The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the FCT, over non-payment of ground rent, estimated at N6.9bn for more than 40 years.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Monday, following a press briefing by the Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwanwkoeze, on Monday.

According to the statement, a total of 8,375 property owners in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape, had not paid ground rent in the last 43 years.

He further stated that the property owners owed a total of N6,967,980,119, while 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above. 

Olayinka noted that the revocation followed multiple publications and announcements on broadcast media by the FCT Administration since 2023, adding that payment of ground rents was provided by extant laws.

“It should be noted that the FCTA made numerous publications in national newspapers and announcements on broadcast media since 2023, calling on defaulters to pay up all outstanding bills and ground rents. All these yielded little response, as several allottees failed to pay.

“It is important to state that payment of ground rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand.

“Consequently, a list of land titles in default of payment of ground rent has been compiled in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC). They are; Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A06), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A07), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A08) and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).

“As of the end of 2024 and up till today, a total of N6,967,980,119 is owed as ground rent by 8,375 property owners. In other words, a total of 8,375 property owners have not paid ground rent up to last year, 2024.

“A total of 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above. Meaning that in the listed districts, 4,794 property owners have not paid ground rent in the last 10 years. This is in contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Rights of Occupancy, in line with the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act,” part of the statement read.

Olayinka also stated that the land titles of defaulters for 10 years of payment and above have been immediately revoked, while those under 10 years had a grace of 21 days within which to make payments, after which the titles will also be revoked.

“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of Ground Rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith. A grace of 21 Days is also given to title holders that are in default of payment of ground rent for between one and ten years, after which the affected titles will be revoked.”

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister has directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, Richard Dauda, to immediately effect full payment of compensation for residents of Gishiri Community or be sacked.

Wike gave the directive during a meeting with members of the community, at his official residence in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting followed a demolition exercise, supervised by the minister, to clear structures obstructing the construction of Arteria Road N16 linking the community with the Katampe District.

Members of the community, however, alleged that the FCDA, through the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, only paid N72,000 as compensation, rather than the sum approved by the minister.

They further stated that the department refused to pay non-indigenes any compensation, despite having their houses demolished.

Enraged, the minister ordered the full payment of the N1.3bn approved as compensation payments to the residents, noting that he had increased the amount from the previous N655m, because of the economic hardship.

He further asked the secretary to ensure non-indigenes also received payments, adding that the government did not pay compensation based on ethnicity.

“Go and pay people their money, and the exact amount. If you are doing anything, and I find out, you will regret it. Pay people their normal money.

“And I also hear, and I’ve told you, don’t do that, don’t tell anybody in this world that they are non-indigenes. I’ve warned you. If I have a property, and a road is passing there, why would you not pay me my money? Why would you say that I’m a non-indigene? Where does it work?

“I built a house, or I built a store, for example, and then a road is passing there. You are telling me you won’t compensate me that I’m a non-indigene? What kind of mentality is that? You people should stop this. I will not do that, I won’t. The government does not pay compensation based on where you come from. Compensation is based on who has a property there,” the minister said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the suspended coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), Kelly Okungbowa (a.k.a Ebo Stone).

The official was arrested on Monday by EFCC operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate, as confirmed in a statement by the anti-graft agency.

Naija News reports that Okungbowa was arrested after a viral video of him emerged where he was seen spraying and mutilating the Naira at a bar on March 9, 2025.

The EFCC confirmed that he would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are completed.

“Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday March 17, 2025 arrested Kelly Okungbowa (a.k.a Ebo Stone) for alleged naira abuse.

“Okungbowa, who until recently was the coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team , PSRT, now suspended by the State Government, was arrested owing to a viral video where he was seen spraying and mutilating the Naira at a bar on March 9, 2025.

“He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed,” the statement reads.

It would be recalled that the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, had last week, announced the indefinite suspension of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), which Kelly Okungbowa heads.

Naija News reports that this decision follows several complaints regarding the team’s conduct.

Earlier, PSRT officers allegedly attempted to take control of a moving vehicle in the Ring Road area of Benin City.

This action resulted in the driver losing control, veering off the road, and crashing into a PoS kiosk, tragically leading to the death of a young girl.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, it has been confirmed that the task force is now suspended indefinitely.

Tension and apprehension gripped Rivers State on Monday following the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Prof Ngozi Odu by the state House of Assembly.

The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly loyal to the former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, served Fubara and Prof Odu with a notice of alleged gross misconduct, signalling an imminent impeachment process.

The notice listing the alleged misconduct sent to the Speaker was a sequel to a letter dated March 14, 2025, signed by 26 members of the Assembly.

