Fela Durotoye, a Nigerian public speaker, says he worked in the administration of President Bola Tinubu for just six months without receiving a salary.

In October 2023, Tinubu appointed Durotoye as senior special assistant on national values and social justice.

Following Tinubu’s appointment of Daniel Bwala as special adviser on public communications and media, on Friday, some Nigerians on social media criticised the president for appointing a plethora of media aides without considering the cost of governance.

In a 13-man list that went viral on social media, Durotoye was named as one of the media aides to the president.

In an opinion piece published on Monday, Durotoye said his appointment as aide to the president ended in March 2024.

He added that throughout the six months of his appointment as the president’s aide, he didn’t receive any salary, allowance, or upkeep as a government official.

“Like many other issues in the public discourse, social commentary often has the tendency to overgeneralise; and broad assumptions may sometimes lead to errors of misconceptions, misstatements and misinformation,” Durotoye said.

“One of such errors is in a recent case study that went viral on social media regarding the current media team of the president, where my name was listed as one of the president’s media aides. Unfortunately, this statement needs to be updated to accurately reflect the current media team of the president.

“For clarity, I served briefly in the role of Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Values and Social Justice (SSA-NVSJ) for a tenure of six months, from October 2023 to March 2024.

“When I was invited to serve in this administration, I expressed, as a condition for accepting the call, my desire to NOT receive a salary from the government, as I considered this to be my service to my nation.

“When I finally accepted the role in October 2023, it was on the condition that I would not receive any salary or allowances. During my six-month tenure, I did not accept any government funds for my service, expenses, or upkeep.

“I rented my apartment and took my personal car to Abuja. My utility cost, fuel cost and upkeep were all borne by me and I never requested a reimbursement from the government for any expenses I incurred. Everything I contributed—time, effort, and resources—was paid for by me and my family.”

A special offences court in Ikeja has convicted Fatuyi Phillips, a former chairman of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), over N43.5 million fraud.

Mojisola Dada, the presiding judge, sentenced Phillips to 21 years in jail.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 5, 2022, arraigned Philips alongside his firm, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited.

The NOGASA chairman had pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N43,502,000.

The EFCC called five witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence, while the defendants called three witnesses.

According to a statement by the EFCC, Dada, while delivering the judgment, held that the prosecution proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge sentenced Phillips to 14 years imprisonment on count one and seven years on count two, without an option of a fine.

The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Also, the judge ordered the second defendant, Oceanview Oil and Gas Limited, to pay a fine of N500,000 in respect of count one and another N250,000 in respect of count two within 30 days or be wound up.

“The court further ordered the convicts to make restitution in the sum of $90,202 or the prevailing naira equivalent to the nominal complainants,” the statement reads.

“Phillips’ journey to the correctional centre began when he collected the sum of N43, 502,000.00 from Elochukwu Okoye and Elebana Unique Ventures Nigeria Limited on behalf of WAPCIL Nigeria Limited with a false promise of selling its dollar equivalent ($98,870.00) to them.

“He neither returned the naira nor dollar equivalent to the petitioners.”

Ademola Lookman has been listed among the final five nominees for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.

The African football governing body announced the top echelon of candidates for the coveted award in a tweet on Monday.

Only Lookman is the Nigerian named among the five finalists. William Troost-Ekong did not make the final cut despite being named in the initial 10-player list.

Other footballers in the top five are Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams and Serhou Guirassy.

Lookman had an impressive 2023/24 season for both club and country. The winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for Atalanta, which retained its status as one of the best in Serie A.

He scored a hattrick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning Atalanta’s first-ever European title.

Lookman was one of Nigeria’s best players at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals as the Eagles won silver at the tournament. He was also named in the competition’s best XI alongside captain Willian Troost-Ekong.

The 27-year-old ranked 14th best player in the world at the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or ceremony — the only African to make the top 30.

Lookman has been tipped to be the next award winner, following the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, who won the prize in 2023.

In the other award categories, Stanley Nwabali was nominated for the goalkeeper of the year prize, while Nigeria will vie for the national team of the year category alongside Ivory Coast, Morocco, South Africa, and six others.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the judiciary should address the issue of senior lawyers receiving “obscene legal fees” from political officeholders.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the 6th annual criminal law review conference, Olukoyede said how the lawyers collect such fees “conflicts with existing statutes”.

