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Ghana’s newly elected President, John Mahama, has announced plans to probe the $400 million National Cathedral project initiated by his predecessor, Nana Akufo-Addo, describing it as a contentious symbol of fiscal mismanagement.
The ambitious religious landmark, which has been stalled for years, became a major point of criticism during the last election.
Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) secured a decisive victory in December, as voters punished Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) for economic hardship and skyrocketing living costs.
Originally conceived by Akufo-Addo as a tribute to God following his 2016 electoral win, the cathedral was presented as a privately funded venture.
However, revelations that $58 million in public funds were spent on the project, coupled with allegations of financial irregularities, sparked widespread outrage.
In late 2024, Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) recommended an audit into the project, highlighting procurement violations.
According to AFP, President Mahama confirmed at a recent thanksgiving service that his administration would soon launch an investigation.
While not ruling out completing the project, he stressed that any future decisions would emphasize accountability and align with the nation’s priorities.
The cathedral, envisioned to occupy a 23,000-square-metre site in Accra, was designed to include a 5,000-seat auditorium, chapels, a baptistery, a choir school, an art gallery, and versatile spaces.
Yet, three years after construction halted, the site remains an empty pit. Many critics believe the project contributed significantly to Akufo-Addo’s electoral defeat.
“This cathedral represents everything wrong with governance – opaque processes, lack of accountability, and misplaced priorities.
“Investigating this project isn’t just about the money; it’s about restoring public trust in government,” said a campaigner with Crusaders Against Corruption, Emmanuel Wilson Jnr.
The project’s suspension coincides with Ghana’s economic struggles, marked by soaring inflation, unsustainable debt levels, and dependence on a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to stabilize the economy.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson recently informed Parliament that government funding for the cathedral had been halted as part of broader austerity measures.
“The government cannot justify pouring scarce resources into an unfinished project when Ghanaians are struggling to afford basic necessities,” Forson stated.
With contractors abandoning the site due to unpaid bills and at least five board trustees resigning, public confidence in the project has dwindled further.
‘Our House Got Burnt’ – Nollywood Actor, Chidi Mokeme Shares Devastating Fire Incident At His Home In US
AFOLABI
Veteran Nollywood actor, Chidi Mokeme, has recounted the experience of a fire incident at his home in the United States of America five years ago.
Naija News reports that the thespian made this known while commiserating with the ongoing Los Angeles wildfire victims.
Chidi said such trauma stays with people forever after coming in contact with fire in its full glory.
He thanked firefighters for their relentless support and prayed for the safety of those still struggling.
He wrote, “OUR HOUSE GOT BURNT ? Coming face to face with fire in its full glory is one of the scariest and most terrifying experiences anyone can ever have. The trauma stays with you forever.
“Exactly 5 years ago, on this day, at this exact time, what started like an ordinary day with bright sunshine and a beautiful weather, quickly became a nightmare. And the eventual loss of everything. The whole world is in agreement that fire is the most destructive force of nature. And that’s why most are afraid to die. The fear of hell.
“Even the Almighty God gives us a clue into this, by choosing, when angered, to use water to destroy the world, but he saved the FIRE for the END. Isn’t fire the main character in hell? So I can only imagine how it must feel, what it must feel like, to be one of the victims of the devastating destruction currently occurring in Los Angeles.
“My heart goes out to everyone out there. Please say a prayer for them. May the souls of the departed rest in peace ?️?
“I say a big thank you to the men and women of the fire service. The fire fighters who put their lives on the line to save ours. The ones who run towards the danger, and run into the scorching flames when everyone else is running in the opposite direction. The ones who, even though might have their own homes and families going through the same thing, are sworn to sacrifice themselves for the good of others. We know that you are giving 1000% of yourselves to contain the fires. We encourage you. Stay strong. Y’all are the real heroes. We salute you ?. God Bless you.”
Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele on Wednesday escaped being attacked when her convoy ran into the procession of students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) who were protesting the school fees hike by management of the institution in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Salako-Oyedele’s convoy, which was on its way to 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala, Abeokuta to represent Governor Dapo Abiodun at the reception marking the year 2025 edition of the Armed Forces Remembrance day celebrations ran into the protesting students at the Oke-Ilewo axis of Abeokuta metropolis, close to the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Armed with placards bearing different instructions, the protesting MAPOLY students had trooped to the streets of Abeokuta chanting different “aluta” choruses that decrying the school management’s policy that led to hike in school fees by 150 percent.
