A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said that his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress is based on the need to build a platform free from godfatherism and internal dysfunction.

El-Rufai, who made the remarks while answering questions from newsmen in Kano on Monday, noted that Nigeria needs a credible political alternative to rescue it from its current existential threats.

“These anomalies (godfatherism and internal dysfunction) destroyed the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party,” he said.

El-Rufai said he was in the ancient city of Kano to visit the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and to meet with SDP leaders to strategise on building a strong grassroots political movement in the state. 

“Kano is critical to any serious political formation because of its consistently high voter turnout. After joining the SDP, it was important to come and engage with relevant stakeholders here,” he said.

On why he left the All Progressives Congress, a party he helped to form, the former Kaduna State Governor said the political realities in Nigeria had changed.

“Twelve years ago, we merged three major parties to form the APC and defeated an incumbent president. But now, the goal is different.

“We are bringing together disaffected members across political divides under an existing platform — the SDP — which we believe has the best pedigree and potential,” he said.

According to him, the SDP offers a fresh opportunity, being a platform not controlled by any individual.

“We saw how godfatherism destroyed the PDP and is now wrecking the APC. Nigerians deserve a party built on fairness, internal democracy, and equal opportunity. The SDP can be that alternative,” he maintained.

Speaking on the contentious debate about rotational presidency, El-Rufai said that while he previously advocated for a power shift to the South, Nigeria’s challenges now demand that competence and leadership capacity, not geography, should determine who leads.

“Our problems are too severe to care about where the next president comes from. We need someone with vision and the ability to fix Nigeria’s fundamental issues,” he said.

El-Rufai, who confirmed that there are ongoing coalition talks involving five major political groups aimed at forming a strong opposition movement under the SDP, dismissed the belief that the SDP is a northern movement.

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Apo has dismissed an application filed by Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), seeking to reclaim an estate seized by the federal government.

On December 2, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)secured the final forfeiture of an estate in the FCT.

The estate, located at Plot 109, Cadastral Zone CO9, Lokogoma District, covers 150,500 square metres in the country’s capital and contains 753 duplexes.

Although the estate was initially linked to a company that later denied ownership, Emefiele, through his lawyer, A.M. Kotoye, filed a motion as an interested party in the suit.

The former CBN governor sought an extension of time to apply to set aside the interim and final forfeiture orders made by the court in December 2024.

Emefiele contended that the entire forfeiture process was conducted without his knowledge and alleged that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an obscure section of a newspaper, making it difficult for him to respond timely.

According to him, he had been standing trial in three separate criminal cases across different courts in Abuja and Lagos during the period, making it impossible for him to discover the publication.

He also accused the EFCC of deliberately concealing the forfeiture proceedings, despite the agency’s frequent interactions with him on other pending charges.

However, in his ruling, Jude Onwuegbuzie, the presiding judge, held that although the principle of functus officio—which means a court becomes powerless after delivering judgment— was raised, the court still had the authority to revisit its decisions under certain conditions.

The judge pointed out that section 17(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, clearly outlines the notice requirements for forfeiture proceedings.

He rejected Emefiele’s claim that the publication was obscure, noting that the half-page notice in a national newspaper was sufficient and could not reasonably be described as hidden.

Onwuegbuzie emphasised that only individuals with a demonstrable interest in forfeited property are entitled to challenge such proceedings, similar to the rules guiding applications to join ongoing lawsuits.

The judge held that Emefiele had been given an adequate opportunity, spanning over 14 days, to contest the forfeiture but failed to do so.

Consequently, the judge dismissed his motion and ruled in favour of the EFCC.

• Warri refinery shutdown drags on since January 25, P/Harcourt refinery struggles at under 40% production capacity

Industry operators and experts have questioned the operational integrity of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, particularly regarding transparency, efficiency, and overall management of Nigeria’s refineries under its purview.

This is after the revelation that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company has remained shut since January 25, 2025, due to safety issues in its Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater.

An April 2025 document on the Midstream and Downstream sector obtained from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority revealed that the refinery, which consumed $897.6m in maintenance costs, failed to produce Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and was shut down barely a month after former NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, declared it operational.

Industry operators and experts described this as disheartening, while further findings showed that the Port Harcourt Refining Company, which resumed operations in November 2024, has been operating below 40 per cent capacity. 

