“At no time, under this administration, was the Vice President’s place under doubt” – Tinubu
Two major events unfolded on Thursday as part of preparations for the 2027 General Elections by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
President Bola Tinubu officially presented Vice President Kashim Shettima with a certificate confirming his nomination as the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate.
In return, Vice President Kashim Shettima presented the official confirmation of his submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), as the APC vice-presidential candidate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At the ceremony, President Tinubu maintained that at no time was the Vice President’s place in this administration under any doubt.
The presentation followed the APC’s confirmation of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate for the next general election.
The event became public on Thursday after the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, shared a video on his social media page showing Shettima arriving at the venue, exchanging brief remarks with Tinubu and receiving the certificate.
Sharing the video, Dada wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presents certificate to Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in 2027 election.”
He also dismissed reports suggesting uncertainty over Shettima’s position, saying:
“People just create scenarios in their head and start cooking.”
The certificate presentation follows the APC’s recent endorsement of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate, ending months of speculation over who would represent the party as its vice-presidential candidate.
The ruling party has expressed confidence that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket will seek a second term in the 2027 election after completing its nomination process ahead of the deadline for submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The certificate presentation forms part of the party’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
VP’s presentation took place at the State House, where Shettima formally handed over the confirmation document to the President.
The post read: “His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM presents to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the official confirmation of his submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general election at the State House.”
Recall that the presentation came just days after the APC unveiled Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, amid speculation that President Tinubu might replace Shettima with a Northern Christian as his vice-presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 Elections.
In a shocking incident, an Ondo State father has used a hot pressing iron to inflict a severe injury on his 10- year-old daughter’s private part for daring to bed-wet.
The abusive father, Amos Paul, has been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command for inflicting such bodily harm on the 10-year-old.
Paul is a resident of Unaun, Upenme, Owo Local Government Area.
A Police statement, signed by spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, revealed that the incident was reported on Thursday.
It stated that the suspect used a hot pressing iron to burn the private part of his daughter, as punishment for bed-wetting.
“The victim sustained severe injuries and was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, where she is currently receiving medical treatment.
“Upon receipt of the information, detectives from ‘A’ Division, Owo, swiftly mobilized to the scene, arrested the suspect without delay and took him into custody.
“The case is being transferred to the Gender Unit for discreet investigation and further necessary action in line with established procedures.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, has condemned the alleged act in the strongest terms, describing it as cruel, inhumane and completely unacceptable.”
“He reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable members of society from all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation.
“The Commissioner urged members of the public to promptly report cases of child abuse, domestic violence and other related offences to the nearest police station, assuring that the Command will continue to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.”
The 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, (NDC), Peter Obi, has alleged that the shoot out in Benue State in 2025 was targeted at him. He said it was meant to assassinate him.
He stated that he had to abort his planned humanitarian outreach in the state following the warning by Governor Hyacinth Alia that he should not come.
Obi made this allegation at the ongoing high-level roundtable discussion with the theme: “Nigeria in 2027 and Beyond”, organised by the European Council on Foreign Relations, ECFR, in Berlin, Germany.
According to the former Anambra State Governor, he cancelled a planned humanitarian outreach to Benue State after the State Government issued a cautionary statement advising him against the trip.
He said he was disappointed in the handling of the proposed visit by the State Government.
“You’re not aware that I wanted to go to Benue and the governor said I can’t come. You’re not aware that the Governor said I shouldn’t come, and when I went there, there was a shootout.
“There were plans to assassinate me.
What else do you need? Do you need somebody to die before you believe it?
“There was already a shootout when I tried to visit the place. Once they said, ‘Don’t come here.’ What else do you want me to tell you about the attempt on my life,” he asked.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has introduced a stricter compliance measure for Bureau de Change operators purchasing foreign exchange from approved dealer banks in the country, a move stakeholders insist will tighten control on the forex market.
The CBN said the new framework is intended to enhance efficiency, transparency and liquidity , saying that violation by BDC s and participating bank will attract severe sanctions.
The government controlled bank made this known in a circular issued recently.