The students were also protesting non-release of their Higher National Diploma (HND) final year results, which they claimed denied them from being mobilised for the one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service.
The protest, which entered its 3rd day however, brought vehicular movement to a total halt at the Iwe Irohin axis as students shunned the plea from the Police led by the Metro Area Commander, Zone II.
On sighting the protesting MAPOLY students however, the deputy governor’s convoy hurriedly made a detour to avoid being caught up by the protesters who were advancing towards her convoy from the opposite direction.
Notwithstanding, the protesting students still caught up with Salako-Oyedele’s convoy, compelling her security details to fire several shots into the air to enable them escape with their principal from danger.
Reacting to the shooting, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiodun on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade said the irate MAPOLY students were armed with sticks and other dangerous objects during the protest.
“All efforts to allow the convoy pass proved abortive as immediately the students realised it was the Deputy Governor, they became even more restive and rushed to attack her convoy with the aim of demobilising it, despite her security operatives as well as other police officers on grounds persuading them to stay calm and allow the convoy to pass.
“This informed her convoy’s decision to make an immediate detour to her lodge for the protesting students to pass peacefully before she left for the function she was slated to attend.
“Noteworthy is that there was obstruction of vehicular movement, while some of her security vehicles were damaged and her security operatives were also hurt in the process of maintaining law and order contrary to the news making rounds in the press,” Akinmade said.
But in his reaction, chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) in the state, Comrade Adeyanju Francis said there was no confrontational attack on the deputy governor’s convoy.
Adeyanju explained that the students assembled themselves when they saw the convoy of the Deputy Governor, thinking that she was coming to address them on the matter.
He also disclosed that there were six Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), including a deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations present with the students during the peaceful protest.
The House of Representatives has announced the passing of its Deputy Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, who represented the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State in the House.
She passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, following a brief illness.
The announcement was made by the House Spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., who described Onanuga’s demise as a profound loss to the National Assembly and the nation at large.
“It is with profound sorrow that the House of Representatives announces the passing of Rt. Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, who, until her demise, served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, representing the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State. She passed away earlier today, January 15, 2025, after a brief illness,” Rotimi said.
Born on December 2, 1965, Rep. Onanuga was a dedicated public servant and a passionate advocate for her constituents. She first joined the House in 2019 after being elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). During the 9th Assembly, she served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, where she championed policies to empower women and promote social welfare.
Re-elected in 2023, she assumed the role of Deputy Chief Whip in the 10th Assembly. According to Rotimi, she demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to legislative discipline, particularly during parliamentary sittings.
Fondly referred to as ‘Ijaya’, Rep. Onanuga, 59, was admired for her intellect, humility, and dedication to excellence. “Her impactful contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape reflected her passion for creating a better society and her tireless dedication to public service,” Rotimi said.
The House extended its condolences to her family, friends, associates, the Government and People of Ogun State – particularly her constituents in the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency – and the entire National Assembly.
“As we mourn the loss of this vibrant and committed lawmaker, whose life was devoted to improving the lives of Nigerians – especially her constituents – her legacy of service and dedication will continue to inspire future generations,” Rotimi added.
“Funeral arrangements will be announced by her family in due course. May her soul rest in perfect peace, and may her legacy continue to inspire generations to come”, the statement concluded.
The Magistrate’s Court No. 70 in Kano State has remanded four persons in prison custody for conspiracy to commit theft.
The accused, Nuhu Auwalu, Yakubu Bala, Emmanuel Luka, and Safianu Abdullahi, allegedly stole 80 aircraft brake units from Azman Airlines at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano.
According to the charge sheet, the security guard of Azman Airlines conspired with the accused to commit the theft, which was reported by Otaru Bashir, an employee of the airline, on December 11, 2024. The accused, however, denied any the allegations.
During the court session, it was revealed that three brake units were found in Yakubu Bala’s possession during the investigation.
The court, presided over by Justice Faruk Ibrahim Umar, remanded the accused persons in a correctional facility and scheduled the next hearing for February 11, 2025.
The National Assembly, through its joint committee on Finance has cleared the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) of the financial impropriety it had earlier alleged.
