Zenith Bank Dissociates Group Chair, Ovia From ‘Fraudulent’ Investment Scheme

By

-

February 18, 2026

Zenith Bank Plc has dissociated its Group Chairman, Jim Ovia from videos circulating online claiming that he endorsed an investment scheme known as Wealth Bridge. The video is a “fraudulent communication,” the bank said on Tuesday.

The commercial bank, in a statement shared on its verified X handle urged members of the public to ignore the promotional video, describing it as fake with no ling to the Group Chairman.

The bank said that the videos which circulated through the `Greece Island’ Facebook handle, promised prospective customers of up to two million naira in weekly returns on a contribution of N380, 000 investment.

The bank however warned members of the public who conduct business with the entity that they are doing so at their own risk, as the commercial bank and its chairman has no link whatsoever with it, adding that the claim in the video, to the effect that it has the endorsement of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is untrue.

“The video redirects unsuspecting members of the public to an alleged Arise News webpage with the details of this scheme and an embedded registration portal for signups.

“This claim is entirely false and has no connection whatsoever to the Group Chairman, the Bank or any of its affiliate companies. The general public is hereby advised to disregard these fraudulent communications.

“Anyone who engages with the Greece Island handle, Wealth Bridge, delicious site, AfriQuantumX, Stock market analyst 1 or any other entity on the basis of these fake videos and images published by impostors, does so strictly at his or her own risk,’’ the bank stated.

Ondo APC Crisis: Gov. Aiyedatiwa Declares Stakeholders’ Meeting Chaired By Party Chairman Illegal, Disowns Thugs

By

Ayodele Oni

-

February 18, 2026

0

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, firmly denied allegations linking him to thugs that invaded the party’s state secretariat on Tuesday, saying the stakeholders meeting holding at that time was illegal.

The governor clarified that the only legitimate stakeholders’ meeting recognised by him and key party leaders was the one held at 2 p.m., stressing that no authorised meeting was taking place at the time of the earlier disturbance.

Suspected thugs had stormed the secretariat, early on Tuesday, assaulted party leaders, and disrupted what was described as a stakeholders’ meeting, with the State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, attacked and dispossessed of personal belongings.

Speaking after another stakeholders’ meeting, which he presided over, Aiyedatiwa said he was informed around 11 a.m. by the State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, about plans for a stakeholders’ meeting earlier scheduled for 10 a.m.

According to him, he directed that the meeting be shifted to 2 p.m. because he was attending the 50th birthday celebration of a cabinet member and party stakeholder.

“As governor, I always attend stakeholders’ meetings alongside speaker and the deputy governor. So I asked that it be moved to 2 p.m.,” he explained.

He stated that while preparing to attend the rescheduled meeting, he received reports of some “miscreants” loitering around the secretariat and allegedly attempting to create tension.

“I immediately asked that the Commissioner of Police be contacted. I personally called the CP to ensure the place was secured because I was on my way there,” the governor said.

He added that security operatives were promptly deployed and that by the time he, the Speaker, and other leaders arrived, the secretariat had been secured.

“We had a peaceful stakeholders’ meeting thereafter. The miscreants had been chased away by the police,” he maintained.

Responding to claims that a stakeholders’ meeting had already commenced when the invasion occurred, Aiyedatiwa insisted that no formal meeting was in session at that time.

“That was not a stakeholders’ meeting. The authentic stakeholders’ meeting was the one shifted to 2 p.m.,” he said.

He explained that messages for the earlier 10 a.m. schedule had been sent before he requested the adjustment, and that people were merely arriving at the secretariat when supporters of different aspirants allegedly began causing disturbance.

According to him, the fracas stemmed from tensions among supporters of aspirants contesting various positions ahead of the ward and local government congresses.

The governor further disclosed that he had earlier met with the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to brief them on the planned congresses.

“I told them that the main congress is tomorrow. They had already mobilised security across the state. The CP was personally present. Security was not taken lightly,” he said.

He emphasised that the police confirmed receiving calls from both him and the party chairman before deploying personnel to the secretariat.