The Speaker, Amaewhule, sent the notice in two separate letters he signed on Monday, March 17, 2025 and addressed to the governor and his deputy.

The development has escalated the political tension in the state, as some Ijaw groups had threatened a crisis in the region if Fubara is impeached.

Recently, the Ijaw National Congress, the Ijaw Youth Council and other groups expressed strong opposition to the potential impeachment of Fubara, who is of Ijaw descent.

They warned that such actions could lead to unrest, emphasising their commitment to defending the governor’s mandate and cautioning that his removal might destabilise the region and affect oil production.

Sensing the potential danger, President Bola Tinubu, last week, invited leaders of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, led by its Board of Trustees co-chairmen, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah and the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.

Also in the delegation was the National Chairman of PANDEF, Amb Godknows Igali.

Addressing the delegation, Tinubu said, “Yes, Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg. We must care for the goose; otherwise, we lose the golden egg.

“I got your signal and your concern, particularly on Rivers State. I have been on the issue for quite some time. I foresaw the crisis festering for too long before I intervened.

“We reached an agreement, written agreement, and both parties signed.”

He asked the PANDEF leaders to intervene and counsel Fubara to pursue the path of peace and stability.

“Please go back home and help implement the court rulings within the shortest possible time. I am putting the ball in your court.

“Help – privately and openly- intervene and counsel the governor. Pursue the path of peace and stability,” the President said.

Following the meeting, the PANDEF leaders and reconciliation committee met with Fubara but efforts to meet with Wike failed.

Efforts by Fubara to present the budget last week, in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment that gave legitimacy to the Amaewhule Assembly, were rebuffed by the lawmakers.

Last week, during a media chat aired on several television stations, Wike dismissed the threat against oil installations and urged lawmakers loyal to him to impeach Fubara if necessary.

In the notice sent to the governor on Monday, the 26 lawmakers said it was “in compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws.”

The letter listed 19 constitutional breaches and infractions by the governor.

“We, the undersigned members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, hereby forward to you (Speaker) a notice of gross misconduct by the Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of his office.

“Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds contrary to Sections 120, 121 (1)(2) and 122 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“Hindering or obstructing the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is another arm of government protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) from performing her constitutional duties.”

Among other allegations of misconduct levelled against Fubara were, “Appointment of persons to occupy offices/positions in the Rivers State Government without allowing for the requirement of screening and confirmation as prescribed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and other extant laws, but making the request for screening to persons other than the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Seizure of salaries, allowances as well as funds standing to the credit of the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, contrary to Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws.

“Seizure of the salary of the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly – Mr Emeka Amadi.”

Consequently, the House said Fubara had demonstrated his inability to govern the state in line with the Nigerian Constitution and his oath of office.

It said, “Mr Speaker, we conclude by stating that the governor has shown that he is not prepared to govern Rivers State in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and his oath of office.”

A similar notice was served on the deputy governor, accusing her of complicity in the alleged misconduct.

“That Her Excellency, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, supported and connived with Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS, Governor, Rivers State and refused to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2024 to the Rivers State House of Assembly, contrary to Section 121(1)(2) of the Constitution and disobeyed the order of the Federal High Court which declared that “thus as it stands in law, no Appropriation Bill of Rivers State has been presented neither has any of such Bill being passed into law as the purported presentation, passage and signing into law of the Appropriation Bill 2024 of Rivers State is void ab initio” and ordered him to present the Appropriation Bill 2024 to the House.

“That Her Excellency, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu DSSRS, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, supported or backed His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State in the State Executive Council meetings as they authorised or approved withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State in the 2024 financial year of Rivers State without an appropriation law duly passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, contrary to Section 120 of the Constitution.”

Amaewhule, in his letter addressed to the governor and deputy governor, acknowledged receipt of the letter from his colleagues, a copy of which was attached to his letter to the duo.

He, therefore, urged the governor and the deputy governor to respond to the said allegations accordingly.

The Speaker’s letter read, “I received a copy of the notice, dated 14th day of March 2025 of allegations of gross misconduct brought against you by twenty-six (26) members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is not less than one-third (1/3) of the membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Pursuant to Section 188(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I, Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule, DSSRS, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, hereby forward to your Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS, a copy of the said Notice of Allegation of Gross Misconduct received by me on the 14h day of March 2025, copy attached.

“You are requested to reply to the allegations made against you in the allegations of gross misconduct accordingly.

“In doing this, your attention is drawn to the provisions of Section 188(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which provides thus: ‘Within 14 days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement made by holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice) the House of Assembly shall resolve by motion, without any debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.’

