Home Blog Page 102

Presidency’s Defence Of Gbajabiamila: “There Are More Questions Than Answers

By
The Source
-
0
Femi Gbajabiamila and Adeniyi Adeyemi

By Solomon Dalung

 

“You are asking Nigerians to believe that one private citizen woke up one morning, invented a Presidential Agency, forged his own appointment, secured office space inside the Federal Secretariat, recruited staff, held meetings with diplomats, corresponded with Government institutions, allegedly opened a CBN account through official channels, and if the official budget documents are anything to go by, the same  “non-existent Agency found  its way into the Appropriation Act with an allocation running into billions”

 

I just read the statement issued by Bayo Onanuga on behalf of the Presidency, which supposedly trying to put a defence for the Chief of staff, Gbajabiamila.

 

However, I think the Presidency’s statement was clearly intended to shut down public scrutiny. Ironically, it has achieved the exact opposite. It answered some questions, but in doing so, it exposed even bigger ones.

 

Let us assume, for a moment, that every allegation against Prince Adeyemi is true. Even then, the statement leaves glaring gaps that no amount of rhetoric can paper over.

 

You are asking Nigerians to believe that one private citizen woke up one morning, invented a presidential agency, forged his own appointment, secured office space inside the Federal Secretariat, recruited staff, held meetings with diplomats, corresponded with government institutions, allegedly opened a CBN account through official channels, and if the official budget documents are anything to go by, the same “non-existent” agency found its way into the Appropriation Act with an allocation running into billions.

 

If that is truly what happened, then this is no longer just the story of an alleged fraudster. It is also the story of spectacular institutional failure. Either government systems were astonishingly easy to deceive, or there are questions that still have not been answered.

 

The statement conveniently glosses over the budget issue. That silence is deafening.

 

How does a fictitious agency appear in the national budget? Budget allocations do not descend from heaven. They pass through ministries, the Budget Office, executive review and legislative approval. Who introduced the line item? Who processed it? Who signed off on it? Who failed to ask whether the agency even existed?

 

Those are not political questions. They are governance questions.

 

Then there is the issue of the Federal Secretariat office. Offices inside government complexes are not roadside kiosks. How was the space obtained? Under whose authority? How long did it operate? Who interacted with the occupants? Who looked the other way?

Solomon Dalung
Barr Solomon Dalung

Again, silence.

 

Then comes the most curious part of the story.

 

The Presidency says the very person allegedly identified as the link between Adeyemi and the purported appointment, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, had died in a hotel fire just five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.

 

That is an extraordinary detail. Yet we are given almost nothing beyond it.

 

Was there an autopsy? Was there a coroner’s inquest? What did investigators conclude about the fire? Were his electronic devices, communications and financial records examined? If he was central enough to be named in the statement, why is the public expected not to ask what became of the investigation into his death?

 

These are not conspiracy theories. They are the obvious questions any serious investigator would ask.

 

The Presidency wants Nigerians to focus exclusively on whether Adeyemi is an impostor. Fair enough. The courts will determine that.

 

But the Presidency cannot ask the public to ignore the conduct of government institutions in the same breath.

 

This is bigger than one man.

 

If the Council was fake, explain how it entered the budget.

 

If the appointment was forged, explain how government systems repeatedly interacted with the supposed beneficiary.

 

If official channels were deceived, explain where the safeguards failed.

 

If there was no insider involvement, show the documentary trail that proves it.

 

Accountability does not begin and end with charging one individual. It also requires explaining how the machinery of government appeared to validate, accommodate or fail to detect what is now described as a complete fabrication.

 

The public deserves more than a carefully written press statement. It deserves answers backed by records, timelines and evidence.

 

Until those answers are provided, this matter is far from settled.

