Despite the 2027 election being two years away, an alleged plot to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the poll has divided the All Progressives Congress.

A meeting held by the APC North-East stakeholders in Gombe State on Sunday ended in a fracas as supporters of the Vice President attacked the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu.

An angry member was seen in a viral video hitting Salihu with a chair as he scampered away to escape the wrath of the party faithful. Another delegate also threw a black plastic bucket at him.

The gathering, which was held at the International Conference Centre, Gombe, was originally convened to reaffirm support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid.

However, the meeting spiralled into violence when some key party leaders failed to acknowledge Shettima as a part of the proposed 2027 joint ticket.

Trouble began shortly after the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Salihu, ended his address without mentioning Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate.

Salihu said, “We have no business not supporting this party with all the juicy appointments and responsibilities given to us by this government.

“I would want all members of the zonal executive committee to stand-up so that we will do the proper endorsement, because it is the zonal executive committee that holds the ticket.

“We want to reaffirm and also adopt the endorsement earlier done by the national working committee, that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is endorsed to be a sole candidate for the 2027 election.”

Following his failure to acknowledge the Vice President, the annoyed delegates began to chant “Shettima! Shettima!! Shettima!!!” in protest as an aggrieved supporter physically confronted Salihu on the stage.

Eyewitnesses said chairs were thrown across the hall as the confrontation turned violent, disrupting the event and forcing security personnel to intervene.

Efforts to pacify the delegates by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, failed.

“It’s an insult to the entire region that our own son, the Vice President, was not even mentioned. This is a calculated attempt to sideline Shettima, and we will resist it with everything we have,” fumed a Borno delegate.

Before the chaos, the governors of the three APC-controlled states in the North-East — Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and host Governor Muhammadu Yahaya (Gombe) — had all endorsed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket for the 2027 poll in their separate speeches.

Governor Yahaya stated, “The North-East is fully behind the President and the Vice President. Their leadership has brought renewed hope to this region.”

However, despite efforts by party leaders to douse the tension, the situation worsened when APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, also avoided explicitly confirming Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in his closing remarks.

Ganduje said, “We need unity more than ever. This region delivered over 1.2 million votes in 2023. In 2027, we expect three times that. But we must remain focused and disciplined as a party.”

He added, “This zone has produced the number two of this country, we are proud of this zone, we are proud of the North and we are proud of Nigeria as a nation.

“I have to tell you, we have a progressive President, the leader of our party Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and we are proud of his deputy, his Vice President, it is one ticket according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

His comments did little to ease the delegates’ anger, many of whom began chanting, “No Shettima, no APC in the North-East.”

Some even threatened to shift allegiance to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, should the party proceed with dropping Shettima from the ticket.

“If Shettima is dropped, I will personally lead my people to vote for Atiku,” a visibly angry party chieftain from Adamawa State told The PUNCH. “We won’t be taken for granted.”

The meeting ended abruptly as several dignitaries, including serving and former governors, ministers, senators, and House of Representatives members exited the venue amid the commotion.

Outside, the police fired teargas to disperse the agitated crowd that had gathered at the venue as tensions soared.

An eyewitness, James Abass, told The PUNCH that the incident could signal deeper fractures within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially in the North-East, where Shettima commands strong grassroots support.

“This is more than just a misunderstanding. It’s a sign of serious internal divisions within the ruling party that could trigger mass defections or the rise of a counter-movement if not urgently addressed,” Abass stated.

A reliable source gave The PUNCH a brief of the zonal meeting.

“The Governor of Gombe was not in support of the joint ticket but could not summon the courage to openly oppose it as the host.

“But Hon. Usman Kumo, Chief Whip of the House and member representing Kumo Federal Constituency, from Gombe State endorsed the ticket on behalf of the North-East House of Reps Caucus.

“Senator M.T. Monguno (Chief Whip of the Senate, representing Borno North) endorsed the joint ticket on behalf of the Senate from the North-East while Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, Deputy National Chairman (North) spoke on behalf of the other National Working Committee members from the North East.

“It is pertinent to mention that it was only Comrade Mustapha Salihu that spoke against the ticket while the four members of the NWC from the North-East had all supported the joint ticket.

“Those NWC members, who supported the joint ticket are Dalori; Mohammad Kumo (Deputy Financial Secretary, Gombe State); Zainab Ibrahim (Deputy Women Leader, Taraba State); and Abubakar Maikafi (National Auditor, Bauchi State).”

The National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, had earlier dismissed growing speculations that Tinubu may sideline the Vice President, calling it a distraction.

“I’m hearing that for the first time. There’s a solid working relationship between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

“Shettima is a key asset—intelligent, focused, and deeply involved in this administration. These rumours are likely just political noise meant to create division,” Arodiogbu told The PUNCH last week. 

He added that it was not unusual for such rumours to surface in the build-up to an election cycle, but stressed that the President and his deputy remained aligned and fully endorsed by the party.

Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, offered a brief response when contacted, saying, “I am not aware, Sir.”

The rumours of the President dropping Shettima for 2027 emerged shortly after 22 APC governors, National Assembly leadership and party leaders endorsed Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate for the next election.

The endorsement was first moved by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and seconded by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, during the APC National Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

Shortly after, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on behalf of the National Assembly, also endorsed the President for re-election, based on his performance.

The National Chairman of the APC, Ganduje, on behalf of the National Working Committee, affirmed the decision that Tinubu is the sole candidate of the party for the 2027 presidential election.