On Monday, during a budget defence session with the JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the committee alleged that the examination body spent N1.1 billion on meals and N850 million on fumigation, among other expenses, which it described as outrageous.
Although the JAMB Registrar made a spirited effort to explain the expenditures, he was prevented from doing so and was instead asked to furnish the committee with details of the Board’s budgetary appropriations and spending for 2024 and 2025.
However, 48 hours later, the chairman of the joint committee, in a personally signed statement, clarified that Professor Oloyede and JAMB had been wrongly accused of reckless spending based on the latest documents submitted to the committee.
The statement, titled: “Clarification on the JAMB Report on Revenue,” reads: “For the purpose of clarity, the comprehensive report provided by JAMB indicates that the line items mentioned during Monday’s hearing on revenue do not suggest any mismanagement or misuse of the Board’s funds.
“On the contrary, the report highlights the responsible and prudent use of resources under the leadership of the Registrar.”
The Chairman further commended the Registrar, stating: “Professor Is-haq Oloyede deserves commendation for demonstrating financial discipline and accountability in managing the Board’s resources effectively.
“This level of stewardship serves as a model for public institutions across the nation.”
The House of Representatives has identified weaknesses in the auditing and accounting systems as factors encouraging corruption in the country.
Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the House, Hon. Bamidele Salam stated this at the budget defence session with the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF).
Salam noted that the resultant pervasive corruption is depriving government of much needed revenue to function and deliver the needed development in the country.
He said, “There are a lot of monies that ought to accrue to government that we are losing as a result of weaknesses in our accounting systems, weaknesses in auditing, weaknesses in general financial management architecture. And this also has reflected even in the budget performance of the Auditor General’s office.
“The committee raised a few observations also on the need for the Auditor General to expand its coverage of major Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a manner that will put greater attention on the places that have more of the revenue.
“There are some of the major agencies of government that have not been well audited in the last couple of years. And if you don’t audit properly, you are giving an indication that there is less attention on certain agencies and that may promote a lot of impunity happening in those agencies.
“And we decided, even though the Auditor General has limitations because of budgetary constraints, because of personnel constraints, the office is mandated to audit almost 1,000 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, do periodic audits, appoint auditors for those that they are not going to audit directly.
“And all this will require a lot of resources and manpower. We saw these gaps again in the presentation made today, and we are going to work as a parliament in cooperation with our sister committees that directly oversight some of these agencies in a manner that will make the work of the Auditor General to be more impactful, to be more result-oriented.
“We believe very strongly that if the Auditor General’s office is well-funded, if the Auditor General’s office is well-staffed, cases of corruption will be minimised drastically in Nigeria. We will be preventing corruption rather than fighting corruption after it happens. And that is the direction that we are looking into”.
Salam also decried the poor implementation of the capital component of the 2024 budget which he said has a negative effect on the overall governance system as well as development projections in the country.
“The implementation of the capital component of the 2024 budget has not been encouraging. We have expressed this observation when we had a meeting with the Accountant General of the Federation about a week ago, that we think that there is a need for our government to work more on the revenue side of budgets in a manner that will make us less dependent on borrowing,” he added.
In his presentation, the Auditor General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira told the committee that there are various challenges hindering the operations of the office.
He noted that the office was grossly underfunded and understaffed to discharge its enormous responsibilities resulting in late compilation and submission of the annual reports.
Chira however said with adequate funding and increased staff, the office will overcome the challenges, assuring that his office was on track to address the backlog of the reports for submission.
“My commitment is to submit 2022 in the month of March. That’s the one that has to do with the non-compliance. That’s the domestic report.
“By first week of March, I will submit the results and that’s all, to also give you the consolidated financial report by February, then by the end of March, I will do it,” he noted.
The 16th Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, on Wednesday, said that he will no longer assist President Bola Tinubu-led administration in communicating the benefits of its economic reforms to Nigerians.
He said that his decision was due to the government’s unfriendliness towards him.
Speaking at the 2025 Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture, the Emir remarked that the government lacked credible representatives capable of articulating its reforms effectively and he will not fill that void.
Emir Sanusi II stated, “I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explain, it would only benefit this government and I don’t want to aid this government.
“I choose not to help this government. You see, they are my friends. If they fail to act like friends, I will not act like one.
“I observe their actions and they lack credible individuals who can effectively explain their policies. However, I am not here to assist. I began by offering support, but I have decided to stop.
