₦airaland Forum

EXCLUSIVE FOLLOW-UP: Aduda Defies Retirement Date, Remains in Office Amid Growing Tension and Alleged High-Level Cover-Up

Despite reaching the mandatory retirement age and completing the statutory eight-year tenure in the federal civil service today, August 15, 2025, Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, has refused to vacate his office, in what sources describe as a clear breach of the Public Service Rules.

Recall that on June 16, 2025, Leaders.ng reported on how there is a plot to illegally extend Aduda’s tenure.

Investigations by Leaders.ng reveal that Aduda, who was expected to hand over today, is still occupying his office and issuing directives as Permanent Secretary, a move many senior officials say is “not only illegal but dangerous” for the morale and integrity of the civil service.

Multiple insider sources confirmed that Aduda is leveraging a powerful coalition of supporters to entrench himself in office. Apart from the backing of the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Aduda has also reportedly secured the support of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Wike, sources disclosed, is politically aligned with Senator Philip Aduda, Gabriel’s elder brother and a long-time political associate of the former Rivers governor. This alliance, insiders say, has brought presidential-level lobbying into play, with Wike pulling strings at the Villa, while Badaru and Walson-Jack handle the bureaucratic side of the operation.

“This is a coordinated power play,” said a director in the Ministry of Defence who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

“Wike is using his access to the presidency to buy time for Aduda, while the HOS and Defence Minister are manipulating the process internally to make it look normal,” he added.

The director further alleged that the trio is acting not just out of loyalty but to protect themselves from exposure.

“There’s sleaze involved. Aduda didn’t operate in isolation. There are financial and administrative deals that could be unearthed if he leaves. His continued stay is to protect those implicated, including the minister and even officials in the OHCSF,” he said.

Growing Mutiny Within the Ranks

The decision to allow Aduda to remain in office has reportedly sparked discontent and anger among senior directors at the Ministry of Defence. Several of them are said to be planning to resist taking orders from him moving forward, creating what one insider described as a “cold mutiny.”

“This is not about personal ambition or tribal sentiments. It’s about the rule of law and the credibility of the service,” another senior director told Leaders.ng.

“We cannot have a situation where someone blatantly violates civil service rules and is rewarded with impunity,” he further stated.

One director added: “We are considering refusing to participate in meetings chaired by him. We’re ready to escalate this further if the right thing is not done.”

A Looming Security Threat

Beyond internal unrest, stakeholders warn that the situation could pose a national security risk.

“This is the Ministry of Defence we are talking about. At a time when the country is battling terrorism, banditry, and secessionist threats, we cannot afford a crisis of leadership or legitimacy within the ministry coordinating the response,” a top official said.

Security analysts are concerned that the tension could affect coordination between civilian staff and military leadership, compromising operations and weakening Nigeria’s security apparatus at a critical time.

Presidency Urged to Act Swiftly

Civil servants who spoke to Leaders.ng warned that President Bola Tinubu must intervene immediately before the situation escalates into a public embarrassment.

“If this is allowed to fester, it will not only dent the Renewed Hope agenda but also embolden others to flout rules with backing from political godfathers,” said one senior official.

Another added: “The president must demonstrate that no one is above the law. This is his litmus test for civil service reform and governance credibility.”

The situation is already generating whispers of revolt among civil servants in other ministries, who fear a precedent is being set that undermines merit, equity, and institutional discipline.

Silence from the Top

Efforts to reach Aduda, the Head of Civil Service, and the Ministry of Defence for comments were unsuccessful as at press time.

In the meantime, the permanent secretary continues to occupy his seat in defiance of the law.

“This Is How Institutions Die Quietly”

A former director in the ministry, who retired last year, said: “This is how institutions die, not with a bang but in quiet compromise. If the rules are bent for one man, tomorrow there will be ten more. And in a ministry as sensitive as Defence, this is extremely dangerous.”

For now, all eyes are on President Tinubu to uphold the integrity of the civil service and prevent what one insider called “a ticking institutional time bomb.”

https://leaders.ng/2025/08/15/exclusive-follow-up-aduda-defies-retirement-date-remains-in-office-amid-growing-tension-and-alleged-high-level-cover-up/

Mr Aduda want to serve his father land by force Government money dey sweet pass anything.

I wish i can also get Fed. Government job or appointment for a juicy ministry make me self dey enjoy like sugar ants.

See this greedy man o, oga give way for other people na

tinupoo should first resign because he's too old and fragile to govern Nigeria

Thanks to Tinubu in support of Wike, this is the level they have reduced the country to

My compatriots in the amphitheatre of national palaver, permit me to ventilate my peroration in the sesquipedalian grandiloquence of veritable truthfulness!