Under the new framework, the CBN stated that all licensed BDCs will now be tracked on a central electronic portal known as the FX BDC Purchase Tracker, FXBT, as BDC firms wishing to purchase forex are now required to submit a Purchase Request electronically via banks’ designated portals.
“A BDC wishing to purchase foreign exchange shall submit a Purchase Request electronically via the Bank’s designated portal (FX Purchase Tracker Portal) to the chosen Authorized Dealer Bank, ensuring all mandatory fields are adequately completed,” the banksaid
According to the apex bank, in the circular dated July 15 and signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange DepartmentAderinola Shonekan, the implementation of the guideline is with immediate effect, saying the guidelines is in furtherance of an earlier circular issued on February this year.
The Yemi Cardoso-led bank stressed that only BDCs with valid and subsisting licences from the CBN will be eligible to purchase forex under the new regime, adding that BDCs whose licenese have been suspended or redistricted will not be eligible to operate under the framework until their sanctions are lifted.
“The Guidance announces the implementation of the electronic portal to facilitate the interaction between BDCs and the NFEM and outlines, among others, the eligibility requirements for participating BDCs, purchase request procedures, confirmation and settlement processes, reporting obligations, weekly purchase limits, treatment of unutilized balances, and compliance responsibilities of Authorised Dealer Banks and BDC operators,” the CN said in the circular.
It stressed that commercial banks are required to obtain and retain each BDC’s licence certificate, tax identification number (TIN), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) incorporation documents, beneficial ownership information and contact details of principal officers.
They are also expected to conduct enhanced due diligence on higher-risk operators and update KYC records at least once a year or whenever there is a material change in ownership or management.
“No foreign exchange shall be disbursed to any BDC that has not satisfied the Bank’s KYC and due diligence requirements,” the CBN said.
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA has declared that its election slated for Saturday July 18, 2026 will go on as planned. The Association’s National Executive Council, NEC made the decision during a virtual meeting held on Thursday.
According to the NBA, the resolution to hold the election was unanimously agreed on by the members of the NEC which also reiterated the Association’s commitment to constitutional governance, and democratic right to hold the election.
The development comes after the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, in its July 14 ruling, directed that the election should go on contrary to an earlier ruling by an Oyo state High court. The lower court had granted an ex parte interim injunction restraining the members of the NBA’s electoral committee from proceeding with the election.
The lower court had halted the plan to hold the election in a ruling delivered on March 4, 2026 by Justice G.A. Opayinka, in a suit filed by some angry members of the Association who insisted that the election should be postponed.
The controversy surrounding the upcoming election got worse after the arrest and detention of the Managing Director of the company that was contracted by NBA to oversee the election on its behalf by the Department of State Services, DSS who has since released him.
But in spite of the seeming challenges facing the Association, its NEC said there’s no justification fro postponing the election, saying everything has been put in place, including all logistics arrangement to ensure that the election is hitch free.
Reaffirming the association’s longstanding commitment to the rule of law, NEC called on all eligible members of the Bar to remain calm, participate peacefully in the elections which is coming up in a few days.
It also urged the members participating in the election to continue to uphold democratic ideals and the independence of the legal profession as guaranteed in the nation’s extant law.
The appellate court had on Tuesday, In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-man panel led by Justice Fadawu Umaru, with Justices Kenneth Ikechukwu Amadi and Fatima Binta Zubairu concurring, nullified the judgment of the lower court for lack of jurisdiction.
The appeal, marked CA/IB/110/2026, was filed by Aham Ejelam, SAN; Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa; Muhammad M. Nuhu; Uju Okafor.; and Ume Maduka., against Chief Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana; the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN; the Body of Benchers; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF.
The appeal challenged the March 4, 2026 ruling of Justice G.A. Opayinka of the Oyo State High Court, which granted an ex parte interim injunction restraining the appellants from acting as members of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) or taking further steps towards conducting the 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election.
The suit was instituted by the 1st to 4th respondents through an originating summons seeking the interpretation of provisions of the 2025 amended NBA Constitution relating to the composition of the ECNBA and certain provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Umaru reiterated that jurisdiction is the foundation of every judicial proceeding.
