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Justice for Fanyeni Adam: Three sentenced to death for Bodaboda rider murder

Arusha. The Tanzania High Court at the Songea Registry has sentenced three people to death by hanging after finding them guilty of murdering a bodaboda rider, Mr Fanyeni Adam.

Those convicted are Faraji Liyugana, Said Ponera, and Rashid Fussi, charged with the murder of the deceased, contrary to sections 196 and 197 of the Penal Code. Judge James Karayemaha delivered the verdict on September 29, 2025, a copy of which was later uploaded to the court’s website.

According to the judgment, the killing occurred on January 12, 2023, with the body abandoned in bushland near the Tanesco area in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region. After examining evidence from both prosecution and defence, Judge Karayemaha ruled all three were guilty of murder and sentenced them to death by hanging.

Evidence presented Key evidence included confessions by the second and third accused persons, who admitted involvement in the killing in collusion with the first accused. Court testimony revealed the deceased had been riding a motorcycle with registration MC 162 DPT, owned by Abbasy Gangisa, who entrusted it to witness number 12, Faraji Ngonyani, to operate for business and share profits.

Witness number 12 testified that he had given the motorcycle to Mr Fanyeni Adam (the deceased) for business in exchange for Sh10,000 daily payments. Witness number six said on January 12, 2023, the deceased visited his home with a friend, Mr Yasin Lika, saying they were going to a farm in the Tanesco area to collect a hoe, but did not return that night.

Searches began the next day. Efforts to locate him through witness number 12 proved fruitless until January 14, when witness number nine, Mr Mariju Mwenyeheri, found his body in bushland near his farm.

Police recovered the body with injuries. The motorcycle was missing, except for a mobile phone found at the scene.

Witness number two, SP Cathbet Mnogi, said police were informed of the accused’s identities, friends of Yasin, and the deceased. They later recovered the motorcycle at the home of the first accused, who lived with his fiancee, Ms Ziaba Saidi (witness number three).

Witness number three testified that the first accused told her the motorcycle belonged to a friend who owed him Sh300,000. The friend failed to repay, and the motorcycle was taken to recover the debt. Witness number two said the first accused admitted involvement and named the second and third accused as accomplices, adding they gave him the motorcycle after the killing to sell and share proceeds.

The first accused said his friend, Mr Yasin, asked him to keep the motorcycle on January 24, 2023, but he failed to return it before the police confiscated. He denied naming his coaccused and denied knowing them.

The second accused said he was arrested on January 15, informed of the murder charge, denied writing a confession, and denied knowing the others. The third accused said he was arrested on January 15 at home, informed of the charge, and denied knowing the other accused or writing a confession.

Judge’s ruling Judge Karayemaha said two issues remained: whether the death was unnatural and whether the accused committed it with malice. Evidence, including a medical examination showing a severe head injury, confirmed the death was unnatural.

Although no witness directly saw the accused kill the deceased, possession of the motorcycle after his death linked them to the crime. The judge noted confessions by the second accused, who said they planned to seize the motorcycle with Mr Yasin, Mr Rashid, and Mr Faraji, promising Sh1 million afterward.

They lured the rider to Tanesco, attacked him with a machete and sticks until he died, while Mr Yasin was watching. The third accused admitted waiting along the road to ambush the rider and later attacking him with a stick.

The judge said the confessions by the second and third accused, given voluntarily, were crucial. Weighing all the evidence, the court found all three guilty of murder and sentenced them to death by hanging.

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Last chance: Five takeaways from Trump’s Gaza peace plan

The war in Gaza has been a catastrophe with few precedents in history. Sixty-five thousand lives lost.

Whole strip reduced to rubble. Israel spending over $60 billion while unleashing devastation that will scar its reputation for years.

For Palestinians, the lesson is brutal but clear: violence is not the answer here. For Israelis, the cost of total victory has been staggering.