What we are witnessing in this Ministry of Defence brouhaha is nothing short of a bureaucratic ignis fatuus, a civil service abracadabra that threatens to transmogrify the Renewed Hope mantra into a cataclysmic charade. When a permanent secretary, in Olympian obduracy, elects to transgress extant statutes with the brazen backing of political godfatherism, and the custodians of our institutional sanctity resort to catatonic muteness, then verily, the hydra-headed monster of impunity is being bottle-fed with governmental complacency.

If His Excellency, the Balogun of Bourdillon, does not unsheath the Excalibur of administrative probity posthaste, the centrifugal forces of civil service anomie will corrode the very fulcrum of governance credibility. In a ministry as sensitive as Defence, this is not merely maladministration—it is an odyssey towards institutional necrosis.

Mr. President, let the gavel of discipline descend with unequivocal finality, lest this ticking institutional time bomb detonates into the pyrotechnics of national ignominy!

The pall bearers are coming, sorry, the APC is here!!!

He is following the path laid by bat... manipulating the system to suit selfish interests... when the head is rotten, the body dies.

can't the people who employed him terminate his appointment? its only in Nigeria where civil servants overstay their years in office .

A precedent has been set for others to follow, take for instance the IGP is still in office.

He wan turn federal ministry to him birthright when no be monarchy. That man has being changing ministries since when I was still in secondary school

fabolouz1:
can't the people who employed him terminate his appointment? its only in Nigeria where civil servants overstay their years in office .

It is stated in the report that those that employed him which you are calling on to terminate his appointment are "Silent".

There you have it.

National Assembly should abolish age already. You expect smb who got employed late to retire early

madridguy:
Mr Aduda want to serve his father land by force Government money dey sweet pass anything.

I wish i can also get Fed. Government job or appointment for a juicy ministry make me self dey enjoy like sugar ants.

Do you know if he might be a closet member of Oshiomhole’s Association of Past Criminals, APC hence his boldness



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg_1mly5Gm8

chisomkachy:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the alleged money laundering suit it filed at the Federal High Court against Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

Naija News understands that the anti-graft did not give any particular reason for its application for withdrawal.

Following the application to withdraw, Justice Nicholas Oweibo discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered Bank.

The accounts are (US Dollars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056 and (Saving) 5002309624.

The judge also set aside the ex-parte orders he made on September 15, 2020, which led to the freezing of the accounts.

Recall that the court on September 15, 2020, granted an interim order freezing Obasa’s accounts following the EFCC’s application in a suit marked FHC/LCS/1064/2020.

The agency had said it was investigating the Speaker for the alleged offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering.

But Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, heard the application to unfreeze the accounts in his chamber.

During the hearing, the EFCC was represented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Obasa was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).

The EFCC lawyer told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Section 44 of the Constitution concerns constitutional rights to property.

Justice Oweibo held: “It is hereby ordered that an order is hereby granted to the respondent/applicant setting aside the ex-parte orders of this court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the ex-parte motion of the Applicant/ Respondent in relation the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule:

“ACCOUNT NAME, FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INSTITUTIONS, TYPE OF ACCOUNT, 1. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered, (US Dollars) 0001852063 2. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Current) 0001852056 3. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Saving) 5002309624.

“Issued at Lagos, under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hands of the Presiding Judge this 16th day of August 2023.”

https://dailytimesng.com/obasa-efcc-withdraws-suit/

Previous Threads:
https://www.nairaland.com/5877642/obasa-64-bank-accounts-linked#89878603

https://wap.nairaland.com/6167844/lagos-assembly-speaker-obasa-efcc#94728150

https://www.nairaland.com/6168612/obasa-court-orders-efcc-freeze#94741534

madridguy:
Mr Aduda want to serve his father land by force Government money dey sweet pass anything.

I wish i can also get Fed. Government job or appointment for a juicy ministry make me self dey enjoy like sugar ants.

We know say na to steal public funds una dey strive for. No wonder una dey support any and everything corrupt and evil.

It happened with Egbetokun.

Now everybody is doing it

ogugwa1992:
EXCLUSIVE FOLLOW-UP: Aduda Defies Retirement Date, Remains in Office Amid Growing Tension and Alleged High-Level Cover-Up



https://leaders.ng/2025/08/15/exclusive-follow-up-aduda-defies-retirement-date-remains-in-office-amid-growing-tension-and-alleged-high-level-cover-up/

The blame goes to the president Tinubu cos of the lawlessness by him ....he extended the tenure of the IGP when age has caught up with him....he has an excuse to ride on this lawlessness too

Mohisah:
National Assembly should abolish age already.

You expect smb who got employed late to retire early

What does your proposal mean for the millions of young people who graduate yearly searching for well paid civil service jobs, to provide government services and utilities for everyone?

fuckJones:
(A case study of Nigeria citizens & their elected oppressors).