The PUNCH reports that the 125,000 barrels per day capacity Warri refinery, which had been moribund for decades due to technical issues, was brought back to life by the national oil company on December 30, 2024.

Situated in Ekpan, Uwvie, and Ubeji areas of Warri, the petrochemical plant has an annual production capacity of 13,000 metric tonnes of polypropylene and 18,000 metric tonnes of carbon black.

Commissioned in 1978, the WRPC is operated by the NNPC and was established to cater to the markets in Nigeria’s southern and southwestern regions.

The PUNCH reported that President Bola Tinubu commended the NNPCL for completing the refurbishment of the 125,000-bpd capacity Warri refinery, which reportedly kicked off operations at 60 per cent capacity.

It is focused on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene, Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and heavy and light Naphtha.

Briefing his team before the tour following the revitalisation, Kyari had said many Nigerians doubt such projects were real or possible in the country, but insisted the revitalisation was genuine and visible.

Kyari said, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.

“I must congratulate our team for their determination and extreme belief that this company can restart this plant. This has brought the result we are seeing in collaboration with our contractors. We have proved that it is possible to restart a plant that you deliberately shut down. We have proved this.”

However, the document obtained exclusively from the NMDPRA, providing detailed production data for each refinery in the country, revealed that the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, with an installed capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, has remained shut since January 25, 2025.

The report linked the shutdown to critical faults in the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit Main Heater, which raised safety concerns and forced a complete halt in operations.

“The Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company was shut down on 25th Jan. 2025 due to safety concerns over the CDU Main Heater,” the document stated.

It further stated that the Port Harcourt refinery, with a nameplate capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, has been operating at just 37.87 per cent of its installed capacity six months after its long-awaited revitalisation.

The refinery’s monthly production data showed that it produced a monthly average of 82.55 million litres of refined petroleum products between November 2024 and April 2025, 135.45ML less than its estimated optimal production of 218 million litres per month.

The latest development also contradicts claims by the NNPCL spokesperson, Femi Soneye, that the Port Harcourt refinery recommissioned on November 26, 2024, was operating at 70 per cent of its installed capacity, with plans to increase output to 90 per cent in subsequent months.

The refinery’s output consists of Premium Motor Spirit blending components, including Straight-Run Gasoline and Straight-Run Naphtha, as well as Automotive Gas Oil (diesel). The plant, equipped with a Hydrocracker Unit, produced high-value fuels such as jet fuel, Household Kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, and naphtha.

At its recommissioning, the state-owned firm stated that the Port Harcourt refinery would produce daily outputs of 1.4 million litres of Straight-Run Gasoline blended into Premium Motor Spirit, 900,000 liters of Kerosene, 1.5 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 2.1 million litres of Low Pour Fuel Oil, and additional volumes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

The $1.5bn rehabilitation project, funded through a loan facility backed by international financial institutions, was projected to restore the state-owned facility to full operational status after years of dormancy and seven postponements.

The PUNCH recalls several deadlines for the commencement of fuel production at the Port Harcourt refinery, with the latest failure occurring in September 2024, from its earlier target of December 2023.

During the unveiling, NNPC officials embarked on a tour around the facility where they took samples of petrol, diesel, and kerosene. It was stated that about 200 trucks of petrol would be released into the Nigerian market daily.

Similarly, President Tinubu, in celebrating the restart, stated that it would contribute to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting Nigeria’s export capacity.

“In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on shared economic prosperity for all, the President reaffirms his administration’s commitment to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting export capacity for Nigeria,” a statement by the presidency noted.

Recently, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria commended the NNPCL for successfully running the revamped Port Harcourt Refinery for 180 days non-stop. The association, in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele, said the refinery had been dormant for over 20 years.

He said its members were loading diesel and Dual Purpose Kerosene from the refinery, while NNPC Ltd. retail marketers were loading PMS.

Obele said, “It was commissioned in October 2024 and has been running continuously for 180 days, up to March 2025; it is a remarkable feat that underscores the effectiveness of the rehabilitation project.”

But the new document highlighting the refinery’s true state said the facility didn’t exceed 42.23 per cent of its operational capacity within the six-month period. It disclosed that the facility produced more diesel than PMS blending components of Straight-Run Gasoline and Straight-Run Naphtha.