“Jurisdiction remains the lifeblood of every judicial proceeding. It is elementary that where a Court lacks jurisdiction, every step taken in the proceedings, no matter how well conducted, amounts to a nullity. Jurisdiction is therefore the threshold issue which must be resolved before a Court can validly exercise any judicial authority,” the court ruled.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has introduced the Blue Economy Accelerator Programme, a strategic initiative designed to identify, nurture, and accelerate innovative startups that will contribute to the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
The Blue Economy Accelerator Programme is aimed at attracting young, vibrant minds with innovative ideas capable of transforming Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola said that through the initiative, participants will receive structured business development support, industry mentorship, and technical guidance to convert promising concepts into viable ventures that address critical challenges and opportunities within the blue economy.
In his words, “the programme reflects NIMASA’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in unlocking the immense potential of the blue economy by empowering young innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology-driven enterprises. We at NIMASA want to provide a platform for investors to identify young talents and invest in them”.
Mobereola who commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola for codifying the Marine and Blue Economy Policy as a clear roadmap for the sector’s development also urged young Nigerians to embrace the programme which has the potential to transform raw talents into big investments in the maritime sector.
Applications are open to startups and innovators developing solutions across several strategic sectors, including Marine Waste Management and the Blue Circular Economy; Aquaculture And Sustainable Fisheries; Maritime Technology and Logistics Innovation; Ocean Energy Including Wave, Tidal, and Offshore Renewable Energy; Marine Tourism and Coastal Recreation; Marine Biotechnology such as, Ocean Data and Analytics; Green Shipping, Including Vessel Decarbonization; Smart Port Solutions; Autonomous Marine Vehicles; Biofouling Prevention Technologies; and Coastal Resilience Through Nature-Based Coastal Defence Solutions.
The first phase of the programme is expected to attract a minimum of 150 high-quality applications from within and outside the country provided they are Nigerian citizens.
“If we have a hand in the killing (death of MaryHabila), it will follow our families and us. But if we don’t have a hand in it and you are jumping into it, be careful. Life is spiritual. Her last conversation was with her boyfriend minutes before she died”
For the first time, the Minister for Works, Dave Umahi, has, by himself, not by any aide, disclosed her relationship with Mary Habila and the circumstances which may have led to her sudden death.
And, what a revelation the Minister made.
Recall that Umahi has been roasted, almost, since the death of Ms. Habila in his Ubulu, Ebonyi State country home on June 27, 2026, after her arrival on June 26. Not a few people, including the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a number of Associations have asked that Umahi steps down from office, pending the outcome of investigations into her death.
But telling his story on Thursday, Umahi disclosed that Mary Habila was not a physiotherapist, but a Nurse who was seconded to the Ministry of Works from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State,since the past three years. He revealed that she had had health issues which she had been managing, and which bills he had been picking because he took her as his daughter and so did all his family members.
Her last treatment and bill at the Turkish hospital Abuja, as recently as April, Umahi disclosed, was N2.2 million (Two Million, two hundred thousand Naira).
The Minister also disclosed that Mary had a boyfriend, and that her boyfriend was the last person she spoke to on the day she died.
He said before they left Lagos for Abuja, Mary had complained to her boyfriend that she was bleeding from the nose. Her boyfriend advised her to tell the Minister so that he could send her to the hospital, but she did not because she did not want to worry him.
Minutes before her death, Umahi said Mary was on the phone with her boyfriend and, again, complained that she was bleeding from the nose, but wanted to take her bath and lie down. Her boyfriend, said the Minister, asked her to stop talking so as not to aggravate the nose-bleeding, but she did not stop which made her boyfriend drop the phone. Minutes later when he called back to check on her, Mary did not take the call and he assumed he had gone to take her shower without knowing that death had come calling.
The Minister said that all these can be confirmed from her boyfriend and adked that call service providers pull her log and cross check her calls and last conversation with her boyfriend.
Umahi said he was not in the same house with Mary, and emphasized that she and others were in the staff quarters.
Mourning Mary, Umahi said he was devastated by her death not just because she was a very good, hardworking staff, but because she was like his daughter. He reminded those circulating fake news that life is spiritual and warned them to be careful of the type of stories they tell about the dead.
