Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has said that the coalition spearheaded by Atiku Abubakar is dead on arrival.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, said the coalition will not work because Peter Obi will not agree to a political association that’s designed to support Atiku’s presidential ambition. 

Recall that in 2019, Atiku and Obi contested on a joint ticket as President and Vice Presidential candidates on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Four years later, they contested on different platforms as Obi dumped the PDP for the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 election.

However, as the 2027 election approaches, Atiku, who has been calling for the formation of a coalition to wrest power from Tinubu, has invited Obi and other opposition figures to join him in the campaign.

Recently, the former Vice President announced that the coalition would adopt a political platform that guarantees good governance to unseat President Tinubu.

However, Olayinka has maintained that Atiku’s push for the coalition is to realise his presidential ambition.

“The moment you are doing coalition, and that coalition is to support one person’s ambition. Who is talking about coalition Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and who is thinking about benefiting from coalition Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, how will coalition now work? The moment you are talking about coalition to to benefit Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, coalition will not work,” he said. 

Olayinka insisted that the coalition will not work because Atiku and Obi will not be able to agree on who the platform should present as its presidential candidate for the coming election. 

“Is anything working in coalition today? It has failed before they even started with it. They will tell you that, Alhaji Atiku will run with Peter Obi. Will Peter Obi agree to run with Atiku Abubakar? Will Atiku allow Peter Obi to run as President under the coalition? Or will Peter Obi allow another person to be presented as candidate? These are the issues. It cannot work and it will not work,” he said.

The FCT minister’s aide concluded that the fact that the coalition has not fully formed with identifiable presidential and vice presidential candidates indicates that the agenda is dead on arrival.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has traced proceeds from the failed CBEX crypto bridge exchange scheme to at least four countries, noting that full restitution to victims may be impossible.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday. He revealed that the agency had frozen a number of accounts linked to the fraudulent scheme and had made significant progress in ongoing investigations. 

“We have been able to block some accounts. We have been able to freeze some funds, which I will not be able to give you a figure, but some reasonable amount of funds, we have been able to freeze,” Olukoyede said.

He explained that a majority of the transactions were conducted in cryptocurrency and routed through wallets outside Nigeria’s jurisdiction, complicating recovery efforts.

“I will not sit down and tell you that we are going to restore every victim. It will become practically impossible because quite a certain amount of money has been dissipated and not within our system,” he said. “We have traced to three, four countries now. In fact, the principal parties behind the entire scheme… most of them are foreigners.”

Olukoyede added that three suspects are currently in custody and have provided “very useful statements.” He also confirmed collaboration with foreign counterparts to recover stolen funds and apprehend suspects.

In April, users of CBEX reported they could no longer access their funds, prompting widespread complaints. The Securities and Exchange Commission later revealed that the digital trading platform was unregistered.

On April 30, the EFCC declared Elie Bitar, a foreign national, wanted in connection with the $1 billion investment scam. A federal high court in Abuja also granted the commission permission to arrest and detain six CBEX promoters.

So far, at least eight Nigerians have also been declared wanted in relation to the scheme.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has identified a potentially fraudulent investment platform known as Tofro.Com (Tofro) and has issued a warning to Nigerians to be cautious of their tactics, which involve soliciting funds through promises of substantial returns.

Naija News reports that SEC gave this warning in a statement released on Thursday, May 1, 2027.

In the notice, the SEC cautioned that the suspected investment platform presents itself as a cryptocurrency trading venue, emphasizing that this investment scheme is not registered with the Commission.

The SEC indicated that its investigations reveal that Tofro’s activities display the common characteristics of a deceptive Ponzi scheme, such as the promise of excessively high returns, a heavy dependence on a referral system to maintain payouts, and the inability to fulfill withdrawal requests from investors.

The Commission urged Nigerians to exercise caution when considering investments with Tofro, highlighting that any individual who invests with this entity does so at their own peril.

The notice reads, “The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission has been drawn to the activities of an online platform known as Tofro.Com (Tofro), which holds itself out as a cryptocurrency trading platform.

“The Commission hereby informs the public that the Tofro is NOT REGISTERED by the Commission either to solicit investments from the public or operate in any other capacity within the Nigerian capital market.

“Investigations have revealed that Tofro’s operations exhibit the typical indicators of a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, including the promise of unusually high returns, heavy reliance on a referral system to sustain pay-outs and failure to honour withdrawal requests from subscribers.

“Accordingly, the public is strongly advised to be wary about investing with Tofro, as any person who places such investment with the entity, does so at his/her own risk.

“The Commission similarly reminds potential investors of the need to VERIFY the registration status of investment platforms via the Commission’s dedicated portal: www.sec.gov.ng/cmos before transacting with them.”

The Director-General of the commission, Emomotimi Agama, maintained that it is crucial that Nigerians understand the dangers of putting their hard-earned money into ventures that are not registered or regulated by SEC.

The United Kingdom has announced the resumption of its visa application services in Enugu.

This is coming months after its centre in the city was closed down.

Last November, the UK shut down its visa application centres (VACs) in Enugu and Port Harcourt following the launch of its largest facility in Lagos, operated by VFS Global.

At the time, VFS announced that Nigerians applying for UK visas would need to book appointments at VACs in Lagos or Abuja.

