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Northern Community in Anambra Clears Peter Obi of Profiling, Mosque Demolition Allegations

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The Source
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Northern communities in Anambra State

By Valentine Obienyem

 

 

Leaders recall free education, agricultural loans and Hajj sponsorship, pledge support for 2027

 

Leaders of the Hausa and Northern communities in Anambra State have dismissed allegations that Mr Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), discriminated against northerners or ordered the demolition of a mosque during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State.

 

The community leaders, who spoke with journalists in Awka and Onitsha yesterday, described the allegations as politically motivated and intended to damage Obi’s reputation ahead of the 2027 general election.

 

They said that contrary to the claims being circulated, northerners in Anambra enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Obi administration and benefited from several of its programmes, including free education, agricultural loans and sponsorship for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

 

The leaders included the Secretary of the Hausa Community in Onitsha and Secretary of the Northern Community in Anambra and Delta States, Mr Mahmud Ibrahim; the traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna; and the Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki.

 

Ibrahim, who said he had served as secretary of the community for several years, explained that the mosque at the centre of the controversy was demolished before Obi became governor.

 

“Our relationship with Mr Peter Obi during his tenure as governor and even now is cordial. We want to make it clear that the rumour that he demolished our mosque while he was governor is untrue,” he said.

 

According to him, the mosque was demolished in February 2006 during a reprisal attack connected with the Sharia crisis, while Obi assumed office as governor in March of that year.

 

“In fact, it was Obi who came and visited us at the Army Barracks where we were staying as refugees. He later escorted us back to the mosque and donated money towards its rebuilding. So, we do not understand where this story is coming from,” Ibrahim said.

 

He also dismissed the allegation that Obi compelled northerners to obtain identity cards as a condition for remaining in Anambra.

 

He explained that the identification cards issued by the northern community were an initiative of the community itself, intended to facilitate the identification of its members.

 

“As for the identity cards, it was the Northern Community in Anambra State that came together and decided that we would issue identity cards to our brothers for identification. The ANIDS card was different. It was for everybody in Anambra State. The governor, his commissioners and everyone else had theirs, including myself,” he said.

 

The traditional ruler of the Hausa Community in Awka, Alhaji Garba Haruna, similarly rejected claims of discrimination against northerners during Obi’s administration.

 

He said he never witnessed or heard of any policy that created a distinction between indigenes and non-indigenes under Obi.

 

“Our relationship then and even now remains cordial. My children benefited from the free education programme, and I personally benefited from his sponsorship for Hajj,” Haruna said.

 

He added that Obi had maintained his relationship with the northern community even after leaving office.

 

“He still relates well with us. He comes here for our functions and sends us gifts during Salah celebrations. If there is any former governor who is close to Obi, it is Ngige, who still comes here today despite no longer being governor or seeking any position,” he said.

 

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Northern Community in Anambra State, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, recalled his personal experience as a beneficiary of Obi’s agricultural loan programme.

 

Sidikki said he received N10 million under the scheme, describing the amount as equivalent to about N100 million in today’s economy.

 

“The way they gave the loan to me was the same way they gave it to everybody. There was no discrimination. We are even surprised that before Obi left office, he paid the loan on our behalf,” he said.

 

He also recalled that his son benefited from Obi’s free education policy and is currently pursuing a PhD in China.

 

“I came here about 40 years ago. I had my children here, and today I have five graduates. So, I cannot say that Anambra has not been good to me,” he said.

 

The leaders said their experiences under Obi’s administration were inconsistent with the allegations being circulated against him, describing the claims as politically driven.

 

They pledged to mobilise members of the northern community resident in Anambra State to support Obi when political campaigns for the 2027 election commence.

 

They also expressed optimism about Obi’s chances in the election, particularly with the anticipated political partnership involving former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, whom they described as “our brother.”