“If a lawyer would not care about the source from which a sitting governor or any other public servant pays him millions of naira to defend him in the electoral tribunal, the lawyer must necessarily be mindful of the fact that the only proper way to collect such humongous amounts is through the financial system,” NAN quoted the EFCC chairman to have said.

“Aside from violating money laundering regulations, hauling millions of naira of professional fees from public office holders in liquid cash as senior lawyers do is only aimed at tax evasion.

“It is needless to stress that the best act of mentoring from leaders of the bar to the younger generation of lawyers is by living out the ethical demands of the profession.”

The EFCC chairman also alleged that lawyers are aiding illicit financial flows into offshore accounts.

“The most traumatic discovery of the EFCC in recent years was the subjugation of national interest and wellbeing to personal interest by lawyers who aided briefcase foreign investors to fleece the nation in dubious transactions,” he added.

“The P&ID scam, the Mambilla power project, and Sunrise issues are cases in point.”

He said while the anti-graft agency had had cause to prosecute judicial officers and senior lawyers and earned conviction, his respect for the bench and senior members of the bar remained undiminished.

“However, based on the unique experiences of the EFCC in the prosecution of corruption cases, I am particularly interested in systemic reforms in our justice delivery system that capture the process for the discipline and regulation of judicial officers.

“The regulation and discipline of legal practitioners. Ethics, values, and standards of legal practice.

“These are essential to me because the job of the EFCC is ensuring that the corrupt does not find space in our national life. And when they do, to make them pay for their deeds.”

Daniel Bwala, special adviser on media and public communications to President Bola Tinubu, says he “can never be drawn into a position” where he “will rub shoulders” with Bayo Onanuga.

Bwala spoke on Monday while answering questions on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

Onanuga is the special adviser to the president on information and strategy.

Bwala said he would be happy to see Onanuga lead the presidential media team.

“Bayo Onanuga is an elder statesman. He’s a very brilliant journalist who has had his records. We are happy he’s leading us as a leader,” he said.

“I’m happy for him to lead. I haven’t been told, but I’m happy for him to lead. Because he’s an elder, I will respect him.

“And he has his own record. He has served Nigeria well. He has a proven record as a journalist.

“I can never be drawn into a position where I will rub shoulders with him. I doff my cap for him.

“My own is, if he says ‘go and carry that table,’ I will just do so; that’s my job. It’s not about title.”

Bwala also said he has taken over the role of Ajuri Ngelale, the former presidential spokesperson.

Ngelale, who was special adviser on media and publicity to the president, vacated the position in September.

The former media aide to the president had said he would be embarking on an “indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters” affecting his immediate, nuclear family.

Confusion had arisen after Onanuga took over as presidential spokesman following Ngelale’s departure.

Onanuga also moved to the office previously occupied by Ngelale at the presidential villa.

However, during the chat, Bwala announced himself as the presidential spokesperson, adding there has only been a change in office nomenclature.

“When Ajuri was there, the nomenclature was special adviser on media and publicity, and now that role is called special adviser on media and public communications (State House). Sunday Dare works from the office of the minister of information,” he added.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, has backed the call by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to carry out electoral reforms in the country.

Recall that Obasanjo, while speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America, on Sunday, had demanded the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, over his conduct of the 2023 election.

He canvassed for shorter tenures for the officials of the electoral body and a more rigorous vetting process to prevent the appointment of partisan individuals.

Obasanjo criticised President Bola Tinubu’s performance in office, asserting that corruption continues to rank among the most important problems affecting Nigerians.

Reacting, the Presidency claimed that Obasanjo assertion was hypocritical, adding that he was not an ideal leader while he was in power.

However, Osadolor, while speaking to Punch corroborated Obasanjo’s stance.

He insisted that an overhaul of the electoral system in the country was necessary.

Osadolor argued that Yakubu and other INEC officials ought to apologise to Nigerians for dashing their hopes at the polls.

He asked the anti-corruption agencies to investigate the commission’s staff for alleged mismanagement of resources.

According to hìm, Obasanjo’s comments are a reflection of the demands of Nigerians.

