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El-Rufai’s Son Backs Tinubu, Pledges Commitment To APC

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Malam Nasir and Mohammed El-Rufai and Bola Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

A son of Malam Nasir Mohammed El-Rufai, Honourable Bello El-Rufai has vowed commitment  to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives made this vow even though his father has since quit APC, and is now a chieftain of the main opposition Party, the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Bello also said he has tremendous respect for President Bola Tinubu even though his father, a former Governor of Kaduna State has no use for Tinubu when it comes to governance.

He said these in reaction to a comment by an X user @utddiehard who accused him of backing his father. In response, Bello said he would never compromise his principles adding that even though he loves his father, he respects President Tinubu.

On his X page, the Honourable Member wrote: “I love my father. I respect Asiwaju. I will never do anything against my party’s interest as long as I am a member. But I will never compromise my principles.

After all,  God is bigger than PMB, Asiwaju, Mallam and Buhari, and it is God and Kaduna North  who will judge me.

“My oath was with the Qur’an, the Constitution, and the APC Constitution. Any data boy and his sponsor will bow before me whenever I need them to once they try to drag me. And that’s what it is.”

Recall that a son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently dumped the PDP and defected to APC instead of his father’s ADC, pledged loyalty to Tinubu and promised to do anything for his second term reelection even though his father, Atiku, has eyes on the Presidency.

Gov. Soludo Suspends Nine Headteachers For Recording Low Turn Out In Schools On Monday

By
Ayodele Oni
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Charles Soludo
Governor Charles Soludo

By Ayodele Oni

Nine headteachers in Anambra State have been slammed with two weeks suspension for recording low turn out of pupils in their schools on Monday.

Dr Vera Nwadinobi, Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, who disclosed this during an assessment visit to schools, revealed that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has approved the sanction.

She added that the sanction was in demonstration that the governor is fully in charge and he is against Monday sit-at-home.

Dr Nwadinobi explained that the assessment visit was to monitor compliance with the State Executive Order banning School closures on Mondays over sit-at-home directive.

She revealed that some schools had no pupils at all, while others had only two to five students present.

The nine schools affected are:

Union Primary School, Ukpo – 3 pupils

Walter Eze Secondary School, Ukpo – 0 pupils

Aguoji Primary School, Ifitedunu – 5 pupils

Hilltop Primary School, Ifitedunu – 3 pupils

Chukwurah Primary School, Abatete – 0 pupils

Uzubi Primary School, Eziowelle – 2 pupils

Union Primary School, Eziowelle – 3 pupils

Umunebo Primary School, Nteje – 0 pupils

Central School, Atani – 0 pupils

“Following these findings, Governor Charles Soludo approved the suspension of the headteachers for two weeks,” Nwadinobi said.

She added that the suspended headteachers must hand over to the next most senior officers to ensure uninterrupted school administration.

The action, she said, reflects the government’s zero tolerance for negligence and commitment to restoring discipline and full academic engagement in public schools.

The Executive Order, first reported on January 24, threatened teachers and non-teaching staff with salary deductions of 20 per cent or full forfeiture if they fail to comply.

The convicted Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had finally abolished the compulsory Monday Sit-At-Home exercise across the South East.

This was after the governor had shut down the Onitsha Main Market for one week with the view of putting an end to the Monday Sit-At-Home in the South East states.

Ebonyi Crisis: Community Dares Gov. Nwifuru, Says No Severed Heads To Return

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ebonyi State Governor - Francis Nwifuru
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru

By Ayodele Oni

The Amasiri Community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has responded to the demand of the state Governor, Francis Nwifuru, ordering the people to produce severed heads of victims killed during a recent violence in Edda.

The community also demanded that Governor Nwifuru end the 72-hour ultimatum issued by the Governor, directing the community to comply with the directive.

In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Amasiri Communities, Princess Joy Omagha Idam, the community categorically denied any involvement in killings or abductions and warned that the directive amounts to collective punishment and a violation of constitutional rights.

“We state categorically, that Amasiri has no knowledge whatsoever of the alleged killings or abductions. The community neither participated in, facilitated, nor condoned any such acts.”

The statement stressed that attributing criminal responsibility to an entire community violates the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), particularly the presumption of innocence and the prohibition of collective punishment.