“Please be guided accordingly and do accept my esteemed regards.”

On the allegations against the deputy governor sent to the Speaker, the 26 lawmakers accused Prof Odu of unpreparedness to deputise for her principal in line with the constitution and her oath of office.

The letter read, “Mr Speaker, we conclude by stating that the Deputy Governor has shown that she is not prepared to deputise the governor in governing Rivers State in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and her oath of office.”

‘Lawmakers frustrating Fubara’

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said the action of the lawmakers was already taking its toll on the people.

“It is clear that with the current actions of the Assembly, civil servants, retirees and people of the state will face unimaginable economic hardships, as the government will be unable to pay salaries, pensions and other emoluments as well as perform other obligations at the end of the month.

“Both the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been ordered to seize revenue allocations to the state until its judgment is fully implemented,” he said.

The commissioner berated the lawmakers, saying their actions were tantamount to collateral damage, as non-release of warehoused revenues due the state from the Federation Account would ultimately ground the operation of all sectors of the government.

While reiterating that the governor was willing, as he had promised to implement the Supreme Court judgment, he said the actions of the lawmakers were frustrating the governor.

“It is now common knowledge that members of the Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions, refused to allow the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to fully implement the judgment of the Supreme Court on the long drawn political and legal battle that has lingered since after the ill-fated attempt to impeach him on October 30, 2023.

“Instead of engaging in a futile attempt to launder their image, members of the RSHA are wrongly portraying Governor Fubara—who is fully prepared, willing, and ready to re-present the 2025 budget and implement all aspects of the bizarre and highly controversial judgment of the apex court for the sake of peace—as unwilling to comply with the ruling.”

He continued, “Should this opportunity to pull the state from the precipice fail, the people and residents of the state, without exception, are bound to suffer avoidable calamities of economic, social and political upheavals that might sink us deeper into unimaginable crises. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.”

APC factions divided

The two factions of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State were divided over the impeachment notice against Fubara.

While the Tony Okocha-led faction insisted on the rule of law, the Emeka Beke-led faction loyal to the former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, berated the lawmakers for their actions.

The Okocha-led Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, speaking to our correspondent on the telephone, said, “For us as APC, our position is that the rule of law and due processes must be followed in the administration of the state.

“Whatever the governor wants to do, whatever the House of Assembly wants to do must be in line with their oath of office and oath of allegiance.

“Most importantly, they must obey the spirit and letters of the constitution and anything short of going through the provisions of the constitution, and we will not be part of it.”

The Chief of Staff to Beke, Chizi Enyi, wondered where the Assembly, which adjourned indefinitely a few days ago, sat to issue a notice to the governor and his deputy.

He alleged that the lawmakers decided not to sit but to be writing letters and issuing notices, saying they had failed the people and deserved to be recalled.

He stated, “The notice the House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule sent to the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is what Rivers people consider blackmail.

“For such a long time, we’ve not heard of the Assembly sitting since after Friday. They said they adjourned sine die and they never sat anywhere in Rivers State today.

“The next thing we saw on social media is that they had resolved on Friday and also wrote to Martin that they want to investigate the gross misconduct of the governor hence Martin Amaewhule too, having received their letter on the same Friday, wrote to the governor.

“Writing to the governor, they have concluded that the governor will not see it. Hence they have also decided to publish the letter in four or three different national dailies.”

Enyi called on the governor to rise to the occasion, saying the people were with him.

“If I am the governor of Rivers State, as much as they have refused to sit where the governor provided, they cannot sit where they decide and make laws for this state.

“We are all Rivers people, and the government must provide a suitable place for the Rivers State House of Assembly members to sit.

“As much as the hallowed chambers of the Assembly are currently under construction, they cannot just sit inside their bedroom.

“Just like today, they didn’t sit anywhere. They were nowhere near where they said they were sitting at the Assembly quarters. The next thing we saw was letters flying on social media,” he said.

Court reserves ruling

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt adjourned for ruling in a suit filed by the Labour Party in Rivers State against the alleged defection of Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers.

Justice Emmanuel Obile gave the adjournment to April 16, 2025, after counsel representing the parties adopted their final written addresses in a fresh application by counsel for Martin Amaewhule and 26 of his colleagues, Ken Njemanze (SAN).

Njemanze had asked the court to change their earlier prayer of striking out a defection suit against the Speaker and the 26 others to dismiss the suit, following the judgment of the Supreme Court, which touched on the legitimacy of the lawmakers.

He insisted that failure of the court to dismiss the suit would amount to rewriting the judgment of the apex court.

The oral request of Njemanze (SAN) was not opposed by counsel for the LP, Clifford Chukwu.

