If you have a morbid fear of being stupid or being perceived as stupid by your peers and associates, you are suffering from stupidophobia, a.k.a. stultophobia. Many well educated people suffer this condition because it directly affects their claim to social relevance and intellectual depth.

In the last 100 years, very few intellectuals have devoted their time and analytical peregrination to stupidity as much as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a humble pastor who warned his countrymen about the rise of Hitler and his fellow butchers. He argued that stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than evil. Whereas one can expose evil and protest against it, stupidity is a more formidable enemy because it can be found perched, at times, on the throne. In that case, neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here.

In all this, the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self-satisfied and easily irritated. One has to be more cautious when dealing with a stupid person than a malicious one. It is not only senseless but also dangerous to try to persuade a stupid person with the force of reason.

Now, it is difficult to explain how a university professor would put his career and life on the line for a Nigerian politician. Could it be stupidity at play? How else does one explain or rationalise the abandonment of a prestigious career in academia in favour of a new one as ballot rigger or, to be more sympathetic, victim of Nigerian politicians’ notoriety for bribing all bribables and staining otherwise clean persons who have the misfortune of having to transact business with them.

I don’t know why Professor Ignatius Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) got mixed up in the case of electoral fraud in the 2019 elections that earned him three years in prison. His case was quite unfortunate as a review of the story shows.

He was the Collation/Returning Officer for Essien Udim State Constituency seat in the 2019 general election. In sentencing him, Justice Bassey Nkanang said: “His (Uduk’s) conduct particularly is a disservice to the course of democracy in our country and reproachable breach of trust against INEC who paid him for this job he ended up sabotaging.

“On March 10, 2019 he had earlier submitted a handwritten note detailing the incident at the election, how he was chased away from the collation centre and that he was forced to announce the result.

“Less than 24 hours later, he generated another result, came up with the official final result, now declaring the winner for the election.

“He returned a winner for an election in which there was no collation in any of the levels. No collation from the Polling Unit, no collation from Ward Level, none at the local government area level before it got to him as Returning Officer.

“Yet the professor made a return for that election and had the audacity to appear before the Election Tribunal to validate that same false election result. He was invited by INEC to justify his result. He threatened to take INEC to court then.”

The trial was initiated during the tenure of the fiery former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igini, who often seized any opportunity of media engagement to pledge that election fraudsters would be prosecuted under his watch. It took five years to bring Prof Uduk to justice.

On the judgment day, he came to court in a wheelchair. He tried to win the sympathy of the court by pointing out that his employers, the University of Uyo, had forcefully retired him in 2020 because of the scandal.

“My services were terminated by the University of Uyo and I was forcefully retired in 2020. Also because of this case, my salary was stopped since 2020. So, I am appealing to this court to give me soft landing,” he begged.

It took the court about 90 minutes for the judge to narrate why the convict was going to be separated from his freedom. Now, as they say on the streets of Abuja, he has been sent to eat Iron Beans for three years.

The conviction of Prof Uduk is one indictment we shouldn’t allow to slide like many of such that happen and are quickly swept under the carpet by highly placed accomplices. For once, an election fraudster was apprehended and prosecuted. The former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, deserves commendation for his persistence. The outcome of this case shows that we can indeed change things, one man at a time.

Now, you may ask, where is the beneficiary of Uduk’s electoral fraud? That was the question that compounded his case. Having forged the result, he carelessly insisted that his records were accurate and even threatened to take the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court. If only he had bothered to check, he would have found out that the Court of Appeal had voided the results of that constituency and the beneficiary had been removed from the legislature.

One of the counsel asked in bewilderment, “So, how come a professor in the university despite the Court of Appeal judgment that was still standing, come before another court of competent jurisdiction to still insist on validating an invalid false result, bogs my mind.”

INEC lawyer, Mr. Onwuenwunor (SAN), in a post judgment appraisal noted: “His (Uduk’s) conduct particularly is a disservice to the course of democracy in our country and reproachable breach of trust against INEC who paid him for this job he ended up sabotaging.”

Well, at least the society is able to draw lessons from Uduk’s incarceration. Fraud does not pay. When you’re put in a position of responsibility, don’t betray the trust. If all the election riggers nationwide had been given the Uduk treatment, we would at least have been sending signals to the younger generation that what is bad is actually bad. But when the wicked prosper, when riggers rule the roost, when there is a shortage of good examples nationwide, what hope does the upright operative have?

Pardon me if you feel personally affronted, you may be the best man in calculus, but that is no insulation from stupidity. We must allow Bonhoeffer to guide us in this quest:

“If we want to know how to get the better of stupidity, we must seek to understand its nature. This much is certain, that it is in essence not an intellectual defect but a human one. There are human beings who are of remarkably agile intellect yet stupid, and others who are intellectually quite dull yet anything but stupid. We discover this to our surprise in particular situations.

The impression one gains is not so much that stupidity is a congenital defect, but that, under certain circumstances, people are made stupid or that they allow this to happen to them. We note further that people who have isolated themselves from others or who live in solitude manifest this defect less frequently than individuals or groups of people inclined or condemned to sociability.

What else, if not stupidity, would propel a professor, a man of great intellectual attainment, to forge election results and insist on the integrity of his ghosted figures until he was shown the colours of the prison gates?  Alas, education cannot insulate you from stupidity!

The fear of stupidity, I insist, is the beginning of wisdom.

I “kind of” like Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and his lovely wife, Unoma. She is Igbo, married to Akwa Ibom, so she also bears the name Ekaette.

When Akpabio was the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, I admired the couple no end.  The two usually displayed their love for each other publicly. Unoma would use  fan her husband each time she was there and he was making a speech. Atimes, she would  use a white handkerchief to wipe sweat off Akpabio as he read. Akpabio also reciprocated in kind. He did the same for her.

