The National Vice Chairman (North East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha Salihu, has explained why Vice President Kashim Shettima was not included in the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Salihu said including Shettima in the endorsement would have meant that Tinubu had already chosen his running mate for the 2027 election.

“It would have been inappropriate to endorse the Vice President along with the President because it would pre-assume that he is the running mate,” Salihu said.

The omission of Shettima happened during a North-East APC stakeholders meeting held in Gombe on Sunday, where the region endorsed President Tinubu for re-election but left out the Vice President.

The omission of Vice President Kashim Shettima also comes amid growing speculation about his political future

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that politically exposed persons (PEPs) in Nigeria are using internet fraudsters, popularly known as ‘yahoo-yahoo boys’, to launder billions of naira in stolen public funds into offshore accounts.

This shocking disclosure was made during a media briefing at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday by the commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

Olukoyede, who has spearheaded the agency’s anti-corruption efforts since assuming office, emphasised that the involvement of politicians in these illicit activities highlights systemic corruption within Nigeria’s political and governance systems.

He disclosed that investigations have uncovered how PEPs collaborate with these fraudsters to open cryptocurrency wallets and transfer stolen funds abroad to purchase luxury items such as cars and houses.

Olukoyede stated, “When they (politically exposed persons) steal money in billions, they give it to these boys; they open crypto wallets, and from there, the money goes abroad.

“Most of these politically exposed persons identify these boys, lodge them in hotels, and the boys open accounts for them to take the money abroad.”

The EFCC chairman also expressed concern over the growing criminal activities of these fraudsters, which now extend beyond cybercrime to include banditry, kidnapping, and ritual killings. He noted that when their scams fail, they resort to violent crimes, further endangering the safety and security of Nigerians.

“The most dangerous aspect of it is not just about yahoo-yahoo; some of these guys are into banditry and kidnapping. When they don’t see people to scam on time, they resort to these vices,” Olukoyede explained.

In addition to their criminal exploits, Olukoyede lamented that the activities of these fraudsters have brought national shame to Nigeria, tarnishing the country’s reputation on the global stage.

He revealed that Nigerians travelling abroad are often subjected to heightened scrutiny by immigration officers due to the notoriety of these cybercriminals.

He said, “If you travel abroad with your green passport and stand in the queue among so many people, you will discover that by the time you present the passport, the people (immigration officers) will look at you with some reservation.

“That is, if they don’t take you aside to carry out some special scrutiny. That is a national shame that some young Nigerians (yahoo-yahoo boys) have caused for us.”

Olukoyede also highlighted the alarming involvement of young Nigerians in these crimes, attributing it to a lack of belief in hard work and the allure of quick wealth. He disclosed that the EFCC recently arrested a 22-year-old who had laundered over ₦5 billion for politically exposed persons within 18 months, despite having no prior legitimate employment.

“We arrested a 22-year-old; he had a turnover of over ₦5 billion within 18 months. We discovered that he laundered money for politically exposed people. A boy who has never worked in his life,” Olukoyede revealed.

The EFCC chairman called on Nigerians to view these fraudsters beyond just cybercriminals, warning that their activities pose a significant threat to the nation’s future. He stressed the need for collective action to address the root causes of these crimes, including unemployment and the erosion of moral values among the youth.

“Are those the people we want to hand Nigeria over to? “Is that the nation we want to build?” he asked.

Olukoyede also commended the EFCC’s recent successes, including the recovery of over ₦365.4 billion and the securing of 4,111 convictions in 2024. He attributed these achievements to the dedication and professionalism of the agency’s staff and pledged to surpass these records in the coming year.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the killing of over 200 Nigerians, including women and children, in coordinated attacks across Benue State, blaming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

Speaking on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, described the attacks as ‘another horrifying chapter in Nigeria’s history under an unresponsive APC administration

Ologunagba’s criticism comes amid mounting public outrage and grief over the spate of killings, particularly in central and northern regions of the country.

“It is clear that the assailants marauding communities in various States of our country are being emboldened by President Tinubu’s lethargic approach to security. The APC has failed to decisively confront the situation, given its reported connections with terrorist interests,” he stated.