Chukwu, however, argued that the issue of defection was a collateral issue in a matter decided by the Supreme Court and asked the court to strike out the application of the defendants.

He argued that the deponent to the affidavit of the defendants is a lawyer whose name also appears on the suit, against the practice and asked the court to hear the matter on its merit.

Justice Obile, after hearing from the parties, adjourned to April 16, 2025, for ruling on the motion.

Police diffuse tension

The Rivers State Police Command on Monday dismissed online reports of riots in parts of the state and an attack on Wike’s residence as false.

Social media was awash with reports that some aggrieved persons had set fire to the residence of the former governor along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on Sunday following the political crisis in the state.

The spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday, described the report as a false alarm by mischief makers.

Iringe-Koko said there was neither any violence nor an act of arson on the residents of the FCT minister, pointing out that the baseless report aimed to ignite unrest and fear among law-abiding citizens and residents of the state.

The statement warned those behind such false reports to resist forthwith, adding that the weight of the law would catch up with them if they did not heed the advice.

“The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating on various online media platforms, falsely claiming that riots have erupted in Rivers State, leading to the burning of the residence of the former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, along with other acts of violence.

“The command categorically states that this report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents.

“There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state.

“The general public is urged to disregard these unfounded claims, which are clearly intended to cause panic and destabilise the relative peace and security enjoyed by the good people of Rivers State,” the statement read.

Tantita vows protection

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has, however, promised to continue its surveillance and security for oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

The Head of Media of the outfit, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, told The PUNCH that the Federal Government-contracted private pipeline surveillance outfit would continue to keep to its mandate, whatever the situation.

He said any pipeline vandal would be treated as a criminal.

He said, “We are in a contractual agreement with the Federal Government to protect oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta region.

“And this is what we are doing, and we will continue to do it despite threats from anywhere.

“The public should take note that we are not going to allow anybody to trespass on what we are asked to protect. If anybody does that, we would surely treat that case as a criminal case.

“We are on the ground, and we can assure the government that nobody can come in and disrupt our operations.”

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has accused former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, of demolishing his cement plant twice during his tenure.

Dangote made the claim on Monday during a meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun.

But in a swift reaction, Amosun, in a statement by his media office, described Dangote’s allegation, challenging him to “avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.

“While we will not give vent to this obvious mischief as it is deliberate, we will advise Alhaji Dangote to furnish the public with details of the land acquisition with relevant planning approvals, and let us engage in a constructive conversation therefrom,” Amosun’s media office said.

Dangote, in a video from the meeting with Abiodun, alleged that the Amosun administration twice pulled down his cement factory while it was under construction.

He said, “I deem it fit to have it on record that the factory we are visiting now in Itori, it’s because of His Excellency that we came back. That factory was demolished twice.

“We started building, then Amosun demolished it. The second time, we started again, he demolished not only the factory but also the fence; so we left.

“But right now, we’re coming back because of His Excellency, my brother, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we’re now back. When we go there, you’ll be very surprised.”

But responding to the allegation, in a statement signed by Lanre Akinwale, Amosun described Dangote’s allegation as deliberate mischief.

The statement read, “We have just seen footage in which the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleged that his cement factory in Itori, Ogun State, was demolished twice while Senator Ibikunle Amosun served as governor.

“We assume that an average person understands how government functions through ministries, departments, and agencies, with each exercising mandates on specific responsibilities, including approvals for physical development.

“It is on this basis that we want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.

“This will, at least, help the public to put the issue in proper context and for us to know what exactly his grouse is.”

While hinting at alleged legal breaches, Amosun’s media office said, “For us, as a government, we believed that there could not be two governments in a state, and Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.”

The statement said it was ironical that during the commissioning of his Ibese Cement factory, “Dangote praised the Amosun administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.”

Refuting the allegation of frustrating businesses, the media team boasted that Amosun’s administration “attracted over 500 companies to the state and was acknowledged by the World Bank as one of the top three states ensuring Ease-of-Doing-Business in Nigeria.”

“It is also on record that during Senator Amosun’s administration, Ogun State became the ‘Industrial Capital’ of Nigeria. Our state at the time accounted for about 75 per cent of the Foreign Direct Investments, in relation to industry in the country. This is a fact subject to verification.

“This recognition was further given a fillip to by former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan when he visited Ogun State to inaugurate multinational projects on five different occasions.

“Thus, while we will not give vent to this obvious mischief as it is deliberate, we will advise Alhaji Dangote to furnish the public with details of the land acquisition with relevant planning approvals, and let us engage in a constructive conversation therefrom.