While the endorsement was met with jubilation in some quarters, it also triggered criticism from opposition parties and within APC.

Speaking on the Gombe incident, Presidency and party officials debunked claims of a potential shakeup in the APC ticket.

The APC’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Arodiogbu, said there is no iota of truth in the rumour that the President planned to drop Shettima in 2027.

 He stated, “That report is not a true picture of what is happening because we’ve had a discussion on that. I’m even here with the National Chairman as we speak. I have also called the National Vice Chairman North East, Comrade Mustafa, who is my very good friend and asked him that I heard that you have decided not to support the Vice President.

“He said ‘no, that is not the case.’ The case is that he made a speech endorsing the President and the outing was for endorsement of the President. There was no such provision in his speech.

“It should be known that the President and the Vice President are running on a joint ticket. So I don’t think that is the case. But in politics, as you know, people are pre-emptive of what does not exist, especially when it affects their interest.

“But what we know till this moment is that the President has not given any sign, even by words or by action, that he is not comfortable in continuing with the Vice President.”

However, unconfirmed party sources said there were plans by power brokers to field a more powerful northern chieftain of the party as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027.

Aggrieved delegates

Meanwhile, delegates from Borno State, who attended the stakeholders meeting, said they were disappointed by Salihu’s omission of Shettima’s name during his address at the parley.

Speaking with our correspondent in Maiduguri, a delegate, who is also the Director-General of the Borno State Great Green Wall, Usman Aliyu, alleged a hidden agenda, adding that party members would not accept the plot.

“What happened was during Mustapha’s speech, he only endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu without endorsing Senator Kashim Shetima. This is a slap on our faces.

“A lot of people couldn’t resist that because he has not been faithful and fair to us, and we don’t know why he didn’t endorse Vice President Kashim Shettima.”

Expressing the resentment of other delegates, he said, “Honestly, we are disappointed because we expect to have one voice.”

According to him, a communiqué will be issued in which all the party members will affirm Tinubu and Shettima’s candidacy.

“So far, you have also seen it on television; Borno governor, our state APC chairman, and other stakeholders in the region have unanimously endorsed the Tinubu/Shettima Ticket.”

Still, he expressed concern over the silence of Governor Inuwa of Gombe, who doubles as the Chairman of the APC North-East Governors Forum.

“The host governor, Inuwa Yahaya, didn’t openly endorse Kashim Shettima and Tinubu. There is also a problem from that side because we expected him, in his speech, to endorse them, but he didn’t. He only talked about the good administration of President Bola Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda. So, you see, there is a kind of hidden agenda,” he alleged.

He debunked a claim that the APC National Chairman Gandujedid not endorse the Tinubu/ Shettima ticket, saying he has always made his intention known.

“Ganduje has always said that Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are one ticket. He didn’t come out clearly today, though, but what he is saying is that you can’t separate the ticket.”

Also, the APC Sokoto State chairman, Isa Acida, declined to state the chapter’s position on the controversy.

But a top official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the party had not taken any position on the development.

“We haven’t taken any position on the development but let me assure you that we will work together with the national headquarters of our party as regards the choice of candidates for the 2027 general election,” he stated.

A Nigerian-American, Omoyoma Okoro, who is currently serving 100 months imprisonment for his role in an $80m fraud, now risks an additional 30 years for allegedly obtaining US citizenship fraudulently.

PUNCH Metro learnt from a statement obtained on the US Department of Justice website on Sunday that Okoro was sentenced in September 2024 following his conviction for conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud by a US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

It added, “He was also convicted of two additional counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of bank fraud. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 100 months and ordered to pay over $22m in restitution.”

The statement disclosed that Okoro had committed the offences for which he was jailed between 2008 and 2011, a period before he applied to naturalise as a US citizen.

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It continued that in 2018, Okoro applied to be naturalised as a US citizen and, in the process of the application, he was asked if he had committed or aided any crime before, to which he responded negatively.

The statement added, “He was not arrested until after he naturalised in 2018, so immigration officials were unaware of his crimes before granting citizenship.

“According to the indictment and previously issued court documents, Okoro is alleged to have made knowingly and materially false statements under penalty of perjury on an application for naturalisation.

In response to one question, ‘Have you ever committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offence for which you were not arrested?’ he answered ‘No.’ Okoro took the oath of citizenship and naturalised on December 13, 2018.”

The statement noted that if Okoro is found guilty, he now faces a maximum of 30 years imprisonment and the revocation of his citizenship.

“Okoro is charged in a three-count indictment with naturalisation fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison as well as the automatic revocation of his United States citizenship,” the statement concluded.

PUNCH Metro reported on June 9 that a Nigerian, Kingsley Utulu, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his role in a large-scale hacking and identity theft scheme that defrauded the U.S. tax authorities and private individuals of over $2.5m.

The sentencing followed Utulu’s guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Clayton noted that Utulu took part in a scheme to hack into the U.S. tax preparation businesses, trade in the stolen personal identifying information, and defraud the IRS and other governmental bodies

A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, has been arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch in India for alleged drug trafficking.

Akinwunmi, who reportedly works as a hairstylist and nail artist, claimed she had travelled to India to open a beauty salon.

