₦airaland Forum

Stephen Angbulu, Damilola Aina, Dare Olawin and Dele Ogunyemi


President Bola Tinubu’s decision to sack Mele Kyari and other board members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stems from mounting concern over performance and a failure to meet key production targets, Presidency officials have disclosed.

In an abrupt move on Wednesday, Tinubu removed Kyari, who had been at the helm of the national oil company since 2019, as part of a broader overhaul, which the Presidency said was aimed at boosting Nigeria’s crude and gas output.

“President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Pius Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday.

Consequently, he appointed Bashir Ojulari as the new Group CEO, effective from April 2, 2025.

“The new 11-man board has Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Musa Ahmadu-Kida as non-executive chairman,” the statement read.

Multiple Presidency officials familiar with the developments said the shake-up was a performance-based reshuffle, arguing that those previously in charge “were going in circles” and some of them had “become part of the problem, rather than the solution.”

One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter officially, told our correspondent, “The President did this because of their performance because we needed to do things differently. The former people were taking us in circles, and then some of them became part of the problem.

“There needs to be a new direction. You need new people to bring new energy into the system.

“Look at them. Every one of them is capable. They are core industry professionals, real industry experts who know the industry inside and out. They are not politicians. This is the first time we have an entire cast of technocrats.”

Another official familiar with the development said the President believed that new blood was essential to jump-start production growth.

The official explained, “It is not about (Kyari’s) age. The NNPCL is a limited liability company and is not governed by civil service rules. So, it’s not about his age. There is always a need to get new brains that can deliver in new directions. The President has his mandate, which is clearly stated in the statement. He gave them his performance metrics, such as the amount of crude we produce. He asked them to review all blocks because we want to know which ones are producing and which are not.

“We have to optimise those that are not producing. He wants them to review all our assets within a certain period and give us good production. By 2030, they must be producing 3,000,000 barrels per day, and between now and 2027, we must stabilise at 2,000,000 per day. Then, gas, we must produce 10 billion cubic meters between now and 2030. These are performance metrics, and that is how it should be done.

“But the former system was not giving us that. They have been around the same spot for years. Our OPEC quota has not improved much since 1973. We have not been able to meet them. That is why reforms are important.”

Also appointed to the new 11-man board is Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November.

Six board members and non-executive directors represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are: Bello Rabiu (North West); Yusuf Usman (North East); a former managing director of the NLNG, Babs Omotowa (North Central); Austin Avuru (South-South); David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East).

Onanuga said Mrs Lydia Jafiya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed represents the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

“All the appointments are effective today, April 2,” he announced.

Tinubu handed out an immediate action plan to the new board, asking them to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPCL-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.

While the NNPCL reported $17bn in new investments within the sector last year, Onanuga said the administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30bn by 2027 and $60bn by 2030.

“Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.

The new board chairman, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, is from Borno State. He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985.

Musa became Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.

Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, worth $2.4bn.

Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns.

Nigeria, once Africa’s leading oil producer, has struggled for years to fulfil its production quota stipulated by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. While OPEC figures have often placed the country’s desired output above two million barrels per day, the NNPCL has repeatedly fallen short – citing pipeline vandalism, underinvestment, and ageing infrastructure.

Pundits say that under Kyari, some reforms were introduced, but overall production remained below target.

Refineries revamp

Operators and experts in the oil and gas sector have set an agenda for the new Group Chief Executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Ojulari who replaces the the company’s former GCEO, Kyari.

While congratulating Ojulari and the other board members newly appointed by Tinubu, stakeholders enjoined them to ensure all the refineries under the watch of the NNPCL are revamped.

The new NNPC leaders were charged to rebrand the NNPC, renew the naira-for-crude deal, divest some of the company’s assets, restore investors’ confidence, and be apolitical.

In an interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, described the sweeping reconstitution as a welcome development.

He said IPMAN received the news with warmest regards, saying Tinubu is reforming the oil and gas sector.

Ukadike told the new NNPCL team to ensure that the refineries resume operations at full capacity to give enough and affordable fuel to Nigerians.

He urged Ojulari and his team to ensure the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries are maximised to create more jobs for the masses.

“We received the news with the warmest regards. Mr President is renewing and reforming the oil and gas industry. And whatever that will drive both the implementation of policies and the Petroleum Industry Act is in order.

“What is imminent is change. So, we the independent marketers association welcome this.

“We congratulate the new man and charge him to ensure that all these government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna are producing enough fuel for the economy. This will also create jobs for the people amd and make petroleum products available,” he said.

Ukadike appealed to Ojulari and the board to settle the rift between the NNPCL and the Dangote refinery as far as the naira-for-crude deal is concerned.

He urged them to renew the deal and put an end to the crisis so as to enable smooth fuel distribution across the nation.

“We also want the new GCEO to use this good office to revisit the naira-for-crude deal; look into the saga and put an end to it so that it will better the distribution process and strengthen our economy,” Ukadike stated.

Similarly, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists lauded Tinubu for the new NNPCL board appointments noting that it was a bold step towards repositioning the oil and gas industry for greater efficiency, transparency, and profitability.

In a statement signed by NAPE President, Johnbosco Uche, the association said the new board has a mandate to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and increase commercial viability, saying this aligns with NAPE’s goals and aspirations for the industry.

The explorationists expressed confidence that the new team would bring the necessary expertise and experience to drive the oil and gas sector forward.

According to Uche, NAPE is delighted to observe that the newly appointed board comprises seasoned professionals, including Austin Avuru, a former President of NAPE who has held esteemed top management positions within the oil and gas industry.

“We look forward to collaborating with them to achieve the desired growth and development in the oil and gas sector,” the statement added.

The Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria requested that the newly appointed board take bold steps towards ensuring Nigeria achieved self-sufficiency in domestic refining and energy security.

CORAN’s Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, said, “CORAN congratulates the new board of the NNPCL and the new GCEO on their appointment. They are coming in at a time when the market globally is repositioning, and the Nigerian market, particularly in the midstream and downstream sectors, is receiving increasing attention.”

“We hope that the new NNPCL board will be bullish in the quest to make Nigeria self-sufficient in domestic refining and energy security. We want to see a more visible NNPCL that coordinates and works closely with local investors, especially in the emerging midstream segment. We look forward to them building on the legacy of the last administration and ensuring that Nigeria becomes a refining hub.”

Similarly, the National President of the Petroleum Retailers Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, asked the board to ensure a daily production of 700,000 barrels per day in refining strictly for domestic use to achieve energy independence.

“Our message is simple: wherever Mele Kyari’s administration stopped, the new board should take it to the next level. They must ensure that the oil and gas sector grows, driving the economic value that it should in Nigeria,” Gillis-Harry said.

“We want to see discussions around how we can increase local refining capacity. This could start with a boost of 700,000 barrels per day dedicated strictly to domestic refining. This would require new work on how communities can cooperate with the NNPCL and the government for a win-win situation.”

Hope rising

Meanwhile, an expert in the oil and gas industry, Professor Emeritus Wumi Iledare, has expressed high hopes that the new NNPC leadership will not fail as their failure is a bad signal for the country.

In an interview with our correspondent, Iledare said this was the first time the NNPC had a board that was apolitical, expressing optimism in the capacity of the people he called “core professionals.”

“Finally, NNPCL has a board that is majorly apolitical by nature with the appointments of timber and caliber professionals. It is the dawn of a new era for NNPCL to rekindle, restructure, and rebound itself along the intent of PIA 2021,” he said

Iledare listed what he expects the new board to focus on immediately: “First is (settling) the dilemma naira-for-crude deal with local refineries; second is selling NNPCL shares to the public with a limit to what individual can buy and restrict corporate buyers; third, divest some joint venture shares in divested international oil companies’ shares; fourth, rekindle, restructure, and rebound NNPC Limited along the intent of the PIA.”

He urged Ojulari to “promote the economy of scale mentality and correct the apparent diseconomies of scale bounding the potential of NNPCL.

He added, “Bayo Oujulari, Austin Avuru, Yusuf Usman, Rabiu Bello, David Ige, Babs Omotowa are professionals I know personally. I pray that Nigeria does not get them. It is like having six GCEOs.”

Speaking on the sack of Kyari, the don posited that “he was thrown into the fire the way he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari without following the process of the PIA.”

He spoke further that it is difficult for a leopard to change its skin without a surgical operation.

“Going from GMD to GCEO was difficult for him and working with an incompetent board imposed on him was difficult. So, I admired his attitude to risk. He was a risk seeker but politically constrained and very too transactionally minded. He should have resigned the way his CFO retired. Best wishes to him.

“His exit, notwithstanding, the change is the dawn of a new era for NNPCL. For the first time ever, the NNPCL has an apolitical Board with a good understanding of what it takes to have a commercial mentality,” Iledare maintained.

Farewell for Kyari

Following the new appointments, the management and staff of NNPC on Wednesday welcomed Ojulari and the Board of Directors.

A statement by the company’s spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said, “We extend our profound appreciation to the outgoing CCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, and the former Board Members for their selfless and dedicated service to the Company and to the nation.

“Mr Kyari’s leadership and tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on NNPC Ltd., and we are sincerely grateful for his outstanding contributions.

“We wish him and all departing Board Members continued success and fulfilment in their future endeavours.”

The PUNCH reports that Kyari’s removal came at a time when the NNPC refused to sell crude to the Dangote refinery in naira as ordered by the President last year.

The seeming collapse of the deal led to the suspension of fuel naira sales to local marketers in naira.

This has since led to a hike in petrol prices from N860 per litre to N930 or more, depending on the location.

Tompolo lauds Tinubu

Chairman, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, has lauded President Tinubu for his “careful selection of seasoned professionals” as the new Management Board of the NNPCL.

He also congratulated the newly appointed 11-member board and management of the NNPCL.

In a personally signed statement made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday, Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, noted that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited recognised the new appointments “as a pivotal moment in the journey of the NNPCL and the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

The statement read, “Indeed, this decision by Mr. President underscores his administration’s dedication to ensuring that only competent hands are entrusted with optimising the vast benefits of our nation’s oil and gas sector.

“The challenges and opportunities before this new management and board are immense, but we are confident in their ability to drive the ongoing restructuring of the NNPCL to greater heights.

“Under their stewardship, we believe that the President’s mandate to ramp up local refining capacity and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2mbpd in record time will be realised and surpassed.

“As our company has always done, TSSNL remains steadfast in its commitment to partnering with the NNPCL to secure and enhance Nigeria’s oil production capabilities. Our expertise in oil asset protection and our deep-rooted presence in the Niger Delta position us as a reliable ally in ensuring that the nation’s resources are safeguarded and utilised efficiently for the collective benefit of all stakeholders.”

Despite the recent upward adjustments of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol by different prices, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has left its unchanged at N880 per litre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Nation’s investigation at all NNPCL retail outlets in the city revealed the uniform price of N880 per litre.

In Lagos, the corporation has retained pump price at N860 while other major marketers have increased to between N930-N980.

Its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye attributed the stability of price in the state-owned oil firm’s outlets to its determination to adhere to its core mandate.

The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) mandates the NNPCL to guarantee energy security for the country.

Asked why has NNPCL left the pump price unchanged, Soneye told The Nation in Whatsapp text message that its for energy security mandate.

He further noted the PIA mandates NNPCL to be the supplier of last resort.

Soneye said: “Energy security. The law mandates NNPC to be the supplier of last resort.”

Asked whether NNPCL was sustaining the pump price at a loss, he said “not really.”
NNPCL’s refineries Port Harcourt and Warri have been operational, also supplying products to the domestic market.

It refines its own feedstock from its upstream firm- National Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and JVCs.

Its sustenance of the pump price despite the changes in most components of the petrol pricing template such as crude oil price increase and exchange rate shows a maintenance of a slim profit margin for energy security.

The Nation’s investigation at the petrol stations in Abuja showed that some major oil marketers sold the product from between N950 per litre to N970 per litre.

Some independent marketers vended the petrol for N990 per litre with little or no patronage.

But the NNPCL outlets recorded significant patronage.

Dangote affiliate petrol station, MRS vended the product for N950 per litre after adjusting the price from N880 per litre.

The management of Dangote Refinery on March 19 announced the temporary suspension of sale of petrol in Naira.

According to the announcement, the NNPCL had stopped the sale of feedstock to the plant in Naira.

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies has assured Nigerians that the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, will drop as Dangote Refinery and other local refineries begin operations.

Before the fuel subsidy removal, petrol was sold for less than ₦200 per litre.

Now, prices have surged to around ₦930 per litre, depending on location.

Despite the increase, NIPSS Director-General Ayo Omotayo said there is hope for relief in the future when he featured on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday,

Omotayo explained that as more refineries start working, fuel prices will begin to fall.

“With the removal of the first subsidy, we have Dangote Refinery coming on. We have the other refineries. The refinery in Port Harcourt has worked continuously for 110 days if I’ve counted right! These are the short-term gains,” he said.

He predicted that petrol prices could drop to around ₦750 per litre before the end of the year and that the exchange rate would stabilise.

“We’re looking at it coming down as low as ₦750 before the end of the year. And of course, foreign exchange, we believe, will still drop to about 1.3 before the end of the year and it is going to continue like that as more of our refineries come into place.