“However, while we will wait to hear from him, we would like to state that not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied or blackmailed. The notion that everyone has a price is an expression applicable only to people with weak foundations and questionable upbringing. This is why some of us will continue to uphold high standards in all our undertakings, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu started planning for his re-election even before he assumed the presidency in 2023.

There have been threats from the opposition parties to remove President Tinubu in 2027 due to his unfavourable economic policies causing hardship in the country.

In a post via his official Facebook page on Monday, Igbokwe insisted that Tinubu will defeat opposition figures nursing presidential ambition in 2027.

According to him, Tinubu has mounted his men everywhere to ensure his re-election, adding that those hoping to challenge him in 2027 are not as smart as him.

The post reads, “The truth is that those who want to challenge PBAT in 2027 are not as smart as he is.

“Before he even stepped into Aso Villa he had started planning for 2027. His challengers may not know that the Apamaku had already planted his men everywhere.”

Meanwhile, Seyi Tinubu has applauded his father for his leadership skills, describing him as the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.

Addressing some youths in a viral video, Seyi applauded his father’s efforts towards ensuring that the Nigerian economy thrives.

He said that Tinubu has created a platform for the Nigerian youths to succeed, adding that the economy is benefitting all Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Monday titled ‘President Tinubu Appoints Bishop Kukah as Pro-chancellor of Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.’

The appointment comes barely 33 days after Tinubu ordered that the Federal Government take over Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State, and transform it into a federal university.

Following the directive, the private institution was renamed the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, from its old name, Nok University.

According to Onanuga, the President also appointed principal officers for the university, including Prof. Qurix Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as university Librarian.

“President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Mr Thomas Etuh, representing the North Central, Chief Fabian Nwaora (South East), Prof Femi Taiwo (South West) and Zarah Bukar (North East) as members of the university’s Governing Council,” the statement read.

The statement added, “All the appointees were carefully selected based on their distinguished careers, leadership experience, and dedication to advancing education in Nigeria.”

Tinubu implored the new appointees to “use their collective expertise to position the university as a hub for academic excellence and research, aligning with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

He also urged them to provide visionary leadership and lay a solid foundation for the university’s growth as it prepares to admit its first cohort of students in September 2025.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised concerns over tertiary institutions admitting students using fraudulent Advanced Level (A’level) results without proper verification.

In its weekly bulletin released on Monday in Abuja, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed that the board recently discovered 13 additional fake A’level certificates submitted for admission consideration.

Naija News understands that some of these had already been processed by institutions before the fraud was detected.

JAMB stressed that the affected candidates have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution and warned institutions to verify credentials diligently to maintain the integrity of the admission process.

According to the bulletin: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has observed that some institutions are failing to verify the results used for admitting candidates, particularly those seeking direct entry.

“One of the fundamental purposes of the screening process is to ensure that only legitimate documents are used to consider and accept candidates for admission and registration. It is crucial for institutions to understand that this responsibility lies primarily with them.”

The board explained that it launched the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPEDS) two years ago in response to an alarming report from Bayero University, Kano.

The university had verified 148 A’level results and found only six to be genuine, exposing widespread certificate forgery.

NIPEDS was introduced to assist in the verification of A’level qualifications, including certificates from foreign institutions, particularly for Direct Entry admissions.

The bulletin further revealed: “Through NIPEDS, JAMB has received confirmations from foreign institutions alerting them to forged certificates presented by candidates.

“Recently, thirteen additional A’level certificates were identified as fake after being submitted for admission consideration, with some institutions having already proposed the candidates based on these fraudulent documents. The candidates involved have been referred to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

“Consequently, institutions that propose candidates for admission using fake certificates will be viewed as accomplices in this fraudulent activity.”

JAMB clarified that while NIPEDS is a crucial tool, institutions must still conduct independent verification of credentials.

“The most egregious example of forgery involves candidates who submitted forged Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination (IJMBE) results from ABU Zaria in an attempt to gain admission to ABU itself.”

JAMB urged all institutions to “thoroughly verify all A’level qualifications presented for admission, regardless of whether they were issued by their own institution or by others.”

Anambra State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo has asserted that nobody can stop his re-election in the November 8, 2025 governorship poll.

Soludo, while speaking in a media chat to celebrate his third anniversary, said there is a consensus among Ndi Anambra (the people of the state) that his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has delivered dividends of democracy and should be given another chance in the next election.

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who threw a challenge to the opposition parties, stated that he has not heard of any opponent against his re-election.

According to Soludo, the South-East people can vote for any party during national elections but are loyal to APGA regarding governorship and local government chairmen seats.

