Category: PM News

The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a fraudulent operation in Eti-Osa, Lekki, leading to the arrest of 26 suspects allegedly involved in counterfeit currency circulation and the production of adulterated diesel sold to unsuspecting motorists.

The suspects were arrested on 27 November, 2025 at about 1:30 p.m. in a joint operation between police operatives and officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI).

During the raid, officers recovered counterfeit notes amounting to 951,300 from the suspects’ premises, signalling what authorities describe as a coordinated economic sabotage plot.

Preliminary investigations revealed the activities of four key suspects-Abubakar Rilean (40), Abubakar Abdullahi (35), Adamu Ibrahim Jora (35), and Michael John (30), who police say were operating an illegal production and distribution network for adulterated diesel and engine oil, widely referred to as “rice and beans” among criminal dealers.

The fake petroleum products were allegedly sold to unsuspecting motorists across the area.

Two others, Ichapi Moses (30) and Samson Adike (28), have been identified as suppliers funnelling the adulterated products into the Lekki and Eti-Osa axis.

Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, issued a stern warning to criminal groups across Lagos, insisting that the command is tightening its operations and intensifying daily raids on criminal hideouts.

He declared that anyone involved in activities capable of breaching public peace, damaging vehicles, or undermining economic stability would “face the full weight of the law.”

Jimoh reassured residents that Lagos remains safe, emphasising the command’s ongoing show-of-force patrols and routine convoy movements across area commands and divisions.

He noted that the police are “firmly on top of the security situation” and will not allow room for unlawful operations to flourish.

The police called on Lagos residents to continue providing credible intelligence to help track down criminal networks and maintain the peace and security the state is known for.

Natasha Osawuru Idibia, an Edo state lawmaker and wife to Nigerian veteran, Innocent Idibia, has expressed her admiration for Priscilla Ojo and her husband, Juma Jux.

Natasha on her Instagram story posted pictures of the young couple with a sweet message showing her admiration for them. The lawmaker revealed that although she has never met the couple before, she loves them.

She added that her admiration for Priscilla Ojo and Juma Jux comes very easy to her as the duo are an easy going and cheerful pair.

“God, I love this couple. I don’t know them, but I love them. It’s simply natural and easy,” she wrote.

lthough, the young couple is yet to respond to the comment, Juma Jux announced that he acquired a Multimillion-Dollar Mansion in Kenya.

“We asked, they delivered,” he wrote in a video of himself and his wife checking out their newly acquired property.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed claims that a coup took place in Guinea-Bissau, describing the incident as something closer to a “ceremonial coup” rather than an actual military takeover.

Speaking in an interview with Symfoni, posted on YouTube on Friday, Jonathan said he felt compelled to address Nigerians and the international community to clarify the situation and express gratitude for the outpouring of concern during the tense period.

“You know, since I left office, I’ve always been scared of talking to the media,” he said. “But in this particular case, I decided to speak first and foremost, to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy, the encouragement.”

Jonathan explained that the crisis began unusually, with Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo being the first to announce that he had been arrested–even before the military made any declaration.

“I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup,” he said. “Maybe it was a ceremonial coup. Because for two things: It is the president, President Embalo, who announced the coup. Later, the military men came up to address the world that they were in charge of everywhere.”

He described the scenario as “strange,” noting that Embalo was using his phone throughout, granting interviews to global media and announcing his supposed arrest.

“I’m a Nigerian close to 70, and I know how they keep heads of state when a coup takes place,” Jonathan said. “A sitting president doesn’t get to be addressing press conferences during a coup. Who is fooling whom?”

Jonathan drew comparisons with coups he witnessed in West Africa, including during his time as a mediator in Mali, where military takeovers followed a very different pattern.

He criticised the irregularities surrounding the Guinea-Bissau situation, questioning the motives and the actors behind the unfolding drama.

Jonathan urged ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) to push for transparency and the timely announcement of election results in Guinea-Bissau. He insisted that the military should not be allowed to interfere with democratic processes.

“They have the results because AU and ECOWAS officials were in all the regions when the votes were collated,” he said. “They must announce and let the world know who won that election.”