Ilesa Shooting: Osun Police Releases Arrested Commissioner

By
Ayodele Oni
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Mayowa Adejoorin

By Ayodele Oni 

 

Osun State Police Command has released the State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, after his arrest  over Saturday’s shooting incident at the All Progressives Congress(APC) rally in Ilesa.

 

The spokesperson for the Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the release of Adejoorin in a statement on Sunday in Osogbo.

 

Ojelabi said the Commissioner was released on bail, while the Amotekun personnel arrested alongside him  and the gun found with him (the Amotekun personnel) were still with in the Police custody.

 

The Police had, on Saturday, arrested the commissioner and another individual identified as Odeyemi Abimbola for questioning as part of investigations into the incident.

 

It was gathered that gunshots were fired during the rally, leaving a 12-year-old boy and several others injured. Police said spent cartridges and an Amotekun cap were recovered at the scene of the incident.

 

The Command said it has commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine the roles, if any, of those taken into custody.

 

The Commissioner’s arrest had generated political controversy, with the Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation of Governor Ademola Adeleke, accusing the police of targeting Accord Party leaders ahead of the Saturday, August 15 governorship election.

 

The campaign council demanded Adejoorin’s immediate release and called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu to intervene.

 

The Commissioner’s release comes amid heightened political and security tensions in Osun State, with just days remaining before voters head to the poll.

Gov. Election: When Osun West Indigenes Are At War

By
Ayodele Oni
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INEC BVA

By Ayodele Oni

 

The coast is now cleared ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun state as voters are expected to elect a governor, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) clearing 14 candidates for the race.

 

An interesting aspect of the election is the fact that the three leading candidates in the election are from thesame senatorial district of Osun West.

 

They are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, whose defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to Accord Party has reshaped the political landscape, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flag bearer, Najeem Salaam.

 

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord Party following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As a result, neither the PDP nor the Labour Party (LP) has candidate on the ballot.

 

The remaining candidates include Farinloye Olarenwaju (AA), Esan Olajide (AAC), Adeagbo Opawoye (ADP), Adesina Adeyemi-Doro (APGA), Saliu Oyelami (PRP), Ogunsakin Olalekan (YPP), Adefemi Adesuyi (ZLP), Adewale Adebayo (APM), Clement Adesuyi (APP), Masilo Adeleke (Boot Party) and Taofeek Adeleke (NNPP).

 

INEC data shows that while the number of registered voters in Osun has increased over the years, voters turnout has steadily declined.

 

Registered voters rose from 1.41 million in 2014 to 1.95 million in 2022, but turnout fell from 54.17 per cent in 2014 to 46.20 per cent in 2018 and 42.37 per cent in the last governorship election in 2022.

 

For this election, INEC record shows that 2,339,233 million voters are registered across Osun’s 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,763 polling units.

 

 The register has grown significantly since 2023, adding more than 380,000 voters. But registration is not the same as turnout. The decisive question is not simply how many people are registered, but who will actually vote, where they will vote and which candidate can turn political enthusiasm into votes on election day.

 

Political analysts have attributed the declining participation to voter apathy, insecurity, distrust in the electoral process and dissatisfaction with governance, raising concerns over turnout in this year’s election.

 

Despite those concerns, the August 15 poll is expected to be highly competitive, with Adeleke relying on the advantages of incumbency while seeking to retain support after leaving the PDP.

 

His main challengers, Oyebamiji and Salaam, are expected to capitalise on the changing political dynamics to strengthen their own campaigns.

 

Under Nigeria’s constitutional provisions, the eventual winner must not only secure the highest number of valid votes, but also obtain at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in no fewer than 20 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas.

 

Ahead of the election, INEC says it has intensified voter education and grassroots sensitisation efforts to encourage participation, while urging residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and exercise their civic responsibility peacefully.

 

Preceeding the poll is violence, especially between supporters of Accord Party and APC. Security agents have intensified efforts to ensure a hitch free poll on Saturday but the gale of violence continues.

