Defunct Heritage Bank’s depositors with N5 million minimum balance have described as unacceptable the announcement by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (NDIC) that they will receive only partial payment of the uninsured sums.

They stated this at the weekend while reacting to the statement by the NDIC on their initial outcry to the National Assembly to prevail on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure their trapped funds were released without further delays.

The depositors, who had lamented the sufferings they and their loved ones were going through as a result of their inability to access their funds deposited in the defunct Heritage Bank, noted that the NDIC’s statement of March 30 that it would pay those in the category on pro-rata basis further confirmed their fears of lack of resources and underscored the urgency of the situation.

Speaking through their leader, Ibrahim Elisha, the aggrieved depositors emphasised that the NDIC’s pro-rata payment scheme was inadequate and exposed severe funding deficiencies that could threaten public confidence in Nigeria’s banking system.

“The dire financial predicament facing us demands swift, decisive intervention from the Presidency, National Assembly, and the CBN.

“The NDIC has demonstrated its inability to fully reimburse affected depositors, even after liquidating the bank’s assets. A recent press statement—clearly issued in response to mounting media scrutiny—has confirmed that depositors will receive only partial payments, an unacceptable outcome that underscores the urgency of the situation.

“The NDIC’s pro-rata payment scheme is inadequate, exposing severe funding deficiencies that threaten public confidence in Nigeria’s banking system. For nine months, depositors have endured broken promises, uncertainty, and financial hardship.

“In times of distress, the CBN has historically provided bailout funds to stabilise financial institutions and prevent systemic collapse. It has done so in notable cases, including a N460 billion allocation to First Bank for Heritage Bank prior to its liquidation; support for the merger between Providus Bank and Unity Bank to preserve financial stability; a N700 billion lifeline extended to Unity Bank with favorable repayment terms; and the acquisition of Keystone Bank’s shares to avert institutional failure.”

They argued that it was incomprehensible that the CBN would neglect urgent intervention in their matter.

“Its inaction jeopardizes the entire financial ecosystem, creating unnecessary hardship for depositors who entrusted their savings to a bank that was assured to be stable.

“Delays are unacceptable. The credibility of Nigeria’s financial sector is on the line. If immediate bailout funds are not provided, public trust in financial institutions will erode, investor confidence will falter, and global banking observers will question Nigeria’s commitment to economic stability,” they stressed.

The depositors urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to mandate the CBN to release the necessary funds to NDIC for full depositor reimbursement.

They insisted: “Time is of the essence. Prolonged hesitation will intensify the crisis and inflict irreversible reputational damage. The government must step in without delay to restore trust, and protect vulnerable depositors. The consequences of inaction are far too grave. Immediate action is non-negotiable.”

In a statement by its acting Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Hawwau Gambo, NDIC explained that the excess of the insured N5 million already reimbursed would be paid as liquidation dividends in accordance with statutory mandate.

The statement reads: “With the considerable progress recorded in the asset realisation, the corporation will declare the first tranche of liquidation dividends in April 2025 which will be paid to uninsured depositors on a pro-rata basis, in line with Section 72 of the NDIC Act 2023 on the priority of claims.

“For clarity, the referenced section states that: ‘Where an insured institution is unable to meet its obligations or suspends payment, or where its management and control have been taken over by the Central Bank of Nigeria following the revocation of its license, the assets of the insured institution shall be available to meet its deposit liabilities. Such deposit liabilities shall have priority over all other liabilities of the insured institution’.

“Consequently, other claimants of the failed bank, including creditors, and shareholders, will be considered for payment of liquidation dividends only after all depositors have been fully reimbursed.

“The NDIC wishes to reiterate its commitment to the safety of depositors’ funds in all licensed banks. Members of the public are enjoined to continue their banking activities without fear, as all other banks remain safe and sound.”

[TheNation]

As coalition talks to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections gain traction, northern stakeholders are pushing for southern aspirants to commit to a single-term agreement.

A source involved in the coalition negotiations, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak on the issue, told The PUNCH that northern stakeholders are urging former Vice President Atiku Abubakar not to run.

The source added that most stakeholders believe that if all coalition leaders unite behind a southern candidate, President Tinubu can be defeated.

On March 20, the 2023 presidential candidate of  the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of a coalition aimed at removing President Tinubu in 2027.

The debate about whether opposition parties should unite to challenge President Tinubu’s administration has been intensifying, with various political figures sharing different opinions.

