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Xenophobic: FG Ends Evacuation Of Nigerians From South Africa

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa

By Ayodele Oni 

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Wednesday in Lagos received the last batch of Nigerians stranded in South Africa.

 

With their arrival, the Federal Government has concluded evacuation of Nigerians stranded in South Africa as the final repatriation flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with 308 returnees on board.

 

The Air Peace flight, which also conveyed three government officials, touched down at about 11:30 a.m., bringing to a close the government’s emergency evacuation exercise, launched in response to renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant tensions in South Africa.

 

The latest batch increased the total number of Nigerians evacuated during the exercise to more than 1,500, according to the Federal Government.

 

Welcoming the returnees, the Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, praised President Bola Tinubu for approving and sustaining the evacuation despite the expiration of the June 30 deadline earlier issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa.

 

She said the President’s intervention demonstrated his commitment to protecting Nigerians in distress abroad.

 

“President Bola Tinubu’s decisive leadership and compassionate intervention in facilitating the successful airlift and safe return of Nigerians stranded in South Africa, imperilled by the spate of xenophobic incidents, no doubt saved many precious lives which could have been lost if not for this timely action.

 

“His extension of the evacuation exercise even beyond the June 30 deadline issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa speaks volumes about his unwavering commitment to the welfare of our nationals in crisis situations,” she added.

 

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also commended officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and Air Peace for coordinating the successful evacuation of the stranded citizens.

 

She welcomed the returnees home and assured them of the Federal Government’s continued support as they begin the process of reintegration.

 

The evacuation exercise was initiated after a wave of xenophobic attacks and anti-immigration protests in parts of South Africa prompted hundreds of Nigerians to voluntarily register for repatriation.

 

The Federal Government subsequently funded a series of evacuation flights to bring affected citizens back home safely.

 

Before Wednesday’s final flight, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced that the last evacuation aircraft would depart Johannesburg with the remaining registered Nigerians, marking the conclusion of the humanitarian operation.

 

The government had repeatedly assured that every Nigerian who indicated willingness to return home would be evacuated at no cost, describing the exercise as part of its commitment to safeguarding the lives and welfare of citizens wherever they may be.

Nigeria’s Fmr. AGF/Justice Minister, Malami Forfeits 48 Properties To FG

By
Ayodele Oni
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Abubakar Malami

By Ayodele Oni 

 

Forty eight choice properties linked to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice,  Abubakar Malami, are to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja gave the order for the final forfeiture of 48 out of 57 properties worth N212 billion linked to the former late President Mohammadu Buhari’s Minister.

 

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the final forfeiture application filed by the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) and dismissed several objections filed by Mr Malami, his family members, and some companies claiming ownership of the properties, saying they all lacked merit.

 

She held that the issue before the court was not “who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties.”

 

The properties to be forfeited span Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states and include luxury hotels, duplexes, plazas, warehouses, shopping units and residential estates acquired over several years.

 

Forty eight of them will be handed over to the federal government following Wednesday’s court ruling.

 

Salami served as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation during the immediate past administration of late President Mohammad Buhari.

PSC Certifies 50,000 Recruits Into NPF

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigerian Police

By Ayodele Oni

 

New 50,000 constables are to be injected into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

 

The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday released the names of successful applicants for the recruitment of 50,000 into the Nigeria Police Force as Police Constables.

 

The release follows the successful conclusion of a comprehensive, inclusive, equitable and transparent recruitment exercise conducted in collaboration with major stakeholders.

 

These include the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Character Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, States Career and Counseling Departments and the Police Community Relations Committee.

 

A statement by the Commission’s Head of Public Relations, Torty Njoku Kalu,

advised all candidates who participated in the recently concluded written examination to login to the official recruitment portal which opens on

Thursday.

 

The statement added that “Successful candidates will also receive email and SMS notifications on the email addresses and phone numbers they provided during the initial application.

 

“The successful candidates are expected to report to their designated Police Training Institutions on dates and times to be communicated in due course for medical examination and documentation.

 

“Candidates who fail to report within the stipulated time will be considered to have declined the offer.