The crisis is believed to be rooted in disagreements over the conduct of the ward congress — whether to proceed with an open contest as directed by the national leadership of the APC or adopt a consensus arrangement.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed To El-Rufai: “Limit The Damage, Focus On Allegation That You Stole People’s Money”

By

Adesina Soyooye

-

February 18, 2026

0

By Adesina Soyooye

Embattled former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has been advised to limit the emanating damage around him and focus on the allegation that he stole money which belongs to the people.

The advice to El-Rufai who has spent a second night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, came from Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Presidential Special Adviser on Political Matters, Office of the Vice President.

Speaking duing a television interview on Tuesday, he decried the bitter relationship between El-Rufai and National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, and described it as poisonous.

Baba-Ahmed, a strong voice in Northern politics, perhaps, not sure El-Rufai would take his advice pointed out that the former Governor is a difficult person to advice and expressed sadness that the very strong relationship between Ribadu and El-Rufai has become poisoned.

He said: “I am extremely saddened by the development. I know both gentlemen and the depth of their personal relationship, and I see this as one of the poisonous elements of our politics.

“If you can actually poison a relationship of this nature so deeply, then we are in very serious trouble. It is very saddening to see this relationship degenerate to the point that their personal bond is now so poisoned that nobody seems to consider the consequences. We are dealing with a situation of two friends threatening to take legal action against each other.

“Mallam El-Rufai, by character, is a very difficult person to advise. If I were to advise him, I would say there are so few fronts worth fighting. Try to limit the damage and focus your attention on addressing allegations that you stole money from the people.”

Ribadu and El-Rufai, close friends and strong political allies, but a relationship now estranged, have been throwing allegations at each other in recent weeks. The result I’d that El-Rufai has been charged to court on allegations of cyber crime and more.

“As A Student In Chicago, I Am Witness To How Jesse Jackson Helped Drive The American Dream” – Tinubu

By

Adesina Soyooye

-

February 18, 2026

0

By Adesina Soyooye

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of the iconic Civil Rights and Baptist Preacher, Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Jackson passed on Tuesday, February 17 at the age of 84. He died of parkinson disease.

While mourning him, President Tinubu said in the 1970’s, as a student in Chicago, he was a witness to how Jackson helped to drive the American dream.

He said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday in which he described Rev. Jackson as “a servant-leader who captured global imagination as a young activist alongside civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.”

Jackson, President Tinubu said, “fought for the dignity of black people, the oppressed and the voiceless in the United States and across the world.”

The president, also noted that Jackson became a national and global icon who demanded improved social and economic conditions for African-Americans. He emphasized that Jackson carried on the unfinished work of Martin Luther King Jr. in the struggle for racial justice.

Tinubu: “As a student in the United States in the 1970s, I lived in Chicago, the same city where Reverend Jackson fought the most important battles against injustice.

“I witnessed firsthand how, as a faithful servant of God and humanity, he pointed the arc of American society to the great promise of the American dream.”

He pointed out that Jackson was influential in American politics and global affairs, and paved the way for Barack Obama as the first Black American President.

He said: “When Barack Obama broke the glass ceiling as the first Black President in America, it was Rev. Jackson who first inflicted the cracks on the ceiling in 1984 and again in 1988.”

Jackson, he said, was a great friend of Nigeria and Africa and a formidable voice against apartheid in South Africa, during which time the iconic Jackson played a front-row role in campaigns for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders.

Tinubu recalled, also, that Jackson defended human rights and democratic rule during Nigeria’s era of military dictatorship and was appointed Special Envoy by President Bill Clinton to Nigeria and Africa in 1997 and 1999.

Jackson promoted civil liberties and helped link African leaders with the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus to advance Africa’s interests, and remained a strong voice for justice and human progress, inspiring people to “keep hope alive”.

“Ribadu Is Planning For His 2031 Presidential Election”, Rotimi Amaechi

By

Adesina Soyooye

-

February 18, 2026

0

By Adesina Soyooye

El-Rufai does not have the capacity to tap the NSA’s telephone. Instead, it is the NSA’s office that has been listening-in to our phone calls

The immediate past Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai does not have the capacity to wire-tap the phones of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Recall that El-Rufai, in an interview with Arise Television, had said that an unnamed person who listened in (wire-tapped) to the NSA’s phone conversation told him that the NSA was the mastermind of the botched attempt to “abduct” him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on his return from Egypt where he had gone for medical attention.