Contrary to official narratives, the community said Amasiri has itself suffered grievous losses, including killings, abductions, displacement, and alleged abuses during security operations.

“Contrary to the narrative being advanced, Amasiri has itself suffered significant and irreparable losses. Several sons and daughters of the community have been killed or abducted.

“Among those reportedly abducted, according to the statement, is a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, alongside his wife and in-law, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

“Despite these facts, the community is being threatened with severe sanctions and punitive measures for crimes it knows nothing about.”

The community warned that such actions are unjust, disproportionate, and capable of triggering further violence and breakdown of law and order.

Amasiri raised alarm over what it described as credible reports of widespread human rights abuses allegedly committed during ongoing security operations in the community.

“Senior citizens are reportedly assaulted on a daily basis. Women are allegedly flogged, humiliated, and forced to roll on the ground under the scorching sun, while being coerced to summon their sons who fled in fear for their lives.”

The statement said these actions constitute cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, prohibited under Section 34 of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

“Children of Amasiri are unable to attend school or sit for critical national examinations, including the Common Entrance Examination and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC).”

It described the situation as a violation of the right to education and a threat to the future of an entire generation.

“Within the last two weeks, the community said several lives have been lost, raising questions about equal protection under the law.

“We are compelled to ask: Are Amasiri lives not entitled to equal protection under the law? Did the Governor of Ebonyi State not swear an oath to protect all citizens of the state without discrimination?”

The statement also questioned whether undisclosed material interests related to Amasiri land may be influencing events, noting that Amasiri is regarded as one of the highest revenue generating communities in Ebonyi State.

Citing a “clear and present danger” to lives and liberties, Amasiri called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff, the Minister of Defence, and the National Boundaries Commission to intervene immediately.

“We demand an impartial, transparent, and independent investigation into the allegations of killings, abductions, and the conduct of security forces in Amasiri.”

The community reiterated its commitment to peace and lawful conflict resolution but rejected intimidation and collective punishment.

“We appeal to the conscience of the Nigerian state and the international community to act swiftly to halt ongoing abuses, protect vulnerable populations, and restore peace founded on truth, justice, and respect for human rights.”

The statement also referenced the death of Mr Ndubuisi Agha Ukpai from Ezi Idam Ali Amaegbu Ezeke, who was reportedly shot during military operations on 3/2/26 and died the following day due to lack of medical access.

The abducted retired officer was identified as Warrant Officer Chukwu Charles, alongside his wife Patricia Chukwu Charles.

The community urged security agencies to investigate other possible sources of violence, including the origins of burnt trucks and alleged retaliatory attacks involving other communities.

“The Security Agencies should rather look towards the community where the drivers of trucks burnt come from. They may have retaliated on the Okporojo people. We have no idea as there was no motive.”

NAFDAC Uncovers Warehouse Where Counterfeit Medicine Are Stored

By
Akinwale Kasali
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NAFDAC Uncovers Warehouse in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

Over 10 million doses of fake and banned drugs hidden inside some warehouses in Lagos State has been uncovered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

The agency said the discovery can be described as “one of the worst counterfeit medicine operations in recent years”.

Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, disclosed that the discovery followed intelligence from a training meeting held on February 3 on suspicious activities around the Trade Fair–Navy area.

While speaking to Journalists at a Press Briefing organised by the Agency, Iluyomade said, “Acting on information from that meeting, our team visited the location and found multiple warehouse structures built like residential houses but used solely for storage. The area is deserted, not somewhere people normally go, which is likely why they operated undetected”,he stated.

He added that inside the buildings, officials found large quantities of counterfeit medicines, including injectable anti-malarials, antibiotics, sachet drugs, blister packs, and banned products such as Analgin, which has been prohibited for over 15 years.

“What we discovered should make every Nigerian cry. These were not just fake vitamins. These were life-saving medicines — injections used in emergency cases like cerebral malaria. When fake injections are used in such situations, it becomes a death sentence.

“It is extremely difficult to distinguish the fake from the original. Even product owners sometimes struggle to tell the difference. That is how sophisticated these criminals have become,” he stated.

He further added that the street value of the confiscated products is over N3 billion, with eight trailers loaded with assorted fake medicines and cosmetics evacuated from the site.