Dalung, a Lawyer,  was a former Federal  Minister for Youths and Sports

2027: Rep Boasts APC Will Remain in Power 

By
James Orji
-
0
Yusuf-Adamu-Gagdi
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will retain power in the 2027 general election, declaring that he has never imagined the ruling party losing an election.
Speaking on Channels TV programme, Gagdi said the APC’s nationwide political activities and grassroots mobilisation had placed it well ahead of all opposition parties.
“I have never, in my political imagination, thought that my party APC will lose election,” he said.
The lawmaker maintained that the ruling party had remained politically active across the country while opposition parties lacked visible structures and strategies.
“You have seen APC’s activities in the last one year across Nigeria, in the four angles of Nigeria where our political activities is ten times the political activities of any opposition political party in Nigeria.”
“So who is supposed to talk to another person about planning to win election?”
Gagdi dismissed claims that only opposition politicians were preparing seriously for the 2027 contest.
“You think Bola Tinubu and the APC are not trying to win elections in 2027?”
He argued that there was little evidence that opposition leaders had developed a credible plan to challenge President Tinubu.
“What are the opposition doing? What are the opposition planning or doing?
“I have not seen, with the activities of opposition, those you mentioned, Peter Obi or Atiku, I have not seen any effort being put in place by them to unseat or defeat the President come 2027.”
The lawmaker further accused some opposition politicians of politicising Nigeria’s security challenges.
He said, “By the time we keep drifting to a perspective of playing politics with the security and lives of the people of this country, it will be unfortunate.”
“We must collectively be patriotic. We must be united against terror.”
According to Gagdi, constructive criticism of government was necessary, but should not be motivated by electoral calculations.
“We should commend government where government needs to be commended and equally draw a line where government needs to make adjustment.”
“But when we escalate the mistakes not with the view of calling the attention of government to adjust its deficiencies, but with the view of trying to play politics and get political advantage, God will ask us at the end of the day.”
While acknowledging that insecurity remains a serious national concern, Gagdi insisted that the Tinubu administration had made genuine efforts to address it.
“I will not refuse to tell you here that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did make efforts towards solving the security problem.
“Promising to fix the security problem and putting effort toward fixing the security problem should be recognised.”
He urged Nigerians and political leaders to place patriotism above partisan interests.
“What can we collectively do to make sure Nigerians sleep and snore? These should be the major things we should be talking about, and this should be what the opposition should be thinking.”

Atiku Appoints Okonkwo As Spokesperson

By
James Orji
-
0
Kenneth Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo
The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC Atiku Abubakar has appointed Kenneth Okonkwo, as his spokesperson.
The development comes few weeks after Okonkwo said he was no longer speaking for the ADC candidate, accusing the party of marginalizing the south east, by appointing a former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi as Abubakar’s running mate.
Amaechi has yet to publicly accepted the position.
Sharing on his verified X on Wednesday, Okonkwo, a Nollywood star-turned politician said Abubakar has appointed him his official spokesman, despite his earlier criticism of him and the party, over their decision to chose Amaechi to run with the former vice president in 2027.
Okonkwo: “I give God all the glory to be appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his Spokesperson. I thank HE AA for the immense confidence reposed in me.
“Rather than pick offence against any of his associates for expressing genuine reservations of any action taken, HE AA always opts for dialogue and compromise that will engender solution to problems.”

Abductors Of Niger Electoral Commission Staff Make Fresh Demand Of N300m, 9mths After

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

 

Despite spending nine months in Kidnapers’ den, the hope of early release of the abducted Permanent Commissioner of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Barrister Ahmed Mohammed is uncertain, following fresh demand for N300 million by his abductors.

 

Already his family has reportedly paid a ₦40 million ransom,  but his abductors refuse to release him.

 

Barrister Ahmed was kidnapped on September 29, 2025, along the Mokwa–Ibbi Road in Borgu Local Government Area while travelling to Minna on an official assignment.

 

His abduction occurred about four weeks before the state’s local government elections held on November 1, 2025.

 

According to a family member who spoke anonymously, the kidnappers contacted the family again on Monday, June 29, 2026, to ask whether they were prepared to meet the new ransom demand.

 

“They call almost every day. It was only yesterday (Tuesday) that they did not call. We are appealing to the Niger State Government to come to our aid and secure his release.

 

He was kidnapped while on an official engagement of the Niger State Government,” the source said.

 

The family disclosed that it could not afford the fresh ₦300 million demand, having already exhausted its resources after paying the initial ₦40 million ransom.

 

A close friend of the victim, Ayuba Abubakar, said the family has done everything within its means to secure Barrister Ahmed’s freedom since his abduction.

 

“We understand that the abductors have made demands, and we are also gravely concerned by reports that Barr. Ahmed’s health is seriously deteriorating.

 

“On behalf of his family, colleagues and well-wishers, I appeal for the urgent intervention of the Niger State Government and the support of all relevant security agencies to ensure his safe and immediate release,” he said.