Former Vice President Atiku has been a strong advocate for opposition unity, emphasising the importance of collaboration.

On March 8, he revealed his efforts to unite opposition groups and form a coalition to oust the APC.

Following El-Rufai’s switch from the APC to the Social Democratic Party on March 10, discussions among opposition leaders gained significant momentum.

Atiku and other opposition figures declared that the March 20 meeting marked the official launch of the coalition.

It was previously reported by Sunday PUNCH on March 23 that the negotiations among political leaders are being delayed due to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ambitions and the zoning dispute.

The source mentioned that the stakeholders have multiple options to resolve all the concerns.

He stated, “There are numerous concerns among all stakeholders involved in the coalition negotiations, with the North-South issue being the primary concern.

“Most of us understand that if we field a competent and credible southern candidate, defeating President Tinubu would be much easier. Therefore, many stakeholders, especially those from the North, are urging Atiku to step down and allow the coalition to support a southern candidate who will serve a single term if elected.

“In fact, some of these stakeholders are insisting that any southern aspirant the coalition will support must agree to a single-term commitment.

These issues are emerging, but we are committed to addressing them as they arise and accommodating the many Nigerians who are fed up with the APC’s maladministration. Our goal is to ensure a fair process that represents the interests of the people and strengthens the unity of the coalition.”

When reached for comment, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, confirmed that the proposal for southern aspirants to sign a single-term agreement, along with other options, is under consideration by the stakeholders.

In an interview with our correspondent, Ahmeh stated that the opposition forces against President Tinubu are greater than those faced by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.

He stated, “The signing of a single-term agreement by a southerner is part of what is on the table, but this has not been concluded yet. It has not reached a conclusion.

“Peter Obi and some other southern aspirants are involved. I believe that the decision will be reached in the next few weeks.

“There are many options on the table. People are bringing different permutations, but the fact still remains that you can’t put the cart before the horse. As soon as the agreement is reached, we will communicate it to the public.

“It is very obvious that more Nigerians have realised that this government is doing us more harm than good. So, quite a lot of Nigerians are joining the coalition. There are more opposition forces against this government than there were against former President Jonathan in 2014.

“So, I urge all coalition stakeholders and other opposition leaders to sustain this commitment so that we can come together to rescue this country from the failed APC.”

When reached for comment, former Vice President Atiku cautioned against speculation that could undermine the coalition negotiations.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Atiku, through his media aide, Paul Ibe, emphasised that any agreement made will be binding for all parties involved.

He stated, “The agreement must be between the stakeholders, and we cannot speculate about it because discussions are still ongoing. We don’t need to reach conclusions while discussions are still ongoing. Once an agreement is reached, it will be binding, but until then, we must refrain from drawing conclusions about the ongoing process.

“Yes, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar is committed. What’s important for him is not to put the cart before the horse. His Excellency, like other leaders, believes that the only way to remove those who don’t mean well for our people and our country is by having a strong, united coalition.

“That coalition must be robust and strong enough to push forward. That is what they are working towards, and it is the most important goal, above all else.”

The National Chairman of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, corroborated that nationwide consultation is ongoing.

He stated, “I am not in a position to say anything now. I can’t tell you what we intend to do and how far we have gone, consultation is ongoing.

“We are doing more consultations. When we get to the bridge, we’ll cross it. But our consultations are ongoing nationwide. I am not going to disclose who is involved in the consultation and other details.”

However, the PDP National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, criticised the push for a southerner to sign a single-term agreement, calling it premature.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Osadolor urged coalition stakeholders to keep the opportunity open for capable Nigerians.

He stated, “For me, I think it is premature to narrow this contest to the South. If we say a southerner must run, who are the southerners capable of running and dismantling this monstrosity called the APC government? There are just three people: former President Goodluck Jonathan, Obi, and I don’t think there is anyone as formidable as the Oyo State governor.

“I am not going to speak for all the other southerners who want to run, with all due respect to them. But I think we should allow Nigerians, irrespective of where they come from, to pursue their ambitions. That is the best way we can defeat the APC.

“And if among those who come forward, we unanimously agree to support one, regardless of the geopolitical region they hail from, it will be a collective democratic decision and no one will accuse the coalition of denying them their rights.”

Reacting to the scheming by the opposition, the APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the coalition efforts, stating that the ruling party’s popularity among Nigerians is growing.

According to Ibrahim, the APC remains unfazed, and the party’s accomplishments will ultimately vindicate President Tinubu.