“This is a major breakthrough for Nigeria and Nigerians. These products will not enter circulation,” the NAFDAC official said.

He said: “They clone original products. They take samples of genuine medicines, reproduce them abroad to near perfection, and push them back into our distribution chain. This is organised crime involving collaborators both inside and outside Nigeria.”

The NAFDAC official, who warned that Nigeria’s health system is under attack from counterfeiters driven by profit, said: “The country is under siege by people who want to make money at all costs — even if it means killing fellow citizens and destroying reputable brands.”

Iluyomade further revealed that some manufacturers had reported fake versions of their products in the market for over six months, but criminals often distribute in small quantities to avoid detection.

He however warned that If a drug is unusually cheap, Nigerians shouldnt think theu have found a bargain. It could cost you your life,” he warned.

ADC Thumbs Up Nigerians Over Senate Reversal Of Electoral Amendment Bill

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bolaji Abdullahi
Bolaji Abdullahi

By Ayodele Oni 

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the decision of the 10th Senate to reverse controversial provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill as an affirmation of Nigerians as custodians of democracy.

 

The opposition party noted that the decision is also a major victory for Nigerian citizens, attributing the development to sustained public pressure across the country.

 

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party stated that the Senate’s reversal underscores the power of collective civic action and proves that united citizens can successfully challenge partisan manipulation.

 

According to the ADC, the development goes beyond a routine legislative adjustment and represents a clear affirmation of popular sovereignty.

 

“The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill is a significant victory for the Nigerian people. 

 

“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains”, the statement said.

 

The party pointed out that the outcome reflects the growing political consciousness of Nigerians from all walks of life, pointing to both street protests and digital advocacy as critical tools that forced the lawmakers to retrace their steps.

 

“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political awareness of Nigerians, who have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to the people.”

 

The ADC also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of a pattern of disregard for due process and democratic norms, stressing that citizens had once again asserted themselves as the ultimate custodians of Nigeria’s democracy.

 

Commending Nigerians for their courage and persistence, the party urged citizens not to relax, warning that the struggle was far from over.

 

“We must not relent. This is only a step forward. Nigerians must sustain the pressure until the amended Bill is fully passed, assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.”

 

The party cautioned against last-minute alterations or technical ambiguities that could undermine the intent of the law, warning against outcomes that often result in “stories that touch.”

 

Reiterating its commitment to democratic accountability, the ADC concluded by reminding Nigerians that democracy requires constant engagement.

 

“Democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes peaceful defiance. The price of democracy is eternal vigilance.”

Wike Embraces Peace, Says No More Crisis In Rivers State, Makes Up With Fubara

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Nyesom Wike and Simi Fubara and Bola Tinubu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, cautioned against any attempts to undermine or truncate the latest Presidential peace efforts on the festering leadership and political crisis in Rivers State.

 

The Source reports that, reports had  been rife concerning a peace meeting convened on Sunday February 8 at the Aso Rock Villa by President Bola Tinubu to  once again find a solution to the  continued rift between the camps of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and those of Wike his estranged godfather and the the state law makers.

 

Confirming the said trouble-shooting efforts, the FCT Minister on Tuesday, at an  interactive session with the media, warned that the latest peace moves, the second in the series, would be the last time the President will be intervening in the face- off  among the warring groups in Rivers state.

 

“The President has been very kind to the people of Rivers State . Each time there has been a semblance of problem between the Legislative and Executive Arms of Government, the President as father, has always stepped forward to resolve it .

 

“This is the second time Mr President is intervening, and I believe, by the grace of God, that this will be the last time he will be intervening. I have asked all the parties to obey Mr President, and I know that they will not hesitate to do so.

 

“And I hope also that the Governor will carry out his own part of the peace terms to make sure that this is the final time that Rivers people will hear this kind of disagreement” Wike stated .

 

The latest Presidential peace efforts, however, is coming on the heels of Wike’s belligerent posture towards Governor Fubara, with the  declaration, last weekend that the Governor is not needed in the process of mobilizing support for the second term ambition of President Tinubu.

 

At the formal inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors office in Port Harcourt, Wike also rained  curses on all those perceived to be supporting the Governor in betraying him.