Into this wreckage steps Donald Trump with a 20-point peace plan — bold, controversial, and, if implemented, transformative. Here are five takeaways that matter most: 1.

End of the war The plan’s sequencing is designed to stop the carnage immediately: “the war will immediately end” (Point 3), “all hostages will be returned” (4), and 250 Palestinian prisoners released (5). This is not just a ceasefire; it is an answer to the ‘day-after’ question of this war.

Life is better than death, and this plan offers both sides a chance to stop the bleeding and return to normality — whatever that means after such destruction. 2.

Deradicalisation of Gaza The plan envisions Gaza as a “deradicalised terror-free zone” (1). Hamas members who disarm are offered amnesty (6), while militant infrastructure is dismantled (13).

Crucially, point 18 calls for “an interfaith dialogue process, based on values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.” This isn’t cosmetic.

Pew Research (2013) found 89 percent of Palestinians wanted Sharia as the law of the land, with 84 percent (of those who wanted Sharia) supporting stoning for adultery and 66 percent supporting death for apostasy. These numbers show the scale of the ideological challenge.

Deradicalisation means dismantling the culture of martyrdom and replacing it with civic education that promotes pluralism and tolerance. 3.

Governance reset The plan calls for Gaza to be run by a “temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” (9), overseen by an international Board of Peace chaired by Trump and including figures such as Tony Blair. With Hamas dismantled (13) and the Palestinian Authority reforming (19), the alternative is a dangerous vacuum that would invite chaos.

To prevent this, Trump’s plan proposes an international stabilisation force (ISF), with Indonesia already offering to contribute 20,000 troops to secure Gaza during the transition. Blair may be disliked, but his deep regional ties and ability to mobilise Gulf capital and Western donors make him ideal for this role.

This governance reset is the bridge between the collapse of Hamas and the emergence of a reformed Palestinian Authority. Without it, the rest of the plan will collapse.

4. A new prosperous Gaza The plan promises Gaza will be “redeveloped for the benefit of the people” (2), with immediate humanitarian aid (7) and a Trump-led economic development program (10).

A special economic zone with preferential trade access (11) and guarantees of free movement (Point 12) are designed to turn Gaza into a hub of opportunity. The vision is bold: turning Gaza into the Dubai on the Mediterranean.

Billions are already lined up the 2020 Trump Peace to Prosperity Plan had promised $50 billion over 10 years. The idea was ridiculed I think we will get it now.

5. Pathway to statehood The plan explicitly states “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza” (16), and that “conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” (19).

It also commits the U.S.

to “establish a dialogue to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence” (20). I have long argued that the two-state solution is impractical.

Yet if implemented, this plan ticks enough boxes — demilitarisation, governance reform, economic viability — to reimagine a two-state framework. And paradoxically, that may be a better path toward a durable one-state solution: a single polity where coexistence is not imposed by force but chosen through shared prosperity and mutual security.

Regional buy-in Critics of this plan abound. They question Israel’s intentions, the plan’s clarity, Tony Blair’s involvement, and the demand for Hamas to disarm.

But these are voices that find fault with every solution. What matters is that the plan has received broad international endorsement.

The joint statement from Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt signals that key Arab and Muslim states are ready to underwrite the framework. Their role is pivotal: ensuring compliance (14), deploying stabilisation forces (15), and financing reconstruction (10).

For Israel, this is an opening to normalise ties with the Arab world that is, the expansion of the Abraham Accords. For Palestinians, it’s a chance to rebuild on new foundations.

For the region, it’s an opportunity to transform Gaza from a symbol of perpetual war into a model of prosperity. Hamas’ final role But for this vision to take root, Hamas must now confront reality.

Their October 7 escapade into Israel has proven to be a total disaster. Now they face a final chance to act responsibly: accept the plan and dissolve.

History may yet remember them not only for the destruction it caused, but for the moment they chose to step aside–thus allowing a new Gaza to emerge.Anchored in life, not death.

Charles Makakala is a Technology and Management Consultant based in Dar es Salaam .