Our high profile Leaders  hardly show their love for their spouses publicly. We admire the Obamas, for instance, when they hold each other in public, kiss and dance – even the Trumps-  but our own people  are stiff. Akpabio, I don’t know about now, was different when he was Governor. I will also say that for my State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma and his beautiful wife, Chioma. They hold hands and cling to each other publicly, even in Church, as if they just met. Good for family values.

So, it is because of my admiration for the Akpabios that I had, in the past years, refrained from criticizing Senate President Akpabio. When I remember his loyal wife, a calm and collected polished lady, I hold back. It was why I held back when Akpabio got the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senatorial ticket in a very untidy manner. It was not his. He literally snatched it from a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udom Ekpoudom, a man who has been given the short end of the stick both in the Police Force and Politics.

Ekpoudom, brilliant Police Officer, was forced to retire, prematurely, a couple of weeks after he was promoted to the rank of a DIG all because a new IGP was appointed, and the former IGP and his management team, whose member Ekpoudom just became, were retired with him.

Hard luck It pained him. Waste of resources, if only Nigerians know how much it takes and costs one to get to that rank. He wanted to go to Court to challenge his retirement. I now forget, exactly, why he did not take that route. He had my sympathy. I have always been against the often- times mass retirement of the Police Management Team each time a new IGP is appointed. It’s  waste of human resources. But this is a story for another day.

I digressed. I was talking about why I did not react when Akpabio surfaced and snatched a ticket already won by DIG Ekpoudom. As explained earlier, it was because of my admiration of the Akpabios open display of love for each other. It was, also, why I held on when Joy Nunieh, a former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, publicly said she slapped Akpabio, then the Minister for Niger Delta, for making, how do I put it without being offensive? So, okay, of making inappropriate advances towards her; it was why I held on when Akpabio, months ago, literally, referred to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a club girl; it was why I held on when he kept making gaffe after gaffe on the floor of the Senate. But now, I have had it down to my neck. I am choking. And the only thing I know is that I can no longer hold it.

As I watched and listened to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan this Friday morning of 28 February, 2025, stripping Akpabio naked in the market square, I had to clean my eyes and my ears a couple of times to make sure I was not in dream, that I was seeing well, and my ears were “sharp”.

There Akpoti-Uduaghan sat in Arise Television’s studio,  sure-footed, confident, boldly, telling the World, not just Nigerians, that Nigeria’s Senate President has no character. There she was, making scandalous allegations of se€ual harassment against Nigeria’s number three citizen. There she was telling us that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is a se€ual predator; that he is a man of such loose character that he would make passes at her, even with her husband right behind them. There she was, telling us that Akpabio is so loose, and so disrespectful of his wife and marriage vows that he would invite her to his country home so two of them would spend “quality time” together. I mean, not in a hotel, but in the house where he lives with his wife and children! There she was, telling us that his office at the Senate may not be for official matters only; that he dared to tell her to “take good care of him”, so as   to be allowed to present a motion that would be for the good of her Constituency, her State and Nigeria. There she was, composed, her voice steady, telling us that she usually put her phone on speaker at night when she is in bed with her husband, and Akpabio calls, like a love struck teenager, so her husband could listen. I blushed.

There she sat, exuding self confidence, telling us that because she did not give in to Akpabio’s, alleged, inappropriate requests, he  wouldn’t give her the room to do the work for which she was elected. She said she’s been denied her rights and privileges; that she’s been humiliated, mistreated and faced intimidation. Hmmm!

My first reaction was that this is not happening.  There’s a mistake somewhere. Akpabio? Not again. Not after Nunieh. But Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan then nailed it when she  equated what she’s been going through to that of  a female University student whose Lecturer deliberately marks down because she refused to “give in”. I gave up. My heart sank.

I know most men,  especially politicians, don’t bother about these things. But they have families  – you know, wives, children, grandchildren some of whom read these things.

Akpabio is not just the third most powerful man in the country, he is a husband, father, grandfather. So, I thought about his wife and children. How they felt as they watched and listened as Akpoti-Uduaghan stripped their husband and father naked before the world. Did Unoma freeze? Or is she used to these allegations.

I have since read her. She did what most wives of politicians, especially, at that level, will not do. They usually keep quiet, even when they are seething in anger and embarrassment. But not Mrs Akpabio. She jumped to her husband’s defence. She made out Akpoti-Uduaghan as a liar. She called her a blackmailer. Her husband is a good man, a disciplined man who jokes a lot, and so is usually misunderstood, she said. I tried to make meaning out of that. Did she mean that her husband must have been joking when he, according to Akpoti-Uduaghan, invited her to come spend quality time with him in their country home? So, it was Akpoti-Uduaghan that read meaning into “quality time” when the man was obviously joking? Perhaps wanted both of them to work on serious files? Infuriated, Mrs Akpabio threatened to sue Akpoti-Uduaghan. What would she sue her for? No allegations were made against her. So what would she tell the Court. It is her husband, I thought, who should sue not her. It is her husband who should have issued a statement to address the issues raised, not her. But you know this thing about law. I am so illiterate when it comes to it. I hardly understand it. Mrs Akpabio has made good  her threat. She has sued Akpoti-Uduaghan for, you guessed it, emotional trauma. And as if to tell the Senator that “my Mercedes is bigger than yours”, she sued for N250bn, surpassing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suit against her husband by N150bn. The way these people throw billions around “fear me.” Soon, it will be Trillions. And the masses will still be scavenging to eat, no matter how poorly, once a day.

For the records, the allegation made against Akpabio by Akpoti-Uduaghan is serious. It is the shame of a country. It is not to be treated lightly. It is our Number three citizen we are talking about here. It is his name and reputation and credibility that are being thrown around this loosely. The issue at stake here is that of an alleged  se€ual harassment. It is the same case for which University Professors have been shamed and jailed. It is why a number of female students are going through hell in school. That such allegations could be made against the Senate President is not funny.