 

Instructively, too, the FCT Minister did not give an inkling of the salient points of the presidential truce.

 

With the peace efforts though, what is obvious is that the impeachment process against Fubara has come to an end.

Senate Bows To Pressure, Approves Electronic Transmission Of Results In Re-amended Electoral Act

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigerian Senate

By Ayodele Oni

Committee Reconstituted

Bowing to public outcry and criticism, the Senate, on Tuesday, re-amended the Electoral Act to accommodate the electronic transmission of results.

The green chamber had earlier, during the first passage, rejected the mandatory electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV) after vote counting.

This is just as it reconstituted a 12-member Electoral Act Conference Committee to harmonise differences in the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act.

With this move, the upper chamber has accommodated the Electoral Act to include the electronic transmission of results.

However, the provision comes with a caveat that, in the event of internet failure, Form EC8A will serve as the primary means of result collation.

Despite the change, the amendment does not make electronic transmission mandatory.

Instead, it allows results to be transmitted electronically, while providing an alternative in cases of network failure.

The decision followed a motion moved by the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, during an emergency plenary session.

Mr Monguno (APC, Borno North) said the decision to rescind the Senate’s earlier rejection of electronic transmission was informed by the need for the Electoral Act to reflect the wishes of Nigerians.

“This amendment is to bring our laws to make it a replica of the wishes and aspirations of the people,” he said. The Minority Leader, Abba Moro, seconded the motion.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, subsequently put the motion to a voice vote, which was supported by a majority of lawmakers.

With the latest amendment, the Senate has effectively admitted that its earlier version of the amendment was passed without a provision for electronic transmission of results.

The new chairman of the reconstituted  12-member Electoral Act Conference Committee is Simon Bako Lalong.

The committee is expected to interface with its counterpart in the House of Representatives to reconcile discrepancies in the amendment bill and produce a unified version for final legislative approval.

The President of the Senate announced the members of the committee during an emergency plenary session.

The conference committee will review areas of divergence between the versions passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and resolve contentious clauses before presenting a harmonised document for adoption.

Slenator Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Tahir Mungono are also members of the Committee.

The development is part of broader legislative efforts to refine Nigeria’s electoral legal framework ahead of future elections, including the 2027 general polls.

Lawmakers expressed confidence that the harmonisation process would address grey areas in the bill and improve transparency, credibility and operational efficiency in the conduct of elections across the country.

The harmonised version, once agreed upon by both chambers, will be transmitted for final approval in line with legislative procedures.

Access Bank Acquisition Deal With South African Bank Collapses; CBN’s Role

By
James Orji
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Access Bank Aigboje-Aig-Imoukhuede

Access Bank Plc has failed in its quest to acquire one of South Africa’s commercial bank, Bidvest Bank, which announced that the deal between the two entities has collapsed.

On Monday, Bidvets Group, the parent body of the South Africa’s lender disclosed to shareholders  that the deal could no longer go ahead.

The Group stressed that it will now look for prospective buyers after Access Bank missed the deadline to consummate the deal as earlier agreed by the two commercial entities.

The South African entity said the Nigeria lender failed to meet the contractual agreement signed by the parties, following discussion which started in 2024.

It said the bank is now prepared to open discussion with new buyers, including Access Bank if the terms are favorable to the parties in the future.

“It is unfortunate that certain conditions were not fulfilled by Access Bank plc by the contractually agreed longstop date, resulting in the termination of the transaction,” the South African bank said

Adding, “Bidvest has now relaunched the disposal process. We remain confident in our ability to successfully execute this disposal and will endeavour to accelerate transaction timeframes.”

The Nigerian bank has yet to issue a statement on why the deal collapsed, but sources informed the magazine that deal with Bidvest was not approved by the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, for regulatory reasons.

Sources informed that Access Bank had reached an agreement wit Bidvest with the aim that it will scale CBN regulatory hurdles, but the approval did not come for months leading to termination of the deal by the south African entity.

Meanwhile, financial analysts insist the development portends a broader implication for the Nigerien bank which has been trying to expand its portfolios to Southern part of the continent  in the last few years, apart from its impact on Nigeria/ South Africa bilateral economic relations.

