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Rivers Crisis: Pressure Mounts On Supreme Court To Review Judgement

By
The Source
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Fubara and CJN Kekereekun

By Gideon Njoku

A Deluge of criticisms has continued to rain on the Supreme Court’s judgement in the unending political crisis which engulfed Rivers State since about the October of 2023.

On February 28th 2025, the Supreme Court decisively weighed in when in its ruling, it all but stripped Governor Siminalayi Fubara of all dignity. The ruling ordered him to go back to his vomit by: (a) Re-present the 2025 Budget which he had presented in January to the faction of the State House of Assembly, led by then Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo loyal to him, before the whole House led by the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike; (b)Annulled the Local Councils Election held in October 2024, thus sacking everyone elected; (c)halting the remittance of Federation Allocation to the State until the budget is represented, among other things.

Since that judgement, Fubari has remained a Governor only in name as Members of the Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has subjected him to one humiliation or the other including locking him out of the Assembly Complex when he approached to re-present the Budget as ordered by the Supreme Court.

Piqued by the full implications of the judgement, the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, has strongly weighed in and urged the Supreme Court to review its February 28 judgement. The Association pointed a number of alleged untidy areas in the judgement.

The request was made by the Legislative Lawyers in a letter dated March 13, 2025,  addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, the Honourable Justice Kudurat Kekere-Ekun,  and signed by ALDRAP’s lawyer, Kenneth Amadi.

ALDRAP based its request on the provisions of Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2024. It argued

that the February 28 Supreme Court judgment failed to comply with previous verdicts  delivered by the Apex Court on similar cases.

The letter is entitled:

“Application for Review by a Full Panel of Seven Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria of the Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Dated February 28, 2025, Delivered by Hon. Justice Emmanuel Agim, JSC, and a Panel of Five Justices, Pursuant to Order 8 Rule 16, Supreme Court Rules, 2024, and Other Relevant Laws as the Supreme Court Deems Appropriate.”

The request reads in part:

“By way of introduction, my name is Kenneth A. Amadi, Esq. I am a legal practitioner and lawyer to the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), which is a professional association of lawyers in Nigeria with its national secretariat inside the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

“We write to request permission to submit an application on the above-named subject matter. This application for a review of the Supreme Court judgment of February 28, 2025, is made in accordance with the Supreme Court of Nigeria Rules, 2024, on the following grounds:

“A full panel of seven judges instead of the five judges that sat on the Rivers State House of Assembly case.

*”Failure of the panel of judges to follow and comply with the former judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, such as the case of Attorney-General of Bendel State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (1981).”

Executive Secretary of ALDRAP, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, in his analysis of the judgement, also, faulted the Supreme Court judgment. He said the Court failed to take note of the record of proceedings of the Rivers State House of Assembly concerning the defection of the 27 lawmakers.

Citing a court case, Hon. J. I. Ekpenkhio v. Hon. Matthew Egbadon (1962-2001)1 Legislative Law Reports of Nigeria (LLRN) pages 307 to 336, Jaja said: “The Supreme Court of Nigeria held that the Court has a duty to take judicial notice of the record of proceedings of the House of Assembly as stipulated under Section 73 of the Evidence Act.

“In accordance with the above-named judgment, it is reasonable to expect that the Supreme Court of Nigeria would consider the words and actions of Amaewhule and the 26 others on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly during the plenary session in December 2023.

“Ironically, the evidence of the defection of the said 27 lawmakers is contained in the Hansard of the Rivers State House of Assembly of December 11, 2023, when the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly read a letter of defection on behalf of the 27 lawmakers, including the Speaker. The Speaker then put it to a voice vote, and it was approved by all 27 lawmakers. This was then approved as a resolution of the Rivers State House of Assembly as passed on the 11th day of December 2023.”

Jaja also argued that:

“There are so many absurdities that Hon. Justice Agim’s interpretation has created, such as the absurdity in his statement that only the offending legislature can declare that a defection has occurred.