He said, “If there is an election, I mean there will be an election, and if I am candidate, I will be on the ballot, and then I ask: who else is running? Which party is fielding a candidate?

“So far, unless the person will come down from somewhere but so far, I have not heard of any.”

Meanwhile, Soludo has proclaimed that Anambra is primarily a Christian State.

Speaking during a Healing and Deliverance crusade hosted by the Dunamis International Gospel Center on Wednesday night, the Governor stated that all traditional healers in the state are currently evading capture.

Soludo stressed that his administration is committed to taking action against those spreading malevolence within the region.

The former governor and chairman of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) further explained that these traditional healers are fleeing because light and darkness cannot coexist.

It comes as no surprise that the headlines have been dominated in part by the proposed formation of a mega coalition of opposition parties and politicians planning to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections in 2027.The whistle was blown last week, and since then there have been more revelations about how most of the would-be members of that coalition are aggrieved members of Tinubu’s own political camp – those who felt left out of the sharing of the spoils of victory after the 2023 elections, members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), originally, a building bloc of the APC, as well as opposition party members. It is still early in the day to describe the exact shape and character of this proposed coalition in general. What is known for now, is that the emerging group is seeking accommodation in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), possibly a take-over of the party completely, and perhaps, an eventual creation of a new platform as was the case with the emergence of the APC in 2013. 

What is also known is that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a former two-time Governor of Kaduna State, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and one of the original 37 persons that founded the APC, is the arrow-head of the latest political development, even if there are others in the background who are yet to take public ownership of their conspiracy. It is to El-Rufai’s credit that he has by his bold action changed the course of Nigeria’s political narrative ahead of 2027. He has ignited the fire of speculations and provided a meeting ground for all hidden and open anti-Tinubu conspirators. It looks like a scene out of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar as the plot thickens against the ruler in Aso Rock. More than anything else, El-Rufai has reaffirmed his persona as a man who has fire and salt in his mouth to be deployed as it suits him. With the fire in his mouth, he has done considerable damage already to the reputation of the Tinubu administration. He has also de-marketed the APC. In an interview in the Leadership newspaper, three years ago, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as he then was, was quoted as saying: “I’ll remain in APC till I die, the moment I leave APC, then I have quit politics altogether.”  Now, he no longer wants to die in the APC nor is he retiring from politics. Instead, he has left the party.  Nigerian politicians and the promises they make!

It is the same APC that El-Rufai promised to serve till death do them part that he has now dismissed as a “useless party.” He has accused the Tinubu administration of having no clue about how to run the country and its economic reforms as useless too. We have heard from El-Rufai also that most of Tinubu’s appointees lack merit and ability, and do not deserve the positions that they have been given.  He has also not minced words in saying that some of the Ministers bought their positions in the Cabinet. That certainly is a serious allegation: who is doing buying and selling with Ministerial appointments? How much was paid? To whom? By who? Where is the money kept? El-Rufai cannot make such a weighty allegation and leave it at the level of innuendo. His statement is defamatory per se. The onus is on him to provide evidence. For example, he had made the additional claim that the grand, anti-Tinubu/APC coalition that he is leading has the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari: “I consulted Buhari on Friday; I told him my reasons for leaving the APC and the responses of other people I consulted. Buhari responded that he is now a statesman, but he knows my worries and prayed for me.” It didn’t take too long before President Buhari issued a statement to restate his loyalty to the APC and his commitment to continue to popularize the party that gave him an opportunity to be President of Nigeria for two terms (2015 – 2023). There is a touch of irony to it all, and perhaps poetic justice. A month ago, February 16, 2025, President Tinubu had publicly congratulated Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the occasion of his 65th birthday, describing him as an “administrator, scholar, politician…highly regarded for his resourcefulness and brilliance…his endeavours for democracy; his meritorious service to the nation, and mentorship of the younger generation”. One month later, El-Rufai told the BBC Hausa Service: “We knew about Tinubu’s Chicago issues and still supported him; yet he failed Nigeria”. He was speaking to the Hausa listeners of the BBC, and by extension the entire North and Nigeria. President Tinubu got more than five million of his over eight million votes in the 2023 Presidential election from Northern Nigeria. Apparently, El-Rufai and his co-conspirators are determined to discredit him and expose whatever they know, or at best sow the seeds of doubt in the Tinubu Presidency. By mentioning Buhari’s name, he sought to incite the former President’s power base against Tinubu.