The total production figure was derived from the cumulative output of various refined petroleum products, including the blending components for PMS, AGO, and HKK products. According to oil and gas experts, one barrel of crude, when heated and refined, can produce 159 litres of refined products.

A detailed breakdown revealed that in November, the refinery produced 9.51 million litres, significantly below its operational capacity of 38.16 million litres. This represents a meagre 24.92 per cent utilisation, with a shortfall of 28.65 million litres.

In December, the refinery saw a remarkable increase in production, rising by 1,044 per cent to 108 million litres. However, this output still fell short of the expected monthly production of 286.20 million litres, utilising just 38.01 per cent of its capacity and leaving a substantial shortfall of 177.41 million litres.

In January, the refinery produced 120.91 million litres of refined products, representing just 42.2 per cent of its full 286.20 million-litre capacity, according to production data.

This was followed by a slight decline in February, where 111.81 million litres were produced, equating to 39.1 per cent of the refinery’s total capacity. In March, production further decreased to 100.03 million litres, which accounted for 35 per cent of the expected output for the month.

In the first 13 days of April, the refinery produced 44.24 million litres, amounting to 35.7 per cent of the projected capacity of 124.02 million litres for the month.

A detailed product-by-product analysis of the refinery’s output reveals significant fluctuations in production across various categories. In November, the refinery produced 4.38 million litres of PMS, which surged to 40.32 million litres in December, and continued increasing in January with 41.76 million litres.

However, production dropped to 39.34 million litres in February and 34.21 million litres in March, before falling further to 15.22 million litres in the first 13 days of April.

For AGO, commonly known as diesel, the refinery produced 3.49 million litres in November, with a sharp increase to 40.72 million litres in December. The output then peaked at 55.10 million litres in January, followed by slight decreases to 47.33 million litres in February, 45.38 million litres in March, and 18.96 million litres in the first half of April.

HKK production saw more modest but still notable variations, with 1.64 million litres in November, rising sharply to 27.75 million litres in December. This was followed by a dip to 24.05 million litres in February and 25.14 million litres in March, before declining further to 10.06 million litres in April. This data highlights the refinery’s erratic production pattern across key petroleum products, underlining ongoing challenges in meeting expected outputs and operational efficiency.

The daily average data showed that in November, the facility trucked out an average of 238,080 litres of PMS per day, which spiked to 538,600 litres per day in December. However, the output dropped in January, with a daily average of 275,630 litres of PMS and 347,380 litres of diesel. In February, the refinery produced 85,480 litres of PMS and 639,240 litres of diesel on average per day, marking another dip in PMS production.

Remarkably, the refinery recorded zero litres of PMS evacuation in both March and April, underscoring a significant shortfall. In contrast, diesel production increased sharply, with a daily average of 865,110 litres in March and 968,460 litres in the first half of April.

On its part, the Warri refinery, which has remained shut for four months, produced 1.96ml of AGO, 2.84ml of HKK in December and 10ml of AGO and 12ml of HKK in January 2025.

When contacted by our correspondent, the NNPCL spokesperson declined to comment on the issue. Questions sent to his WhatsApp line were not answered. But Soneye, in a statement released in February, had admitted that the facility was undergoing a planned routine maintenance programme aimed at ensuring optimal operations.

According to him, operations at WRPC were halted to carry out repairs for efficient service delivery. He added that routine maintenance was progressing and operations would be back in the next few days.

The statement read, “NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.

“On January 25, 2025, operations at WRPC Area 1 were intentionally curtailed to carry out necessary intervention works on select equipment, including field instruments that were impacting sustainable and steady operations.

“These intervention works are essential to ensure the production of specification finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil and Kerosene. The routine maintenance is progressing as planned, and  1 will be back in operation within the next few days.”

Operators, experts react

The company’s silence has further fueled skepticism among operators and energy analysts, who argue that years of investment in Nigeria’s state-run refineries have yielded little tangible results.

Weighing in on the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, described the situation as “disheartening,” calling for urgent reforms and accountability within the nation’s ailing refinery sector.

He also urged the President to declare a state of emergency on the refineries and carry out a holistic review of staff and workers at the facility.