“Additionally, Hon. Justice Agim’s interpretation has defeated the very purpose of Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, considering that, going by his interpretation, it is next to impossible for any lawmaker who is in violation of the said Section to be declared as having vacated his seat if such a declaration is to be made by the Speaker of such a legislature—when the Speaker himself is also one of the lawmakers that has defected, as was the case with the 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“How on earth would any offender readily agree that he or she has committed the crime of defection, which would result in the automatic forfeiture of his or her seat in the legislature, along with the humongous sums of money that are paid as both salaries and allowances to such lawmakers?

“The judicial powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are vested in the judiciary for the sole purpose that the judiciary would perform the tasks of undertaking judicial review of the actions of the other two arms of government, namely the Executive and the Legislature. The purpose is to create checks and balances to avoid tyranny by one arm of government.

“Therefore, in the event that an application is made to the judiciary to determine whether the actions of some members of the legislature (in this case, the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly) are in violation of any section of the Nigerian Constitution, it is the judiciary alone that can adjudicate and make such a determination.

“The judiciary cannot shirk its responsibility to the legislature as Hon. Agim’s judgment has done in this case. It violates the very cardinal principle of justice and fair hearing to ask the legislature to sit as a judge in its own case to determine and declare whether a defection has occurred in violation of the said Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution.”

The crises, the way its proceeding, is likely to lead to impeachment moves against the Governor Fubara. Fubara’s ethnic group, Ijaw, is threatening fire and brimstone if he is impeached.

“Obasanjo Opened Nigeria’s Gate To Corruption ” – Presidency …Says Fmr President Consumed By Jealousy

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Olusegun Obasanjo and Bola Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

Obasanjo’s book further relegate his integrity as the leader who opened Nigeria to the canker worms of corruption…”

In a stinging response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu, the Presidency has assured that Tinubu will not be distracted because Obasanjo’s criticisms are borne out of jealousy.

The former President, in chapter six of one of his two books – Nigeria: Past and Future released a couple of days ago to mark his 88th birthday dismissed  the much discussed

Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway a flagship Project embarked upon by the Tinubu Government as a misplaced priority, wasteful and soaked in corruption. The project comes at a princely cost of N15.6 trillion.

The former President also came down heavily on, and dismissed as wasteful, the N21bn official residence built for Nigeria’s Vice President.

For the records, since the commissioning of the edifice, by President Tinubu’s Government, Vice President Kashim Shettima, has not moved into it. He still operates from somewhere else. But it, also, needs to be clarified, however, that the project was not initiated by the Tinubu Government.

Taken aback that Obasanjo could criticize both projects in a book, instead of his usual letter writing which Nigerians are used to, the Presidency responded without pulling any punch.

The first response came from Minister for Works, Dave Umahi, the man whose responsibility it is to deliver the job. While on an official duty in Akure, Ondo State, he advised Obasanjo and other critics of the Coastal highway not to ply on it when completed. The criticisms, the Minister pointed out stem from jealousy.

But in its own response through in a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, which he posted on X Thursday, the Presidency stepped notches higher than Minister Umahi.

In the statement, the Presidency not only said Obasanjo is a man consumed by jealousy because of President Tinubu’s achievements but dismissed him as one who has an exaggerated opinion of himself. According to the Presidency, the former President sees himself as a self-righteous man, and the only person who knows all of Nigeria’s problems, and reminded him that he remains the one who opened Nigeria to corruption.

The Presidency then went on to mock him by asking Obasanjo why he failed to handle all of Nigeria’s problems when he had the opportunity to do so. Obasanjo, aside from being Nigeria’s Military Head of State, was also Nigeria’s Civilian President for eight years. But the Presidency pointed out in its response that he wasted that opportunity and wasted Nigeria’s then abundant resources without addressing Nigeria’s problems.

The Presidency: “While it is common for many elder statesmen to write books aimed at sanctifying their days as the leader of the country despite obvious flaws, another elder statesman, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has just published a memoir containing claims that would further relegate his integrity as the leader who opened Nigeria to the canker worms of corruption by neglecting important projects that could have changed the trajectory of this country if he had focused on what mattered in his days.