ATCL announces 173 jobs in expansion drive

Dar es Salaam. Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has announced at least 173 job vacancies in a major hiring drive that reflects its endeavour to cement a stronger presence both in Africa and beyond.

The airline, which is fully owned by the government of Tanzania, is seeking to recruit new pilots, cabin crew and ground staff as part of its ongoing five-year Corporate Strategic Plan (2022/232026/27). The plan focuses on expanding routes and sustaining the operational gains recorded over the past decade.

According to the job announcement, the openings include 23 captain posts, 45 first officers, 100 cabin crew (including 20 with French and Chinese language proficiency), one accountant and four ramp assistants. Successful candidates will be engaged on a 10-year contract, with terms described as “attractive and competitive”.

The hiring spree comes at a time when ATCL is growing its international footprint. Already, the airline operates routes to Guangzhou in China, Mumbai in India and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, alongside a network of regional and domestic destinations.

The recent addition of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A220-300s to its fleet has positioned the carrier to compete on long-haul routes while boosting passenger comfort. Aviation expert and former pilot Hassan Rweyemamu told The Citizen yesterday that the expansion strategy requires “a new generation of skilled workers” to sustain operations.

“When you buy aircraft and open new routes, the next logical step is building a workforce that can keep the airline competitive. This recruitment shows ATCL is serious about growth, not just at home but in connecting Tanzania with key global markets,” he said.

Why French and Chinese-speaking crew? Among the notable vacancies are positions for French- and Chinese-speaking cabin crew. Analysts say this reflects ATCL’s growing focus on linguistic and cultural diversity in customer service.

“French is vital for routes to West and Central Africa, where it is widely spoken, while Chinese is indispensable for Guangzhou, which has become a lifeline for Tanzanian traders and exporters,” explained Ms Aneth Luhanga, an aviation studies expert at the National Institute of Transport (NIT). “Passengers feel at ease when airlines communicate in their languages.

It’s not just a courtesy, it’s a business strategy that builds trust and loyalty,” she said. With over 170 opportunities, the recruitment drive also highlights ATCL’s role as a key employer in the aviation industry, which has historically struggled with limited absorption of graduates from local institutions.

A transport economist based in Mwanza, Mr Julius Katabale, said the announcement is a morale booster for young Tanzanians pursuing careers in aviation. “Many of our students graduate with world-class skills but face difficulties finding placements.

ATCL’s expansion creates room for them and ensures that institutes like NIT are not just training for export, but also for domestic growth,” he said. Mr Katabale added that the integration of accountants and ground staff in the recruitment shows that “aviation is not just about flying; it’s an ecosystem that provides opportunities across multiple disciplines.

” ATCL’s revival in recent years has been closely tied to the government’s investments in fleet acquisition and infrastructure, including the upgrading of airports across the country. Industry observers argue that beyond transport, the airline is also a flagbearer for Tanzania’s visibility abroad.

“As the national carrier grows, it markets Tanzania to the world,” said Mr Kabale. “Every ATCL plane that lands in a foreign capital is not just carrying passengers; it’s flying the national identity.

Expansion means more tourists, more investors and more recognition of Tanzania as a serious aviation player,” he said. With new jobs on the horizon and more routes expected to be announced, stakeholders see ATCL’s recruitment as a milestone in consolidating its place in the highly competitive airline industry.

For many aspiring aviators, the announcement signals the start of fresh opportunities in a sector often viewed as elite and out of reach. “Employment in aviation has a ripple effect,” Ms Luhanga of NIT noted.

“It uplifts not only individuals but also families and the wider economy.” As ATCL continues to spread its wings, the new hires are expected to be at the heart of the journey ensuring that Tanzania’s skies remain open, competitive and increasingly visible to the rest of the world.

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Equities market opens October strong as capitalisation hits N90.8trn

The Nigerian equities market began the new month on a positive note, extending its bullish momentum as renewed investor interest lifted the benchmark index.