However, PUNCH Metro gathered on Sunday that she was arrested last Tuesday at Tarahunase village, Rajanukunte Main Road, Bengaluru, for allegedly being in possession of 5.325 kilograms of MDMA crystals, estimated to be worth Rs 10 crore (over N1.8bn).

Her arrest came just two days after another Nigerian national, Emmanuel Bediako, also known as Maxwell, was apprehended by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau for a similar offence.

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According to The New Indian Express, the CCB acted on a tip-off and intercepted Akinwunmi as she arrived from Delhi with a suspicious bag. Inside the bag were the drugs and 11 new churidars (traditional Indian outfits).

“She is a courier. She had come to hand over the drugs to a group of African peddlers,” a police officer said.

“We noticed four men on two scooters in the area, but they did not collect the parcel. Princess was arrested while standing with the bag,” the officer added.

During interrogation, the suspect, popularly known as Princess, reportedly claimed she was unaware of the contents of the bag.

She told officers that a friend in Delhi had instructed her to deliver it to a man wearing a black hat.

She further stated that she intended to start a salon business in Bengaluru and identified herself as the daughter of a Nigerian civil servant, though she refused to provide additional personal details.

The report revealed that Akinwunmi entered India in October 2021 on a business visa but later obtained a student visa to study at a university in Telangana.

However, she never enrolled and has been illegally overstaying in the country since her visa expired in 2022.

“There are credible leads on her boyfriend in Delhi, who is currently absconding. She will be taken into police custody for further investigation.

“This is the first case registered against her in the city, and we are yet to verify if there are any cases elsewhere in the country,” another officer added in the report seen by PUNCH Metro on Sunday.

Akinwunmi has since been handed over to the jurisdictional Chikkajala Police Station as investigations continue

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has overturned the final forfeiture order issued on the assets of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to the Federal Government.

In a split decision of two-to-one, delivered on April 9, 2025, and detailed in a certified true copy obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the appellate court set aside the judgment and ordered a retrial of the case at the lower court.

The Federal High Court in Lagos had, in its ruling on November 1, 2024, granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s application for the final forfeiture of Emefiele’s assets.

The forfeited assets included two fully detached duplexes located at No. 17B, Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land measuring 1,919.592 square metres with survey plan No. DS/LS.340 at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow at No. 65A Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos and a four-bedroom duplex at No. 12A, Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

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Others were – an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State; eight units of uncompleted apartments on a plot measuring 2,457.60 square metres at No. 8A Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and a fully detached duplex on a plot measuring 2,217.87 square metres at No. 2A Bank Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of $2,045,000 and shares certificates in Queensdorf Global Fund Limited to the Federal Government.

The EFCC had argued that the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

Dissatisfied with the lower court’s decision, Emefiele, represented by his legal team led by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), appealed the decision.

The EFCC was named as the sole respondent in the appeal marked CA/LAG/CV/1051/24.

The appellant raised five issues for determination. “Whether the trial judge adequately evaluated the totality of the affidavit evidence before granting the EFCC’s motion for the final forfeiture of the listed properties.

“Whether the trial judge erred in not holding that the appellant had established an interest in the listed properties, thereby warranting a refusal of the forfeiture application.

“Whether it was proper to dismiss the appellant’s motion for a stay of proceedings in both the civil and criminal cases against the appellant.

“Whether the trial court ought to have struck out the EFCC’s counter-affidavit for not being provided for under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and whether the trial judge was correct in declining jurisdiction to entertain the appellant’s application for a stay of proceedings,” the appellant stated.

EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), however, argued that the “appellant did not produce single evidence on how He acquired the forfeited properties but only placed the purported income he received from Zenith Bank and Central Bank before the court and that how he used the funds to acquire the properties were not shown to the court.”

He added that Emefiele did not show to the court a single piece of evidence of transfer of legitimate funds from him to the sellers of the properties provided, adding that none of the properties was acquired in the name of the appellant as submitted by his counsel but rather they were acquired in various company names which do not have him as a shareholder or director.

Oyedepo added, “The companies in whose names the properties were acquired did not challenge the forfeiture of the properties.”

He also added that the appellant failed to declare all the forfeited assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

He contended that since the appellant could not show cause how he legitimately acquired the forfeited properties, the decision of the trial court forfeiting them to the Federal Government was in order.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Abdulazeez Anka, the court held that it was convinced that the legitimate earnings of the appellant could acquire the properties.

Justice Anka held, “These funds are the legitimate earnings of the appellant as provided and the contention of the appellant as I do comprehend is that from his earnings from the days he was at Zenith Bank up to his career as CBN governor for 10 years in office, he can be able to afford the said properties in contention.”

He added that from the contentions of the appellant before him, “he deposed to the fact that at his exit as the Managing Director of Zenith Bank, his severance package was in excess of a 1,750,000,000, while his acquired Zenith Bank share was in the values of a 500,000,000 and then as CBN Governor his annual remuneration is at a N350,000,000 per annum, with quarterly reimbursements of N75m, excluding estacodes paid for foreign trips which is at $6,285,000 at $5,000 per day.”

Speaking further, Justice Anka said the facts presented before him, which are the facts presented by the parties before the trial court, were very conflicting and highly disputed as regards the legitimacy of the properties in contention as provided and, as such, “there is in my view a need to call for further oral as well as documentary evidence where possible and for parties to cross-examine the deponents and witnesses. 