He stated, “Again, the ruling party, the APC is not bothered, because all the people involved (in the coalition) are people who have gone to the polls against the APC and lost.

 “The APC, from the period it beat them to defeat, has not lost its membership but has been increasing its membership, and its tentacles of leadership are increasingly growing.

 “The people will continue to realise the good dividends of democracy from the APC government, such that they will not regret voting for the party, nor will they think of giving up.

“So, the achievements of the ruling APC under President Tinubu will shame all opposition forces and their plans.”

Two Nigerian nationals and a Texan have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a multi-million dollar tax refund fraud scheme that exploited stolen identities and laundered proceeds through both U.S. and foreign financial institutions.

Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. announced the sentencing of Imafedia Adevokhai, 47, of Alpharetta, Georgia; Osazuwa Peter Okunoghae, 46, of Houston, Texas; and Michael Martin, 52, of Texarkana, Texas, following their guilty pleas in connection with the conspiracy.

Adevokhai, a Nigerian national, pleaded guilty to money laundering on February 15, 2023, and was sentenced on April 2, 2025, to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III. He was also ordered to pay $90,380.60 in restitution and $3,500 in forfeiture.

Okunoghae, another Nigerian national residing in Houston, received the harshest sentence of the trio — 78 months in federal prison — after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy in November 2019.

He was sentenced on January 13, 2022, and ordered to pay $451,117.63 in both restitution and forfeiture.

Martin, the only American among the convicted, pleaded guilty to conspiracy on February 14, 2023. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison on November 21, 2023, and ordered to pay $90,380.60 in restitution and $121,623.41 in forfeiture.

According to court records, the three men were involved in a sophisticated Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) operation spanning multiple years. They used personal identifying information from dozens of victims to file fraudulent tax returns totaling nearly $5 million, causing a confirmed loss of over $390,000 to the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“The Eastern District of Texas is committed to prosecuting individuals who participate in schemes to steal personal information, prepare and file fraudulent tax returns, and launder the proceeds,” McGlothin said.

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) agents uncovered the fraud after tracing a complex network of financial transactions involving multiple U.S. and foreign bank accounts.

Special Agent Christopher J. Altemus Jr., who leads the IRS-CI Dallas Field Office, praised the agency’s investigators, stating, “Their sentences should be a warning to anyone who would try to defraud the U.S. Government or prey on law-abiding taxpayers.”

The investigation revealed that Adevokhai primarily handled the preparation and submission of the fraudulent tax returns, while Okunoghae and Martin focused on laundering the proceeds — transferring funds through various accounts in a bid to obscure the source of the money.

The case dates back to a broader 2019 indictment that included individuals from three U.S. states and others based in Nigeria, pointing to a transnational fraud network.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and Sean Taylor.

Federal authorities reiterated that prosecuting SIRF crimes remains a top priority, as such schemes threaten the integrity of the U.S. tax system and drain billions from public coffers.

Vanguard News

There is no denying the fact that President Bola Tinubu has the highest number of media aides in the history of Nigeria, in the same manner his government boasts of the highest number of ministers. However, this cacophony of voices appears to be singing disjointed music, with the songs sounding fragmented, uneven or more like a ‘broken record’, like a former special adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, is wont to say.

In June 2023, the president appointed Dele Alake, his former commissioner of information during his tenure as Lagos state governor, as special adviser, special duties, communications and strategy, making him the first media aide to the president. Soon after, he was named the minister of solid minerals development, a development sources claimed was orchestrated by a powerful cabal in the villa who did not want Alake to have direct access to the president as his chief spokesperson.

Many Nigerians criticised Alake’s appointment as solid minerals minister because he has no expertise in the sector. However, he later clarified that the president decided to shock Nigerians by not appointing him to the information ministry, which he has a background in, but drafted him to the solid minerals ministry because of his sense of responsibility, expertise, and track record.

Hear him: “My portfolio has been the upset of the entire cabinet because given my antecedents, exposure, and experience in the area of perception, information management, and the likes, so most people have pigeonholed me for information, and so we decided to shock everybody. Now if you all can sit down to analyse the global trend of economic development, you would note that the hydrocarbon – that is, the oil is fading out and the world is moving towards alternatives like gas, electric cars, and the rest. So what is the next economic growth factor? It is solid mineral. Given the nature of this sector to our economic growth and vitality of this country which is dear to the heart of Mr President, it’s just very apt and proper for him to send me here because he knows and trusts that I have a demonstrable sense of responsibility and courage to drive the agenda; that is why I am here. We are going to drive that agenda with the full cooperation of everyone.”