At the close of trading on Wednesday, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.19 per cent to 142,979.45 basis points, pushing the year-to-date return to 38.91 per cent.

Market capitalisation of equities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) also advanced by N170 billion to settle at N90.75 trillion.

Analysts said the broad-based gains signalled sustained buying interest in financial and consumer names, particularly GTCO, which rose 2.1 per cent, MTN Nigeria, which added 0.5 per cent, and Aradel Holdings, which gained 0.1 per cent, helping drive the ASI higher.

The upbeat sentiment was reflected in market breadth, which closed positive as 34 stocks gained against 25 losers, indicating sustained optimism over earnings expectations and macroeconomic fundamentals.

In the performance board, PZ Cussons went up by 10.0 per cent and Eterna appreciated by 9.9 per cent, topping the gainers’ chart, alongside Champion Breweries, Tantalizer, and AIICO Insurance.

On the flip side, RT Briscoe was down by 9.9 per cent; Thomas Wyatt declined 9.8 per cent; Sovereign Insurance, International Energy Insurance, and Berger Paints all led the laggards team.

Sectoral performance was largely upbeat, with Insurance, Consumer Goods, Banking and Oil and Gas closing in the green by 0.42 per cent, 0.35 per cent, 0.17 per cent and 0.12 per cent, respectively. The Commodities index edged higher by 0.01 per cent, while Industrial Goods remained flat, shedding just 0.02 per cent.

Trading activity surged significantly, underscoring renewed liquidity inflows. Total deals increased by 16.68 per cent to 32,682, while trading volume spiked 402.5 per cent to 6.23 billion units. The value of transactions also jumped 82.57 per cent to N54.45 billion. Cornerstone Insurance dominated the charts as the most traded stock, accounting for 5.45 billion units valued at N25.06 billion.

With October now underway, analysts project that sentiment could remain buoyant if macroeconomic reforms continue to attract both domestic and offshore inflows.

VIDEO: Makinde increases LAUTECH hospital security guards’ salary from N18,800 to N80,000

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has raised the salaries of 67 security guards at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital from N18,800 to N80,000 following their emotional appeal during his visit to the facility.

During an interactive session at the hospital recently, one of the guards narrated their struggles.

He also spoke about their poor welfare and the hardship of catering for families on the meagre pay.

‘We have been here before Otunba Alao Akala, and before the work of this place is completed. We are not staff but indigenes of Oyo State. Please help us; we are suffering. I have a family and three children; my age is fast running out. Please help us, your excellency,’ the security guard said, breaking down in tears.

The governor, after asking about their earnings, was told they received N18,800 monthly.

A hospital representative explained that the guards were not on the hospital’s payroll but were outsourced, with the outsourcing company receiving N27,000 per guard.

Makinde then announced that the 67 guards would be converted to ad-hoc workers and placed on a new monthly salary of N80,000 beginning in October.

He said, ‘I can solve the problem right away by saying that all 67 should be converted directly to ad-hoc workers, and you will get N80,000 every month from the first of October.’

Ibadan Airport will drive influx of investors – Makinde

Oyo Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to attracting more investors into the state, declaring that the recently upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport in Ibadan will be developed into the most welcoming airport in Nigeria.

The governor made this known on Wednesday during the Jagz Hospitality Conference held to commemorate the first anniversary of The Jagz Hotel, a leading hospitality brand in the state.

Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde described the landing of the first wide-bodied aircraft at the Ibadan airport, nearly a week earlier, as a significant achievement that rewrote the airport’s 43-year history.

He noted that the milestone is part of his administration’s broader strategy to make Oyo State more attractive to local and international investors.

‘Last Friday, the first wide-bodied aircraft landed at Ibadan Airport. That airport was commissioned in 1982, 43 years ago and this is the first time such an aircraft has landed there. Yes, it’s late, but better late than never,’ the governor said.