He said, “When the former GMD announced the resumption of these two refineries, it was a relief to not only marketers but commuters and petroleum users nationwide. That was a very significant announcement and an opportunity to be able to buy petroleum products either from Dangote, Port Harcourt, or Warri refinery.

“But it is very, very disheartening that a refinery that gulped a whole lot of money would be shut down in less than two months of operations. That is a total waste, and people should be held responsible. I also urge the President to review the staff and workers in all these refineries and declare a state of emergency on them.

“It is not only in Rivers State that we can declare a state of emergency. It can be declared in an organization that you have put in so much, and they are bedridden. This development has now left us in the hands of Dangote, who is the sole source of petroleum products and profiteering. We have kicked against this as marketers, so for us, it is a bad business because the real competition is not there.”

He noted, however, that while marketers would remain committed to buying and selling, it would be more beneficial to have multiple sources of products.

“When you talk about the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, you must talk about it holistically. Allowing marketers to liberalise the market and be able to buy from wherever they want to source products. Now, we have a mono-source, and anytime Dangote reduces, everyone has to follow, losing billions of naira.

“There is no business anywhere because the beauty of deregulation is competition. You can’t open a refinery, and on the resumption, it would load only four trucks, which is disheartening. The next day, you load six trucks, epileptic loading for a refinery that has gulped so much of our nation’s wealth,” Ukadike stated.

A petroleum expert, Bala Zaka, criticised the ongoing operations of state-owned refineries, stating that despite claims of functionality, Nigerians have yet to see any tangible benefits in the form of reduced prices for diesel, petrol, and other petroleum products

Zaka, speaking in a telephone interview said, “As far as I am concerned, the workability of any aspect of a country’s economy is supposed to be seen practically in the way and manner prices of goods and services come down. And as far as the output of the state-owned refinery is concerned, this objective has not been achieved. If the price of diesel, petrol, and other petroleum products doesn’t reduce, then all the technicalities don’t make any sense.

“If our state-owned refineries were truly functional as claimed by the government, by now, Nigerians should have seen a good and substantial reduction in the price of diesel, petrol, cooking gas, and other products. So far, these products have not reduced in price, there’s no technicality to prove that they were actually working since.”

However, the expert firmly rejected calls for the privatisation of the refineries, emphasizing that member countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries successfully operate state-run refineries.

He insisted that the government must take comprehensive and decisive action to restore and maintain the full functionality of its own refineries, rather than relinquishing control to private interests.

An oil and gas expert and former adviser to a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Dan Kunle, described the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries as a scandal.

Kunle stated this while fielding questions on Diaspora Dialogues, an online panel discussion.

Responding to questions from Professor Farooq Kperogi and other panelists on the topic, ’Kyari Out, Ojulari In: Politics and Corruption in NNPC’, Kunle said the removal of Mele Kyari, as well as the appointment of Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, was long overdue.

The energy expert argued that Kyari did not complete a single project during his time at the NNPC, saying Kyari’s much-celebrated rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries was mere propaganda to deceive Nigerians.

He stated that the former NNPC team created wealth for themselves but failed to create value for the country.

“Ojulari’s appointment is the most desired appointment I have longed for as far back as 2021. Anybody can check the trend of my disposition and exposure to the then management of the NNPC. I said these guys cannot deliver any good to this country.

“I insisted because I knew their level of competency, ineptitude, and irresponsibility in that place. I chose my words carefully. So, Bayo Ojulari’s appointment, whether it is Bayo or any other competent person that would have replaced Mele, I am one of the happiest persons with President Bola Tinubu for taking that decision. He even took it too late.

“There was a time on television when I said if I was privileged to meet President Tinubu, I would ask him, Mr President, when are you going to get Kyari out of that place and put a more competent person in Nigeria to run. The person can be from Maiduguri or anywhere.

“There are competent people from all over Nigeria. I just want a core competent person to replace Mele. That’s all. It’s because I knew the team was not going to deliver any good for the country. And I meant it. And it has been proven. They never surpassed 1.7 – 1.8 million (barrels of oil output per day) for the last six years. See what we have gone through.

“And they never completed any project. Even the only project, the Escravo-Lagos gas pipeline, which they completed, could not be commissioned effectively. So, I know what I’m talking about. The (Ojulari) appointment is very appropriate, very timely, and very welcome by the industry. I speak for the industry,” Kunle stated.