During the Soviet dictatorship of Joseph stalin. He was a brutal dictator with mind of his own. On one fateful day, stalin came to Politburo meeting with a live chicken. Standing in front of audience, He started to pluck the feathers of the live chicken off one by one. The chicken trembled in pain, blood tricking out of its pores. It gave out grievous cries, but stalin being a cruel dictator continued without remorse plucking the feathers out until the chicken was completely Unclad. After which, he threw the chicken on the ground. The Unclad chicken was staggering in pain. stalin goes into his pocket and from his pockets, he took out some chicken food and started to throw it at the poor & hapless creature. The poor chicken in pain started eating and stalin started walking towards his seat. As he walked away, he kept dropping some feeds on the floor & the chicken followed him and sat feeding from his feet.

Joseph stalin then turned to members of his political party leadership. He said, "This chicken represents the people". "You must disempower them, brutalise them, beat them up, starve them and then leave them". "If you do this, go into your pocket & give them peanuts when they are in that helpless and desperate situation, they will blindly follow you for the rest of their life, worshiping you". "They will think you are a hero forever. They will forget that, you're responsible for their sorrowful situation in the first place." Breath taking, isn't it ?

Now! Take a look at all the people some Nigerians are busy defending on social media. Take a look at those they call their heroes. They are the same people who plunged Nigeria into the situation she is. They are the same people who are responsible for their predicaments. Did you see the numbers of people that throng to Saraki's House during this Sallah period to go collect peanuts? People trooping to Bola Ahmed Tinubu Foundation offices to collect branded One kilo bag of Rice & Noddles. Did you see the number of people of all ages who troop out to welcome Ex- convict James Ibori to South South! Do you see the number of handle mop following obi as if he is a seat? what of the one following dino malaye?

Your guess is as good as mine. Nigerians kill those they should defend and defend those they should kill! Pass to all your contacts & let your Political & Religion Leaders read, understand & digest.

Lawless country run by careless people that dont have anything good to teach the younger generation

Some things no just follow for black man genes particularly Nigerian politicians doesn't matter if it's elective or appointed post, they rather die there than do the honorable thing.

[quote author=tompat86 post=136464345]I read through perfectly, and you made absolute sense, was thinking its just for fun, but all the sentences were amazingly correct.

ivandragon:
He is following the path laid by bat... manipulating the system to suit selfish interests... when the head is rotten, the body dies.

Actually, this is what Buhari started. He extended Buratai's tenure as chief of army staff, recalled retirees to head NTA, DSS, Customs, and extended the tenures of countless Permanent Secretaries and heads of agencies of fulani extraction. Any protest about this that could not be made in 8 years of Buhari's misrule will not move Tinubu now.

anonimi:
Do you know if he might be a closet member of Oshiomhole’s Association of Past Criminals, APC hence his boldness



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg_1mly5Gm8

I just the laugh, it's well o. It's good that, there is history

madridguy:
Mr Aduda want to serve his father land by force Government money dey sweet pass anything.

I wish i can also get Fed. Government job or appointment for a juicy ministry make me self dey enjoy like sugar ants.

Na that serving of father land wey I dey hear dey always pain me including our sports men and women. You're serving Nigeria and you're enjoying all the pecks and luxuries that comes with it like traveling around the world, staying in world class hotels, been paid well and all.
What will soldiers and our force men now say.
Me too will like to serve Nigeria in such capacity

He is obviously undertaking a mission and needs more time to execute it and cover things.

Yestogood:
Actually, this is what Buhari started. He extended Buratai's tenure as chief of army staff, recalled retirees to head NTA, DSS, Customs, and extended the tenures of countless Permanent Secretaries and heads of agencies of fulani extraction. Any protest about this that could not be made in 8 years of Buhari's misrule will not move Tinubu now.

Objections were made when buhari did it, but people like bat supported such actions because they thrive in the presence of impunity and selfish manipulations.

That's one of the illegal advantages of his brother Philip Aduda following Wike up and down like a PA. A 3-term senator for that matter.

Is not his family kingship he must retire, government job is not for life, go back home and wait for depression to come take over, people who use to greet you will now heese when they see you because you can't anything for them anymore

donmixc:
tinupoo should first resign because he's too old and fragile to govern Nigeria

That your old and fragile father is still the head of your family.
If you have respect for your father or elders in your family you wouldn't have disrespect for outsiders.

anonimi:
What does your proposal mean for the millions of young people who graduate yearly searching for well paid civil service jobs, to provide government services and utilities for everyone?

do u really understand my opinion?
Speak of wht u want & don't try to make point invalid. U tryin to say old graduates shld retire early aftr years of job huntin. U clearly don't see dat it is the fresh graduates dat turns late employee

Maybe the next person in line to the office is from a certain ethnic group that didn’t vote for this current government. The man will hold sway until someone from a loyal ethnic group becomes eligible.

Welcome to black Africa.