“Hence the initial processes filed at the trial court tried via affidavit evidence shall metamorphose into a trial to be conducted via oral testimonies for parties to provide their various witnesses and to be cross-examined by both counsel on either side, to prove the legitimacy or otherwise of the properties in contention and I so order.

“In effect, the court hereby sets aside the final forfeiture order made by the trial court of 1st November 2024.”

He noted that it appeared that the appellant did not wish to and had not contested the forfeiture of the $2,045,000 forfeited to the Federal Government.

He held that “Hence the final forfeiture against the said sum of $2,045,000 to the FGN is hereby affirmed. From the totality of all I’m stating, the appeal succeeds in part, considering the final forfeiture is set aside while the parties are given the opportunity to call oral evidence at the trial court.

“It is also hereby ordered that the case be remitted to the trial court for a rehearing.”

Justice Mohammed Mustapha agreed with the judgment of Justice Anka, stating, “I am in total agreement with the conclusions arrived, and have little or nothing to add to this impeccable write-up, except to say, by way of emphasis, that l am not aware of any legal impediment to the purchase of property by one party for and on behalf of another, to be held in trust for that other.”

He further held that the income of the appellant was more than enough to buy up the properties in question and even more.

Speaking further, he stated that he also noticed that Emefiele declared his, and his wife’s code of conduct forms, attached to the counter affidavit, indicating his and his wife’s properties and assets.

The judge noted that while the assets declared are for the years 2014 and 2019, the properties sought to be forfeited permanently covered the period 2020 to 2023, “which means that, the appellant’s code of conduct forms filled in 2014 or 2019 could not have conceivably covered properties bought in 2020.

“It is absurd, therefore, to expect the appellant to have declared properties acquired in 2020 in forms filled in 2014. The declaration the prosecution ought to have properly queried is, therefore, the next declaration to follow in 2023.”

The judge further held “Now, in view of the parallel pendency of both criminal and civil action, common sense, logic and the law dictate that the criminal action ought to be disposed of before the civil one can even be initiated.

“In the circumstances therefore, I too allow this appeal in part, the final forfeiture having been set aside, thus affording parties the opportunity of calling witnesses to buttress their respective positions at the lower court.

“Accordingly, I hereby order that the case be remitted back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for re-hearing by any judge other than Hon Justice D. I. Dipeolu. l abide by the consequential orders.”

Justice Danlami Senchi, however, disagreed with his two justices brothers.

“I have carefully read through the counter affidavit to the same, there is no conflict in the affidavits that warrant the calling of oral evidence. The issue is very narrow in this case.

“The companies whose names were used to purchase and whose names were used to perfect the title of the properties in the ex parte application dated the 14th of August, 2024, have not filed an affidavit to show cause nor denied the ownership of the said companies.

“The interested party has denied any links with the companies that purchased the property and so cannot lay claim to what is not his. That would amount to being a meddlesome interloper.

“Certainly, from the records on this appeal, there is no conflict in affidavit evidence of parties as rightly held by the trial court.

“Thus, calling of oral evidence in this clear case of parties is a waste of judicial time that will not achieve any success but scuttle the administration of justice under the forfeiture proceedings.

“On the whole, I resolve the two issues against: the appellant and in favour of the respondent. I hold the view that this appeal lacks merit and I dismiss same accordingly.

“The judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/L/MISC/500/2024 delivered on 1st November 2024 by D. I. Dipeolu is hereby affirmed,” he held.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced plans to begin a nationwide distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) starting from August 15.

This was as fears of fuel scarcity mounted in Lagos and other parts of the country following the controversy surrounding the E-Call Up system of the Lagos State Government.

The tanker drivers and fuel marketers in Lagos State said on Sunday that they would stop loading petroleum products from today, saying they could not afford to pay N12,500 per truck for the E-Call Up system, especially on the Lekki-Epe Corridor.

In response, the Lagos State Government said there was no going back in the implementation of the E-Call Up system on Monday, accusing the unions of collecting up to N41,000 from drivers without any service.

Amid the brawl, the Dangote refinery, in a statement on Sunday, said the company would deploy 4,000 brand-new Compressed Natural Gas-powered tankers to boost delivery capacity and improve access to fuel across the country.

The offer, it disclosed, would be open to marketers, petrol station dealers, manufacturers, telecom operators, aviation firms, and other large-scale fuel users. The firm also announced plans to support distribution through the establishment of daughter booster CNG stations and a dedicated fleet of over 100 gas-powered tankers.

It noted that the logistics support, including free product delivery, was designed to eliminate distribution bottlenecks and bring down operational costs in key sectors of the economy.

“This strategic programme is part of our broader commitment to eliminating logistics costs, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainability, and supporting Nigeria’s economic development,” the company said.

Recall that the President of the Dangote Group and Founder of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote, once said there would be an announcement of what he called a major ‘shakedown’ in the entire country.

The initiative, which includes a credit scheme for bulk buyers of 500,000 litres and above, is expected to revitalise dormant filling stations, reduce inflationary pressure, stimulate small businesses, and support the President Bola Tinubu administration’s economic reform drive.

Dangote’s plan to distribute fuel itself could negatively impact the projected revenue at the parks built for truck drivers under the E-Call Up system.

Scarcity scare

Meanwhile, marketers expressed fear that the decision of tanker drivers to stop lifting fuel beginning from today (Monday) could trigger scarcity if nothing is done to resolve the matter amicably.