“I will not discuss the matter any further. Let them come forward and explain to Nigerians why the policies they have pursued have been implemented. Meanwhile, I am enjoying a nice movie with popcorn in hand.
“But I will say one thing. What we are going through today is at least in part, not totally, at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were warned decades ago that if they continued down this path, this is where they would end up. They chose not to listen.
“Is everything being done today, correct? No. However, when the government is prepared to discuss the economy, I will likely engage. For now, I am here to honour Chief Gani Fawehinmi,” Emir Sanusi stated.
The monarch also urged Nigerians to return to their foundational values of integrity and hard work.
He said, “What we need to do is revisit our values. Do we truly possess those values? Are we genuinely committed to our work? What is the integrity with which we approach our tasks? For someone like Gani, these are the lessons from his life.
“I am here to remind us all of what he stood for, to encourage us, and to plead with us to return, as I mentioned recently, to the distinction between who we are and what we are. Our identity is defined by those qualities that Gani embodies. They revolve around our values—what we can control and who we are.
“If you are a thief, you are a thief—whether you are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Muslim, Christian, a lawyer, or otherwise. That is your identity.
“You could be from the North or the South, wealthy or poor, a President or an Emir. These are aspects of your identity. You may not like it, but that’s the reality. Can we please begin to reflect and stop taking pride in superficial, misleading distinctions?” Emir Sanusi II added.
Gunshots erupted near the venue of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led, three-member Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday morning, causing widespread panic.
Lawyers, litigants, politicians, and reporters scrambled for safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
However, swift intervention by fully-armed security operatives restored calm, allowing the tribunal sitting at the Edo High Court Complex on Sapele Road, Benin, to continue.
Edo APC Chairman Jarret Tenebe, condemned the incident, describing the shootings as deeply disturbing and unacceptable.
Tenebe said: “The tribunal is a sacred space, where justice is meant to be administered impartially. Any act of violence within its walls undermines the very foundation of our legal system and threatens the safety of all involved.
“Regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve disputes is never justifiable. We must all condemn the shootings in the strongest possible terms.”
Edo chairman of APC also stated that violence had no place in a civilised society, while declaring that the people that were responsible for the heinous act must be brought to justice swiftly and without exception.
The former representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo, of the APC, won the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo, and was inaugurated on November 12 last year.
Seven of 18 political parties that participated in the election, which filed petitions at the tribunal, were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA), which wanted their candidates to be declared winner of the keenly-contested poll.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council with immediate effect.
This was announced in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Wednesday in Akure.
The governor, according to the statement, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
DAILY POST reports that the retained commissioners are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac.
“All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries,” the statement added.
The governor thanked the EXCO members for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours.
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Kemi Badenoch has attributed the grooming gangs scandal to individuals from “peasant backgrounds” and “sub-communities” within certain foreign countries.
The Conservative leader reiterated her call for a national inquiry, emphasizing the need to investigate “two cultural issues” – the origins of the perpetrators and what she termed a “culture of silence.”
Speaking to GB News, Mrs. Badenoch stated, “There are two cultural issues which I believe have been identified. One is on the perpetrators’ side – where do these abusers come from? There’s a lot of misinformation, there’s a lot of generalisation, many innocent people end up being grouped in with them.
“But if you look at it, there is a systematic pattern of behaviour, not even just from one country but from sub-communities within those countries. People with a particular background, particular class background, work background. People very, very poor, a sort of peasant background, very, very rural, almost cut off from even the home origin countries that they might have been in.
“They’re not necessarily first generation. The jobs that they were doing, taxi drivers, jobs which allowed them to exhibit this predatory behaviour. That is just one side.”
Mrs. Kemi Badenoch also highlighted the “culture of silence” that she believes has allowed the issue to persist, describing it as a “culture of ‘move along, nothing to see here.’”
She called for a national inquiry to address both aspects simultaneously.
Elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has called for the immediate suspension of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), alleging that it has deviated from its founding principles and lost its purpose.
In a statement titled “Our Governors’ Forum: An Open Appeal for Reform” released on Monday, Chief Clark criticized the NGF for becoming a divisive force in Nigeria’s political landscape. He argued that the forum, originally envisioned as a platform for collaboration among governors, has degenerated into “power without accountability and influence without responsibility.”
