Rivers State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, has threatened to expel the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike if the political crisis engulfing the state continues unabated.
PDP alleged that the former governor had committed several anti-party activities that the various organs of the party should not hesitate to commence a process of either suspending him or be expelled from the party.
Speaking during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the acting state chairman of the PDP, Robinson Ewor also dismissed the Supreme Court judgment to the extent that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers actually defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Supreme Court made three essential orders. At this stage, Supreme Court erred in law. The FCT minister is in the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and you know no man can serve two Gods. Even the bible says it, you will satisfy one, you won’t satisfy the other one.
“Because Nyesom Wike is serving in the government of Ahmed Tinubu, there is no way his loyalty will be in PDP any more. His loyalty 100 percent is in APC. What constitutes anti-party activity is that if you take actions that brings the party to disrepute. That is anti-party activity. The FCT minister has taken several actions that have brought the PDP to disrepute.
“The party will take action at the appropriate time. You have organs of the party. We have the NEC, NWC and the state executive committees. The party organs trickles down to the wards. You know the challenge Wike created in this state for us as a party. The day we properly take over the party in the state, we will discipline Nyesom Wike for anti-party including suspension or expelling him from the party.
“The party will do that at the appropriate time. We will expel him from the party depending on the gravity of the offence”, Ewor said.
The PDP acting chairman said the position of the party is that “Martins Amaewhule and co defected from the PDP to the APC. He announced on the floor of the House of Assembly. He deposed to the affidavit in Abuja High Court. Supreme Court erred in law. Amaewhule and 26 others are not members of our party.
“If they were members of our party, the Supreme Court had ordered you to go and receive the budget but what are they doing now? Even the President had acknowledged that the 27 lawmakers had defected from the PDP. It is not about what the Supreme Court said”.
The party however hailed Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his commitment to implementing the judgment of the Supreme Court for the good of Rivers people and appealed to the 27 lawmakers to see reason and also comply in a way that would be for the betterment of the state.
“Though the Supreme Court said that Martins Amaewhule and 26 others never defected from the PDP, we have sufficient evidence including affidavit they deposed to. Martins Amaewhule read their defection letter on the floor of the House of Assembly. Tony Okocha, the then APC chairman received them. We as a party can tell you that they are no more our members. The Supreme Court has given what they asked and what they did not ask for”.
The party appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to sheathe his sword and allow peace to return to the state so that Governor Fubara can concentrate on governance.
A combined team of Nigerian security agencies, comprising soldiers, police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), unleashed mayhem on thousands of women protesting against herdsmen killings in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
SaharaReporters learned that the soldiers and police were deployed by the Enugu State government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, who allegedly wanted to suppress reports of herdsmen attacks and insecurity in the state.
Community sources revealed that trouble started when the women, numbering hundreds of thousands, apprehended two individuals, accused of masterminding herdsmen attacks in Eha-Amufu.
While one of them escaped, the women held the other suspect and paraded him through the communities. The government then deployed soldiers, anti-riot police, and NSCDC personnel to intervene.
Mrs. Regina Odoh, one of the leading protesters, recounted the events: "On getting to Eke, the central market, hundreds of soldiers and policemen blocked us. We pleaded with the security agents to leave our way since they could not protect them. When the security agents refused, we went back to Eha-Ohala and hid him in Umujove community and reinforced in our hundreds and came back to the town."
"But the soldiers and policemen pursued us and blocked the major road we could come out to the town. On hearing what soldiers and policemen who could not protect us when Fulani herdsmen were attacking, killing, and rapping us, other women from five communities in Eha-Amufu mobilized and stormed the town where the security agents blocked and surrounding them. Immediately, they started shooting both live ammunition and teargas on the protesting women."
"The women accused them of aiding the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen on their people and still want to shot their mouths from crying to the world. While the soldiers and police were shooting and teargas at them, they responded by pelting them with stones and sticks. In the chaotic scene the security team shot four and wounded several women who have been taken to hospital now."
In several video and voice clips shared with SaharaReporters, the protesting women were overheard calling the Council chairman, Obiora Obeagu, saboteurs who profit from the blood of hundreds of Eha-Amufu people that herdsmen had killed in the past five years in their farms and homes.
In one of the video clips, a woman who appears to be one of their spokespersons was overheard saying: "Mr. Israel Mgborogwu is from Mgbuji community. He is an agent of government and collaborators of Fulani herdsmen. He works as a media aide to the Isi Uzo LGA chairman Mr Obiora Obeagu."
"They (Isi-Uzu Council Chairman, Donatus Odoh and Israel) claimed that the woman who died after Fulani herdsmen raped and inserted stick in her private part didn't die. They went and brought another woman who was earlier raped to claim that no raped woman died. They said that only one person had been killed in Eha-Amufu since November last year. This is a capital lie."
"In the past two weeks no fewer than four women had been raped in their farm by Fulani herdsmen. They attacked Amofia Umuhu Eha-Amufu village, killed a final year graduate - late Ndubuisi in their compound and shot his uncle on the leg. While Ndubuisi, an only child was buried last week, his uncle is still in hospital. His killers also burnt down two houses and looted four others yet the government officials and some disgruntled elements from the community went to the media to brand our protest sponsored."
She added, "if the government and security agencies cannot protect us they shouldn't suppress our outcry."
An explosion has rocked the Trans-Niger Pipeline at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The affected section of the major pipeline is currently on fire, though the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown at this time.
Authorities have yet to determine whether the incident resulted from human interference, especially amid recent threats by militant groups to attack oil installations in response to the Federal Government’s withholding of Rivers State’s allocation due to the ongoing political crisis.
The explosion reportedly occurred on Monday night along the critical export pipeline that transports crude to the Bonny Terminal.
A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he is pained about President Bola Tinubu’s failure because he and others supported his presidential bid despite knowing about his cocaine and certificate forgery scandals.
Mr El-Rufai, in an interview with the BBC Hausa, said he supported Mr Tinubu despite knowing his sordid past because he wanted him to replicate what he did in Lagos State as governor in Nigeria.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well, because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges,” Mr El-Rufai said in the interview published on Saturday.
Making reference to Mr Tinubu’s involvement in cocaine trafficking and certificate forgery, Mr El-Rufai said, “We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed.”
Mr Tinubu’s involvement in drug trafficking scandal that saw him forfeited $460,000 to the U.S. government in 1993 re-emerged shortly after he declared interest to contest presidency in 2022.
In 2022, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois released fresh documents showing Mr Tinubu’s encounter with the U.S. authorities over allegations of narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
Similarly, Mr Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate forgery scandal made the rounds as opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar, approached the court to compel CSU to release Mr Tinubu’s academic record.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has launched a TikTok account to share his views on Nigerian politics and his new party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In an announcement video on Wednesday, El-Rufai invited users to engage with him through videos, comments and discussions on political affairs.
“This is my only and official TikTok page,” he stated. “Please join me for videos, comments and conversations on Nigerian politics, as well as the activities of our new party, Social Democratic Party (SDP). Welcome on board.”
El-Rufai’s TikTok page gained significant traction within 24 hours. At the time of this report, he had amassed over 200,000 followers.
In his TikTok bio, the former governor describes himself as an “accidental public servant, certified ruffler of feathers and deliberate SDP member.”
El-Rufai’s move to TikTok follows his recent resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and subsequent switch to the SDP on Monday.
He criticised the ruling party, accusing it of abandoning its founding principles and prioritising personal financial gain over governance.
“The APC has abandoned the principles that led to its establishment,” he said. “It has abandoned the community. Everyone is doing their own thing. Everyone is looking for money. The government has become a business government.”
Suspected bandits have abducted ten villagers from three remote communities under Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
The incidents occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, around 2am., when a group of armed bandits invaded the Unguwan Yashi-Maraban Kajuru community and kidnapped six persons.
Those abducted were God-Dream Ladan, Lady God-Dream, Philip Mudakas, Mercy Philip, Bitrus Philip, and Gmen Philip.
Similarly, in Makyali village, two persons sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving medical attention at Maraban Kajuru Hospital after bandits stormed the community.
Two females – Rahina Yahaya and Zulai Yahaya – were also kidnapped in the village.
The injured victims were identified as Ubale Yahaya and Abdullahi.
It was gathered that the same group of bandits moved to Ungwan Mudi Doka around 4am and kidnapped two more persons – Amos Michael and Samita Amos.
Stephen Maikori, the Acting District Head of Kufana, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Thursday, stating that such attacks had reduced in the past but resurged this week.
“So far, ten people have been taken away, with two injured now receiving treatment. We are appealing for an intensified rapid security response and action to save lives and properties in this axis,” he said.
He also added that the incident had been reported to security agencies accordingly.
Meanwhile, the State Government and the Police Command have yet to release an official statement on the incident.
The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, could not be reached on the phone at the time of filing this report.
Ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai says former President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed his dumping the ruling All Progressives Congress for Social Democratic Party, following the manner incumbent President Bola Tinubu treated.
Mr El-Rufai said this in a recent interview with BBC Hausa.
“I met with him (Buhari) on Friday and told him about my consultations in preparation to leave the party. I sought his blessing and prayers and told him about the new party I was joining. And he gave his blessing, prayers and wished me success,” the politician said.