They must not be swept under the carpet as we usually do. In the Ninth Senate, a two-term Governor, who ended up in the Senate like most of his colleagues, was videod making it out with two young girls in a near-dingy environment. When the video made the rounds on Whatsaap, the Senate made no “pim”. It was the silence of the grave. A couple of days later, he shamelessly returned to the Senate Chambers, like nothing happened. Worse, his wife, who then was a member of the House of Representatives, treated it as nothing. She never missed a sitting. I felt for her. However, the Akpabio case is more high profile than that. This is Nigeria’s Senate President Vs a Female Senator.

In more civilized climes, Akpabio would have, by now, stepped down from office to clear his name, to fight this battle. And my advice: He should not keep quiet. It is not a family business, a family affair. He should not say: “my wife has sued”. He should perish the thought. This is official business that affects the reputation of our country. And, it will be a mistake to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan now without a transparent independent investigation. Akpabio will be chewed raw if she is suspended just like that.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, in her interview said her husband is very close to Akpabio; that her husband loves him. It is the same sentiment Mrs Akpabio expressed. She said both families are very close; that they had been, even before Akpoti-Uduaghan happened on the scene. I guess no longer. A stunningly beautiful woman who happened on the scene has seen to that. But please, nobody should tell us the two families should settle this. It has gone beyond them. All cards should be on the table.

It is easy, as I have read from some platforms to say: “Eh, women. That’s their stock in trade. When they want to attract sympathy, they throw in se€ual harassment. Not true. Not in most cases. Some men are incapable of putting their libido in check. Everybody, anybody, goes for them – married women, friends’ wives, teenagers, minors, househelps, even their brothers’ wives, their sisters their daughters. None is too sacred for them to want to sleep with. These days, it is the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah live. This is why Akpabio must embark on a vigorous defence of his character and credibility. The office he holds is too high to be associated with this. It is like a fly which perched on the scrotum. Do you kill it or leave it. I advice Akpabio to kill it and endure the pain, because if left to perch and go freely, it will come again.

Incidentally, this is not the first time a high profile woman would allege se€ual harassment against Akpabio.Why him all the time?

As earlier noted, a former Ag. MD of NDDC, Ms. Nunieh, made same allegation against Akpabio when he was Minister for Niger Delta. She even said she slapped Akpabio in the process. Nothing much was heard thereafter, but she was quietly left alone; no more threat of arrest till date.

Here’s what I think Akpabio should do. He should take this current allegation seriously. He should encourage, and submit to a transparent investigation. He should head to the Court to prove his innocence. Akpoti-Uduaghan says she is ready. She has called Akpabio out. She said she has evidences  and witnesses, including her husband, and Whatsaap messages. She has even offered the Security Operatives her phone to thoroughly check- out for confirmation. For her sake, I hope she is ready, and her evidences provable. Else, the sh*t will hit the fan. There will be no hiding place for her.

The stage is set, Mr Senate President. Go ahead. Seize the opportunity and clear your name, and reaffirm your credibility, especially, for your office and your wife, and your impeachable character  to lead the Senate, the National Assembly. That is when you will be proud to be called Nigeria’s number three citizen, irrespective of the talk about how you earned the ticket. The allegations stink to high heavens. And need to not only be managed, or deodorized, but to be completely washed away, cleaned, and forgotten as a bad dream.

June 12, 1993 marked a significant setback for Nigeria, harking back to the January 15, 1966, coup-d’etat. This unfortunate event pushed the country back by at least a century, primarily due to the suspension of the 1963 Republican Constitution. Although the masterminds behind the coup never explicitly stated that they had abolished the constitution, the consequences of its suspension continue to manifest in Nigeria’s persistent underdevelopment.

Ayo Ademiluyi, a civil rights lawyer and political activist, recently pointed out that the General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida government, similar to previous and succeeding military administrations, was characterized by diarchy. This system of governance, which combines the military top brass and parts of the political establishment, was more pronounced under IBB, as Babangida is known, than any other military administration. This diarchy was on full display during the publication and public presentation of a book, titled ‘A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida’, and fundraising for the Presidential Library, where startling revelations about Babangida’s military rule came to light.

A gentleman on the podium stated that he and others present owed their success not to entrepreneurial spirit, but rather to state capture and favours. In contrast, entrepreneurs like Adeola Odutola, Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Aminu Dantata from the previous era achieved success through genuine entrepreneurial zeal and innovation. Unfortunately, under Babangida’s regime, state favours became the primary means of economic advancement, leading to a society that is uncompetitive

The concept of state capture, which originated in South Africa, was exemplified in Nigeria during the IBB era. However, for Nigeria to make progress, it should focus on promoting entrepreneurship among its citizens. Notable examples include Bayo Ogunlesi of Global Infrastructure, Olugbenga Agboola, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Adeleke Adekoya of Flutterwave, as well as Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi of Paystack. The new generation banks, led by individuals like Atedo Peterside and Fola Adeola, are also worth mentioning. Instead of promoting entrepreneurship, the IBB book presentation unfortunately celebrated an era marked by ‘man-know-man’ and ‘padi padi’ arrangements, commonly referred to as state capture. This approach will not make Nigeria competitive, create much-needed jobs, catalyze growth, or achieve sustainability.

One of the most troubling aspects of the June 12, 1993, election saga is how Babangida inadvertently relinquished his authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. By refusing to uphold the mandate of the free and fair election, Babangida exhibited a cowardly cop-out, as noted by Reuben Abati in his column. Abati’s critique, however, stopped short of drawing a more profound conclusion. A more incisive analysis would have contrasted Babangida’s actions or inactions with those of Chile’s democratically elected President Salvador Allende Gossens, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his principles on a fateful night in 1973. 

