the group noted.

Reaffirming its position, the CP-PDP said: “There is no going back on Chief Wike’s expulsion. PDP governors, leaders, stakeholders, and the majority of party members — and even most Nigerians — are united in rejecting his continued sabotage of the PDP.”Nigerian political art prints

Asserting its commitment to internal discipline and democratic stability, the group insisted that Wike’s expulsion and disciplinary action against other pro-APC elements must top the agenda at the NEC meeting.

It said: “We stand with our PDP state governors in their efforts to stabilize and rebuild the party.

“Wike should leave the PDP alone. He should go and fully join the failed APC and face the looming political irrelevance that awaits it — a party whose hold on Nigeria will end by May 29, 2027.”

A coalition of 56 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has jointly called for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Naija News reports that this demand comes in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, over allegations of manipulating election results in Akpabio’s favour.

The appellate court sitting in Calabar on Wednesday reaffirmed Ogban’s three-year jail sentence, initially imposed after he was found guilty of altering the outcome of the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial poll to benefit Akpabio, who at the time contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reacting to the ruling, the CSOs issued a strongly worded joint statement on Monday, saying, “This ruling raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of Senator Akpabio’s mandate.”

They continued: “It is deeply troubling that the election which brought him to the Senate has now been judicially confirmed to have been manipulated. In any democratic society, such a development demands immediate accountability and responsible leadership.”

Although Senator Akpabio has consistently denied any personal wrongdoing, the coalition argued that the conviction of the electoral official responsible for declaring his victory raises serious questions about the authenticity of his tenure.

The CSOs urged the Senate President to resign to safeguard public trust and to demonstrate a commitment to democratic values.

“This is not just about one individual. It is about restoring public trust in our electoral process. Allowing the Senate President to remain in office under such serious ethical questions undermines democratic values and sends a dangerous signal ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement read.

They emphasised that the judiciary has taken a bold step by delivering justice, and it is now incumbent upon political actors to act accordingly.

Additionally, the coalition questioned Akpabio’s qualification to have contested the 2023 elections or to preside over the Senate, considering the antecedents of the 2019 contest.

“Having been a confirmed beneficiary of electoral fraud in the 2019 election to the 9th Senate, which he did not even complete due to his later appointment as Minister of Niger Delta, did Senator Akpabio have the legal or moral standing to contest for a seat in the 10th National Assembly, let alone serve as its President?” they asked.

The groups commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly former Akwa Ibom REC, Mike Igini, for leading efforts that resulted in the prosecution and conviction of Ogban.

They also called on key democratic institutions — including INEC, the judiciary, and the National Assembly — to use this judgment as a turning point to reinforce safeguards against electoral fraud.

In a final plea, the coalition urged the APC to uphold its democratic principles by launching a rerun or a revalidation process for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat.

“The judiciary has done its part. It is now up to the political leadership to rise to the occasion and show Nigerians and the world that no one is above the law, not even the Senate President,” the CSOs concluded.

Lil Kesh, the Nigerian rapper, has opened up about the challenges of achieving fame as a teenager.

In a recent interview on the Esther Show, the artiste revealed that his early success denied him crucial life experiences and opportunities for personal development.

The 30-year-old songwriter admitted that rising to stardom at 19 was “overwhelming”.

Kesh said while his career took off quickly, he missed out on the chance to “grow and learn intelligently” before being thrust into the spotlight.

“I blew at a very tender age. I was 19 when I got signed. I just turned 20 when I had ‘Shoki’. So, battling the limelight,” he said.

“I feel like that is not really talked about too much. But shout out to people like Justin Bieber that was vulnerable and was able to tell his story.

“My own too is similar to that. It is just coming to limelight an early age. I was also deprived of a lot of things. A lot of life experiences I could have learnt before I was put into the position.

“A lot of fun I could have had. It was overwhelming blowing up at that time. And also trying to maintain the brand over the years.

“I wished I had learnt so much before I was given what I had. Growth and intelligence overall.”

Born Keshinro Ololade, Kesh began his musical career in 2012, rapping among his colleagues in Bariga.

The former YBNL signee rose to fame after releasing the hit single ‘Shoki’ in 2014

Actress and filmmaker Eniola Ajao has shared her journey of becoming a mother at the age of 20, highlighting the challenges she faced due to societal expectations and stigma surrounding young adult pregnancy.

In an interview on the Talk To B podcast, Ajao recounted her experiences, revealing the fear and isolation she felt during that time.

According to Ajao, getting pregnant out of wedlock was heavily stigmatised in her community, leading to feelings of shame and fear of being labelled a “baby mama.”

She was worried about the possibility of never getting married and being ostracised by society.

Ajao kept her pregnancy private, confiding only in close family and friends, due to the societal norms and expectations surrounding early motherhood.

Ajao emphasised that while early motherhood wasn’t inherently shameful, the societal norms in her community made it difficult for her to navigate

She noted that her community valued education and career development, expecting young women to finish school and establish their careers before starting a family.

She said, “You know things are not what they used to be before now. Ladies at my age, then, their parents were always skeptical about not being exposed to so many things that were going on during that time,” she said.

“Having to get pregnant at 20 was a bit dramatic; you just feel like the whole world is coming against you. You probably want to kill yourself or die at some point, and you would probably not be able to get married again.

“So you want to hide it from your parents and the public. At that time, it was considered a thing of shame. Not that it was a thing of shame for me, but it was considered to be early.

“A lot of people got married at 17, but where I come from, they want you to finish your school, graduate, and do a couple of things. I was already in Yabatech when it happened.

“Thinking that probably you may not get married, somebody calling you a baby mama, and you do not want to get stigmatised. Just close friends and family members knew about it”.