“By underplaying the importance of the Lagos-Calabar project in his latest book, President OBJ has not only affirmed to those who witnessed his administration’s several failures to address the needs of the country when he had the opportunity, but he has also put in written form, a position which generations to come will indeed question when the road that will end up as one of the most significant endeavours of any Federal Government in the history of the country, finally becomes a reality.

“Despite spending 8 years in government and failing in his attempt to force himself on Nigerians for a further four years as President, Baba Obasanjo failed woefully in addressing the infrastructural needs of his state; indeed, it took former President Buhari just three years to deliver the first modern rail to pass through baba’s backyard in Abeokuta. The Lagos-Ibadan expressway was southwest and indeed one of Nigeria’s most important road projects in recent times, both baba and the PDP spent 16 years without getting the project beyond 30% completion until Buhari happened.

“What about the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway that has now been inherited by Governor Abiodun in 2024 because the President who hailed from the state failed to make it a reality despite having all the power and goodwill to do so?

“Should we delve into the corruption that brought Nigeria’s power sector to its knees despite the claims of spending billions of dollars to fix the same under his administration? Or his failure to revive our refineries, killing our steel industry and fraudulent privatization of NITEL among others?

“President Obasanjo must emulate others before him by returning to his writing board to at least attempt to explain to Nigerians why he failed to help Nigeria transition into a proper country under his leadership despite emerging at a time when the goodwill was at an all-time high compared to these days when President Tinubu now has to take all the decisions they failed to take,” the statement read.

Importance Of Lagos-Calabar Project

The presidency highlighted that the Lagos-Calabar highway project and other major infrastructural projects embarked upon by the Tinubu government are to open up the economy for the benefit of Nigerians.

The statement added that the future generation would judge who the better president is between Tinubu and Obasanjo.

“Like the Sokoto-Badagry Highway and Lagos-Abuja Highway, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road is projects that will change the economic landscape of our country FOR LIFE and former President OBJ must pretend not to be jealous of the master strategist who is rewriting the history of the southwestern presidency by fixing all that needs to be fixed across the country.

“The future generations will laugh when the time comes, just like our generation has done at his self-aggrandizement because Baba has refused to see beyond himself as the righteous one who understands Nigeria and its needs.

“President Tinubu will not be deterred by distractions such as these and believe me, Nigerians who understand development will not be distracted at this point.”

GTCO Drops Cyber Stalking Case Against Bloggers

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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GTCO Logo

The Guaranty Trust Holdings Company, GTCO, has dropped the cyber stalking case it instituted against four bloggers at the Federal High Court in Lagos for spreading false information about the chief executive of the company, Segun Agbaje.

The bank decided to withdraw the criminal charges filed against the bloggers by the police after reaching a settlement agreement with the accused individuals.

With the notice of pardon and desire to withdraw charge announced in court by the prosecution counsel, Chief Ajibola Aribisala, SAN, the trial court presided by Justice Ayokunle Faji consequently struck out the charge.

The four bloggers, Precious Eze, male (38), Olawale Rotimi male (47), Rowland Olonishuwa and Seun Odunlami, were charged before the court under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Act, by operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, Ikoyi-Lagos.

They were specifically charged before the Federal High Court, Lagos for spreading false information about GTCO Plc and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje.

When the matter came up today for trial, the prosecuting counsel, Chief Aribisala, SAN, told the court that the prosecution and the nominal complainants GTCO have finally succumb to the defendants’ plea to have another look at the matter with other perspective.

Aribisala, SAN, said the defendants have surrendered and agreed to ameliorate the wrongs that led to their prosecution.

He added that the Guild of Editors have also intervened and pleaded on their behalf and the bank (GTCO) are amenable to have the matter settled amicably under the terms agreed by the parties.