Speaking about the NNPC refineries, Kunle disagreed with reports that Kyari succeeded in bringing back the moribund facilities after many unsuccessful years of trying.

“You see, when public officers use our money to launch media campaigns against citizens, telling lies and propaganda, it pains me. I’m among the people who have fair knowledge and understanding of the industry. So, I see public officers of that rank now using our resources to use the media to project what is not to the citizens; it pains me. And they seem to always get a cross-section of the media and the labour to be on their side.

“They even went to the extent of recruiting past Group Managing Directors to endorse him (Kyari). If what you are doing is so good, it will be transparently known by everybody that you are doing very well. Those projects they claimed he commissioned or revived, was he the one who drove them? Was he the one who drove the Dangote refinery? Dangote refinery and its team, Edwin drove the Dangote refinery — Engineering, procurement, and construction, installation, and commissioning. So, all the projects that were driven by NNPC, show me any one that was completed.

“The refinery rehabilitation is a scandal. We told them not to go that way. They went ahead to do that. As we are talking, all those refineries that have been ‘politically’ completed, as they told us, have they been economically and engineering process-wise completed? No. LNG Train One to Six, is it working? No, two trains are working there. Train Seven is there. All the gas pipeline projects OB3 to Cross River/Niger are stranded. AKK is stranded. So, mention one project to me. With all the propaganda, I am amazed at times. The reason why some of us must talk, even at the risk of our life, is because of this trend since 1966 of the elites looking away from the public managers that run down their country,” he submitted.

The energy expert regretted that public officers ran down critical institutions in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited as well as electricity, education, health, and others.

“We ran down the educational system of Nigeria. We ran down the health system of Nigeria. We ran down the public works system of Nigeria. We ran down NEPA. We ran down NITEL. We ran down NPA. We ran down the railway. We ran down everything.

“NNPC was the only institution left that was still generating money for this country. We allowed a team of these boys to run it down. And we will be hailing them. Our political leaders will even be approving national merit awards for them.

“The last team that led NNPC, all the professors of geophysics and geology and engineering that taught them in the university, in the last 15 years, what is the status of those professors compared to that team that those boys led? Just go and compare the kind of wealth those boys created for themselves and their cronies. So, I think we need to start interrogating our public managers and stop using propaganda to support them that they complete this, they complete that. They don’t function. Those things never function.

“They never give you back anything. Is Ajakuta producing anything? And you have a whole minister of steel. And they will tell you the steel industry is doing well. How is the steel industry doing well? These are the issues,” he said.

The stakeholder sought to know Kyari’s project that added value to the nation’s economy.m, accusing him of diverting funds from the upstream to the midstream and downstream.

“Which project did he (Kyari) do to add value to the economy of this country? He took the money from the upstream revenue to waste in the midstream and downstream. Please, this is my take, not biased. I have no problem with the personality of people. If you do good, you are my brother. If you do good, you are my sister. I don’t care about your tribe. I don’t care about what you worship. Humanity must fight for the common good of humanity because our stay on this earth is temporary. That’s my own philosophy,” he stated

A former Vice-President of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Abioye, will commence Sunday morning services on May 4, seven months after his retirement.

Bishop Abioye announced the Sunday morning service during the evening service in Abuja on Sunday, April 27.

The announcement was well received by the congregation who erupted in praises, shouts and applause, confirming their acceptance of the new development.

“Very important information. From next Sunday, by the grace of God, our service is migrating to morning. Hallelujah. And the time is 8 am. God bless you mightily in Jesus’ name,” the cleric announced. 

Abioye, alongside Bishop Thomas Aremu, retired from Living Faith in October 2024, after a review of the church’s administrative policy set the mandatory retirement age for leaders at 55.

At the time, Aremu was 67 and Abioye was 63.

The new policy also stipulated that future leaders of Living Faith will be restricted to one or two terms of seven years, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

At his retirement service, he announced he would not start a new church, after spending years to help Bishop David Oyedepo to build the Winners Chapel.

Following his retirement, Bishop Abioye commenced a non-denominational ministry which held every Sunday evening.

Speaking at the end of an evening fellowship on April 27, Abioye said his ministry would now hold services on Sunday morning.

Abioye had noted that the ministry was birthed out of a divine mandate and not personal ambition.

Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level student of the University of Lagos, who is standing trial for the alleged murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ataga, on Monday, told a Lagos State High Court that she did not report the incident to the police because she was afraid.

Chidinma, in her defence before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, explained that she feared being wrongly accused if she reported the crime.

“I had read of incidents where people reported crimes and ended up being accused themselves,” she said.

“I also thought of calling the gateman again while I was at the staircase of the apartment, but I ended the call out of fear.” 

The defendant was also charged with stealing and forgery alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.

They were arraigned on October 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge preferred against her.

The defendant who opened her case on April 17, 2025, narrated the events that followed the discovery of Ataga’s lifeless body. 

Chidinma gave a detailed account of her activities from June 16 to 23, 2021.

Led in evidence by her counsel, Onwuka Egwu, the defendant recounted that on June 16, 2021, she noticed that a WhatsApp message she had sent earlier to Ataga had been read and that his status was showing “online,” even though she had seen him lying motionless in a pool of blood.

She said she attempted to call his number several times, but the calls were declined. “I was confused. I asked myself if someone else had his phone,” she said.

Chidinma testified that she contacted the gateman known as Abu, who usually handled utilities at the short-let apartment.

When she asked him if he had seen Ataga, she said he replied that Ataga had left the previous day. However, the gateman later informed her that Ataga’s car was still parked at the property.

“Judging by what Abu told me, I said to myself, what have I done? I then sent a WhatsApp message to Michael saying, ‘Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to leave you in that state. I was very scared.’ After that, I was blocked from the number and couldn’t reach him again,” she said.

Chidinma stated that she had two laptops, one Macbook and one HP laptop, and on June 18, 2021, she took them to Computer Village, one for sale and the other for repair. 

She said that when she got to the vendor, whom she normally purchased from, and gave him the Macbook, for sale, the vendor asked her for the receipt.

“I said it was a gift from last December 2020, and then the manager entered and asked me to unlock the Macbook laptop so that he could check very well.

“Then I unlocked the laptop, they checked whatever they wanted to check and then asked me how much I wanted to sell. I said N600,000, we negotiated then it got sold for N495,000. He then asked me to sign out of the i-cloud, I signed out and the money was transferred into my bank account, and then I took the HP laptop for repair.”

The defendant also described events on June 19 and 20, 2021, stating that she attempted to reach Ataga through SMS due to a poor network connection.

Chidinma told the court that on June 20, 2021, she spoke with her sister, Chioma (the third defendant), and invited her over.

Chioma, who was in the eastern part of the country at the time, visited her on June 22, 2021.

According to Chidinma, Chioma had misplaced her phone in April when she travelled to the East.

Since she had two phones: an iPhone 11, and an iPhone 7, she gave her an iPhone 7 Plus she had used the previous year.

She testified that she was arrested by the police on June 23, 2021.

Chidinma, who denied having Ataga’s property, claimed that one of the officers slapped her, but her father intervened.

She said they were both handcuffed and taken to the police station at Panti.

“At the DCP’s office, I told him I didn’t know about the death. I said I ran out of fear and took my things. My father was also handcuffed. The DCP said he was interfering with the officers’ work,” she recounted.

She further told the court that the police later took them to her residence, where they recovered her phones, laptop, a black disposable bag containing clothes, some documents from the apartment, and ID cards.

Chidinma alleged that she was then taken to a smaller room where her left hand was handcuffed to a chair. 

She said an officer identified as Bamidele brought a blank statement form and asked her to write a statement.

“I told him I knew my rights and that a lawyer should be present. He said no lawyer was coming, and no one would be allowed to see me,” she claimed.

She further alleged that Bamidele threatened her, saying her family members, including her 10-year-old sister, could be detained if she did not cooperate.

“Because of what he said, I started writing,” she said.

After writing her statement, Ojukwu said Bamidele tore it up and demanded a new version.

He allegedly showed her graphic images from the crime scene and claimed that a robe recovered from the apartment was used to tie the deceased’s hands, an allegation she denied.

“I told him I couldn’t have tied Michael up. He was a huge man,” she said.

She said the officer also questioned her possession of various documents, including her UNILAG ID card, bank statements, and voter’s card, to which she replied that she was a student and had processed the documents legally.