Asked if he dumped the APC out of bitterness that he was not appointed as a minister by Mr Tinubu, Mr El-Rufai said he did not lobby for appointment but was begged to join the government.
Mr Tinubu “publicly begged me in Kaduna to come and work with him,” said Mr El-Rufai.
The former Kaduna governor explained that “even at that, I did not accept his request until we sat privately to discuss the issue.”
Mr El-Rufai added, “He (Tinubu) said power problem has become an issue to Nigeria’s development, and successive leaders have failed to solve the problem.
“He (Tinubu) sought my support to achieving his dream of becoming the president who solves the power problem. It was in the light of this challenge, I accepted to consider working with him. I thought he was serious.”
However, the politician said he did not regret supporting Mr Tinubu’s presidential ambition, “but I am disappointed.”
Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala dismissed Mr El-Rufai’s defection as an inordinate ambition to unseat Mr Tinubu, which would fail.
Protest rocks Akure as residents demand justice for killed farmers, kidnapped surveyors
March 11, 2025
A protest has erupted in Akure, Ondo State, following the gruesome killing of over 20 farmers by suspected herdsmen in Akure North Local Government Area over the weekend.
The protesters are also demanding justice for the kidnapping of 9 surveyors in Ilu-Abo, Akure South.
The protesters, who gathered in front of the Governor's office in Akure, are calling on the authorities to take immediate action to address the rising insecurity in the region.
The killing of the farmers and the kidnapping of the surveyors have sent shockwaves through the community, with many residents expressing fear and outrage.
This protest is not an isolated incident, as there have been previous demonstrations in Ondo State against insecurity and violence.
Women in the state have protested half-naked over the killing of farmers by suspected herdsmen, demanding justice and an end to the attacks.
The protesters in Akure are urging the government to take concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly farmers and vulnerable communities.
They are also demanding the immediate release of the kidnapped surveyors and justice for the slain farmers.
Video: Protest rocks Akure as residents demand justice for killed farmers, kidnapped surveyors
March 11, 2025
A protest has erupted in Akure, Ondo State, following the gruesome killing of over 20 farmers by suspected herdsmen in Akure North Local Government Area over the… pic.twitter.com/uadtucLj4D
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Directorate have arrested 28 suspected ponzi scheme operators in Minna, Niger State.
The suspects are: Nofisat Opeyemi, Shukurat Muritala, Odunayo Sanni, Mayowa Oyekola, Aishat Olaitan, Edward Hannah, Abioye Fathiah, Joseph Omowunmi, Kareem Ahmed, Arikeusola Afeez, Adiamo Mutholib, Abass Ibrahim, Wasiu Taofeek, Adeniji Damilare, Nurudeen Akinola and Mubarak Yekeen.
Their arrest followed credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent investment activities with a company, Q-Net Ltd, which operates from a three bedroom apartment in Al-Bishiri Estate, Minna, Niger State.
Victims were lured to believe that the company was international with affiliates in Dubai, India, Indonesia and Thailand and made to part with between $790 to $850, amounting to N1,462,000 (One Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-two Thousand) as registration fee and for product purchases. Part of those arrested while receiving lectures on ponzi scheme operations, dressed up as “network marketing.”
Items recovered from them included Q-Net application forms and other documents. They would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Visit efcc.gov.ng for more stories
There are indications that more high-profile politicians have concluded plans to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Chairman of the SDP, Shehu Musa Gabam, gave this hint yesterday in a chat with Trust TV while reacting to El-Rufai’s defection.
Gabam stated that El-Rufai’s move had triggered a wave of defections from Kaduna State, with more prominent figures from the ruling APC and other parties, as well as across backgrounds expected to follow suit.
While declining to reveal specific names, sources within the party suggest that former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola might also defect to the SDP.
El-Rufai had visited Aregbesola and a prominent cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, in Lagos on Sunday. He had also met with former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar in recent days. These meetings have fuelled speculations that El-Rufai’s defection marks the beginning of broader political realignments.
However, Fayemi, in a statement yesterday, dismissed reports of his planned defection.
“My attention has been drawn to a story circulating on several online platforms regarding my defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC). As I have had cause to state in the past, I am a card-carrying foundation member of the APC, and this position has not changed,” he said.
He added, “While I have been at the vanguard of the demand for greater internal democracy and inclusion in the ruling party, I believe it is still not late for our party to change course and move towards greater inclusion and internal democracy.”
Meanwhile, Gabam reiterated that the ongoing defections to the SDP are part of a broader political shift aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring governance benefits reach the people.
Political observers have linked El-Rufai’s move to presidential ambitions, but Gabam insisted the SDP’s structure prioritises grassroots participation.
“The party’s philosophy is entrenched in grassroots democratic participation and aligns with the politics of endorsement. Every potential aspirant must go through the process from the grassroots level to prevent imposition,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions of a merger with other parties, stating, “The SDP is not in alignment with the proponents of a merger of political parties. It is a recipe for chaos.”
A former queen, Olayinka, has come forward with shocking allegations against Oba Adekeye Adeyemi Olanrewaju, the Abepa of Joga Orile in Yewa North, Ogun State, accusing him of assaulting her and using charms to defraud women.
In audio recordings obtained by SaharaReporters, Olayinka detailed how the monarch allegedly coerced her into financially supporting his lavish lifestyle.
She claimed that when Adekeye wanted to ask her for money, he would put a cap on his head and ask. If she refused, he would go back to his room.
Olayinka recounted how the traditional ruler reportedly threw lavish parties on credit and then pressured her for money to cover the costs.
She alleged that he used similar tactics on another woman, Bunmi (Christy Oluwabunmi), and attempted to do the same on her birthday when she turned 40 plus.
According to her, the monarch said he wanted to celebrate her birthday for her but then told her that she had to give him money. She asked, "Why should I give you money to celebrate my own birthday?"
Olayinka further alleged that before meeting the king, she owned two houses.
She had planned to sell one and reinvest in rental properties, but the monarch began showing her different Range Rover models, raising suspicions about his intentions.
She claimed that she financed his trips abroad, as he had no known business or source of income.
The former queen also accused Oba Adekeye of using charms to control people, saying their relationship turned violent when she confronted him.
"The day I questioned him about charms was the day he beat me," she alleged.
She recounted an incident involving a native doctor, "Abore", who warned that any sacrifice (ebo) performed by the king could lead to his demise due to the number of women he had wronged.
The native doctor reportedly declared that only Olayinka, described as "a special child, untouchable by harm," could intervene on his behalf.
Olayinka said she carried out the sacrifice for the monarch, but he later turned against her, branding her a witch.
The former queen stated, "The mother comes from a royal family, but not in Joga. It was Gbenga Daniel who made him king because they were friends.
"His family does not come from a lineage of Obas. They are not from a royal Oba family. People who think they are Olori and believe their child would be a king should forget it. The people of Joga do not like him.”
"When I left him, he said two things that made me angry. He was fighting with another Oba over land in Joga. You can even look it up on Google—I saw it there. They wanted to reclaim their land, saying he was encroaching on it," she said.
Olayinka said, "Now, some say he is a land grabber. I don't know about that. But at the time, the situation was terrible. Kabiyesi couldn’t sleep. In fact, he barely sleeps because he has so many things on his mind.
"You see, all these parties he throws—he takes credit (‘gbese’) to finance them. Then he would beg me for money to cover the costs. The same thing he did to Bunmi, he wanted to do to me on my birthday when I turned forty-something.
"He said, ‘Let me celebrate your birthday for you.’ I agreed. Then he told me I had to give him money. I asked, ‘Why should I give you money to celebrate my own birthday?’
"He started making calls, trying to arrange things, and I said no. That was when our fight started in September."
"Yes, that fight started when Oba Adekeye wanted to ask me for money. He would put a cap on his head and ask. If you refused, he would go back to his room.”
She noted that a lot had happened.
When asked if she was the one who renovated the palace where Oba Adekeye is staying, she confirmed it.
She said, "Yes, when I met him, it was just at the foundation level. Even Ayomide, who was there at the time, can testify. The new structure was only at the foundation stage.
"Before we met, I had two houses. I told him that I wanted to sell the first one and use the money to buy another, more special one, where people could rent apartments.
"Before I sold the house, Oba Adekeye started showing me different types of Range Rover cars. I thought to myself, Is this man in his right mind?
"I have pictures from the party we hosted together in London, where many people attended to grace the occasion. Kabiyesi and his friends were there. The party is still on YouTube—it was a remembrance party I organised for my mother.
"I was the one who used to buy him tickets to travel abroad. I have many receipts as proof, but I will not reveal them because God has already blessed me beyond pettiness.”
"Oba Adekeye has no business; he does not work, and everyone knows that," she alleged.
The former queen said, "Oba Adekeye uses charms on people. The day I confronted him with charms was the same day we fought, and he beat me.
"My room and Ayomide’s room, his grandson’s, were opposite each other. It had its own upstairs section. The middle room was for the children. So what is Nike talking about? Why would I finish a place where he would say, ‘Yami (lend me), fun mi (give me), raise mi’?