El-Rufai’s comments caused outrage and is the reason the Department of State Services, DSS, has charged him to Court on a three count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime.

But in his defence of El-Rufai on Tuesday when he spoke on Eagle, Amaechi said El-Rufai does not have that capacity. On the contrary, Amaechi noted, it is the NSA’s office that is busy tapping people’s telephones and listening to their conversations.

Amaechi, also, alleged that Ribadu is busy preparing for two Presidential elections – President Tinubu’s in 2027, and his own in 2031.

Amaechi: “I doubt that El-Rufai said he had hacked NSA Nuhu Ribadu’s phone. He doesn’t have the capacity to do so.

“It’s the NSA’s office that is listening to our calls. Ribadu is busy arresting everybody. He’s planning double elections.

“He’s planning for himself in 2031, and also for Tinubu in the 2027 Presidential Election.

“All he’s doing is setting up parties to fight ADC. He has his own fake ADC cases with small boys he has bought cars for.

“The man needs to rest. If he thinks there won’t be proper elections in 2027, he’s wasting his time. He should focus on his security job.”

Meanwhile, Ribadu is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, where he is undergoing Interrogation for alleged misappropriation of State funds when he was Kaduna State Governor. When granted bail, the strong speculation is that he would immediately become a guest of the DSS whose operatives are waiting to interrogate him on two allegations – wire-tapping the NSA’s phone for which he has already been dragged to Court, and his allegation that the office of the NSA has imported 10 kilograms of a poisonous chemical, Thallium Sulphate from Poland. He had petitioned the NSA’s office seeking to know why such a poisonous chemical was imported.

Both Amaechi and El-Rufai are chieftains of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, after dumping the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Alleged Alteration Of Electoral Act: Reps Minority Members Stage Walkout

By

Ayodele Oni

-

February 17, 2026

0

By Ayodele Oni

Following an alleged alteration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Minority members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday staged a walkout during the Committee of the Whole house to consider of the bill.

Speaking on behalf of the caucus, the Minority Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda, explained that the caucus discovered changes in the version presented for clause-by-clause consideration, including provisions recognising three forms of party primaries.

Chinda disclosed that the minority immediately convened an emergency meeting to review the amendments, particularly Section 60, which deals with the electronic transmission of election results.

According to him, “Our position is that election results should be transmitted electronically without any proviso,” he said, stressing that the caucus opposed any clause capable of creating room for manipulation or undermining the integrity of the electoral process.

The minority also proposed that in cases of conflict between the manual result sheet (EC8A) and electronically transmitted results, the electronically transmitted results should take precedence.

According to Chinda, the proposals were rejected by the majority for what he termed political reasons, rather than technical or legal considerations.

He further addressed Section 84 of the Act relating to primary elections, insisting that political parties must retain the autonomy to determine their preferred mode of candidate selection.

“The method of selecting candidates is an internal party affair. It is not for the law to impose a particular option on political parties,” he said.

Chinda explained that the walkout was a deliberate protest against provisions the minority believed could weaken transparency, internal party democracy, and public confidence in the electoral system.

Tinubu Does Not Want PDP To Field Candidates In 2027 – Odefa, S.East National Vice Chairman

By

Suleiman Anyalewechi

-

February 17, 2026

0

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged an orchestrated plot by President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to frustrate the party from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.

The National Vice Chairman, South East of the Party, Chief Ali Odefa, who spoke on Tuesday February17, 2026, at the occasion of the inauguration of the newly constituted Abia State Interim Committee in Enugu, accused the All Progressive Congress APC-led Federal Government of deliberately undermining the peace and stability of the PDP through subtle engineering of leadership and internal crises at the national level.

According to him, the festering squabble within the PDP did not not emanate overnight. He said it is rather the product of a well scripted plot to hold down the party and ensure that it does not pose as a potent threat to the re-election bid of the President in 2027.

The South East region PDP leader noted that some hirelings, both within and outside the party, were recruited by the Federal Government to create division within the party and weaken its capacity to perform its constitutional responsibility of keeping the Government of the day on its toes.