 

Despite being accused of impartiality on handling some of the violence, the Inspector General of Police IGP, Tunji Disu has maintained that the force remains neutral.

 

Disu who met with members of the Civil Societies Organisations said the meeting was a reflection of a shared commitment by the Nigeria Police Force and the CSOs to ensure a peaceful, credible, free, and fair governorship election in Osun State.

 

Disu stated that he was aware of the concerns expressed on election security, violence, voter intimidation, the activities of thugs, and the neutrality of security agencies.

 

The IGP added that the concerns were legitimate and deserve to be addressed through dialogue, transparency, and practical action.

 

He said: “I want to assure Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force has taken these concerns seriously and has put in place comprehensive security arrangements for the election. The Nigeria Police Force remains a professional, apolitical, and impartial institution.

 

“We have no candidate, no political party, and no vested interest in the outcome of the election other than ensuring that the lawful choice of the people prevails.”

 

Disu said all the police officers to be deployed on election duty had been reminded of their constitutional responsibility to uphold the law without fear or favour.

 

 The IGP added that police would provide a secured environment for eligible voter to exercise their constitutional rights freely and without intimidation.

 

On how the leading candidates stand, Adeleke, as a sitting governor is banking on his achievements in the last three years in virtually all areas.

 

The administration disclosed that it has constructed more than 350 kilometres of roads, developed three major flyovers, expanded water projects, supported farmers, improved revenue collection and reduced the state’s debt stock by more than 40 percent.

 

Adeleke had defeated the APC’s Gboyega Oyetola in the 2022 governorship election by 403,371 votes to 375,027.  Can he still sustsin this? Over to the electorate.

 

Bola Oyebamiji of the APC has a background of being  a banker, technocrat and former Osun Commissioner for Finance under former governor Gboyega Oyetola, who later headed the National Inland Waterways Authority. His greatest undoing in the election may be the performance of the immediate past administration which put the state in debts and unpaid salary arrears. The task is however for the voters to determine.

 

Signals still point to a situation that the election may not be violent free like the Ekiti state poll held in June and this may cause low turn out. However with the assurance by the IGP, and number of security agents already deployed, there is hope for a hitch free exercise.

FUTA Teaching Hospital Strike: Organized Labour Warns Interns To Stay Off

By
The Source
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FUTA Teaching Hospital

By Ayodele Oni

 

To make the over one month strike more effective at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Teaching Hospital, (FUTATHC) organized labour in Ondo state has warned temporary workers to stay off the premises.

 

The threat follows directive by the management of the hospital directing interbs/ locums to resume duty as replacement fir the striking workers.

 

The statement by the organized labour was signed by Comrade Clement Fatuase, Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ondo State and Comrade Prince Ademola Adeniji Olapade, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ondo State.

 

The statement reads: “The attention of the Organized Labour in Ondo State (NLC and TUC) has been drawn to the directive reportedly issued by the Management of the FUTATHC Akure, directing all Interns/locums to resume duty tomorrow Monday 10th August, 2026 and continue working despite the ongoing total shutdown of services by the all cadres of employees.

 

“The Organized labour hereby directs all Interns/locums to disregard the said directive. Please stay away from the FUTATHC premises until further notice.

 

“It is imperative to say that Internship is not ordinary employment or independent clinical practice. It is a structured clinical training programme that requires appropriate professional supervision. And this position is supported by their different Regulatory Bodies.

 

“The provision of specific Checklists for the Supervision of Interns clearly establish Supervision as an integral part of the internship programme.

 

“There is presently a total withdrawal of services across the various cadres of employees at FUTATHC as a result of the ongoing industrial action.

 

“It therefore follows that the professional personnel and supervisory structures ordinarily responsible for supervising Interns are themselves affected by the industrial action.

 

“Under such circumstances, Interns should not be placed in a position where they are expected to: work independently without the required supervision; take over the duties of staff who are on industrial action; provide clinical services as replacement manpower; or undertake responsibilities beyond the scope of supervised internship training.