Two years down the line, whether Alake’s impact has been felt in the solid minerals ministry is left for Nigerians to decide.

In July 2023, the president appointed Ajuri Ngelale as his special adviser on media and publicity. In October of the same year, he also appointed Bayo Onanuga, a veteran journalist and one of his close allies, as special adviser on information and strategy. As sources in the villa have confirmed, the young Ngelale, who added the prefix ‘Chief’ to his name, saw Onanuga as a ‘rival wife who had come to share the same husband with him’ while forgetting that while he was working as a media aide to former President Buhari, it was the likes of Onanuga who were receiving social media bullets for the president and following him everywhere during the electioneering campaign. Ngelale, who went into oblivion after he was technically eased out, crawled out of the hole last week to wish the president, whom he described as ‘his father’, a happy 73rd birthday. Like the Yorubas will say, ‘Baba egbe mo oye omo to bi (The father knows the number of his children).

In August, the president also named Muhammed Idris as minister of information and national orientation. Despite occupying such a visible portfolio, the highly reticent Idris, unfortunately, is one of the unknown ministers in the president’s cabinet. Unlike his predecessor, Lai Mohammed, ask many Nigerians who Nigeria’s current minister of information is, and I can bet a lot of people won’t know.

Aside from Onanuga, other members of the president’s media team are Daniel Bwala (Special Adviser, Policy Communication); Sunday Dare (Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications); Tunde Rahman (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Media); Abdulaziz Abdulaziz (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Print Media); O’tega Ogra – (Senior Special Assistant (Digital/New Media); Tope Ajayi – Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs); Segun Dada (Special Assistant — Social Media); Nosa Asemota – Special Assistant (Visual Communication); Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement); Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications) and Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs).

With all these people managing the public image and media affairs of the president, one then begins to wonder why there is still a huge disconnect between the government and Nigerians. Aside from Onanuga, the head of the media and publicity directorate who has been doing a yeoman’s job so far, who else can one pinpoint as speaking for the president? I can’t remember Tunde Rahman granting any interview as a presidential spokesperson; the last time I read about him, he represented the president at the service of songs organised for the late Doyin Okupe in Lagos.

When Daniel Bwala was appointed as special adviser on media and public communications to the president, he claimed he was the official spokesperson to President Tinubu; the presidency issued a statement that the president has no individual spokesperson but all three special advisers – Bayo Onanuga, Sunday Dare and Daniel Bwala – will “collectively serve as spokespersons for the government”. How can you have three special advisers jointly speaking for one president who claims he has implemented the Oronsaye report aimed at cutting the cost of governance? What will Sunday Dare or Bwala say that Onanuga alone can’t say?

Since his redesignation, Bwala, an erudite lawyer, has been trying his best to communicate the policies and reforms of the president to Nigerians. However, many Nigerians hardly take what he says with a pinch of salt, given his antecedents and previous negative remarks about the personality of the president. While he claimed he joined the administration to support President Tinubu in delivering his Renewed Hope promises, many Nigerians see Bwala as a two-faced Janus and sycophant who did a 360-degree turn from his former principal, Atiku Abubakar, after he lost the presidential election.

Of course, you can’t blame Nigerians for not believing anything Bwala says. How can you successfully market a president whom you accused of electoral fraud and certificate forgery? How can you sell the policies of the same president whom you said will fail like his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari? Or didn’t Bwala even say if you give President Tinubu 30 years in office, he will achieve nothing? Only an irredeemable irredentist who is completely bereft of intellect will believe any positive thing such a man now comes back to say about the president.

While President Tinubu has a track record of making fewer enemies and winning even his staunchest critics to his side, not all of them should be appointed as media aides if they agreed to serve in his government. There should be other media units away from the presidency where they can contribute their quota to the development of the nation. The president’s current media team is too unwieldy. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

On a final note, there should be synergy on how the president’s media team will communicate his agenda and policies to the people. As done in the United Kingdom, there should be a chain of command and if possible, approval needs to be sought before commenting on sensitive issues. In this era, people don’t wait for official statements anymore. A social media comment or reply to a post by a media aide can be misconstrued as the official position of the government. This was evident in the case involving Temitope Ajayi in the NYSC saga and Ridwan Ajetunmobi, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s senior special assistant on print media who faced backlash and was suspended for a reply he made to a post on social media.

