Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has petitioned the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn a judgment granting the government full control of a substantial estate in Abuja comprising 753 housing units.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier obtained a court order to seize the estate, situated in the Lokogoma district of Abuja.

Initially, the estate was linked to another unnamed former government official. However, Emefiele, through his legal representative A.M. Kotoye, contends that he ought to have been involved in the proceedings, as he holds an interest in the property. He is now seeking the Appeal Court’s reversal of the lower court’s ruling.

“I was unaware of the forfeiture,” Emefiele asserts.

He informed the court that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an obscure section of a newspaper, making it difficult to detect.

Additionally, Emefiele explained that he was simultaneously managing three criminal cases in both Abuja and Lagos, which hindered his ability to notice the publication.

He further accused the EFCC of deliberately concealing the forfeiture case from him, despite their ongoing engagement with him on other charges.

The trial court, however, dismissed his claim, ruling that the EFCC had followed due process and that the newspaper notice was sufficient.

The judge declared that the notice “could not reasonably be described as hidden.”

Dissatisfied, Emefiele lodged an appeal on April 30, 2025, requesting the Court of Appeal to: reverse the judgment delivered on April 28, 2025; annul the interim and final forfeiture orders dated November 1 and 2 December 2024 respectively; and grant his application filed on January 28, 2025.

He argued that the trial court had misconstrued his application and erroneously dismissed it without proper consideration of critical facts, asserting that the orders were founded on “hearsay, suspicion, and no proper evidence.”

Emefiele also maintained that he possessed both legal and equitable interests in the estate, despite the court’s assertion that he failed to provide proof of ownership.

“The entire ruling is a miscarriage of justice,” Emefiele declared.
He added, “The failure of the trial judge to properly evaluate the affidavit and documents before him is perverse and has caused a miscarriage of justice.

“The orders were made in breach of the 1999 Constitution and are therefore null and void.”

Meanwhile, Emefiele’s legal team has written to the Minister of Housing, urging the government to halt all plans to sell the estate until the appeal is resolved.

“We are aware that the properties may soon be sold to the public. We have already served the EFCC with a notice of appeal and an injunction,” the letter stated.

The federal government had recently announced intentions to auction the estate to low- and middle-income Nigerians.

Operatives of the Rivers State Police have arrested a 45-year-old Pastor of a new generation church simply identified as Lucky, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl in the Ihuaje community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the arrest of the said cleric was carried out by members of a local security outfit formally called ‘ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee’ led by its Commander code-named OSPAC.

Punch Metro further gathered that the Commander of OSPAC in Ahoada East LGA, Precious Ihuruzu, led his men to the community after receiving the news of the incident.

The suspect, who is the pastor of a branch of the church in the area and handed over to the Ahoada Police Division.

Speaking to newsmen on the incident, a member of the association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Dennis Otobo, said he had received a call from the gender desk of the State Ministry of Health about a case of child abuse which they wanted him to follow up; which he obliged.

Otobo added, “In the course of my investigation, I got to know that one Pastor Lucky (surname withheld), who is also the proprietor of a group of schools (private) in Ihuaje community in Ahoada East, has been having sexual affairs with a 10-year-old girl in his care.

“This got to the knowledge of the parents. When the parents visited her on that Saturday at the Pastor’s house, the girl now informed them of what she had been going through. That anytime he had affairs with her, he would give her N500 to keep quiet.

“Her parents immediately took the girl to the hospital, where they did a preliminary investigation.

“On that level, I decided to call the Divisional Police Officer for assistance and arrest. It was in the evening that the DPO told me that they should come on Sunday and that he was going to handle the case professionally. Truly, he did that because, as we are talking, the man (pastor) is in Ahoada Police station, Ahoada East.”

Otobo commended the DPO of Ahoada Police Division, the Chief Security Officer of Ahoada East LGA, Hector Ekeakita, the OSPAC and a rights activist, Prince Wiro, who is the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights and Accountability Campaign, for their various roles in ensuring the suspect’s arrest.

The gender advocate, therefore, called on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and if found culpable, the suspect should be charged in court for prosecution.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the pastor’s arrest, saying it followed a complaint of alleged defilement by the parents of the tween girl.

Grace Iringe-Koko stated, “Yes, I can confirm his arrest. The Pastor is with us here in the Command. We received a complaint from the parents of the girl and our men working with a local vigilante there arrested him. Investigations are ongoing.”