“There are people who are bent on destroying PDP. They want us not to participate in the 2027 general elections.

“For some years now, PDP has been facing problems mainly orchestrated by some anti-party agents. They don’t want PDP to grow. But, we will not accept that”, Odefa stated

He, however expressed the optimism that respite will soon come the way of the party, with the court’ set to resolving the leadership crisis.

“We are hopeful that the court will bring justice to the PDP. We have confidence in the judiciary. Many of them are still men and women integrity.

“A week ago, the Appeal Court consolidated all the appeals. We expect that they will stand by Justice as the last hope of the common man. We strongly believe that justice will prevail”, he added.

He, therefore, charged the new Abia Caretaker Committee members to work assiduously towards uniting and reinvigorating the PDP in the State.

The South East National Vice Chairman urged them to keep hope alive, as there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

The Abia State interim Committee which was formed about penultimate week by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee NWC of the party is headed by Ikegbu Emeka.

Zamfara People Denied Their Due Because I Don’t Belong To APC – Gov Lawal Laments

By

Suleiman Anyalewechi

-

February 17, 2026

0

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Zamfara State Government has accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of not playing its moral and constitutional role of treating every unit of the Federation as its own Constituency.

The State Governor, Dauda Lawal regretted that rather than sharing the resources of the Federal Government equitably, justly and fairly, the All Progressive Congress APC-led Federal Government of Nigeria has instead chosen to isolate States, including Zamfara, that are being governed by opposition parties.

In a trending video online, Governor Lawal, whose State has been battling insurgency for over a decade, lamented that Zamfara State under his watch has not received a dime or any form of palliatives from the Federal Government owing, primarily, to his membership of the opposition Peoples Democratic party PDP.

According to him, the case of Zamfara State sharply contrasts with APC-controlled States, which he said have received over N500 billion worth of palliatives since the removal of petroleum products subsidies.

Governor Lawal regretted that these funds that were earmarked by the Federal Government to cushion the excruciating economic hardships occasioned by the subsidy removal on the people across the country and party line have been deployed to the sole advantage of APC States, and those perceived to be in the good books of the Federal Government.

“I know of some States that have received over N500 billion from the Federal Government as palliatives. But I have never received anything. I think the reason I don’t get it is because I am not in APC, even though it is not supposed to be so.

“The palliatives which were introduced by the Federal Government as a way of cushioning the effects of the petroleum products subsidy removal are supposed to be shared equitably and fairly to all the component units of the Nigerian Federation”, Lawal said.

This is as he emphasized that citizens should not suffer and be denied their dues simply on account of political preferences and rivalry between different layers of Government

However, despite the seeming antagonism and deprivation of his people their rights, Governor Lawal ruled out the possibility of his defection to the ruling party at the centre.

The Source reports that Governor Lawal and Zamfara State’s alleged plights were the same with past opposition Governors most of whom, for reason of personal political survival or promised Federal Government patronage or both,have joined the APC .

Instructively, almost all the defecting Governors have cited the need to accelerate development activities in their states and improve the lots of their people as major reasons for their action.

Fraud: Four Suspects In Ondo Police Custody Over Obtaining Of Money Under False Pretence

By

Ayodele Oni

-

February 17, 2026

0

By Ayodele Oni

A serial suspected fraudster, who has several people as his victims in Ondo state has been arrested by men of the state police command.

The suspect, Adewale Olaiya, according to the police, has duped individuals, and business concerns to the tune of close to N20 million.

While disclosing his activities, the State Police Command spokesman, Abayomi Jimoh stated that three other suspects were also arrested for similar offences of alleged obtaining money by false pretence and other related financial fraud involving multiple victims within Akure and beyond.

“The first incident was reported on 14th January, 2026, when one Faith Olawale ‘F’, of Adekunle Ajasin Road, NEPA Roundabout, Akure, lodged a complaint at the Police Station.

“She reported that while attending to customers at her POS shop located at the same address, a man identified as Adewale Olaiya ‘M’ carried out a transaction of Four Hundred Thousand Naira.