In driving change, communications specialists, especially media aides to the president need to be diplomatic and sensitive to the people’s needs. A communications professional should understand the mood of the people and what they need before making comments, while also bearing in mind that you can’t please everyone as some people will always find fault no matter how hard you try. A media aide to the president cannot just jump on social media and begin to attack Nigerians, especially the outspoken Gen-Z youths who are feeling the hardship associated with the reforms, even if they describe him in unsavoury terms.

You can’t expect a person who was buying fuel at N187 per litre two years ago but is now buying it at N950 per litre to keep mute; neither can you browbeat a woman who now buys a crate of eggs for N6,500, an item that was N600 less than two years ago? Be empathetic and let the people know that fundamental and sustainable reforms are not easy the world over, but with the right policies and patience, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of Daily Independent, currently studies sustainability communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The federal government has ordered the management of federal higher institutions to publish their financial data and academic capacity before May 31, 2025.

Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, said all vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts must provide their annual budgetary allocation, including “their personnel costs, overhead costs, and capital expenditure”.

The minister communicated this directive in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, the ministry’s spokesperson.

Alausa mandated school managements to also disclose data around their research grants “from foreign institutions, multilateral organisations, and development partners”.

The statement added that institutions must include the findings received from TETFund.

“The directive further mandates that institutions publish the total value of their endowment fund as recorded at the end of the previous year,” the statement reads in part.

“This figure, which reflects funds donated or invested for the institution’s long-term financial health, must be updated quarterly to ensure currency and transparency.

Alausa asked the institutions to reveal the current population of their undergraduate and postgraduate students to “determine their enrolment and institutional capacity”.

The ministry stated that the information must be presented in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly format before May 31.

“Websites should be structured in a way that allows the public, including parents, students, and stakeholders, to easily locate and understand these data points,” it added.

“All federal institutions are expected to comply fully with this directive and ensure that their websites are completely updated.

Alausa said the ministry will conduct periodic reviews of institutional websites and punish non-compliant institutions.

“This policy is part of a broader reform initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the nation’s tertiary institutions, enhancing performance-based funding, and improving Nigeria’s global education indices,” he added.

[TheCable]

Football requires unwavering dedication, hard work, and discipline, often leading many players to focus solely on their careers at the expense of education. 

However, some exceptional Nigerian footballers have managed to excel both on the field and in academics, proving that a successful football career and higher education can go hand in hand. 

In this article, we highlight 10 Super Eagles stars who have earned college degrees while competing at the highest level.

1. William Troost-Ekong

As the captain of the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong has demonstrated strong leadership under pressure. Beyond his football career, he holds a degree in Business Administration, which has helped shape his leadership qualities on and off the pitch. His commitment to education underscores the importance of balancing academics with professional sports.

2. Kelechi Iheanacho

Affectionately known as “Senior Man” by his Leicester City teammates and fans, Kelechi Iheanacho is not only an influential figure in football but also a degree holder in Business and Marketing from the University of Manchester. 

3. Wilfred Ndidi

A midfield powerhouse for both the Super Eagles and his club, Wilfred Ndidi is more than just an engine on the field. He holds a degree in Business Management Studies, proving that academic excellence and football success can go hand in hand.

4. Leon Balogun

The reliable Super Eagles center-back, Leon Balogun, earned a degree in Social Sciences from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. His dedication to academics reflects the same drive and determination he exhibits on the pitch.

5. John Ogu

An outstanding midfielder who played a key role in Nigeria’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, John Ogu earned a degree in Finance from the National Open University of Nigeria.

6. Oghenekaro Etebo

A seasoned midfielder with experience playing for clubs like Getafe, Galatasaray, and Watford, Oghenekaro Etebo has also excelled academically. He holds a degree in Economics and Development Studies.

7. Taiwo Awoniyi

Currently playing as a striker for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, Taiwo Awoniyi is actively furthering his education. He is enrolled in a Sporting Directorship course at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Business School. In addition, he holds a diploma in Business Administration and Marketing Management and is pursuing an online Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

8. Cyriel Dessers

Born to a Belgian father and a Nigerian mother, Cyriel Dessers chose to represent Nigeria at the international level. While playing for OH Leuven’s youth teams, he pursued a Law degree at KU Leuven, demonstrating his commitment to both football and education.