The now-reopened centres in Enugu and Port Harcourt were previously managed by TLScontact.

In an update on Wednesday, the British High Commission said visa application services have resumed in Enugu.

“Residents of Enugu, Nigeria, can now enjoy a smooth UK visa process from the comfort of our Premium Application Centre at Omedel Luxury Hotel,” VFS noted earlier.

The agency said applications can be submitted at the Omedel Luxury Hotel.

In Port Harcourt, applications are processed at Hotel Presidential, according to VFS.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has reacted to the controversy surrounding a video showing him seated while greeting the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at a public event in Ibadan hosted by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The incident has sparked online debates after footage showed other monarchs rising to greet the Ooni while the Alaafin remained seated.

In a statement released by his Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, the Alaafin dismissed the uproar as a “needless controversy” driven by bloggers and online commentators intent on sowing division among Yoruba traditional rulers.

“This latest instalment in a series of manufactured debates is an unhelpful exercise that distracts and detracts from the truly important issues to which sons and daughters of Yorubaland should devote their energy,” the statement read.

Oba Owoade reaffirmed his respect for the Ooni and other Yoruba monarchs, stressing his commitment to unity, peace, and collaborative development across Yorubaland.

He also warned against turning royal engagements into “fodder for digital sensationalism.”

“We call on the public to reject attempts to sow seeds of discord and instead join us in reimagining a Yorubaland where our traditions serve as catalysts for progress,” the statement concluded.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assured Nigerian workers that their efforts would not be in vain.

Naija News reports that PDP, in its Workers Day message on its ? handle by its spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, commended Nigerian workers for remaining resilient amid economic hardship caused by All Progressives Congress (APC) policies.

PDP highlighted spiraling inflation, rising costs of living, declining purchasing power and unabated insecurity as challenges confronting workers at workplaces.

It read: “On this Workers’ Day 2025, we proudly salute the resilience, dedication, and indomitable spirit of Nigerian workers, the heartbeat of our nation’s progress.

“Your tireless efforts drive Nigeria’s economy, sustain our communities and inspire hope for a brighter future.

“We recognize the immense challenges you face in the workplace, the spiraling inflation, rising costs of living, declining purchasing power, unabated insecurity and increased hardship, due to the flip-flop policies of the failed All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

“We stand in solidarity with you, as we continue to lead the charge in the patriotic effort ahead of 2027 to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the APC. We assure that your labour will never be in vain.”

Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has retrieved three official vehicles from the suspended Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.

However, the Rivers State Government has stated that the essence of the retrieval of the vehicles was to ensure protection of government property.

It was gathered that some military men, alleged to be naval operatives, and some state government officials stormed the Port Harcourt residence of Odu on the alleged order of the sole administrator.

It was further gathered that the military men who took over the residence of the suspended deputy governor later entered the compound and took away three vehicles.

Reacting to the development, Democracy Watch Nigeria described it as disturbing, noting that the military men arrived at the residence in a commando style and took away the vehicles.

The body, in a statement in Port Harcourt by its spokesperson, Elder Vincent Chimene Wopara, alleged that the sole administrator ordered the military men to carry out the act.

Wopara said: “In a disturbing show of force, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), on Friday, 25 April, ordered naval personnel to storm the official residence of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and forcibly remove three vehicles.

“The naval officers, acting on the direct instruction of the Sole Administrator, carried out the operation in a commando-style raid, taking away two Toyota Hilux vehicles and one Toyota Hiace bus. The brazen action took place in the early hours of the day and has since sparked widespread condemnation across the state.

“This development marks a new low in the ongoing disregard for due process and democratic norms under the current administration. The action is viewed by many observers as a targeted provocation, intended to intimidate and humiliate the office of the Deputy Governor, which remains a constitutionally recognised institution.

“We call on well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to take note of this growing trend of militarisation and impunity in Rivers State. It is imperative that those in positions of authority act within the bounds of the law and uphold the dignity of democratic institutions.”

Rivers Gov’t clarifies on retrieval of official vehicles

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has confirmed that it retrieved three vehicles from the residence of the suspended deputy governor but said the action was to ensure that government properties are safe and secured.

The government, in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Sole Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo, regretted that the action was twisted and politicised, questioning the motive of those bringing politics into the matter.

The statement questioned what the government vehicles were still doing in the residence of the Deputy Governor over one month after her suspension, adding that the move to recover government property should not be misconstrued as overreaching.

It read: “The Rivers State Government has noted with dismay the deliberate misrepresentation of the lawful retrieval of two Toyota Hilux vehicles and one Hiace bus from the premises of the suspended Deputy Governor.

“This routine administrative action, aimed at securing government property, has been twisted by political opportunists seeking to create unnecessary tension. We question the motives of those politicising this matter: What legitimate purpose did these vehicles serve in the suspended Deputy Governor’s premises over one month after the declaration of a state of emergency?

“The Rivers State Government maintains that the recovery of its assets cannot reasonably be construed as executive overreach. This administration remains committed to prudent management of public resources and will not be distracted by baseless allegations.

“We urge all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from testing the resolve of an administration that has demonstrated remarkable patience in the face of persistent provocation. The public is advised to disregard sensationalised accounts of this incident and focus instead on the government’s ongoing efforts to restore stability and good governance in Rivers State.”