“We will become a net exporter in the long run,” he added.

He acknowledged that Nigerians are currently facing difficulties but insisted that the country will benefit from the policy in the long run.

“The gains at this time are very little, but then in the long run, we will make up for whatever sacrifices we have made today as Nigerians,” he stated.

Defending the removal of subsidy, Omotayo stated that while the impact may be tough now, the decision will benefit the country in the long run.

Omotayo said, “Most of the benefits will come in the medium and long term. For now, the government has introduced palliatives to help ease the burden on the poor. We all need to adjust our spending.”

He acknowledged that the gains might not be immediately visible but emphasised that, “In the long run, we will recover whatever sacrifices we have made today as Nigerians.”

I Refused N5bn Bribe to Impeach Fubara, Former Rivers Speaker, Edison Ehi, Reveals

*Denies bombing assembly complex

*Ogbeh: Military appointments during emergency rule undermines democracy

*How police intensified security deployments ahead of eid-el-fitr celebrations in state

Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, Hon Edison Ehie, has alleged that he was offered a N5 billion bribe to support the impeachment process of his principal, then as a speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Ehi, who did not mention the person that made the attempt to bribe, and disclosed this yesterday night on Channels TV interview, described Fubara as a man of peace, saying he turned down the money when he realised the purpose for the offer.

Also, a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and erstwhile minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, has faulted the practice of replacing civilian governors with military appointees during state of emergency.

In a related development, the Rivers State Police Command had hinted about how it intensified adequate security deployments across the state ahead of yesterday’s Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

Speaking, Ehi reiterated that, “The governor is a man of peace. The governor decided to follow the way of conflict resolution. In October, I was approached with N5 billion bribe against the governor but I refused. The bribe was for impeachment, but I turned it down,” he said.

Reacting to the accusations by the former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, on the bombing of the State Assembly, Ehi said he had no hand in the arson, accusing Nwaeke of monetary compromise to implicate him in such crime.

Ehie, who expressed surprise that Nwaeke after serving for about 35 years could be allowed to be bullied to make such allegations, said what the former HoS presented to the public was a script allegedly written to him to implicate the governor and him in the political crisis in the State.

He disclosed that he had directed his lawyer to file a suit against the former HoS, saying, it’s “Very important to clarify that I was not, had no hand in the burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“I have no hand, not privy, no information. We just woke up and heard that the Assembly had been bombed. We have finished screening commissioner and left the complex. We didn’t adjourn to 30 October, 2023 when we finished sitting. 29th October was being a Sunday.”

He alleged that the security operatives during investigation said they saw the convoy of the Speaker, coming out of the Assembly.

“Once it is 6pm, it is only one person that has access to the complex, and that is the Speaker,” he said.

Ehie revealed that, “George Nwaeke resigned on March 24, 2025, by Tuesday, March 25, 2025, he was appealing that the governor should give him money, that he doesn’t have a better house and other helps. The problem is that of contentment. He is not a contended man. He was requesting for money.

“The governor wouldn’t have given him money as at that time because he has already tendered his resignation letter, stating that he cannot work with a government that is not led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.”

On the allegation that Fubara allegedly pulled down the assembly complex and refused to reconstruct it, Ehie said,”The job is 80% completed and the contractor fully paid. The administrator on visit to the complex confirmed that is almost completed.

“The governor is a man of peace. The governor decided to follow the way of conflict resolution. In October, I was approached with N5billion bribe against the governor but I refused. The bribe was for impeachment, but I turned it down.”

A former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and erstwhile minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, has faulted the practice of replacing civilian governors with military appointees during state of emergency.

Speaking on a television programme, he said President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor, Olusegun Obasanjo, had taken similar steps, raising concerns about a return to military-style governance.

Ogbeh warned that the practice could send a damaging message to Nigerians about the ability of civilian leaders to govern themselves.

“The only other thing that I’m asking is: Why is it that each time there is this suspension of a governor, a military person is put back in place?

“Do we miss military rule or are we suggesting that civilians are incapable of governing themselves?

“Obasanjo did it twice, in fact, thrice, and we have it again. What’s the logic? This is why, in the first place, this whole imposition of a state of emergency should be avoided.

“Since the constitution doesn’t say you can only pick this or that person, the president is free to do so, but it’s also sending a funny signal that civilians can’t do the job themselves.

“That’s not a good one. That’s why civilians themselves should be more responsible. Elected individuals should behave themselves and not carry on as if it’s a holiday and that they can do as they wish because they are sending the wrong signal to society,” said Ogbeh.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command had hinted about how it intensified adequate security deployments across the state ahead of yesterday’s Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

In a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command explained that the security deployments became necessary to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free festivity in the state.

She said the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and Tactical Units to strengthen patrols, surveillance, and intelligence gathering in all parts of the state.

According to the police spokesperson, “These measures are aimed at preventing any potential security threats and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors before, during and after the festive period.

“The deployment will cover all prayer grounds, recreational centers, markets, motor parks, and other public places where large gatherings are expected.

“Special attention will also be given to flashpoints, entry and exit points, and major highways, including all waterways to prevent criminal activities and ensure safe and secured environment for all citizens.”

In addition to physical security presence, the PPRO revealed that, “the Command has activated a rapid response strategy, with patrol teams and undercover operatives deployed to strategic locations.”

Also, the police, in collaboration with sister security agencies and community stakeholders had enhanced security to ensure seamless coordination and intelligence sharing.

By Damilola Aina


As a direct fallout of the recent suspension of sales of petroleum products in naira by the Dangote refinery, MRS filling station has effected a new price regime, raising its pump price to N930 per litre in Lagos and N960 for residents living in the northern part of the country.

The new price regime, effective from March 28, 2025, represents an increase of N70 from the previous price of N860 per litre in Lagos, N870 in other South-West states, and an N80 difference from the N880 previously sold in the North.

Some other filling stations, it was gathered, have also started selling at the same rates.

For instance, NIPCO sold at N930 in Magboro, Ogun State, on Saturday.

According to the latest price list from MRS Oil & Gas, its trucks will load products from the Lagos depot and convey them directly to its retail stations nationwide at varying costs.

The document showed that Lagos had the lowest rates, with northern states getting the highest rates. The firm, however, did not state whether it bought products from the Dangote refinery.

In Lagos, petrol will sell for N930 per litre, while states in the South-West and Kwara, will pay N940 per litre.

For the South-South and South-East regions, including Edo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Enugu, the price is now N960 per litre.

The North has mixed prices, as Abuja, Kaduna, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Nasarawa will pay N950 per litre, while Zamfara, Kano, Jos, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, and Yobe will pay N960 per litre.

The Free Carrier Agreement price, which determines how much marketers pay before selling fuel, also varies. Lagos has the lowest FCA price at N905 per litre, while states like Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, and Yobe have FCA prices around N888 per litre.

Recently, the Dangote refinery announced a temporary suspension in the naira-for-crude initiative following a mismatch in crude allocation paid for in naira and its actual sales.

Insiders familiar with the development said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had allocated large volumes of crude to its foreign creditors to settle the loans acquired by the firm, making it difficult to sustain the naira-for-crude deal between NNPCL and the Dangote refinery.

This allowed the free importation of products, as private depot owners hiked their prices to maximise profit.

The increase in petrol prices may lead to higher transport costs and rising prices of goods and services.

Independent marketers continue to struggle with foreign exchange rates and distribution expenses, affecting fuel availability in some areas.

Industry experts say that prices could stabilise when the Dangote Refinery starts selling fuel in naira, once it secures crude oil from NNPC. Until then, Nigerians will have to contend with higher costs at filling stations nationwide.

By Bassey Willie, Yenagoa


The organizers of the rally in support of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have dared Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, vowing to go ahead with the rally that the number one citizen in Bayelsa kicked against.

During a meeting with Bayelsa Elders and Security agencies, on Wednesday, the governor had raised concerns that the rally could trigger violence.

He alerted security agencies and stakeholders not to encourage anything that could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.

But reacting in a statement which his Media Assistant, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, issued on his behalf, George Turnah, the South South Zonal Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who is the lead promoter of the rally, said arrangements for the programme were in top gear.

Expressing shock over the governor’s comment, Turnah said ethnicity has no place in politics, adding that the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly is constitutional.

He said the rally is planned in solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister.

Turnah also dispelled the governor’s notion that he was collaborating with a former governor to create instability in the state.

Turnah stated that he has no intention of politically destabilizing Bayelsa or any other state, but he leads a grassroots political movement called New Associates aimed at mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s administration in the South South Zone, devoid of ulterior motives.

In a promo flyer obtained by Daily Trust in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, the promoters of the rally listed the eminent Nigerians to attend the rally to include Wike, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, among others.

He said: “The organization is set to officially launch in Bayelsa on April 12, 2025, and the arrangements are in top gear to ensure a hitch-free outing, including formal notifications to relevant security organizations in the state as required by law.

Turnah reminded Governor Diri that the Ogbia leaders and elders he asked to call him to order were the same leaders who, in 2019, requested him not to support the governor’s ambition at the time, a request he ignored.

“I am not only a member of the PDP but also a serving Zonal Secretary of the Party in the South South, I wonder which other office the Governor was accusing me of occupying if I am not a member of the PDP.”

Expressing concern over the governor’s anger regarding his personal choice of political association with Wike, Turnah noted his constitutional right to freedom of association.

He reminded the governor that this is not the first time he had made personal political choices.

While acknowledging that the current disagreement within the PDP in the state are a family affair, Turnah assured that the issues would be resolved in no time.

He commended the Governor on his many achievements and pledged his continued support for the prosperity administration led by Governor Diri.

He also called on the teeming youths, women, political class across Party lines and divides as well as all lovers of the President to come out en masse and show their appreciation to President Tinubu and Wike for their special love for Bayelsa and Ijaw nation.

By Idahosa Moses


The constituents of Edo South Senatorial District and the Human Rights Community on Friday declared a loss of confidence in the senator representing the area, Senator Neda Imasuen, over alleged failure, corruption, abuse of office, and betrayal of public trust.

The constituents stated that they have formally initiated the recall of the Labour Party (LP) senator and are also demanding his prosecution over circumstances surrounding his alleged disbarment by the New York State Supreme Court in 2010.

They added, “Given the international nature of these allegations, INTERPOL’s cooperation is necessary to ensure a thorough, independent, and global investigation.”

Representatives from five of the seven local governments in the Senatorial District disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin City, Edo State, stating that the constituents deserve credible, accountable, and transparent leadership.

The local government representatives include Kola Edokpayi (Oredo), Caesar Garrick (Ikpoba-Okha), Aghatise Raphael (Ovia South West), Ogbu David (Uhunwode), Okorie Kingsley (Ovia North East), and Hanson Orako (Egor).

The group alleged that Imasuen, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, has no constituency projects in his Senatorial District and has distanced himself from the people.

They therefore issued a 14-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Senate, and anti-graft agencies to take action on their petition.

Senator Neda Imasuen, however, dismissed the allegations, claiming that the individuals moving against him were recently invited to Kogi State.

He said, “They are doing a hatchet job because they are being paid from Kogi.

“I don’t see why someone is being paid to throw stones in his father’s house,” Imasuen stated.

Imasuen, who heads the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, is at the center of a controversy involving a sexual harassment petition filed by suspended Kogi State Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

By Sunday Isuwa


Keystone Bank has overtaken Bacita Sugar Company (Josepdam Sugar Company) over its failure to settle a N25,358,203,258.09 debt.

The bank immediately appointed Mr Yunus Abdulsalam (SAN) as the firm’s Receiver/Manager.
This development followed an order of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, which mandated the bank to recover its debt from KIA Africa Group of Africa, which has acquired.
Josepdam Sugar Company.

The court has also frozen 21 accounts belonging to the KIA group.

The Presiding Judge, Justice A. O. Awogboro, ruling on an ex-parte motion, asked Keystone Bank to manage all the firm’s assets.

The judge said: “It is hereby declared that in the Notice and Deed of appointment dated 30” December 2024, the 2nd Applicant is the duly appointed Receiver/Manager over the assets of the Respondent secured as fixed and floating charges for the loan facility granted by the 1st Applicant.

“An order of this Honourable Court is hereby made directing the 2nd Applicant, in his role as the appointed Receiver/Manager under the duly executed Debenture Deed,

“He is to take possession, control and management of all assets of the Respondent secured as fixed and floating charges for the loan facility granted by the 15t Applicant.

“An order of this Honourable Court is hereby granted restraining the Respondent herein whether acting by themselves or through their officers, servants, agents, privies, legal representatives or such other persons claiming through or acting on their behalf whosoever and howsoever described from challenging, interfering with or otherwise obstructing or frustrating the 2nd Applicant as the Receiver/Manager appointed by the 1st Applicant over all the assets of the respondents lying in any part of Nigeria, including the Respondent’s assets lying and situate at Josepdam Sugar Factory, Bacita Layout, Kwara State.

When contacted at the scene of the enforcement, the bank representative said: “Keystone Bank has effectively taken over the Josepdam Sugar Company in Bacita, Kwara State, known as Bacita Sugar Company, following KIA Africa Group of Africa’s failure to settle a staggering ₦25,358,203,258.09 debt owed to the financial institution.