9. Maduka Okoye

The Super Eagles’ third-choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, has a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Management/Economics along with a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration—an impressive academic achievement alongside his football career.

10. Sone Aluko

Sone Aluko, a former Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, has played for various clubs, including Hull City and Reading. Aluko is known for his skills on the pitch, but he’s also an accomplished scholar with a degree in business management from the University of Houston. 

[TheNation]

A group known as the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation has opposed the reported consideration of former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro, for an ambassadorial position meant to represent Lagos State.

In a statement released on Sunday by its media office, the foundation raised concerns over Pedro’s eligibility for the position, emphasising that he is not an indigene of Lagos State, despite having served as the deputy governor in the past.

The group criticised the ongoing practice of appointing non-indigenes to positions meant for Lagos, which it argued undermines the state’s constitutional rights and the interests of its indigenous people.

The statement read, “It has come to our attention that Femi Pedro is being considered for appointment as an Ambassador representing Lagos State. We strongly oppose this move and urge all well-meaning Lagosians to speak out against it before the appointment is finalised.

“Femi Pedro is not an indigene of Lagos State, regardless of him being ‘appointed’ once as Deputy Governor for whatever reason, favouring the party, and as such should not be presented as a representative of our state in any national or international capacity.

“The continued use of Lagos State’s constitutional quota for non-indigenes is both unjust and unacceptable. We must not allow a repeat of what happened with the recent ministerial appointment, where the true sons and daughters of Lagos State were sidelined in favour of outsiders.”

The foundation stressed that the ambassadorial position is a significant platform that should reflect the voice and heritage of Lagosians.

It contended that Lagos deserves authentic representation at all levels of government, particularly in roles that directly serve the state’s cultural and political aspirations.

The group also pointed to the recent ministerial appointment, which it claimed saw the sidelining of indigenous Lagosians in favour of outsiders, reinforcing their concerns about the marginalisation of the state’s true sons and daughters.

The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation called on political leaders, traditional rulers, community groups, and all concerned citizens to defend the rights of Lagos indigenes.

It urged that Lagos State’s constitutional quota be strictly reserved for qualified indigenes who are deeply connected to the state’s values, culture, and needs.

The group added, “The ambassadorship is a critical platform that should reflect the voice, interest and heritage of Lagos State and its indigenous people. We deserve authentic representation at all levels of government, particularly in appointments that are meant to serve the interests of our state.

“We call on all Lagos-based political leaders, traditional rulers, community associations, and concerned citizens to rise in defence of our rights. We must demand that the Lagos State quota is reserved strictly for qualified indigenes who have lived the Lagos experience and can genuinely represent our culture, values and aspirations.

“This is not just about one nomination; it is about preserving the dignity, identity and rightful place of Lagosians in the national landscape.”

In its final appeal, the foundation urged the Department of State Services and other authorities involved in the screening of ambassadorial nominees to reject Pedro’s nomination, reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the identity and dignity of the people of Lagos.

“Let it be known — we will not remain silent anymore while our state is continually being shortchanged because of political expediency and gerrymandering by those who are determined to keep the indigenes of the state in perpetual servitude in order to achieve their political objectives.

“To this end, we call to the Department of State Services and others involved in the screening of nominees for ambassadorial positions not to screen or confirm Femi Pedro because he is not an indigene of Lagos State,” the statement added.

The Federal Government is currently reviewing potential candidates for diplomatic positions across its 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 global consulates, according to Sunday PUNCH.

Reliable sources close to the process have disclosed that former Aviation Minister under the Obasanjo administration, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, and Pedro are among the nominees.

Sunday PUNCH also learned that the vetting process is not being handled centrally; instead, nominees are instructed to report to the nearest DSS office for their evaluations.

The Federal Government has said that the 14 percent reciprocal tariffs imposed on Nigeria by US President, Donald Trump, has the potential of adversely impacting on Nigeria’s oil and non-oil exports.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, stated in a statement, saying that the development could potentially disrupt trade relations and undermine the competitiveness of Nigerian products in the US market, especially in sectors reliant on market access and price competitiveness.

She, however, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to mitigating the impact while accelerating economic diversification.

According to the minister, Nigeria’s exports to the United States have averaged $5–6 billion annually in the last two years.

Oduwole said: “A significant portion of Nigeria’s exports (over 90 per cent ) comprises crude petroleum, mineral fuels, oils, and gas products. The second-largest export category, accounting for approximately 2–3 per cent, includes fertilizers and urea, followed by lead, representing around one per cent of total exports valued at approximately $82 million.