He revealed that following federal approval granted in May 2024, the state had extended the airport’s runway to accommodate larger aircraft, positioning it for increased international traffic.

‘We’ve been able to turn around 43 years of disappointment within a year. But we’re not stopping. We want Ibadan Airport to be more welcoming than any other airport in Nigeria. We want people from all over the world to fly into Ibadan and keep coming back,’ he added.

Makinde emphasized that sustained investment in infrastructure, such as the airport, is essential for economic expansion, and dismissed the idea that focusing solely on the local market, a concept known as import substitution, would solve Nigeria’s economic challenges.

‘There’s a theory that says if we focus on ourselves, patronize local products, and ignore the global market, we will solve our problems. But that theory is flawed. No country in the world has developed by isolating itself. Nigeria won’t be an exception,’ he stated.

The governor said his administration would continue to provide a supportive environment for businesses operating in the state, citing The Jagz Hotel as a testament to the potential of the private sector when given the right policies and support.

‘I am glad to be here one year after we commissioned this hotel. It is not only still running, but thriving, despite the economic turbulence in the country. That’s not by accident; it’s a result of hard work and teamwork by the management and staff. As a government, we will continue to support you.’

Makinde charged the hotel’s management to aspire beyond local recognition and aim to become one of the top hospitality brands in Africa.

‘Don’t be satisfied with being the best in Ibadan. Aspire to be the best in Nigeria, and even in Africa,’ he urged.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, praised Governor Makinde’s leadership for expanding the state’s economy through tourism and solid mineral development.

He called on stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism industries to continue collaborating with the government to promote Oyo State as a prime destination for visitors and investors.

‘Under this administration, we’ve seen significant growth in tourism and business. The private sector has an important role to play in sustaining this momentum,’ Olatubosun said.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Sikiru Sanda; and the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Akinade Fijabi.

Emergency management: Sanwo-Olu seeks regional collaboration for effective performance

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday reaffirmed Lagos’s leadership role in disaster preparedness and response, but quickly called for collaboration among state agencies when confronting emergencies and national challenges.

Governor Sanwo-Olu gave this position while speaking at the first-ever National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference hosted in Lagos, themed: ‘Strengthening Sub-National Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria,’ held at Balmoral Conventional Centre, Ikeja, emphasising that no state in the country can tackle disasters in isolation.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, noted that every state in the country faces its own set of challenges, ranging from floods, fires, epidemics, industrial accidents, or the unpredictable impacts of climate change, saying these issues do not recognize borders as they put the nation’s systems, leadership, and ‘commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods to the test.’

The governor described the conference as a crucial step towards collaboration and forging the strong partnerships that would define the future of emergency management in the country.

‘Every State in Nigeria faces its own set of challenges, be it floods, fires, epidemics, industrial accidents, or the unpredictable impacts of climate change. These issues do not recognise borders; they put our systems, our leadership, and our commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods to the test.

‘This gathering marks the beginning of a new era: one where State agencies collaborate rather than operate in isolation; where knowledge is shared, lessons are learned, and every citizen, from the North to the South, can have faith in a dependable, coordinated response system,’ he stated.

Governor Sanwo-Olu outlined key investments his administration had made through the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), saying that they include: Lagos Emergency Response Rescue Unit (LRU), the LASEMA Mobile App and Call Centre Upgrade, Partnerships and Training, among others.

The governor cited real-life examples of Lagos’ preparedness, including the rapid deployment of rescue teams during flash floods in Ikorodu and Ajegunle, as well as coordinated operations that saved lives during a building collapse in Mushin, noting that the effectiveness of the reforms by the state government underscored the critical importance of being prepared, working together, and investing in emergency management.

‘We need to keep weaving disaster risk reduction into our governance at every level, embrace new technologies and innovations, and, most importantly, empower our citizens with the awareness and strategies they need to be prepared,’ he charged.

The State Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, in his welcome address, noted that the conference provided an avenue for states’ emergency management agencies to be united by a common purpose to strengthen Nigerian residents in the face of emergencies and disasters.