 

“An intern is an intern and not replacement manpower for staff on industrial action.All Interns are hereby directed to comply accordingly.”

PFIPC Scandal: ICPC Report Only Out To Cover Historic Scam – ADC

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
ICPC Chairman and Tinubu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

 

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has rejected the interim report filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on its investigation into the activities of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC.

 

The ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, had, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, submitted the Commission’s report to President Bola Tinubu.

 

The President had,  in the wake of the outbreak of the scandal, in July, directed the ICPC to, within 30 days, carry out an inquest to determine the extent of the involvement of Government officials and institutions in the activities of the phantom agency and its Director General, DG, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.

 

But dismissing the report, the ADC, in a statement signed by Bolaji Abdullahi, its spokesperson, on Saturday, insisted that the ICPC mission was more concerned about laundering Government’s battered image than establishing the facts behind the agency and those that allegedly enabled its activities.

 

This is as the party demanded the disclosure of all Government officials whose actions or negligence may have enabled the agency to acquire official legitimacy.

 

The ADC emphasized the urgent need for the Government to name and hold accountable all officials that were remotely,  or directly involved in the activities of the fake agency.

 

“Nigerians are not asking the Government to manufacture culprits; they are asking it to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.

 

“Anything short of this, this so-called investigation, will remain what it presently appears to be: an exercise designed less to discover the truth ,than to contain the historic embarrassment.” Abdullahi stated.

 

According to the opposition party, so far, all steps taken by the Government, including the ICPC’s investigation and others  appear primed to launder the smeared image of the Government.

 

The party expressed serious concern that the ICPC report downplayed the gravity of the issues at stake, by creating the impression that what happened was just procedural failure on the part of Government officials and institutions.

 

” The ICPC report appeared to have given the impression that what happened was mere failure in Government processes or procedures. This position is difficult to sustain in the light of publicly available evidence which establishes that this is not an error of omission, or a mere glitch in the system.

 

“Instead, what happened was a grand scam that could have been possible only with the active connivance of Government officials and institutions at the highest level.

 

“The ICPC report, also, comes gravely short by suggesting that there could be accomplices within Government, but mentioned none.

 

“Yet, an agency that was able to recommend only Adeyemi for prosecution on the basis of an investigation that the Commission itself has tagged as either ongoing or inconclusive.

 

” If all that the Commission had to present was a preliminary report, why not simply present it as confidential brief to the President, instead of making a public drama of it in a manner that potentially prejudiced the overall investigation and cast Adeyemi as the principal culprit?, “the ADC queried.

 

The party emphasized that Nigerians had expected the ICPC to come out with a report on how the supposed fake agency managed to secure an office space, recruited staff ,and had a budgetary allocation.

 

” Instead, what we are being offered, after weeks of so-called investigation is the same official narrative that Government had offered from the beginning; that what happened was a case of one clever impostor who, somehow, managed to outwit an entire Government.

 

” Even as self-indicting as that would appear, the facts already in the public domain make such a conclusion difficult to sustain. What is clear is that the so-called PFIPC was not a creation of any Nigerian law or legitimate executive approval.

 

“Yet this same organization managed to secure office space within the Federal Secretariat. If according to the ICPC report, Adeyemi had kicked down the door of the Secretariat office ,and allocated it to himself ,did he also deploy the civil servants to himself, allocated a reported N1.3 billion to himself in the 2026 Appropriation Act, allocated official vehicles with customized number plates to him, and deployed armed security to himself? 

 

“It is indeed impossible to answer yes to these questions and not conclude that this is the most incompetent and porous Government in Nigeria’s history”, the party added.

Police Kill Wanted Leader Of Gang Linked To Murder Of Imo Monarch

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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2
Nigerian Police

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Saturday,  announced the killing of the suspected ringleader of the gang linked to the  murder of Eze Paulinus Ekwueme, the traditional ruler of Ochia Autonomous Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Council of Imo State.