 The main reaction from the Tinubu camp and the APC has been to wave off the threat as inconsequential “inordinate ambition”, “political gyration” that should not disturb anybody, “a mistake”. I do not consider these responses robust and convincing enough. El-Rufai has knocked the very foundations of the party and maligned the President and the best that the APC and Tinubu’s spokespersons can come up with are dismissive one-liners? Not good enough. Not good enough. It would be risky to underestimate or downplay the El-Rufai threat. The Tinubu Presidency should not make the mistake that the Jonathan Presidency made in 2013/2014. When disgruntled politicians started gathering to talk about forming a formidable opposition to the incumbent administration at the time, there were persons in the corridors who boasted that they were making a mistake. I was in the corridors of power then, and I heard some commentators saying that the people in the APC were well-known customers (“customer daa da ni”), and that they would be given what would calm them down. In fact, some members of that coalition at the time even recommended persons to be appointed to the Board of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and they were given appointments. By the time, the ruling PDP and the Jonathan camp realized what was going on, the conspirators within and without had perfected their art of treachery. I am aware that there are some people who are of the firm view that Tinubu is not Jonathan or that 2027 is not 2015, whatever they mean by that, but it is precisely that level of over-confidence and arrogance that could give teeth to the anti-Tinubu plotters. 

It is wiser not to ever underestimate the opposition, conspirators or fifth columnists. Goliath underestimated David. Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, says: There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.” George S. Patton, United States Army General, advises, in addition that: “You shouldn’t underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate him”. The latter part of General Patton’s statement should be carefully underlined and it is possible to extrapolate that the anti-Tinubu coalition faces by its very creation, a number of hurdles. I shall attempt to identify a few. 

One, the coalition is bound to be torn apart by the ambition of some of the major partners on the question of which part of the country should their Presidential candidate come from. It stands to reason that some key members of the coalition, from the Northern part of Nigeria would expect to be appointed the flagbearer, which however is likely to be unpopular with the conspirators from the South. The politics of region, geography, religion, and ethnicity is one of the major fault lines in Nigerian democracy. It is never a question of merit but always about where you come from and the type of religion you belong to. This was a major issue in 2010, after the death in office of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, also in 2011, and again in both 2015 and 2023, as it would be most certainly in 2027, and as it has been since the First Republic. After eight years of the Buhari/Northern Presidency, the Southern partners in the emerging coalition would naturally insist that to replace Tinubu who would have spent four years, the remaining four years must naturally, mutatis mutandis, go to a Presidential candidate of Southern extraction. 

Two, in determining the identity of that Presidential candidate of Southern extraction, the ethnic fight would also be more intense at the micro-Southern level. Igbo members of the coalition would of course insist that the strongest message that the coalition can convey is to zone the Presidency specifically to the South East, to allay the fears of Igbos about being marginalized out of the highest office in the land. South-South politicians are also likely to play the politics of entitlement. Already, some politicians from that region are pushing the view that if any party wants an alternative to President Tinubu from the South, the best bet would be to allow President Jonathan to return for a second term in office, a clear assurance that after four years of another Jonathan Presidency, power would simply rotate back to the North. Nobody should rule out the interest of South West politicians either. Some of the names that have been mentioned in connection with the emerging coalition, even if they have not personally confirmed their involvement, are also persons who would not hesitate to throw their hats into the ring, should the opportunity present itself. One or two of the names that have been mentioned would most likely insist that the candidate must not be any of Tinubu’s Lagos boys, whether that person has fallen out of favour with Asiwaju or not. Even among those former Tinubu allies who may be tempted to betray him openly, there is a deep-seated resentment of those they regard as Tinubu’s Lagos boys who have been majorly the ones who have benefitted from his administration so far. The foreseeable in-fighting and intrigues within the new coalition would be the biggest threat that it faces. 

Three, there will be a problem with the chosen SDP platform. Mr. Adewole Adebayo, the Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 Presidential election has stated categorically during an interview on The Morning Show (TMS) of Arise News that he will most certainly be the Presidential candidate of the party in 2027.  When reminded of the timbre and calibre of some of the names that have been mentioned as moving into the SDP, he retorted that the SDP is “my party” and that no new person joining the party can come and take his party away from him! As it is, except Adebayo changes his mind through negotiations, and guarantees, the SDP may not promise any safe landing. This is meant to be a grouping of the opposition, but the Labour Party, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have declared that their own platforms should be the destination, rallying spot for opposition politics. 

Four, is history repeating itself? When the now divided bedfellows formed the All Progressives Congress in 2013, it was more or less a special purpose vehicle, and no more than that, to take power back to the North, defeat the PDP, and unseat President Goodluck Jonathan. At the time, there was very little talk about what the APC coalition wanted to do for the Nigerian people. It was all about personal ambitions and less about good governance and promoting the common good. 