The prosecutor added that each of the defendants have willingly agreed and appended their signatures on the document containing the terms of settlement.

“The defendants have promised to restitute and to further take out publications to right the wrong, there is no gain saying they are remorseful and have agreed not to use their blogs for publishing wrong, malicious or wrong information.”

Ajibola, SAN, added that under the terms of settlement, the bloggers have agreed to tender unreserved apologies in three National newspapers.

“We appeal that the court approves the document containing the terms as agreed in the deed of settlement so that they can go back to their families after spending six months in the custody of the Nigeria Correction Services,” he said.

Counsel to the defendants A O Afolabi in his submission said he is not objecting to the withdrawal of the charge, adding that he and the defendants appended their signatures on the document.

Justice Faji after listening to parties ruled that parties shall comply with terms of the agreement as contained in the deed of settlement.

He then struck out the charge.

It would be recalled that the Police by an amended charge dated September 26, 2024, held among others that the four defendants, sometimes in August 2024 in Lagos, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: CyberStalking and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27 of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended in 2024.

The defendants were also said to have knowingly sent false massages or publications in the social media, through a computer or network to the general public as follows “EFCC, FRIS storms GTBanks over Segun Agbaje’s N1 trillion scam” and “Whistle Blowers expose Segun Agbaje Nepotism, power play , enrich him and sister ,Kofo Dosekunni” among other publications , for the purpose of insulting the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr Segun Agbaje or for the purpose of causing criminal intimidation, annoyance, III-will, needless anxiety, injury or hatred to him and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition/prevention, etc) Act. 2015 , as amended in 2024.

Ijaw To Wike: We Have 40m People In Nigeria, We Are Not In Minority

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Ijaw President Okaba

The Ijaw National Congress, INC, has condemned the comment credited to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike to the effect that Ijaw people are in the minority in the country. The minister, is misinformed, the umbrella body of Ijaw worldwide said in a statement issued on Friday by Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha the group’s Publicity Secretary.

INC reacted to the recent comment by Wike, during a media chat in Abuja, the nation’s capital recently where he said the Ijaw are minority in the Niger Delta. The Minister was responding to the threat by some Ijaw groups to destabilize the Niger Delta if Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers state is impeached.

The governor, an Ijaw is currently neck deep in a crisis with his predecessor, Wike and there has been suggestions that the governor could be removed from office by pro-Wike lawmakers in the state House of Assembly.

In its reaction to Wike’s claim that Ijaw are ‘minority of minority’ INC said the FCT Minister is not availed of facts, saying the Ijaw people are spread across seven states in the Niger Delta, including Rivers where it claimed they are in the majority. The population of Ijaw in the country, INC said is more than 40 million.

The group urged the minister to stop making comments capable of setting the Niger Delta on fire, insisting that Ijaw people are not ready to go to war with other ethic groups in the region, particularly the Ikwerre, where Wike hails from, adding that they are spread across eight local governments in the state.

The group also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the minister to order, so as not to cause a crisis in the region that could affect the country negatively, adding that the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta will continue to maintain peace despite the minister’s provocation.

”We will maintain peace and stability as we call on President Tinubu to caution him and redirect his focus to his ministerial duties,’ INC said.Punch

The state further reads, “The INC remains committed to preserving the harmony enjoyed by all in the Niger Delta region.

“We have taken note of the recent remarks made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Given his eight-year tenure as governor of Rivers we expected a more informed understanding of the state’s history.

“They are the largest ethnic group in Rivers with eight local government areas, and also not a minority in Delta.

“The Ijaw have consistently advocated for fairness and equity in the Niger Delta region and the South-South, and we will not be swayed by individual attempts to provoke us,” Oyakemeagbegha said.

In Twist of Irony, Al-Mustapha, Abachs’s CSO, Joins Abiola’s SDP

By
The Source
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Major Hamza Al- Mustapha
Major Hamza Al- Mustapha.

By Gideon Njoku

Nobody could have imagined it. But it happened on February 13, 2025.