 

Ekwueme was on April 10, 2026, ambushed and killed alongside five of his cabinet members while on their way to Owerri the Imo State capital.

 

Although preliminary findings had linked the incident to the activities of terrorist elements, the Police, last week, informed that they have discovered fresh facts concerning the development.

 

According to the Imo police Command, there are strong indications that the incident  may have been the handiwork of insiders believed to be privy to the intinerary of the Monarch.

 

The Police also announced the arrest of some suspects, including one Ezekwe David Destiny, the immediate past President General of the community, in connection with the incident.

 

The Imo police authorities also disclosed that a  known criminal suspect, Dioka Elumah, popular as “Acid” , who is at large is wanted over his alleged role in the murder of the traditional ruler and five of his Chiefs.

 

But  the Force Headquarters on Saturday declared that  Elumah has been gunned down by operatives.

 

According to Ani Iniedu the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Elumah died in a grueling battle with operatives who had been on his trail since being linked to the gruesome murder of the Monarch.

 

The wanted gang leader, according the  Force spokesperson, was neutralized by operatives of the Special Tactics Squad ,Force Intelligence Department STS-FID, during operations conducted between August 2, and 6, 2026.

 

Iniedu noted that the special operations were targeted at  members of the criminal syndicate linked to the killing of the traditional ruler.

 

“The operations culminated in the early hours of 6th August, 2026, when operatives located the hideout of a suspected gang kingpin, identified as Ojiogu Elumah Martin, alias “Acid” in Ohaji/Egbema.

 

“The suspect engaged operatives in a gun duel ,and sustained injuries during the encounter, which subsequently led to his death.

 

“The suspect was identified as an alleged leader of the criminal syndicate linked to the attack of 10th April, 2026, during which the Monarch and five others were killed along the Asa/Awara Road, Ohaji/Egbema, while returning to Owerri ,the spokesperson stated.

 

David Destiny the community’s immediate past President General, Martins Amadi, Lucky Azuodi and Fidelis Eluma had earlier been arrested by the Imo State Police authorities in connection with the incident.

“Their Only Source Of Recreation Are Their Wives” – Fayose Blames  Nigeria’s Population On Rural Men Retiring Early To Bed”

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Ayodele Fayose
Ayodele Fayose

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has attributed the astronomical increase in procreation in Nigeria, especially in rural communities, to lack of electricity supply.

 

At his  inauguration as the new Chairman of the Board of the  Rural Electrification Agency,REA, in Abuja on Friday, Fayose claimed that the near complete absence of alternative recreation centres and other outdoor social engagement facilities, occasioned by lack of power supply, have left rural folks with no other options than to retire to bed as early as the birds with their wives.

 

In a video posted by Arise News on Saturday, the former Ekiti State Governor insisted that the development has played a leading role in ballooning the population of the country over the years

 

For him, until this grossly inadequate power supply situation in rural communities is addressed, Nigeria will continue to battle a surge in its population

 

“Why don’t we address this issue of electricity? The people at that level (rural communities) have no alternative attraction. Nothing else matters to them . After 7 o’clock, it gets dark there.

 

“Everybody is engaging his wife. And the population simply becomes double. The simple problem is because there is lack of electricity.

 

“People go to bed early. Their mind is simply prepared that: well, if this is the only available recreation, let me remain here” he reasoned.

 

However, Fayose maintained that when the issue of rural power supply is addressed, it will encourage nightlife, and create alternative forms of recreation for residents.

 

“When we address this electricity, there will be nightlife. There will be recreation outside one’s wife”, Fayose added.

 

The Source reports that, Fayose who was a couple weeks ago appointed as Chairman of the Board of REA ,was on Friday sworn in together with other members by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe .

 

While appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding him worthy for the position, the two term Ekiti State Governor promised to expand electricity supply to unserved communities across the country.