Mary Habila
As for himself and how his name has been dragged in, Umahi said the Courts will take care of it.
Umahi: “My lawyers have spoken on my behalf. But one piece of information I want to correct is that the lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff of the Federal Medical University. She was a Nurse and not a Physiotherapist. And her family and my family are like one family.
“She has been receiving treatment at a Turkish hospital before her death. Her medical bills were paid by me.
“She has her medical records in Turkish Hospital, being paid by us. The last one was on the 5th of April. I paid N2.2 million.
“She spoke to her boyfriend at the hour of her death and complained that she was bleeding from the nose. The boyfriend said ‘No, you have to report it.’ She said it had stopped. The boyfriend then said: ‘Listen, I will not continue this conversation since you are bleeding. It will increase the bleeding’.
“She told the boyfriend, ‘Don’t cut the call.’ The boyfriend cut the call. Three minutes later, the boyfriend called again. She was not responding.”
The Minister said Mary had earlier told the boyfriend that she wanted to take her bath.
“Even in the morning, she told her boyfriend she was going to bath because she had locked her door. When they discovered something was wrong, they broke down the door and discovered her dead. The tap was still running.
“What baffles me in this country is that everything becomes an opportunity. There is a guest house where she and other medical personnel stayed and that is very far from where I stay. Does it mean that because somebody dies in the Ministry of Works, the Minister must be accountable for that?
“People should be careful when they want to use the unfortunate death of a young girl to play politics. If we have a hand in the killing (death), it will follow our families and us. But if we don’t have a hand in it and you are jumping into it, be careful. Life is spiritual.
“It is very painful to me that the girl passed on. It is very difficult to replace her. She was one of my best workers.
“We have been begging the parents to allow an autopsy. They said it is against their culture. But we insisted through our Lawyer for an autopsy. I have directed that the corpse cannot be removed until an autopsy.
“We have reported to the Inspector General of Police to transfer the case to Abuja. Let them beg the family to do an autopsy. I am, also, begging the family to meet with the Inspector General so that we can convince them.
“The boyfriend, also, told us that when we were in Lagos, she called him and told him she was bleeding from the nose. He advised her to report to me so I could send her back to the hospital. But she didn’t want to stress me. He then told her to find a hospital around and seek treatment.
“I have asked the Police to go to the call logs. They should go to the call log of the boy and the call log of the girl. They will hear the last conversation the girl had with her boyfriend at the hour of her death.
“I suspect no foul play because the other lady who stayed with her was still sleeping in her own room. Her room was still locked, and the door had to be broken before they discovered the body. The tap was still running because I think she was going to take her bath.
“When they took her to the mortuary, that was where the Police took the picture. They did not dress her up in the mortuary before taking the picture and sending out damaging information.
“I will take legal action against media organisations spreading false information and cyber-bullying the deceased.
“I have directed my Lawyers to get across to those involved in cyber- bullying in this matter. We are going to test the law on that.”
Umahi gave these details at a press conference in Abuja where he gave an update on President Bola Tinubu’s newly approved projects.
The Agada Family has reacted to the photograph of the family’s late daughter, Mirabel Agada, which has been passed off in several publications as Mary Habila, the Nurse who unfortunately died in Uburu, Ebonyi State country home of the Minister for Works, David Umahi.
In a short statement signed by Godswill Unekwu-Ojo Agada, the family decried the mix-up, pleaded for a discontinuation, and made a simple request: “If you come across any other page using Mirabel’s photograph for this story, please, tag them in the comments or report the post so they can correct it.”
The full text of the statement reads:
“Several blogs have used the photograph of my late sister, Mirabel Agada, to report the passing of Mary Habila.
Mary Habila
“This is incorrect.
“Mirabel Agada is not Mary Habila, and our family did not authorize the use of her photograph. Seeing her image wrongly associated with another person’s passing has been deeply painful for us.
“I’ve tagged some of the pages involved below. We respectfully ask that they remove Mirabel Agada’s photograph immediately, correct the error, and refrain from using her image in connection with this story.
“If you come across any other page using Mirabel’s photograph for this story, please tag them in the comments or report the post so they can correct it.