27 years after the death of Abiola while in detention, and 29 years after the murder of his wife, Kudirat,  Major Hamza Al- Mustapha, rtd, late General Sani Abacha’s then dreaded Chief Security Officer, CSO, is now a member of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Ordinarily, it shouldn’t make much news.  Afterall, Mustapha had, for years, plunged into politics, founding a political party, and running, twice, for the office of the President. But this is different.

What makes it news is the political party Mustapha has just defected to.

It is the Party under which Chief Moshood Abiola contested for the Presidential seat of Nigeria on June 12, 2023. He won, as has been confirmed by Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, under whose regime the election was conducted, but was clamped into detention from which he never came out alive. He died in detention on July 7, 1998.

Sadly, before Abiola died in detention, his wife Kudirat, was shot to death in the streets of Lagos, on June 4, 1996 while she and her husband were fighting for the actualization of Abiola’s mandate.

It was Al-Mustapha’s boss, Abacha, who clamped him into detention, It was, also under Abacha that Kudirat was murdered.

Al-Mustapha was held for years and tried for that murder in Court, but nothing much came out of it. He was discharged and acquitted.

However the circumstances surrounding the death of Abiola and his wife seem to have faded a bit, what with Al- Mustapha now becoming a member of the SDP, the Party under which Abiola won the annulled Presidential election.

Al-Mustapha, who has since been an active participant and commentator on national issues, joined the SDP, a couple of days after Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the same Party.

Al-Mustapha arrived the Party Headquarters in Abuja in tow with his supporters and was very warmly received by Party officials.

Shehu Musa Gabam, the National Chairman of the SDP, in a post on his Facebook page announced Al-Mustapha’s membership of the Party thus:

“Major Dr Hamzat Al-Mustapha, Joins SDP for a New Era of  National Progress.

“Major Dr Hamza Al-Mustapha and his powerful entourage have arrived at the SDP National Headquarters, Abuja.

“This is a defining moment as we welcome a visionary leader, committed to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

“His presence signifies a bold step toward a stronger people- driven leadership, one that prioritizes justice, security and development. Together, we are building a formidable force that will reshape the future of our great nation.

“The SDP train is unstoppable! Join us as we move Nigeria forward.”

Al-Mustapha was the Presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, in the 2023 General Elections.

How Ekiti Lured Youths Into Agriculture, Realize N200m

By
Ayodele Oni
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Biodun Oyebanji - Ekiti State Governor

By  Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has revealed how youths in the state were lured into farming and that young farmers that participated in the state’s farming scheme made over N200million last year from the sale of their produce.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving food security through aggressive infrastructure development capable of turning the state into an agricultural hub in the country.

Oyebanji stated these while playing host to the management team of a private Tech Group led by its Chief Executive, Prince Samuel Joseph.

He noted that government has been able to turn agriculture into a veritable business venture through all its interventions in the sector.

The Governor pointed out that Ekiti State is ready to partner with the tech company for a more enhanced development in the agriculture sector.

According to him, the N200 million realized by the young farmers during the last harvest season was from off- takers and big processing plants as well as the State government which bought the produce for storage.

He said the success recorded from the pioneering set in the agric programme has encouraged other young farmers to sign on, adding that no fewer than 2,000 young farmers have shown interest in being part of the cluster farming this year.

Governor Oyebanji announced that the state is working towards food surplus, empowerment for the youths, creation of economic opportunities for the citizens through agribusiness and utilizing agriculture to drive industrialization.

He added that the fact the government’s policy of supporting the farmers with modified seedlings, land clearing and tractorisation has helped them increased their scope, while the assurance that whatever they grow would be bought has been a great encouragement for them.

“We have developed a template that has transited agric from mere farming to business. And as I speak today, there were 1,000  farmers that we got  to farm in the six cluster farms in the state.

“It was a pilot programme and the beauty of the project is when we cleared land for them, we did tractorization, gave them seedlings.

“Last year December, we gave over N200 million to them for the sales of their produce, while we also insisted that they commit a certain percentage of their profits back to their farm.