Benue Police Command Nabs Five Pakistanis Over Spurious Activities

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Police on Duty

By Ayodele Oni

 

Suspecting clandestine activities, the Benue State Police Command has detained five Pakistani nationals and recovered 35 mobile phones following their arrest during separate intelligence-led operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo areas of the State.

 

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, who disclosed this in a statement, revealed that police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested three Pakistani nationals on August 4, 2026, at Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo Local Government Area.

 

The arrests, the Command said, are part of ongoing efforts to track down individuals suspected of involvement in activities that could undermine public safety and security across the state.

 

The Police further stated that two other Pakistani nationals were subsequently apprehended in a separate operation in the Ugbokolo area, where the operatives also recovered 35 mobile phones.

 

The suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting investigators with ongoing inquiries into their activities and the circumstances surrounding their presence in the State.

 

The suspects were identified as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46.

 

The Police said they were intercepted while attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village.

 

“During preliminary questioning, the suspects stated that they were in Otukpo for the purpose of marketing cosmetics and mobile gadgets none of which were found in their possession,” the police said.

 

The Command noted that their explanation, activities and movements within the area were suspicious, “requiring more clarification.”

 

“In a separate operation on August 5, 2026, two other Pakistanis, Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25, were arrested at a local hotel in Ugbokolo following credible intelligence.

 

“The two claimed to be dealers in Android phones and a search of their belongings led to the recovery of 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro mobile phones.

 

“Further investigation and operational follow-up resulted in the recovery of an additional 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60 phone, bringing the total number of recovered mobile phones to 35.”

 

The Police said the five suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi, where “discreet and comprehensive investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding their presence, activities and movements within the state.

 

“It is strongly suspected that the possession of those mobile phones is a decoy for their clandestine activities in the rural areas of the state, even more probable as they hardly speak or understand English.”

 

The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the officers involved and members of the public whose information led to the arrests.

 

He appealed to residents to “remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the police.”

 

The Command further pointed out that the operations form part of its proactive, intelligence-led policing strategy aimed at identifying potential security threats and safeguarding lives and property across the state.

 

The Police added that it would continue to work with stakeholders and that the public would be updated as the investigation progresses.

Atiku Demads Transparent Investigation Into PFIPC Scandal, Insists Presidency Is Culpable

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Atiku Abubakar

By Ayodele Oni 

 

“Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible”

 

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has demanded that identity of public officials indicted by the interim report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal be made public.

 

 He made the position known in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

 

 The former vice president also called for the full publication of the ICPC report, saying an interim report should not be used as a final declaration of innocence, while investigations into possible collaborators and related bank accounts were still ongoing.

 

Atiku further called on the National Assembly to conduct an open investigation into the scandal and broadcast the proceedings live.

 

He accused the Presidency of attempting to clear itself over the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal.

 

Atiku pointed out that the Presidency could not rely on the interim report of the ICPC as proof of its innocence.

 

He argued that the report raised questions about how the alleged fraud was allowed to operate within government offices.

 

Atiku said the ICPC report identified cases of negligence and alleged connivance by public officers in government processes that allowed the fake agency to operate.

 

According to him, the allegations went beyond the activities of one person, as the suspect was alleged to have forged a presidential appointment letter, created a fictitious federal agency, used government offices and opened bank accounts with forged legislative documents.

 

“If public officers were negligent, who are they? Who granted access to government offices? Who recognised this supposed Director General? Who enabled him to operate within the machinery of government?” Atiku asked.

 

He said the reported recommendation for sanctions against public officers whose negligence facilitated the alleged activities showed that the matter could not simply be treated as the work of a lone impostor.

 

“Nigerians deserve to know who did what, who authorised what, and who opened the doors that made this possible,” he said.

 

He was of yhe view that the call has become more important after the central figure in the controversy, identified as Mr Adeyemi, reportedly offered to appear before lawmakers and testify publicly.

 

“If the Villa is truly clean, it should be the first to welcome live television coverage. Let Nigerians watch, unedited, as the witnesses testify, and the evidence is presented under oath,” Atiku said.