"And yet, he was not forthcoming with the money. So, all these things were happening. Even Oba Adekeye knew that when the native doctor, Abore, came to the palace, there were already problems. “They said, ‘If you carry any sacrifice (Ebo), you won't come back alive because you have angered many women.’
“Then they told him, ‘Kabiyesi, the only person who can help you, who can go and pray on your behalf, is Olori Olayinka. She is the only one, a special child, untouchable by harm.’
"So I went and carried the sacrifice (Ebo) for Kabiyesi. And he went to court. Everything was fine.
"And yet, I suddenly became a witch to Kabiyesi. After everything I did, after all the women having children for him—yes, when I was leaving him, I was pregnant, but I came to London. I said no.”
"Oba Adekeye said that if I didn’t come back to him, I would regret everything. It was really frustrating, but thank God, I came back stronger," Olayinka added.
However, attempts by SaharaReporters to contact the monarch via his mobile phone were unsuccessful.
Allegations By UK-Based Woman
SaharaReporters previously reported that a UK-based Nigerian woman had accused the monarch of using marriage as a scheme to defraud her.
The woman, identified as Christy Oluwabunmi, claimed that the monarch exploited her trust, leading to financial and material losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira.
She told SaharaReporters that the monarch later went ahead to help her obtain a forged divorce certificate to leave her former husband so that the monarch could marry her.
“Kabiyesi went to forge a divorce certificate for me to leave my husband and also took me to the court registry to formalise my marriage with him.
“It was later I realised this is his usual way of deceiving women. In fact, it was later I knew no fewer than five women were once his victims. He always preyed on wealthy ones like me,” the woman told SaharaReporters in a telephone conversation.
In petitions submitted to the Osun State Governor; Ondo State Governor; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector General of Police, and Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), otherwise known as Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Ogun Council of Obas, Ms. Oyewole narrated how Adekeye Adeyemi approached her on June 30, 2022, with romantic advances, promising marriage and financial stability.
“He pretended to be in love with me, vowing to marry me and support my business. Eventually, I was manipulated into transferring over N53 million via electronic transactions, N12 million in cash, mobile phones worth N10.8 million, and gold valued at N120 million,” she wrote in the petition, attaching receipts as evidence.
The victim further alleged that after extorting her, the traditional ruler attempted to lure her into a dubious ritual in Ekiti State, where she was told she would need to sacrifice an eye or a leg to attain financial prosperity.
Realising she was being deceived, she resisted, only to find herself financially ruined and abandoned.
In a shocking revelation, she claimed the monarch had forged a divorce judgment and had used the same fraudulent scheme on at least three other women.
When she demanded a refund of her money and valuables, he allegedly threatened her life, boasting about his influence and ties to cultists and thugs.
“He has converted my hard-earned money, gold, phones, and valuables to his personal use unlawfully. All efforts to retrieve them have proved abortive. Instead, he threatens to kill me, claiming nothing will happen because he is a king,” she alleged.
An Islamic cleric, Abdulraman Bello, yesterday told the Kwara State Magistrates’ Court how he murdered and disemebered a female student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Yetunde Hasfoh Lawal.
The deceased and cleric were said to be Facebook friends.
Abdulraman said this during his arraignment with four others. He therefore pleaded for the release of those who were arraigned with him, claiming they did not commit any offence as alleged by police. Earlier, the state Ministry of Justice announced its intention to take over the case.
Counsel from the ministry, Issa Zakare, informed the court that the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was out, adding that the defendant (Bello) had a case to answer following his subsequent proper arraignment at a state High Court.
The counsel to the family of the deceased, Dr. Folorunso Ahmad Hussein, did not oppose the ministry’s application but pleaded for justice for the murdered girl and family.
Presiding Magistrate Sanusi Muhammad told the suspect to make such a request when he gets to the High Court.
Magistrate Muhammad ordered that the suspect be remanded in Oke Kura Correctional Centre, Ilorin
He, then adjourned the case to March 20 for mention.
Speaking with reporters after the sitting, Hussein said the state ministry had sent a principal counsel to take over the case from the police prosecutor, adding that the application was granted.
“The counsel informed the court that DPP’s advice had been released and proper charges preferred at the High Court and filed while parties were served on Thursday morning with the charges at the High Court,’’ he added.
Authorities in the United States have arrested and charged a Nigerian national who was accused of defrauding Americans in a sprawling benefits scheme.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday said Matthew Abiodun Akande, based in Mexico, was the ringleader of a syndicate that used the personal identifying information of Americans to request about $8.1 million in social benefits from the government. At least $1.3 million was received by Mr Akande, who appeared preliminarily in a Boston, Massachusetts, court on Wednesday.
Mr Akande, 36, was arrested at London Heathrow on October 24, 2024, and his extradition was completed with his transfer to Boston on March 5, U.S. prosecutors said.
He used “fraudulent phishing emails to be sent to five Massachusetts tax preparation firms,” prosecutors said.
“The emails purported to be from a prospective client seeking the tax preparation firms’ services but in truth were used to trick the firms into downloading remote access trojan malicious software (RAT malware), including malware known as Warzone RAT,” they added.
Officials said Mr Akande “allegedly used the RAT malware to obtain the PII and prior year tax information of the tax preparation firms’ clients.”
Stolen funds were transferred to Mexico, with authorities identifying at least “1,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking over $8.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds over approximately five years,” adding that the fraudsters “successfully obtained over $1.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds.”
His co-conspirator, Kehinde Oyetunji, another Nigerian national, had previously been charged and sentenced to prison over his role in the vast scheme, which authorities said was carried out between June 2016 and June 2021.
Mr Akande faces several counts of stealing government funds and identity theft. He was summarily remanded in prison pending the appointment of an attorney and trial.
The case comes amid a flurry of high-profile prosecutions of internet fraudsters of Nigerian origin in the U.S. A senior Nigerian politician and a monarch were charged in separate fraud cases in recent weeks.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, a Catholic priest and pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church, Tachira, in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after abducting him from his residence.
The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the tragic incident in a statement issued by its Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Jacob Shanet, on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
“It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the tragic death of our beloved Priest, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu (Born 11/12/1980 and ordained 11/02/2021), who was the Pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Fr. Sylvester was kidnapped from his residence on the evening of 4th March 2025 at approximately 9:15 PM WAT.”
“After being taken by his abductors, we regret to inform you that Fr. Sylvester was cruelly killed in the early hours of today, the 5th of March 2025, Ash Wednesday. It is yet to be determined why he was killed,” the statement added.
Fr. Okechukwu was known for his unwavering dedication to his parishioners, with the diocese describing him as “a dedicated servant of God, who worked selflessly in the vineyard of the Lord, spreading the message of peace, love, and hope. He was always available and accessible to his parishioners. His untimely death has left an indelible void within our diocesan family, and we share in the pain of his passing with his family, friends, and all those who knew and loved him.”
The Diocese has called for calm in the wake of the tragic killing, urging members of the Takad community and the public to avoid any acts of retaliation.
“We wish to call on our youth and members of the Takad community to remain calm and steadfast in prayer. No one should take the law into their hands.”
It further called on the Catholic faithful to pray for the repose of his soul, stating, “Let us come together as one family in prayer for the repose of his soul. We invite all priests, religious and the faithful, to offer Holy Masses, Rosaries, and Prayers for the eternal repose of Fr. Sylvester, who gave his life in service to God and humanity.”
The Diocese said funeral arrangements for the slain priest would be communicated in due course.
Fr. Okechukwu’s murder highlights the growing insecurity in Kaduna State, where kidnappings and killings have become rampant.
The state has witnessed numerous attacks on Christian and Islamic clerics in recent years, with criminal gangs and terrorists targeting religious leaders and their congregations for ransom and, in some cases, outright execution.
This is not the first time Fr. Okechukwu has been a victim of kidnapping. In December 2022, he was abducted from the rectory of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fadan Kono, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State, and was released after three days in captivity.
His latest abduction and subsequent killing have sparked renewed outrage over the deteriorating security situation in the region. Religious and civil society groups have repeatedly called on the Nigerian government to take decisive action against the rampant attacks on religious leaders and innocent citizens.
Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves dropped by $1.31 billion in February 2025, reflecting ongoing external pressures amid a stronger naira.
According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the reserves declined from $39.72 billion on January 31, 2025, to $38.42 billion on February 28, 2025, marking a 3.3 per cent drop within the month.
The decline recorded in February is slightly higher than that of January 2025, when the reserves dipped by $1.16 billion.
The decline comes at a time when the naira has recorded some gains against the dollar, leading to speculations about the central bank’s strategy in managing foreign exchange (FX) market liquidity and ensuring exchange rate stability.
A month of consistent decline An analysis of the data reveals that Nigeria’s FX reserves experienced a steady and uninterrupted decline throughout February. The reserves stood at $39.60 billion on February 3, a slight drop from the previous week’s $39.72 billion recorded at the end of January. By February 4, reserves had decreased further to $39.54 billion, marking the beginning of a persistent downward trend. By February 7, Nigeria’s reserves had slipped to $39.04 billion, and by February 10, they fell further to $39.27 billion. The downward trajectory continued into the second week, with reserves standing at $39.15 billion on February 12 and further dropping to $38.88 billion by February 17. By the third week of February, reserves had weakened further, hitting $38.72 billion on February 19 and $38.69 billion on February 21. As the month came to an end, reserves continued to deplete, reaching $38.41 billion on February 28, representing a significant decline from where they started at the beginning of the month. Likely drivers of the decline Beyond any form of intervention that the CBN might be doing to support the naira, manage exchange rate volatility and inject liquidity into the official forex market, the government’s continued reliance on the reserves to fund critical imports and service external debt obligations likely contributed to the decline. Nigeria remains heavily dependent on imports for industrial goods and food supplies, requiring significant FX outflows to meet these demands.