“My government will be deliberate in ensuring that we provide infrastructure that will support the hub and we promise that we will engage in collaborations that will bring remarkable development to agriculture and how we can be a major player in the sector.”

“We Blame Fmr. President Jonathan, Wife, For Wike’s Power” – Supreme Egbesu Assembly

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Patience Jonathan and Fubara and Wike

By Adesina Soyooye

“I was told not to pick Fubara as successor because Opobo is not real Ijaw” – Wike

The political crisis in Rivers State is surely heading to a dangerous climax. Everybody is throwing every available weapon about. And nobody is pulling any stops.

Weighing in on Thursday is the well-regarded Ijaw Supreme Egbesu Assembly, SEA, with a message to President Bola Tinubu. If the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara is impeached, the Traditional Institution warned, President Tinubu will be in for a shock. “Ijaw people would shock President Bola Tinubu”, SEA emphasized.

Beyond that warning, SEA is holding former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, responsible for the unprecedented power Wike exercises today. According to SEA, Jonathan and his wife are to blame for foisting Wike on Rivers State as Governor and giving him power.

Fubara is the first Ijaw son to become the Governor of Rivers State in 24 years. But even then, his “Ijawness” was questioned, according to his predecessor and estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, when he decided on Fubara as his successor.

Speaking to Journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike, who is the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, said when he decided on Fubara as his successor, he was told by the “real” Ijaw not to. This is because, he said, Fubara is from Opobo, and Opobo people are not regarded as real Ijaw. According to Wike, those running around Fubara now and ripping him of money are same people who told him if you want an Ijaw to succeed you, why an Opobo man, why not from Kalabari who are real Ijaw?

Wike: “In fact, when I brought this Governor, they  said ‘no, if you are talking about Ijaws, it should come to the Kalabaris. If you want to give Governor to the Ijaws and not Opobo’. You see the problem.

Goodluck Jonathan
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

“But you closed your eyes and you did it. All those who fought me, who said ‘no we can’t accept this’, now parade themselves around him, hanging around him, taking his money.”

However, now that the chickens have come home to roost, whether Fubara’s Opobo is real Ijaw or not, SEA says they are waiting, patiently, for Fubara to be impeached. In a statement, the institution said Ijaw people are neither sleeping nor are they cowards.

Said SEA, in part: “The situation (in Rivers) was avoidable. But for Jonathan and his wife who imposed this thoughtless talkative on us, Rivers State wouldn’t be suffering the pain today.

“If they impeach Fubara, we will take everything in good faith. Ijaw people don’t believe in violence. But we are watching closely as Wike continues to harrass and intimidate the Governor of Rivers  State.

“There is a saying that two mad people never behave madly at the same time. Some of those who have the capacity to talk will avoid responding like Wike for now. But we are not sleeping and we are not cowards.”

The crisis in the State which is gradually consuming it began only about three months after Fubara was sworn-in as Governor. He and his godfather Wike disagreed, allegedly, over power. The allegation is that Fubara’s audacity to appoint a Commissioner without Wike’s approval sparked the crisis which has spread without bounds.

“I Remain Member APC Member” – Fmr President Buhari

By
Ayodele Oni
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1
Nasir El-Rufai and Muhammadu Buhari

By Ayodele Oni

Former President Mohammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) .

Apparently reacting to former Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai who described Buhari as one of his godfathers, the former president maintained that he would like to be addressed as a loyal member of the party.

El-Rufai has since left APC and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

A statement on Thursday by Garba Shehu, a Media Aide to the former President stated that “Without referring to any individual, cast of characters, or issues, principles and ideals currently being discussed by Party leaders at various levels, former President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated what he’s said times without number, that he is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  and would like to be addressed as a loyal member of the party.

“He says he wants to leave no one in doubt that he would never turn his back on the Party that gave him two terms of office, and would do whatever he can to popularise it.