Recently, the Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, said the E-Call Up system was designed to regulate the movement of articulated vehicles and tankers accessing the Lekki-Epe corridor, thereby promoting orderly traffic flow and preventing the kind of gridlock previously experienced in the Apapa area.

The Lekki-Epe axis, which hosts critical investments such as the Dangote refinery, Lekki Deep Sea Port, and several oil and gas installations, has continued to witness a surge in industrial and commercial activities.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, had explained that the E-Call Up System was designed to prevent chaos on the roads by regulating truck movements using a structured scheduling framework, stating that under the new regime, truck operators would be required to register online and upload their Authority to Load documents.

The commissioner mentioned that only trucks that were validated and cleared would be granted access to designated truck parks, where they would await an electronic call-up notification before proceeding to their loading destinations, saying “the process is aimed at reducing illegal parking, improving traffic flow, enhancing security and safeguarding road infrastructure along the busy corridor.”

With only one major exit route in the area, the government said this growth had intensified congestion concerns.

However, the tanker drivers under the aegis of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, as well as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, said they could only pay N2,500 per truck.

In an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, NARTO President Yusuf Othman said the association was still in talks with the Lagos State Government to allow its members to pay N2,500 per truck instead of N12,500.

“It is not that our members don’t want to load from the Dangote refinery; there is a plan by the Lagos State Government to start the E-Call Up system on Monday, which will attract N12,500 per truck. We have requested the Lagos State Government to reduce the amount, but the government has yet to do that. Therefore, we told our members not to ply the road; they should hold on until we have an amicable resolution with the Lagos State Government.

“For now, we are still negotiating with the Lagos State Government. There is no cause for alarm for now. But if they disagree, our boys will not go and load tomorrow (Monday). We told the government that the N12,500 is too high. We recommended N2,500 from the beginning. Let’s see how it goes if we can have an amicable resolution; if not, there will be no loading on Monday,” Othman said.

Speaking, IPMAN Vice President, Hammed Fashola, told The PUNCH that marketers were not against the E-Call Up system, but the N12,500 fee. Aside from the cost, Fashola said the state government was in a hurry to implement the policy, calling on the government to listen to stakeholders.

“Let me start by saying that both the NARTO and IPMAN are not against the initiative of the Lagos State Government. We are not against it. In actual fact, we have been in discussion with them for some time. I think the only issue is the cost. And again, I think they are in a hurry to implement this system, which is not supposed to be so.

“All stakeholders have to be on the same page before they can implement it. When you want to look at the stakeholders in this sense, you look at IPMAN, NARTO, Petroleum Tanker Drivers, the refinery, and depot operators too. If you want to do a call-up system, you have to involve the refinery and the depots, because you need information from them. There must be a synergy so that all stakeholders are on the same page. All these things are not there,” he said.

Fashola faulted the condition of the parks built for the trucks, alleging that the state government had not taken stakeholders on a tour of the facility.

“As I’m talking to you today, I can speak for IPMAN. Nobody has shown this facility to IPMAN. I think sometime last year, I was part of the team that went out to look at all the proposed parks. We went to Orile, there’s one in Orele, there’s one in Mile 2. All these facilities are just like a mushroom park. They are not really built for trucks. So, we advised that they have to upgrade them. 

“There were no facilities in place. How can you put a truck, either empty or loaded, on an empty ground? You are just waiting for disaster to happen. We advised the government that anybody who wants to operate a park must operate a standard park. That is the only inspection that I can say all the stakeholders were involved,” he said.

Fashola told The PUNCH that none of the parks visited then got the approval of stakeholders, saying the Lekki-Epe park was not shown to IPMAN. He added that letters were written to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the commissioner, but neither of them responded.

“This Lekki-Epe axis they are talking about, as I’m talking to you, nobody has shown any park to IPMAN. All these things matter. We have to look at it, make our observations, and make corrections if necessary. If they are up to standard, we sanction them. Then, the issue of cost, nobody has discussed it with us. When they mentioned it, we wrote to the governor, we wrote to the Commissioner for Transport, and we recommended N2,500. Up till now, there has been no official response from them.

“The only thing we heard was that ’we are going out, we are going to implement this by Monday, June 16, no going back.’ Things are not done like that,” he cautioned.

Fashola stated that the policy was similar to creating ’jobs for the boys’, because Dangote refinery and Pinnacle Oil have enough space for their trucks.

“This should not look as if it’s a job for the boys because as I’m talking to you, if you go to the Dangote refinery, they have a big facility to accommodate whatever truck they want to load in a day. If you go to Pinnacle, they have their own park. So, there must be an exception for some drivers.

“If I’m coming from the north, I can decide to park my truck in Ogere and wait until I get the approval to load either from the refinery or from Pinnacle. Once I get that, my truck hits the road. I don’t need to wait for anything other than to move. So, what is the essence of my going to another park again to go and pay N12,500? It doesn’t make sense,” he stated, stressing that the facility should be for those who needed it.

“Those who can use it will use it. It should not come under compulsion. Some marketers in Lagos have their stations in Lagos. They have their parks attached to their stations. If they programme them today to come and pick up products at the refinery, should they leave their stations to go and stay in another park before they will now move out of that park and move to Dangote? Does that make sense?

“So, I think they are in a hurry and they have to be careful too, because if you say you are serving people, you listen to people’s complaints. We have to be on the same page. Our doors are open. If they call for dialogue, we will make ourselves available so that we can work together,” he maintained.