Ologunagba said the party was alarmed by reports that terrorists and bandits carried out coordinated attacks on several communities in Benue, killing hundreds of defenceless citizens without any meaningful resistance.

He accused President Tinubu of failing to demonstrate the leadership expected of a Commander-in-Chief, arguing that the President has remained distant and reactive in the face of national tragedies.

“Instead of decisive action, President Tinubu has remained largely aloof and resorted to passing the buck, with his aides issuing lame press statements without urgent presidential action to guarantee the security of citizens,” he said.

The PDP further accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising political activities and its 2027 re-election agenda over the protection of lives and property.

“President Tinubu should be held responsible for the killings in Nigeria, having not demonstrated the will and commitment expected of a Commander-in-Chief in the fight against terrorism in our country,” the party stated.

Despite its strong criticism of the government, the PDP commended the country’s security forces for their sacrifices and gallantry under what it described as ‘an underperforming Commander-in-Chief.’

“We commend the courage of our gallant security personnel who continue to risk their lives to defend our country, even without adequate support,” Ologunagba said.

The main opposition party extended condolences to the families of those killed and urged security agencies not to relent in their duties despite current challenges.

“Our Party deeply commiserates with the families of the victims of the senseless killings in Benue State and other parts of our country,” the PDP added.

THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, on Monday, raised the alarm that worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s oil-producing areas, especially in the waterways, is forcing multinational oil companies to divest from the country, despite newly introduced cost-saving incentives by the Federal Government.

PENGASSAN has also called for the introduction of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, models in the management of refineries in the country by bringing in certified investors.

This is as it has said that some refineries are shut down based on politics and not operational problems.

Briefing journalists in Abuja, the President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, said that while the recently signed Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) by President Bola Tinubu was commendable, it failed to address the root causes of the high cost of production, which he said is most notably, insecurity.

He said: “The reason, the chief reason, the majority of the oil and gas operators, the international oil and gas companies started leaving Nigeria is principally because of insecurity.

“The cost of securing facilities, the cost of securing infrastructure in the Nigerian oil and gas industry became prohibitive. That is why they found places like Mozambique, Guyana, Angola, and Congo much more attractive.”

The Executive Order, signed in May, introduces performance-based tax credits up to 20%, for upstream companies that meet defined industry benchmarks for cost efficiency.

While PENGASSAN acknowledged the effort, Comrade Osifo insisted that without government-backed security, the real issue would remain unresolved. 

“For one offshore installation, you have a minimum of three or four security vessels, manned by naval personnel, paid for by the companies daily. That’s not the case in countries like Ghana, where the government provides this protection.”

He urged the government to take full responsibility for safeguarding oil installations, emphasising that oil companies should not bear such heavy security costs, which he described as “running into hundreds of millions of dollars per annum.”

The PENGASSAN president also raised concerns over fuel pricing transparency.

He said despite significant reductions in global crude oil prices from $80 to around $60 per barrel, Nigerians did not enjoy a proportionate drop in petrol pump prices.

According to him: “When crude was at $60 per barrel, we should have been buying petrol at N700 to N750 per litre, not N900. Nigerians were exploited during that period.”

He called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to “do everything possible to ensure Nigerians are not exploited.”

PENGASSAN further recommended that the Federal government adopt the NLNG partnership model for the country’s ailing refineries, particularly the Port Harcourt refinery, which was recently shut for maintenance.

Osifo said the model would see the government hold minority stakes while allowing experienced private investors — particularly international oil firms — to take majority control.

“This model has worked for NLNG. So, why can’t we replicate the same structure in the management of our refineries to eliminate political interference and promote efficiency?” Osifo queried.

He also touched on recent developments in local content enforcement, revealing that PENGASSAN had signed an agreement with Sterling Oil Company aimed at limiting expatriate dominance and ensuring Nigerian workers are trained to take over jobs.

On the occasion of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Osifo reminded the federal government that the true spirit of June 12 lies in delivering good governance and improving citizens’ welfare.