Ebonyi Communal Clashes: Return The Heads Of Your Victims Or…  –  Gov Nwifuru Warns Amasiri Community

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Governor Francis Nwifuru sacks all Traditional Rulers

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Ebonyi State Governor, Sir Francis Nwifuru has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Amasiri Community to produce the  heads of the four persons beheaded during their invasion and attack on neighbours,  Okporojor village.

The Source reports that four persons were beheaded ,several others abducted and several homes razed when some local Amasiri warriors invaded Okporojor neighbours on Thursday February 2, 2026 over a festering land dispute.

The Army had, also, earlier, issued a warning that the four heads of the victims be returned. But that has, so far, had no effect. The four heads are still not returned.

So, at an interactive session with the media Monday night after an expanded State Security Council meeting, Governor Nwifuru ,also ordered the Amasiri Community to produce four others said to have been abducted during the attack.

The ultimatum was a direct fallout from a marathon security council meeting involving the state Government , security chiefs in the state , community leaders and, major stakeholders, convened to deliberate ,and proffer lasting solution to the perennial communal clashes between the two communities.

According to the Governor, investigations conducted revealed that while three persons were beheaded during the attack, the fourth victim was discovered to have been in a shallow grave, with the head still unaccounted for.

“The heads we are demanding to be returned are four. Four people were killed, and four others were abducted.

“We still believe that those abducted are alive ,and that is why we insist they must be returned alive”, Governor Nwifuru stated.

Given credence to the earlier position of Military authorities, the Governor noted that some bodies were found tied,  beheaded and buried in shallow graves, with some of the victims yet to be identified.

It will be recalled that the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Enugu on Sunday February 8,2026 in a statement from its spokesperson Lt Col Olabisi Ayeni explained that the joint security team sent to maintain peace and stability in the affected areas discovered multiple shallow graves where victims of the deadly communal clashes , including women and children were buried.

Governor Nwifuru warned that severe consequences await the community if they fail to comply with the ultimatum to return the heads of the victims ,and the four other abducted persons.

“If these demands are not met within 72 hours, tougher sanctions will be applied to ensure that the law of the land takes centre stage”, he warned.

This is as he cautioned against any form of protests or reprisal attacks, more so with the curfew imposed on the affected communities still in force.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, informed that earlier sanctions imposed on the Amasiri Community will remain in force, pending the return of the severed heads of victims and missing persons.

“Amasiri has been given a deadline to produce the heads of those beheaded, return the four missing persons, and fish out the perpetrators.

“Enforcement by the Police, Military ,DSS ,and Civil Defence will continue until these conditions are met”, the CP noted.

Transmission Of Results Is Fundamental, Must Be Resolved before 2027 Elections – Agbakoba

By
Ayodele Oni
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Olisa Agbakoba

By Ayodele Oni

Senior Lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has charged the National Assembly “to act decisively to embed mandatory real time electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act.”

The senior advocate also advised that all ambiguity and  legal loopholes that have been exploited to undermine the people’s will in the act must be removed.

Agbakoba, in a statement, noted that “Nigeria’s electoral framework has been plagued by persistent legal uncertainty, forcing courts to determine election outcomes.

“This uncertainty stems from a fundamental failure: the absence of strong regulatory processes backed by express statutory authority.

“With every election cycle, we rush to amend the Electoral Act. Yet we continue to grapple with the same challenges, leading to continued rounds of amendments. This vicious cycle must end.

“The 2023 election exposed a critical gap in our electoral legal framework. Despite INEC’s deployment of the IReV portal for electronic transmission of results, the Supreme Court ruled that this innovation lacks legal force.

“The Court held that because electronic transmission is not expressly provided by the Electoral Act 2022 (appearing only in INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines), it is not legally binding.

“And that the IReV portal serves merely for public viewing and is not admissible evidence of results in election petitions. The message was unmistakable: without explicit statutory provision, electronic transmission remains optional and legally inconsequential, no matter how transparent or efficient it may be.

“The current legislative process represents a monumental opportunity for the National Assembly to resolve this fundamental issue before the 2027 general elections.

“Nigerians need a perfect framework for transparency and to restore confidence in the electoral process.

“Without this amendment, we risk perpetuating the same cycle of disputed elections, protracted litigation, and damaged democratic credibility that has plagued Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

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