Fashola suggested that the government should allow the owners of the parks to relate with drivers if they had no stake in the business.

“If they know the money is not coming to them, they should withdraw. Let the private operators come to us. Let’s discuss. I think the government should withdraw. If they know that they are not party to it, and they are not interested in the private operators’ affairs. They should allow the operators to sit down with us. The government should wash their hands,” he advised.

He denied claims that some tanker drivers would go to the depots without anybody inviting them

“With the cost of fuel and the cost of maintenance and everything, can you just take your car and start roaming around Lagos aimlessly without any purpose? So you will now put diesel of N1,000 plus per litre into your truck and start driving it around Lagos aimlessly. Is that possible? Does that make sense?” he asked.

Fashola said the Lagos State Government needed to act fast to avoid another fuel scarcity. According to him, the drivers decided to stay at home to avoid confrontations that could lead to loss of lives and property.

“We are not going to confront anybody. That’s why we decided to stay away so that they would not destroy our vehicle or molest our drivers. The last time they did it, we lost a driver, we lost our properties, and our vehicles were damaged. To avoid that, we are withdrawing our services. At least, let peace reign. If they don’t see any tankers, can they attack the tanker? No!

“The government has to do something. It has to call a meeting so that we can resolve this problem once and for all,” Fashola said.

Lagos govt speaks

However, the Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, said tanker driver unions were being mischievous, saying the N12,500 was not going into the government coffers.

According to Musa, the money was for the use of the facility built for the drivers in the Lekki axis to avert gridlocks and environmental pollution, saying the unions collect N41,000 from the drivers daily without rendering any service.

He said the facility was built by a private investor, saying the union and the drivers should try to obey rules and regulations to prevent the Lekki-Epe road from turning into the old Apapa road.

“The unions are just being mischievous. Ask them how much they collect from their truck drivers daily. On average, they collect about N41,000 from each truck driver. We are not even collecting money from them, it is for the use of the truck park and the system, so that we can keep them orderly, instead of them parking on the road.

“We have provided conveniences for them, where they can urinate, where they can sleep, and do everything. But the union is collecting money from them to encourage them to be on the road. We are not collecting money. We have people who have invested their money in constructing the park. The money is for them to go to the park and for us to service the system.

“That’s what they are paying. But they just don’t want to obey the rules. And the next thing, they will tell you they are going on strike because they know that fuel is very important to everybody. They just want to be lawless. The money is not for us. It’s not for the government. It’s for the truck park and for us to maintain the system. And if we need to enforce, then enforce,” he explained.

The permanent secretary emphasised that the drivers were obstructing traffic while defecating in the open.

“It’s not about the government forcing them to pay. People who don’t have anything to do there will just come and park on the road until they have somebody who needs their truck. They are just on the road; they defecate on the road and do everything there. But we are now providing where you can stay pending the time you can provide the service you want to provide, and you don’t want to do that. How does that make sense? In a sane country, there is nowhere that is done,” he added.

Asked to speak on the drivers’ negotiation to pay N2,500, Musa said this was below what was needed to recoup the investors’ funds.

“Look, you as an individual, you have invested millions. Some people have invested billions, and you are telling them to pay N2,500 while the union is collecting over N40,000 and not providing any service. Somebody has invested their money and provided services, you are telling them to pay that kind of money. They know what they are doing,” he stressed, asking NARTO and PTD to explain what they do with the money they collect from the drivers daily

Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that he almost joined the presidential race following the June 12 pro-democracy struggle.

He, however, said he dismissed the idea after 36 hours of serious contemplation, describing it as “crazy.”

Soyinka made the revelation on Saturday during an interaction with journalists at Freedom Park, Lagos, at an event themed “June 12: Romancing the Embers.”

The engagement came on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s conferment of national honours on some individuals deemed heroes of the June 12 movement.

PUNCH Exclusive: Between Governance And Democracy - Prof Kila’s Take On Tinubu’s Midterm In Office0:00 / 0:00

PUNCH Exclusive: Between Governance And Democracy - Prof Kila’s Take On Tinubu’s Midterm in Office0:00 / 0:00

When asked why he did not contest for power during the transition programmes that followed the annulled 1993 presidential election, Soyinka said he never saw himself as a politician and only briefly considered the option before backing out.

“I did not; I was not interested; I wanted to go back to my writing; I wanted to go back to where I belong; I am not a politician.

“I must confess, however, that for about 36 hours, I did decide that we have a responsibility and I nearly accepted the nomination to run for office of President.

“After 36 hours, I said, ‘Wole Soyinka, you dey craze.’ Then I said, let me go back to what I love doing,” he said.

The playwright also came down hard on individuals who, in his view, trivialise the significance of the June 12 struggle, describing them as the real enemies of democracy.

“There are still a lot of misconceptions about June 12, even among those who participated, which is normal.

“When you have a movement like June 12, people come with different motivations. Some joined just to settle scores; some joined because they felt belittled or dehumanised by the conduct of the military. Others joined because they are against any form of dictatorship,” he said.

He added, “Many negative things have been written. I want it understood that we had betrayals, lots of inconsistencies, and a lot of opportunistic membership.

“We had treachery that cost many lives and pauperised hundreds. We had retributive activities even continuing after the termination of that particular regime.

“People now assume different roles, pretending and using the transition period.