“Democracy should bring food to the table, quality healthcare, access to education and jobs for Nigerians. After 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, we should not still be grappling with necessities,” he stated

Awka- A 10-year-old has mistakenly killed his father, Inspector Okolie Amechi, with a gun assigned to the Police officer.

The state Police command, which said it was due to an accidental discharge, expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the son was unaware of the state of the AK 47 rifle assigned to the Inspector, adding that he pulled the trigger and struck the Inspector on the back, while the bullet hit his second child on the hand.

“Regrettably, Inspector Amechi was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty at the hospital, while the second victim was said to be responding to treatment”, Ikenga said.

He added that the AK-47 rifle has been recovered, while the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.

The command, while wishing the second victim a quick recovery, consoles the family and friends of the late Inspector

Nigeria’s inflation rate dropped to 22.97 per cent in May 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.

The figure represents a decline of 0.74 percentage points when compared to the 23.71 per cent recorded in April 2025.

On a year-on-year basis, headline inflation fell by 10.98 percentage points from 33.95 per cent recorded in May 2024.

This was disclosed in the Consumer Price Index report for May 2025, released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday.

The report read, “In May 2025, the Headline inflation rate eased to 22.97 per cent relative to the April 2025 headline inflation rate of 23.71 per cent.

“Looking at the movement, the May 2025 Headline inflation rate decreased 0.74 per cent compared to the April 2025 Headline inflation rate.”

It shows that the decline in the inflation rate was largely driven by a slowdown in the rate of increase in the average prices of goods and services.

According to the report, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate stood at 1.53 per cent in May 2025, lower than the 1.86 per cent recorded in April.

This indicates that while prices continued to rise, they did so at a slower pace compared to the previous month.

Food inflation remained a major driver of overall inflation. The food inflation rate stood at 21.14 per cent year-on-year in May, a sharp drop from 40.66 per cent recorded in the same month last year.

The NBS attributed the sharp annual drop to the change in the base year, following the CPI rebasing.

On a month-on-month basis, however, food inflation rose to 2.19 per cent in May from 2.06 per cent in April, driven by increases in the prices of yam, cassava, maize flour, sweet potatoes, fresh pepper, and ogbono.

Urban inflation stood at 23.14 per cent year-on-year, lower than 36.34 per cent in May 2024.

Monthly urban inflation was 1.40 per cent in May, slightly higher than the 1.18 per cent recorded in April.

Rural inflation also dropped to 22.70 per cent year-on-year from 31.82 per cent in the corresponding period of 2024.

On a monthly basis, rural inflation slowed to 1.83 per cent from 3.56 per cent in April.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural produce and energy, dropped to 22.28 per cent in May from 27.04 per cent recorded in May 2024.

Month-on-month core inflation also declined to 1.10 per cent from 1.34 per cent in April.

An analysis of the divisional contributions to the headline inflation showed that food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the highest contributor, accounting for 9.20 percentage points.

Other major contributors include restaurants and accommodation services (2.97 per cent), transport (2.45 per cent), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (1.93 per cent), and education (1.42 per cent).

The report also showed that on a month-on-month basis, Bayelsa recorded the highest rise in headline inflation at 9.11 per cent, followed by Bauchi at 4.85 per cent and Borno at 4.42 per cent.

On the other hand, Kaduna, Jigawa and Edo recorded the steepest monthly declines, with -6.75 per cent, -4.40 per cent and -2.94 per cent respectively.

For food inflation, Borno State recorded the highest year-on-year rate at 64.36 per cent, followed by Bayelsa at 39.85 per cent and Taraba at 38.58 per cent.

The slowest increases were recorded in Katsina (6.90 per cent), Rivers (9.18 per cent), and Kwara (11.31 per cent).

On a monthly basis, Bayelsa (12.68 per cent), Cross River (11.15 per cent) and Anambra (9.10 per cent) posted the highest food inflation rates, while Katsina (-5.42 per cent), Jigawa (-4.02 per cent) and Kaduna (-3.27 per cent) recorded declines.