“The takeover became imperative to managing or outrightly disposing the Sugar Factory to use the proceeds or part thereof to defray the enormous debt.

“The Federal High Court in Ilorin has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to give effect to Bank’s take over in a legal ramifications.”

KIA Africa had successfully acquired Josepdam Sugar Company from the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and had earlier sought and obtained Credit backing from Keystone Bank.

The bank used a KIA Africa Group series of loan facilities to acquire the sugar factory, with a mutually revised 24-month repayment plan.

To secure full ownership of Josepdam Sugar Company, KIA Africa sought a Bank Guarantee from Keystone Bank amounting to ₦8,323,649,250.00—75% of the balance purchase consideration payable to AMCON.

The bank granted this facility on the condition that KIA Africa would deposit the company’s title documents with Keystone Bank upon receiving them from AMCON, alongside a personal guarantee from its Managing Director, Barrister Kenneth Irhiogbe.

However, KIA Africa failed to fulfil this obligation, compounding its financial liabilities.

After exhausting all entreaties for the loan repayment and with the total debt ballooning to ₦25.3 billion, Keystone Bank exercised its rights under the Debenture Deed by appointing a Receiver/Manager, Mr Yunus Abdulsalam, SAN, to take control of all assets belonging to KIA Africa Group including Josepdam Sugar Company.

The bank’s new management, led by its CEO, Mr Hassan Imam, has aggressively embarked on a strategic debt recovery drive against recalcitrant obligors.

“KIA Africa Group 2021 announced its purchase of the Sugar Company and pledged to hit the ground running.

The Company said, “With the 30,000 hectares of land, inclusive of 5,600 hectares of developed farmland for sugarcane production, installed milling capacity of 40,000 tons for refined sugar, an ethanol production plant, a new mill and power equipment that are on ground awaiting installation, a pool of skilled and experienced labour waiting to be hired back into action, and support government policy for sugar sufficiency and backward integration, the Bacita Sugar Company is poised to roar back to life as a major player in the industry. The Kia Africa Group will make this happen. “

By Daily Trust


Former Presidential aide and social commentator, Reno Omokri, says he is on a mission to destroy supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients.

Speaking with News Central on Thursday, Omokri said Obi is his project, claiming that he was the one who advised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to pick Obi as running mate in the 2019 election.

Omokri said: “I took a vow to destroy that movement because Peter Obi was a project of mine. I was responsible for Peter Obi becoming the running mate to Waziri Atiku Abubakar in 2019. I’ve said this publicly. I’ve got the documents. I’m a meticulous record keeper.

“Peter Obi’s movement, Obidients, started attacking me, threatening me, insulting me. That was OK. But then they moved from myself to my family. I just had a daughter at that time. There were multiple death threats.

“They came to my house in the United Kingdom. They trailed my wife and me when we were jogging. They found out my jogging route and pursued me, threatening me.”

He said since Obi failed to caution his supporters, he decided to use whatever political machinery he has to destroy the movement.

Obidients have been bashing Omokri online over his comments, saying his mission would not be accomplished.

By Guardian Editor


The United Kingdom {UK) government has published a list of unclaimed estates and properties belonging to 5,806 individuals who resided and died in the UK, including 58 Nigerians.

The list, released on Monday, details the names, dates of death, places of death, marital status, and Bona Vacantia (BV) reference numbers of the deceased.

Among the Nigerians listed are Adenike Adebiyi, whose date of death is unknown, from Hackney, London N1, identified as a spinster with BV reference BV21003032/1, and Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh, who died on 5 February 1998 in Chiswick, London W4, listed as a widower with BV reference BV984930/1. Other entries include Akanni Jeremiah Adejumo, who passed away on 31 March 2017 in Muswell Hill, London N10 (BV21711076/1), and Solomon Adekanmibi, who died on 31 January 2021 in Colchester, Essex (BV22207473/1), both with marital status unspecified.

The full list of 58 Nigerians includes detailed records such as dates of death ranging from 19 July 1995 (Julius Taiwo Akinyeye, Derby, Derbyshire, BV960071/1) to 24 May 2021 (Louisa Holmes, Cheam, Sutton, BV22201373/1), and locations spanning London, Birmingham, Leeds, and other UK regions.

The following are the details of the 58 Nigerians on the list:


1. Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh, 5/2/1998, Chiswick London W4, Widower, BV984930/1

2. Adenike Adebiyi (date of death unknown), Hackney London N1, Spinster, BV21003032/1

3. Akanni Jeremiah Adejumo, 31/03/2017, Muswell Hill London N10, (marital status unknown), BV21711076/1

4. Solomon Adekanmibi, 31/01/2021, Colchester Essex, (marital status unknown), BV22207473/1

5. Ganiyu Akambi Aderinto, 20/07/2016, Archway London N19, (marital status unknown), BV21808132/1

6. Richard Adesanya, 20/07/2016, Hackney London E9, (marital status unknown), BV21808132/1

7. Jeff Adhekeh, (date of death unspecified), South Kensington London SW7, (marital status unknown), BV22107842/1

8. Isaac Ademola Adio, 17/08/2012, Harrow Middlesex, Bachelor, BV21304418/1

9. Julius Ajidahuan, (date of death unspecified), Ilford Essex, Bachelor, BV2097929/1

10. Julius Taiwo Akinyeye, 19/07/1995, Derby Derbyshire, (marital status unknown), BV960071/1

11. Charles Ayodele Aliu, 31/03/2011, Solihull West Midlands, Bachelor, BV21213206/1

12. Peter Ifeanyi Arinze, 23/03/2000, Camberwell London SE5, Bachelor, BV2026061/1

13. Folayele Festus Awosika, 1/3/2001, Hammersmith London W6, (marital status unknown), BV2037690/1

14. Olajide Ayinde, 25/04/1997, Hackney London E9, Bachelor, BV974293/1

15. Matthew Balogun, 31/12/2005, Clapham London SW4, Bachelor, BV2084437/1

16. Henry Banjoko Nigeria, (date of death unknown), Hampstead London NW3, Bachelor, BV2074183/1

17. John Olaolu Bankole, 27/04/2010, London EC1V, Husband, BV21105049/1

18. Tessi Bello, 15/10/2003, Camden London NW3, Bachelor, BV2051782/1

19. Peter Benson, 1/2/2019, Stratford London E15, (marital status unknown), BV21918199/1

20. Paul Benard, (date of death unknown), Camden London NW1, Widower, BV2087609/1

21. Eugene Bucknor, 2/3/2021, Brockley London SE4, Bachelor, BV22108784/1

22. Samuel Emeka Chude, (date of death unspecified), Birmingham, (marital status unknown), BV21201209/1

23. Nathaniel Davies, 7/4/2010, Clapton London E5, Bachelor, BV21211255/1

READ ALSO: Lagos general hospital repairs severe liver injury

24. Charles Dixon, 4/8/2018, Basingstoke Hampshire, (marital status unknown), BV21817506/1

25. Enwukwe Graham Kwedi Ede, 6/1/2011, Lambeth London SE1, (marital status unknown), BV21106358/1

26. Sunny Eyo Edem, 16/09/2011, Ilford Essex, Widow, BV21114789/1

27. Victor Adedapo Olufemi Fani-Kayode, 15/08/2001, Birmingham West Midlands, Bachelor, BV2026069/1

28. Bose Abosede Elizabeth Fige, 4/5/2008, Paddington London W2, Spinster, BV2085258/1

29. Samuel William MacAuley Godwin, 25/02/2010, Lambeth London SE1, Bachelor, BV21106495/1

30. Salamatu Harford, (date of death unspecified), South Norwood London SE25, Widow, BV2091608/1

31. Louisa Holmes, 24/05/2021, Cheam Sutton, Spinster, BV22201373/1

32. Tamunokombia Morris Isodiki, (date of death unspecified), Camden London NW1, Single man, BV2011682/1

33. Oyinoluwa Ttijesulase Jesugoodness, 4/5/2011, Tottenham London N15, (marital status unknown), BV21400247/1

34. Ibidun Johnson, 14/02/2003, Peckham London SE15, (marital status unknown), BV21307554/1

35. William Kadry, (date of death unspecified), Fulham London SW6, Bachelor, BV21200174/1

36. Victoria Myers, 7/8/2010, St. Johns Wood London NW8, Widow, BV21914328/1

READ ALSO: Six dead in tourist submarine sinking off Egypt resort

37. Mark N’Wogo, (date of death unknown), Surrey Mid-Eastern Surrey, (marital status unknown), BV93623/1

38. Zacheus Idowu Ogunsanya, 29/08/2003, Camberwell London SE5, (marital status unknown), BV2040843/1

39. Ifetayo Oguntayo, 20/11/2016, Upper Edmonton London N18, Single man, BV21705991/1

40. John Emanuel O’Hosi, 18/02/2007, Leeds West Yorkshire, Bachelor, BV2071815/1

41. Stephen Oliyide, 20/10/2013, Catford London SE6, Bachelor, BV21508718/1

42. Joyce Omoni, 28/02/2014, Peckham London SE15, Spinster, BV21503408/1

43. Adeoye Kuyoro Onanuga, 30/08/2008, Kingston upon Thames Surrey, (marital status unknown), BV21609894/1

44. Kayode Orishagbemi, (date of death unspecified), Northampton Northamptonshire, Bachelor, BV21202011/1

45. Tex Orrico, 28/09/2009, Marylebone London W1, Bachelor, BV20911088/1

46. Florence Baby Osikpa, 8/1/2015, Paddington London WC2, Spinster, BV21501417/1

47. Kate Blessing Osolase, 9/9/2014, Wednesbury West Midlands, (marital status unknown), BV21906100/1

48. Francis Ossai, 21/01/2000, Highgate London N6, (marital status unknown), BV2064064/1

49. Sunday Owolabi, 26/04/2020, Whitechapel London E1, Bachelor, BV22015871/1

50. Gabriel Nduaguba Ozokoli, 23/04/1994, Edmonton London N18, (marital status unknown), BV22005943/1

51. Cecilia Ricketts, 15/10/2010, Hackney London E9, Spinster, BV21110413/1

52. Henry George Babatunde Taylor, (date of death unknown), St Pancras London WC1, (marital status unknown), BV2077793/1

53. John Uzoma, 14/07/2016, Camden London NW3, (marital status unknown), BV21815461/1

54. Akinlolu Olaniran Williams, 26/07/2013, Sheffield South Yorkshire, Bachelor, BV21315131/1

55. Akinola Williams, 16/02/2008, Northampton Northamptonshire, Widower, BV2081939/1

56. Nathaniel Babatunde Williams, 22/02/2009, Birmingham West Midlands, Bachelor, BV2092299/1

57. Samuel Ademola Williams, 21/01/2016, Wanstead London E11, Bachelor, BV21808988/1

58. Salihu Ajadi Yusuff, 4/1/2017, Leeds West Yorkshire, (marital status unknown), BV21713497/1

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) yesterday said that despite the threat to begin sale of petroleum products in dollars, the Dangote refinery had yet to commence transactions in foreign currencies.

President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, who spoke on Arise Television, noted that his members were still buying products in Naira, the local currency of Nigeria.

Despite the announcement of possible suspension, Gillis-Harry said that PETROAN had not been formally informed that any changes had been made to the sale of products, nor had the prices of fuel risen at the depots as of yesterday.

“So as far as I know, up until yesterday, our members who bought products are still buying in Nigeria and Naira. And I don’t think that Dangote is looking for how to create any panic in the system.

“But he’s also crying out loud for how the business of the refinery should be stable, which any businessman should do. But as far as buying in US dollars as of today, I cannot confirm that that has happened,” Gillis-Harry added.

Dangote had on March 19 announced the temporary suspension of the sale of petroleum products in Naira, implying that the company cannot continue to dispense in the local currency while purchasing crude oil in dollars.

In a statement, the facility located in Lagos owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, stated that if it continues to sell in Naira, it will experience a mismatch in sales proceeds and crude oil purchases. Since then, although there have been several meetings to sort out the issues, no agreement has been reached.

But Gillis-Harry stated that PETROAN has been at the forefront of the advocacy for Nigerian crude oil to be sold in Naira, stressing that the organisation believes that the policy should continue.

“And if for some reason that decision is going to be reviewed, my opinion is that it should be done in a full stakeholder value chain, so that way we do not just think that the government woke up on just these two policies.

“There is a stakeholder forum that’s already set up for the industry. It’s called the Petroleum Industry Stakeholder Forum that is being headed by the Minister of Petroleum (Oil). And we believe that this decision should be presented to the stakeholders so we can all make input as to the pros and cons of any of these policies,” the PETROAN president stated.

The organisation also stated that prices of products will continue to fluctuate, dictated by several factors, including landing cost of products, explaining that it cannot give a commitment on either increase or decrease in prices.

“The price of petroleum products, especially PMS, is dependent on different parameters, mostly the cost for production, cost for delivery, and the total cost of landing. So if there is a shift in any one of these, it will obviously impact the price.

“If the cost goes down, then we’ll have lower prices. If the cost goes up, then we’ll have higher prices. So it’s not fixed, and we do hope that it will keep this up-and-down movement until sometime we’ll be able to deliver it on a particular average,” he added.