The commissioner described the conference as a new chapter, witnessing, for the first time, a gathering of all the States’ emergency management agencies, Federal institutions, private sector leaders, international partners, and frontline respondents ‘under one roof, united by a common purpose to strengthen Nigerian residents in the face of emergencies and disasters.’

‘Today, through this conference, we are proudly declaring a new chapter. We are the most prominent reactions to readiness and from recovery to resilience. Where, for the first time, all the States’ emergency management agencies, federal institutions, private sector leaders, international partners, and frontline respondents are gathered under one roof, united by a common purpose to strengthen Nigerian residents in the face of emergencies and disasters,’ Oyerinde said.

Also speaking, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar Abubakar, noted that the agency remained committed to working with each and every state emergency management agency to protect and tackle disasters in the country.

She assured that the agency would strengthen early warning systems, improve data, forecasting, and information management, expand grassroots capacity building, and uphold transparency and accountability in all its interventions in the communities, explaining that Lagos is a city that continues to inspire the nation as a model of resilience, innovation, and determination in emergency management.

The Guest Speaker, Dr. Leke Pitan, in his address, titled ‘From Risk to Readiness: Strengthening Disaster Preparedness at the Sub-National Level’, Pitan, recalled the purpose behind the establishment of LASEMBUS, noting that it was created to enhance emergency management with ambulances strategically stationed across key locations.

Pitan explained that these ambulances were deliberately positioned in traffic-prone areas, allowing medical teams to provide timely treatment and attend to patients before they reach the hospital.

He further highlighted that LASEMBUS operations were later integrated with other critical emergency response agencies, including the Fire Service, Police, and Traffic Management personnel, adding that the dedicated emergency line 767 was introduced, and subsequently, the National Toll-Free Emergency number 112 was adopted to further strengthen response coordination.

Provosts seek exemption from seven-year ban on new institutions

The Association of Provosts of Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences has called on the Federal Government to exempt its institutions from the recently announced seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new polytechnics and allied institutions.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 2025 Quadrennial Conference in Lokoja, the Provosts warned that applying the ban to health institutions would worsen the country’s healthcare manpower crisis. The statement, signed by the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Nuhu Anyegwu, was made available to journalists on Thursday.

The conference noted that the restriction would ‘create an intergenerational gap of at least seven years in terms of shortage of health and medical manpower in various communities across Nigeria.’

The Provosts stressed that Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences are professional health training institutions with prior accreditation from regulatory councils and should not be categorised as allied institutions subject to the ban.

They also applauded the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for streamlining the accreditation process through digitalisation, but urged the Ministry of Education and NBTE to stop multiple accreditations by professional councils, which they described as burdensome.

The conference further expressed concern over the exclusion of Health Colleges from TETFUND’s funding schedule, calling for the passage of the TETFUND Act Amendment Bill to include their institutions as beneficiaries.

The Association re-elected its officers during the conference, with Dr. Johnson Adebayo Ojo and Malam Adamu Ahmadu emerging as Chairman and Secretary-General, respectively. It also resolved to establish a research journal and set up a Media Committee to enhance visibility.

With Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million, the Provosts argued that expanding healthcare education remains critical to reversing brain drain and improving access to quality healthcare.

‘The Federal Government must support the growth and development of Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences if the healthcare needs of Nigerians are to be met,’ the communiqué concluded.

Gov Otti seeks N100bn damages over alleged defamatory posts

Abia Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has demanded a written retraction, public apology, and the sum of N100bn as compensation from Hon. Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, also known as Iyierioba Chikamnayo, over a series of ‘defamatory and malicious’ publications he made against him on Facebook.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by his counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Otti accused Chikamnayo of persistently making ‘unjustified demonic online defamatory posts’ against him on his Facebook account titled ‘Iyierioba Chikamnayo.’