“The complainant stated that immediately the suspect received confirmation of the transfer into his account, he absconded from the scene without paying the equivalent cash value, leaving behind a Techno Pop 10 mobile phone at the kiosk.

“Acting swiftly on the report, police operatives launched an investigation, which led to the arrest of the suspect on 6th February, 2026, at a hotel in Akure.

“Further inquiries revealed additional complaints from other victims. The hotel owner where the suspect was apprehended alleged that he fraudulently obtained drinks worth Two Million, One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred Naira without payment.

“Similarly, a money changer, Abidakun Kehinde, alleged that the same suspect collected the sum of Eleven Million, Six Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (₦11,610,000) under the pretext of repaying within two days but failed to fulfil the promise.

“In addition, a commercial motorcyclist reported that the suspect owed him ₦16,000, while a salesgirl at one of the hotels in Ijapo alleged that he owed her ₦60,000. During investigation, the suspect did not deny the allegations levelled against him.”

In a related development, the Command also arrested three suspects in connection with a case of obtaining money under false pretence following a detailed investigation and coordinated intelligence efforts.

“The case was reported by Festus Funke (female), who stated that her friend, Ogunboye Atinuke (female), requested the use of her bank account, claiming that her associate, Fasisdi Funminiyi (male), aged 29 years, needed it to receive funds.

“Trusting her friend, the complainant provided her Polaris Bank account number.

“Subsequently, a sum of Five Million Naira, allegedly fraudulently obtained from a victim based in the United States of America, was paid into the said account.

“As a result of the suspicious transaction, a case of fraud was instituted against the account holder in Benin City, Edo State, prompting further investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the transaction.

“Upon receipt of the case, the Ondo State Police Command launched a manhunt for the principal suspect, identified as Fasisdi Funminiyi, who is alleged to be a habitual fraudster.

“The sustained efforts of police operatives yielded positive results when the suspect was apprehended in the Oba-Ile area of Akure. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to the crime.

“All suspects are currently in police custody and have made useful statements aiding the ongoing investigation. They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.”

Thugs Invade Ondo APC Stakeholders Meeting, Injure Chairman, Adetimehin

By

Ayodele Oni

-

February 17, 2026

0

By Ayodele Oni

Armed thugs stormed a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ondo state on Tuesday, forcing party members to flee in panic and abruptly halting the gathering.

The incident occurred at the APC secretariat in Akure, where party leaders, and party officials had assembled for what was described as a routine stakeholders’ meeting.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers, believed to be young men armed with sticks, machetes and other crude weapons, invaded the premises suddenly, shouting and threatening participants.

Attendees reportedly scattered in different directions to escape the violence, while the meeting venue was abandoned within minutes.

Several party officials and supporters were said to have taken cover in nearby buildings, while others fled the area entirely.

One of those that sustained injuries during the fracas, Ade Adetimehin, who is the state chairman of APC, explained that the thugs were led by a leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers,(NURTW).

Adetimehin stated that the meeting was a regular one called to address some urgent issues before the forthcoming state congress, saying it was not called to endorse any leader.

Narating his ordeal, the chairman stated that “I was slapped severally and pushed down by the thugs that invaded the venue of the meeting.”

Also in a post on his Facebook, member representing Ondo on the board of the Nigeria Delta Development Commission, (NDDC(, Otito Atikase cried out that if anything happened to him, Governor Aiyedatiwa should be held responsible.

Atikase is one of the admirers of the interior Minister.

There has been crisis within the APC in the state over disagreement on the actual leader of the party between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of interior, Tunji Ojo.

Loyalists of two of them have always cause tension in gatherings being attended by them, despite the position within the party that the governor is the leader of the party in states.

The minister and the governor have formed two parallel groups, campaigning for the second term bid of President Bola Tinubu.

What is clear, however, is that the disruption reflects growing tension within the APC in Ondo State.

The party has experienced internal disagreements over leadership structure, candidate selection and factional loyalties in recent political cycles.

Though Tuesday’s incident has not yet been officially linked to any specific faction, insiders say the meeting was called to address sensitive political issues, including internal alignments ahead of future party activities.

The sudden invasion therefore raised suspicions that the disruption may have been politically motivated, though authorities have not confirmed this