Gillis-Harry reiterated an earlier statement by the organisation that Nigerians should not embark on panic buying of products, noting that the circumstances that will determine whether there will be product scarcity or not are not there yet.

“We have petroleum products to our knowledge. Most of our retail outlets are wet. And the quantity of products that are there is not what we can say will finish in one day. So there will be no need to engage in panic buying.

“But as far as the cost of one litre of PMS is concerned, it will still be determined by the factors that will determine how much is produced and how much it lands in our retail outlets,” he stressed.

However, he noted that fluctuation in prices had continued to affect the businesses of its members.

“It’s depleting our income, it’s depleting our purchasing power and the capital to invest. And that by itself could be one of the reasons why those who are importing increased their import, especially if their prices can compete very favourably and give lower prices to retail outlet owners and marketers,” Gillis-Harry argued.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has stated that the production of polypropylene by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals will revive Nigeria’s struggling textile industry and save the country $267 million in import costs.

In an interview on the Channels Business Incorporated Programme, the Director-General of MAN, Segun Kadir-Ajayi, highlighted the struggles of the textile industry, which was once thriving and employed over 25,000 workers aged between 18 and 40 in the northern region alone. He explained that many companies have been forced to shut down due to the absence of local polypropylene production and the scarcity of foreign exchange required for imports.

He further stated that the production of polypropylene by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals will ensure that Nigeria, which currently imports 90% of its annual polypropylene requirements (amounting to 250,000 metric tonnes), will now become a net exporter, generating foreign exchange to strengthen the economy.

“For us in the manufacturing sector, this is a welcome development. It more than covers the 250,000 metric tons that constitute our national demand, which has been severely lacking. You can imagine the sectors it will impact—the textile industry, the plastic industry, the furniture industry. We are looking at an amount in the region of $267 million being saved. This is the amount spent every year in scarce dollars to import these materials. It is a welcome development for manufacturers, as it will incentivize investment in the sector,” he said.

Dangote’s $2 billion Petrochemical Plant in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is designed to produce 77 grades of polypropylene. With a capacity of 900,000 metric tonnes per year and a turnover of $1.2 billion, it aims to meet the growing demand in plastic processing industries both in Africa and globally. The plant is expected to boost investment in downstream industries, create jobs, increase tax revenues, reduce foreign exchange outflow, and contribute to the country’s GDP growth.

A 37-year-old woman, Linda Stephen, on Tuesday, approached a Kaduna Customary Court, seeking divorce over her husband, Felix Stephen’s excessive sexual demands.

In her petition, Mrs Stephen, a resident of Ungwan Sunday in Kaduna, also accused her husband of beating her whenever she rejected his sexual advances. They have been married for six years.

She told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage as she can no longer cope with the husband’s excessive demand for sex.

“I urge the court to dissolve this marriage because I can’t stand his excessive sexual urge. He likes sex too much, and I can’t bear it.

“Most times, he would have sex with me from midnight till early hours of the morning. Even when I am crying, he will not stop.

“It has been three months since I moved out of his house, his relatives have been pleading with me to go back to him, but they do not know what I am facing,” she said.

She further said that her husband does not control himself whenever he needed sex, and that whenever she refused his sexual advances, he would beat her up, even in front of their two kids.


‘I’m ready to control my urge’ - Husband

Stephen, in his response, told the court that he is in love with his wife.

He pleaded with the court to help him pacify her, and not to grant her wish.

Stephen said he had been pleading with her wife not to seek for divorce, as he was now ready to control his sexual urge.

“I took my uncles and friends to her parents house to plead with her. But she refused to listen to us instead she walked out on us,’’ Stephen said.

He further pleaded with the court to give him time to sort things out and reconcile with his wife.

The judge, John Dauda, adjourned the matter until May 6 for a feedback and outcome of the reconciliation, while advising them to maintain peace.

By Andrew Ojiezel and Olamide Ojiokaiye


Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended four suspected fraudsters for allegedly diverting funds from airline operators domiciled in a commercial bank in Lagos.

The police revealed that the suspected fraudsters allegedly hacked into the accounts of two airline companies.

It was learnt that the suspects withdrew £138,924, equivalent to N277, 848 000 said to be lodged in the bank by the two airline companies when the fraudsters hacked into and moved it.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, who was represented by the Command Spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said a former staff of a new generation bank alleged that some unidentified persons stole the sum of £138,924.

The CP said the money which is equivalent to ₦277,848,000 was moved from the two domiciliary accounts of international airlines domiciled in the commercial bank.

He said, “Immediately after the funds were moved from one bank, they were transferred to another domiciliary account before the fraudsters eventually collected all the money.

“Following this, the bank reported the matter at the Lagos State Police Command and investigation immediately commenced. The leader of the suspects, Shuaib Olaleye, 27, was arrested on March 12 in Ogun State, and a Toyota Camry vehicle suspected to be the proceeds of the crime was recovered from him at his hideout.

“Others are Oladunjoye Adegoke 33, who was also arrested on March 13 in Victoria Island with a Toyota Camry (Pencil Light). Further investigation led to the arrest of Austin Alfred 38, who is the Supervisor of the bank’s Trade Services Department, and Jude.

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has slammed a N840 million fine on MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for infringing on the registered trademark “WEBPLUS,” owned by Citilink Accesscorp Limited.

Justice Aluko, who imposed the fine while delivering judgment on a suit marked HC/L/CS/1124/2014 filed by Citilink, held that MTN’s use of “MTN WEBPLUS” or “MTN WEB+” unlawfully mimicked the plaintiff’s trademark.

The judge awarded N70 million yearly damages, covering Citilink’s loss of business and brand dilution from 2014 to 2025.

The court also ordered MTN to pay the applicant 15 per cent interest per annum on the judgment sum until it is fully paid.

Citilink Accesscorp Limited, in a suit filed on July 17, 2024, accused MTN Nigeria of infringing on its trademark “WEBPLUS,” which was legally registered in 2001 under Class 9 and renewed in 2014.

Citilink had argued that MTN’s use of “MTN WEBPLUS” and similar variants constituted unauthorised usage, misleading the public and damaging its brand.

The applicant joined the Registrar of Trademarks, Patent Designs, as a defendant, representing all entities involved in the production, marketing, and sale of the infringing services.

The applicant had urged the court for a declaration that Citilink Accesscorp Limited is the sole legal owner of the “WEBPLUS” trademark.

The applicant further asked the court for a perpetual injunction restraining MTN from further use of “WEBPLUS” in any form and an order preventing the Registrar of Trademarks from issuing any trademark rights to MTN under “WEBPLUS” or any variation of it.

“An order for seizure by the Bailiff of this Court for the destruction of all the servers of the first defendant which hosted, still hosts, used and still being used for transmitting information, messages, advertisement, marketing details of the first defendant’s MTN WEBPLUS to the general public.

“A demand for N1.5 billion in general damages for infringement and compensation for legal fees and expenses incurred.”

But MTN Nigeria challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that a pending case at the Trademark Tribunal made the lawsuit invalid.

The company also claimed that its application for “MTN WEBPLUS” was made in 2012, when Citilink’s trademark registration had lapsed (between 2008 and 2014).

While stating that the applicant failed to prove trademark infringement, the telecommunications firm insisted that its use of “WEBPLUS” was an honest concurrent use, meaning it had no intention to deceive.

It further stated that the applicant lacked sufficient evidence to justify its financial claims.

In his ruling, Justice Aluko rejected MTN’s defence and upheld the applicant’s infringement claims.

However, the court denied some of the applicant’s additional demands, including the request for the seizure and destruction of MTN’s servers and a claim for N10 million in special damages due to insufficient proof.

Justice Aluko also granted a perpetual injunction against MTN, barring the telecom giant from further use of the disputed trademark.

Demola Olarewaju, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo got away with removing several governors because democracy was still nascent, and the news cycle and analysis at the time were much slower compared to now.

Olarewaju said this while criticising President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and his appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator of the state after suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months.

According to him, Tinubu is not as brilliant as many thought, buttressing his claim with the President’s handling of the economy, saying he has sent more Nigerians into poverty than even under the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“What is now glaringly even more obvious is that he is a poor student of history with the Rivers State of Emergency.

“To invite a retired military personnel to take power in Rivers State over political squabbles is such a dangerous move by Tinubu I’m still stunned by it,” [/b]he said on X.

Atiku’s aide went on to state why the kind of “dangerous move” taken by Tinubu in Rivers was successful when it was tried during the administration led by Obasanjo and his VP, Atiku.

[b]“OBJ could do it for several reasons, mainly because he was one of the boys. Tinubu’s attempt to do the same may easily backfire.

“Twenty-two years ago, a sitting Governor, Chris Ngige, was abducted and held hostage for hours—it was Nigeria’s first democratic experiment since 1983, and social media wasn’t yet a thing; they could keep it hushed.

“What could happen under OBJ from ’99 to ’07 is impossible to replicate today,” he said.

He questioned Tinubu’s decision to invite a retired military personnel to take over Rivers State over a squabble between politicians.

“Has he never read the speech of the first coup attempt ever in Nigeria?

“Obasanjo removed several governors when he was President—tell Emperor Tinubu also to attempt it since he doesn’t understand that seasons are different.

“Baba could do all of that because democracy was still nascent, and the news cycle/analysis was very slow compared to now,” he said.

A supreme court ruling in 2006 effectively bars Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers state, from approaching the court to seek an enforcement of his rights, TheCable can report.

However, he can initiate an action at the federal high court but chances of a speedy resolution are bleak, according to lawyers who spoke with TheCable.

In a live national broadcast on March 19, President Bola Tinubu announced the six-month suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state assembly.

Fubara is a member of the leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He also appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s administrator.

While Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants the president the authority to declare a state of emergency under specific conditions, legal experts have argued that suspending a sitting governor, deputy governor, and lawmakers exceeds the constitutional powers of the presidency.


LACK OF LOCUS

On May 18, 2004, then-President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Plateau state following violent ethnic and religious clashes.

He suspended Joshua Dariye, the governor, and the state legislature, appointing a retired general, Chris Alli, as the state’s sole administrator.

Aggrieved, the Plateau state government and the state house of assembly filed a lawsuit at the supreme court (SC. 113/2004) on June 24, 2004, challenging the president’s actions.

However, the defendants — the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the national assembly — objected, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to sue on behalf of the state.

Alli, as the appointed administrator, also filed a counter-affidavit stating that he had not authorised anyone to challenge the president’s decision in court.

“As the officer conferred with the executive powers to administer Plateau state I have not instructed anybody whomsoever to institute any action challenging the validity or otherwise of the constitutional exercise of powers by the President and national assembly with regards to Plateau state,” Alli averred.

Delivering judgment on January 20, 2006, a seven-member panel of the apex court led by then-chief justice of Nigeria, Muhammadu Uwais, struck out the case on jurisdictional grounds.

Idris Kutigi, who delivered the lead judgment, ruled that the appointed administrator had full control of the state and had not given consent for the suit.

Since there was no legal dispute between the administrator and the federal government, the court lacked the original jurisdiction to hear the case, he said.

“My conclusion therefore is that the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs did not authorise this suit and no instruction was given for filing same at the time it was filed,” Kutigi held.

“The suit having been filed without the authorisation by the plaintiffs deserves one thing only. That one thing is simply to strike out the case in its entirety.”

This precedent means Fubara cannot sue in the name of the Rivers state government since he no longer holds executive authority under the state of emergency.


CAN’T FILE IN PERSONAL CAPACITY

The supreme court, in Plateau State v. Attorney-General of the Federation, also clarified that under Section 232(1) of the 1999 Constitution, it only has original jurisdiction over disputes between the federal government and a state — not cases filed by individuals in their personal capacity.

The court struck out all reliefs sought on behalf of Dariye, the deputy governor, members of the house of assembly, and state commissioners, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain their personal grievances.

This sets a precedent: Fubara cannot personally approach the supreme court to challenge his suspension.

Other governors elected on the platform of the PDP have resolved to approach the supreme court to challenge the declaration of emergency rule.

Fubara is notably not listed as a plaintiff.


SOLACE AT THE HIGH COURT, PEHARPS?

If Fubara cannot seek redress at the supreme court, could the federal high court offer an alternative legal pathway?

The federal high court has jurisdiction over cases involving the enforcement of fundamental rights, constitutional interpretation, and disputes involving the federal government.

Under Section 251 especially subsection (r) of the 1999 Constitution, the court can hear cases where the federal government or any of its agencies is a party.

This raises the question of whether Fubara or not can challenge his suspension by arguing that it violates his fundamental rights or seek judicial review arguing that his suspension exceeds presidential powers.

Ultimately, while the federal high court might offer a window for legal action, success would depend on whether Fubara’s legal team can establish that the president acted beyond his constitutional powers.

Even then, lawyers contend the case would likely face objections from the federal government and could take years to resolve — by which time the six-month suspension would have lapsed.

Marriage shattered at airport

One such case that stirred significant online debate involved Henry Osah, a Nigerian man who recently arrived in the UK with his children to reunite with his wife.

Upon arrival, his wife allegedly took their children’s passports and declared their marriage over, leaving him stranded at the airport.