The national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still under lock and key, over 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu’s directive to officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to unseal properties confiscated due to non-payment of ground rent.

Recall that the FCTA embarked on a mass sealing of properties on Monday, triggering an outcry, before Tinubu intervened and ordered the unsealing of the defaulting properties.

The President gave the defaulters a 14-day grace period to pay the ground rent with a penalty of ₦2 million, advising them to regularise all their land titles before the deadline.

According to Daily Trust, at about 10:15 am on Wednesday, the gate of the PDP headquarters in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, was still padlocked, with a seal of the FCTA pasted beside the lock.

Some staff of the party were reportedly seen sitting outside the main gate, while others loitered around, lamenting the development.

Commenting on the development, a staff member who spoke off the record said he suspects that there is an underlying instruction that PDP should not be opened.

The source said, “I was here yesterday when the FCTA staff came around. They went to FIRS, Ibro Hotel, NAPTIP and unsealed all of them. When they got to our office, they quickly drove away.

“I followed them to their office and met with the director of Lands but he said that they are still waiting for instructions from AGIS to unseal PDP.”

At the time of filing this report, the PDP is yet to issue an official reaction to the latest development.

Controversial Nigerian singer, Speed Darlington, has apologised to his fans following the backlash from a viral video in which he appeared to admit to sleeping with a 15-year-old virgin girl.

In the original footage, now widely condemned across social media, the artist described in unsettling detail a decade-old encounter with a teenage girl, sparking immediate outrage and prompting calls for legal action.

But in a follow-up video posted on his Instagram page on Wednesday, Speed Darlington claimed the viral story was nothing more than a publicity stunt, crafted to promote his latest music release.

He also apologised to his fans and anyone who found the video offensive.

‘’All my followers pissed off about the video I recorded in which I spoke about me sleeping with a 15-year-old, I am an artist. I need controversy to eat. If you are not trending, you are not getting booked. Simple! Nobody is booking something that is not trending.

“I have a new song now. The song is talking about f#ck this, f#ck that. This is my genre. I do not perform Christian music. When I dropped my song, I needed f#ck contents to push it,. That is what I was doing. Don’t give it more like than it is supposed to have.

“If any of you are offended, it’s alright. Apologies.” he said. 

PUNCH Online on Tuesday reported that Speed Darlington was criticised following a viral Instagram live video in which he seemingly admitted to defiling a 15-year-old girl.

The incident, which he narrated in Igbo, also prompted swift reactions from the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

In 2022, Speed Darlington had in an Instagram live revealed an altercation he had with a neighbour who accused him of getting too close to a 16-year-old girl.

The singer filmed two women outside his apartment while he walked around his living room holding a knife to threaten them, saying, “They continually invade my privacy, opening my window, opening my curtain. I’m alone, two people attacking me.”

One of the women, also filming him, was heard saying, “You’ve met your match. Speed comes outside. I will deal with you; I will deal with you. Why are you running? Continue your live video, let them know you’re a rapist. You want to start messaging a 16-year-old girl, a house girl. Open this door, come out.”

PUNCH Online also reported in 2023 that Speed Darlington similarly got many talking following his search for a girlfriend who must be between the ages of 16 and 20.

“I’m looking for a girlfriend number two, 16 to 20 years old. Anyways all these announcements are a waste. I just need to do what I did before; which is go do a show and spend a week in the village after the show, find somebody to bring her to Lagos,” he said.

Watch video below:

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has awarded N900m in damages against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, and five others for violating the fundamental human rights of Adara Elders in Kaduna State.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in a case filed by Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other Southern Kaduna Adara elders who were victims of illegal detention in 2019.

According to the court, El-Rufai’s actions were unlawful, and he was liable for the damages awarded.

The Judge granted an order of compensation in the sum of N 900 million against Nasir Ahmad Elrufai for arbitrary arrest which he personally orchestrated.

The court also awarded N10 million in general damages and N10 million in special damages against the Nigerian Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police of Kaduna State.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the applicants, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, who led SA Alkali and JN Buzun, described the judgment as a landmark achievement against abuse of fundamental human rights and abuse of power by the former governor.

“This judgment marks a watershed against abuse of power and accountability for abuse, whether the occupiers of the office are temporarily shielded by immunity or not,” Ballason said.

“The case was filed after Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai had left government, which explains why he was sued in personal capacity as the first respondent. Even when people in authority enjoy immunity, it does not warrant executive lawlessness.”