“I am an APC member and I like to be addressed as such. I will try to popularise the party by all means.

“He went on to add that at present, he has nothing but gratitude for the support that the Party gave him before and during his tenure as President, which he considers as the highest honour, and would never ask for anything more.

“He further stated that the pains taken by the founding fathers to establish a strong party to protect our constitution, and democracy as a system of government, are worthy sacrifices that should be cherished and nurtured.”

“It’s Jealousy, Obasanjo Free Not To Use Lagos-Calabar Road When Completed” – Umahi

By
Ayodele Oni
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Dave Umahi
Dave Umahi

By Ayodele Oni

Minister of Works, David Umahi. has urged Nigerians to ignore comments by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was wasteful and corrupt.

He advised the former President and others criticizing the project not to make use of it when completed.

Umahi, who spoke to Journalists in Akure on Thursday pointed  out that “The man (Obasanjo) deserves our respect. I have not read the book, but the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not wasteful and corrupt.

“Anybody criticising the project is waking up to say how can one man (Tinubu) be attributed to these types of projects.

Umahi asked those criticising the project and other legacy projects of President Bola Tinubu not to pass through the roads when they are completed.

Umahi spoke in Akure at the unveiling of the 71km alignment  Ondo state section of the road.

Insisting that the project was not wasteful and corrupt, Umahi stated that the project was transparent, adding that people have right to be jealous and angry.

Umahi said the alignment unveiling was the final stage of the route approval.

“This Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the four legacy projects of Mr. President. For those saying it is a waste of resources, when the project is completed, they should not use the road.

“This is not a wasteful project and it is not fraudulent. If someone is saying it’s a fraud, that person is also saying that I am a fraud and I am definitely not.

“This project has been very transparent, and that is why we continue to engage the stakeholders. Every step of the processes has been very transparent and every detail is in public domain.”

Couple, Others Arraigned For Impersonating First Lady To Defraud Victims

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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EFCC arraigned a couple in Katsina

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, arraigned a couple before a Kaduna State High Court for  allegedly impersonating the  wife of Katsina State Governor, and in the process defrauding some otvictims .

Alhaji BabaSule  Abubakar Sadiq, Wife, Hafsat Kabir Lawal,and two others were charged with obtaining by false  pretence ,the sum of N197 million from some persons, hiding under the name and offices of the Wife of the Katsina state Governor Fatima Dikko Radda.

The anti-graft Commission in a Statement on Thursday informed that the suspects were arraigned on Monday, March 10, 2025, before Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court on charges bordering on alleged money laundering, stealing and obtaining by false pretence.

According to the EFCC, the accused severally and collectively conspired and defrauded their victims through different guises, including impersonating the Wife of the Katsina state Governor.

According to the facts of the case, Hafsat had introduced herself to the victims, as one of the wives of Governor Dikko U mar Radda, while her husband Sadiq, provided the wife with two Sim cards ,which were registered under the name Fatima Dikko Radda.

Their arraignment, according to the Commission, was sequel to their arrest by the Department of State Services DSS, which subsequently transferred the matter to the anti-Corruption Commission.

“That you Hafsat Kabir Lawal ,Baba Sule Abubakar Sadiq,  Abdullahi Bala,and Ladani Akindele Ayodele, sometime in December, 2024, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court ,with intent to defraud ,did obtain the sum of N89,000,000.00 ( Eight Nine Million Naira only from Aminu Usman which money you caused to be paid into the Taj Bank Plc account number 0009914725, belonging to Abdullahi Bala under the false pretence that you had the sum of $ 53,300 ( Fifty Three Thousand ,Three Hundred United States Dollars to exchange the Naira equivalent which pretence you knew to be false and you hereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act 2006 punishable under section 1,(3) of the same Act” one of the charges reads.

Consequent upon pleading not guilty to the charges, and after due consideration of arguments of both the prosecution counsel and those of the defendants on the issue of bail ,Justice Bello ordered the accused to be  remanded in custody  until the next date of hearing March 17, 2025.

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