“The NGF’s potential to unify state governors under one banner could have been its greatest asset,” Clark stated. “Instead, it has often been used to undermine constitutional order. I strongly advocate for the immediate suspension of the Governors’ Forum to prevent further crises between state governments.”
Clark, a former Federal Commissioner of Information, noted that the NGF has reached a crossroads, urging it to embrace reform and recommit to democratic values. “The NGF stands at a critical juncture. Its survival—and indeed ours—depends on its willingness to reform and adhere to the principles of democracy and good governance,” he said.
He accused the NGF leadership of lacking focus and urged state governors to redeem their image. Clark lamented that while the forum once played a positive role in the country, it has now become a notorious cabal resistant to reform, secretive in its operations, and more concerned with power than service.
Clark further alleged that the NGF undermines legislative independence by turning state assemblies into mere extensions of the executive branch. According to him, governors routinely handpick Speakers and assembly members to ensure unwavering loyalty, eroding the checks and balances vital for democratic governance.
He also criticized the Senate for becoming a “retirement plan for former governors,” asserting that this cycle entrenches personal gain over public service.
“The NGF has failed to condemn critical issues, such as the crisis in Rivers State, which underscores its lack of focus and disregard for accountability,” Clark added.
Despite his criticism, Clark expressed hope for the forum’s redemption, urging governors to embrace reforms that prioritize the people’s needs over political maneuvering. “Let us envision a revitalized NGF, one that aligns with constitutional ideals and serves as a genuine platform for collaboration rather than control,” he said.
He emphasized that reform is an opportunity to recalibrate and rebuild. “This vision is within our reach, but it demands clarity of purpose and determination. Reform is not a reproach; it is an opportunity to recommit to the principles of good governance.”
Attempts to get a response from the NGF Secretariat were unsuccessful. The Director General of the NGF, Alhaji Abdullateef Shittu, did not respond to calls or messages. Meanwhile, the NGF Acting Director of Media and Public Affairs, Hajiya Halima Ahmed, stated that the Director General is the appropriate person to address the allegations.
Chief Clark’s statement has reignited calls for accountability and reform within the NGF, putting pressure on its leadership to respond to the criticisms and chart a new course for the organization.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted popular Nigerian singer, Darlington Achakpo, also known as Speed Darlington, a ₦20 million bail with one surety in like.
The decision was made on Wednesday, following his detention on cybercrime charges. Justice Ekerete Akpan delivered the ruling after Speed Darlington pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge related to alleged cybercrime activities.
In his ruling, Justice Akpan set strict conditions for the bail, requiring the surety to be a Level 10 civil servant residing in Abuja.
The surety must depose to an affidavit of means, and their address must be verified by the court registrar. The individual must also be either a staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) or a federal employee.
“The surety should deposit their letters of appointment and last promotion, which must be verified by the deputy chief registrar of the court,” the judge stated.
Passport And Photographs To Be Submitted
Speed Darlington is required to deposit his international passport with the court. Additionally, both the singer and his surety must submit two recent passport photographs to the court registrar.
While the bail conditions are being perfected, Speed Darlington is to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The court has adjourned the matter until March 18 for trial, with the singer facing legal proceedings for the cybercrime charges.
Mrs Abosede Aloba, the mother of the late singer Ilerioluwa, popularly known as Mohbad, and actor Yomi Fabiyi have clashed over the cause of the singer’s death.
Fabiyi, at a World Press Conference held on Wednesday at Radisson Blu in Ikeja, Lagos State, to demand justice for Mohbad, accused the late singer’s brother, Adura Aloba, of messaging him on Instagram, claiming to know the root cause of his brother’s death.
In response, Aloba denied the claim, stating that Adura wouldn’t have known the cause of Mohbad’s death and should remain silent.
The visibly angry mother pointed her finger at Fabiyi while shouting, “They killed Mohbad, and you want me to lose his brother unjustly. He knows nothing about his brother’s death; do not implicate my son.”
“I am not happy that I lost Mohbad because if he were alive, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you. They took my precious gift away, and I won’t let them take Adura, too,” she added.
Fabiyi responded, saying he wasn’t concerned about the sender of the message but rather the content itself, maintaining that he wasn’t convinced that it wasn’t Adura who sent him the message.
Details later…