Ballason noted that the judgment was a significant victory for the Adara Elders and a reminder of the importance of accountability and respect for human rights, even for those in positions of authority.

The 2nd and 6th Respondents were represented by J.A. Danazumi Esq, Solicitor General and Koni Tauna Esq while Sirajo Mohammed Esq represented the 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents.

When contacted for their reaction on the judgement, Counsel to the respondents Barrister J. A. Danazumi, who is the solicitor General, declined to comment.

The WHISTLER reports that the applicants were arrested and detained in 2019 following the murder of the paramount ruler, Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima. El-Rufai, who was governor at the time, personally ordered the police to arrest Mr. Awemi Maisamari, labeling him as “part of the security problem” in Kajuru.

Maisamari, who was the national President of the Adara Development Association at the time of his arrest, was detained along with eight other Adara elders, including a former Commissioner, Engr. Bawa Magaji, and a former Commissioner of Police.

The applicants were later released after months in detention on the advice of the Attorney General, who found nothing incriminating against them.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has donated three acres of land to the International Council for Ifa Religion for the construction of the World Ifa Temple.

This was aimed at promoting its activities and establishing the largest pilgrimage site for Yoruba traditional worshippers across the world.

The ICIR announced this in a statement released by its President, Fayemi Fakayode, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday.

Fakayode said, “This gesture of our referred first class Oba has demonstrated his love for tradition and Yoruba culture and spirituality.

“On behalf of the Council of Araba and Oluwo, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Awodotun Aworeni, the Araba/Olu-Isese Agbaye and all practitioners of Ifa and Orisa Worldwide, we thank His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, for this good and historic gesture.

“With this step, Ooni’s commitment to preserving and promoting Oduduwa’s cultural heritage and spirituality is obvious to all to see.

“This project is going to be the largest World Ifa Temple across the world, and it will serve as a major pilgrimage site for practitioners of Oduduwa’s spirituality across the globe.” 

He said the three acres of land are located around the Stadium Area, Route 7, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and work has begun on the site.

It will be recalled that ICIR, whose headquarters is located at Oke-Itase, Ile Ife, had recently requested the land for the construction of what the body tagged “the Largest World Ifa Temple” in Ile Ife.

A resident of Anambra, simply identified as Chibuike, has recounted his ordeal with the Anambra security outfit, Udo Ga Chi.

He narrated how he was allegedly whisked off to an unknown destination in handcuffs, held for four days and forcefully extorted to the tune of N1.4m.

Chibuike’s revelation followed recent concerns surrounding the operations and regulation of the local security outfit, largely comprised of Vigilantes.

The Anambra State Government had established Operation Udo Ga Chi to complement police operations in the security of lives and properties in Anambra.

The Operation, upon its enactment into law, was to specifically focus on zero kidnapping and the elimination of related crimes in the state.

Human Rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who began conversations on the matter, shared Chibuike’s footage on Tuesday, where he narrated the events that led to his unlawful detention.

The footage, aimed to support the myriad of allegations raised by Gwamnishu on the unlawful practices of the local security outfit, and the call to review their standard of operations.

In the 5:53-minute video shared via Gwamnishu’s Facebook page, Chibuike said he was wrongly accused of a crime, whisked away into a bush, tortured and forced to confess to the crime he didn’t commit on record, which was later shared on the internet.

He narrated, “I went into a boutique shop to make a purchase. In the process, there was a misunderstanding between me and the boutique owner about the number of clothes I wanted to purchase.

“They called Udo ga chi for me that I stole one of their clothes. In the process, the Udo ga chi arrived there and told me to make a transfer to the girl’s account.

“I made a transfer of N458,000 to the girl because she was claiming that I had to pay for everything that had been missing in her shop for the past years.

“After making this transfer to the girl’s account, they still collected the N80,000 I wanted to use to purchase a short knicker.

“They took me to an unknown destination. I spent about one hour before getting to that destination inside the bush. They handcuffed me. Under heavy torture, they opened my account.

“I told them my limit for the day is N500,000 because they opened it and saw that I have over N9m.

“They say that I must send them the N9m or they will waste me and that I choose between my life and the money. I told them I will money but my limit is N500,000.

“So after making efforts to withdraw the money and it did not work; they tried N2m, N5m, and it did not work. They said I should do the N500,000.

“So I did it the first day, and they detained me there; nobody was there. After 12 in the night, they said I should do another transfer. On the third day, They said I should do another transfer.