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The situation is further complicated by fluctuations in oil revenue, which remains Nigeria’s primary source of foreign exchange earnings. Despite a recent rebound in crude oil prices, production challenges, pipeline vandalism, and oil theft have affected the country’s ability to maximize earnings from its oil sector. This has constrained the ability to build up FX reserves.
The continued drawdown in reserves raises critical questions about Nigeria’s external position and overall macroeconomic stability. One major area of concern is the country’s ability to meet its debt obligations. Nigeria has a significant stock of external debt, and servicing these obligations requires a stable level of foreign reserves. A further decline could limit the government’s ability to meet repayment schedules, potentially increasing borrowing costs.
What you should know The naira made a significant comeback in February 2025, appreciating against the US dollar, British pound, and euro in the parallel market.
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This marks a positive shift from its previous downward trend, offering some relief to businesses and traders.
By the end of February, the naira recorded notable gains across key foreign currencies. The naira strengthened against the US dollar to N1,540/$, up from N1,620/$, reflecting a 7.41% appreciation.
Also, the naira strengthened against the British pound and improved to N1,910/£ from N2,000/£, marking a 4.50% increase, while it appreciated against the euro by rising to N1,550/€, compared to N1,660/€, showing a 6.34% gain.
This uptrend marks the strongest level for the naira since the beginning of 2025, indicating a short-term recovery in the foreign exchange market.
The official exchange rate followed a similar trend, stabilizing slightly above N1,500/$ in the weeks leading up to February’s close. According to data from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira settled at N1,496/$1 in the official market at the end of February.
This stability comes amid efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to bridge the gap between the official and parallel market rates, ensuring a more transparent forex system.
As of February 28, 2025, the Nigerian Naira (NGN) traded at approximately N1,500 per US dollar in both the official and parallel markets. This convergence indicates a unified exchange rate market
Since the beginning of 2025, the naira has been trading above N1,600/$ in the parallel market. However, in February, the currency strengthened, hitting a yearly low of N1,480/$ on February 26, before settling around N1,500/$ by month-end.
One Muniru Haruna is in the custody of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly defiling a three-year-old child at Orile-Ilugun, Odeda Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect was arrested after Alaba Abdullahi, the 20-year-old mother of the child, reported the case at about 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Mrs Odutola said, “Alaba reported that Muniru Haruna, a 25-year-old man residing in the same area, allegedly committed the act while the victim was playing nearby. The incident was discovered when Alaba heard her child crying and quickly went to investigate, only to find her daughter emerging from the suspect’s room in evident distress.
“Upon further examination, it was revealed that the victim had difficulty walking and exhibited signs of physical trauma. Alaba immediately sought assistance, and both the victim and the suspect were transported to General Hospital Odeda for a medical examination and necessary treatment. Medical forms were issued, and the police await the doctor’s results.”
Ms Odutola said the suspect denied the allegation and that the case has been referred to the crime unit for investigation and will be transferred to the State CID, Eleweran, upon completion of the preliminary inquiry.
She expressed the command’s commitment to ensuring the victim gets justice and urged anyone with additional information regarding the incident to assist the command.
From the East to the West and North to South, rice traders across Nigeria share a common story of struggle.
According to the traders, they encounter numerous challenges in selling Nigerian rice, including financial burdens from deposits made to millers and the high costs associated with selling the product.
These, they said, often result in losses as rice that remains on the shelf for extended periods can change colour and lose its value.
“Nigerian rice has a short shelf life — typically only 2 to 3 months—before it changes colour and develops an unpleasant odour in heat”, one of the traders said.
But the claim degenerated into rancour as Peter Dama, President of the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), immediately fired back, saying traders alleging Nigeria rice changes colour after three months went to get it from those who are not millers.
“Millers mill according to standards. Many go into business and claim they are rice millers. Those women complaining must have gone through the wrong hands”, Dama told Sunday Vanguard.
“They didn’t go through proper millers. Registered millers follow Standard Organisation and NAFDAC standards for them to be able to produce and sell and they are always checked”.
The RIMA leader went on to say that the current hardship faced by traders and consumers are unlikely to improve unless the underlying issues affecting farmers and rice millers are addressed.
He highlighted challenges such as the soaring costs of fertilizers and production due to the removal of fuel subsidies, as well as insecurity that has led to the deaths of farmers and resulting in a scarcity of the essential raw material, paddy.
Rising costs
Rice, a staple food for families across Nigeria, is consumed widely regardless of production levels.
Unfortunately, the rising cost of the product has exceeded the minimum wage for Nigerian workers, which is set at N70, 000.
50kg bag of locally produced rice currently sells for N90, 000
A family of four that relies solely on rice could easily consume an entire bag or more within a month.
The situation worsened after the government closed the Seme border with the Benin Republic in August 2019, leading to significant price increases.
During former President Buhari’s administration, notable progress was made in rice production, exemplified by the establishment of rice pyramids comprising one million paddy through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
Launched in 2015, this initiative aimed to boost agricultural output and improve Nigeria’s negative balance of payments concerning food. The ABP was designed to strengthen the agricultural sector, contributing to economic growth, job creation, reduced reliance on imported food and raw materials, and conservation of foreign exchange.
Reports indicate that Nigeria hosts over 100 large-scale integrated rice processing facilities spread across various regions.
Traders believe government has supported millers and farmers to achieve food security and economic diversification, but said they and consumers are not reaping the benefits.
They (traders) continue to face escalating costs for Nigerian rice, which has pushed many into poverty.
Dire situation
Mrs. Bukola Osagie, a rice dealer at Mile 12 Market, Lagos highlighted the dire situation: “Many women are suffering. This is due to frustration as we are now indebted to banks.
“If it weren’t for my religious foundation providing me peace amid these challenges, I might not have survived what I’ve been through. “I find myself trapped in a cycle of debt due to Nigerian rice.”
She explained that many traders, including herself, took loans from banks to procure Nigerian rice after the border closure.
“We formed groups, took loans and approached millers in Kano and Kebbi to secure rice for sale”, Osagie narrated.
“Initially, we were promised deliveries within two weeks to a month, but delays became commonplace.
“When we checked back, many mills had shut down, leaving us as debtors.
“Thanks to human rights lawyers who intervened for the banks to stop the interest on the loans, we managed to negotiate with the banks to repay our loans monthly, even for rice we never received.”
The dealer noted that while there are larger millers available, their prices are prohibitive, and they do not sell directly to small traders.
“By the time we purchase from intermediaries, prices have skyrocketed, making it impossible for consumers to buy”, Osagie added.
She urged the government to extend support to off-takers.
“If the government helped us as much as it does to farmers and millers, prices would drop, and we wouldn’t be drowning in debt”, she said.
“Many of us have resorted to buying smuggled rice just to keep our businesses afloat.
“Ironically, the same law enforcement agencies that accept money to allow smuggled rice are the ones who arrest us.
“The stress has caused many traders severe health issues; some have even died from shock. We need urgent government intervention — policies that favour both off-takers and consumers will lead to food abundance and improved livelihoods for everyone.”
Traumatic
Dr. (Mrs.) Macaulay, an executive member of the Lagos State Rice Distributors Association, echoed these sentiments: “Despite governmental efforts encouraging traders to source from local millers, our experiences with them have been nothing short of traumatic.
“I began purchasing Nigerian rice in 2015 with an investment of N6 million.
“Now, acquiring a ton costs over N40 million, and my last stock was priced at N42 million.
“To stock Nigerian rice today, you need at least N50 million for a ton.
“This money comes from loans, which we have to secure despite selling at a profit margin of only N500 to N1, 000 per bag.
“Since August 2024, I have stored 600 bags, but I haven’t sold even half of them because demand is low.
“Foreign rice is cheaper, and given the economic hardships in the country, many people are indifferent to nutritional differences. “If there’s just N1, 000 difference in price, they’ll opt for the cheaper option.
“Currently, foreign rice is priced just above N70, 000, while Nigerian rice exceeds N90, 000 — so consumers are forced to choose the foreign option.
“Before the EndSARS protests, I bought a ton of rice at N23, 000 per bag.
“When the protests began, sales plummeted, and soon after, the borders reopened, allowing foreign rice to flood the market at prices as low as N17, 000.
“Who would choose to buy Nigerian rice at N25, 000 when cheaper options are available? I am still in debt from that purchase and I am gradually paying it off.
“We even had to sell some bags at N5, 000 each because Nigerian rice has a short shelf life — typically only 2 to 3 months—before it changes colour and develops an unpleasant odour in heat.
“For two tons (1,200 bags), I incurred a loss of N20, 000 per bag because demand was non-existent and the rice started changing colour.