NSCDC, Correctional Centre Officers Named In Illegal Arms Deal

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Nigeria Civil Defence Corps - NSCDC

By Ayodele Oni

 

An arms trafficking network involving personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been unraveled by troops of the 82 Division Provost Group. This followed the arrest of an armourer attached to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and a Correctional officer over alleged involvement in an illegal arms supply network in Enugu State.

 

Security expert, Zagazola Makama, revealed that the arrests followed the interrogation of a suspected criminal apprehended at Igah Community on June 28, who allegedly identified his principal arms supplier as Superintendent Tasie Victor Nnamdi, an armourer with the NSCDC Enugu State Command.

 

Acting on the intelligence, troops conducted a targeted operation on June 29 and arrested the suspect at the New Market Filling Station in Enugu.

 

During preliminary interrogation, the NSCDC officer allegedly identified Chief Superintendent Augustine Mmuo of the NSCDC Delta State Command as his principal supplier of arms.

 

He also allegedly named Assistant Superintendent of Corrections Ekwueme Onyebuchi Clement, attached to the Arms Department of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Enugu State Command, as one of his major customers.

 

Based on the information, troops conducted a follow-up sting operation at about 11:00 a.m. on June 30 and arrested the correctional officer at Okpara Square in Enugu.

 

Security sources said a search of his vehicle led to the recovery of 30 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition.

 

During interrogation, the correctional officer allegedly identified a civilian whom he claimed had supplied him with firearms on several occasions.

 

The sources added that photographs of various firearms allegedly offered for sale were also recovered from the suspect’s mobile phone.

 

The suspects have been detained in military custody as investigations continue to unravel the alleged arms trafficking network and identify other persons connected to the operation.

Presidency Clears Gbajabiamila Of Corruption, Says Accuser/Head Of Fictitious FG Agency, Adeyemi, An Impostor

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Femi Gbajabiamila

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Presidency has confirmed that a self- acclaimed Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi is an impostor.

 

It cleared Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, of the bribery allegations levelled against him by Prince Adeyemi, saying the Presidential aide was the first person that exposed the existence of the illegal Federal agency.

 

Adeyemi had accused Gbajabiamila of demanding N27,395,510,136 take-off grant of the agency, an allegation the former Speaker denied.

 

Adeyemi also alleged that Gbajabiamila collected N400 million by proxy to secure him appointment as the head of the agency, with a balance of N200 million.

 

He had claimed that he fell out with the Chief of Staff over the balance, urging the President to set up an independent investigative panel to, among others, compel the Chief of Staff to produce all the official documents he has signed since assumption of office for forensic analysis.

 

He called for review of budgetary references and institutional records, investigate alleged assassination attempts on his life and compel Gbajabiamila to step aside pending the outcome of the probe.

 

He also demanded that the panel should include credible civil society organisations and international organisations and make its findings public.

 

There have been calls on President Bola Tinubu to probe and sack Gbajabiamila.

 

But in a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, accused Adeyemi of peddling lies.

 

“We are aware of the public interest in the matter of a man called Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, who has been parading himself as the director-general of a fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council.”

 

“The office of the Chief of Staff to the President first blew the whistle on the existence of the illegal agency, following complaints from officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council that another government agency appeared to be functioning at cross-purposes with it.

 

“The Chief of Staff, on October 17, in a letter, asked the DSS and the Police to probe the activities of ‘fraudsters and imposters’ forging appointment letters purportedly from his office.

 

“The letter to the security agencies was accompanied by a copy of the forged appointment letter, a copy of the request for a note verbal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and pictures of engagements obtained from the illegal agency’s website.

 

“Around the time the Chief of Staff lodged the complaint with the security agencies, the existence of the fake agency had raised concerns within the Foreign Affairs Ministry.”

 

Onanuga added that in a letter on October 15, 2025, the Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote to the office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff to the President, requesting clarification on the status of Adeyemi’s agency.

 

He said the letter, which Ambassador Anderson Madubuike signed, followed Adeyemi’s October 10 meeting with ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, without recourse to the ministry.

 

“On October 20, the Office of the National Security Adviser wrote to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on the request of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.”