Jonathan also revisited his experience leading ECOWAS during the 2010 Ca’te d’Ivoire presidential crisis, when then-President Laurent Gbagbo refused to hand over power despite losing to Alassane Ouattara in a run-off election.

He recalled how multiple candidates backed Ouattara in the second round, giving him a majority victory, yet Gbagbo insisted on staying in office.

“All observers said Ouattara won the election,” Jonathan said. “And we in ECOWAS said, ‘You are our colleague, but you have to go.’ I stood my ground and Ouattara was sworn in.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, struck out the appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over his detention in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

He claimed that his fundamental rights to human dignity, right to quality healthcare and religion were being breached by his continued detention in the facility of the DSS.

But three-member panel of justices, in a unanimous judgment, held that the appeal lacked merit and had become academic following Kanu’s conviction for terrorism offences.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, on Nov. 20, convicted and sentenced the IPOB leader to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of terrorism offences charged by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu had claimed, in the instant appeal, prayed the appellate court to upturn the judgement of the FHC in Abuja delivered by retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo on July 3, 2022, which dismissed his suit against the Director General (DG) of the DSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), on the grounds that he failed to prove his case.

The convicted IPOB leader had named the DG DSS and AGF as 1st and 2nd respondents.

Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, in the lead judgment, held that the appeal was no longer feasible since his conviction, life imprisonment sentence and remand in prison correctional centre.

Justice Ugo held that the substance of the case had become academic because, since Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed at the proceedings on Friday, that his client was being held in Sokoto Correctional Centre, the court could no longer order him to be moved to Kuje Correctional Centre to which he had sought to be relocated from the DSS custody.

Justice Ugo further held that, having earlier exhibited preference for prison custody, the court could no longer grant his prayers since he had been convicted and sent to the correctional centre where he had wanted to be kept.

The Nigerian Navy on Thursday approved the promotion of 127 senior officers to new ranks, Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, revealed in a statement in Abuja.

dams-Aliu said that 15 Commodores were elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral, 31 Captains to Commodore, and 81 Commanders promoted to the rank of Captain.

According to him, those promoted to Rear Admiral include Olumide Olajide Fadahunsi, Patrick Emuebie Meteke, Ponfa Paul Nimmyel, Sulieman Wale Olorundare, Johnson Adekunle Adewoyin, Cajethan Nnabuchi Aniaku, and Anthony Victor Kujoh.

“Others are, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Chinonyerem Emmanuel Oji, Adamu Yahaya, Chindo Usman Yahaya, Aminu Abdullahi, Orakwue Dennis Nnatu, Usman Garba Bala and Samuel Anwuli Ogwu.

“The 31 new Commodores are Solomon Olushola Ohunenese, Mahmud Abubakar Fana, Taofiq Migdad Gidado, Mahmoud Hamman Hammanyero, Aliyu Gagidiba Abdullahi, Suleiman Gachi Muhammed, Abubakar Umar Sani, Mohammed Ali Kolo, Murtala Tafida Sulieman.

“They also include Emmanuel Tamunosiki Fingesi, Suleiman Musa Abdullahi, Mustapha Tagoje Abdullahi, Olanrewaju Bejide Animasahun, Owens Ediale Adams Izilien, Olabode Teniola, Chris Chijioke Ali, Kabir Oladele Olanrewaju, Uzezi Egweh.

“Others are Charles Eyo Iso, Elisha Bawa, Olumide Omololu Faneye, Oscar Chukwunonso Mbanu, Henry Ebute Ejeh, Galadima Mohammed Ciroma, Osuolale Ayotunde Eyitayo, Emmanuel Ajah Onu, Abubakar Ozovehe Aliyu, Ahmadu Shehu Mohammed, Ogbeche Richard Ochagu, Anastasia Nkechi Ossai and Feyisara Medinat Solebo,” he said.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to rededicate themselves to their duties.

He charged them to remain loyal to the nation and uphold the trust reposed in them.

bbaa also commended their families for the support that enabled the officers’ progression in service.