“They kept me there until I sent them a total of N1.4m which I have my evidence. I have the receipt number, the name of the account was one ‘Mr Cool Communication’. It is a Moniepoint account.

“After everything, they told me if they ever hear outside that I went to report to the police they would kill me. They collected my phone and called my wife, asking her where we lived.

“My wife out of… because they have been looking for me for four days and had gone to their headquarters to report and they said there was nobody there. They also went to various police stations, and they didn’t find me.

“Nobody knew where I was inside the bush for four days. My wife tracked my phone number because they off my phone and I couldn’t communicate with anybody.

“So, after collecting the money from my account, they made a video that has been circulating of me on duress, asking me that I must accept I am a criminal and that I stole somebody’s clothes and I have been stealing people’s machine with my vehicle.

“That they should forgive me and that I will not come to that place again to steal. So, after saying that, he said I should repeat it before it was recorded. Everything I said in that video, was on duress and heavy torture.”

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent wave of violence and killings in Taraba, Benue, and Kogi states, describing the situation as a “gaping wound in the soul of our nation.”

Obi, in a statement on Wednesday via X, lamented what he called the “senseless killings” that have gripped communities in the three states in recent months, claiming the lives of children, women, and even religious leaders.

“What we are witnessing is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership and a gaping wound in the soul of our nation,” he said.

He criticised the government’s response to the crisis, stating that the bloodshed has continued largely unchecked while affected communities are left to suffer in silence.

“The bloodshed is staggering, yet the response remains weak and muted. As homes are destroyed and communities torn apart, we risk normalising the unacceptable: mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of law and order,” he said.

Obi warned against the indifference to the plight of the victims and stressed that the nation must not lose its sense of humanity.

“These are not mere statistics, they are our fellow Nigerians. Each life lost is a tragedy that must not be ignored,” he stated.

The former governor reiterated that the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of the national government, warning that repeated failure in this regard raises serious questions about the direction the country is heading.

“When this duty is repeatedly ignored, when innocent citizens are butchered and nothing changes, we must ask ourselves: What kind of nation are we building? What future are we promising our children?” he asked.

While expressing solidarity with the people of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi, Obi said he shared in their grief and pain but insisted that silence in the face of such horror amounted to complicity.

“We need urgent action, not rhetoric. We need justice, not excuses. We as leaders must value human life and will defend it with everything we have,” he said.

Obi concluded by calling for the restoration of peace and justice in the affected areas.

“Nigeria cannot continue like this. This is not the Nigeria we deserve. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity,” he said.

The African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, has said interventions under his 10-year leadership impacted no fewer than 565 million people across the continent.

He spoke at the opening ceremony 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group in Ivory Coast on Wednesday.

Reflecting on his two-term tenure, Adesina said the Bank’s interventions under his watch transformed communities across Africa through strategic investments in electricity, agriculture, infrastructure, jobs, and health systems.

According to him, 390 million people gained access to electricity, 240 million benefited from agricultural technologies, and 12 million secured new or improved jobs as part of the Bank’s High 5 priorities, introduced in 2016.

He said, “The High 5s of the Bank, to light up and power Africa, feed Africa, industrialize Africa, integrate Africa and improve the quality of life of the people of Africa have been transformational for Africa. In the past decade, the work of the African Development Bank has impacted the lives of 565 million people.

“This includes: 28 million people with access to electricity; 104 million people with food security;121 million people with access to improved transport; 128 million people with access to improved health services; 67 million with improved access to information and communication technology; 63 million people with access to drinking water.

“34 million people with access to sanitation. The Bank accelerated regional integration with massive support for infrastructure to support the African continental free trade area.” 

Adesina also said the AfDB approved $102bn in financing over the last decade which is the highest in its history.

“Over the ten-year period under my presidency the African Development would have provided a total of $102 billion in support to Africa. This represents 46% of all the financing of the Bank since its establishment in 1964.

“The African Development Bank financed over $55 billion in support of infrastructure, from roads, rails, airports, seaports, digital and communications, health, water and sanitation,” he added.

In Nigeria, Adesina noted that the bank has supported the special agro-industrial processing zones in eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “The Bank supported the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex in Morocco, which was the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant at the time of its completion.

“We launched the Lagos to Abidjan highway corridor for which the African Development Bank is supporting the feasibility studies, and we have mobilized $15 billion in investment interests.