He urged the INEC boss to take Obasanjo’s admonition seriously.

He stated, “In a more honourable society, the INEC chairman would have humbly resigned on his own and apologised to Nigerians, whose trust, hopes, and expectations he dashed through his negligence and inexperience. When he was appointed, Nigerians had high expectations and truly believed he was a breath of fresh air.

“But now, after witnessing his administration’s handling of the affair within INEC, Nigerians are not only disappointed, but they also feel as though they’ve stepped back into the dark ages, where elections were sold to the highest bidder and were neither credible, free, nor fair.

“So, President Obasanjo is not saying anything new. He is simply reflecting the sentiments of Nigerians—well-meaning Nigerians—who understand that what INEC is doing now is a threat to our democracy and a recipe for anarchy if not addressed. I would advise the INEC Chairman to take this admonition seriously if he has any honour left in him.”

Nigerian music executive, Michael Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy, has lamented his relationship status following the viral ‘suspect challenge’.

Naija News reports that the ‘suspect challenge’ is a new social media trend in which couples or friends take turns to tease each other playfully, especially regarding their bad habits.

In an Instagram post on Monday, the founder of Mavin Records expressed his desire to participate in a trend but has no partner.

He wrote, “Suspect wants to do suspect challenge but no suspect partner.” 

In the accompanying caption, Don Jazzy added, “it hurts.”

In other news, Marvin DJ, DJ Big N has shed more light on how his boss, Don Jazzy, rendered financial assistance to cross-dresser, Bobrisky.

According to the DJ, a friend of Bobrisky rallied to raise funds for the crossdresser before he came out of jail.

The friend reached out to Marvin’s boss and asked for help, and out of the benevolence of his heart, the music producer donated, he narrated.

Speaking via Instagram, DJ Big N said, ‘’This social media sha…. .I always say, make the good wey person Dey do no turn to bad. I can 100% tell you that Don Jazzy has never met Bobrisky before, He Has never spoken to him before, he doesn’t have his number neither does Bobrisky have Jazzy’s.

“A mutual friend of Bob came out to raise funds when he came out of jail and reached out to Jazzy to donate. Out of the benevolence of his heart, he donated. Just like he has done uncountable times for people he doesn’t know from Adam. That never made it to the internet.

“As for Oluwa dollars. I was the person who introduced him to jazzy. He and his lil bro.”

The battle of the Ondo state Gubernatorial election 2024 has been won and lost, with Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa emerging as the new Governor-elect: 1. 757 million eligible voters, 85.6% PVC collection, 22, 239 security officers deployed to enforce security, low voter turn-out, 17 candidates, slugging it out in 18 Local Government areas, 3, 933 polling units, with over 1, 000 election monitors and observers on active duty in all the LGAs. In the end it was actually a two-horse race between two former Deputy Governors: Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party who had previously served as Deputy to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (Aketi) – 2017– 2020 before the trailer went between them and Lucky Aiyedatiwa who replaced Ajayi in 2021, and remained Deputy Governor till Aketi’s death in 2023. Aiyedatiwa is now serving out the remainder of Aketi’s term till February 2025 as the Constitution clearly states. When the votes were tallied and announced on Sunday, November 17, 2024, Aiyedatiwa secured an emphatic victory, indeed a landslide victory, beating his rivals 18 – 0, securing 366, 781 votes to beat Agboola Ajayi of the PDP who got 117, 845 votes. Nejo Adeyemi, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) won 4, 138 votes. Dr. Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) got a total of 2, 692 votes, and the Labour Party (LP) - 1, 162 votes. The margin of victory for Aiyedatiwa was so wide and comfortable that the complaint by the state Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Gbenga Akinbuli who described the election as “a show of shame” sounds like a mere garage whistle. 