The publications, which include posts captioned ‘Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster!’ posted on September 22, 2025, and ‘Fighting Promax!!!!’ on September 21, 2025.

Others, such as ‘Old or new Abia?’ shared on September 14, 2025, ‘Sabbath Message’ on September 13, 2025, and ‘Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and congenital liar = looting governor!’ on August 15, 2025, were cited as examples of libelous attacks against the governor.

Ajala of Deeplaw Associates said, ‘Our client for the avoidance of doubt is the only Governor and Chief Executive of a State within the 36 States of Nigeria who bears the name Alex Chioma Otti, thus no effort is required by members of the public to link all your spiteful, false and defamatory attacks to our client either by direct name calling or by other variant of the name Alex Chioma Otti by way of caricature, pun, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia and/or metonymy.’

The SAN affirmed that Otti’s integrity has remained sterling over the years, citing his ‘distinguished career’ in the banking sector, where he rose to become Managing Director/Chief Executive of Diamond Bank Plc before venturing into politics.

The letter recounted how Otti was confronted with the post on September 29, 2025, while in Abuja attending the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on Abia State’s Attorney-General.

Ajala said Otti’s attention was called to Chikamnayo’s Facebook wall, where he found ‘a cocktail of disparaging publications calculated to instigate public hatred against him.’

Ajala, in the letter, stressed that his client ‘unequivocally denies in their entirety your malicious defamatory materials published online,’ adding that ‘he (Otti) has no criminal indictment whatsoever or conviction by any court of law and thus declares unequivocally that the content of your online publications generally and specifically. as blatant falsehood.’

The SAN further argued that Chikamnayo’s actions amounted to ‘unquantifiable mental torture, depression, denigration, brutal destruction of his reputation built over the decades’ and ‘utterly disfigured and diminished our client’s standing in the eyes and estimation of right-thinking persons.’

Governor Otti’s demands include a written retraction of all defamatory posts to be published on the same Facebook wall as well as in four national dailies, namely ThisDay, Punch, The Nation, and National Ambassador Newspapers.

It also requested a written apology to be published on the same Facebook wall, compensation of N100bn for reputational damage, and an undertaking to cease from any further defamatory publications.

Ajala warned: ‘Take very careful notice that should you fail, refuse, and/or ignore to comply with our demands as contained herein within seven (7) days from the delivery of this letter. we shall without further recourse to you seek legal redress for the appropriate remedy against you for your malicious online libelous publication against our client graphically recounted herein.’

Nigeria@65: PDP carpets Tinubu, says President’s speech boring, uninspiring

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday criticised President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, saying that a review of the address showed that he had nothing to tell Nigerians.

The party claimed that even the President himself did not believe in what he read to Nigerians.

The reaction came as the PDP reiterated that its scheduled November 15 Ibadan Elective National Convention would hold despite alleged attempts by forces both within and outside the party to cause ‘distractions’ for it.

The National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, giving the PDP’s assessment of Tinubu’s 65th independence anniversary speech in Abuja, described it as replete with ‘lies’, ‘boring’, ‘uninspiring’ and allegedly did little to impress any Nigerian.

‘The speech, to say the least, was pathetic, boring and uninspiring. Typical of the APC’s propaganda, it was full of lies and poor statistics.

‘Even the President didn’t believe in what he was reading. He was saying things that were completely incorrect. The whole speech was at variance with the reality on the ground’, Ologunagba told a news conference.

The PDP said the ‘most shocking’ part of the speech was when Tinubu said the country’s economy had improved and that Nigerians were faring better than when he took over the reins of power in 2023.

‘The President saying the economy is working and has turned the corner. That was shocking. Is he talking about turning the corner on insecurity, the corner on parents not being able to pay school fees?’, the spokesman asked.

He accused the APC-led government of returning Nigeria to ‘bondage’ of poor economic management and insecurity, years after the PDP had freed the nation from such problems.

For instance, Ologunagba cited the country’s debt burden, recalling a point in Nigeria’s history when it exited the debt trap during the PDP days.