In a tale of two leaders, Salvador Allende, a medical doctor-turned-president, stood in unambiguous contrast to General Ibrahim Babangida, who rose through the military ranks. When faced with a coup, Allende’s commitment to his people and his mandate was unwavering. Despite an American plane waiting to whisk him to safety, he opted to fight alongside his Chief of Staff and eleven ministers, refusing to give up their mandate. It’s one of the most remarkable arts in recent political history. So, who’s a ‘General’? Allende, a trained medical doctor, or Babangida, who entered the army straight from secondary school?

Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi’s ultimate sacrifice for Major General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi during the 1966 military coup in Nigeria also exemplified the enduring power of loyalty and duty in the face of overwhelming adversity. So, there’s no point in blaming General Sani Abacha, Augustus Aikhomu and others, who are no longer here to defend themselves; and dead men tell no tales! What’s more? IBB has simply shot himself in the foot, for, certainly, he has not presented himself as a Commander-in-Chief! 

The entire book presentation was clearly a jarring celebration, utterly disconnected from the somber reflections that events like the Holocaust or Soweto Massacre demand. As Peterside aptly noted, such tragedies cannot be commemorated amidst joviality. This is a very bad taste, which should not have happened. In sane climes, the occasion would have been an opportune moment to establish a Trust Fund for the countless individuals who suffered irreparable losses – lives, limbs, and livelihoods – due to the annulment. Many of these brave souls are still alive, struggling to rebuild their shattered lives.

In this context, President Bola Tinubu, himself a victim of the annulment, has a unique opportunity to make amends. By setting up the Trust Fund, he can provide long-overdue rehabilitation and support to those who risked everything for democracy. This gesture would honour their sacrifices while allowing him to forge his own path, distinct from the shadows of the past, and create a more just and compassionate society. The last word is that, June 12, 1993, allowed the genie to escape from the bottle. All manners of long dormant and suppressed agitations came out of June 12 across the six geopolitical zones and the political will to resolve these issues has still not been found. 

In his 1852 book, ‘The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon’, Karl Marx famously remarked: “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.” As Marx pointed out, and as Babangida demonstrated, June 12, 1993, was a tragic event and the scars are still showing with broken limbs, disrupted lives and people suddenly becoming orphans. On the other side of the coin, the book presentation and the launch of a proposed Babangida Presidential Library was a pure farce.   

Now that the book presentation has again highlighted the shame of a country, IBB can still hold his head high, not because of any personal merit, but because Nigeria’s flawed system often enables leaders to deflect accountability. This phenomenon is deeply ingrained in our national psyche, where the failures of leaders are frequently downplayed or even celebrated. Here, our justice system remains defective, yet society inexplicably applauds it. Nigeria’s complexities are well-known to those familiar with our unique brand of ‘Nigerianness’ – a reality marked by pervasive shock, anxiety, uncertainty and chaos. Our nation has become a contested territory, where the lives of countless individuals are being squandered amidst this turmoil.

IBB’s ‘invented’ excuses have been a means to an end, but the question remains: what is that end? Now that he has exhausted his justifications for past inadequacies, what’s next? This raises questions about accountability and the lack of genuine introspection. But, wait a minute, the attendance of notable figures like Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s former Vice President, and Bola Tinubu, the current president, at IBB’s event is also perplexing. While Tinubu’s presence might be attributed to diplomatic obligations, Osinbajo’s attendance is harder to justify, given his reputation as a democrat. Moreover, Tinubu’s participation in the laugh-it-off competition with the evil genius, a man often regarded as one of Nigeria’s most notorious leaders, is particularly jarring.

Agreed, the dead are dead, and nothing can be done about that again! Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s return to democracy, it is essential to reflect on the sacrifices made by individuals like Abubakar Umar, who relinquished their military commissions, and others like Ambassador Musbau in Mushin-Lagos, who went totally blind during the agitations, all in support of the June 12 movement. How does the democratic system honour their memory and sacrifices? A certain former warlord reportedly advised Abacha to “hang” MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, for treason. Ironically, his wife is now a Minister in Tinubu’s cabinet!

So, ‘eni tó kú ni tiè gbé! Indeed, he who is dead has lost it all!

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

Foreign fraud syndicates have strategically infiltrated Nigeria’s security, legal, and financial systems, exploiting weaknesses in immigration enforcement, law enforcement capabilities, cybercrime investigations, judicial expertise, and prison management. These criminal organizations operate sophisticated networks, using Nigeria as a base for large-scale financial fraud, cryptocurrency scams, money laundering, and even illegal arms smuggling. The absence of specialized training for key security and justice personnel has allowed these syndicates to thrive, evade prosecution, and continue their illicit activities even from behind bars. A comprehensive national strategy is required to dismantle these syndicates, beginning with the training and empowerment of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies, financial crime regulators, immigration officers, corrections officers, and the judiciary. Without adequate training, technology, and international collaboration, these agencies will remain ineffective in preventing, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting foreign fraud syndicates that threaten Nigeria’s economic stability and national security.

Law enforcement officers and security agencies must be trained in advanced digital forensics, cybercrime intelligence gathering, financial crime tracking, and cryptocurrency fraud detection. Currently, many officers lack the expertise to investigate complex digital crimes, resulting in poor evidence collection and failed prosecutions. Training programs must focus on equipping officers with technical skills in cyber forensics, allowing them to trace encrypted transactions, decrypt digital communications, recover deleted financial data, and track online money laundering activities. The use of artificial intelligence in financial crime detection must also be incorporated, enabling officers to flag suspicious transactions, monitor high-risk digital accounts, and detect hidden fraud patterns across multiple financial platforms. Additionally, officers must be trained in dark web intelligence and cybercriminal surveillance, allowing them to infiltrate hidden cybercrime networks, track illicit online transactions, and disrupt underground fraud operations.