Nigerian actress, media personality and fashion entrepreneur, Oluwabukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, popularly known as Kiekie, has opened up about a life-changing moment that transformed her career during a period of overwhelming struggle.

Kiekie revealed the emotional testimony during an appearance on the Off The Top podcast, where she recounted how, in 2018, she locked herself indoors for days, praying and crying to God for direction after her fashion business seemed to be going nowhere.

The 28-year-old influencer said the frustration pushed her into complete isolation — no food, no bathing, no change of clothes. She said she lied to her friends that she had travelled, just so she could be left alone to seek divine answers.

“I locked myself up for days. No food, no bathing, no change of clothes. I was practically on the floor crying. I told God, I need you to turn my life around,” she recalled.

According to her, she spent the entire period in a pink boubou, sleeping on the floor and her bed while praying for hours without distraction.

Kiekie said her breakthrough came on the third or fourth day when a woman unexpectedly called her to sew clothes — a phone call she now describes as the turning point of her career.

“I hadn’t even had a bath. I just brushed and ran to Ikeja. That was the beginning,” she said.

The actress stated that from that moment in 2018 until now, her journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

“From 2018 till now, it has been fantastic — fantastic,” she said with gratitude.

Edo House of Assembly has invited former governor Godwin Obaseki and the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) Director, Philip Iheanacho, for questioning over MOWAA and Radisson Hotel funding.

In a statement on Thursday by Bekisu Oshone-Wilson, the Secretary to a committee set up by House, asked the invitees to appear before it on Dec. 4.

Other persons invited by the Committee are a former Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie; a former Edo Finance Commissioner, Mr Joseph Eboigbe; the former Attorney General, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi; and the Managing Director of Tilbury House Nigeria Limited.

Others include Mr Pramod Thorat, Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC); Mr Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director of Afrinvest Capital Limited; the Managing Director of Meristem Trustees Limited; and the Managing Director of Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

The work on the Radisson Hotel had since been abandoned after billions of Naira was allegedly spent on it.

MOWAA is generating rift between the management of MOWAA and State Hospital, Benin over a large parcel of land belonging to the hospital used for the MOWAA project.

Besides, the indigenes of Benin are querying while the MOWAA project, which is supposed to house the artifacts recently returned from Europe, is being sited outside the palace of the Oba of Benin.

The artifacts were stolen from the palace when the British invaded Benin Empire in 1897. The indigenes are insisting that the artifacts should be kept at where they were stolen.

Oshone-Wilson said the attendance by Obaseki and others were required to help the committee in its investigation.

Police have declared claim in viral video that bandits are planning to attack Ilesa town in Osun as baseless, misleading and a plot to cause panic among residents of the state.

Spokesperson for Osun Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said this in a statement on Thursday in Osogbo.

He noted that the video was AI generated with intention of causing panic.

“The attention of Police Command has been drawn to a viral AI generated videos released on social media disseminating false information that, bandits are coming to Ilesa, Osun State.

“This claim is entirely baseless, misleading, and deliberately crafted to cause fear, panic, incitement and breach of public peace.

“The command strongly condemns the state of rising cases of false informationalarms and enjoins members of the public to avoid generating AI Animations/Videos/Images and posting/forwarding unverified information capable of causing panic in the state,” he said.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, has deployed both overt and covert personnel to Ilesa axis and other parts of the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

He urged residents to report any suspicion or suspicious persons or situation to the nearest police station or call the state police emergency lines: 08039537995 and 08123823981. He said the Police Command in Osun remains committed to the protection of lives and properties of residents at all time.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has thrown his weight behind local engineers, calling on the Federal Government to accord them more recognition and support for their passion, industry and resilience.

Dr Opeifa spoke while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, led by Engr. (Mrs) Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, who was in his office, Wednesday, on a courtesy visit.

According to him, if the Federal Government could invest more on our local engineers, we would be saving the country billions of dollars.

Citing the example of the NRC, Dr Opeifa said the corporation’s local engineers have continued to save the country huge foreign exchange as they continue to improvise in keeping the corporation’s rolling stocks moving.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation is blessed with the very best of our local engineers. They have a good work ethics and despite the absence of necessary working tools, they have continued to use their blood, brain, sweat and cerebrospinal fluid to keep the railway systems working”, Dr Opeifa said.