 

He warned that anything short of a transparent investigation could increase public suspicion that powerful individuals were being protected.

 

“Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The Presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence.”

 

He urged the government to open the investigation to public scrutiny, put witnesses under oath and allow Nigerians to hear the evidence for themselves.

Beyond Letterheads: Why Enabling Acts Must Guide Public Investigations

By
The Source
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0
Abraham Amah

By Abraham Amah

 

The testimony reportedly given by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in relation to an alleged fake federal agency has generated considerable public interest and has equally raised important questions about institutional due diligence in the verification of public records. One aspect that stands out is the reported reliance on a letterhead bearing the names of certain individuals as purported members of the institution’s governing board. This aspect deserves careful scrutiny because the existence and composition of the governing board of any federal institution are matters regulated by law rather than by the contents of official stationery.

 

In Nigeria’s system of public administration, every federal institution derives its legal existence, powers, functions, and governance structure from its enabling Act or other valid legal instrument establishing it. Consequently, the first point of reference in determining whether an institution has a governing board should always be its enabling law. A letterhead, regardless of how professionally prepared, cannot create legal authority or substitute for statutory provisions.

 

It is equally important to appreciate that not every federal agency is established with a governing board. Several federal agencies operate under the leadership of a Director-General, Executive Secretary, or Chief Executive Officer, while policy supervision is exercised through the appropriate supervising ministry and the Federal Government. By contrast, commissions, statutory corporations, authorities, and certain government-owned enterprises are specifically established with governing boards or governing councils whose composition and functions are expressly provided for by law.

 

Examples of institutions whose legal frameworks provide for governing boards include the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and the Nigerian Ports Authority. Their enabling statutes or applicable governance frameworks clearly define the existence of such boards, the qualifications of members, and the appointing authority. This illustrates the importance of distinguishing between different categories of public institutions instead of assuming that every federal body necessarily has a governing board.

 

Against this background, it is unfortunate if the FRSC relied principally on a letterhead listing certain persons as board members without first determining whether the institution’s enabling Act even provided for the existence of a governing board. Due diligence would ordinarily require investigators to verify such a fundamental issue through the relevant legislation and official government records before attaching evidential weight to the contents of a letterhead.

 

Furthermore, where uncertainty exists regarding the legal status or governance structure of a federal institution, it would have been prudent to seek clarification from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), which plays a central coordinating role in matters relating to the establishment of federal institutions, government appointments, and official administrative records. Such consultation would have strengthened the credibility of the verification process and minimized the possibility of avoidable procedural errors.

 

The reported inclusion of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a purported member of the governing board of a federal institution should, by itself, have prompted heightened scrutiny. Under Nigeria’s constitutional and administrative framework, the President is ordinarily the appointing authority for members of governing boards of federal institutions where such boards are provided for by law. Consequently, a document suggesting that the President himself serves as a board member of an ordinary federal institution would reasonably call for immediate verification rather than acceptance at face value.

 

If the reported facts accurately reflect what occurred, they raise legitimate concerns about compliance with established protocols of institutional verification. Public institutions entrusted with investigative or enforcement responsibilities are expected to apply the highest standards of diligence, objectivity, and legal verification before reaching conclusions. Verification should extend beyond the appearance of official documents to the statutory foundations upon which governmental institutions are created and governed.

 

Ultimately, this matter underscores a broader lesson for public administration in Nigeria. Institutional credibility is strengthened when investigations are anchored on enabling statutes, official government records, and established administrative procedures rather than assumptions drawn from documents whose legal authenticity or authority has not been independently confirmed. Adherence to due process, respect for statutory governance frameworks, and meticulous verification remain indispensable to preserving public confidence in governmental institutions and ensuring that justice is not only done but is manifestly seen to be done.

Elder Amah, a frequent commentator on national  issues writes from Umuahia, Abia State.

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