“We had no choice but to sell at that price. “While there are over 10,000 millers in Kano and Kebbi, many have ceased production due to a lack of paddy in Nigeria; it’s now being imported.
“Paddy prices have risen to about N79, 000, and millers still have to factor in transportation costs, processing, packaging, machinery maintenance, diesel, and staff salaries.
“The same issues affecting paddy are also impacting fish feed and chicken feed.
“Flooding has devastated production in Kebbi, and insecurity in the North is hindering farmers from cultivating paddy.
“For now, rice price won’t decrease because no miller can afford to sell for less than N85, 000.
“Our government needs to intervene. We are hesitant to stock rice as millers are asking us for help to stock their rice since they’re struggling to sell.
“I couldn’t assist them because I still have around 300 bags in my shop that haven’t been sold. We’re also burdened with shop rents and staff salaries.
“Even if there were paddy available, people aren’t buying as such because prices are too high.
“The decline in foreign rice prices will continue to negatively impact us since Nigerian rice is priced at above N90, 000.
“I’ve experienced issues with one of my suppliers who shut down while holding my payment for five tons. The banks won’t consider our plight.
“The risks in this business are extremely high. If you attempt to compete by purchasing foreign rice upfront and it is seized by security agencies, you’re left helpless.
“Many have suffered severe losses or even closed their shops due to these challenges.
“All the companies that owe us money cannot produce because there’s no paddy available. “The government must assist us; without production support, we cannot obtain our goods or recover our funds.
“We are dying”.
Arbitrary
In Kwara, Vanguard correspondent reported that more than 80% of Nigeria rice on display across the markets in the state is produced in Patigi, Edu,Kaiama and Baruten northern parts of the state where the product is highly prevalent, but arbitrary hike in prices by millers in a bid to exploit consumers is a big issue.
According to a trader at Adexprime Food Store on Yoruba Road, Ilorin, who spoke anonymously, the Federal Government should not entirely ban foreign rice if they’re not ready to resolve the problems Nigerian producers are facing.
Alhaja Risikat Abdullahi, another trader at New Market, Baboko, Ilorin, emphasized that since almost every family eats rice, government should support millers by subsidizing their operations and ensuring that the rice they produce is far cheaper than the imported ones.
“The price should also be regulated. This way, people will be solely consuming local rice, nobody will buy foreign rice again”, she said.
Also speaking on the issue, Mrs Felicia Ige, who runs a supermarket at Muritala Road, Ilorin, said the fundamental problems Nigerians face in producing local rice were a reflection of the type of leaders we have.
“The way millers arbitrarily fix the price of rice grown in Nigeria shouldn’t be if they want off-takers and consumers to survive. We shouldn’t continue this way,” she added.
‘Nigerian factor’
One of the staff members of a big milling company in Kebbi, who craved anonymity, spoke about the challenges facing Nigeria rice production: ”The government has every role to play in making Nigerian rice available and affordable.
“For instance, they can remove multiple taxes on millers.
“We have the capacity to produce the rice that Nigeria needs but we are limited by the ‘Nigerian factor’”.
In Delta State, our correspondence spoke to Mr Owhosode Hope, a wholesaler at Ughelli, who said: “Rice was cheaper before government said we should go back to eating Nigeria rice. “Then the price went up and the astronomical increase became unbearable.
“It is not funny for us because the business we are dealing in is basically on loans and paying back the loans is not easy.
“We thought there will be drop in prices but as it is now, they are telling us the prices will even go higher.
“I learned that the problem is due to the scarcity of rice paddy and that is where the government should come in.
“Government should invest in rice planting and when it is time for harvest, let them sell the paddy to millers.
“If they sell to millers, they can decide on what price the millers should sell which should be lower than what we have now.”
Humongous challenges
On his part, Dama, RIMAN President, said price increases started with the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.
“Millers use fuel to produce; electricity is not stable and so people have to use generators in order to mill their rice”, he argued.
“There are some places where you can hardly have electricity for three hours a day and you have to mill rice for eight hours.
“So, we have to depend on diesel or petrol to power our generators to be able to continue production and it’s expensive.
“Also farmers who produce the raw materials for milling of rice called paddy are facing many difficulties.
“The cost of production like fertilizer, pumping of water, labour is very high.
“Nothing is cheap in this country again. The labourer who used to take N500 an hour now takes N2, 000 to N3, 000 per hour.
“So, you don’t expect rice miller to mill his rice without making profit.
“The profit margin is even nothing to write home about. “Because of the cost of production, millers are not able to sell at a profitable level. “It is a fact that a lot of millers have stopped milling because they cannot continue to produce at a loss.
“In addition to that, insecurity is affecting farmers. “Farmers go to their farms and they are killed by bandits, kidnappers, terrorists. So people go to farm and they don’t come back alive. “Production has really reduced.
“Also government came out with a policy that they are going to open a window to import rice paddy. What about the high exchange rate that ultimately makes the price prohibitive?
“We are still waiting on the government to tackle the situation to see if the prices of things generally will go down.
“We are in the harvest period. Even then the cost of production keeps pushing prices up.
Bank loan
“On the women indebted to banks, millers are also indebted to banks.
“We borrow money to purchase machines from China, India, Malaysia, Europe and once these machines work for some time, they need to be serviced and parts changed and exporters in those countries don’t take Naira.
“Electricity for consumers on Band A, Band B, C and D is another issue which is pushing prices up everywhere.
“To also transport a trailer of rice before was costing N300, 000, but now we are talking about N45 million.
“Off-loading and on-loading costs have also moved from N50 to about N500 to N1, 000.
“We have been talking with government and government said they are working and we are hoping that their plan will see the light of the day”.
Cheaper rice
The RIMAN President said imported rice is cheaper because it attracted subsidy in the countries from where it was smuggled after being kept in silos for 10 -15 years.
“When it lands in Nigeria, consumers say it is cheap. This type of rice is not nutritious. They use preservatives on it and when you eat it, you begin to have all kinds of diseases like cancer”, he said.
“Nigeria rice is fresh and nutritious. It is directly from the farm to the mills”.
Shell life
Dama said the dealers who said Nigeria rice changes colour after three months went to get rice from those who are not millers.
“Millers mill according to standards. Many go into business and claim they are rice millers. “Those women complaining must have gone through the wrong hands.
“They didn’t go through proper millers. Registered millers follow Standard Organisation and NAFDAC standards for them to be able to produce and sell and they are always checked.
“We always supervise rice milling and ensure they produce to standard.
“The shelf life is two to three years and Standard Organization and NAFDAC clearly say that”.
Scarcity of paddy
The RIMAN President continued: “Paddy production is not enough when you consider our population, but that notwithstanding, we still have a little bit of paddy and millers are able to produce. “That is why if you go to the markets, you will find Nigeria rice there although it might not be cheap because of the challenges I enumerated earlier.
Cost
“If you are operating from the northern region, you buy between 75k and 80k, but in the East or West, you get it between 85k and 90k.
Hope
“We depend on the government. It is the government that came with policies that affected everything. “Before now, rice was selling for 10k to 25k, but with the removal of subsidy, the price shot up to what we are seeing. And it is not only rice. So we are waiting on the government to see what they can do.
“It is not just the millers.
“We hope the government will listen and some of the policies they have come up with, we are waiting for the improvement as they said the situation will improve.
“On the people producing substandard local rice, we have complained to relevant agencies. “They should checkmate them”.
Bandits have abducted the Wakilin Fulani of Janjala, Alhaji Atah Adamu Wakili, a nursing mother and 37 other residents of the community located in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State.
They were said to have rustled several cows during the attack.
A community leader in the area, who confirmed the incident to our reporter through telephone on Monday, said the bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, with some wearing army uniforms, invaded the community on Sunday, around 10pm.
He said the bandits divided themselves into three groups, attacked several houses and whisked away many locals amid sporadic gunshots.
He said some of the bandits also invaded a Fulani settlement located some few distance from the community and rustled cows.
He said, “It was at about 10pm on Sunday, when I received a phone call that the Wakilin Fulani of Janjala alongside his wives and his eldest son, Abubakar including 37 other villagers were abducted by the bandits.”
He said the bandits who moved from house to house and operated for almost two hours without the presence of any security operatives, saying “Until around 11:23 pm when one of the villagers told me that some troops from Kagarko came into Janjala and were shooting into the air but by then, the bandits had fled with their victims including the rustled cows.”
A family member of the abducted Wakilin Fulani, identified as Ahmadu Atah, also confirmed the kidnap incident to our reporter through the telephone.
“My brother, I am seriously in panic now as bandits invaded our family house in Janjala and abducted our father, Wakilin Fulani, his wives and children alongside several others. As I speak, I am in Kaduna for a programme but I pray that security operatives will move in swiftly to rescue them,” he said.
It would be recalled that bandits had on February 11, invaded three communities, Mai -Iddo, Gidan Makeri and Kuchimi and abducted a pastor’s wife alongside 15 others, while setting some houses including harvested farm produce ablaze in the area.
The abductors of the victims, according to the community, were demanding N50 million ransom including six motorcycles before their victims will be set free.
The police in the area confirmed the latest attack but declined further comments.