Immigration officers play a crucial role in preventing foreign fraud syndicates from entering and establishing operational bases in Nigeria. However, weak border security, outdated immigration technology, and a lack of biometric screening measures have allowed cybercriminals to enter the country undetected. Immigration officers must undergo specialized training in biometric identification, automated border surveillance, and forged document detection. Training must also focus on the integration of Nigeria’s immigration database with INTERPOL’s global criminal records, Europol’s financial crime registry, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist to prevent known fraudsters and ex-convicts from entering the country. Additionally, officers must be trained in tracking overstayed visas and fraudulent residency permits, ensuring that foreign nationals operating illegally within Nigeria are identified and swiftly deported. Immigration personnel must also collaborate closely with regional security forces to prevent deported criminals from re-entering through land borders using falsified identities.

The EFCC and ICPC must be equipped with the knowledge and tools to combat large-scale financial fraud, money laundering, and cryptocurrency-related crimes. Training programs must focus on the development of financial intelligence tracking systems, ensuring that investigators can trace illicit financial flows, freeze fraudulent accounts, and detect hidden offshore assets linked to foreign fraud syndicates. Officials must also receive advanced training in corporate fraud detection, particularly in identifying businesses that serve as fronts for money laundering operations. Training must also focus on the use of blockchain analytics to monitor cryptocurrency transactions, track digital wallets used for illicit financial movements, and intercept money laundering schemes involving decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. The EFCC and ICPC must also strengthen their asset seizure and forfeiture capabilities, ensuring that stolen funds are recovered, confiscated, and redirected toward compensating victims of fraud.

Judges and prosecutors play a pivotal role in ensuring that foreign fraud syndicates are convicted and face severe legal penalties. However, Nigeria’s judicial system has historically struggled to successfully prosecute cybercriminals due to a lack of legal expertise in handling digital evidence, weak sentencing structures, and prolonged case delays. Training programs for judges must include in-depth sessions on cybercrime law, digital evidence authentication, and blockchain forensic analysis. Judges must be trained to understand the intricacies of cryptocurrency-related crimes, international financial fraud, and transnational cybercrime cases. Training must also focus on the admissibility of digital forensic reports as evidence in financial crime trials, ensuring that courts can effectively interpret and rely on electronic data during prosecution. Additionally, judges must be trained in fast-tracking cybercrime cases, prioritizing financial fraud prosecutions, and implementing sentencing structures that impose severe penalties on convicted cybercriminals. Extradition laws and international crime cooperation must also be included in judicial training programs, ensuring that judges and prosecutors can effectively process international arrest warrants, execute mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs), and collaborate with foreign legal bodies to retrieve evidence from overseas.

Prison officers must also receive intensive training to prevent foreign fraud syndicates from continuing their criminal activities while incarcerated. Many cybercriminals, after being arrested, simply relocate their operations to Nigerian prisons, using smuggled phones, bribed prison officials, and hidden financial channels to sustain their fraudulent networks. Prison officers must be trained to detect and disrupt organized cybercrime cells operating within correctional facilities. Training must include strategies for monitoring high-risk inmates, tracking suspicious financial transactions, and identifying hidden communication methods used by incarcerated fraudsters. Prison security must be reinforced with advanced surveillance systems, including AI-powered behavioral tracking, biometric-controlled entry points, and mobile signal jammers to prevent unauthorized communications. Additionally, financial monitoring systems must be established within correctional facilities to track and flag all inmate transactions, ensuring that no funds are being laundered or transferred to criminal networks outside prison walls. Corruption within the prison system must also be addressed through rigorous anti-bribery training, rotational staff deployment, and the enforcement of strict disciplinary actions against prison officials found to be colluding with inmates.

International collaboration and intelligence sharing must be a key component of Nigeria’s strategy in combating foreign fraud syndicates. Nigeria must strengthen its ties with INTERPOL, Europol, the FBI, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to establish real-time financial crime tracking networks. Law enforcement officers, judges, immigration officials, and financial crime investigators must be sent for specialized training abroad in countries with advanced cybercrime enforcement mechanisms, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Singapore. Nigeria must also gain direct access to global financial crime intelligence databases, enabling law enforcement to track international fraudulent transactions, identify foreign cybercriminals, and freeze illicit funds before they can be laundered through Nigerian financial systems. Additionally, Nigeria must harmonize its cybercrime laws with international regulations, ensuring that local financial institutions comply with global anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) standards.

A comprehensive national training initiative must be launched to modernize Nigeria’s police academies, judicial training institutes, immigration service schools, and financial crime enforcement bodies. The Nigerian Police Academy, the EFCC Training Institute, and the National Judicial Institute must integrate specialized cybercrime investigation, financial crime litigation, and cross-border fraud detection into their core curriculum. AI-powered crime detection software, blockchain analysis labs, and financial fraud simulators must be introduced into training facilities to ensure that security officers, financial crime investigators, and judges receive hands-on experience in combating cyber-enabled fraud.

Nigeria must take immediate action to equip its security, immigration, financial crime, and judicial personnel with the expertise and tools necessary to combat foreign fraud syndicates. Without a highly trained and technologically advanced enforcement system, cybercriminals will continue to operate freely, exploiting legal loopholes, evading prosecution, and compromising Nigeria’s national security. The implementation of rigorous cybercrime training, international intelligence partnerships, legal system upgrades, and prison security enhancements will be critical in eliminating foreign financial crime networks from Nigerian soil. Failure to act decisively will allow these syndicates to expand their influence, further destabilizing Nigeria’s economy and reputation in the global financial system. The time to act is now—Nigeria must transform its security and justice institutions into formidable forces capable of dismantling transnational cybercriminal networks once and for all.

When the world was gripped by the salacious scandal involving former U.S. President Bill Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky in the late 1990s, the fallout was immense. Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives, his credibility took a massive hit, and the incident remains one of the most talked-about political sex scandals in modern history. Now, contrast that with the unfolding drama between Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a situation that would have triggered a political earthquake in any serious country. But in Nigeria, it is business as usual, because here, scandals don’t stick, and consequences are almost non-existent.