The incident was first reported by an X user, @jayydubby, who claimed that Osah had sacrificed everything to support his wife’s move to the UK, only to be abandoned upon his arrival.

A plea was made online for assistance in securing him a job that could help him remain in the country and fight for custody of his children.

However, the narrative quickly shifted as allegations surfaced that Osah had a history of domestic violence.

X user, @tiffanyibeh, refuted claims that the wife’s actions were unjustified, alleging that Osah had been physically abusive for years and that she had gathered evidence of bruises and recorded incidents of violence, which had already been reported to the police before his arrival.

Another user, @peaceobule, reinforced the claims, calling Osah a “serial wife-beater” and stating that his deportation would be justified. “Your family friend deserves everything that came to him,” he wrote, implying that the wife had merely taken the opportunity to free herself from years of abuse.

Another notable case involved a Nigerian singer, Osemwengie Rejoice, popularly known as Young Mummy, who took to Facebook Live to expose her partner’s alleged deceit.

According to her, he had lied about being single when they started their relationship, concealing the fact that he had a family in Nigeria. After she became pregnant, they moved in together, and she claimed that he became abusive, controlling, and violent.

In her live broadcast, Young Mummy recounted how he allegedly tried to isolate her from her family and professional contacts.

“If I dey talk to my sister, he go bring quarrel come, if I dey talk to my producer, he go bring quarrel come,” she lamented in Pidgin English.

She also accused him of making threats, stating that he had warned her, “I go dagger you.”

During the broadcast, she was seen preventing him from entering her home, threatening to call the police as he pleaded for forgiveness, insisting he had nowhere else to go.

London Metropolitan Police officer’s response

With numerous such cases emerging, the police reportedly urged Nigerian women to refrain from filing unnecessary reports against their husbands.

Officers were said to have noted an influx of domestic complaints from Nigerian households, many of which could have been resolved amicably without police intervention.

A Nigerian community leader in the UK, who did not give her name, in a video which has now gone viral, stated, “It has becoming an embarrassment. Women who have been married to their husbands for over a decade in Nigeria suddenly get to the UK and start calling the police at the slightest provocation. Many do it simply to establish independence and gain sole custody of the children.”

The alleged statement from the police triggered a wave of reactions. Some argue that women have every right to seek protection, especially in cases of domestic abuse. Others, however, believe that some women are abusing the system, using police intervention as a tool to settle marital disputes or gain legal advantages.

The underlying issues

This growing trend raises important questions about cultural differences, marital expectations, and the impact of immigration on Nigerian families in the UK. While some Nigerian men may struggle to adapt to the UK’s strict laws on domestic conduct, others argue that certain women use these laws as a weapon rather than a shield.

Moreover, the sudden shift in power dynamics, where women who may have previously endured poor treatment in Nigeria now find themselves in a society that empowers them to take legal action, has further complicated marital relationships.

A UK-based social worker, speaking anonymously, remarked, “We’ve seen cases where some women use the law not as a means of protection but as a strategic tool. It is a double-edged sword. Real cases of abuse should be reported, but frivolous cases clog the system and make it harder for genuine victims to get help.”

‘Stop weaponising the system against your husbands’

Meanwhile, an official of the MET police has issued a stark warning to Nigerian women in the United Kingdom, urging them to desist from using law enforcement as a tool to oust their husbands from their homes.

The caution was delivered during a special women’s programme at Divine Restoration International Church, located at Hanworth House, John Ruskin Street, Camberwell, London.

Addressing the congregation, largely composed of Nigerian women, particularly of Yoruba descent, the officer, who alternated between English and Yoruba, expressed concern over the growing trend of family breakdowns fuelled by false allegations and police interventions.

According to the officer, it has been estimated that over 70 per cent of Yoruba women in England, Wales, and Ireland are single mothers, colloquially referred to as ‘Dalemosu’ in Yoruba. Many, he noted, had threatened their partners with police action, a practice that not only fractures homes but also deprives children of fatherly guidance.

The officer stressed that both parents play vital roles in a child’s upbringing, warning that using the justice system to remove fathers from their children’s lives would have long-term consequences on family stability and social cohesion.

While acknowledging that law enforcement should be contacted in genuine cases of abuse, the officer cautioned against fabricating accusations to gain an upper hand in marital disputes.

He also urged the women to be vigilant against the rising tide of knife crimes in the UK, a crisis that disproportionately affects young people, including children of African heritage.

While the police statement sparked mixed reactions, with some women defending their right to seek protection in troubled marriages, others acknowledged that some individuals abuse the system.

Many argue that the complexities of immigration, financial independence, and shifting gender roles contribute to marital tensions in the Diaspora, making it crucial to approach these issues with fairness and restraint.

The call from law enforcement serves as a reminder that while legal protections exist for victims of domestic abuse, these laws should not be manipulated to unfairly punish spouses or separate children from their fathers.

“Let peace reign in your homes. Allow your children to benefit from the love of both parents. The law is there to protect, not to be weaponised,” the Met officer said.

Why women abroad are quick to kick their husbands out

The phenomenon of women abroad swiftly ejecting their husbands from their homes, particularly among Nigerian immigrants, is a multifaceted issue deeply rooted in sociological and psychological factors, said senior psychologist, Dr Usen Essien.

Unlike in Nigeria, where cultural and economic realities often make it difficult for women to separate from their husbands even in cases of conflict, the UK and other first-world countries present a vastly different socio-legal landscape that empowers women to take drastic measures.

In contrast to Nigeria, where the legal system often favours men in marital disputes and where gender norms discourage women from reporting abuse, the UK provides immediate legal recourse.

Essien said women who felt threatened, rightly or wrongly, could call the police, obtain a restraining order, or seek emergency housing support.

This legal framework emboldens women to take action, whereas, in Nigeria, many would hesitate due to fear of social stigma, family interference, or lack of alternatives.

Essien added that the availability of social welfare benefits in the UK played a significant role.

“Many Nigerian women who migrate to the UK quickly realise that they are not financially dependent on their husbands as they might have been in Nigeria.

“Government support, including child benefits, housing assistance, and job opportunities, means that a woman does not have to stay in a marriage solely for survival.

“This contrasts with Nigeria, where economic reliance on husbands remains high, and leaving a marriage could mean financial ruin,” he added.

Changing gender dynamics

Migration often disrupts traditional gender roles. In Nigeria, many men are accustomed to being the dominant figures in the home, providing financial support while their wives maintain the household.

However, when a couple relocates abroad, these dynamics frequently shift.

Many women find better job opportunities, access to education, and increased independence, which can create tension if their husbands struggle to adapt.

Men who fail to adjust to these new power dynamics may find themselves on the receiving end of their wives’ frustration, leading to an increased likelihood of separation.

By Godfrey George


Across Europe and North America, Nigerian men are increasingly speaking out about a troubling trend: wives using legal loopholes to have them ejected from their homes, gain custody of their children, and even secure immigration benefits. While domestic abuse remains a serious issue, some women allegedly manipulate protective laws meant for genuine victims to punish or control their spouses, writes GODFREY GEORGE

Edith was only 16 when Chukwudubem Eze came for her hand in marriage. Both from neighbouring communities in Imo State, their families had built a strong bond over the years.

“Her father and my father had been friends for more than 20 years. I had always seen her as part of the family since she was born,” said Eze, who was 26 at the time.

Both families welcomed the decision, but Edith’s parents had one condition: Eze must fund her education up to a bachelor’s degree. She had always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and Eze promised to support her.

The young man was already planning a perilous journey through the desert to Europe and felt it necessary to pay Edith’s bride price and move the teenager to his family home before his departure.

“I didn’t touch her, not even once, because my trip was the next month. She was always with my mother, who was teaching her how to cook and be a good wife. She was very beautiful, I must say, but to say that I touched her is a lie,” he stressed.

A few weeks later, he set off on his journey. He travelled by road through several African countries, including Niger and Mali, before arriving in Libya.

Once in Libya, Eze was arrested and imprisoned for two weeks.

“I lost all communication with my family. They kept asking me to pay for my release and call home. I did everything I could, but I barely had anything. Eventually, I was sold into slavery and forced to work for months before the man’s son helped me get to the Mediterranean Sea for the crossing to Italy,” he said.

His journey took a detour, forcing him to pass through Algeria before finally making it to Italy. From there, he moved to Spain and then France, where he sought asylum but was denied.

“While in France, I finally managed to reach Edith and told her everything I had been through. I had contracted tuberculosis, and parts of my lungs were almost destroyed due to overcrowding and the horrific conditions in the Libyan prison.

“Edith prayed for me and told me that her father had passed away. The family was preparing for his burial, which was to take place in four months because he was a titled man. I worked like a camel and sent her money to contribute to the funeral expenses.

“I also paid her school fees and sent her stipends every month. Bear in mind, I did all this as an illegal immigrant. I was constantly afraid of being caught and deported,” he said.

Edith moves to the UK

Edith eventually sat her Senior School Certificate Examinations and expressed her desire to attend nursing school. Eze said he was aware of her plans and was prepared to cover the costs.

“I was sending her money for education so that, even if I was deported, she would have something to fall back on. I really loved this girl. It was in her final year in nursing school that I decided to try my luck at moving to the United Kingdom,” he said.

A friend introduced Eze to an immigration lawyer in France, who claimed it was possible to secure legal entry into the UK, even for his family.

After extensive consultations, the lawyer suggested that Edith, now a qualified nurse, apply to work in the UK. Eze could then join her later.

Eze embraced the idea and shared it with Edith, but she was initially hesitant.

“She insisted I get her a visa to join me in France. She didn’t understand that I was undocumented. Any day, I could be deported. I explained repeatedly, but she wouldn’t listen.

“We proceeded with the UK process without her full enthusiasm. I spent money. I worked four jobs, surviving on only seven hours of sleep a week. I worked at a factory at night, then another during the day. I was paid in cash because of my status, and sometimes, I was short-changed. I couldn’t even complain because they threatened to report me to immigration. I endured all of this until Edith arrived in the United Kingdom.

“A few months later, she invited me to join her. The lawyer instructed me to return to Nigeria first before travelling to the UK legally. I followed the plan.

“It was back in Nigeria that I learnt Edith had a child with another man and had taken the child with her to the UK. I refused to believe it. But to my greatest shock, when I arrived in the UK, there was a four-year-old in the picture. Even my immigration lawyer knew but kept it from me,” he said.

Devastated, Eze spent his first few weeks in the UK embroiled in endless arguments with Edith over her betrayal.

“Remember, I married this girl. I paid her bride price. I did everything the proper way. She even bears my surname. I couldn’t understand how she could do this to me. I called her mother, who admitted they didn’t know how to tell me.

“My own mother had passed away two years before I returned. My father is a reserved man, and I doubt he would have broken the news to me. My siblings tried to hint at it whenever I called, but they weren’t explicit. Even if they had told me, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. The reason I went to the village to find a wife instead of marrying a city girl in Lagos was because I wanted someone decent. I couldn’t believe she had done that to me,” Eze said.

Weeks passed, but the arguments persisted. One night, Edith left the house and didn’t return for two days, leaving the four-year-old in Eze’s care. He was utterly unprepared for the responsibility.

He was still unemployed, as they had yet to arrange childcare—a requirement under UK Child Protection Law. Both parents could not simply leave the child unattended.

When she eventually returned, Eze confronted her. She slapped him.

“This wasn’t the first time she had slapped me. Whenever I tried to correct her, she would hit me. I didn’t retaliate.

“I took her inside and laid her on the bed. The child was crying and throwing a tantrum. She had eaten nothing but a burger and some leftover macaroni and cheese. There was no food in the house. I wasn’t working, so I depended entirely on Edith, who never failed to remind me that I owed my presence in the UK to her generosity,” he said.

‘He abuses me and my daughter’

A few days after the incident, Eze claimed Edith brought up the issue of hiring a nanny so he could go out and work.

According to him, Edith began lamenting about how ungrateful he was and threatened to send him back to Nigeria. This was the first time she made such a statement, Eze confirmed.

It took her only four weeks to make good on her threats.

A few police officers arrived one evening and invited Eze to the station to respond to allegations of “physical and sexual abuse, battery, and assault” against both Edith and the minor.

“It felt like a dream. I had never touched that girl. I admit that sometimes Edith made me angry, and we argued, but nothing that warranted this level of betrayal. Apparently, every fight we had, she recorded and submitted to the police, who built a complete case against me.

“It wasn’t even two months before I was asked to leave the house voluntarily or be forcibly evicted. I called Edith’s family, pleading with them endlessly, but it was all to no avail. Then, one Thursday, law enforcement officers arrived, and I was ordered to vacate the house.

“When I explained that I had nowhere else to go, they told me to return to Nigeria,” he said.

For nearly five months, Eze said he lived on street corners, in churches, and at community centres, relying on charity and begging to survive.

One day, in desperation, he decided to go to the hospital where Edith worked, only to find out that she had taken out a restraining order against him and labelled him ‘dangerous’.

“I wasn’t dangerous when I was putting her through school. I wasn’t dangerous when she cheated on me and brought a four-year-old into the country I paid every dime for her to enter. Now that she’s meant to support me, I’ve suddenly become dangerous,” he lamented.