“Nigeria also exports smaller quantities of agricultural products such as live plants, flour, and nuts, which account for less than two per cent of our total exports to the U.S.

“While oil has long dominated Nigeria’s exports to the US, non-oil products, many previously exempt under AGOA, now face potential disruption.

“A new 10 per cent tariff on key categories may impact the competitiveness of Nigerian goods in the U.S. For businesses in the non-oil sector, these measures present destabilising challenges to price competitiveness and market access, especially in emerging and value-added sectors vital to our diversification agenda.”

The minister also noted that smaller businesses, particularly SMEs, that rely on the African Growth and Opportunity Act exemptions would feel the brunt of the new tariff, with rising costs and uncertain buyer commitments likely to make market access even more difficult.

She added, “This development strengthens Nigeria’s resolve to boost its non-oil exports by strengthening quality assurance, control, and traceability in Nigerian exports to meet global standards and improve market acceptance into more economies across the globe.”

[Vanguard]

The Nigeria Police Force has withdrawn its earlier invitation extended to Alhaji Aminu Sanusi in connection with the unfortunate incident that occurred in Kano State during the Sallah celebration on March 30, 2025. The invitation was initially issued to enable Alhaji Sanusi to provide his account of the events that led to the breakdown of law and order in the state.

However, following advice from respected stakeholders and in line with the Inspector-General of Police's commitment to ensuring that policing actions are not politicized or misinterpreted, the IGP has directed that the invitation be withdrawn. Instead, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) have been mandated on the instructions of the IGP to proceed to Kano to obtain Alhaji Sanusi's statement.

Prior to the Sallah Day celebration, credible intelligence at the disposal of the Police indicated that the two (2) disputed Emirs in Kano State -Alh Ado Bayero and Alh Lamido Sanusi were planning to hold separate Durbar Festivals. The Durbar Festival is a long held tradition which involves a recognized Emir riding on horses around the city in company of his people.

To forestall possible violence, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, deployed the Coordinating DIG for the North West who also serves as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, DIG Abubakar Sadiq, mni , to engage in dialogue with the two disputed Emirs in kano and the Kano State Government. It was mutually agreed that no Durbar Festival would be held to preserve peace and public safety and none of the disputed emirs will ride on horse on Sallah day.

Despite this agreement, Alhaji Aminu Sanusi who had attended the Eid Prayers in his car, decided to mount a horse in a procession after Eid Prayers on Sallah Day, accompanied by local vigilantes. This triggered a confrontation by youths in the community, leading to the tragic death of one Usman Sagiru, and leaving several others injured. A situation which the Force had earlier warned against and intended to avert by the emissaries sent earlier to both Alhaji Sanusi and Alhaji Ado Bayero

The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, remains resolute in its commitment to conducting its criminal investigation duties with the highest level of professionalism including the investigation of this incident. All individuals found culpable will at the end be brought to justice. To this effect, some arrests have been made prompting invitation to Alhaji Sanusi. The Force also wishes to reiterate that its actions are guided solely by the principles of justice, neutrality, and professionalism.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA

As he settled in to deliver the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on 2 April 2025, presiding judge, Wilfred Kpochi, felt obliged to get one ritual out of the way. Glancing left and right, he asked each of his two colleagues on the three-person tribunal to confirm that the judgment he was about to deliver was unanimous. Justice Kpochi only proceeded after each, one to his left and the other to his right, nodded their affirmation.

The judge had good reason for this preliminary ritual. 48 hours before it was due, a leaked document purporting to be the judgment of the tribunal went into circulation. Ahead of judgment day, both leading parties in the electoral contest which had inexorably mutated into a judicial one – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – felt compelled to issue duelling statements denouncing the leak and blaming the other for it. The APC claimed that “the PDP leaked a fake judgment, knowing they would lose”, while the PDP “accused the APC of using the leaked fake document to gauge public reaction.” 

The leaked document suggested that the tribunal would deliver a split verdict, with one of the three judges dissenting from the majority of two who were supposed to decide against the petition of the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo. When, therefore, the presiding judge asked his colleagues to affirm that the judgment was unanimous, he sought to telegraph that tales of the leak of their judgment were unfounded or, in any case, had misdescribed the decision of the tribunal. Instead of a split decision suggested by the leak, this was a unanimous court. 

This was far from the first time that the decision of an election petition tribunal in Nigeria would be foreshadowed by suggestions or allegations of a leak ahead of its delivery. 