The spokesman of the state police command, ASP Hassan Mansur, did not pick calls put across to him nor did he respond to the text message sent to his mobile line on the latest attack up till the time of filing the story.
The National President of the Afenifere National Youth Council, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, has issued a desperate plea for help after being abducted by gunmen who have threatened to kill him if a N100 million ransom is not paid by 3 p.m. today (Monday).
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, a kidnapper can be seen pointing an AK-47 at Ojajuni's chest as he appeals to the public for financial assistance to secure his release.
An exhausted and visibly distressed Ojajuni called on Nigerians to contribute whatever they could to save his life.
"Nigerians, please help me! Your donation—N100,000, N50,000, or N1,000,000—can go a long way in saving my life," he pleaded in the video. "My name is Prince Eniola Ojajuni. God bless you. Aderohunmu, please help me spread this video."
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that the kidnappers of the National President of the Afenifere National Youth Council, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, had issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to kill him if a ransom of N100 million was not paid.
In a voice recording obtained by SaharaReporters, a conversation between the family and the kidnappers reveals the tense negotiations.
Prince Ojajuni, speaking in distress, stated that the kidnappers had demanded N100 million and had already shot him in the buttock.
During the call, one of the family members spoke with a kidnappers, who pleaded for a reduction in the ransom amount.
"Please, what can you do for us? How do we pay?" the family member asked.
Struggling to negotiate, the family member explained, "We don’t have that kind of money. We are planning to sell a small piece of family land in the village. If we sell it, we’ll see how much we can raise. How do we bring the money? Where do we pay?"
The kidnapper insisted, "You must pay in cash."
The family pleaded further, "Please, can you accept N10 million? That’s all we can raise."
The kidnapper refused, saying, "God forbid bad thing. If you continue talking nonsense, I swear to Almighty God you won’t hear from me again. The last price my boss gave me is N100 million, but if you can raise something better, let me know."
As the family continued pleading, the kidnappers threatened to harm Prince Ojajuni further.
In another conversation, Prince Ojajuni spoke with a senior family member.
He explained, "When the network issues started on Sunday, I even wanted to travel that day. But something told me not to go, so I canceled my flight and rescheduled it for Monday at 6:15 a.m. However, MTN and GTB started having network problems. My meeting was at 10:00 a.m. at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, and the Director-General called to say they were expecting me. So, I left home. It was between Ondo and Kabba that they shot at us. I’m bleeding now."
When asked if the kidnappers blocked the road, Prince Ojajuni replied, "No, they just shot at us. I’m bleeding, and they’re demanding N100 million."
A family member responded, "Where are we going to get that kind of money? Can I speak to the leader?"
The family member pleaded, "Sir, please, what can you do for us? I’ve been calling his number since the day before yesterday. I don’t know what’s happening, and I’m not okay. He has already told me what happened, but that amount—where are we going to get it in this Nigerian economy? He has no money. He has nothing. Please, reduce the amount."
The kidnap leader responded, "If he has nothing, listen carefully. I’m not forcing you to look for money. But if you don’t have it, I still have bullets. I already shot him once, and I can add another bullet to make it three."
The family begged, "Please, for Christ’s sake, don’t harm him. What can we do to reduce the amount?"
The kidnapper revealed a shocking detail, claiming that someone had paid them N50 million to abduct and kill Ojajuni.
"Let me tell you the secret. Someone paid us N50 million to kidnap him and kill him. We were instructed to cut off his head, his manhood, and remove his eyes for them to collect. If you don’t pay, forget about this man."
In the desperate conversation, Prince Ojajuni urged his family to reach out to Nigerian human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, for help.
"They have given me a 48-hour ultimatum. If the ransom is not paid, they will kill me. This is my last chance," Ojajuni said.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that the National President of the Afenifere National Youths Council, Ojajuni, had been kidnapped.
The group announced the abduction in a statement, noting that Ojajuni was taken on Monday, February 17, 2025.
Abiodun Aderohunmu, the National Secretary of the Afenifere National Youths Council, said the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N100 million.
He said, “The Afenifere National Youths Council is deeply saddened to announce the kidnapping of its National President, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, in Abuja, Nigeria.
“The unfortunate incident occurred yesterday, and the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N100,000,000.
“During the kidnapping, Prince Ojajuni sustained a bullet wound on his buttock.
“We are deeply concerned about his safety and well-being, and we urge the kidnappers to release him unharmed.
“Prince Ojajuni is a prominent figure in Nigerian and a strong advocate for youth empowerment and development.
“We call on the Nigerian authorities to take immediate action to ensure Prince Ojajuni's safe release. We also appeal to the general public to provide any information that may lead to his rescue.
“The Afenifere National Youths Council will continue to work tirelessly to ensure Prince Ojajuni's safe return and to advocate for the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
“The kidnap happened on February 17. They shot the President twice. And he has bullet wounds. They are saying N100 million or nothing,” a member of the group told SaharaReporters on Thursday.
Former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, has dismissed claims that the 1966 military takeover was an “Igbo coup”.
Babangida said the leader of the 1966 coup, Kaduna Nzeogwu, spoke Hausa fluently.
In his just launched book, ‘A Journey in Service’, the former military Head of State said Nzeogwu was only Igbo by name but was more of Hausa.
The former military ruler said it was heinously callous for Nzeogwu to have murdered Sir Ahmadu Bello and his wife, Hafsatu, because they were adored by many.
He wrote: “For instance, the head of the plotters, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, was only Igbo in name. Born and raised in Kaduna, his immigrant parents were from Okpanam in today’s Delta State, which, in 1966, was in the old mid-western region.
“Nzeogwu spoke fluent Hausa and was as ‘Hausa’ as any! He and his original team probably thought, even if naively, that they could turn things around for the better in the country.
“That said, it was heinously callous for Nzeogwu to have murdered Sir Ahmadu Bello and his wife, Hafsatu, because not only were they eminently adored by many but also because they were said not to have put up a fight.
“From that moment, the putsch was infiltrated by ‘outsiders’ to its supposed original intention, and it took on an unmistakably ethnic colouration, compounded by the fact that there were no related coup activities in the Eastern region.
“It should, however, be borne in mind that some senior officers of Igbo extraction were also victims of the January coup. For instance, my erstwhile Commander at the Reconnaissance Squadron in Kaduna, Lt-Col. Arthur Chinyelu Unegbe, was brutally gunned down by his own ‘brother’, Major Chris Anuforo, in the presence of his pregnant wife, at his 7 Point Road residence in Apapa, for merely being a threat to the revolution As a disciplined and strict officer who, as the Quartermaster-General of the Army, was also in charge of ammunition, weapons, equipment, vehicles, and other vital items for the Army, the coup plotters feared that he might not cooperate with them.
“It should also be remembered that some non-Igbo officers, like Major Adewale Ademoyega, Captain Ganiyu Adeleke, Lts Pola Oyewole and Olafimihan, took part in the failed coup. Another officer of Igbo extraction, Major John Obienu, crushed the coup.
“Those who argue that the original intention of the coup plotters was anything but ethnic refer to the fact that the initial purpose of the plotters was to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison immediately after the coup and make him the executive provisional president of Nigeria.
“The fact that these Igbo officers would do this to a man not known to be a great ‘lover’ of the Igbos may have given the coup a different ethnic colouration. But, again, I may be wrong here since this view is speculative. I admit that my position here may be the naive insights of an unsuspecting young officer who viewed events from a distance.”
13 Women's Shoes Found In Kwara Islamic Cleric's House Suggest Multiple Murders Before Final-Year Student, Hafsoh – Victim’s Family
The family of a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde allegedly killed by an Islamic cleric, Mohammed A. Bello has claimed evidence found at the suspect’s house shows he is a serial killer.
This was stated by the head of Hafsoh’s family while giving an update on the case on Sunday in a video seen by SaharaReporters. The family head revealed that 13 shoes belonging to different ladies were found inside the suspect’s residence.
The family head mentioned this was an indication that Hafsoh was not the first victim of the cleric’s grievous crime.
He said: “The suspect did not feel any regret for doing that. Till this afternoon (Sunday), he has yet to show any remorse for his actions. Our daughter left the house last Monday and did not sleep till Tuesday. He killed her overnight.
“We did not see the corpse. The suspect already sold it to people he has been trading with. This is because, in his house, we found shoes belonging to 12 different ladies and women, our daughter (Hafsoh’s shoes) is the 13th. We also found a table, axe and cutlass he normally used to butcher them. I found it unbelievable.”
SaharaReporters had reported how the suspect reportedly lured Yetunde after connecting with her on Facebook and obtaining her phone number.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, February 10, 2025.
It was gathered that Hafsoh was attending a naming ceremony when she received a phone call from a friend.
However, she left her food to answer the call and then disappeared.
Family members and friends searched for her in vain before reporting her disappearance to the police at the Oja Oba Station in Ilorin the following day.
Meanwhile, police investigators used her phone records to trace her last call, leading them to the suspect, who resides in the Offa Garage area of Ilorin, though his family house is in Isalekoto.
In another video, the father of the deceased, Mr Ibrahim Lawal Adefalu said he recognised his daughter’s dismembered hands with the ‘lalle’ (henna design) she did for a naming ceremony she attended before her death.