Life on standstill

Under UK immigration law, an individual’s right to remain in the country on a spouse or partner visa is contingent upon the continuation of their relationship.

If the relationship ends due to separation or divorce, the visa holder is typically required to inform the Home Office, which may curtail their visa, often to a 60-day period, after which they must either apply for a different visa category or leave the UK.

In Eze’s case, his immigration status was dependent on his relationship with Edith. Following their separation, he said his right to remain in the UK was reassessed, and without an alternative basis to stay, he was required to leave the country.

After returning to Nigeria, Eze made several attempts to re-enter the UK but faced rejections.

UK immigration rules impose re-entry bans on individuals who have breached immigration laws. The duration of these bans vary, according to the UK Home Office website.

For those who leave the UK voluntarily at their own expense within six months of being given a removal notice, they may get a two-year ban.

Individuals who leave voluntarily but at the expense of the Secretary of State, either within six months of a removal notice or after their appeal rights were exhausted may get a five-year ban. Those who are deported or removed from the UK, or used deception in their application may get a 10-year ban.

According to www.gov.uk, given that Eze was required to leave the UK following the end of his relationship and did not overstay or breach other conditions, he may not have been subject to a mandatory re-entry ban. However, any new visa application would be rigorously assessed, and his previous immigration history could influence the decision, our correspondent learnt.

Edith denied allegations

After two emails were sent to Edith to respond to the allegations levelled against her by Eze, on Friday afternoon, she called this reporter with her UK number on WhatsApp, denying any wrongdoing.

“I don’t want to go back in time to start peeling off old wounds, but Dubem and I ended things a long time ago, and it was mutual. His former lawyer (name withheld) is aware. I wonder why he is now coming to the media to complain,” she said.

When asked about having a child for another man while still in the marriage with Eze, she said, “I have nothing to say to that. You have heard his own side. You don’t want me to state my own side.”

Asked to state her own version of events, she said, “I am a busy nurse. I don’t have the time. I only responded to you because I am required to do so by law. I have told you all I can say now. Dubem and I are over and I did not exploit any laws against him. He is lying against me.”

Further questions were met with silence before the line went dead.

The UK and domestic violence

In the United Kingdom, domestic abuse, encompassing physical violence, emotional manipulation, psychological intimidation, sexual coercion, and financial control, is unequivocally condemned and addressed through comprehensive legal frameworks.

These protections extend to all individuals within the UK, irrespective of their immigration status or nationality.

However, there have been cases, like that of Eze, where this law has been strategically used to hound and chase husbands away from their homes. Although some of these cases have turned out to be true, there has been a trend of calculated manipulation to oust immigrant husbands from their homes and even from the UK.

One such sad cases was relayed by a Nigerian lawyer, Dele Olawanle, who, in October 2023, shared a story of a Nigerian woman in the UK who falsely accused her husband and father of her three kids of raping and abusing her for over 12 years.

According to Olawanle, the man had relocated his wife and three children to the UK as dependents, only for the woman to turn against him in a bid to secure independent residency.

In a shocking twist, she alleged that her husband had subjected her to 12 years of rape and domestic abuse, leading to his arrest.

“The husband was shocked when he got to the police station and the officers told him his wife had accused him of raping and abusing her for 12 years. He was devastated and cried throughout his time in custody,” Olawanle recounted.

However, a senior police officer took a special interest in the case and decided to conduct a deeper investigation.

Upon seizing the woman’s mobile phone, they discovered text messages from third parties instructing her on what to tell the authorities in order to secure indefinite leave to remain in the UK without her husband.

“The investigation exposed that she had been receiving messages advising her on how to frame her husband, ensuring he would be out of the picture while she remained in the UK with the children,” Olawanle stated.

With this revelation, the woman was subsequently arrested in October 2023 and detained.

Olawanle used the case to caution Nigerians considering relocation abroad, urging them to think beyond economic gains and consider whether their marriages and family structures could withstand the pressures of living in a different legal and cultural system.

“Before you decide to relocate to the UK, do not only think of the money you will make or the qualifications you will get. Think also of whether your marriage will survive and whether your children will not be taken away by social services or turned against you,” he warned.

He emphasised that many Nigerian men were now facing similar ordeals, where their wives manipulated Western legal systems to their advantage, often at the expense of their husbands.

“This applies to both men and women. Many people who lose their families abroad never considered the consequences before moving. Are you sure you are ready for it?” he questioned.

Strict laws against domestic abuse

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 serves as the cornerstone of the UK’s approach to combating domestic violence. It provides a clear statutory definition of domestic abuse, recognising it as not only physical violence but also emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.

This holistic definition acknowledges the multifaceted nature of abuse, ensuring that all forms are subject to legal scrutiny and intervention.

Perpetrators of domestic abuse may be charged with various criminal offences, including but not limited to assault, harassment, stalking, and coercive control.

The latter, introduced as a specific offense under the Serious Crime Act 2015, criminalises patterns of controlling behaviour that cause someone to fear violence or experience serious alarm or distress. Law enforcement agencies are mandated to investigate allegations thoroughly, and victims are encouraged to report incidents without fear of prejudice related to their immigration status.

Support for immigrant victims

Recognising the unique vulnerabilities of immigrant victims, the UK has instituted specific provisions to offer protection and support.

Immigrants on spousal or partner visas whose relationships have broken down due to domestic abuse can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), allowing them to settle permanently in the UK.

This provision ensures that victims are not compelled to remain in abusive relationships for fear of jeopardising their immigration status.

Also, there is the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession. This concession grants temporary leave (usually three months) to victims, enabling them to access public funds and support services while their ILR application is processed. It provides a crucial safety net for those who may be destitute or in urgent need of assistance.

Application process, evidence requirements

Victims seeking ILR under the domestic abuse provisions must complete the SET (DV) form and provide evidence substantiating the abuse.

Acceptable evidence includes police reports, medical records, court orders, or statements from support organisations. The Home Office assesses applications on the balance of probabilities, meaning the evidence must show that it is more likely than not that the relationship breakdown resulted from domestic abuse.

A public affairs analyst, Amilda Fraser, has described the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State as a strategic move to weaken the influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the state.

According to Fraser, the emergency rule is also to shield Governor Siminalayi Fubara from impeachment.

In a statement on Friday, Fraser described Tinubu’s decision as a multifaceted strategy aimed at restoring order, safeguarding economic interests, and recalibrating the state’s political landscape.

She said, “It temporarily shields Governor Fubara from political threats while simultaneously diminishing former governor Wike’s influence, highlighting Tinubu’s adeptness in navigating complex political terrains.”

According to her, the move effectively stops the impeachment process initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly, allowing Fubara to regroup and strengthen his political base without immediate pressure from legislators loyal to Wike.

She further stated that the suspension of the Assembly, which has been largely controlled by Wike’s loyalists, significantly reduced the former governor’s ability to exert political influence over state affairs.

“With the legislative arm out of the picture, Wike’s political maneuvering within Rivers State is temporarily curtailed, indirectly checking his power.

“Additionally, rising security concerns, including incidents of pipeline vandalism—such as the recent fire on the Trans Niger Pipeline—have heightened fears over the state’s stability and economic security.

“With emergency rule in place, Governor Fubara now has a critical window to consolidate his political support and address internal divisions. Freed from immediate legislative threats, he can focus on governance, strengthening alliances, and implementing policies that could enhance his political standing ahead of the eventual return to normalcy,” said Fraser.

By Bayo Wahab


Prof Pat Utomi has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s motive for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing there was no ground for such a move.

In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2024, President Tinubu cited militant vandalization of pipelines and the political situation in Rivers as reasons for consigning the state to emergency rule.

The President also nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the state’s affairs after suspending Governor Siminalayi Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State.

However, Prof Utomi faulted President Tinubu’s decision in an interview on Channels Television, saying that the political crisis in Rivers did not warrant a state of emergency.

The professor of political economy asserted that even when militants in Rivers were blowing up pipelines during the previous administration, the state was not subjected to emergency rule.

Prof Utomi further questioned the president for not declaring a state of emergency in Lagos State during the crisis involving the Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his colleagues.

“What is the problem in Rivers State that warranted a state of emergency? Tell me what it is. When pipelines were blowing up like popcorn in Rivers State, was there a state of emergency?”

Why did he not declare a state of emergency in Lagos State when the assembly was running back and forth? Why Rivers? There’s something about fairness, equity and pure decency, and I don’t see it here, and I think it’s a shame that they want to rubbish the democracy that we all fought so hard for.”

Prof Utomi also blasted the National Assembly for endorsing President Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

According to him, the endorsement was an insult to Nigerians.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, accusing him of using recent pipeline attacks as a pretext to unseat Governor Siminalayi Fubara and impose federal control over the oil-rich state.

In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of its Board of Trustees and expanded National Executive Committee on Wednesday, PANDEF described the president’s actions as a “betrayal” of the Niger Delta people and an unjustifiable assault on democratic governance.

PANDEF rejected Tinubu’s justification for the emergency rule, which cited a blown-up pipeline as a security threat.

The group argued that pipeline attacks have occurred in various parts of the country, including under Tinubu’s administration, without leading to military intervention or emergency declarations.

“Many Nigerian states, particularly in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central, experience daily assaults on their very existence. Yet, no state of emergency has been declared,” PANDEF said, questioning the selective nature of the president’s decision.

The forum also criticised the immediate militarization of Rivers State, noting that security forces had not even conducted a full investigation into the cause of the pipeline explosion before the emergency rule was imposed.

According to PANDEF, the declaration of emergency came just days after Governor Fubara had complied with the Supreme Court’s ruling and the president’s directive to present the 2025 state budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The group highlighted that the Assembly had instead gone on an indefinite adjournment, only to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor shortly afterwards.

“This sequence of events raises serious doubts about the true intent of the emergency rule,” PANDEF stated, suggesting that the move was orchestrated to sideline Fubara and consolidate power in favour of political interests aligned with the federal government.

The group also referenced President Tinubu’s past stance against state of emergency declarations, particularly his criticism of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s similar action in 2013.

At the time, Tinubu had accused Jonathan’s government of using emergency rule to “muzzle elected governments” and push partisan agendas – an accusation PANDEF now directs at the current administration.

PANDEF called on the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, to reject what it termed an “onslaught on democratic governance.”

“The legislature must show courage and stand on the side of truth by rejecting this unprecedented and brazen action,” the communiqué read.

Despite its strong condemnation, PANDEF reiterated its commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis and vowed to explore all constitutional remedies to challenge the emergency rule in Rivers State.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to sell petrol in US dollars if Dangote Refinery begins selling its products in foreign currency.

The move was in response to concerns that using dollars for transactions could lead to increased pressure on the local currency, potentially causing inflation and affecting energy security.

LEADERSHIP reports on Wednesday that Dangote Refinery has temporarily suspended it petrol sales in Naira until government resumes crude-for-naira-sale arrangement.

It said the decision was necessary to avoid a mismatch between its sales proceeds and crude oil purchase obligations, which are currently denominated in US dollars, the management noted.

“To date, our sales of petroleum products in Naira have exceeded the value of Naira-denominated crude we have received. As a result, we must temporarily adjust our sales currency to align with our crude procurement currency,” the statement added.
[[b]/b]
But, IPMAN’s national publicity secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, who reacted to the development, said that selling fuel in dollars would be a necessary measure to mitigate the financial strain on marketers if Dangote Refinery adopts dollar-denominated transactions.

“This latest development, if implemented, will definitely put pressure on the Naira. It is not a very good thing for independent marketer.

“So, we want to appeal to federal government to continue to give Dangote products in Naira so that it will not raise the demand for the dollars and put pressure on the Naira. Any moment from now, the dollar will be going up.And once the dollar goes up, it will bring unnecessary inflation, excruciating inflation, which is not good for our energy security.

“If the issue of dollar crude for product is true in Dangote, that means we at IPMAN will also resolve to sell our fuel in dollars because it will really put a pressure on us,” Ukadike said.

He, therefore, urged the federal government to ensure that Dangote Refinery continues to transact in Naira to avoid economic challenges.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following protracted political crises caused by a power struggle between the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister.

The crises affected governance and crippled the legislature in the oil-rich state.

“I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis,” Mr Tinubu said in a nationwide speech in which he declared the state of emergency.

“The Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” the president said.


Tinubu heaps blame on Fubara

One thing that stood out in Mr Tinubu’s speech was that the president blamed Mr Fubara while he stayed silent on Mr Wike’s role in the crises.

He mentioned how Mr Fubara demolished the Rivers House of Assembly Complex on 13 December 2023 and “has, up until now, 14 months after, not rebuilt same.”

Mr Tinubu dwelled extensively on the 28 February 2025 Supreme Court judgement, which tipped the balance of power in favour of Mr Wike and his allies.

He referenced a portion of the judgement which said the suspended governor chose “to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot”.

He also said that the Supreme Court, in its judgement, read out “a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.”

Mr Tinubu also referenced the Supreme Court reinstatement of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers as legitimate members of the Rivers House of Assembly and quoted the court ruling that said Mr Fubara cannot prevent the lawmakers from taking part in the assembly’s proceedings.