At the onset of presidentialism in Nigeria in 1979, the contest between Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Obafemi Awolowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) ended up before the presidential election tribunal. On 20 August 1979, Obafemi Awolowo filed his petition against the declaration of Shehu Shagari as the winner of the election. The following day, military ruler, General Olusegun Obasanjo, invited Atanda Fatayi Williams to the Dodan Barracks (as the seat of government then in Lagos was called) and offered him the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). 

Fatayi Williams’ first task was to adjudicate Chief Awolowo’s petition. The military had committed to handing over power on 1 October, a mere 40 days later. General Obasanjo, who was overseeing arrangements for a high profile handover to an elected successor, was anxious to know that the Supreme Court would not torpedo his plans. It was credibly suspected that he received the necessary assurances from his hand-picked CJN well ahead of the judgment.

In March 2008, Action Congress (AC), the party then led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, vigorously alleged that the outcome of the presidential election petition challenging the announcement of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP as the winner of the 2007 presidential election, had leaked. Lai Mohammed, the spokesperson of the party at the time, denounced the leak, proclaiming that the judgment would “not stand the test of time.”

Fifteen years later, as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal issued a 48-hour notice of the delivery of its judgment on 4 September 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the candidate of the APC, whose announcement on 1 March as the winner of the presidential election was under challenge, departed for New Delhi, India, to attend the G-20 Summit. He arrived in India on 5 September, the day before the judgment, guaranteeing that he was going to be outside the country when the tribunal delivered its judgment. Many people believed that Tinubu travelled to India with the confidence of a man who had been assured ahead of schedule of the outcome that the tribunal would announce the day after he landed in India.

Whether these allegations were true in any specific case is a subject for another day. Far from diminishing over the years, however, credible suspicions of breach of the deliberative confidentiality of judicial decision-making in election disputes and political cases in Nigeria have grown. They enjoy high credulity with the public, an indication of a deep-seated deficit of credibility that now clearly afflicts the business of what judges do in political and electoral disputes in Nigeria.

At the valedictory session of the 9th Senate in June 2023, Adamu Bulkachuwa, the senator for Bauchi North, confirmed suspicions of unconscionably intimate dalliances between judges and politicians when he appreciated his colleagues “whom (sic) have come to me and sought for my help when my wife was the President of the Court of Appeal.” Senator Bulkachuwa did not forget to thank his wife “whose freedom and independence I encroached upon while she was in office…. She has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment and extended her help to my colleagues.” His wife, Zainab, was President of the Court of Appeal from 2014 to 2020.

For insisting on calling attention to this kind of criminal acccessorisation of judges, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory who is also a member of Nigeria’s Body of Benchers (BoB), invited the grandees of the BoB who visited him in his office at the end of last month to dispense with basic niceties of process and “punish” me. His 36 minute-long harangue to the old men and women of the BoB who were his guests, was occasionally punctuated with enthusiastic applause belying the average age of the group as well as the kind of undisguised ridicule which they had to endure for both themselves and the institutions of the judicial process in Nigeria. Such cravenness from the leadership of the self-described “body of practitioners of the highest distinction in the legal profession in Nigeria”, bodes ill for judicial credibility and independence. 

As Mr. Wike was busy meeting with them, an advocate who had spent his life campaigning against that tendency took a characteristically unpretentious leave. 

Raised in Agbor, Delta state, by a father who was a high school teacher from Imo State, Joseph Otteh was one of the first two colleagues whom I engaged in the legal directorate of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Lagos in 1991. He brought tremendous integrity, intellect, and industry to the role, and had remarkable reserves of empathy.

In 1999, Joe founded the group Access to Justice “to work towards rebuilding the institutional credibility of the Nigerian legal and justice system, restoring public faith in its institutions.” He approached that task with both courage and single-mindedness, doing a lot of good along the way.

Joe epitomised the lawyer as a gentleman and professional of civic virtue. On 28 March, he succumbed reportedly to complications from Diabetes, leaving behind an aged mother, wife and three children.

30 years ago, in 1995, Joe authored a defining study of the customary court system in the 17 states of southern Nigeria under the title The Fading Lights of Justice. As an advocate, Joseph Otteh did his utmost to ensure that those lights were kept aflame. That title could only have come from a man who was well ahead of his time and had the acuity to see the future. The Heavens will be enriched by the acquisition of this incredible angel. 

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.