He noted that the corporation’s engineers went beyond the rules in the books, to continue to make the Nigerian Railway work despite the funding.

“They have continued to demonstrate capacity. They have shown that they can build rail tracks, fix locomotive engines and do much more. Our female engineers are very passionate and compete with their male counterparts just to contribute to the smooth operations of the railway.”

He said from the Kaduna bomb attacks and the very recent train incident at Asham, the NRC engineers were the ones who prevented the Federal Government from awarding any contract “to re-rail, recover and evacuate our trains. Beyond collecting materials from our supplies, we have sustained our operations through the ingenuity of our engineers, be it civil, mechanical, electrical, signals and telecommunications engineers.” He added.

Dr Opeifa urged the NSE to continue to draw the attention of the government to funding gaps and the need to support local engineers as their members have continued to prove their mettle in national development.

Opeifa said he is confident that given the necessary backing, Nigeria engineers can rank among the best in the world.

He said the NRC is blessed with both male and female engineers who can hold their own in their areas of specialization, adding that with the amendment to the corporation’s law which has moved railway from exclusive to concurrent list, NRC engineers are now in hot demand as they are being poached by states and regional development commissions that have started taking more than passing interest in rail transportation.

Earlier, the Engr Oguntala, who is the 34th President and first female President of the Society applauded the NRC Managing Director for the positive transformation of the railway transportation.

She said Opeifa has reawakened a strong consciousness of work ethics with focus on ensuring value for money which is resulting in effective and efficient service delivery.

“Your commitment to enhancing transparency in railway administration is noteworthy and we applaud this efforts. This direction inspires confidence and aligns closely with our shared aspirations for a better and more accountable Nigeria.” She said.

Engr. Oguntala said she has come to personally invite the NRC boss to attend its flagship een which is the 2025 International Engineering Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting with the theme: Eengineering Innovation for a sustainable blue economy, which is coming up from December 1 to 5, 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“As the largest engineering gathering in sub-Saharan Africa, the conference attracts over 8,000 participants from Nigeria and across the globe comprising engineers, policy makers, industry stakeholders, academics and development partners.” She said.

The NSE, she said, has a membership of over 71,742,000 engineers, with 93 branches across Nigeria and the diaspora and 25 specialised divisions adding that Nigeria continues to play leading role in global engineering leadership with the successful completion of an NSE Past President as President World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO).

mong Engr Oguntala team members are; Engr Odunayo Bamodu, Engr Dr Uche Obiajulu, Engr. Femi John Adedotun, FNSE, Engr Iyiola Olaoye, and Engr Oyekemi Oyetunji among others.

Details of real reason why Governor Monday Okpebholo sacked the Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), Mr. Tony Ikpasajah, emerged Thursday evening.

The Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, had in a statement Thursday morning, announced that Governor Okpebholo had approved Ikpasajah’s removal from office.

“This action is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to restructure and reposition EDOGIS for optimal efficiency, improved service delivery and enhanced institutional performance,” the statement had claimed.

Investigation however revealed that Ikpasajah was reportedly sacked over issues relating to an advert of the revocation of the 13, 545 hectares of land belonging to Presco Plc in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha local government area, placed in a national daily.

Competent sources in the Government House said the Governor was thoroughly embarrassed by the advert, claiming that he was not properly briefed about the issues.

It would be recalled that on Wednesday, Edo State Government, in an advertorial, invoked sections Sections 28 and 38 of the Constitution to revoke the Presco Oil Plc land, measuring 13,545 hecters.

Barely 24 hours later, the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Musa Ikhilor, was said to have claimed that Ikpasajah acted unilaterally, without authorisation, and in complete disregard for established procedures and the actual number of hectares intended for excision from PRESCO PLC’s total landholding.

His statement noted that a formal administrative review has been initiated to address the unauthorised actions of the former EDOGIS Managing Director and to strengthen internal controls to prevent future breaches.