He said, “We saw her shoes and other items in the suspect’s house. It was the ‘lalle’ in the hands we saw inside a pot that revealed she was Hasfat (Hafsoh).
“I didn’t know the suspect as the boyfriend. Her fiancé she told me about is one Lukman and they were preparing to come to ask for her hand in marriage. He also joined us in her search. We want justice so that people could learn lessons from the incident and the society would be at rest,” the school teacher added.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi (SP) said: “During interrogation, the suspects confessed to killing the victim.”
“Further search at his residence led to the recovery of exhibits, including two mobile phones and slippers of the deceased, dismembered body parts (both hands), a plastic bottle containing the victim’s blood, a cutlass, a knife, an axe, a wooden box of black soap, a sack containing charms and a centre table used in carrying out this heinous act. They confessed that the intent was to do oshole/ajoo ówò (money rituals),” she added.
Tinubu Govt Sought Illegal Access To Nigerian Binance User Data To Target Opposition Members–Tigran Gambaryan
Tigran Gambaryan, a former US federal agent and Binance employee, has accused President Bola Tinubu's administration of scapegoating Binance to deflect blame for its failed economic policies.
Gambaryan, who was detained in Nigeria for eight months, claimed that Tinubu's government aimed to access Binance's database of Nigerian users to implicate certain opposition figures in the depreciation of the Naira.
Gambaryan took to social media platform X on Friday to reveal what he called a "Mickey Mouse operation" orchestrated by Nigerian lawmakers and security agencies to divert attention from the real causes of Nigeria's worsening financial crisis.
According to Gambaryan, a meeting was held on January 5, 2024, with the Department of State Services (DSS), a key player in the unfolding scandal, where discussions focused on complying with instructions from the House of Representatives.
He also detailed how the government tried to manipulate the investigation into Binance to fabricate a narrative that Binance was responsible for an alleged outflow of $26 billion from Nigeria.
He wrote: “The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House of Representatives. They alluded to the fact that we had to comply with whatever the House members instructed us to do.
“At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name. They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. As you may already know, this ended with them asking for a $150 million bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best.
“@NuhuRibadu invited us to the official meeting and worked through Sa'ad Abubakar. Another key figure in this situation was Hamma Adama Belloji. Ogunjobi was just a pawn; they used him too. This was a sold as a friendly meeting with the NSA, the head of the SEC, and the CBN governor and include the discussion of the bribe that was solicited by the house of representatives.
“The $26 billion figure they kept pushing publicly as some mystery money escaping Nigeria is complete BS. This information was provided in response to their request and was simply cumulative trade data for Nigerians on the platform. This money didn’t leave Nigeria—it was just people buying and selling crypto. For example, if you trade $100 a hundred times, that’s $10,000 in trade volume, but in reality, you only used $100. Again, just another example of them lying to cover up their BS investigation.
“They lied about Nadeem escaping during mosque prayers. In reality, he returned and escaped afterward. I don’t know exactly how he managed to flee. He emailed me in November, but we haven’t discussed the details of his escape.
“It’s possible he paid someone off, but I have no proof. If Belloji had simply checked his passport for a visa, he would have realized that Nadeem did not use that passport to travel to Nigeria.
“They sent a letter to the U.S. Embassy and the British High Commission, falsely claiming that we were voluntarily participating in strategic talks. This was a blatant lie.
“Nadeem did not escape lawful detention—we were being held illegally. Belloji even admitted that he would fabricate evidence to obtain a court order to detain us for 14 days. Once the court order expired, they were unable to get an extension from the judge. At that point, they continued holding us illegally and had no justification for doing so.
“There was a lot of noise about using Interpol to capture Nadeem. As someone who has been involved in multiple extradition cases, I can confidently say this was a joke. Extradition is a lengthy legal process, and no rational judge in Kenya or wherever would ever approve extradition for someone who escaped illegal detention at the hands of rogue law enforcement—especially when that detention involved holding employees hostage to pressure their employer. All noise.
“They tried to use us to violate international privacy laws by demanding user data on all Nigerians to target opposition members allegedly "manipulating the price of the naira."
“However, they all knew that the naira’s devaluation was a direct result of Tinubu's monetary policy, which depegged the naira from the dollar. I’m not saying this policy decision was wrong, but everyone understood that removing government intervention would lead to extreme devaluation. Instead of acknowledging this, they used Binance as a scapegoat.”
Background
In early 2024, Gambaryan travelled to Nigeria to address regulatory concerns between Binance and the Nigerian government. During this visit, Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were detained by Nigerian authorities on allegations of money laundering and tax evasion.
Gambaryan was held in Kuje Prison for eight months under harsh conditions, including severe health issues. He was eventually released in late 2024 following diplomatic interventions from the U.S. government.
In May 2024, Binance CEO Richard Teng publicly accused Nigerian officials of demanding a $150 million bribe in cryptocurrency to dismiss the charges against the company. Teng claimed that after initial meetings, representatives were approached with offers to settle the issues in exchange for the payment.
The Nigerian government denied these allegations, labelling them as diversionary tactics and blackmail attempts by Binance to deflect from the serious criminal charges it faced.
Gambaryan corroborated these claims, detailing how Nigerian lawmakers and security agencies attempted to coerce Binance into providing access to its Nigerian user database.
He alleged that the government sought to fabricate a narrative blaming Binance for an alleged outflow of $26 billion from Nigeria, thereby diverting attention from the country's economic challenges.
A 32-year-old man, Sunday Abilewa, has allegedly strangled his father, Abu Abilewa, at Isua Akoko in Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Pa Abilewa, 68, was allegedly killed by his son after the latter approached him to buy him a new motorcycle, and he refused.
A police prosecutor in charge of the case, Inspector Abdulateef Suleiman, disclosed this to the Akure Division of the Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Suleiman told the court how Abilewa was apprehended by detectives and charged to with murder.
He revealed how the defendant had on December 31, 2024, at about 5pm, at Eberi quarters, Isua Akoko, Ondo State, allegedly caused the death of the sexagenarian by strangling him.
“The defendant allegedly approached the deceased (his father) to buy him a new motorcycle, but the deceased refused. It led to an argument, and in the process, the defendant grabbed the neck of his father, which resulted in his death.
”Efforts of the defendant’s mother to rescue the deceased proved abortive as the defendant was under the influence of hard drugs,” said the prosecutor.
According to him, Abilewa’s offence contravened Section 316 and was punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol.II, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
He pleaded with the court to allow him to assemble witnesses in the murder case for prosecution.
He also urged the court to remand the defendant in a custodial centre, pending the outcome of advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Magistrate, Funke Akinboboye, who did not take the plea of the defendant, ordered that he should be remanded in custody pending receipt of advice from the DPP’s office.
Adeboboye later adjourned the case till February 25, 2025, for mention.
Kenyan President William Ruto and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been named among the five 2024 finalists for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) “Person of the Year” award.
Kenyan President William Ruto and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are finalists for OCCRP's 'Person of the Year' award
Ruto received over 40,000 nominations due to anger over a finance bill, youth unemployment, and government corruption.
Bashar al-Assad was chosen as the winner for wreaking havoc through organized crime and corruption.
Kenyan President William Ruto and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been named among the five 2024 finalists for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) “Person of the Year” award.
Ruto received over 40,000 nominations for OCCRP’s “Person of the Year” award. The surge was driven by widespread anger over a contentious finance bill, soaring youth unemployment, and frustration with government corruption.
In June and July, young Kenyans staged weeks of protests demanding Ruto's resignation. The demonstrations were met with a brutal crackdown by security forces, who used tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition. Many protesters were killed, injured, or disappeared during the unrest.
Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ranked third, earning a spot among the finalists. He has faced repeated allegations of involvement in drug trafficking, forgery, and financial malpractice.
Since assuming office, Tinubu’s administration has been plagued by widespread complaints, protests, and controversies, fueled by policies widely criticized as "anti-people." Earlier this year, both presidents became the subject of unflattering descriptions - as the costs associated with their alleged penchant for air travel often contrasted with tough economic conditions at home.
"The judges acknowledged the importance of public interest and outrage at corruption. However, since the award is given to the person who has done the most to wreak havoc around the world through organized crime and corruption, they ultimately chose ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad as the winner," OCCRP stated.
As one of the world’s longest-serving dictators, Obiang rose to power through a coup in 1979, overthrowing his uncle. His regime has been marked by severe repression, including unlawful arrests, forced disappearances, and systematic torture to silence dissent.
For the first time in its 13-year history, the contest introduced a special “Lifetime Non-Achievement Award,” bestowed upon Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The house of representatives has asked President Bola Tinubu to mandate Wale Edun, minister of finance, to unfreeze all accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) within 72 hours.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during plenary on Tuesday.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker, and 20 other lawmakers.
The programmes under SIP include N-Power, conditional cash transfer (CCT), government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the home-grown school feeding initiative.
The parliament said unfreezing the accounts of the NSIPA will enable the “smooth” recommencement of all the programmes.
The lower legislative chamber also asked the president to ensure the release of funds to NSIPA for the payment of outstanding stipends owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries nationwide “without further delay”.
BACKGROUND
In 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari enacted a law to establish the NSIP — an agency that has been mired in corruption since the turn of the year.