Without a doubt, the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal demonstrates how far scandal serves as a lesson of accountability in a country where leaders are expected to be morally upright.

In fact, the Clinton-Lewinsky affair was not just a tabloid sensation; it was a moment that tested America’s political and moral fabric. When reports surfaced that Clinton had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky, the U.S. political establishment did not sweep it under the rug. Investigations followed, and Clinton was forced to face the consequences of his actions. His initial denials, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”, turned out to be a lie, which led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The U.S. House of Representatives moved to impeach him, and while he survived the Senate trial and completed his term, the scandal left a lasting stain on his presidency.

Now, let us imagine for a moment that this happened in Nigeria. Would there have been any accountability? Would the individual in question even bother to resign, let alone face any political consequence? The answer is a resounding and capital No. Nigeria has a long history of brushing off scandals, no matter how damning the evidence is. The Akpabio-Natasha saga is proof that no amount of disgrace or misconduct is enough to shake the foundations of power in this country. In fact, given Nigeria’s situation, particularly as defensive rallies and comments have started in favor of the former governor, former Senator, and the president of the Senate, the Akpabio/Natasha scandal is unarguably a saga without consequence.

The alleged inappropriate relationship between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been making rounds on social media, with allegations of impropriety, power abuse, and deep political entanglements. In any other country, such a scandal would lead to calls for resignation, a full-fledged investigation, and potential legal consequences. But in Nigeria, it is just another day in the political sphere.

Instead of a serious investigation, what we see is a combination of silence, denial, and counter-accusations. Nigerian politicians have mastered the art of navigating scandals without as much as a scratch. Even when they are caught red-handed, they know the public outcry will eventually die down, and life will go on as if nothing happened. Akpabio, like many before him, will likely ride this storm unscathed.

At this juncture, it is expedient to throw insight to why scandals mean nothing in Nigeria.  This is as there are several reasons why political scandals, no matter how grave, never seem to lead to any consequences in Nigeria.

First and foremost is that Nigeria’s political space is characterized with a culture of Impunity: In Nigeria, politicians are rarely held accountable for their actions. The justice system is weak, and the political elite is shielded by a network of corruption and patronage. This culture of impunity ensures that even the most damning allegations are dismissed with a shrug.

Secondly, short public memory pervades as Nigerians are no strangers to scandal fatigue. In fact, today’s outrage is tomorrow’s forgotten news. Political actors exploit this short memory span, knowing that no matter how serious the allegations, something else will come along to distract the public soon enough.

Also is the prevalence of ethnic and political bias. The moment a politician is caught in a scandal, their supporters immediately turn the issue into a tribal or partisan debate. Rather than focusing on the substance of the allegations, people rush to defend their “own,” making it impossible to hold individuals accountable.

In a similar vein, is lack of institutional checks and balances. Unlike in the U.S., where independent institutions like the media, judiciary, and Congress ensure that political misconduct is addressed, Nigeria lacks strong institutions capable of upholding accountability. Here, institutions are often used as tools to protect the powerful rather than to check their excesses.

Worst of all, in Nigeria, scandals are weaponized.  In this part of the world, scandals are not necessarily about seeking justice or accountability; they are often politically motivated. Accusations only gain traction when it serves someone else’s agenda, and once that agenda is met, the case disappears. If the Akpabio-Natasha case serves no political purpose for the opposition or media, it will fade into oblivion.

Also, the Nigerian double standard cannot be pooh-poohed, and dismissed with mere wave of the hands in this context.  The foregoing view can be buttressed by opining that if Bill Clinton had been a Nigerian politician, the Lewinsky scandal would have been dismissed as a mere distraction. Instead of an impeachment trial, he would have remained in power, and his loyalists would have defended him with absurd justifications like, “Is he the first man to cheat?” or “Why are they attacking him? It is politically motivated!”

Even worse, Lewinsky herself would have been vilified. She would have been labeled a gold digger, accused of trying to bring down a great leader, and dismissed as an attention-seeker. Instead of holding the powerful accountable, the blame would be shifted to the victim or whistleblowers. To reinforce the foregoing view, it is germane to recall that statements which gave defamatory impression that Akpoti-Uduaghan thinks that being a lawmaker was about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers” had been made, and which compelled Natasha to file a suit filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25, 2025, wherein she listed the President of the Senate, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as the second and third defendants, respectively.

In fact, the Akpabio/Natasha scandal, like many before it, will eventually be swept under the rug. No resignations, no serious investigations, and certainly no consequences. The Nigerian political system is designed in a way that allows the elite to get away with almost anything, no matter how scandalous.

Until Nigerians demand accountability, nothing will change. Scandals will continue to mean nothing, and politicians will continue to operate with impunity. If Clinton had been Nigerian, he would not have lost a single night’s sleep over Lewinsky. And if Akpabio were American, his career would likely be over. But this is Nigeria, where anything goes, and nothing ever happens.

The controversy surrounding the estate of former Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe, has taken a new turn as his sister, Joyce Wigwe, publicly accused his longtime associate, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, of attempting to “manipulate” Herbert Wigwe’s will and obstructing transparency in the legal proceedings.

Joyce has also raised suspicions of foul play regarding the circumstances leading to her brother’s tragic plane crash.

In an interview with TV360, Joyce detailed what she described as questionable actions by Aig-Imoukhuede in the handling of her brother’s estate, including an alleged lack of transparency in the reading of the will, unexplained discrepancies in legal filings, and undue influence over key family members.

Claims of a Secretive Will Reading 

Joyce Wigwe claimed that the reading of Herbert Wigwe’s will was conducted under dubious circumstances, with key family members deliberately excluded.