“June 12 did not begin on June 12 and did not terminate on June 12. Many people—even when they want to settle political scores today, maybe over thwarted ambitions—try to trivialise June 12, instead of leaving June 12 alone. You didn’t participate, and nobody forced you to participate—leave June 12 alone.”

He said those who trivialised June 12 because of thwarted political ambition were the worst kind of enemies of democracy.

“If you see anybody making false claims, they have a right. It is your responsibility to say, ‘I know something about it; it didn’t go this way; the truth is this and that.’ That is legitimate.

“But those who invoke it just to trivialise June 12 because of thwarted political ambition are the worst kind of enemies of democracy.”

Soyinka said the ideals of the June 12 movement must continue to be preserved and promoted through public remembrance, civic engagement, and formal recognition of those who sacrificed for the country’s democracy.

“June 12, therefore, must be sustained through reminders, occasions, gatherings, other civic activities, and through formal recognitions of those who passed away in the movement,” he said.

The Nobel laureates acknowledged that there were some omissions in the honours list of the President.

“I listened to Kayode Fayemi. There were indeed some misses in the honours list. But we should accept the fact that for any struggle so multi-dimensional—one that cuts across the nation, professions, the military itself, academia, market women, factory workers, and so on—those of us honoured should be seen as mere representatives of that movement,” he said.

Soyinka also berated some Nigerian youths who dismissed the significance of June 12, describing such attitudes as ignorant and irresponsible.

He said, “Over half of Nigerians were not born as of June 12, 1993. It could be misinterpreted. Why should June 12 be considered important at this time?

“The youths should learn to shut their mouths if they are ignorant. When they don’t know anything, they have a choice—to not talk about it or be curious, do research, and ask questions: Who is this person? Why did it happen? Who was involved?”

Soyinka further attributed misconceptions about the importance of the June 12 struggle and other liberty struggles of the nation to deliberate efforts to exterminate the teaching of history.

Soyinka added, “If they don’t want to do either, then they become enemies of history, enemies of truth. In addition, society has the responsibility to make sure they have access to materials, the truth.

“That is why I keep reiterating that the crime against youth, against education, was committed by the government at the time when it eliminated history from the curriculum.

“There is also the responsibility to use these materials so that even if it is fiction, at least it is there and may spark interest.

“We didn’t just dismiss the past. We were curious about what happened during the British era, before independence. What happened at the very beginning of that colonial adventure?

“The youth have a responsibility to be curious and not just open their mouths and blab and dismiss everything. That is irresponsibility. We were responsible and curious to learn.”

The founder of an Ibadan-based radio station, Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, has disclosed that he has better chances to win the governorship election in Oyo State if he decides to contest in 2027.

He disclosed this in a live broadcast with a caller from abroad who advised him against running for the Office of Governor of Oyo come 2027.

The caller said, “Don’t listen to those who are saying Oyo is calling Oriyomi Hamzat. They are only lying.

“Although you are helping the masses, don’t rely on them that when it is election time, they will vote for you. They will not.

PUNCH Exclusive: Between Governance And Democracy - Prof Kila’s Take On Tinubu’s Midterm in Office0:08 / 1:01

PUNCH Exclusive: Between Governance And Democracy - Prof Kila’s Take On Tinubu’s Midterm In Office0:00 / 0:00

“Don’t let them deceive you. Even the area where your radio station is located, if politicians take money there, you will lose the polling unit.

It is true that you are a good person and qualified, but the masses will not vote for you.”

While responding, Hamzat dismissed such advice, saying discouraging comments would not deter him as he has the capacity to make his own political decision.

He said, “Don’t say they will not vote for me. You might even be the one that will push me to contest. I have my own brain. I don’t want to listen to any advice like this again.

“If I contest, nothing will happen. I will contest, and I will win. Don’t tell me that.

“You are telling me I won’t win, what is the meaning of that? Do you know the minds of those people that will vote? You are using yesterday to judge today.”

Veteran Nollywood actor Ganiu Nafiu, popularly known as Alapini, has expressed regret over supporting President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign.

He lamented that he and other Yoruba film actors who stood behind the Renewed Hope movement have been neglected ever since the election.

Alapini voiced his disappointment during an interview on ‘Behind the Fame – African A-List TV’, a YouTube channel, where he discussed his acting career, health challenges, family issues, and his involvement in the Tinubu campaign.

Speaking with evident frustration in Yoruba, Alapini said the hope they had during the campaign season has since turned into disappointment. 

We were campaigning with joy thinking our messiah has arrived, because Tinubu is someone we have loved for many years, and he has been helpful to actors,” he said.

Alapini revealed that he and many other veterans spent two months campaigning for Tinubu, expecting that their loyalty and visibility would be appreciated after the victory.

“That was why we came out to support him for two months.

“We spent two months campaigning for him.”

When asked what they received in return for their efforts, Alapini responded with a tone of resignation saying,”Maybe they are not in the right frame of mind to think about giving anything in return yet.”

He alleged that despite the visible participation of elderly actors in campaign events, neither Tinubu’s son Seyi Tinubu nor the All Progressives Congress acknowledged their efforts.

“Would Seyi claim that he did not see we the old folks during when we were out there campaigning?

“Was Seyi blind that he did not notice our presence, the senior actors?” he asked.

On the scale of their support, Alapini stated,“We were over a hundred. We were all walking around, both young and old.

“We even campaigned at areas where some individuals could not conduct campaigns.