 

“On 29 October, the OSGF wrote to the Chief of Staff requesting clarification. “This has become expedient owing to several requests from governmental and non-governmental bodies seeking to ascertain the status of the appointment under consideration”

 

“Two days earlier, the Chief of Staff sent his own clear rebuttal to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, stating that he had never issued an appointment letter to Adeyemi as director general of the fake presidential foreign investment promotion council.

 

“The Chief of Staff could not have issued a letter of appointment to a non-existent agency. Moreover, the Chief of Staff does not make appointments or write letters, as these are the exclusive preserve of the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation.

 

“The police were able to establish that the agency Adeyemi purportedly headed was fictitious, that he forged his appointment letter and the documents recovered in his office and home, that he falsely paraded himself as a government appointee, and that he falsely solicited a note verbal from the Foreign Affairs Ministry to enable him and his staff to obtain US visas.

 

“The police also found that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, with nine opened in the names of his fictitious agencies, known as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Public Private Partnership (FIPA-APP), and the FCT Investment Promotion Act.

 

“The Police found that Adeyemi, using the fake documents he created, fraudulently opened a CBN account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

 

According to the police, no government money has been transferred into the account.”

Uzodimma Felicitated With Archbishop Ugorji On 36 Years of Episcopacy

By
The Source
-
0
Hope Uzodimma and Rev Lucius Ugorji

 

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has felicitated with the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, His Grace, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji on the occasion of his 36 years of Episcopacy, describing the years as remarkable in many ways.

 

Uzodimma said he admires Ugorji’s steadfast commitment to the moral renewal of the society and the Clergy’s tireless efforts to promote common good, and noted that the 36th anniversary of Archbishop Ugorji’s Episcopacy Consecration was worth giving thanks to God.

 

Taking to his social media handle on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Uzodimma said: “With profound joy, I warmly felicitate with His Grace, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of his Episcopal Consecration.

 

“I give thanks to God for the grace that has sustained his remarkable ministry of faithful service to God and humanity, distinguished by truth, integrity, and unwavering dedication.

 

“I deeply admire his steadfast commitment to the moral renewal of our society and his tireless efforts to promote the common good through constructive collaboration between the Church and government in advancing justice, peace, and human development.

 

“As he marks this significant milestone, I pray that Almighty God will continue to enrich him with abundant grace, sound health, and divine wisdom, so that he may continue to accomplish the Lord’s work with renewed strength and lasting impact.”

“My Presidency will unite Nigeria for robust human capital development” -Obi

By
The Source
-
0
Peter Obi
Mr Peter Obi

 

The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, on Wednesday placed uniting Nigeria as his top priority for robust human capital development.

Writing on his X handle to unveil  his vision for a “productive and prosperous Nigeria.”

Titled ” My Vision for a Productive and Prosperous Nigeria”, Obi said, “When I decided to contest for the office of President of Nigeria, I pledged to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation. Now, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, I will, in the coming weeks and months, provide insights into the roadmap that I am confident will help curb abuse in government, halt the decline in the quality of life of Nigerians at all levels, and usher in an era of unity, peace, sustained progress, and prosperity.

 

“This vision is anchored on a commitment to unity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and the freedom of every citizen to pursue lawful dreams.

Central to this proposed roadmap are significant reforms in education and healthcare, which are at the core of human capital development.

“A robust human capital is indispensable infrastructure for national progress. It serves as the fundamental capital upon which daily life, economic expansion, and the delivery of essential public services depend.

“They are foundational areas that we must reform with energy and determination if we are to reap the demographic dividend of our youthful population.

 

“From the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children. We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation, anchored on our agricultural endowments and value addition across value chains organised around industrial parks to be located in development zones across the geopolitical regions of the country.

 

“Funding and improved equipment of TVET institutions, through partnerships among government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs such as faith-based educators, will facilitate apprenticeship opportunities in the private sector, similar to the German dual education system.

 

“The situation in which unemployment remains high while Nigerian entrepreneurs establish businesses elsewhere because skilled labour is scarce must be confronted decisively. Doing so is essential for the common good and for facilitating our transition from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven one.

 

“Character and civic education, emphasising the values that foster trust—an essential ingredient for enterprise and leadership—as well as shared national values, will receive significant attention within the tripartite approach to governance that we propose.

A New Nigeria is Possible.