“It later became clear that there had been ongoing discussions about Herbert’s will, but we were only informed in September that a will existed and was going to be read,” she said. “However, my father was deliberately sent abroad by Aig Imoukhuede just before the reading.” 

• According to her, their 90-year-old father, who was receiving medical treatment in Austria, was caught off guard when he received a message from Aig-Imoukhuede stating, “We’re about to read the will.” The news came as a shock, as no other family member had been informed of the will’s existence before that moment.
• Joyce alleged that her father, already in a vulnerable state, immediately contacted Herbert’s younger brother, Emeka Wigwe, who was equally surprised. When Emeka questioned Aig-Imoukhuede about why he and Joyce had been excluded from the reading, he received no clear response.

Emeka, deeming their exclusion highly irregular, refused to participate believing that the family deserved proper representation. Despite these objections, the will was read in their absence.

What she explained 

Upon finally obtaining a copy of the will through legal means, Joyce said the family was alarmed by numerous irregularities.

“The will was only three pages long—an extremely unusual length for an estate of this magnitude,” she said. “It referenced a trust but failed to list any trust assets, there was no detailed breakdown of beneficiaries, and no supporting documents were attached.” 

• Another troubling discovery was the existence of an 18-page version of the will filed in Florida, while only a three-page version had been submitted in Nigeria.

“Why wasn’t the full document filed in Nigeria?” Joyce questioned.

• Further investigations revealed that a legal settlement had taken place in Florida, where Betty Blanco—originally named as a personal representative—was paid millions of dollars to step aside. The family, she said, had not been informed of this payout.
• When the document was later filed in Nigeria, Blanco’s name was removed, and another individual, Uche Wigwe, their cousin, was next in line instead.

“We also discovered that the document had been filed for probate in Lagos, raising further concerns about its authenticity and completeness. It became clear that there was an attempt to manipulate the estate process without proper disclosure to the entire family. 

“Upon checking the records, we found that the will was dated sometime in 2013. To determine whether it had been officially lodged, we visited the Florida court. If Herbert had intended for the will to have general applicability, especially since his primary domicile was in Nigeria, he would have filed it in Lagos. However, it wasn’t lodged there.”

Her suspicion of foul play concerning Herbert’s death 

In addition to concerns over the will, Joyce raised questions about the events leading up to Herbert Wigwe’s untimely death in a helicopter crash in the U.S. earlier this year.

“We also cannot ignore how all of this started. Herbert was not a major Super Bowl fan—he was more of a polo fan. What exactly made him take that trip? Who organized it? Why was a company that had previously been deemed negligent chosen for the travel arrangements?” 

• According to Joyce, Aig-Imoukhuede was responsible for organizing the trip. She demanded to know why a company with a history of safety concerns had been selected, hinting at potential negligence or undisclosed motives.

“We understand that Aig ihmoukede was responsible for organizing the trip. Why did he select a company that had already been flagged for negligence?” 

• One of the most contentious aspects of the dispute is the guardianship of Herbert Wigwe’s daughter, Tochi. Joyce expressed deep concerns about the decision to entrust the management of the estate to a 25-year-old, arguing that such a role requires significant legal and financial expertise.

Joyce further stated that Tochi needed permission to even speak to family members and asked why Aig-Imoukhuede, if he genuinely cared about the children, would prevent them from receiving the best possible advice and support.

What people are saying 

Following Dr. Joyce Wigwe’s revelations, the interview sparked widespread discussion online, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding Herbert Wigwe’s estate and the guardianship of his children. Social media users expressed deep concerns over the alleged exclusion of immediate family members from critical proceedings and raised suspicions about the role of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede in managing the late banker’s affairs.

• A user identified as @Uchekc remarked on what he perceived as manipulation, particularly regarding Herbert Wigwe’s daughter, Tochi:

“The Tochi of a girl is being manipulated against her family members. This interview is mind-blowing, and without even listening to it, I already knew something was fishy. Why are the minors being kept away from their immediate relatives? How could Aig go to Isiokpo without paying homage to Herbert’s parents? What are they hiding or trying to hide from his parents and siblings?” 

• Another commenter, @judeumeh5390, echoed similar concerns, arguing that the Wigwe family, rather than external parties, should be entrusted with the management of Herbert Wigwe’s legacy:

“This woman and her parents are absolutely right. The family is more than capable of handling this situation better than any friend or outsider. This is purely a family matter, and as Herbert’s father, his rights should be respected. No one knows if he has been offering guidance all along, but it seems the advice is being ignored. Unfortunately, many wolves disguise themselves as sheep, and only time will reveal their true nature. Friends can betray even when someone is alive—what more when they are gone? Transparency is needed in this case.” 

• Dr. Joyce Wigwe’s advocacy also found support from @drtrishmd, who commended her for speaking out:

“Thank you for shedding light on this issue. It has been a truly difficult experience, but Dr. Joyce has handled herself remarkably well. She is asking the right questions and should naturally be on the same side as her niece. However, the other side has strategically turned her into a pawn. May truth prevail.” 

• Meanwhile, @Bori-e4t questioned the apparent shift in Tochi’s relationship with her grandparents, implying that external influences may be at play:

“Why would a child suddenly turn away from her grandparents? The way Aig is handling this situation is highly suspicious.” 

Some context 

The family initially requested that legal proceedings surrounding the estate remain private to protect the children from public scrutiny. However, their request was denied, with the opposing party insisting on making the proceedings public.

Joyce Wigwe insists that the family is not trying to take anything from Tochi but merely wants transparency and accountability. She argues that, given the scale of Herbert Wigwe’s estate and the financial complexities involved, a more structured and informed approach is necessary to protect the best interests of his children.

What we know 

Earlier reports suggested that Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, the father of the late Herbert Wigwe, had become embroiled in a legal battle over a share of his son’s estate.