Despite the statistical relief provided by the CPI rebasing, the persistent monthly increase in food and essential commodity prices continues to impact the cost of living across the country.

Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal are not backing down in their efforts to sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with a fresh proposal reportedly in the works.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano in a post on Monday, Osimhen recently rejected a move to Al Hilal just 10 days ago. However, the club remains determined to land the Napoli forward and is preparing a new offer to tempt him.

Romano wrote, “Al Hilal are not giving up on Victor Osimhen as they want to submit [a] new proposal to the player. Osimhen rejected 10 days ago but Al Hilal insist.”

The race for Osimhen’s signature remains open, with several top European sides monitoring the situation. Galatasaray and unnamed Premier League clubs are reportedly still in contention, while Serie A side Juventus have also reignited contact in recent days.

Osimhen, one of the most sought-after forwards in world football, continues to draw interest following his standout performances for Galatasaray last season.

The federal government has unveiled the registration portal for the national youth conference, also known as the youth confab.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development, said the registration deadline is set for June 30. 

The conference follows the inauguration of the national planning committee by President Bola Tinubu on March 10. 

The theme of the conference is ‘Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future’.

Olawande said the conference will enable young Nigerians across the world to contribute to conversations affecting their interests and the future of the country.

He said 36,000 participants, drawn from the 360 federal constituencies, are expected to register for the conference. 

“This is more than just a conference. It is a generational turning point, a national movement and a call to action. It is a platform for us to listen, learn and lead together,” he said.

Olawande added that the event would not be “another talk-shop”, but rather a platform to generate actionable ideas through inclusive and youth-led engagement. 

“Under the visionary leadership of his excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the youth confab 2025 will be inclusive, non-partisan and youth-led,” the minister said.

He urged interested youths to visit the official portal and complete the registration process, noting that all registered participants will be able to take part in virtual consultations and submit policy recommendations through the website.

In a statement issued after the press briefing, Olubunmi Olusanya, chairman of the national planning committee, said the shortlisted applicants will be invited for the in-person component of the conference after undergoing a “rigorous” screening process.

“The youth confab is a platform established by the Nigerian government as a structured avenue for young people to contribute to national discussions and policy formulation in a way that ensures their ideas translate into action,” Olusanya said.

“The conference will brainstorm and propose workable solutions on how to tackle critical issues affecting youths, such as unemployment, political representation, education, healthcare etc.”

He added that the launch of the portal and virtual consultations marks the official commencement of the national youth confab activities.

“The national youth confab is a moment in history. It inspires hope and provides an opportunity for young people to reimagine a Nigeria that works for its youths. It’s a chance to move from protest to policy, from problems to solutions, and from challenges to progress,” he said.

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has said that internet fraudsters, popularly known as yahoo-yahoo boys, are bringing national shame to the country.

Olukoyede made this known during a media briefing on Monday at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, Yahoo-Yahoo boys have given every Nigerian the opportunity to be seen as a clean person before immigration officers around the world.

“I want Nigerians to know that we are having a crisis on our hands. If you travel abroad with your green passport and stand in the queue among so many people, you will discover that by the time you present the passport, the people (immigration officers) will look at you with some reservation. That is, if they don’t take you aside to carry out some special scrutiny. That is a national shame that some young Nigerians (yahoo-yahoo boys) have caused for us. 

“I go out to interact with my counterpart and other government agencies abroad in the course of tracing money and recovering assets. And there are things that it would be difficult for you to defend. We recently arrested groups of young men, and people no longer believe in hard work. I’m from a state where education is our pride. If you go to the secondary school that I attended, by 12 noon, the students have left school,” he said.

Expounding further on the atrocities of the fraudsters, the EFCC chairman stressed that they are involved in banditry and kidnapping when their unsuspecting victims do not cooperate.

He also noted that they were involved in laundering money for politically-exposed persons in government or out of government. 

“The most dangerous aspect of it is not just about yahoo-yahoo, some of these guys are into banditry, kidnapping. When they don’t see people to scam on time, they resort to these vices. Some of them launder money for politically exposed persons. Don’t just see them as yahoo-yahoo boys anymore; the traditional way of stealing money is not applicable anymore.