 

“In addition, those who fail the medical examination that would be conducted by the Police Medical Team on resumption of training will be declared unfit and shall be required to leave the training.

 

“Candidates are to report with their training call-up slip, NIN slip, BVN slip, original and photocopies of their certificates and other required documents and items as would be listed in the recruitment portal.

 

“The Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd), thanked  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for graciously approving the recruitment of 50,000 Police Constables as part of measures to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.”

 

DIG Argungu charged the successful candidates to see this opportunity as a clarion call to serve the nation with dignity, integrity and unwavering commitment to a safe and secured Nigeria.

2026 Polls: PDP Insists Names Of Candidates Uploaded To INEC Portal

By
Ayodele Oni
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Peoples Democratic Party - PDP

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clarified that names of its presidential and vice as well as their particulars have been uploaded of  to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal.

 

It revealed that this was done  at exactly 11:50 a.m. on Thursday, 10 July 2026, in full compliance with the Commission’s requirements and within the stipulated timeline.

 

A report had claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was among the political parties that failed to upload the names of their presidential and vice-presidential candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

 

A statement on Wednesday by Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the party added that all necessary documents were equally submitted.

 

PDP National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, had earlier confirmed that the profile of its presidential candidate has been uploaded  to INEC’s portal.

 

Mohammed made the announcement in a statement on Sunday, saying the party, by taking the step, had demonstrated that it would participate in next year’s election.

 

INEC had set July 14 as the deadline for the parties to upload the profiles of their candidates to its portal.

 

The deadline was initially set for July 11 by the electoral body, which later moved it, citing pressure from major stakeholders in the country. The new deadline ended at midnight on Tuesday.

Corruption Trial: Former Code Of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Umar Granted N100 Million Bail

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Danladi Umar

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

A Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court , Maitama District, Abuja, on Wednesday July 15, 2026 granted bail to former Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT,  Chairman,  Danladi Umar, in an ongoing corruption trial.

 

Umar, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a four-count charge, was granted a N100 million  bail by presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Peter Kekemeke, with one surety in like sum.

 

While ruling on an oral bail application filed by counsel to the defendant, Justice Kekemeke also ordered that  the surety must be a landed property owner in Abuja, with an accompanying valid Certificate of Occupancy.

 

The Source reports that the EFCC had, on July 9, 2026, arraigned the former CCT Chairman on a four-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, conferment of undue advantage on self, and corrupt enrichment to the tune of N15 .58 million.

 

The anti-graft Commission accused Umar of corruptly enriching himself through the collection of kickbacks from CCT contractors, and laundering same, using the bank accounts of his wife and sister.

 

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, his counsel  urged the court to admit the former CCT Chairman on bail , arguing that he had earlier respected the terms of an administrative bail granted him by the EFCC.

 

Counsel also appealed for  liberal bail conditions, assuring that he will always be available in court throughout the period of his  trial.

 

However , despite strong objections from the prosecution counsel, Justice Kekemeke while granting the bail application, insisted that Umar remains at Kuje Custodial Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

 

The matter has been adjourned to October 29, 2026, for further hearing.

One Rescued As Principal, SSCE Official, Students Are Kidnaped In Kogi

By
Ayodele Oni
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Gunmen

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Principal, National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc official and four students of Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area, of Kogi state have been abducted by gunmen.

 

Coming few days after similar incident was recorded in the state, the latest attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of schools in Kogi State.

 

The victims were among those participating in the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examinations, (SSCE)

 

The attack, which occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday, disrupted the examination and sent candidates, teachers and residents fleeing for safety as the gunmen stormed the school premises.

 

The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident, disclosing that one of the abducted students had been rescued through the intervention of security operatives, while efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims.

 

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza, said a combined team of police personnel, the military, local vigilantes, hunters and other security agencies had launched an intensive search-and-rescue operation to track down the kidnappers.

 

She also revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, accompanied by the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser, was on his way to the affected community for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, assuring that further details would be made available as investigations progress.

 

The latest abduction has deepened anxiety over the security of educational institutions in the state, particularly during national examinations.

 

 It comes only weeks after another attack on a secondary school in Kogi left a vice principal and two other persons dead during an attempted kidnapping.