He said the governor had yet to implement the Supreme Court order on the presentation of the 2025 Rivers appropriation bill to the pro-Wike lawmakers.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Fubara attempted to present a budget proposal to the assembly but was rebuffed by the pro-Wike lawmakers. When he visited the assembly quarters to present the budget, he was denied access to the facility.

“Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them,” Mr Tinubu said.

“The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.

“Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together,” he added.


What PANDEF said of Wike, peace effort in Rivers crises

From the onset, Mr Wike has been a key figure in the Rivers crises. He has been the power behind the Speaker of the Rivers assembly and the 26 other lawmakers.

An influential Niger Delta group, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), a few days ago, accused Mr Wike of stalling the group’s effort to broker peace between the minister and Mr Fubara.

The Chairperson of PANDEF, Godknows Igali, said the group set up a Peace and Reconciliation Committee in October 2024 to address the Rivers crisis.

“While the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has demonstrated a willingness to engage with this committee, the Honourable Minister has consistently rebuffed all attempts to reach him by opening up at dialogue.

“Given his open hostility and dismissive attitude toward PANDEF, the organisation can no longer subject these esteemed senior Nigerians on a peace mission to such levels of disregard and disrespect,” said Mr Igali, a former Nigerian ambassador to Sweden.

President Tinubu did not mention Mr Wike’s name throughout his declaration of state of emergency speech.

Where the president would have probably mentioned Mr Wike’s name, he preferred to use “contending parties”.

“I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis,” the president said.

The president’s decision to essentially leave out Mr Wike from criticism in the Rivers crisis was highlighted by the Rivers government in its official reaction to the suspension.

The state’s information commissioner, Warisenibo Johnson, in a statement, questioned why the president suspended Mr Fubara from office but did not suspend Mr Wike as FCT minister despite what he said were the governor’s efforts to implement the Supreme Court ruling and maintain peace in the state.

“Unfortunately, at every turn, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the minister of FCT, frustrated our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult,” he said. “That is why it is shocking that Mr President sacked the Governor and left his minister who is the principal actor.”

by Alao Abiodun


The crisis within Rivers State traced back to October 2023 following the political fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The bombing of a section of the Rivers House of Assembly Complex on 29 October 2023 heightened tension.

Wike and Fubara have been locked in a protracted fight over the control of the political structures in Rivers State.

On 7th October 2024, three local government secretariats were set ablaze in Rivers.

In December 2023, the 27 lawmakers “defected” from the PDP to the APC, triggering a constitutional debate.

In response, the Rivers State High Court declared the seats of the defecting lawmakers vacant. The decision was challenged, leading to a series of legal battles.


Here is a timeline of the Rivers political crisis:

29 October 2023 – A section of the State House of Assembly Complex went into flames after suspected arsonists bombed it. This was on the eve of the impeachment attempt on Governor Fubara.

30 October 2023 – Some lawmakers, backed by Wike, initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara

31 October 2023 – President Bola Tinubu mediated in the political rift between Fubara and Wike at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The mediation failed after a short while.

11 December 2023 – The 27 pro-Wike lawmakers announced their defection from the PDP to APC, citing divisions within the PDP.

12 December 2023 – A State High Court in Port Harcourt, via an order, cleared the way for Governor Fubara-backed four-member Assembly to hold legislative business without interference by the Amaewhule-led faction.


13 December 2023 – Edison Ehie, the speaker of the four-member faction, declared vacant the seats of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers who defected to the APC, setting the tone for another phase of the political fight.

Fubara presented the N800 billion 2024 budget to the four-member assembly.

14 December 2023 – Fubara signed the N800 billion 2024 appropriation bill into law. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Zacchaeus Adangor, resigned, citing “personal principles.”

15 December 2023 – More Wike’s loyalists resigned as commissioners, increasing the tally to nine.

18 December 2023 –Fubara and Wikesigned a peace deal at a meeting convened by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

20 December 2023 – The lawmakers withdrew theimpeachment notice against Governor Fubara.

31 December 2023 – Ehie, the factional speaker, who led a four-member Fubara-backed assembly, resigned.

4 January 2024 –Ehie withdrew a contempt suit against pro-Wike lawmakers, suggesting the political crisis in the state was approaching an end.

17 January 2024 – Rivers Assembly reconfirmed the nine pro-Wike commissioners who resigned from the cabinet in December

22 January 2024 – A Federal High Court in Abujaset aside the state’s N800 billion budget signed into law in December 2023 by Governor Fubara.

26 January 2024 – The Rivers Assembly stripped Governor Fubara of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government councils after the assembly rejected the governor’s veto against its legislation.

24 April 2024 – Governor Fubara reshuffled cabinet, and redeployedthree Wike-backed commissioners. The commissioners rejected their redeployment and resignedhours later.

6 May 2024 – Governor Fubara declared that Rivers had no House of Assembly.

8 May 2024 – Victor Oko-Jumbo, a lawmaker from Bonny Constituency, emerged as the speaker of a three-member Rivers Assembly, creating more confusion and deepening the political crisis in the state.

10 May 2024 – Fubara relocated the legislative business of the Assembly to the Government House in Port Harcourt. A State High Court in Port Harcourt barred Wike’s allies from parading themselves as lawmakers.

13 May 2024—Governor Fubaravowed to probe the administration of his predecessor, Wike

15 May 2024 – Five more commissioners resigned, citing various reasons.

21 May 2024 – A State High Court in Port Harcourt nullified the amended Rivers local government law, which granted tenure extension for the local government council officials in the state

7 June 2024 – Rivers State Government approved N19.6 billion for the reconstruction of the Rivers House of Assembly Complex, six months after it was demolished.

18 June 2024 – Fubara, in a statewide broadcast, directed outgoing council officials to vacate office immediately following the expiration of their tenure.

19 June 2024: Governor Fubara inaugurated the chairpersons of the caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas in the state.

25 June 2024 –Dynamite exploded near Hotel Presidential along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, during a protest in solidarity with Wike.

4 July 2024—The Appeal Court in Abuja reinstated the pro-Wike lawmakers. The appellate court said the lower court lacked jurisdiction to grant the ex parte order it issued.

9 July 2024 – Pro-Wike lawmakers gave Governor Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to re-present the 2024 budget to them for consideration, their first legislative action after reinstatement.

21 July 2024 – A Federal High Court in Abuja declined pro-Wike lawmakers’ prayer to stop Governor Fubara from spending state funds.

13 August 2024 – Wikevowed never to support Fubara again in his political life, saying his successor was “ungrateful”.

25 August 2024 – APP in Rivers State asked Governor Fubara to seek re-election in 2027 under the party platform, claiming that the PDP had lost relevance in the state.

4 September 2024 – Justice I.P.C Igwe of a State High in Rivers orders Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct local elections in the state, using the 2023 voters register.

20 September 2024 – A Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit seeking to sack pro-Wike lawmakers.

21 September 2024 – Governor Fubara’s allies picked APP forms for local elections, following PDP’s boycott of the exercise.

30 September 2024 – A Federal High Court in Abuja barred INEC from releasing voters’ register to RSIEC for local elections and further barred the police from providing security for the exercise.

4 October 2024 – Governor Fubara visited the RSIEC office and allegedly foiled an attempt by the police to “cart away” materials meant for the local elections. Police barred operatives from providing security for the election.

5 October 2024 – Fubara conducted local elections in the state where chairmanship candidates of APP won in 22 local councils in Rivers while Action Alliance won in one.

6 October 2024 – Fubara inaugurated chairpersons at Government House.

7 October 2024 – Police unsealed local government secretariats after four months.

8 October 2024 – Governor Fubara constituted a seven-man judicial panel of enquiry to investigate the cause of post-election violence and make recommendations for the state government.

10 October 2024 – The Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed the nullification of Rivers 2024 budget. The appellate court affirmed pro-Wike lawmakers as the legitimate legislative authority in the state.

Governor Fubara filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, insisting the seats of the defected lawmakers remain vacant.

February 2025 – The Supreme Court restored Amaewhule’s position as the speaker, reinstated the others as legitimate members of the assembly, and nullified the local election organised by Fubara’s administration.

The lawmakers subsequently gave the governor 48 hours to re-present the budget.

The Governor had vowed to implement the order of the Supreme Court despite disagreeing with the verdict.

His efforts to re-present the budget were unsuccessful as the lawmakers denied him access to the assembly quarters last Wednesday.

On Monday, the battle took a new twist when 26 lawmakers served a notice of alleged misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The notice of misconduct against the duo marks a resumption of the impeachment plot against them.

The Rivers State Government has stated that it is too early to make comments on the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast, Tuesday, had suspended the the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, as well as the members of the State House of Assembly.

When contacted immediately after the declaration by the president, the Commissioner of Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said it was too hasty for the government to take any position.

Johnson said: “The president has made a declaration and what do you think we can say. I think it is too hasty to make any comment about it.”

President Tinubu have nominated Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the period.

by Abiodun Sanusi


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained an arrest warrant against businesswoman Aisha Achimugu, preparatory to declaring her wanted for alleged money laundering and investment scam, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Ms Achimugu, an associate of Babajide Sanwo-Olu – Governor of Lagos State, is believed to have fled Nigeria after she was billed to meet with EFCC interrogators on 5 March.

Investigators discovered that she escaped from Nigeria sometimes between Thursday 6 and Friday 7 March.

Top-level anti-graft officials, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to discuss the matter with the media, revealed the development to this newspaper on Sunday.

The EFCC obtained a warrant of arrest from court following the socialite’s failure to honour the commission’s invitation on 5 March.

“Achimugu would soon be declared wanted by the commission,” an EFCC source said, adding that her escape from the country was a betrayal of the benefit of doubt extended to her that she would honour the agency’s invitation earlier in the month.


Achimugu preempts EFCC, begins media campaign

Meanwhile, last week, David Abakpa, who identified himself as Ms Achimugu’s aide, launched a media campaign to preempt her arrest by the EFCC.

Mr Abakpa, in a widely circulated statement, stated that he was responding to speculations on social media and on two blogs that Ms Achimugu was arrested by the EFCC.

The statement confirmed that Ms Achimugu had left the country, insisting that his boss’s arrest was the handiwork of unscrupulous elements.

He further urged the public to disregard the “fake news,” adding that “Mrs Achimugu is not in the country and so could not have been arrested by the EFCC.”

“It is a lie sponsored by enemies! Aisha Achimugu is never arrested or detained by the EFCC. Anyone can confirm from the commission,” Mr Abakpa added in the statement.


Achimugu and Governor Sanwo-Olu

On 24 January 2024, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State abandoned work and only returned to Nigeria after spending days partying in the Caribbean Island of Grenada in commemoration of Ms Achimugu’s 50th birthday.

Mr Sanwo-Olu flew in a private aircraft to the Caribbean Island and took residence in one of the most expensive resorts in the world.

While the governor was away for the party, many officials of his government did not know his whereabouts for days, with some saying he was attending an official engagement in London while others simply told this newspaper that he travelled abroad.

by Jerrywright Ukwu


Godknows Igali, chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), says Patience Jonathan, the former first lady, pleaded for Nyesom Wike to become governor of Rivers state.

Speaking on Focus Nigeria, a political programme on AIT, Igali claimed the former first lady went as far as rolling on the floor to persuade her husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Edwin Clark, an influential south-south leader who died on February 17.

Wike, now the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), served as Rivers state governor between 2015 and 2023.

His recent comments have put him at odds with PANDEF. On March 12, during a media chat, the minister accused the group of seeking favours from President Bola Tinubu during a visit to the presidential villa.

In response, Igali, a former permanent secretary at the federal ministry of water resources, defended PANDEF, saying the delegation included senior traditional rulers, former governors, senators, and ministers.

He said it was “highly regrettable and totally unacceptable” that Wike would “exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing”.

“We used to organize retreats for new ministers, and one of the things we taught them was the code of ethics — to be ethical, to be decent. Not to behave, dance around, shout at people, and use the wrong words on elders. We are still Africans, for goodness’ sake,” Igali said.

“The minister should be called to order. You see, this has many implications because, first, it sends the wrong message.

“And the people of the Niger Delta — some of the traditional rulers — call me and said, ‘Ambassador Igali, did you take us to the villa to be insulted this way? Do you know that I retired from the army in 1975? Where was that minister?’ I said, ‘Sorry, sir, that was not my intention’.

“So, let us keep talking. Come, let us talk. You are my brother, you are part of PANDEF. You came there to meet PANDEF when you wanted to be governor. You knelt before Chief Edwin Clark. I was in the other room in the house.

“Patience Jonathan rolled on the floor to beg President Jonathan to make you governor. Some of the people — Chief A.K. Horsfall, Alabo Graham-Douglas, who is now late, and the traditional ruler of Etche — were not on board.

“They said, ‘Look, Rivers State has a precarious political situation. We balance politics — riverine, Delta, the Ogonis. We have to go down like that.’ They said no.

“Patience Jonathan said, ‘We want Wike to be governor at all costs.’ But it was the turn of someone from the riverine side. She begged. And she is alive. She rolled on the ground to beg Chief Clark and others on your behalf.”

During his media chat, Wike claimed that an Ijaw candidate could not have won the Rivers governorship election without his backing, as the group is the “minority of minorities”.