It was alleged that he had filed a caveat at the Probate Registry, seeking to challenge the distribution of Herbert’s wealth, which had been exclusively designated for his children. However, this recent interview by Joyce Wigwe strongly refuted these claims, stating that her father’s priority has always been to ensure fairness and transparency in handling Herbert’s estate.

In light of these unfolding events, former Access Bank CEO Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede—who has been accused of tampering with Herbert’s will and withholding vital information from the family—is yet to release an official statement addressing the allegations.

Backstory 

Herbert Wigwe, the former CEO of Access Bank, tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, at 57 years old. The fatal accident occurred near Halloran Springs, California, killing him, his wife, Chizoba, their son, Chizi, and business associate, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).

The helicopter, identified as an Airbus EC130, was en route from Palm Springs, California, to Boulder City, Nevada, when it crashed under mysterious circumstances. Reports initially suggested that the poor weather conditions and pilot error might have contributed to the crash.

[Nairametrics]

Veteran Nollywood actress, Ayo Adesanya, has opened up on how her abusive marriage negatively affected her.

Speaking in an interview with Chude Jideonwo, the thespian disclosed that the abuse she experienced in her crashed marriage turned her into an alcoholic.

Adesanya narrated how her ex-husband stopped her from acting and threatened to pluck out her eyes with a knife.

The actress said she was abused for 10 years and could not leave because of the shame of people saying she couldn’t keep a man.

She said, “Anywhere my ex-husband saw me, he would beat me.

“He beat me so much that I became an alcoholic. But I couldn’t leave because of the shame of people saying I couldn’t keep a man.”

Meanwhile, Nigerian media personality, Daddy Freeze, has defended Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy, over the ongoing Lamborghini saga with popular socialite, Sophia Egbueje.

Naija News reports that Sophia, in a leaked audio online, called out Burna Boy for failing to fulfil his promise after sleeping with her.

She claimed that the Grammy award-wining singer promised her a Lamborghini in exchange for sex.

Amid the controversy the issue had generated online, Burna Boy released a mocking video, questioning why a certain individual is angry over his failure to buy a Lamborghini.

However, reacting to the drama in a video via his Instagram page on Friday, Daddy Freeze backed Burna Boy for scoping Sophia to get intimate with her.

He advised women to stop selling their bodies in exchange for a Lamborghini.

He said, “Women, please stop selling your body for a Lamborghini. And please, men, una no get action? Una no fit talk to women? Which one is Lamborghini?”

“Una wan sleep with a woman and she’s requesting a Lamborghini in exchange. Burna Boy, correct guy, you try. Burst them. The government needs to look into this. It cannot be okay for a girl to believe that she can get a car or a house by sleeping with a guy.”

Captioning the video, he wrote: “Lambo Lamba. Burna did well. Never press money when you can scope. The government needs to step in and stop this sex-for-Lambo-style drama.”

[NaijaNews]

Chairman, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has opened up on the controversy in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speaking for the first time since the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker and election of Mojisola Meranda on January 13, 2025, the APC leader stated that whereas the lawmakers have no absolute powers to remove or install their leaders, neither the GAC nor the party was consulted.

Daily Trust reports that both Obasa and Meranda are now laying claim to the Speakership of the House of Assembly.

The GAC is the highest decision making organ of the APC which has held series of meetings with the aggrieved lawmakers since the crisis started.

Speaking with newsmen, Olusi said, “Members of the GAC are not members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allegedly be behind the removal of Obasa. It can’t be true.

“We read it also that morning. The lawmakers carried it out without consulting the party and those of us in the GAC. That is our position.

“We invited all of them and insisted that all of them are products of the party. They lodged their complaints and we listened to them.

“I blamed them for one thing and that is for not lodging the complaints earlier before the party. It is for the party to decide, they (lawmakers) have no absolute power to remove and install their leaders.

“Nobody can become a member of the House of Assembly unless sponsored by a political party and the sponsors are the inspectors.”

He however added that discussions were ongoing to resolve the crisis.

“The problem is the speaker (Obasa) and his colleagues which had led to his removal. It is a disputer among them.

“Currently, there is a high powered committee of the party led by Chief Bisi Akande and members, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and former APC National Vice Chairman, South-west, Chief Pius Akinyelure and others,

“They are working and making efforts to resolve the matter. I know they are in consultation with the House of Assembly, Obasa and the other Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.

“Those of us in the GAC and the Chairman of the Party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi are doing all within our power to assist the committee,” he added.

[Daily Trust]

The battle between the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,band the National Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has taken a legal dimension as the Abia State High Court sitting at Obehie, Ukwa West LGA, has stopped the enforcement of the suspension of the former Senate President as BoT Chairman.

Justice L.T.C. Eruba, who presided over the matter between Adolphus Wabara and Abraham Amah, restrained Abraham Amah from laying claims to the Abia State chairmanship of the PDP and also restrained him from enforcing the said suspension of Wabara.

In the suit marked HUK/8/2025, Wabara is seeking the order of the court to restrain the defendant from enforcing the purported suspension.

Granting the prayers of the claimant, the court ordered: “The defendant is restrained from enforcing the suspension of the claimant/applicant from the Peoples Democratic Party, or in any way affecting his position as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP till the motion on notice is determined.”

Amah, while announcing Wabara’s suspension, accused the BoT Chairman of anti-party activities, citing praises for Governor Alex Otti’s performance as one of Wabara’s alleged sins.

Meanwhile, a group, PDP Frontiers for Change and Progress, has denied the claims made by a former Commissioner for Information, Abia State, John Okiyi Kalu, where Okiyi alleged that Adolphus Wabara held a secret meeting with Governor Alex Otti in London to discuss Otti’s possible defection to the PDP.

The National Coordinator of the PDP pro-group, Mr Emeka Yellow Ikpegbu, challenged the former commissioner to provide evidence of the alleged Wabara-Otti London meeting.