Justice Adesanya adjourned the matter till April 29, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the defection of Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, and the entire state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is a “political tsunami unprecedented in Nigeria’s history”.

On April 23, Oborevwori and other PDP bigwigs in Delta state defected to the APC.

Speaking in Asaba, the state capital, on Monday at a rally organised to welcome the governor and other new members to the APC, Shettima lauded Oborevwori and Ifeanyi Okowa, the former Delta governor, for their cordial relationship and for making history with the defection.

“What testimony can be greater than the promise of this day? A political tsunami of unimaginable proportion that has never happened in the history of the south-south region and barely in the history of this country,” the vice-president said.

“A political tsunami of this proportion has never happened where all the members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly are in the APC.

“The speaker and all the members of the house of assembly. So many members of the house of representatives, the governor and his entire cabinet, and 500 councillors across the 25 local government areas of this great state. What testimony do you have greater than this?

“The true measure of a political party lies not merely in the industry, the very name of its members, but in the conviction. It is, in fact, among those who once stood across from them.

“This vindication is even more fundamental. When those who once saw us as outsiders and opponents cross the lines of difference to become part of the enduring family we have built.

“This historic day, therefore, is both a celebration of the enduring promise of the APC and a tribute to the vision, courage, and foresight of the great giants we have come to welcome into the hall of fame of our political party, along with their devoted followers who are joining us today.”

Oborevwori described the development as a “movement” rather than a mere defection, emphasising unity and collective action.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Monday urged members of the ruling All Progressives Congress to remain focused on re-electing President Bola Tinubu in 2027, stressing that the President needs a second term to complete his economic reforms.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, warned that it would be “tragic” for another administration to halt the fiscal and economic policies currently being implemented by the Tinubu-led government.

“The most profound thing I will say here today is that every single APC member in this country today should be concentrating on the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, irrespective of whether it affects your personal interest or not,” he said.

“Because he does need a second term to fully finish up all these reforms.”

Keyamo further explained, “It will be tragic for any government to come in 2027 and stop these reforms. This is what has happened in the past where you have all kinds of inchoate policies being implemented. This is a very

Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state, says “Kano is critical of any serious political formation because of its consistently high voter turnout”.

The former governor of Kaduna spoke on Monday when he visited Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, in his palace.

El-Rufai, who recently dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said Nigeria urgently requires a trustworthy political alternative to save the country from its existential crisis.

“Kano is critical to any serious political formation because of its consistently high voter turnout,” he said.

“After joining the SDP, it was important to come and engage with stakeholders here.

“Twelve years ago, we merged three major parties to form the APC and defeated an incumbent president. But now, the goal is different.

“We are bringing together disaffected members across political divides under an existing platform — the SDP — which we believe has the best pedigree and potential.”

The former governor said he joined the SDP to help create a credible political alternative free from godfatherism.

He added that godfatherism and dysfunction had ruined both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We have seen how godfatherism destroyed the PDP and is now wrecking the APC. Nigerians deserve a party built on fairness, internal democracy, and equal opportunity; the SDP can be that alternative,” he said.

He added that, despite previously supporting southern leadership rotation, Nigeria’s pressing issues now necessitate prioritising capability and effective governance over regional origins in choosing leaders.

‘DEFECTIONS TO APC DON’T BOTHER ME’

Reacting to the movement of opposition politicians, including Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, to the APC, El-Rufai said he is not bothered by the wave of defections, adding that the will of the people would prevail.

He noted that the SDP remained focused on grassroots mobilisation rather than courting political bigwigs.

“A governor only has one vote. Elections are won by the people, not by politicians. Our focus is on mobilising ordinary Nigerians, not chasing high-profile defections,” he said.

“You are seeing northern energy because we’re currently in Kano, but I have been engaging leaders across Lagos, Anambra, and the south-south.

“Nation-building is grassroots work, not media shows. You’ll see the results when the time is right.”

El-rufai added that the ongoing coalition talks involving five major political groups aimed at forming a strong opposition movement under the SDP.

“It’s a broader national movement for disillusioned Nigerians. Progress is being made, although I had to move faster in Kaduna because many of my political associates needed an immediate platform,” he said.

The former governor said his political moves have always been guided by loyalty to Nigeria, not to individuals or political parties.

“When things began to go wrong under President Buhari, I wrote to him warning about the dangers – and when the naira redesign policy also hurt Nigerians,” he said.