“I was entering markets when I am not a mad man.

They did not give us anything.

“People were cursing us in comment sections when we were campaigning,” he said, referencing the backlash they faced online.

He cited the example of fellow actor Olaiya Igwe, who infamously stripped naked at a beach to pray for Tinubu’s victory.

“My friend Olaiya Igwe, who stripped himself naked in the beach because of Tinubu.

“ The curses that were placed on him, up till now he hasn’t been free from them.”

Alapini also debunked rumours that Igwe was rewarded with a car following the incident.

“Who gave him? It was not them,” he said flatly when the show host brought up the speculation.

When asked whether he would consider campaigning again for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, the actor was hesitant and visibly disillusioned.

He said,“I haven’t thought about it yet.

“It is not even about second term campaign.

“ Maybe our only form of support will be curses for anyone who chooses to vote for him.”

Alapini also criticised Seyi Tinubu for focusing philanthropic efforts in Northern Nigeria, suggesting that Yoruba communities have been sidelined.

“That Seyi is now running around the North paying their hospital bills.

“Aren’t there sick people here in Yorubaland too?

“How many hospitals has he visited here in Yorubaland to pay bills for sick people?” Alapini queried.

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that all opposition parties in Nigeria, except his African Action Congress, are under the influence and control of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Speaking on Rubbin’ Minds, a Channels Television talk show aired on Sunday, Sowore claimed that most of Nigeria’s opposition parties were deliberately created or co-opted by the APC as “special-purpose vehicles” for political convenience.

According to him, the AAC,which he founded in 2018 remains the only genuine opposition among the 18 registered political parties in the country.

Sowore said, ”What we found out in our little research is that most of the parties that are left, apart from AAC, are parties that were created by the major parties.

So This Happened (EP310) Reviews Oshiomhole, Air Peace and The Missed Flight Saga0:00 / 0:00

PUNCH Exclusive: Between Governance And Democracy - Prof Kila’s Take On Tinubu’s Midterm In Office0:00 / 0:00

“They call them feeder parties or special-purpose vehicles.”

He alleged that these smaller parties are often funded during election seasons by the APC to serve strategic interests, such as filing legal challenges that can be manipulated later in the ruling party’s favour.

Sowore explained, “Sometimes, some of the candidates or the parties are meant to help them with legal challenge.

“So they all go and challenge the election, and whomever has won would approach either the opposition party or the smaller parties and settle them.

“Everybody gets paid and walks away.”

He also criticised the behaviour of opposition parties during meetings with the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying many of them fail to act like opposition and appear ideologically aligned with the APC.

“The people that oppose us the most when we go to meetings are these other smaller parties that you think are in the opposition,” Sowore said.

When asked whether his criticism also applies to more prominent opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, Sowore replied, “Labour Party is the worst.”

He claimed that many LP members have defected to the APC because they were never truly opposed to the ruling party.

Sowore said,”That’s why I refer to the Labour Party as a short rental.

“Most of them that went to Labour Party saw an opportunity.

“They were coming from either PDP or APC.

“They walked in there, grabbed power, and then the moment they had the booty bag, they went back to where they’re coming from.”

At least five guns including two AK-47s, one G3, one pumping machine rifle, one PKT gun, and two AK-47 magazines were said to be submitted during a peace truce with ten bandits’ leaders terrorising Katsina State surrendered to government officials on Saturday.

The peace deal was held in the DanMusa Local Government Area of Katsina State as the bandits voluntarily surrendered their arms and released kidnapped victims including a 7-month pregnant woman during the agreement.

A source who confirmed to our correspondent in Katsina said the development was part of the ongoing arms surrender and disengagement initiative by the leadership of the Nigerian army in collaboration with critical stakeholders.

Those repentant kingpins who surrendered arms are Kamulu Buzaru, Manore, Nagwaggo, Lalbi, Alhaji Sani, Dogo Baidu, Dogo Nahalle, and Abdulkadir Black.

PUNCH Exclusive: Between Governance And Democracy - Prof Kila’s Take On Tinubu’s Midterm In Office0:00 / 0:00

PUNCH Exclusive: Between Governance And Democracy - Prof Kila’s Take On Tinubu’s Midterm in Office0:00 / 0:00

The group reportedly laid down their weapons and handed over 16 kidnapped persons comprising seven women and nine children on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

A video obtained by PUNCH Online shows ex-bandit leader, Adamu Alero speaking to the repentant bandits in Hausa, “All of you are my boys when it comes to this business, but I urge you to consider this an opportunity to denounce banditry because it is the only way to go.”

“I want to also advise the public that we should shun negative words when mingling with them as these surrender today, their families especially children will be reintegrated into society and education will be offered to them. We should rather serve as a source of encouragement to them and let us forget all that happened in the past.”, Alero said while addressing the crowd on Saturday.

One of the former bandits in the clip, though on head cover suspected to be Kamilu, spoke on behalf of others, and expressed their willingness to renounce criminality and embrace peaceful living within the community. They further pledged to release the remaining hostages still in their custody by Sunday, June 15.

Our correspondent learnt that rescued victims have since been handed over to the appropriate local government authorities for medical evaluation and reunion with their families.

The source also said all surrendered arms have been secured, while troops continue to maintain a strong presence in the area to ensure lasting peace and security.

All efforts to speak with the relevant officials proved abortive at the time of filing this report.