The party called on the President to address the nation again to speak on the obvious questions they expected him to answer: ‘From subsidy withdrawal alone, how much has been saved exactly? We don’t know. We keep hearing of borrowings, and we are going deeper and deeper into problems. What have the loans been spent on?’

Ologunagba added, ‘Nigerians and the PDP, we seek a special broadcast on the details of the subsidy removal, details of loans and the application of those loans.’

On the Ibadan convention, the party noted that the distractions, which it blamed on the APC and some collaborators in-house, would go ahead as planned because ‘the train has arrived in Ibadan; we are far ahead of the distractions.’

Commenting on the seeming disagreement between the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, exhibited by Anyanwu countering decisions taken by the NWC, Ologunagba stated that it would appear that the secretary lacked understanding of the provisions of the PDP’s constitution.

He explained that while the National Chairman, as Chief Executive Officer of the party, could summon any meetings and direct any actions to be taken by the party, the secretary is an administrative officer whose primary duty is to implement directives or decisions taken by the party.

The spokesman further explained that it would be unheard of to say decisions taken at properly-convened meetings of the NWC, such as the postponement of state congresses in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi, as well as the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council, would be overturned by the secretary.

He added that Section 35 of the PDP constitution empowers the National Chairman to summon and preside over the NWC and caucuses of the party, powers not shared with the secretary.

He also explained that the chairman could delegate such powers to any other NWC member whenever necessary.

‘So, the secretary can’t summon meetings or authorise any meetings’, Ologunagba stated, adding, ‘So, if the party says there is no Congress in Cross River or a dissolution of an Exco, why should an individual oppose it?

He dismissed claims that the NWC never met or took any decisions, saying that 16 out of 18 members of the committee met.

In the case of Akwa Ibom, the PDP said it observed a ‘misnomer’ playing out, where Governor Umo Eno, who had defected to the APC, was bent on controlling the PDP structure in the state by attempting to fuse the two parties.

According to Ologunagba, allowing the arrangement to continue would be in violation of Section 10(6) of the PDP’s constitution, ‘which does not allow any member of the party to align with another group to undermine the party.’

Last week, the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying it of the decision of the NWC to postpone state congresses in Cross River, Plateau and Kebbi States to a new date after due consultations.

But, Anyanwu immediately wrote to the INEC, urging the commission to ignore Damagum’s letter because the congresses scheduled for Saturday, September 27, would be held.

The congress was indeed held in Cross River, returning Mr Venatius Ikem as the state chairman, though on Monday, September 28, the NWC disowned the congress, calling it a ‘carnival.’

On Tuesday this week, the PDP announced the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom exco. But just like it happened last week, the national secretary countered the decision again by writing to the dissolved exco members to ignore the NWC.

Investigations showed that the PDP moved to reposition the party in Akwa Ibom, following the defection of Governor Eno to the APC in an apparent bid to cut ties between him and the state exco led by Mr Aniekan Akpan.

Akpan, not willing to let go and now backed by some influential party leaders in Abuja, is staying put in office, despite his sacking by the NWC.

Before now, Governor Eno, in a leaked video, had spoken of his intention to work with both the structures of the PDP and the APC in the state for the unity of the state.

‘As a matter of fact, contrary to some insinuations, I want to run both parties (APC and PDP)? Far from it. And what is wrong with being interested? We would not leave the PDP for thieves to hijack and use it against us.

‘If anybody thinks we are going to do that, they have something coming. We will lead the structure of the party (PDP) so that they can work together (with APC). So that people don’t come from outside and think that Mr Eno has moved, let me come and hijack the party. Let the structure of the party remain.

‘They have done their congresses. That’s my position,’ the governor had revealed.

Just days ago, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, had praised Governor Eno’s decision to dump the PDP, an action seen by many political watchers as absurd in the ongoing struggle for the control of the soul of the once-largest political party in Africa.