As it were, however, politics as a wise man once told me is a question of strategy. In Nigeria, the man with the better strategy wins and that means winning by all and any means possible, while the aggrieved party is advised to go to court! Nigerian courts are also not beyond strategy or technicalities. Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Minister of Works, in an interview on TMS/Arise News recently was quite effusive in describing President Tinubu as “a master of the game.” The current onslaught by his political adversaries may yet be the biggest challenge to his political craftsmanship. The anti-Tinubu assailants do not hide the fact that they want to teach him just one lesson: that Nigeria is not Lagos, it is a much bigger deal, with peculiar complexities. It would be interesting to see how the strategies play out and who wins or loses in the end. 

What I find amusing is a story in The Guardian newspaper of March 17, 2025 titled: “2027: Wike, others affirm support for Tinubu’s second term amid opposition.” Despite the fact that President Tinubu has publicly praised and endorsed Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, and would seem to have taken his side in the “One Day, One Trouble” debacle in Rivers State, I do not consider Wike the right and proper person to lead Tinubu’s defence in the public arena. Wike’s belligerent politics should be seen as a costly embarrassment to President Tinubu. He has every right to affirm his loyalty to the President but he does not have what it takes to “help” him against those who want him out of power. The politics that he plays in Rivers State is precisely one of the reasons the opposition is against Tinubu. They accuse him of a Napoleonic approach to power, and so, they are organizing to confront him with their War of The Coalition. The Bourbons are knocking on Tinubu’s doors. Nyesom Wike who carries on as if he is doing Tinubu’s bidding in Rivers State, imposing himself as a Godfather, issuing threats and having his way, one man proving to be more important than the entire state, holding the people to ransom is the kind of impunity that Nasir El-Rufai deplores.  It is all the more scandalous as Wike is a mercenary in the APC, a PDP implant behaving like a co-President in an APC government. Wike even organized a media chat with a crew larger than that of President Tinubu! He has now instructed the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to serve a notice of impeachment on Governor Simi Fubara, barely a week after he boasted that the impeachment of a Governor does not amount to a criminal offence.

But the worse chink in his armour is how his obstruction of the democratic process could have grave implications for Nigerian democracy. President Tinubu is advised to remember the blow-out in the Western region during the First Republic. The setting then is similar to the Rivers situation today: the conflict of egos, political gladiators, and the reign of impunity. When the Western region eventually exploded, what became known as the “Wild, Wild West”, the fire that was generated led to cracks across the entire Nigerian estate. History repeats itself tragically, and farcically, for those who refuse to learn from it. 

Some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the party’s state chairman, Mr. Stephen Ntukekpo, and the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, of selling the soul of the party to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in exchange for PDP’s support for Akpabio’s 2027 third-term ambition.

The allegation was made in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, titled “The Worrisome State of the APC in Akwa Ibom State: A Call for Your Intervention”, jointly signed by Elder Okokon James, Peter Ibanga, and Chief Victor Affiah from the Uyo, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial districts, respectively.

A copy of the letter, made available to newsmen on Sunday in Uyo, reads in part:

“We, the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, are compelled to write this open letter to you.

“The state chairman of the party, Mr. Stephen Ntukekpo, and the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, are openly declaring that they were directed by the Senate President to cripple the party in the state, giving the PDP an easy ride to victory in the 2027 polls in exchange for PDP’s support for the Senate President’s third-term ambition.

“We want to assure Mr. President that if urgent action is not taken to revive and strengthen the party in the state, there won’t be party members left to receive you when you visit next year to campaign.

“The soul and spirit of the party in the state have been sold to the PDP-led government, and as a result, party members are gearing up to join an upcoming opposition coalition against your second-term ambition.

“How can party members be mobilized for you when the party itself has been intentionally crippled by the Senate President and his close allies? It is unbelievable that the party is dead in a state that produces the Senate President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.”

The APC stakeholders described Akpabio’s actions as a betrayal of confidence and treachery against the party, which provided the platform for his Senate Presidency.

“Should members of the party in the state move en masse to the opposition coalition against your second-term ambition, hold the Senate President and the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, responsible,” they asserted.

They further warned that Governor Umo Eno would neither join the APC nor commit to Tinubu’s second-term ambition, stating:

“While Governor Umo Eno and his team are strengthening their party daily, our party leaders are doing nothing to show that APC still exists in the state.”

However, responding on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, dismissed the allegations as spurious and mischievous.

“The writers of the letter are non-existent and not known to the party. Their allegations are spurious and mischievous.

“The Senate President has strengthened the party through various appointments he has secured for members. Do you call that working against the party?” Eyiboh said.