 

The incident also followed another recent security breach along the Ochadamu-Ejule Expressway, where suspected bandits attacked a vehicle conveying the remains of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official, Augustine Ikwue, abducting several occupants.

 

Security operatives later recovered the abandoned vehicle and casket, while the deceased’s remains were deposited at the Elemona Mortuary in Ejule.

 

According to the police, joint security teams have intensified operations across the affected areas to rescue all those still in captivity and apprehend the perpetrators.

 

Meanwhile, residents have renewed calls for stronger security around schools and other vulnerable public facilities, urging the government to strengthen surveillance, especially during public examinations, to prevent further attacks on students, teachers and examination officials.

INEC Source: PDP, LP Have No Presidential Candidates For 2027 Election

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Professor Josiah Amupitan INEC Chairman
Prof Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has failed to meet the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for political parties to nominate their presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 election.
The development is contrary to an earlier claim by the PDP National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, that the party had uploaded the profile of its presidential candidate to INEC’s portal. Mohammed made the announcement in a statement on Sunday, saying the party, by taking the step, had demonstrated that it would participate in next year’s election.
The Prof. Joash Amupitan-led commission had set July 14 as the deadline for the parties to upload the profiles of their candidates to its portal. The deadline was initially set for July 11 by the electoral body, which later moved it, citing pressure from major stakeholders in the country.
The new deadline ended at midnight on Tuesday.
According to Daily Trust, the PDP and two other parties, the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), failed to beat the deadline. It is, however, unclear why the three parties did not nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates to INEC, but analysts insist that they may have decided to do so because of their perceived support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid.
The incumbent is seeking to return to office next year and has been nominated by his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, which has submitted his profile and that of his running mate, Kashim Shettima, to INEC as its flagbearer.
While the PDP faction led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has declared its support for President Tinubu, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, who is also the leader of APGA, has also thrown his weight behind the APC presidential candidate.
It, however, remains unclear why the LP did not nominate a presidential candidate to INEC. But sources close to the Governor of Abia State informed the magazine that the only LP governor in the country may have stopped the party from sponsoring a presidential candidate for next year’s election in order not to rock the boat with Tinubu and the APC. The decision may have also been taken because the party lacks the financial capacity to sponsor a candidate, according to the sources.
According to the newspaper, which quoted sources, the PDP, APGA and LP were the only parties that failed to submit the names of their presidential and vice-presidential candidates to the commission.
Other parties running in the 2027 election, including the ruling APC, had all submitted the profiles of their presidential candidates to INEC before the deadline ended yesterday, the newspaper reported, quoting a top official of the commission.
“As of now, only about three political parties are yet to upload the names of their presidential and running mate candidates. They are APGA, the PDP (Wike faction) and the LP (Nenadi faction). Virtually every other party has filed its candidates,” the official said.
The parties that successfully uploaded their candidates include the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is fielding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for re-election; the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which uploaded the names of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi; and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), which uploaded the names of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

“We Deserve To See, Not Just Hear, Projects Executed” – Benin Group Challenges Minister

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

 

Following claim that 500 projects have been delivered across Edo state by the Federal government, the Coalition of Benin Socio-Cultural Organisations (CBSCO) has challenged the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, to publish details of projects his ministry reportedly executed in the State.

In a statement by its Coordinator General, Osazee Amas Edobor, and Secretary, Influence Enobun, the coalition said its request was aimed at promoting transparency and accountability, stressing that it should not be interpreted as a personal attack on the minister.

 

The group urged the minister to make public a comprehensive register of the projects, including their locations, local government areas, senatorial districts, contract values, contractors, completion status and commissioning dates.

 

According to the coalition, such disclosure would enable residents of Edo State to independently verify the projects and assess the distribution of federal interventions across the state’s three senatorial districts.

 

CBSCO also raised concerns over what it alleged was an uneven distribution of projects, claiming that Edo North, the minister’s senatorial district, appeared to have benefited more than Edo South, the state’s oil-producing region.

 

The organisation recalled that the Benin National Congress (BNC) had previously petitioned President Bola Tinubu and other relevant authorities over what it described as an imbalance in the allocation of federal projects in the state.