“Thank you to everyone standing with our family as we work to protect Mirabel’s memory. 🤍
A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has lost his mother, Mrs Mary Amaechi. Amaechi is, also, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement, Amaechi’s Media Office said his mother died on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Said the statement: “Late Mrs. Mary Amaechi was a cherished matriarch who held her family together in love, peace and unity. She was a community women leader and Christian leader, whose belief and faith in God was firm and resolute. She was loved and highly respected in her community, and will be remembered for her warmth, kindness, and unwavering support for those around her and beyond.
“Rt Hon. Amaechi and the entire family are profoundly grateful for the outpouring of condolences and love already being shown them during this difficult time.”
Funeral arrangements, according to the statement, will be made public in due course. It
appreciated the continued thoughts and prayers from friends, supporters, and well-wishers.
The late matriarch, whose son, Rotimi, was a two-term Governor of Rivers State, as well as a two-term Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and two-term Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, died at the age of 89 years.
The 36 State Governors say they have noted with satisfaction contributions of the World Bank to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria’s Government.
The Governors reaffirmed their commitment to partnering with the Federal Government, the World Bank and other development partners to ensure the successful implementation of the NG-CARES Additional Financing, SOLID and HOPE programmes.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, gave the assurance on Thursday, at the presidential launch of the programmes, where he was represented by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
AbdulRazaq pointed out that the initiatives would strengthen governance, improve service delivery, protect vulnerable households, develop human capital and enhance the resilience of states in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, he congratulated President Tinubu on the launch, describing the programmes as a major step towards translating economic reforms into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
“This occasion marks another key step towards turning the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible benefits for Nigerians,” he said.
He added that the programmes were built on the conviction that economic reforms must create better opportunities, strengthen institutions, improve public services and promote greater prosperity for citizens.
“Central to this ambitious project is the belief that economic reforms should deliver better opportunities, stronger institutions, improved public services, and greater prosperity for all Nigerians,” he stated.
The NGF said the NG-CARES Additional Financing, SOLID and HOPE programmes provided practical expression to that vision through strategic investments targeted at strengthening governance structures, supporting vulnerable groups, building human capital and improving the ability of states to withstand challenges.
“Today’s programmes give practical expression to that vision through investments that strengthen governance, protect vulnerable households, build human capital and improve resilience across our country,” he added.
He commended the World Bank for its continued partnership with Nigeria, noting that the collaboration had extended beyond the Federal Government and contributed to strengthening public financial management in states, expanding social protection programmes, supporting agricultural productivity and building institutional systems for measuring and sustaining results.
The Governor said: “We are especially encouraged that the World Bank continues to partner with Nigeria in a way that recognises how our federation actually works.
“Over the years, that partnership has extended beyond the centre, strengthening public financial management in our States, expanding social protection, supporting agricultural productivity, and helping to build the institutional systems that enable results to be measured and trusted.”
He described the NG-CARES initiative as evidence of what could be achieved when the Federal Government, states and development partners worked together with a shared commitment to accountability.
The NGF chairman stressed that the programmes were not merely about launching projects but about creating sustainable institutions for effective governance, improved service delivery and long-term development.
He added that strengthening institutional foundations remained critical to sustaining inclusive growth, improving service delivery and enhancing the resilience of states.
“We are strengthening the institutional foundations required to sustain inclusive growth, improve service delivery and enhance the resilience of our States.
” These are objectives that align closely with the aspirations of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s long-term development ambitions.”
He assured that governors remain committed to strengthening governance, improving accountability and delivering measurable results for Nigerians.
The NGF reaffirmed that the 36 states would continue working with the Federal Government, the World Bank and other development partners to ensure the programmes achieved their intended objectives.
“The thirty-six States remain fully committed to working collaboratively with the Federal Government, the World Bank and all development partners to ensure that these programmes achieve their intended impact.
“I want to express our appreciation to the World Bank for its enduring confidence in Nigeria and for its continued investment in strengthening both national and subnational institutions.
“We equally commend the Federal Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for sustaining a reform agenda that places collaboration, institutional strengthening, and citizen welfare at the centre of national development,” he stated.