Names are very important to Africans and as such local naming systems are supposed to serve as referents for the circumstances of birth and the parents’ wish for the child’s future. In the South South of Nigeria, a child born when an election was held in the community could go through life named Election, or FEDECO, or Constitution. There are such names as Guinness, Heineken, Annulment, Government, Senate, Professor, Chairman, Census, Praise, Alleluia, Promise: names which may seem strange at first but hold significant meanings for the bearer. Some other names in other parts of the country are literally prayers in motion: Beauty, Gloria, Endurance and so it is with the newly-elected Governor of Ondo State. Lucky: he is indeed lucky. It is not easy to win an election in any part of Africa- whatever all the key factors in any election may be, the eventual winner needs a strong element of luck.  Orimisan – My head has favoured me. Truly, the man’s head has brought him favour and grace. When his former principal, Akeredolu was ill, and was in and out of hospital, he was accused of plotting to take over, even when the 1999 Constitution is very clear about what happens when a Governor or President is permanently incapacitated or dies. No man should rejoice over the death of another, for death is the debt that all men would pay. The concept of “Ori” or “chi” as the Igbos refer to it is a major teleological category in African knowledge. It is indeed apt to say that “Ori” has brought the Governor of Ondo state to a place of grace and honour. Aiyedatiwa: “The world is now ours.” How prophetic: the world is now Aiyedatiwa’s in Ondo State. He has now won the Gubernatorial election on his own steam. The nomination battle, the road to this moment was tough and fiercely contested, but the election last Saturday appeared to be much easier.

The point must be made that names do not on their own bring automatic success. Glory is something that must be actively worked for, happiness must be pursued with single-minded devotion, nothing in life comes on a platter of gold.  I recall the case of one man who was once Governor in one of our states. He also bears the name Lucky. By the time he completed his first term in office, his performance was so poor, the opposition argued that the state did not deserve any further affliction. Many would recall that this particular Governor’s wealthy and influential father was said to have waded in, and this may be apocryphal, but word soon went round that his father pointed out to the electorate that when a child fails, the simple thing is to allow him or her to repeat the class, so that he/she can pass the examination at second try. Wily, foxy, old man’s wisdom. This may not have influenced the votes one way or the other, but the son was allowed to repeat the class. He actually got a second term in office! I leave the rest of the story to the people of the affected state who are old enough to remember.  

Luck and other factors may have brought Aiyedatiwa this far, but he would not be remembered for being merely lucky. He was bound to win the election anyway, having cleared the hurdle of winning the APC nomination ticket. His closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP could not have defeated him at the polls. Both of them are from Ondo South Senatorial district. It makes simple sense to vote massively for their son who is already an Acting Governor than to vote for an Ajayi who is still aspiring to get closer to the seat. Besides, the PDP is failing as an opposition party not just in Ondo State but also at the federal level. Before 2027, the PDP would have been so weakened by “enemies within” and the mischief of the ruling party. Aiyedatiwa also had the factor of incumbency in his favour. He also had federal might on his side. Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the APC was so elated, he openly boasted in Akure on Sunday that his party’s next target is to take over the South-West geo-political zone politically, meaning the APC is determined to win the next gubernatorial elections in Osun and Oyo in 2026, having consolidated its hold on Edo and Ondo states in 2024. Without a strong, resilient and strategic opposition, the APC may well be on its way to turning Nigeria into a one-party state or something close to it. This is one obvious reason the opposition parties must wake up to their responsibilities.

Aiyedatiwa has an obligation to justify the mandate that the people of Ondo state have given him and the trust that they have reposed in him. He must be the Governor of everybody, and eschew the spirit of bitterness and vindictiveness. By virtue of Section 182 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he is entitled to serve for only one term, which means that he has just four years. He can either use the four years to write his name in bold letters in the history of governance in Ondo state, or he could choose to fritter away the opportunity. He has a duty also not to disappoint the people of Ondo South who chose to support him. Dr. Olusegun Agagu from Okitipupa, Governor, 2003 – 2009 was the last person from that Senatorial district to serve as Ondo State Governor. It is only natural that the people of the area, incidentally the oil-bearing section of the state, will have high expectations that their son from Obe-Nla, Ilaje LGA would also serve them diligently as Agagu did. While managing such expectations, Aiyedatiwa must also be fair to other parts of the state, and must not for any reason think that the mandate means he must deal with the LGAs of his political opponents. Having served as Deputy Governor (2021 -2023), and as Acting Governor (2023 -2024), he knows enough about the state to understand precisely what needs to be done. He may consider returning to the N19.2 billion Araromi-Akodo/Ibeju-Lekki road which connects Ondo and Lagos States. This 50km road was flagged off in 2018 by the Ondo State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Six years later, that road which has the potential to promote agriculture, tourism and industrialization, and create economic opportunities, is yet to be completed. It is one legacy project that Aiyedatiwa, in partnership with the NDDC, should prioritize.