Christians, Not Just Muslims, Are Part of Mass Wedding Programme – Kano Govt

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
-
0
Kano Mass Wedding

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

The Kano State Government has explained that the ongoing mass wedding programme in the State is not exclusively for the Muslim faithful.

 

Sheikh Mujahideen Aminuddeen, the Deputy Commander-General of the State’s Hisbah Board, while giving an insight into the criteria for eligibility on  Wednesday, July 1, 2026, insisted that Christians are part and parcel of the initiative.

 

According to him, contrary to widespread perception, about three Christian couples participated in the 2023 edition of the mass wedding programme.

 

He emphasized that the initiative is aimed at assisting in mitigating immoral behaviour and social ills by way of coming to the aid of those who may not be able to afford marriage expenses.

 

Particularly, Sheikh Mujahideen maintained that the programme has proven critical in curbing anti-social behaviours among young men and women trying to raise funds for marriage ceremonies.

 

He described the initiative, popular as “Auren Gata” which is open to widows, widowers, divorcees, bachelors and spinsters irrespective of religious persuasion, as a social interventionist policy designed to encourage strong family ties , reduce acts of immortality, as well as serving as a means of financial support for less privileged couples.

 

However, the Hisbah boss said he can not say with certainty if Christians will be part of this year’s event, as preparations are still ongoing.

 

The source reports that an estimated 1,500 couples are billed to participate in the 2026 mass wedding programme.

Bandits Live Within Us, I Know Where They Live – Security Experts Bashir Kurfi

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Bashir Kurfi

By Ayodele Oni

 

A security analyst and Convener of the Katsina Security Community Initiative, Bashir Kurfi has described the perpetrators of banditry as individuals without stable economic or social identities, making them difficult to organise or integrate into legitimate economic activities.

 

Kurfi, who has served as consultants to Libyan Government under Col. Ghaddafi’s on alternative to world bank, also questioned Nigeria’s intelligence and security screening process, following the reported arrest of suspected terrorists returning from the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

 

He was speaking during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102. 5FM, Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State.

 

According to him, many initially engaged in cattle rustling before expanding into kidnapping for ransom and collaborating with terrorist groups for logistics and financial gains.

 

He said: “I think it is important to understand this banditry of how it is happening in the north. These bandits are basically those kind of people, kalamatas, elements.

 

“And they are very dangerous to our system because they have no definite class identity. You cannot mobilize bandits on fertilizer because he is not a farmer. He is a typical gangster, you can give him money to kill a revolutionary and he will.”

 

He described their operations as typically involving armed groups who live in forests before launching attacks on travellers and communities, where they carry out kidnappings and other violent crimes.

 

“Now, a lot of them get involved initially in basic cattle wrestling. They will attack Fulani. They are also from Fulani’s stock, but not all of them are Fulani’s.

 

“So they will attack, take their cows and wrestle them. So later on, when they develop, because of also the lexical attitude of the Nigerian system, it went wild.

 

“Then they went to the extent that they will kidnap people and ask for ransom. And then they link up with other terror organizations, like the Boko Haram, this one, and all this for logistic purposes to make some money.

 

“Usually they live in the bush and then they come and get people either on the road or in their homes. And All the atrocities they do. It’s unbelievable.” he lamented.

 

To illustrate the brutality of the attacks, Kurfi recounted an incident from his own village involving a theatre nurse whose wife and children were abducted by bandits.

 

He further added that victims are often subjected to additional demands and severe abuse even after ransom payments have been made.

 

“Perpetrators of banditry are not external actors but individuals drawn from within local communities, arguing that their proximity and familiarity with their environment make the situation more complex for security agencies to address.

 

“Now all these things are going on in this country. And the question is, who are these people? They are indigent of the place. They are not from any country or even far away. Many of the bandits in my area, I know their location. I know their houses.

 

“Some of them, I know their parents. And we know where they are. Whoever wants to know where they are, to go and bomb them or whatever, let them come, I will show them,” he said.

 

Kurfi who is also a retired University lecturer at the School of Business of ABU: “Now, I said that there is an allegation that these bandits, there are many of the commanders in Saudi Arabia.

 

“So and also, I said that also there is another allegation. Some of them were actually sponsored by the state government. So what we want, let the government come out and disprove this, and also prove that that is not because it’s an allegation. Nobody said that this is confirmed.”

1...101102103...3,073Page 102 of 3,073