 

It further referred to reports of National Assembly committee proceedings in which lawmakers reportedly questioned the distribution of projects captured under the ministry’s 2024 budget, including those located in Edo State.

 

The coalition acknowledged that projects previously associated with the ministry in Edo include road construction, solar streetlight installations, transformer projects and a free medical outreach programme in Auchi.

 

However, it maintained that the minister’s broader claim of delivering 500 projects should be supported with verifiable documentation.

 

CBSCO proposed a joint inspection of the projects involving community leaders, civil society organisations and the media to verify their existence, completion status and impact.

 

The group also called on the Federal Government to ensure equitable distribution of development projects across Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South, particularly in communities affected by oil and gas exploration.

 

According to the coalition, making the project details publicly available would be consistent with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency under the Renewed Hope Agenda and would also provide an opportunity for the minister to substantiate his claim.

 

“The people of Benin and Edo deserve to see, not just hear, what has been done in their name,” the statement said

Deregistration: ADC, Others Await Appeal Court Judgment

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Independent National Electoral Commission - INEC

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division has  reserved judgment in the appeals filed by five political parties in the country challenging the court ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to deregister them.

The five parties are the  Action Peoples Party, APP, Action Alliance, AA, Accord Party, AP, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Accord and African Democratic Congress, ADC.

A three-man panel of justices of the  court, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, said on Tuesday that the date for ruling on the matter will be communicated to all contending parties.

Recall that Justice Peter Lifu of the federal high court, Abuja, the nation’s capital had last month ordered the commission to deregister the five parties after because they failed to meet a provisions in the Electoral Act, which requires political parties to win  at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or winning at least one elective office at the federal, state, or local government level.

Justice Lifu gave the ruling in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, NFFL.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the NFFL prayed the court to determine whether INEC has the powers to under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022 and its regulations to deregister political parties which failed to meet the constitutional requirement.

The lower court had agreed with the plaintiff, in a judgment delivered on June 16, 2026, t0 the effect that the five parties had failed to meet the legal requirements to remain as registered political parties in the country, and thus ordered their deregistration.

After listening to all parties in the matter, the appellate court said yesterday that the date of the judgment will be communicated to them accordingly.

DG Of Fake PFIPC Arrested In Osun State

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Adeniyi Adeyemi Fake DG arrested

By Ayodele Oni

 

Few hours after an Abuja Court ordered the arrest of the self-styled Director-General of the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, reports confirm  he has been arrested.

 

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday after he failed to appear in court for his arraignment.

 

Details of the operation which led to his arrest are still sketchy, but TVC News Online reports that Adeyemi was picked up in his hideout in Osun State.

 

Spokesperson for tye Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed to Reporters that Adeyemi was arrested in his hideout in Osun State by a Police Intelligence Team from Abuja.

 

Asked by the Police to identify himself, on arrest, he said “I’ve mentioned it Sir.

 

When the Police wouldn’t bulge and insisted he identifies himself, he replied: “I have mentioned it several times.”

 

Looking, at once, worried and agitated, he wore a light blue traditional attire and was surrounded by Security Operatives.

 

He is expected to be taken to the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

 

The Court order followed an oral application by Police counsel, Wisdom Madaki.

 

Adeyemi and his co-defendants were scheduled to take their plea on an eight-count charge filed by the police, bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences.

 

In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant, while Adeyemi, “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown” are listed as the first to third defendants. The charge was filed on Nov. 27, 2025, by Madaki.

 

When the matter was called, none of the defendants was in court.

 

Madaki subsequently urged the court to issue a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest due to his absence.

 

Responding, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, told the court that his client feared for his life and had written a letter to President Bola Tinubu.

 

According to the lawyer, Adeyemi wanted to remain alive to stand trial.

 

Justice Umar, however, responded that the court would “help him to stay alive.”

 

After hearing submissions from counsel, the judge directed all security agencies to arrest Adeyemi wherever he is found and adjourned the case until Sept. 30 for arraignment.

 

The police alleged that Adeyemi operated the fictitious agency from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, before his arrest.

 

On July 7, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the alleged fictitious agency and gave the commission 30 days to complete its probe.

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