Meanwhile, the question is to be asked: how did the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) perform in Ondo State?  Ahead of the Ondo State election, questions had been raised about the integrity of INEC processes especially during off-cycle elections against the background of previous elections in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Imo, Osun States. INEC’s performance became a bigger issue of interest when the Ondo elections coincided with the report of a lecture delivered at Yale University in which the former Head of State/President Olusegun Obasanjo speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum submitted that Nigeria’s state failure is now more glaring under President Tinubu’s “Baba-go-slow and Emi lo kan” administration wherein the state has been “captured.” Obasanjo didn’t spare INEC and the electoral process either. He expressed concerns about the integrity of INEC officials. He called for the institutional reform of INEC. He added: “As a matter of urgency, the chairperson and his or her staff” should be “thoroughly vetted.” Tinubu’s spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga has already written a scathing rebuttal to President Obasanjo questioning his moral right to sermonize about good governance, corruption and leadership. The fight between Obasanjo and the Tinubu administration is just gathering pace. Soon, the former may decide to settle the argument in a series of letters as he is wont to do. With his coterie of 13 spokespersons, Tinubu may have set up an “Iron Dome” media and public communication machinery but it is not necessary to respond to every major comment about the performance of the administration. The Obasanjo-Tinubu tango would be interesting to watch nonetheless. 

To be fair to INEC, the conduct of the Ondo State Gubernatorial election was very much an improvement on recent outings by the electoral body. Electoral materials were said to have been distributed as early as 6 am on election day. By 9.30 am voting was underway across the 18 LGAs. Turn- out was low, but voting went on smoothly. There were no major reports of failing machines, missing registers or technical glitches, even if the candidates of the PDP and the SDP have had cause to complain about irregularities. Agboola Ajayi of the PDP has even called on INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to resign.  By 6.22 pm on Saturday, however, more than 90% of the results from polling stations had been uploaded on the IReV online portal. By 2.30 pm, Sunday afternoon, the election had been won and lost. It was far from being a perfect exercise, and there are strong arguments to be made for institutional reform and further amendments to the electoral framework.  It was rather untidy for example that up till the last moments before the election there was confusion over the identity of the legitimate candidate of the Labour Party. INEC, quoting a Court of Appeal ruling, had to wait till the last minute before substituting the name of the LP candidate. This may have contributed to the poor performance of the party in that election. Persons with disability are often treated shabbily in elections. There was no improvement in the recently concluded Ondo state election. 

But by far the most notable indication was the failure of the political parties and politicians to turn a new leaf. In Ondo state, there were reports of vote buying. Vote trading is a major form of corruption which undermines the integrity of the electoral process. The politicians were willing to buy votes, the voters were ready to sell, in the basest reflection of the transactional nature of Nigerian politics. The spokesperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC) which reportedly deployed officers to monitor police performance has said that the PSC was able to enforce discipline and civility but this is the same old story. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Abiodun Alabi who led the police team praised the security agencies “for their highest level of integrity and professionalism”. Votes are sold and bought but the perpetrators even when arrested, for the most part walk free. Security agencies must be firmer in arresting and prosecuting those undermining the electoral process. President Tinubu in his message of congratulations to Governor Aiyedatiwa praised the people of Ondo state for their maturity and civility. With over 22, 000 security agents overseeing that particular election, the least that can be said is that Nigerian elections can be more civil.  

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged aggrieved gubernatorial candidates of the Ondo state elections dissatisfied with the outcome of the polls to seek redress at the court of law.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President congratulated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory and praised the peaceful conduct of the election.

He also commended candidates from the 17 political parties for demonstrating maturity and a sense of purpose throughout the campaigns and election.

The statement read, “Those dissatisfied with the outcome of the election can explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress on areas of conflict.”

President Tinubu lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efficient handling of the electoral process, including the timely deployment of staff and materials and the uploading of over 98% of results on the same day of the election.

He also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Police Force, National Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Youth Service Corps, the military, and other security agencies for their professionalism in maintaining peace and order during the polls.