“In Nigeria, we are implementing the development of special agro-industrial processing zones in 8 States and the FCT and have mobilized $2.9 billion to support the establishment of these zones in 28 more States of Nigeria.” 

Adesina also highlighted other achievements, including the launch of the Africa Investment Forum and the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, a climate resilience initiative co-developed with the Global Center on Adaptation.

He said, “Over the last 10 years, the African Development Bank Group has become a global leader in financial innovations that have enabled us to stretch our balance sheets and deliver exceptional impact. The Bank led globally with the use of synthetic securitization in 2015, becoming the first multilateral development bank in the world to do so.

“The African Development Bank also launched a $750 million hybrid capital on the global capital market in 2024, becoming the first multilateral financial institution in the world to do so, and opened up a new asset class for investors globally.”

As Nigerians continue to battle inflation and rising cost of living, the political arena is heating up for the 2027 election.

President Bola Tinubu, who came into power in 2023, now faces growing opposition from influential political figures seeking to block his bid for a second term.

Amid widespread public dissatisfaction and perceived policy failures, a broad coalition of political stakeholders is already taking shape, united by a common goal: to unseat Tinubu.

Critics of the president accuse him of implementing policies they describe as anti-people, failing to alleviate economic hardship, and allegedly attempting to steer Nigeria toward a one-party state. 

In their view, the current administration has not only fallen short on promises but is pushing the country further into distress.

PUNCH Online has gathered a list of some of the prominent figures and groups positioning themselves against Tinubu’s re-election bid below:

Peter Obi

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has declared his intention to run again in 2027. Obi remains vocal about his commitment to changing Nigeria’s political landscape and has hinted at various coalition arrangements.

In March, Obi joined forces with other top politicians, including Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai, to form a coalition aimed at mounting a formidable challenge against Tinubu in the upcoming election cycle.

Reports have also surfaced suggesting the possibility of Obi accepting a vice-presidential slot under Atiku in a one-term, power-sharing deal—although neither camp has confirmed this officially.

Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who contested under the PDP in 2023, has shown no signs of stepping back from the political stage. Like Obi, he has thrown his weight behind the emerging coalition intended to displace Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku has reportedly proposed a one-term presidency with Obi as his running mate, fueling speculation about a strategic alliance to consolidate the opposition vote.

Their March announcement of the coalition, however, sparked debates about the effectiveness of such political unity.

Seyi Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has not ruled out his own presidential ambition.

In April, he confidently stated that he possessed the competence to lead Nigeria, though he emphasised that any decision on contesting would align with the wishes of Nigerians and his party.

Makinde remarked, “I don’t have any doubt that I have the capacity to occupy the highest office in this land… but what I want to do right now, is it what Nigerians are asking for?”

His rising profile within the PDP has prompted a group, the Brave New Vision Support Group, to begin lobbying for his candidacy. Campaign posters bearing his image and the slogan “To Move Nigeria Forward 2027” have appeared in key locations across Kano State.

Nasir El-Rufai

A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Tinubu’s administration.

El-Rufai recently confirmed that discussions are ongoing to form a powerful opposition alliance to oust the President in 2027.

Speaking in May, El-Rufai boldly declared, “Anybody that thinks it is possible for President Bola Tinubu to get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria… I don’t see a pathway for him, no matter how disorganised the opposition is.”

According to El-Rufai, the economic and political situation has eroded Tinubu’s support base to the point of no return.

Babachir Lawal

Another prominent voice in the anti-Tinubu bloc is Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Lawal has been actively involved in coalition talks and is reportedly playing a key role in strategising for 2027.

Rotimi Amaechi and Liyel Imoke

Two former governors, Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River), are also significant players in the anti-Tinubu movement.

They have been tasked with defining the platform for the coalition, whether it involves forming a new party or fusing with an existing one. 

While Amaechi is heading the committee focused on party registration, Imoke leads the group exploring alliances with established political parties.

Ralph Nwosu

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralph Okey Nwosu, has strongly criticised the assumption that Tinubu is unbeatable in 2027.

In a recent interview, Nwosu stated that from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Kano, Uyo, and Sokoto, Nigerians are united by hunger and insecurity, conditions he blames on Tinubu’s leadership.

He said, “Poverty, insecurity occasioned by bad government, is devouring the nation. The APC governments have failed woefully… APC as a party is in delusion. They will sweep themselves out with their broom, or we get the citizens to do so.”