“When they (politically-exposed persons) steal money in billions, they give it to these boys, they open crypto wallets, and from there, the money goes abroad. Most of these politically exposed persons identify these boys, lodge them in the hotel, the boys open accounts for them and take the money abroad to buy cars, houses and other luxury items.

“Nigerians should look at them beyond just yahoo-yahoo. We arrested a 22-year-old; he had a turnover of over N5 billion within 18 months. We discovered that he laundered money for politically exposed people. A boy who has never worked in his life. They used them to steal government money now. They do ritual killings. They are also involved in cybercrime. You see them in hotels and in groups trying to scam people. You see secondary school students driving vehicles. Are those the people we want to hand Nigeria over to? Is that the nation we want to build?”

Recall that in May, Olukoyede said that upon his assumption in office, his agency had recovered over N365.4bn and secured 4,111 convictions in 2024.

He disclosed this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at the end of a three-day Retreat for Directors with the theme “EFCC: The Journey So Far, Ensuring Professionalism and Integrity.”

Olukoyede, in a statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, attributed the feat achieved to the commitment, sacrifices and dedication of staff, promising to surpass the record in 2025.

“In 2024, the commission secured 4,111 convictions and hauled monetary recovery of over N365.4billion. The EFCC’s boss appreciated the sacrifice, hard work, and discipline, and called for increased dedication to surpass the records of 2024 and greater commitment to the integrity of processes in the agency,” the statement read.

The chairman emphasised the need to uphold professionalism and integrity in the fight against corruption, adding that the EFCC’s workforce would turn out to be a critical mass of honest, highly motivated and effective team.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday rejected the Federal Government’s request to issue an arrest warrant against the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her failure to appear in court for arraignment in an alleged defamation suit.

The presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Umar, delivered this ruling after the federal government’s counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the charge had been served on her lawyer earlier that morning in the courtroom.

Justice Umar stated that, as the senator had not previously been served with the charge or a hearing notice, it was inconceivable for her to have appeared in court.

On this basis, he refused the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant.

The Federal Government’s counsel, however, argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan should have been aware of her arraignment since her legal counsel had been served.

The judge, in response, dismissed this argument, stating that serving the charge on her legal counsel was not sufficient to presume the senator’s awareness of the arraignment.

Following the court’s ruling, the prosecution applied for substituted service of the charge through her counsel, Johnson Usman. 

The application was granted and the court subsequently scheduled her arraignment for June 30.

The charge was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Federal Government.

In the criminal charge which names Senator Akpoti-Uduagahn as the sole defendant, the FG accused her of making defamatory statements during a live television broadcast.

The charge, which names Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello as the nominal complainants, alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Bello of conspiring with Akpabio to orchestrate her assassination outside Abuja and framing it as a mob or local attack.

According to the Federal Government, these allegations were made during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.

The FG argues that Akpoti-Uduaghan knowingly or recklessly made these imputations, fully aware that they could harm the reputation of the individuals involved.

She is alleged to have said, “Let’s ask the Senate President, why in the first instance did he withdraw my security, if not to make me vulnerable to attacks? He then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi. What is important to me is to stay alive, because dead men tell no tales. Who is going to get justice for me?”

The charge also cites her statements during the programme, “That you, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on or about the 3rd day of April 2025, during the same Politics Today programme on Channels Television in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, made the following imputation concerning Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.

“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night, to eliminate me. When he met with him, he then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.’
You knew or had reason to believe that such imputations would harm the reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.”

The senator is also accused of making defamatory statements about Senate President Akpabio during a telephone conversation with Sandra C. Duru in Abuja on 27 March 2025.

The alleged statement reads, “That girl that was killed, what’s her name, umm Imoren Iniubong, her organs were actually used for the wife, because the wife was really ill… when they killed the girl, and her organs were used for the wife.”

The Federal Government contends that Akpoti-Uduaghan knew or ought to have known that this claim would harm the reputation of Akpabio.

Also, the Senate President, Bello, and four others have been listed as witnesses for the trial.