Igali refuted the statement, recalling that when the military moved against Wike in Okrika, “it was Ijaw women who defended him”.

The federal government has awarded a contract for the renovation of two major Lagos ports — Tin Can and Apapa — to Chagoury Group, TheCable understands.

Chagoury Group is a multinational conglomerate led by Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire.

Sources close to the conversation said the federal executive council (FEC) approved the contract in February.

“Yes, the award was given to Chagoury Group after it followed due process,” a source said, responding to TheCable’s enquiry.

“FEC gave the approval sometime in February and the agency in charge, that is the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), will give the announcement soon.”

The NPA, in November 2023, announced plans to commence the rehabilitation of ports across the country, valuing the project at $1.1 billion.

On April 18, 2024, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said it secured a $700 million facility agreement for the rehabilitation of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos.

Mohammed Bello-Koko, the ex-managing director of the NPA, had said the loan, negotiated with Citi Bank Nigeria, would be funded by the UK Export Finance (UKEF), an export credit agency, for the project.

Although no official announcement has been made yet, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, spokesperson of the NPA, confirmed that the project was awarded to Hitech Construction and ITB Nigeria, stressing that “Chagoury was not stated in the contract”.

TheCable’s checks found that Chagoury Group operates several subsidiaries — including two construction firms, Hitech and ITB Nigeria.

The conglomerate is reportedly responsible for the construction of major projects across Lagos state.

In September 2023, David Umahi, the minister of works, disclosed that Hitech will handle the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Hitech is also said to be the firm that oversaw the construction of the Lekki-Epe expressway and the Ajah flyover in Lagos.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in May 2024, criticised the federal government for awarding the construction of the coastal highway to Hitech, saying there was a conflict of interest.

Abubakar had said Seyi, President Bola Tinubu’s son, is a director on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, another subsidiary of the Group.

In response to Atiku, the presidency said Tinubu’s son is entitled to pursue his business interests in Nigeria and around the world within the bounds of the law.

On March 16, Umahi said Tinubu did not recommend any company for the Lagos-Calabar road project.

By Olasunkanmi Akoni,


Despite President Bola Tinubu’s last Wednesday peace accord, brokered among two warring parties in the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by Mudashiru Obasa and Mojisola Meranda over speakership tussle, the development has failed to calm high tensions among lawmakers and stakeholders in the state.

Tinubu had, at the end of the meeting, directed aggrieved lawmakers to work with Obasa.

Obasa was ousted as Speaker on January 13, 2025 by about 35 of the 40 lawmakers over allegations of highhandedness, financial misappropriation, and despotic tendencies, among others, and was replaced by Meranda, who was his deputy before the impeachment.

The development generated a lot of conflict putting the House and Governance Advisory Council, GAC, the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, party faithful, supporters, in disarray. The crisis prompted President Tinubu to draft a high-powered committee made up of Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, among others, to finally arrived at a truce.

The panel subsequently, convinced Meranda to resign her position as the Speaker of the House after a deal reportedly agreed upon by all stakeholders who have been mediating to ensure that the crisis was put to rest.

Speculation had it that all the parties agreed on a deal which was for Meranda to resign while Obasa would be returned as Speaker and after 48 hours, would also resign his position. The arrangement, it was learnt, was to pave the way for a new Speaker from Lagos West as demanded by the 34 aggrieved lawmakers.

After the peace deal and Meranda’s resignation, Obasa was subsequently re-nominated for the position of speakership by one of his loyalists in the House, Noheem Adam, a lawmaker representing Eti-Osa 1 and seconded by his colleague, Nureni Akinsanya, representing Mushin 1.

Obasa’s expected resignation

However, Obasa’s attempts to win back the lost loyalty of the aggrieved members hit a brick wall when he called for a truce meeting, a day after he was reluctantly re-elected. The aggrieved lawmakers felt betrayed by his action as they expected him to also tender his resignation in tandem with the agreed structure for settling the Assembly crisis permanently. Obasa’s action opened a kind of cold war in the Assembly which is currently on indefinite recess.

Resignation not part of agreement

Meanwhile, the APC in Lagos has said that the issue of possible resignation by the Speaker was not included in the terms of settlement reached to end the leadership crisis.

The party’s spokesman in the state, Seye Oladejo, told Sunday Vanguard that he was not aware of such an arrangement in the terms of settlement during the negotiation period by the party.

“To the best of my knowledge there was no time the arrangement for Obasa to resign came up in the terms of settlement of the crisis.

“To me, all this struggle is all about instance, before any candidate would emerge there must have been sacrifice by others”, Oladejo stated.

Crisis deepens

The crisis worsened recently following fresh controversy trailing the purchase of alleged N5 billion vehicles for 40 lawmakers by the then Speaker, Meranda, and now deputy Speaker.

The feud between re-elected Speaker Obasa and his deputy has continued to divide the Assembly, setting the two parties on a collision course.

According to reports, Meranda, who presided over the legislative arm for 49 days, purportedly led the purchase of about 39 vehicles for the lawmakers during the period Obasa was removed.

It was learnt that Obasa had in December 2024 approved N7 billion for the same purpose of the vehicles before he was ousted on January 13, 2025.

The crisis further snowballed as Obasa dragged Meranda, 33 Lawmakers and the Assembly to the state High Court, challenging the basis for his removal and other allegations. Amid the legal battle is the contention between the duo over the purchase of the vehicles with money withdrawn from the assembly’s account.

A source who preferred anonymity told Sunday Vanguard that Obasa was contending the purchase of the vehicles without his authorisation as the Speaker and already had his plan of purchasing the vehicles from Dubai having contacted a bidder for the contract.

“He had approved the money before his removal. But Meranda proceeded with buying them, a move that infuriated Obasa,” an aide to Obasa who preferred anonymity confided in our reporter.

When contacted, Meranda’s Spokesperson, Victor Ganzallo, declined to make a comment, promising that an official statement would be issued in due course.

Also, a source loyal to Meranda stated that the first female Speaker only saved N2 billion by purchasing 32 units of 2025 Toyota Prado Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV and seven units of Toyota Landcruiser 2025 at the sum of N5 billion, rather than the N7 billion budgeted by Obasa.

“Unlike Obasa who had planned to import the vehicles from Dubai, all the cars were locally supplied. It is imperative to note that no money was withdrawn by Meranda, she only reviewed an existing approval.
“Interestingly, Meranda spent far less money to acquire better quality cars and didn’t even approve a single one for the office of the Speaker that she occupied,” the source stated.


Obasa’s resignation

A Lagos pro-indigeneship group, De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation, has urged Obasa to step down in the interest of democracy and the rule of law.

The call was contained in a statement by the elders of the group, as a rejoinder to a recent statement by Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, APC chieftain on the State Assembly crisis and intervention by Chief Bisi Akande-led peace committee.

Our position

“While we acknowledge and commend Dr Muiz Banire, SAN, for his willingness to weigh in on the crisis, we must, however, respectfully correct certain misrepresentations in his submission.

“Banire asserted that Chief Akande and Aremo Osoba were not “busybodies” but were rather invited by Lagos political stakeholders within the ineffectual GAC. However, we must emphasize that their intervention ultimately undermined the democratic aspirations of the Indigenous people of Lagos State,
“The decision to reinstate Speaker Mudashiru Obasa at the expense of Mojisola Meranda, an indigene, effectively disregarded the will of Lagosians from Epe, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos, and Ikorodu divisions, who had overwhelmingly supported Meranda. The intervention of these external figures, therefore, dashed the hopes of Lagos indigenes and will be remembered in history as a betrayal of democratic principles.

“The most honourable course of action for Obasa is to step down in the interest of democracy and the rule of law. Having lost his grip on the Assembly, his continued leadership, enforced by external political forces, constitutes a threat to democratic integrity.”

In a similar incident, a pro-Lagos development group, Agenda for New Lagos, ANL, has raised the alarm over plans to use the court to invalidate Obasa’s impeachment as the Lagos State speaker.

In a statement by its Protem Chairman, Kamal Olorunnisola, the group alleged that the court judgment to make this happen has already been written and will be delivered after hearing the case instituted by Obasa in the heat of his impeachment saga. “Many of the Assembly members were tricked into accepting that Obasa would subsequently resign after Meranda. But unknown to them, it was just a political gimmick. As soon as he was ‘re-elected’ out of damage control, he adjourned indefinitely, obviously awaiting judgment in the case instituted to legitimise the illegalities.

“That explains why, contrary to the pledge to withdraw his case, it continued. They already have the judgment written invalidating the proceedings that removed him. All machinery has been put in place towards railroading the judge.

“Upon given the judgment, obviously wrong in law, Obasa will direct no appeal on behalf of the Assembly while Meranda is already out of the way.

“The import is that he had never been removed while Meranda was never a speaker. The further implication is that the removed clerk will equally return contrary to the resistance of his colleagues, as of right as no valid proceeding would have removed him.”

Sanwo-Olu remains mum

Meanwhile, as the whole scenario is being played out, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, though an interested party in the matter, has not come out categorically to comment despite several efforts by journalists to have his views.

Tinubu’s peace accord

After several attempts by stakeholders, the lawmakers, Wednesday, met with President Tinubu in Abuja, where a truce was reached for the progress of the Assembly, in particular and the State in general.

The meeting lasted over two hours. Tinubu, at the end of the meeting, directed aggrieved lawmakers to bury the hatchet and work with Obasa.

According to a source who were at the meeting, Tinubu blasted Obasa and warned him not to incur the wrath of his colleagues in the discharge of legislative duties.

The source added that the president specifically scolded Obasa, concerning the amended charges in the suit he instituted against Meranda and asked him to withdraw the case immediately.

“Tinubu told Obada that he would not have survived the financial impropriety if the members loyal to Meranda had also released evidence of the fraud he perpetrated to the media.

“He particularly warned Obasa about his bad attitude, disregard for his colleagues and other infractions and assured the members that he would personally ask him to resign and another person will be elected to finish his tenure in office.”

LP blasts APC

Lagos State chapter of Labour Party has described the crisis as a betrayal of the people’s trust and a reckless distraction from the urgent needs of residents. The state’s Chairman, Dr. Dayo Ekong, said, “I express our party’s profound disappointment in the chaos at the Lagos State House of Assembly, where Obasa and lawmakers have turned governance into a spectacle of infighting.

“This disgraceful display by APC-led lawmakers is a betrayal of the people’s trust and a reckless distraction from the urgent needs of Lagosians. “We urge the Assembly to cease this charade and return to work—or step aside for those who will prioritize service over strife. “Enough is enough. Lagos deserves better. “

Rhodes-Vivour too

Also, the 2023 governorship candidate of LP in Lagos, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, condemned the forceful takeover of the legislature and involvement of Tinubu in the saga, describing it as “assault on democratic institutions and the rule of law.” Rhodes-Vivour expressed concern over the development, saying a dangerous precedent was being set. “What we witnessed at the House of Assembly represents a troubling pattern where might is increasingly valued over right. This forceful seizure of the legislative chambers undermines the very foundations of our democracy and sends a disturbing message about how power is wielded in our state.”

Watch your back

The Alternate Chairman of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and former General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Retd), said, “Neither rule of law nor political accountability advanced democracy in the imposition of Obasa.

“We saw a leader intervening in a matter arising from the legislative process in a state. At the end of the resolution, an indigene, who won a legitimate election as Madam Speaker was forced to step down and be replaced not through the court system but by a superior higher order.

“In the meantime, I can tell Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to watch his back because he is more possibly going to be the victim of this whole scenario where, by the Abuja action, Obasa has now been crowned as leader of APC in Lagos State holding brief for the leader who is currently occupied with nation assignment in Abuja.”

Indigeneship

Chairman of GAC, Pa Tajudeen Olusi, while expressing his opinion on quest for Lagos special status and the issue of indigeneship recently, retorted, “I am a Lagosian, a proud indigene of Lagos but the issue of Lagos for Lagos does not arise.”

“Then let us come to reality. Today, in Lagos, those of us who are indigenous are just about 30% while the immigrants are 70%. And the immigrants don’t want to go home. So, they are no longer visitors.

The United Kingdom’s Home Office has asked some Nigerian nurses being probed for alleged examination fraud to leave the country.

According to Nursing Times, the nurses, who are still awaiting the outcomes of their appeals, have had their visas revoked by the UK.

The Home Office has reportedly sent them letters directing them to leave the country from next week.

The deportation order follows an investigation by the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) into suspected malpractice at Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Oyo state.

The investigation was launched after the NMC was alerted of “anomalous data”.

The probe, which began in 2023, was triggered by unusual data patterns detected in the computer-based test (CBT) for foreign nurses seeking UK registration.

The CBT is a key component of the UK’s nursing qualification process and it is usually taken in applicants’ home countries.

Following the probe, the NMC said it found that 48 registered nurses and 669 applicants might have fraudulently obtained their test results at the Yunnik centre.

The NMC, therefore, ruled that all the test results issued by the centre were invalid.

The NMC had said the affected individuals would have their cases assessed by an independent panel to determine if they indeed committed fraud.

In February 2025, about 50 of them issued a pre-action protocol letter to the NMC, alleging that their hearings were “deliberately” delayed.

They also urged the NMC to work with the Home Office to allow them to remain in the UK while their appeals were under review.