“I challenged it in court, even though it was an APC-led government. I have never been loyal to individuals over the nation.”

He asked young Nigerians not to give up hope but to join the movement for a better future

Former Spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 Presidential Election, Kenneth Okonkwo, has distanced himself from rumours of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News reports that Okonkwo, in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, said President Bola Tinubu had inflicted hunger, hardship, tears, and blood on Nigerians.

According to the Nollywood actor cum politician, joining APC will drain his life and enthusiam.

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Kenneth Okonkwo noted that with the wave of defections to the party, APC will soon implode, warning that those defecting into its ranks will ultimately regret their decision.

He said, “APC is already imploding, and will continue to implode until they are blown to smithereens. And we are talking two years to the election. I’ve made it clear that everybody joining APC now will regret it, because how do you think a nation of 200 million persons will tolerate to continue to be in ad infinitum poverty, ad infinitum hunger and hardship? Power resides with the people. When the people will speak, all these walls will crack.

“Contemplating that me, that entered politics for the welfare of the people, shall join an APC that is insensitive to the people’s welfare, that has punished Nigerians with hunger and hardship – The World Bank report now said that Nigeria will sink further into poverty till 2027. That in Tinubu’s regime, there is no hope for recovery from poverty. And they gave their reasons – Structural economic weaknesses, dependence on oil revenue, national fragility, in other words, national conflicts.

“Look at what’s happening in Plateau State. More than 100 persons have died, massacred by unknown people, and the president was in Paris and could not even cut his travel short to commiserate with people from Plateau State. Look at what’s happening in Rivers State. A president declared martial law and removed constitutionally elected representatives of the people. And look at what’s happening in Benue State. People dying. All the things this president has given Nigeria is tears and blood. And you want to say Kenneth Okonkwo will contemplate going into such an association?

“You want my life and enthusiasm to be drained? No! I reject APC as presently constituted.”

Admits Staff Privacy Breach

A former Quality Assurance Specialist at Access Bank’s contact centre in Oniru, Lagos State, Stephen Ifeanyichukwu Ejezie, has been accused of secretly filming his female colleagues while they used the restrooms.

A report by Foundation For Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reported that Ejezie was caught in the female restroom around 1:30am last Wednesday.

Multiple sources noted that staff members at the contact centre, which operates on a shift basis, often sleep, shower, and change at the office.

It was during one of these shifts that Ejezie allegedly sneaked into the women’s restroom, intending to place a hidden recording device.

A female staff member had raised alarm when she allegedly noticed a phone pointed towards her from an adjacent toilet cubicle while she was bathing, leading to Ejieze’s arrest.

Access Bank reportedly ordered Ejieze’s arrest and a subsequent raid on his residence led to the discovery of over 400 of compromising video clips. However, reports indicated that he has since been released.

His release has raised concerns among affected staff members who feared they may not get justice.

Further investigation by FIJ showed that Ejezie had stored numerous videos of male and female colleagues in various states of nakedness.

Sources also alleged that Ejezie had been selling the videos through platforms such as OnlyFans and Telegram, with buyers including foreign nationals.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Ejezie’s release and the bank’s subdued response have fueled speculation that the matter might be downplayed to protect the institution’s image.

Workers expressed unrest during a Friday morning meeting convened by the management, they were also nformed that staying overnight at the office was prohibited henceforth.

“We are traumatised, and there is no support being provided. People have the right to know if they were recorded so they are not haunted by this in the future,” a staff member said.

Admits Staff Privacy Breach

Access Bank has confirmed that an incident involving a former Contact Centre Agent, accused of filming colleagues in the bathroom, was under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

In a statement, the bank said it was cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation, emphasising its zero-tolerance stance on harassment and violations of privacy.

“Our attention has been drawn to reports circulating on social media regarding an alleged offence involving a former Contact Centre Agent. The matter has been handed over to the appropriate authorities, who are conducting an investigation. We are fully cooperating with them in this process.

“At Access Bank, we uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and any form of privacy violation. We are also actively engaging with the affected employees to provide all necessary support,” the statement read.

The bank reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the safety, dignity, and well-being of both its employees and customers. It also urged the public and stakeholders to rely solely on information disseminated through its official channels for accurate updates.