On January 2, Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of NSIPA, over alleged financial malfeasance.
On January 8, the president also suspended Betta Edu as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.
The humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation ministry supervises the operations of the NSIPA.
On January 12, the president suspended all programmes administered by NSIPA as part of a probe of alleged mismanagement of the agency and its programmes.
On March 13, the house of representatives asked the federal government to resume the implementation of the suspended social investment initiatives.
The senate is considering a bill seeking to place the NSIPA under the supervision of the presidency.
Tinubu has since appointed Badamasi Lawal to replace Shehu.
THE MOTION
Moving the motion, Kalu said despite the importance of the social investment programmes for poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, and economic inclusivity in Nigeria, the agency’s functionality has been hindered due to administrative bottlenecks, insufficient funding, and frozen accounts.
“The smooth operations of the programmes and the fulfilment of the mandate of NSIPA are hindered due to the suspension/ freezing of the accounts of the agency and other administrative bottlenecks, which has remained in force even more than 3 months after the President reconstituted the new management of NSIPA,” he said.
The deputy speaker said the frozen accounts contradicts Tinubu’s mandate on poverty alleviation, eroding public confidence and “administrative paralysis in fighting poverty”.
“As a result of the suspension of accounts of the NSIPA, the N-Power programme has been so negatively affected that 395,731 beneficiaries are owed outstanding stipends to the tune of N81,315, 440,000 — a fund already captured under the 2023 and 2024 amended Appropriation Acts which will lapse by the year ending 31st December, 2024,” Kalu said.
He said restoring NSIPA’s accounts aligns with the president’s vision, ensuring that poverty alleviation efforts remain effective, efficient, and impactful and that it is essential to act swiftly to resolve this issue to maintain momentum toward the administration’s poverty eradication goals.
The parliament also asked the president to reopen all the warehouses of NSIPA nationwide.
The motion was unanimously adopted when it was subjected to a voice by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.
Following that, the house agreed to transmit the resolution to the senate for concurrence.
Orji Kalu, senator representing Abia north, has criticised the federal government for failing to involve key stakeholders in the ongoing discussions over the proposed tax reform bills.
In October, President Bola Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.
The legislations are the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) opposed the bills, while the national economic council (NEC) asked Tinubu to withdraw them for further consultation.
In an interview with Arise Television on Monday, Kalu argued that the government made a “mistake” by not consulting NEC, the NSGF, and the Council of State before introducing the bills.
He, however, said that the bills are “very progressive” and would bring back “fiscal federalism” in Nigeria.
“As I told you before, the bill is very progressive. It will bring back fiscal federalism. Many senators have not been briefed,” Kalu said.
“I think the federal government made a mistake. The initiators of the bills could have briefed the National Economic Council, Governors’ forum and Council of state.”
‘WE NEED SENATORS LIKE NDUME’
Kalu also said the country need politicians like Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, for his outspokenness on national issues.
The Borno senator has been vocal against the bills, threatening to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the legislations.
“We need senators like Ndume who will raise our conscience. I respect Senator Ndume very well,” Kalu said.
“Those who tell Senator Ndume to shut up are not being kind to democracy. Democracy is not about one voice but about multiple voices.
“It is the government being guided by the majority of the people, and Ndume is one of them. He is a strong voice, the senate president didn’t shut him up.”
The lawmaker said that the president has no plans to introduce Alpha Beta, a consulting firm, as Nigeria’s tax consultant.
Kalu added that Nigeria’s tax laws are obsolete and need to be revamped for the nation to progress.
“One of my friends called me and said the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wants to put another Alpha Beta in Nigeria like he did in Lagos State; that is not the issue,” he said.
“The issue is that we need to make amendments to our laws. I support that our laws, not only the tax bills, are obsolete.”
Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential to clean energy technologies.
The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with France on joint projects in the solid minerals sector of both countries.
Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential to clean energy technologies.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, on Sunday, the agreement will open new opportunities for the remediation of over 2000 abandoned pits in the country.
Recently, at least 65 individuals tragically lost their lives in separate mining pit collapse incidents across the country,
In the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries on the sidelines of the official visit of Tinubu to France, both countries agreed to collaborate on research, training and Franco-Nigerian students exchanges for knowledge and skills transfer.
The statement read, “A key component of the MOU is the promotion of sustainable mining activities by executing projects and programmes that reduce the environmental impact of mining on carbon emissions, water consumption, and climate change.
“It also includes the establishment of joint extractive and processing projects through co-financing by public and private entities to diversify and secure the supply of critical minerals and decarbonise energy projects critical to the value chain.”
The statement added that the Minister for Solid Minerals development, Dr Dele Alake signed for Nigeria while the Inter-Ministerial delegate for Critical Ores and Metals of the Republic of France, Mr Benjamin Gallezot, signed on behalf of France.
Both nations agreed to adopt international best practices in the execution of projects conceptualised to improve the conditions of the local populace affected by mining whilst placing a premium on transparency.
Through regular bilateral and multilateral training, seminars and events, administrators of institutions in the critical metals sector are expected to improve their capacities to manage the sector’s value chain.
Describing the deal as a boost to the efforts of the Tinubu administration to reposition Nigeria’s solid minerals sector for international competitiveness, Alake stressed that the ministry would leverage the partnership to open up the mining sector to French investors.
Gbogi Emmanuel, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ondo State, has resigned from the party, citing its failure to uphold democratic principles – fairness, equity, and impartiality. He expressed his disappointment in his resignation letter dated September 23, 2024, addressed to the Chairman of Ward 6, Akoko South West Local Government and obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday. Emmanuel criticised the party for perpetuating poverty and misery among the masses, evident in the economic hardship plaguing the land. He specifically mentioned the questionable primary election that selected the APC flag bearer for the November gubernatorial election as a major letdown. The letter partly read: "I write to formally notify you and the leadership structure of the APC in Ondo State and Nigeria that I hereby tender my resignation letter from the party with immediate effect.
"This decision is a well thought-out resolution, after wide and far-reaching consultations with my immediate family, friends, political associates and particularly my political structure across Akoko land and beyond.
"My decision stems from failure of the party to continue to uphold the true tenets and principles of democracy which include fairness, equity, impartiality, rewards for loyalty and bringing dividends of democracy to the masses.
“Aside the new practice of "rob Peter to pay Paul" that is now the norms and standard, particularly in Ondo State APC, which was not only evident in the decision to rescind my earlier appointment as the pioneer Caretaker Chairman of the Akoko South-South LCDA, we all are witnesses to the shabby and shoddy primary election that produced the flag bearer of APC in the forthcoming November Gubernatorial election in the state. "More so, APC is now considered as a weapon of poverty and misery for the masses evident in the economic hardship that plagues the land.
"I hold the firm belief that politics is not only about winning elections, it is about bringing succor and dividends of democracy to the people we represent." Earlier, Emmanuel rejected an appointment as Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, citing concerns about the appointment's legitimacy and potential perception as a demotion. Emmanuel's resignation highlights the internal conflicts within the APC in Ondo State. The party has faced challenges, including a recent political crisis involving the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was expected to submit an undated resignation letter as part of a reconciliation agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested one Ogidan Mustapha for allegedly dismembering the hands of his neighbour’s dead 13-year-old child in Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.
Mustapha was arrested at about 1:30 am on Friday while trying to dump the body of the deceased near Igbosoro River in Igode village.
DAILY POST gathered that the remains of the deceased, identified as Oriyomi Adegboyega, were wrapped with a mat.
Confirming the incident to DAILY POST, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the arrest followed intelligence from a sister security agency.
She noted that three other suspects were also arrested for assisting in digging the grave.
Odutola maintained that the mother of the deceased, Peace Adegboyega, when contacted, informed the command that her daughter had died of electrocution at around 10:20 am on Thursday.
Adegboyega was shocked to learn that their neighbour Ogidan had been found with her daughter’s dismembered corpse, adding that plans were in place to bury the deceased.
The spokesperson added that on searching the house of the suspect, two English pump action rifles and different local charms were found.
Odutola said: “ An intelligence source from a sister security agency alerted the divisional police officer of Igode that on the 20th of September 2024, at about 0130hrs at past midnight, they trailed a suspicious movement to a bush around Igbosoro River in Igode village and caught one Ogidan Mustapha as he dumped a corpse.
“At a close glance, the vigilante operatives examined the corpses wrapped in a mat and discovered it was a young girl’s remains whose two hands had been amputated and dumped near the river.
“After careful observation, the identity of the deceased was revealed as one Oriyomi Adegboyega, a 13-year-old female.”
She stated that the suspect on interrogation denied dismembering the deceased but admitted carrying a complete corpse after her father, Sunday Adegboyega, asked for his assistance in burying her far away from home.
“The suspect denied the amputation of the 13-year-old girl, but he admitted that the girl’s father, one Sunday Adegboyega, 56, requested him to assist in burying the deceased far away from home, but he carried the corpse with a complete body from the father’s compound,” she said.
Odutola said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and likely prosecution.
Politics › Rivers PDP Threatens To Expel Wike For Alleged Anti-party Activities by FuglyGurl(op): 4:06pm On Mar 18, 2025
